Author: Anne S

I have now officially been awake for 20 hours on the trot … after getting 2 hours sleep last night I was rudely awakened by a incredibly high-pitched and desperate lot of female screaming downstairs just outside our apartment.  After considering it could be a female in distress, I decided to get out of bed and see if I could find out what all the commotion was about … only to see two cops wandering around around the garages, which is directly below my bedroom window.  The screaming still continued, however, out the front of the apartment so I then wandered round to the front just in time to see a young female being escorted/supported up the driveway by another cop and what appeared to be her father.  At this stage she was screaming at the top of her lungs at full pitch, “oh my God, he’s dead, he’s dead” … at which point my eyes starting widening!

This was now 2.45am, and the next couple of hours were spent by me playing computer games while watching the show playing out below me – the garage was turned into a crime scene, with cops coming and going out of the back corner garage.  Lights came on and went off, the garage went up and went down … eventually crime scene tape went up, and the forensics team turned up in their navy blue “Police” suits, donning sexy blue rubber gloves, and in they went into the garage with their flashlights and cameras to begin documenting the crime scene.  This basically went on for a few hours, with them finally finishing their tasks at approx 5.45am.

At this point I wasn’t sure whether to go back to bed and try to get 1 more hour of sleep before work or whether to jump into the shower … in the end I figured I’d probably feel worse for having a mini sleep, so jumped into the shower instead – I got out just in time to see the coroner’s ‘hearse’ pulling into the driveway up in front of the garage.  The next 15-20 minutes was spent watching them set up the gurney, and load the body bag up, then tighten up the straps, cover up with a cloth cover, then whisk the body off into the hearse.  At 6.30am you wouldn’t have known anything had happened – except for the tiny bit of crime scene tape that is still tied to one of the garage doors.

That’s not the way I had expected to spend my Thursday night, that’s for sure!  Initially it was very shocking, but eventually it just became fascinating to me – we’ve now nicknamed our apartment block CSI: Sydney.  While I’m not in a hurry to view a repeat performance, it was certainly interesting to watch the event play out during the wee small hours of the morning.

There still hasn’t been anything in the news yet, so unsure whether it was a suicide or homicide – there was actually a brief spurt of fireworks at about 11.30pm last night (inbetween the thunder and lightning), then there was a break and one lone big “bang” that seemed different and a lot closer than the rest, so Katie and I have been wondering whether it was a muffled gunshot from within the garage.  I certainly didn’t hear any running footsteps or anything afterwards, so perhaps it was a suicide … either way, it was very very sad to see that body rolling out of the garage 😦

Anyway, after surviving a full day’s work (well, actually 10 hours of it) after 2 hours sleep, my eyes are now little slits, and I think it’s time to hit the hay for the night!  Katie and I celebrated our own version of Christmas tonight, and had our Christmas gifts as today is the last day we’d spend together until after Christmas – it was a really lovely night, as it always is when I have a night in with Katie, and I’ve been very very spoilt with some lovely presents tonight.  I’m definitely very blessed having the flatmate and friend that I have now … I’ve had some shockers, to say the least, in the past, so this is a real treat! 😀

Crikey, every little noise outside is making me jump tonight … I think for a short time we will be more aware of our surroundings out here – and we’ll be ensuring our doors and windows are triple-locked.  I just can’t believe that so far I seem to have been the only one at our end of the block who woke up to the screaming – both Katie and our bottom neighbour slept through the entire thing! :O

I forgot to send myself the photo that I wanted to post along with this note, but I forgot, so I’ll add it tomorrow.  In the meantime I have used one of Erin on her wedding day, just a few years ago.  The following was just posted on my Facebook status.

“R.I.P. dear sweet Erin – you were taken from us way too early in life – you will be missed here on earth, while those on the other side will have the opportunity to bask in your sweet smile and gentle personality.  My heart breaks for loved ones left behind, and I wish Carl and the boys all the strength you need to endure these emotional days, also to all other members of the family – I love you …”

Mid-morning today I received an email from Carl to say that Erin passed away just before 5pm UK-time yesterday.  I am still a bit shell-shocked by the news, and wish I could do something for Carl and the two boys – no words can truly express how I’m feeling today, and this is nothing compared to what Carl and Erin’s family are going through. 

Along with many other people who have suffered greatly over the course of this year, I personally can’t wait for this hideous year to end!  There have been way too many tragedies and trials this year … bring on 2010 and some brighter days …