Here, there, and everywhere: Simon Barnett


Like a child heading to school on his first day, Simon Barnett couldn’t sleep the night before returning to More FM’s Breakfast Club after a six-year hiatus. Metropol Editor Lynda Papesch caught up with Simon about life after the death of a dearly loved one.

Open about the intense loss of his late wife Jodi in October 2023, Simon’s grief has by no means faded, although he is slowly getting on with life. On 20 January, he returned to co-host his former  beloved radio breakfast show. The advertising campaign preceding his return shows a wild-looking Simon (below) bursting back into the light, and in some ways that’s exactly how he views his latest move.

His grief over losing Jodi has not subsided, yet he finds moments of joy with family, his children and grandchildren. Sadness is evident, etched on his face, and heard in every word yet life goes on; returning to work helping with that process. I caught up with Simon after his first day back on the airwaves. He had finished his dinner, lamb kofta, cleaned up after himself,  and now opens up about life as a widower.

Cooking has been one change in his life, and he laughingly gives thanks to home delivery meal kit service My Food Bag. “I’m ashamed to admit that I never cooked; we had an old-school relationship,” he explains. “Jodi cooked, and I cleaned up.” Struggling with his loss still proves difficult at times. “I mistakenly thought that I was holding the family together,” he laughs. “Now I realise that was not the case. Jodi did everything, so I’ve had a lot to learn, such as how to do my own GST returns.” I would go to the supermarket, buy a load of stuff, and have no idea what to do with it.” For guys like me, My Food Bag is such a winner. All the ingredients are there so you don’t need to worry about not having something in the pantry.”

Simon admits that grief affects people differently, and is such an individual thing, adding that he is humbled about the [public’s] reactions to his loss. Talking about Jodi helps, as does talking to her. Anxiety creeps in. “I fear people will tell me to shut up, and I’m acutely aware that I’m not the only one [who has lost someone dear]. There’s no timeline; we just have to live with it, and try to be whole again.”Counselling has helped, yet his heart is still so connected to Jodi’s that he fears if he lets go of the pain of losing her, he will be letting go of Jodi. “My counsellor tells me that letting go of pain isn’t letting go of love; I’m still working on that.”

Simon loves that people were so kind when Jodi was sick, and passed, and still care about him. For him, it’s an honour to have people acknowledge his late wife, and a comfort to him, honouring his enduring love for her. His faith drives him. Faith, he says, is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. He hopes to be with Jodi again, and is sure that he will.

Life changed for the couple dramatically when Jodi was diagnosed with a brain tumour. In the six years before her death, Simon lovingly cared for her, treasuring every second as a privilege. Coping with her loss has been devastating at times. “You read a story about someone who has a terminal illness or has cancer, and then you move on to the next story because that’s the way it works; that’s the news cycle. However, for the family, partner, and children, it is just incredible ongoing anxiety.”

The last 12 months brought massive highs and, understandingly, some lows. “I’ve watched my daughters [Sophie, Lily, Samantha and Bella] grow. I look at them and simply adore them. They’re beautiful women, very capable, caring, and everything we could have wished for.” His voice catches for a moment. Family are his world, daughters, their husbands, and their children, all living within 300m of each other. “I now have two more grandchildren, bringing the number to five,” Simon enthuses.

Being a proud and active grandparent helps fill his days. “The eldest, Monty (5) is at school, so I go and watch him on sports days. Mila (3) has started kindergarten, and there’s Zebadiah (18 months), Ella (6 months), and Maia Jodi (14 weeks). They appear to love me and I lap it up. Joy has come into my life again.” So too has the outside world. With 30 years at More FM behind him, Simon says his return to the airwaves provides a chance for levity and genuine laughter, which is what he needs now.

Normally with radio he doesn’t get nervous, however his first day back proved an exception, waking several times during the night, before finally getting up around 4am. “I was like a nervous schoolboy on his first day,” he says. “I’d sorted what I was going to wear (black jeans and a T-shirt) before I went to bed, so it didn’t take long to get ready.” A morning guy, waking up and smelling the coffee puts him in his happy place, even though on his first day back anxiety kicked in while driving down Moorhouse Ave, enroute to work.

It didn’t last long however, once he arrived at his home away from home, to co-host the More FM Breakfast Club with jovial Lana Cochrane-Searle. Now back on the job weekdays from 6am, Simon has found a few big changes, such as multiple cameras in the studio recording for social media clips. “People have immediate contact with you via the likes of Facebook and Instagram. That’s new for me.”

Operational changes aside, for Simon the return was like “coming home”, comparable to walking in the front door of the family home after being overseas for a few years. “I love this radio station and what it represents. Jodi loved More FM too. She listened every day, ringing me every morning I was on air to tell me that she loved me, and wish me a good day.”

Heading back to work meant catching up with world happenings, plus a few visits to Les Mills to get in shape, with personal trainer Daniel de Silva. “I knew I had to take my shirt off for the More FM advert,” Simon laughs. A creative writer put the advert together, and Simon admits emotionally breaking down when recording it. “My only line was ‘take me home’ and I felt very emotional when I read that line.”

Looking ahead, he volunteers that he’s now in his ninth year as an ambassador for G.J. Gardner Homes, and continuing that role. He has also talked with a couple of television producer friends about possible projects. Christchurch is still home for a long time yet, watching his grandchildren grow and being part of a wider [radio] family too. “I love waking up with the city, and it’s such a privilege to be in people’s cars, bedrooms, bathrooms, offices. A heartfelt thanks to people for showing me so much love over the last few years, and welcoming me back so fondly. “Truly, it has meant the world to me, to feel that warmth and affection, so a sincere thank you.”

 


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