Friday 31 May 2013

An e mail

Dear Ella,

Lots of lovely enthusiastic SACO people wanting an update on all the various events - so popped this e mail out today.  As ever the immediate response back was simply amazing.

Oh my lovely girl .........its so bitter sweet, another weekend without you.

Lots of love

Mum
xxx


Hi Team SACO

An update for you all on fund raising for the TCT in memory of my Ella.  So far a magnificent £50,000 has been raised, of which £12,298 has been raised by SACO and Deeley Freed.  This is a staggering (and for those of you who watched the 10K – staggering was the best way to describe the home straits for me) achievement.  Thank you.

Liam and myself are currently working on some plans for further fund raising initiatives within SACO, in the meantime here is an update on forthcoming events that friends and family of Ella’s are arranging – we would love you to join in where you feel you can.  

Cricket for Ella – Sunday 23 June at Ashton Park School.  12.30 start.  A motley crew of players including our very own Sam Gosh and Craig Neilson.  Fingers crossed for a hot sunny day so that spectators can lounge around, drink Pimms and cheer loudly as the boys swing their bats and balls around.

Pop Up Restaurant – Friday 12 and Saturday 13 July.  A unique event and one that Ella would have really approved of.  Teachers from Ella’s school Ashton Park are running  this event.   There are still places left on both nights, but they are filling up quickly – so get your places booked ASAP.  I’m there on the Saturday night – dining not working!  £25 a ticket – plus wine.

Cycle for Ella – Sat 20 and Sun 21 July.  A group of us are cycling to Glastonbury and back.  80 mile round trip.  Ella always wanted to go to Glastonbury, but never made it.  So we are going for her.  It’s also around her birthday. Mark Stephens is on this one from SACO,  and is taking on the personal challenge of getting me back on a bike for the first time in over 20 years.  Don’t laugh when I can’t walk on Monday morning.

Party for Ella – Saturday 2 November.  My girl loved a party, so we are having a big one!  This will be a black tie bash, with music, dancing and an auction – our very own Mr David Freed will be the  auctioneer extraordinaire for the event.  Tickets will be going on sale soon - £30.  The venue is the Clifton Club in Clifton.  Any offers of auction and/or raffle prizes very welcome, we are also in the market for a great covers band to get us all dancing on the night.

Finally – if that’s not enough – we are also going into nail varnish production – think “Ella Red”  “Redmania”.   Branded, packaged and ready to sell later this year – again with all profits going to the TCT.    This would have been Ella’s favourite project – she loved nail art.   I will be asking for distributors and sales people soon.   Gingersnap – Ella’s modelling agency along with Sophie Ella’s sister and Maisy one of Ella’s best friends are on this project.

Lots going on and it will mean that we get a unit up and running in Bristol – to support young people diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 18 and 24 from all over the South West.  It’s what Ella wanted to do – we are just doing it for her.

With many thanks

Jo

Thursday 30 May 2013

Advice

Dear Ella,

Read this and it resonated avec moi!



“She generally gave herself very good advice (though she very seldom followed it)."
-Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

On the basis that I don't or can't follow my own advice - I often stop, check and listen for yours - "what would Ella say?". 

Lots of love

Mum
xxx

Tuesday 28 May 2013

Missing you

Dear Ella,

I am not the only one - Brian is REALLY missing you.

Neither Sophie or me are any consolation - she spends most of her time on your bed or trying to persuade us to be nice/play with her.  As I type she is curled up right next to me - but no doubt ready to pounce and attack at any moment...

She has also lost her special moons and stars collar  - please can you send another one.

Lots of love

Mum
xxx

PS - can hardly believe she is just over a year old....



Monday 27 May 2013

We gave you a name

Dear Ella,

Had dinner with Jim, Grandad, Sophie, Andy, Tina, Tommy and Kezia.

Somehow I have developed a nick name for Tommy - "Tommy Tomato" - very funny (well when your six it is) ....so we played this game at dinner about trying to think of a name for everyone in the family (and others).  It had to be a fruit or vegetable and of course start with the same letter as your name.  So we had:

Sophie Sprout
Kezia Kale
Tina Tangerine
Andy Apple
Bob Banana
Grandad Grape

All of a sudden Tommy said - "what about Ella"?  - ah bless him, how lovely was that - I think you ended up being "Ella Egg" - I know it's not a vegetable or fruit, but he came up with it and was the one who included you.

For the record we struggled with Jo and Jim - "Jaffa" - was the best we could do!

So you see my lovely girl, never forgotten - especially by a little six year old - we love you Tommy:)

Lots of love

Mum
xxx

Sunday 26 May 2013

Sorry

Dear Ella,

Well two days of sunshine - and I have a terrible confession....the BBQ has not been fired up - or even mentioned, none of us can face it.

You were the BBQ queen - any hint of sun and you would cheerily say "BBQ then"?  The wheels would turn to make it happen, dig out  charcoal,  buy food, toss a salad or two and then the big moment would come as you advanced down the garden to set the charcoal on fire.

Happy days watching you stand "bloke like" over your BBQ - poking sausages around and then watching your happy face munch through burger's, chicken kebabs and much more whilst swilling down a beer or G&T.   Then there would always be the ceremony of throwing Rosemary sprigs onto the dyeing embers - sitting back, full, contented and smelling the heady Mediterranean like smells caused by the burning twigs.

I hope you have found a massive BBQ to fire up.

Lots of love

Mum
xxx


From Ella's I Phone!




Friday 24 May 2013

Loads of cash

Dear Ella,

Message from Teenage Cancer Trust today......and so far we have raised £47,524.26! What do you think of that???

We started off thinking may be we could muster  £10,000 - and the next thing we are heading to £50,000 and onwards.   People are just being so generous and raising money in so many different ways.  A lovely girl at SACO called Rosanna has told me that her Granny and Grandad are celebrating their golden wedding in the Autumn - they have said no presents, but donations to Ella's fund at the Teenage Cancer Trust, how lovely is that?

The teachers at Ashton Park are setting up a pop up restaurant in July - David Coates is head chef - should be great fun.

U Bob continues with his plans for the bike ride to Glastonbury  (must get a bike!), think there are about 25 of us so far.

U Jim and Mark continue with their mad cap plans for a cricket match on Sunday 23 June - all sorts of odds and sods playing in that.

With Maisy and Sophie we are meeting Clare from Gingersnap next week to see if we can get the Ella's nail varnish up and running and in November Lorraine and Jim are planning a party and promises auction

'Aint no stopping us - we will get that unit up and running.  TCT launched the official appeal this week and hope to have it open in early 2014.  Just a cool million to go.

So wish you were here to see it all happen

Lots of love

Mum
xx








Tuesday 21 May 2013

Just another day - right?

Dear Ella,

Like Christmas Day, a birthday or just any old day - today was just another day - wasn't it?

Unremarkable - 21 May - is simply the 141 day of the year.  It also happens to be Tom Daley's birthday and is the the date in 1991 that the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Handhi was  assassinated by a female suicide bomber near Madras.

It's also six months since your last day with us on 21 November.  

It was sunny, bright and almost summer like today - very different to the lashing wind and dark stormy weather back in November.

Lots of time and no time at all...

Lots of love

Mum
xx

Sunday 19 May 2013

In your shoes - literally

Dear Ella,

Morning lovely, here I am in Cornwall "in your shoes" - literally.

Last week I came across your Sperry deck shoes that you wore everywhere last summer - couldn't stop myself, tried them on and they are quite a good fit.  So now tramping across rocks and beaches in them - sort of for you.  I can see you rolling your eyes and sighing already.

Not in St Ives - couldn't face that location just yet - but I often look at the photos from our holiday there last year.

Dad sent a text to say your tree is finally up, and that Sophie got home safe and sound from her prom.  So am trying to relax and go with the gentle and healing rhythm of being at the seaside - even though you aren't here with me.

Lots of love
Mum
xx



Whether you call them A/Os, deck shoes or Top-Siders, they will always be the Originals. Since 1935, these shoes have been the staple for those with a passion for the sea. The A/O combines classic comfort and enduring style for a timeless look. Fashion fades, but style is forever.

The description of the shoes is apt - like you "enduring style, timeless look, style is forever"

Thursday 16 May 2013

Ohhhhhhhhh...

Dear Ella,

Just getting on with life and being as "normal" as possible.  Then I end up in a bar with lots of "normal" people being "normal", and then I think "how can this be"?  "Where are you?",  and I remember that life is not "normal" now.   I wonder - how many other people in that bar are not leading "normal" lives?

Miss you lovely

Lots of love

Mum
xx

Tuesday 14 May 2013

Dashing around

Dear Ella,

A dashing around kind of a day - well week in fact. Busy at work, busy fundraising and busy fitting around Sophie.  But just for now its the the end of the day and time to stop and really think about you.

Lots of love

Mum
xxx

Monday 13 May 2013

Winners!

Dear Ella

Some lovely photos.
Winners all.
Love Mum
xx

Ian waiting to start the 10 mile Broad Street run in Philly

Sophie and Annie cross the finish line

Mayas run for ella t shirt finally makes it to Montreal!

Friday 10 May 2013

Busy Allington Rd Kitchen

Dear Ella,

Friday evening - long week - home from work - realise more that just me and Sophie (Maisy and Mark as well) to feed, dash to "the Asda" - pick up some bits, throw it all together, lots of chat and banter - almost feels like a Friday evening from a long time ago.

Our kitchen is still lovely - would be even more lovely if you were here.

Lots of love

Mum

xx


In our lovely kitchen a few summers ago


and again...

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Bedraggled Bran Flakes

Dear Ella,

One of my rambling days - you know what I mean, where I ramble on about everyday things that could only possibly happen to me aged 52 and 3/4's!

So a bit of a slog all day - little sleep last night, was woken by rain on skylights and lay worrying that summer had been and gone (well the sun was out for two days), that I had stupidly left my very nearly dried out daffodil and tulip bulbs out and they would now be soaking wet and would the rain come seeping in through my ceiling again.  Honestly, Redman, get things in perspective!

Then popped into supermarket on way home from work - out of mushrooms and bran flakes, you know how it is?  No small boxes of bran flakes left so had to purchase large family size one which did not fit in bag, back pack etc.  Not a problem - will simply carry home under arm.  However, down came the rain and the box got soggier and soggier - especially by the time I had been further soaked by a Bristol bus swishing a whole puddle of water all over me.  Bedraggled and with soggy bran flakes I made it home - ah peace.

But no - a cheery ring, ring on the door (can't be anyone for t shirts - all gone), it was a "chugger" for CANCER research - "you've picked the wrong house mate........for any number of reasons"!  I did think about offering a soggy family sized box of bran flakes for the cause - but remembered just in time to stop all thought bubbles tumbling out of my mouth as real words....... not really necessary or appropriate.

And that's it rambles over, time to escape under the duvet.  You can see I am still the same - mostly!

Lots of love

Mum
xx


Tuesday 7 May 2013

Tight hamstrings and party dresses

Dear Ella,

Hamstrings like tight rubber bands today - ouch,  means I walk like a crab coming downstairs - very funny, but overall a general sense of well being and satisfaction.

Cash pouring in!

On a wave of enthusiasm - U Jim is cracking on with plans for the cricket match on June 23 and U Bob has started his blog for the bike ride to Glastonbury - 20 and 21 July   http://cycle4ella.blogspot.co.uk/

However, hopefully soon there will be an event/chance to dump the sports kit and don party dresses to raise money and do something very Ella like.

But whatever it takes - running shoes, bikes, bats, glitz and glamour - we will raise even more money and get that unit open.

Lots of love

Mum
xx






Monday 6 May 2013

Cathartic and a sea of purple

Dear Ella,

So we all turned up yesterday and it was simply amazing.

We came from every direction (in our purple T shirts) gathered, hugged, talked and were simply together - united in two causes:

1.  To remember you
2.  To raise a shed load of money.

Safe to say we did both.

It was a happy day, rhythmic in terms of what had to be done - if you were a runner or walker, it was to get round the course, if you were a supporter it was to cheer as loudly as possible and the helpers - well to cook, make tea, clear up, count cash or what ever needed doing.

It was that very rhythm of coming together - uniting to achieve amazing results and have such a great day that made the day cathartic for me.

Cathartic means cleansing. A cathartic experience is one that cleanses the emotions

Of course we missed you, but I am sure you were there - somewhere, not out on the course (you never did like running) - but definitely with the gang, smiling and laughing.

Lots of love 

Mum

xxx






Wednesday 1 May 2013

Grandad says

Dear Ella

Lovely message from Grandad today  "No heroes needed on Sunday, its the turning up that counts".

So loads and loads of people turning up - if your interested the final arrangements are below.

Lots of love

Mum
XX



  • We have a venue to base ourselves from the for the day, it’s the Benjamin Perry Boat House, which is   about a 10 minute walk from the start and finish line for the 10k run
  •  We can meet at the boathouse before the run – you can leave any bags there and they will be safe
  • The run starts at 9.30 (for the elite) and 9.45 (for the not so elite).  Bristol 10K
  • We will be taking a RUN FOR ELLA team photo with as many runners as possible outside the Boathouse at 8.45 - so if you can make it there for that time -  fantastic
  • Afterwards we can all gather at the Boathouse– there will be food and drinks available for sale, all proceeds of course going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.  (Burgers, Hot Dogs, Cakes, Soft Drinks, Teas and Coffee)  
  • If you fancy something stronger the Ostrich Pub is just around the corner
Over 120 runners
Over £15,000 raised on the Just Giving pages so far - amazing, but please keep it coming
Over 120 T shirts sold (just a few XL left for sale on the day).  If you have reserved a t shirt to pick up on the day, then I have those put by with names on, so come and find me to pick yours up
Loads and loads of supporters.
The forecast is for NO rain