this.validate = function() {

      if($('#firstname').val() == '') {
        alert('Please enter your first name.');
        $('#firstname').focus();
        return false;
      }

       if($('#lastname').val() == '') {
        alert('Please enter your last name.');
        $('#lastname').focus();
        return false;
      }

       if($('#message').val() == '') {
        alert('Please enter a message.');
        $('#message').focus();
        return false;
      }
      if($('#email').val() == '') {
        alert('Please enter your email address.');
        $('#email').focus();
        return false;
      }

      var emailRe = /^([\w.]{0,60}@[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+?(\.[a-zA-Z]{2,6})?\.[a-zA-Z]{2,6})$/i;
      if(!emailRe.test($('#email').val())) {
        alert('Please enter a valid email address.');
        $('#email').focus();
        return false;
      }

      return true;
    }