Sad and Happy

Thank you for the kind comments and messages after my last post. There's more sad news here this week, but hold on...don't go...

there is some truly joyous news too!

Our lovely Granny finally left us a few days ago. She had been sleeping most of the time since our last visit, and stopped eating and drinking. She was ready to go.

But she was singing the last words of the songs she could still hear being sung in the hospice and 

she had some ice cream the day she died. 

Go Granny.

 When I was 18 I went on my first visit to 'meet the parents' of the man who was already my soul mate and future husband. I can't remember why, but for some reason I was getting changed in the front room of their house. They lived on a busy road, but not one you often saw people walk along. 

Rather than shut the huge curtains in the bay window I stripped my top off - bra less, boobs well and truly out there 

(ah, they were the days!!) 

As I did so an old lady walked right past the window and got an absolute EYEful.

Of course a few minutes later there was a knock at the door and I was formally introduced to the same said 'old lady' - Cleggy's Grandma, who simply gave me a cheeky wink and no more was said!

I've been a bit short changed in the grandparent department (and the parents to be fair!) as all mine had died when I was much younger - so to gain a lovely Grandma in my life, who went on to love our children too, was a real treat. 

As the Scottish contingent pulled together and helped Grandma and Granny during these difficult few days Cleggy and I volunteered to clear out Granny's house. There was a tight time frame, it was difficult both logistically and emotionally - but an absolute pleasure to be able to help out. 

One photo that summed it up for me is this one

I never found out the story behind it - 

but for me it represents a life lived and loved.

We will all miss her.

So, we needed some cheering up - and it came in ABUNDANCE 

this weekend.

Two of our friends have suffered the tragedy of a life lost, both to cancer. Our friend Ruth lost her lovely husband Chris a few years ago and we have been full of admiration for the way she embraced the challenge of raising her three young children to become the gorgeous, well rounded young adults they are today.

Yesterday we were thrilled to be part of the celebrations - as Ruth married the new love of her life Simon. The wedding was in Manchester Art Gallery and was both beautiful and moving. We wish them all the love in the world for a happy life together and many more memory making adventures.

Another friend lost their little girl Lydia, aged 7, just last year. They had the same Oncologist as we had for Kenzie - and the knowledge that we could have lost our boy just as easily has made our admiration for them all the more poignant. 

They too have been a HUGE inspiration to everyone who knows them. 

On Thursday they welcomed a new addition to their family - a beautiful baby girl 

We can't wait to meet this little bundle of gorgeousness - and wish the whole family lots of love and happy times ahead. 

They really deserve it.

Fee x

Another lesson learnt...

Well, after the joy of a successful fund raiser things went a little pear shaped around here.

We got the message from up North that Cleggy's wonderful Grandma had taken a turn for the worse and that we should think about making the journey to say our goodbyes.

But before we got there Cleggy's Dad died. Such a shock.

I share many things with Grandad, including my birthday! 

It's not always been the easiest of relationships. 

He's a man of too few words - I'm a girl of far too many. 

And our views on life haven't always been harmonious. 

But I think that our values were the same, and I have 

alot to thank him for. 

Not least that he was the BEST role model for my gorgeous husband in showing what it is to truly love a woman. 

Grandad Clegg was also a BRILLIANT musician. When I first met Cleggy at college his parents were in a jazz band - his Dad playing the saxophone and clarinet and his Mum singing. 

Some of my happiest memories of that time in our life were going to watch them play - just ace. Grandad was self taught, he could improvise like no one else...the blues were just in his blood.

 He didn't fill my life with words of wisdom (in fact the one bit of advice he did give me was both hilarious and inappropriate - hmmmm, can see that in my husband too!) but he made a great job of raising 2 wonderful men, both of whom I love very much. I'm immensely proud of how they have supported each other and their Mum through what has been an incredibly difficult few weeks.

 Meanwhile Great Grandma hung on in there - and is seeing out her last days in an amazing Marie Curie hospice in Edinburgh. It's been hard, but we've had some very special times with her and have said our goodbyes, with chance to tell her how much we all love her. 

And as with any difficult situation there are some good life lessons learnt. I had already decided I needed to take a year off from my business in order to reassess my work/life balance - and events have shown me that this was absolutely the right decision. I've also realised how much we need to see more of Cleggy's family and vow to stop the distance between us getting in the way. (love you guys)

We've also had to clear out Grandma's house - which has given me much to think about. I have too much 'stuff' and don't need any more. Life has already shown me that TIME is the most precious commodity...but I've had a sharp reminder and plan to make the most of knowing this. fee x

Result!

Cuckoo rocking a cosy...

The coffee morning went really well - loads of lovely people, too many cakes (yipeee), more than half decent coffee, lots of help, old friends meeting new friends, bloggers meeting Instagrammers, some elderly people from the church wondering what on earth was going on and wondering why anyone would want to win an owl made out of old sheets....you get the idea!



Luckily everyone who won a prize seemed to get it! (I think) and I'm just working my way through the winners who weren't there on the day. I think I can contact everyone through Justgiving.com but here is a list to make sure I cover all bases:

• Woollen Heart - French Knots Jo
• Hangers - Sassy Belle Blooms
• Brooch - Debra
• Blue owl and Home blocks - Alison S
• Yellow Home blocks - Bryony Steel
• Knitted Scarf - Viv Green Rabbits
• Silver Earrings - Beryl Marshall
• Pink Home Blocks - Alison
• Home cushion - Sharon Macleod
• Bag - Luciana
• Patchwork cushion - Jayne Tingle
• Pin cushion and needle book - Julia Becker
• Pink Crochet heart - Tracy Bradford
• Wooden hearts - Stella Kitchen
• Big owl - Ann Guy
• Button brooch - Kay Eyles
• Button brooch - Clair Hughes
• Turquoise necklace and crochet garland - Sara Davenport
• Button brooch - Laura Henderson

If you could email me you addresses I'll post these or deliver depending on how close you are!
            

I know lots of you attended a coffee morning near you, or held one of your own - hope it was fun! 

Emily Unravelled, me, Cuckoo and Jane Little Teawaggon

Last year the event raised £15 million pounds - looking forward to seeing the scores on the doors this year.

My sister Nelly, me, Unravelled Emily, Cuckoo, Yarn Over Hook Victoria

Obviously I had lots and lots of help with the whole thing - especially from Cleggy (I'll sort the trashed house/empty food cupboard out very soon!) and all the people who provided me with their makes for the most wonderful raffle.

Thank you too to my oh so helpful friends (Annette, Emily, Feray, Cuckoo, Victoria, Alison,)The Granny and Sue, Angela, the ladies in the kitchen, Terry who lumped the tables away, my poor SIL Janet who inadvertently found herself in the kitchen elbow deep in bubbles, the pianist and singer, my brother and sister who provided a play area despite not being able to access the toy cupboard (long story!) and anyone I've forgotten.

Feray and Alison concentrating (for an imaginary customer?)

Thank you Granny for calling the raffle when I bottled it.

The Granny and Bev (looking terrified!)

Thanks also to everyone who came and made the 

atmosphere really lovely.

Oooh Betty Emma and her lovely Mum

French Knots Jo looking both scrummy and happy!

Me with my considerably younger, taller and thinner sister...good job I love her so much.

Wilfy enjoying a cookie

Lovely Liz Phillips (who knits!)

Victoria and @Tamsinsworld, who I now know lives but 10 mins from me...

My friend's Macmilan nurse - currently on maternity leave!

Mabel counting how many cakes Aunty Fee gave her when her Mummy wasn't looking

And the best bit of all - we raised lots of money - 
£1400 in total. 
It's a brilliant cause and one close to many of our hearts. 

The second best bit is that despite giving out lots of cake to helpers I still bought loads home so that's breakfast lunch and dinner sorted until Monday!!

fee x

ps I definitely think we should do the handmade raffle every year...next year I might start more than 2 weeks beforehand!

   pps if you were there yesterday and got any photos please share with me - I only have a handful

One BIG FAT raffle!

24 hours to go before my big fat handmade raffle ends...

so still time to enter if you want to join in.

A ticket costs £1 and will be donated directly to Macmillan Cancer Support, as part of The World's Biggest Coffee Morning tomorrow.

You can buy them here

HERE

So far together we have raised 

OVER £500!

Isn't that amazing? 

THANK YOU

to all who have donated their wonderful makes, and everyone who has bought tickets, and those who have done both! 

Here is a round up of all the prizes you could win:

 

My, how can you not want to enter?!

And if you happen to live anywhere near Manchester you can pop along to my coffee morning tomorrow morning where there will be lots of cake, half decent tea/coffee, some music, lots of bloggers and Instagrammers to meet, and the grand drawing of the raffle just after midday.

Here is the address

I obviously have lots of people to thank for helping me organise this - I'll save that for the next update!

Meanwhile fingers crossed and hope to see you tomorrow

Please feel free to share this post if you have a blog...

fee xx