Change of Plans

Friday, 26 November


My Lovely Girl

As you know, June and Geoff were not able to make it down on the '25th' as they had a lot on in September, including three weddings to attend.

June sent me a lovely letter saying how sorry they had to miss it - and how much she misses being able to chat to you on the phone.

'Eileen always called me 'Pet' and I think about her every day,' she said.

With her letter June sent me these two lovely photographs... 

They were ones June had taken of us together at Andrew's Wedding.

It was so good of her to send them particularly as I had not seen them before.

You looked so radiant and happy - as did Nicola and Geoff.

Geoff especially so in his pink tie and waistcoat.

Remember how we ribbed him about that.  And, as you teased him, 'You will never be able to live it down when 'Pinkie' hears about it - and I'll make sure she knows!'  

And you did. 

I spoke to both of them one evening last week.

They were off to Australia on Saturday evening.  For the 'Ashes' Test Matches naturally.

They were flying out via Singapore and I wanted to wish them 'Good Luck' for the trip, which lasts over four weeks.

From Singapore they are flying on to Brisbane; taking in the Great Barrier Reef before heading to Adelaide for the second Test.  Then they are spending some days in Sydney (just sightseeing; no cricket) and then on to Perth for the third Test, before flying back and getting home just before Christmas.

Back  in Springtime I had put my name down to go.  I thought it would be good for me as something to look forward to - and a way of missing out some of the 'dark days' at the end of the year.

However, once I learned about Charlotte's pregnancy I just knew I didn't want to be that far away from home for such a long time.

Won't be anywhere near as good at helping out as you would have been.  But at least I'm close at hand and 'on call' when they - or Nikki and Adrian - need  me.

There were other reasons as well. 

Wasn't sure if I am up yet - physically or emotionally - to all the 'moving on', ' living out of a suitcase routine the trip would involve.

More importantly, Australia was something we wanted to do together.  New Zealand too.

Know that will never be possible now. 

But I will  do them both when I'm ready - and in that freewheeling, 'make it up as you go along' way that you and I enjoyed so much.

When I do, I know you will be with me all the way.

Do miss you so.

You are never far away from me - and never ever will be.

Love you

For ever

Trevor

xxx

Moments Like These

Sunday, 14 November 


My Lovely Eileen


It's late afternoon on Remembrance Sunday. 

The light has all but gone now, on what has been a typical November day - grey, wet and thoroughly miserable. 

Not surprisingly, this Remembrance Sunday has been so much more emotional. 

It's been impossible not to think back to this same day last year.

Pretty close to the same time of day too.

We were sitting together on the landing.  You in your armchair; me sitting facing you, as close to you as I could get.

We were listening to the radio which was on in the bedroom, behind us. 

It was Paul O'Grady.

Because of the significance of the day he chose to play a particular record - a Vera Lynn one.

Although neither was much aware of the war at time - we were both war 'babies' - we became familiar with this song through our parents.

It was, of course, 'We'll meet again.'

In virtual darkness, we lent in to each other until our foreheads touched, looked into each other's eyes, held hands tightly and, tears streaming down our faces, sang along with the record...

'We'll meet again.

Don't know where,don't know when.

But I know we'll meet again,

Some sunny day.

Keep smiling through

As you always do  

'Til the blue skies chase those dark clouds

Far away.'  

And when it was finished, we continued to sit there together like that for a very long time.

Neither of us wished to break the moment by moving.  

We didn't say anything.

We didn't need to.

We both knew exactly what the other was thinking.

The tears said it all.

*****

Today, my Love, has been one of the darkest days since you went away.

I knew it was going to be, because of those memories.

And it has been.

But recalling them, and setting them down here, has helped.

 *****

Losing you was tough.

Knowing I was losing you was tougher.

But knowing you were losing everything was heartbreaking.

And still is.

*****

Memories and photographs are good.

But they are no substitute for the real thing.  Nothing is.

As the song says, 'We'll meet again some sunny day'. 

And we will. 

Love and miss you so much with every day that passes.

Yours, for ever

Trevor

xxx

Record Numbers

Sunday, 14 November


My Darling Eileen

I'm sure you will be pleased to learn that Adrian is now a Guinness world record holder.

And here's the certificate he received to prove it...



His effort, back at the end of July, in pushing a car the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles has now been confirmed as the NEW world record.

It's taken a while for Guinness to confirm it as they had to go through all the evidence - the video, all the witness reports etc - but at last they have done it.

He rang me from Heathrow - on his way to Hungary for a PWC seminar in Budapest - as he wanted me to be the first to know.

I am sure you will be as delighted with the news, as I was.  Particularly as he has raised over £7000 for the two charities.

Thanks to their PR efforts he received a lot of publicity before and after the attempt, including being interviewed on local radio the Monday afterwards, before going to work.

One bit of coverage really stood out even if it was a bit OTT.

It was in a woman's magazine that wished to approach it more from Nikki's perspective.



As I say the writer overdosed a little on the drama and, as you will see, seems to 'do it by numbers'.

Know you love this type of 'PR article'.  So just think of Victoria Wood's friend 'Kim-ber-lee' and enjoy.  

'Stood in black cycling shorts and a running T-shirt, my hubby bent his knees, let out a deep sigh and placed his hands against the boot of the lime green Smart car.

"Ready?" asked the adjudicator.

"Yes," Adrian, 35, nodded.

As the 50-strong crowd cheered and whooped in the schoolyard, our three-year-old daughter, Darcy, tapped my hand.

"Is Daddy really going to push it 26 miles?2 she asked.

"Yes, sweetheart," I smiled.

It was July 2010 and my hubby of four yaers was about to compete in a feat of immense strength, pushing a car 26.2 miles - the length of a marathon.

Fit and active, he'd already competed in two London Marathon's, so wanted to really push himself.

"It had to be something really gruelling," he told me. "I want to raise as much as I can in memory of Mum."

His friend Mark, 35, a gym instructor, designed  a training programme for him.

So every week, around his work as a tax advisor, Adrian fitted in 1,600 squats and lunges, a seven mile run, hill-running and pushing a Ford Focus.

He guzzled mountains of carbs, too!

Now, at St Johns the Baptist Primary School, Adrian was ready to push the car atround the track.

"Come on Adrian!" I screamed, as my 15st hubby edged the 740kg (116st) vehicle forward.

As the hours ticked by, Adrian ate 10 bananas and two meatloaves [malt, actually] and drank a dozen energy drinks and gallons of water.

 "You did it!' I shouted, beaming.

When the clock hit five hours and 45 minutes, the crowd went mad as the adjudicator told Adrian he'd hit the 17.6-mile mark and beaten the (then current) world record.

But Adrian gritted his teeth and carried on - and after nine hours and 20 minutes, and 391 laps, he finished. 

His sweaty, exhausted body fell into my arms.

"I'm so proud of you," I cried, popping open the champers. 

"And your Mum would be, too."

 In total Adrain raised more than £7000 for the World Cancer Research Fund and The Stroke Association.'

Thought you would enjoy reading it - even if it erred a little towards the 'purple' end of the spectrum in places.

The crucial thing for Adrian was that he did something special for you.

Like all of us, he misses you so much.

Cannot tell you what a large gap you have left in my life.

All my love

For ever

Trevor xxx