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