"There was a plop in the water beside the houseboat – a spent rocket stick. The fireworks continued to blaze away, magnificent bursts and showers of light, heralding in 2005. They seemed to go higher and brighter each time. "How do you end a firework display? She once asked at a party; "with darkness," came the smart reply, but she meant it got you to such a high that you felt terribly let down when it ended.

Some people were like that in your life – lots of fireworks then, when they left, gloom.

Light was so important in people – the spark of life. Well he might have gone but he left a spark of life behind him, Jason. Her boy was nearly ten now, standing quietly beside her watching the arcing rockets"