Dear Ella,
Have been having a bit of a full on tidy up and sort out of various areas, nooks and drawers of Allington. This has included the bulging, useless, annoying clip on the fridge that moos like a cow when ever you use it (thanks Mum!). Anyway, the many bits of paper clipped under it - suddenly looked pointless tonight - so they got it.
Christmas thank you letters, discount coupons for Sainsbury's, receipts and lost shopping lists - and then right at the bottom was our list "Simple Wishes"list.
Do you remember how I made the three of us write down "simple wishes" that we wanted to try and make happen in 2012? The rule was - they had to be simple and potentially achievable - why? Well you were still in the depths of chemo, Sophie was still getting better, and I as ever was attempting to put one foot in front of the other and move from one day to the next. It was in the spirit of things to look forward to as we abandoned 2011 and looked forward into 2012. Here is what we all wished for:
Ella
1. See the sea. You did - we went to Woolacombe in late March and again in the summer
2. Go to Wimbledon. You did - with Amy in the the June, just as you finished chemo
3. See the Lion King musical (again) - you did, thanks to SACO and the Lion King being on at the hippodrome in Bristol
4. Go for a nice long walk - you walked along the beach with your girlfriends in August last year
5. Buy a bike and go for a cycle ride - no joy, but we sort of did that for you by going to Glasto a few weeks ago on bikes some of us!)
6 Sit on top of the sand dunes in Woolacombe - done again with your girlfriends last summer
5 out of 6 not bad
Sophie
1. Weekend away in London with a girlfriend - done, a day last summer with Hollie, then a few days away Easter just gone
2. Go on a huge trampoline - not yet
3. Get out of the UK for a break - done, the wonderful Gaynor and Ian flew you to the USA last summer
4. Get bellybutton pierced - done last summer, it looks amazing
3 out of 4 not bad
Jo
1. Go to Cornwall - done, three times since I wrote the wish down
2. See Faithless in concert - not done, but they have disbanded
3. Attend a creative writing course - done, a one day event earlier this year
4. Start a new blog - done "Dear Ella" here with - bet you wish I hadn't made that wish
3 out of 4 - that's good.
Simple wishes - nice things don't have to be massive
Lots of love
Mum
xx
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
Monday, 5 August 2013
Forrest Gump...
Dear Ella,
Was just about to go to bed last night, when the movie Forrest Gump started. So in true Forrest style "stupid is as stupid does", I couldn't stop myself and stayed up till gone midnight watching it from start to end.
Last time I watched it was when were on holiday in the USA years ago.
What a great movie - and my favourite quote is from Forrest's mum as below.
Was just about to go to bed last night, when the movie Forrest Gump started. So in true Forrest style "stupid is as stupid does", I couldn't stop myself and stayed up till gone midnight watching it from start to end.
Last time I watched it was when were on holiday in the USA years ago.
What a great movie - and my favourite quote is from Forrest's mum as below.
Life's a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get.
Wise words.
Lots of love
Mum
xx
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Singing - now!
Dear Ella,
So we have run, cycled, swum and played cricket "for Ella". Time to hang up the sporting equipment and get down to activities closer to your heart.
Music and movement for Ella
An event that the wonderful SACO Bath team have developed and will be hosting.
So we will be there on 15 August - thinking about you lots and lots as ever. It's the same day that the A level results will be be out - so a big day all round.
Lots of love
Mum
xxx
So we have run, cycled, swum and played cricket "for Ella". Time to hang up the sporting equipment and get down to activities closer to your heart.
Music and movement for Ella
An event that the wonderful SACO Bath team have developed and will be hosting.
So we will be there on 15 August - thinking about you lots and lots as ever. It's the same day that the A level results will be be out - so a big day all round.
Lots of love
Mum
xxx
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Another moment
Dear Ella,
But not in Asda! This time in the car park behind the M Shed - just walking home minding my own business, when suddenly in front of me there appeared two boys/lads dressed as strawberries - I kid you not!
Of European descent, late teens, early 20's, babbling away in a language that was not English - and looking like strawberries.
I carried on, but did turn round to take a second look and make sure I hadn't imagined it - no I hadn't!
Lots of love
Mum
xxx
But not in Asda! This time in the car park behind the M Shed - just walking home minding my own business, when suddenly in front of me there appeared two boys/lads dressed as strawberries - I kid you not!
Of European descent, late teens, early 20's, babbling away in a language that was not English - and looking like strawberries.
I carried on, but did turn round to take a second look and make sure I hadn't imagined it - no I hadn't!
Lots of love
Mum
xxx
Monday, 29 July 2013
An Asda moment
Dear Ella,
Am Still trudging down to Asda to stock up on food for the week, as ever there is always some kind of an experience to see or edge around. Do you remember the night the man got arrested at the till next to us, and there was the day we pretended we were on the french riviera - catching the sun whilst the car was treated to a wash and polish up?
Anyway - tonight as I came out - there was a huge seagull eating a bag of Monster Munch crisps - couldn't see if they were pickled onion or roast beef flavour, but it was a strange sight to behold - and somewhat surreal.
Lots of love
Mum
xxx
Didn't think to get a picture on my phone, but if I had - it might have looked a bit like this
Am Still trudging down to Asda to stock up on food for the week, as ever there is always some kind of an experience to see or edge around. Do you remember the night the man got arrested at the till next to us, and there was the day we pretended we were on the french riviera - catching the sun whilst the car was treated to a wash and polish up?
Anyway - tonight as I came out - there was a huge seagull eating a bag of Monster Munch crisps - couldn't see if they were pickled onion or roast beef flavour, but it was a strange sight to behold - and somewhat surreal.
Lots of love
Mum
xxx
Didn't think to get a picture on my phone, but if I had - it might have looked a bit like this
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Great news
Dear Ella,
Great news......
After heavy rainfall my water but is full again :) For the first time since Bob installed it two years ago, it had actually reached empty after all my recent busy watering activity. So that's a relief - I can sleep again!
Still on the heady note of gardening, I can proudly report that I have received a "good garden" award - just like last year, and that was despite my bumper broad bean crop being long finished!
Are you rolling your eyes yet?
Lots of love
Mum
xx
Great news......
After heavy rainfall my water but is full again :) For the first time since Bob installed it two years ago, it had actually reached empty after all my recent busy watering activity. So that's a relief - I can sleep again!
Still on the heady note of gardening, I can proudly report that I have received a "good garden" award - just like last year, and that was despite my bumper broad bean crop being long finished!
Are you rolling your eyes yet?
Lots of love
Mum
xx
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Every day is a learning day
Dear Ella,
Every day is a learning day - boy am I learning!
I learnt two things today.
1. Your sister really is nearly 18, she is no longer my "little girl". Of course I have known that for ages and been trying to come to terms with it, but this afternoon a real moment of clarity. I was walking home from work minding my own business, and was aware of two girls walking towards me and thought "they are about Ella's age" - low and behold it was Sophie and a friend (the lovely Holly). 17 going on 20. That's good right?
2. Sun Dog - you know on your day back in November at Woodlands- there was a bright light in the sky that everyone talked about and took photos of? Well I learnt tonight that it's called a Sun Dog or a Mock Sun. Stevie came to see me and we had such a lovely time chatting about you, Ashton Park days, life, the universe and well "Sun Dogs".
Every day is a learning day - boy am I learning!
I learnt two things today.
1. Your sister really is nearly 18, she is no longer my "little girl". Of course I have known that for ages and been trying to come to terms with it, but this afternoon a real moment of clarity. I was walking home from work minding my own business, and was aware of two girls walking towards me and thought "they are about Ella's age" - low and behold it was Sophie and a friend (the lovely Holly). 17 going on 20. That's good right?
2. Sun Dog - you know on your day back in November at Woodlands- there was a bright light in the sky that everyone talked about and took photos of? Well I learnt tonight that it's called a Sun Dog or a Mock Sun. Stevie came to see me and we had such a lovely time chatting about you, Ashton Park days, life, the universe and well "Sun Dogs".
Sundogs may appear as a coloured patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22° distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun, and in ice halos. They can be seen anywhere in the world during any season, but they are not always obvious or bright. Sundogs are best seen and are most conspicuous when the sun is low.
Thank you Stevie
Lots of love
Mum
xxx
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Ella's Sun Dog |
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