Round about noon on Monday, a colleague was on the Herald Sun website and tole everyone that Steve Irwin had died. I found it a surreal news. I later told Theresa that it felt like when Bruce Lee died, or even when Anwar Ibrahim had been sacked. It didnt feel real. Steve Irwin was an embodiment of life. His rigour, his absolute zest, meant his death felt just so totally unreal. He gave me a lot of laughs, a lot of happy moments, although I was irritated repeatedly by his tendency to antagonise animals. He was a great entertainer and obviously loved his family (especially his wife Terry) and I remain very sad.

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)