I first met Madoka in 2004 when she and Simon Cowell (ahem, sorry I mean Peggie) voted me into the ‘house’ (AKA Everett Road).  My first impressions of Madokawere that she was a quiet girl, with a gorgeous big smile, perfect teeth, perfect skin and lovely hair.  She has always been so pretty.  
 
As I got to know Madoka, we fast became friends and hung out a lot together.  We just used to get on.  We’d sit and drink tea and watch Corrie together, sometimes talk deeply about stuff, but mostly have nice walks down Burton Rd, usually ending up in a coffee and cake somewhere nice.  I look back on those times fondly.      
 
Madoka was loyal.  When she and Andy met, it was clear Madoka liked him from the start.  She used to say how nice his sideburns were!  In spite of my superficial mutterings, saying that he was a waste of time and why bother with a long-distance New-York/Manchesterrelationship (sorry Andy!), she knew he was the one.  I should have spotted it sooner but it was true…her face always lit up whenever Andy was around.
 
Madoka was funny.  She was a laugh and great fun to be around.  She had a mischievous sense of humour and she liked a prank or two - like the time she made a ‘chocolate fudge cake’.  Little did I know it was made with beetroot!  Harumph.  How about the time she put off-brand cereal in Andy’s cereal boxes to see if he spotted a difference?  She said he didn’t!  One time, (I don’t think she was trying to be funny here but anyways it was hilarious to me!) we went to a house party and she got so drunk she fell asleep whilst crouching down.  Who even does that?!  Obviously her supple Japanese knees dealt with it no problem!
 
Madoka introduced me to ‘hanami’, once taking Hugh and I to Plattfields Park in April/May time one year to enjoy the cherry blossom.  As luck would have it, I now actually have a cherry tree in my front garden and every year when it blossoms, I always think of Madoka.
 
I was honoured to be a bridesmaid at Andy & Madoka’swedding and it was just the loveliest affair.  Simple and understated but ever-so classy and stylish.  That summed Madoka up to a tee.  We all know that Madokawas really creative and she could turn her hand to anything – and yep, even on the night before her own wedding, she was making up beautiful peony bouquets and corsages for the bridal party.  I remember Peggie and I getting the hair-dryer on those bouquets to thaw them out as they’d spent too long in the fridge!  
 
The last time I saw Madoka was in November 2018.  She and Andy were doing a round-trip of the North before setting off to Japan.  I don’t remember much of the actual evening but I do remember saying goodbye,as sadly, I think we both knew it would probably be the last time we’d ever see each other.  I wish I had said more and made sure you knew how much I valued ourfriendship but I didn’t. Instead it was a long hug and a muffled “I love you” and “Take care”.  
 
Now here we are with you gone for a whole year.  I know now your soul is at rest and you are free of all the pain that you suffered so stoically…but I just wish you were still here.  Thanks for the good times.  Till we meet again, Madoka.  I love you x