So, we got up, got organised and set off for MK, and we managed to arrive on time!  But, in the hurry to leave the house, we had left our race numbers and pins on top of the piano! So, we found the relevant tent, and were re-issued our numbers, but alas, no pins to pin them on with…Now, I would love to say at this point that I am such a great mother, and in my back pocket I had an emergency sewing kit, but, that would be lying, so, instead, we headed over to the various stalls around and asked if anyone possibly had a pin or two…no luck, then, I spotted the First Aid tent…surely they would have a few pins, they didn’t, but they had some tape, so we set to, taping our numbers to our tops, hoping the tape would last for the 5km!

The weather was gorgeous, and we set off to find the start line…the girls kept asking me if it was anything like the London marathon, yes, in some ways it was, the atmosphere was fantastic, but it was so much more relaxed! There was a huge warm up session going on; there were bouncy castles and stalls selling a variety of odds and ends…and yes! I did end up treating the girls to some pink fairy wings and a sparkly pink cowgirl hat each! For me, it was just so lovely, to be sharing this experience with my girls…they didn’t know what to expect, and where totally enthralled by the whole experience. We saw some familiar faces from Buckingham, and giggled at some of the outfits some people were wearing.

The hardest bit before the start was writing on the sign we would wear on our backs which would show everyone why we were running….Emily, chose to simply write “Alec xxxxxxxx” Sophie wanted “Alec, my buddy” and although I had a million words I wanted to put on mine, I simply stuck with “Alec, the little man with stars in his head”…that was hard, and between us, we did have a moment and shared a cuddle.  The girls at this point started to read other signs, the messages some people had were really tear jerking, when you see a little girl the same sort of size as your 8 year old with “for my mum” on their back…well, it sort of hits home really. All I could do at this stage was hold on to my girls tight and tell them I loved them.

We knew we were on a time limit, so there was no messing around at the start, and we made sure we got as near to the front as we possibly could…we followed the crowd round to the start, counted down from 10 and then we were off!  Sophie “little legs” was keen to start with a sprint, having absolutely no idea about starting off slowly and working up to a constant speed!! Bless her, she kept saying, “come on you two, I have to get back”, but half a km in, she slowed down admitting she was tired!!! We plodded on, admiring the sights, reading the messages of the people in front, all the while, discussing the weather (there was no shade and it was really hot at this stage) and deciding what to have for supper, anything to keep distracted and keep going!

We spurred each other on, holding hands at times, it was a lovely experience, having seven children, although I do try my hardest to spend time with each of them individually, it is not always that easy, but, doing something with just my girls, for me, selfishly, I cherished every moment…I am so proud of them both…I really am.  When we got to the 6oo metre mark, unlike in London, I had the energy to really go for it and get to the finish line, we all sprinted the last bit and over the line…and Sophie did get an extra special cheer from the crowd as she is so small…we fell into a huge hug and congratulated ourselves for managing to do it in 41 minutes and 36 seconds… we were given our medals and goodie bags, and then dashed off to find the boys and get to the car for the next bit!!

We didn’t make the dancing, but the children had a ball at the school fete, so they didn’t really mind too much, I think the girls were so proud of themselves and the boys, well, boys are boys aren’t they? An ice cream, a stick-on tattoo and some new books and toys from the bric a brac stall…they were happy enough!

We left the fete and dashed back to Mk to do some shopping, and then back home again for pizza and a chill out, at which point I did sneak off to have a bath, during which Sophie appeared in the bathroom and simply said, “Mum can we do it again next year, but because I will be a bit bigger and stronger, can we do the 10k instead?…I will admit now…its tempting!

I have had the usual chaotic evening this evening, dropping the three eldest off to three different parties at three different times! I am now sitting quietly listening to my youngest four play. While I have two minutes peace, I have been reading up on some information. Here’s something for you to think about this weekend….

Every day in the UK ten families are told they have a child suffering from some form of cancer, another way of looking at this, is; In the UK, around one child in every five hundred will develop some form of cancer by the time they are 14 years old. Now, I have no problem holding my hands up and admitting that I do have the “it won’t happen to me” attitude. But, what if it did happen to me? I know I have some amazing friends around me, but I also know, I would need more than just my friends. I would need the guidance and support of the professionals.

Clic Sargent is the only children’s cancer charity that provides all round care, not only for the child, but for the entire family. Now I am not saying everyone needs to hand over as much money as they possibly can, I just want to point out that even a couple of pounds can make a difference…

£1.50 – can buy a set of storybooks that explains cancer to younger children.. putting cancer into words and pictures that they can relate to, this is an important way of helping the child understand what is happening to them.

£8.00 – can pay for a DVD to help prepare a young person with cancer to return to school. Not only does it help keep them up to date with their studies, it helps them to deal with the emotional challenges of seeing friends and teachers again.

£15.00 – could pay for some toys for the children to play with whilst in one of the Homes from Home, which enables families to stay close to the hospital where their child is being treated.

£20.00 – could pay for a Clic Sargent play specialist to help a child prepare for and cope with treatment. This is done by using models, toys and photos. A calm child makes treatment easier to give and can also be more effective.

£32.00 – can pay for a day’s meals for a family of four staying in the Clic Sargent holiday home Malcolm Sargent House on the Ayrshire coast. The house offers breaks and specialist weekends for young people, siblings and bereaved families.

£50.00 - could pay for a Clic Sargent Social worker to talk to the family very soon after the diagnosis, as every family is different, the social worker will have to assess their individual needs, and offer them appropriate support and services.

£90.00 – could pay for a support group for the siblings of children having treatment. A Clic Sargent social worker will help them to understand what is happening, which can help them cope during this time

£100 – could pay for a benefits advisor to help several families apply for state benefits. Cancer can have a huge effect on a family’s finances, but the benefits application process can be lengthy and complex, putting an extra strain on the family’s’ relationships and ability to cope at a very difficult time.

£180 - could pay for a bowling session and pizza afterwards for 10 young people with cancer. Activities like this are vital for young people to get together and feel “normal”

£200 – could pay for a Community Support Grant to help families meet the cost of any extra support they might need to maintain normal life – like childcare, home help, ironing, shopping and so on. This allows parents to spend more time at hospital with their poorly child.

£ 250 – could pay for a day’s professional training for two of Clic Sargents care staff. This will ensure that they are equipped with the right skills, knowledge and understanding to  help children with cancer and their families, whatever it takes.

£400 - could pay for accommodation for a family at a Clic Sargent Homes from Home for a fortnight. Here, they can stay together within walking distance of the hospital where their child is being treated, bear in mind, the hospital isn’t always near to where they live. If they are well enough, the child can stay there too.

£950 - could pay for a specialist break for a bereaved family, allowing them to spend time together and with other bereaved families. Talking to people who understand, in a supportive environment can, provide real comfort.

£2,500 – could pay for a discussion day for 20 children and young people with cancer. The children and young people Clic Sargent support are at the heart of what the charity does, and these structured sessions mean that the children/young people can voice their opinions and views therefore enabling the services to be developed accordingly.

£4,200 – could pay for a CLIC Sargent Social Worker to support families for a month. The social workers help the whole family, including siblings and grandparents, to understand and cope with the emotional, practical and financial affects of cancer, from the very moment their child is diagnosed.

£10,000 - could pay for the running costs and site fees of a Clic Sargent holiday caravan for half a year. Families in desperate need of a break can stay in a self-contained caravan in a well-equipped holiday park.

Ok, so, the facts may seem boring, but just stop and really think, what happens if your child is that “one”? I bet you, one of the first places you are going to turn is Clic Sargent. Yes, it is a huge charity, but remember, it is a charity, and honestly every little bit does help. Until recently I thought children had to spend days, weeks even, in hospital whilst having chemo. I didn’t realise that some of these children can actually receive their treatment at home, staying with their families in a place that they are comfortable in. This wouldn’t be possible without the Clic Sargent nurses. The more I find out about what Clic Sargent does, the more I am honestly amazed. Witnessing as close as I do,  how much support they give to families; their dedication is a godsend….

I am also over the moon that Benji will be joining me next year… I cannot put into words how much it meant to me this year to have him with me for the ten miles we did together, and the thought of him screaming at me for the whole 26.2 miles, well, let’s put it this way, there are no words to be honest. I just can’t wait.

Anyway, in the meantime, I have nothing really to say, so, I am leaving you with this musical interlude to keep you entertained until I have something interesting to say!!

With such lovely evenings, I am hoping I will actually start enjoying the whole “running” experience…
The alternative was sorting this lot out, the dreaded sock pile…this is caused by 6 months of neglect…

I am beginning to think the whole running lark may just grow on me…..

I made the kids their breakfast and literally gagged down my porridge. Having eaten so much porridge and pasta before the marathon, I am in no rush to eat either again. By the time I had dressed myself and pointed the children in the direction of their clothes, it was time for me to say good bye to them. I had decided to travel down to London by train with my friend Rachael without the children, just so I could have a little while to get out of “mummy” mode and into “marathon runner” mode. I will say at this point I didn’t really ever manage to get my head round the enormity of the whole event…I was nervous; there’s no other way to say it.. A moment of slight panic on the train was caused by us checking the tracker I was to wear so that Mix 96 could follow my progress. We were very near London but, the tracker was saying I was still at home. A phone call later, for a bit of technical support, and it was sorted.  We arrived in Euston and swiftly headed towards the underground. It was here, I was approached by a woman and her dad, she had seen me wearing my CLIC hoody. We got chatting, she is a social worker for CLIC Sargent in Birmingham, when I told her why I was running the marathon; she started crying and her dad simply kissed me on the cheek, luckily I didn’t have time to think…I had a train to catch; otherwise, I would have been a blubbing mess too!

Suddenly, every other person seemed to be carrying a red London Marathon bag…the train was full of runners and for a moment I felt like a fraud! I was still struggling to get my head into gear and focus. I just kept thinking the worst…I won’t do it, I can’t do it. However hard I tried, I couldn’t get a positive thought into my head, it was an awful experience.. The train pulled up and I knew time was not on our side, we had to get a move on, and so, we became part of the mass of people with red bags and trainers…and scuttled towards the start line. Why oh why did they put the start at the top of a hill? That’s just not fair. But, I guess, it helped with the warming up. We reached the point of absolutely no return, I had to say good bye to Rachael, and I will admit now, I did have a sneaky cry…it reminded me of boarding school, the dread in the pit of your stomach as you gave your parents that final kiss and cuddle goodbye at the start of term, when all you really want to do, is get back in the car with them and go home….I gave Rachael a hug and a kiss and just walked off…I couldn’t even turn around to wave. I finally reached the top of the hill, people were crowded in the pens waiting to go, I made a final check to make sure I had everything I needed on me, and went to find the truck that would take my bag to the finish line. Bloody typical…mine was the furthest away! As time was ticking by, I jogged to the truck and handed over my bag, forgetting to take out my bottle of water. I got to the pen, hearing Ant and Dec giving the commentary over the loudspeaker, and joined the masses. Seeing the man who intends to crawl round made me smile and think of a few emails I have had recently, seeing the man with the washing machine on his back, and so many other amazing outfits,  all in all, it was an amazing sight. It was at this point as the crowd was moving forward, I remembered I hadn’t been to the loo, the nearest ones that I could see were back through the barriers, seeing as I was near enough the back already, I didn’t dare go as I had a feeling that by the time I got back to the pen everyone would have left, leaving me to start the marathon on my own! Again it all became a bit too much, and the tears started. No! I am not normally such a wimp, but after six months and more of building up to this day, things just weren’t going to plan. Luckily for me, I received a text from my lovely friend Lindsay, which managed to get me back on track…it read ”thinking of you, you go girl, see u later x” believe me, that couldn’t have come at a better time, I texted straight back to say I was having a wobbly moment, and received a text back to say ”Chin up mate, Cry when u reach the mall, I will give you a cuddle later xxx”

This is what I mean about the support, I have honestly made some lifelong friends, without whom, I couldn’t have done this… The next couple of texts I received were from my kids, the first one said ”making sure you’re ok, we’ll see you soon” and from my Emily, which read ”C’mon mummy! You can do it! Get to the finish line, remember, its all about the taking part and finishing before the running washing machine!! don’t worry if the crawler person gets in front of you, just keep breathing calmly!! Love you GOOD LUCK!!!!!”

I replied just as I was getting to the start line, and then, that was it…I was running…

The first mile, not even three minutes in, the men were lined up alongside the road making me feel really jealous!! But, I just didn’t feel right about doing a Paula Radcliffe so early on, so I kept my eyes open for the first sign for the loos. I carried on jogging and was amazed, I had read about and heard about the support, but from the minute go, the crowd was amazing. The weather was lovely, too lovely to be honest, by the time I came across the priest who was spraying the runners with holy water…it truly was a God send. Finally, I reached the first loo stop, and the queue was about 10,000 deep. Ok maybe not that many, but, I couldn’t see the point in stopping and waiting, I would rather just push on to the next one…

At which point, Andy texted me, which made me smile ”What a lovely day for a run” to which I very politely (well, sort of politely) replied that it was far too hot!! He did then text and ask how the leg was, but, I didn’t reply at that time, as it was feeling ok and I didn’t want to tempt fate…

So, I carried on, the sides of the roads were full of people shouting us all on, the kiddies held out their little hands for a high five. It was somewhere along this stretch that I remembered the advice I had been given…start off slowly! Oops! I slowed down to a fast walk and past the next block of loos! The queue here was huge too! I hadn’t bothered with my iPod at all, mainly because I didn’t have time to put it on before I set off. But I wasn’t actually that bothered, I didn’t want to miss out on the atmosphere. It was during mile 3 that I got talking to a lady, Patti was her name, she was absolutely lovely…we shared stories, jogged a little, walked a bit. Time was passing fairly quickly by now, as was the need for a wee. As we passed a huge group of very enthusiastic people outside a pub, we looked at each other and sort of silently agreed…we nipped through the crowd and ran into the pub loo! I made a quick phone call to Rachael to tell her I was in the pub! And then we set of again. As it was so hot, we made sure we grabbed a bottle of water at every drink stop, and Lucozade at every alternate one. We got into a rhythm, walk a bit, jog a bit, it was all going ok. The miles seemed to be passing fairly quickly, the only problem being, not only were the miles marked out by huge great big red and white pillars and balloons, the kilometres where marked out too. This did get a bit confusing, when all you are looking for is the next mile mark in the distance and you see what you think is it, only to find out that is just a km mark, at some stages round the course this felt like mental torture!

I was amazed at the amount of people who, don’t get me wrong were amazingly encouraging but blimey, they were drunk. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like a drink or two, but before midday?! Nevertheless, they were fantastic at shouting us on our way!

We passed mile seven, then I saw Rachael in the crowd, we had a quick hug and a chat and I set off again…the crowds at this stage where huge, the screaming and shouting and chanting was unbelievable. Then in the distance I saw a group of small, medium and large people in white t shirts…”the clan”! I cannot put into words how pleased I was to see them, I hadn’t been told where they would be, or how many times I would see them….I ran, oh how I ran, my kids screaming at me…it was truly magical. I stopped for a cuddle or seven, ok maybe nine! And a quick top up of water and a few jelly beans…

And then, I was off again, I caught up with Patti and we carried on in our stride until I saw another group of people who had come down for the day…my little buddy’s dad being one of them, again hugs and kisses, and a few words and I set off again. I stuck with Patti, my running buddy, until…I felt my leg playing up, panic set in, I carried on, but it was getting worse and worse until, I knew I had to do something, so, I rang Andy, who was lying in his garden enjoying the sunshine, so he told me (Oh and suffering with flu!) We decided it would be a good idea for me to pull over and have a good stretch…so, I did as I was told (for once) and it seemed to help for a little while, but I was still in a lot of pain, and bless him, Lindsay again, right on cue, texted me to say “ You’re doing well. Keep going xxx” so, I did! I approached Tower Bridge and Rachael rang me to ask where I was, I hadn’t seen anyone for what seemed like a lifetime, so I was really pleased that she would be on the bridge…the run up to the bridge was fantastic, the noise coming from the spectators spurred us all on,  then, I saw the first CLIC supporters group…I ran past laughing as they screamed at me and somewhere on a loudspeaker I heard someone saying “Well done Sarah running for CLIC Sargent…keep going”…I ran off the bridge, missing Rachael, but that’s another story, something to do with her going to London Bridge not Tower Bridge, say no more on that one. Eventually I reached the bit that I had been warned about…The Highway, the part of the marathon, where you still have about thirteen miles to run and down the other side of the road, thousands of people are on their way back, having only got about four miles left to the finish line…it was here, things really started to go wrong. I had to do something, fast. I jogged, then walked and finally gave into the pain, and hobbled over to the St John’s Ambulance people…I could hardly speak. I took a deep breath and said, I need a massage or something…please…they all stood around and looked at me, I tried to explain that my leg was about to fall off, and could someone please just give me a massage, mainly to help with the cramp, again, they looked at me, and then had a discussion. Now, can you bear in mind, at this point of the marathon, we are on a road that is divided only by metal barriers, there are thousands of people running the other way down the road, there are hundreds of people lining the road cheering us on…so, when the SJA people asked if I would mind pulling down my leggings so they could massage me without the material interfering…well, my mind started working overtime, trying to remember exactly what knickers I had put on that morning…when I remembered that they weren’t a lovely pair of La Perla ones, I quickly replied that I didn’t have time and could they just do it over the top of my leggings! Ok, I guess, had I dropped my leggings at that stage, a few thousand people would be grateful, as their finish time would have been so much quicker, but, me being me, wasn’t willing to reveal my Tesco bought pants!

So, I stood leaning against the railings while some poor girl tried to help, I knew at this stage, I had lost my running buddy as there was no way I could catch her up, and I also knew, that despite her best efforts, the whole ten minutes had been a complete waste of time…but, I thanked her, and gave her the information she needed, and swiftly moved on. So, I was on my own…I needed a little boost, so I plugged in my iPod and listened to Green Day as I walked on and on, I ended up only putting in one earplug as the crowd was so loud I couldn’t really hear the music…I came across another group of St John’s Ambulance people, and again asked for help, I directed my plea at a bloke this time…knowing that he wouldn’t ask me to remove my leggings!! But, also knowing that maybe he would be slightly more use, he massaged my leg and as I walked away, I could actually feel a bit of a difference! I met up with someone else and we got chatting, so, again, the iPod was turned off. And then again, in the distance I saw my kids…I jogged up to them and again, lots of kisses and hugs, albeit sticky ones as they were enjoying an ice cream in the sunshine. It was here I noticed Jai was not right, my heart sank, he looked awful. He was in the pram, white as a sheet. Oh, how I was torn I knew I needed to carry on, but I just wanted to stop and make sure he was ok.

My eldest, seeing the look on my face decided to snap me out of it…wearing a pair of Toms on his feet, he announced he was joining me…so, off we went, now, this is the person, who came first in the “26 people run a mile though the village” and for him, running a mile, usually takes about 5 minutes (no, he doesn’t get it from me) so, I warned him, not to nag me, not to make me run, but just to go along with me. I was still in a bit of pain, but, I knew I only had 10 miles left to do…we walked, we jogged, we laughed at the amazing atmosphere…Benji tried to get me to run, but, I just couldn’t do it….

The texts messages kept coming, every so often, both Andy and Lindsay would text me encouraging me to carry on…They were truly amazing, and I will always remember the support they showed me…

Mile 17 passed, and then mile 18, it was here I was surprised by my kids again…who had met up with Rachael.

After which they had jumped on the Docklands light railway and made it just in time to shout a bit more…

At this point there was some confusion, another runner had lost count of the miles and thought we were a mile ahead of ourselves…I knew we weren’t, but there was a glimmer of doubt and yes, hope…but, alas, no! We were where we thought we were, I don’t remember a lot about the next couple of miles, I know, my little buddy’s dad joined us at some stage at about mile 22 and we walked together for a little time, which was great … I also know, that as I passed each mile marker there was a huge sense of relief, and emotions started to get the better of me again, I was hot, I was tired and I was thinking of a certain small person who wouldn’t be at the finish line. Just as I was about to yet again, totally fall apart…my kids where all sitting by the side of the road, I didn’t stop I carried on, knowing if I had stopped for even a second, then that would be it! Then, there it was in front of us, mile 25…oh! Did that mile marker give me a boost! Benji asked if I could manage a jog…I looked at him, and spurred on by the people along the side of the road, I actually managed to jog! Not for long, but long enough to make mile 26 arrive even quicker! I knew that once I saw Big Ben, I was so close to the finish…the excitement of seeing the London Eye, Big Ben and then my kids…helped me to put one foot in front of the other…I had so nearly done it, but boy, that last mile and a bit, dragged on and on and on! Benji couldn’t come over the finish line with me, so, he said goodbye to me by the Houses of Parliament…and I was left to do the last stretch on my own. The last 800 metres are marked out, at the 600 metre mark, someone in the crowd shouted “come on Sarah, only 600 metres to go” I did manage to shout back to them something about it feeling like another 600 miles, I turned the corner and saw the finish line, I couldn’t contain my excitement anymore…I ran over that finish line, and yes, I cried!! The relief, the pride, the pain, and then, I received my medal!!! …I did it! I bloody did it!

I had imagined getting home having a relaxing bath, maybe a glass of wine and a DVD, but, oh no! My life is never that simple…we ended up getting home, I did manage a very quick dip, and then it was off to A and E with Jai…

Will I do it again? Absolutely yes! I have no doubt about that at all, I have already signed up for the Race for Life in a few weeks! Did I ever even think about catching the marathon bug? No! I honestly didn’t, I didn’t think I would ever wear a pair of trainers again…but, as we all know very well, life is full of surprises!

Whilst I was trying to sort out the pile of washing that has grown to the size of a small mountain over the past couple of days, Oliver brought me an envelope through…

I have just been sent a cheque for £200 from AD Taxis the taxi company that the village school use to ferry the children to and from school. I am absolutely thrilled! We are getting closer and closer to the £10,000, with four more weeks left to raise the money, I have a feeling we may just do it.

Thank you AD Taxis! s xx

What an amazing day, what amazing friends I have and what amazing pain I am in today…

Thank you to everyone for your help and support s xx

If you tune in to the tv this morning, please do look out for me…My number is, 38179, I will be the one with the massive bags under my eyes, from lack of sleep….Otherwise, if you fancy a giggle and want to track me, the number is 07849317222

Mix 96 are hopefully following me too, so, tune in and have a listen..but, can you please note that the interview was held right in the middle of Olivers birthday party…I am sure “proper runners” get a studio or something and dont have to answer questions whilst  juggling cakes and kids…

Anyway, must dash, I have a marathon to do! 

Tonight, I am a bag of nerves..I would like to say that somewhere underneath the nerves is a little flutter of excitement too, but right now, I can’t feel it, its lost somewhere… So, rather than spending hours trying to find it, I am going to go to bed and try to sleep…

s xx

Its my Oli’s tenth birthday today, and for me, it has been an up and down day, mainly because, we met through you and Oli being at preschool together…It has brought back some memories for me, the first one being the first picnic we all went on…your dad brought strawberries…my absolute favourite, we hardly knew each other, and you kids went off to play,  the strawberries were just shouting at me…eventually, I think your dad saw me drooling and offered me one!! A firm friendship was made from that moment on…bless him…little did he realise how much he would have to put up with me over the years, but, your dad to me, is like my big brother, and your mum…well, her honesty, kindness, compassion, and her stepping into my mum’s shoes and telling me off every so often, her straight talking and no messing attitude,  well, I just love her to bits…which leads me to number 2,

You were a fantastic host! Any excuse to make me a cup of tea…since you learnt how to make the “perfect cuppa” you would be a perfect gent and constantly ask me if I needed another cup…you and Emily would sneak off to the kitchen and giggle together whilst making it, knowing you two, you were probably putting salt or something in it…but having said that, you always managed to make great cup of tea

3 , watching you all in the paddling pool during the summer, we had some great times in the garden, you all loved the pool…you could be out there for hours all of you…eventually turning slightly blue with the cold…I can picture you all now, standing there, teeth chattering…but not wanting to get out and get warm…

4, Bbqs, you lot kicking around a football with the older crew…us oldies would be sitting and nattering and you lot would spend hours playing footie, you loved football, you really did…your favourite team being Man U…which is where I struggle, I will always be a Liverpool supporter..So, I think I will leave this here!!!

5, You and Jaicob, every morning from when Jai was a babe in the pram, you would come over and say morning to him…When he started preschool, he would kiss Oli goodbye and then you, but, you didn’t just get a kiss, you would get a hug too! he loved you so much and the pair of you had a fantastically cheeky bond…you were both so similar in many ways, the cheeky little grins and giggles…Oh and I made your mum laugh the other day, when I told her how Jaicobs’ parents evening went… the more I think about it, you weren’t just similar, you were scarily similar in so many ways!!

But that’s a good thing…honestly!

6, You came across as cheeky, you were cheeky, but with a heart of gold. You were a fantastic uncle to both your nephews, and to my small ones you had such a tender way about you. I cannot put into words what it was like watching you sometimes…you were such a caring little man…you didn’t like anyone to be upset when they were with you, and you always tried so hard to cheer the small ones up (and yes, sometimes the big people)…even when they were throwing a complete strop! (the small ones!) Bless you for trying with my lot, they are a stubborn bunch! But, you never gave up until you got a smile out of whomever it was that was sad….

7. Wendover woods, we went for a picnic and you ended up walking for miles and miles with my lot and Paul. Me, your mum and dad, sat and talked, and a few hours later, started wondering where you had all got to, but you all arrived back, eventually, full of stories of what you had been up to. It was a lovely day; I just wish we could have had a few more…

8, Swimming with you, you little fish you! Now, there are so many memories to do with swimming with you and your dad I can’t list them all. You promised you would teach Jai to dive for the weights, but you didn’t feel up to it on Jai’s birthday, Jaicob is so sad that it won’t be you teaching him…but I know you will be watching him learn and laughing at him, but still encouraging him to do it, in your own cheeky way!

9, You nagging me to do more training! Oh you used to go on and on at me, and it was always before school therefore before 9 in the morning, meaning, I hadn’t even had a cup of coffee yet!! Bless you, you would nag me, and nag me and nag me…and then I would feel guilty and have to go out for a run, just so I could tell you I had done…

10, You loved my dog…to begin with, I have a feeling you were scared of him, but, you would never admit it…but, as time passed by, you loved ragging around with him!

11, I loved you coming round to our house for tea! You just fitted in with my lot…hence the reason I saw you as one of my own, you would help lay the table, and afterwards, fill the dishwasher and clear the table and muck in with the clan as if you were part of it all the time…I really loved that…

12, You telling Paul he looked stressed…haha! it still makes me laugh…his hair sticking up all over the place, him really stressing and you walking into the kitchen totally oblivious and asking really calmly “Paul, are you stressed?”  I asked you how you knew and you just simply said “I can tell by the hair”…oh how I laughed…it was just one of those “moments”

13,  You and your big brother… god, honestly, the bond between you two was amazing, he misses you so much, you were his little buddy. I know you are there watching him, but its still very hard Al, we all miss you.

14, Your birthday, oh, so many happy memories, you were so lucky, your dad knows how to throw a party! We have had some fantastic times on your birthday, so many people, so much fun, and that was what you were about. Fun and people…and that’s what made you happy.

15, Your big sister, we always said you had been here before; you sometimes could be such an old man! You worried about your sister, but she is fine, the boys are keeping her busy, of course she is sad, and you know that, but we also know, you are with her and the boys and that helps a great deal…

16, You learning judo and managing to get my Benji down in one move…not only that, you managed to whack his head on the sofa as he went…well done you! Still, it didn’t knock any sense into him…

17, Your love of wrestling, none of mine were really into it, except the eldest years ago, but I was so pleased that you and your mum and dad were able to have a VIP trip to the O2 to see the wrestling…not sure who enjoyed it more, you or your dad, but, I am honestly really happy that lots of planning and help from the right people enabled you all to have that experience…and a huge thanks to Rachael’s mum for sorting it out…honestly, when you rang me, you sounded like you were ready to burst! This memory also makes me smile…

That’s the thing about you, my little buddy, you managed to keep everyone smiling, you had this amazing presence about you…every child is special in their own way, But you, my little man, were one in a million, you touched so many people in such a small amount of time…all of us who knew you, have honestly been blessed, you brought so much to our lives…ok, so, a lot of cheek too, but not cheek in a nasty way, just cheek in your way…just you being you, you were such a character that once met..you couldn’t help but love…I miss your way Al, I really do, you brought so much delight to me and my kids…well, things just won’t be the same anymore…

18, You had a thing about bathing Jaicob when he was little…and you always insisted on washing his hair, oh and flooding my bathroom time and time again in the process…

19, Your impression of the Dancing Dodo from the 5 alive ad…how funny was that? you nailed it…and made me split my sides laughing….chuckling to myself now….

20, I remember how much you loved your spaghetti bolognaise…and how much you hated spicy food, you were so much like your dad…in so many ways…

21, Your determination on the Wii, oh the competition could sometimes get very fierce between all you kids…but, at least you would all eventually walk away and forget the fact that minutes before you had been squabbling over whatever game it was you were playing…

22, Your strength and courage throughout your illness, you were amazing little man, you really were, you didn’t complain, didn’t moan, you just got on with it…you, are an absolute inspiration to us all, I will never, ever forget how you kept your bloody cheeky ways even when you were so poorly…or, how you managed to keep the nurses at the hospice amused with your cheeky comments…You, young sir, actually put us all to shame…brave isn’t the right word for you…you were more than that..

23, Bonfire night…well, that was always a blast! Whether it was pouring with rain, or just chilly, we always had a fab time…all of us did…so many happy memories, too many to list… Snowy days, how much fun were they? And Halloween, traipsing round the village…all dressed up…I could go on and on and on…

24, Bike, scooter, go carting round the village…”choose a vehicle and let’s get going” you were all such a sight…each of you on something with wheels and trying to go “off-roading”…need I say more…

25, Your absolute love of the colour orange…swiftly followed by lime green…”orange?” not a normal boring colour like, blue, red or green…but that was you all over, always..just slightly different than everyone else…which, was amazing…but, I did stress over finding orange clothes for all of us to wear to your special day “the celebration of Al’s life”  I stood in a few shops, looking round and honestly cursing…”for God’s sake Al, Orange??? There’s nothing orange in here”….

26, Your love of music, especially Pink…fantastic taste little man, that’s all I can say!

.2 But…Here I am back at Oli’s birthday, and you aren’t here with us…well, not here, here, but, I know you are always here in our hearts and our memories. You, my little buddy, will always be with all of us, you were truly one in a million. Thank you for being my little buddy and thank you for bringing such joy to our lives….s xx