Hello everyone
I start this entry in the middle of a thunder, lightening and hail storm. Very unseasonable weather! This morning started out bright and sunny and though the forecast was for all of the above, I still hoped that it would miss us....not so, but I got all the washing dry and still had my 11am coffee on the garden bench. Now it`s so dark it might well be nearing 7pm than 2pm. We`ve never had a storm since Jake came to live with us and I wondered what he be like, but I needn`t have worried because after the initial `crash` of thunder where he jumped up and looked around, he then resumed his deep sleep and presumably carried on dreaming about doggy things.
Today I`m going to post something a little different. Whilst reading the paper this morning at breakfast...yesterdays in fact.... I`m always a day behind with the paper, I came across a story that was both tragic and heart-warming and even early in the morning when I`m never at my best, it left me with both tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. I`ll just explain the story first.
Helen Harcombe was a 28yr old wife and mother whose short life was lost to cancer just a few days after Christmas. When she found out she had only 6 months to live she wrote for her husband Anthony a " mummy manual" to help him with the upbringing of their 7 yr old daughte Ffion. This is the exact text:
"" Dinner money in envelope every Monday.
Check school bag every night for spelling/letters.
Tuck money - PE kit check days - liase Karen. PE Wednesday Friday.
Uniform bought every Sept. - Marks and Spencers only! tried all the others - do not wash or wear - cardigan, trousers , tights, socks, skirt, dress + and short sleeve shirts ( posh pintuck nicest) you should also be able to use the previous years if tidy enough if not chuck out- no daughter of mine to look scruffy. Always new school coat in Sept. - practical but trendy.
Check hair for nits regularly - Tea tree shampoo & condioner - bath and hair every other night, at least. No child of mine to be smelly.
Regular trims on hair - may need extra conditioner or leave-in conditioner for knots. Ensure hair is tied back for school - neat parting, no bump. Smooth with tail comb if necessary, ensure fixed with spray and hairspay to keep neat and no straggly bits.
Dress her trendily out of school - boot-cut jeans, trendy boots, go to tidy shops not Woolworths or Oxfam! Have a look in catalogues like Next to see what is trendy for little girls.
School shoes from Clarks + get measured in Clarks - once sure of size u can buy elsewhere but school shoes from Clarks - check feet regularly so they do not outgrow and hurt feet.
Xmas always new Pj + slippers + summer PJs.
Bedding should be changed once a fortnight or more if sweaty or accidents happen.
House polished right through once a week. Should vacuum more often especially downstairs.
Scrub bathroom at least once a week + kitchen sink - more if necessary.
Regularly bank Fi money either in Bradford and Bingley or Lloyds - she has two accounts.
Xmas time, don`t forget smaller things like stocking fillers to make it look more + fill the stockings - chocs, bobbles, clips, make-up, jokes stuff, girly fun etc.
Make sure serve food with veg/peas - get fruit down her - don`t let her eat out of cans, noodles + toast etc.
Before long put lock on bathroom door - she will appreciate that as she gets older.
Give her a hand washing obsession B4 food after toilet etc.
Flowers to me at least Mothers day, my birthday, Fi`s birthday, our anniversary, Christmas etc but in between would be nice.
Don`t just take down my photos, keep them safe for Ffion.
Keep her swimming - v important.
Go to parents evenings - all of them - homework. Keep eye out for bullying, problems at school..
Keep in touch with Fi`s god-parents + my friends especially Mom and Dad or I`ll haunt you!
10 comments:
OH THAT IS SO TOUCHING...............
Wow...if you read in my journal about my "friend" from my past who has ALS and will die while her daughter is young this really hits home. Makes me KNOW we have to appreciate every day God gives us and to be grateful. How sad but what a lucky man to have a wife who loves her child so....
Lisa :)
Time for me to quit reading today. I am crying too much.
Sandra, I read that whole article as well and it made me cry, beautiful and such a brave brave lady. So sad her daughter will grow up without her but a very heartwarming story indeed.xxxx
Oh, I know exactly what you mean about having tears in your eyes and a smile on your face after reading this. So sad, but very practical, and when she's older the daughter will be able to look at this list and read between the lines how much her Mother loved her.
Sara x
Just visiting the Journals of those who have left comments in mine. I enjoyed browsing around. Very nice Journal. I see you are English. I'm an American but I love UK football and follow Gravesend Northfleet on the internet. Up the Fleet!
Well that certainly made me stop and think. Been fretting 'cause a friend pointed out to me, that I will get a life if I get a wheelchair. Can't walk far. I now consider myself a very lucky person. Thanks Sandra for this entry and putting me back on track.
Sylvia x
That's probably supposed to be really sweet so is it wrong that I laughed?
What a lovely thing she wrote there - it makes you see her as a real person. And I love her parting remark - "...or I'll haunt you!" Thanks for posting that.
David.
That was heartwarming...sad too, like you said Sandra. Makes a person think. Thanks for writing it....
Hugs sweetie....Sharon
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