Bone Marrow Transplant 4 Lisa

As you may have read from the previous update, I am going part time at work soon. Just in case anyone who reads this, fancies becoming 40% of me, here is the job advert for Information Services Officer in this week's Peak Advertiser.

Click the image to see it full size.

The closing date is 29th August, and interviews will be held before 15th September. You can download an application pack from the Lady Manners website. Thanks are due to my bosses for the flexibility they have shown me.

Heavy consumption of cakes, biscuits and mince pies is compulsory.

Hi everyone,

Today has been poignant for me. We should have been celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary. Memories seem so much sharper on days like these. Even the weather is the same - warm and cloudy.

Don't worry though - I have honoured the occasion by cracking open a bottle of Chablis. It's a good one, but it cannot quite match the free offering we had every night of our stay in our Singapore hotel on honeymoon.

I still cannot believe how long it took Lisa to get down to the free bar in the evening! Most out of character.

When I think of our wedding day, one of the abiding memories I have is of Jenny, one of our bridesmaids getting "acquainted" with Ben, a friend of Lisa's brother. They have been together ever since, and just a few weeks ago tied the knot themselves. Lisa was going to do a reading at their wedding but of course this wasn't to be.

However, to see Ella boogeying away on the dancefloor without a care in the world was pure Lisa. It was as much as I could do to stop the traditional 'first dance' being a three man affair. Brilliant.

Jenny - you looked as gorgeous on your wedding day as you did on ours, way back amongst the big game at Woburn. Talking of gorgeous birds, you have kindly sent me some pics of Lisa on our wedding day. Here is Lisa in full on pampering mode in our bedroom in Aspley Guise on the morn of Saturday 22nd July 2000.

It was such a good time to have a wedding, as we knew our anniversary would also signal the start of the long summer hols that you teachers get. I'm looking forward to a bit of time off myself in the next few weeks.

I'm also looking forward to joining the ranks of the part-time workforce in the next few months. Working 5 days a week followed by child entertainment at the weekend was always going to be difficult. Monday to Wednesday should be much more agreeable. So, if any of you Excel geeks out there fancy being 40% of me at Lady Manners, the advert will be out soon.

OK, really better finish this before it's not 22nd July anymore!

Love from the Wilson 3 (including a nicely grazed chin for Amelia).

xxx

Thanks to Lisa's participation in a Christmas raffle at hospital, Ella can now say she has had a ride in a helicopter.

The plan was for Lisa to accompany Ella on her maiden voyage, but of course, things didn't go our way. So, it was up to me to get strapped in for her maiden flight.

A great time was had by all - we even found room for Grandpa up front - although Amelia was a bit peeved to be left on terra firma!

I must give a massive thank you to Kuki Helicopters for giving us a free upgrade to the 4 seater helicopter and their wonderful all round service.

Anyhow, here are some brief highlights:

The flight was great fun ... and talking of fun, I am now 2 weeks into my return to work. It's actually going really well - I'm proof reading student reports at the moment, which is keeping me very busy.

Next Friday sees my return to the 5-a-side game after school. Not too sure about my fitness levels at the moment, but my red trainers are raring to go. Quite correctly, Lisa did ban me from wearing these anywhere but the Sports Hall, behind closed doors. Mid life crisis anyone?

Cheers for now,

Si

Hello to everyone from the Wilsons.

We are just back from our week in Filey. The sun shone and we had a lovely time...on the beach...on the train...at the farm. (Plus a bit of birding for Daddy!)

Whilst we were away, Amelia had her 2nd birthday, and a very happy occasion it was too. Thank you to everyone for the wonderful cards and presents.

Here's a clip of Amelia's "Happy Birthday" moment..complete with pyrotechnics!

Here are some pictures from our holiday:

Finally, here's another video to prove that the sun did shine and paddling was done!

Its back to work for me next Monday - the girls are thriving on their routines and I think I probably need the same.

We are all doing OK at the moment and keeping this website going is just one of the things I'll be doing to keep Lisa's memory alive.

Love to all.

Simon, Ella & Amelia.

Hello,

I would just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended Lisa's funeral on Tuesday. The number and diversity of people who came was quite staggering.

Of course this is a reflection of the love that people have for Lisa and the fondness of the memories that will never fade.

For me, everything came together just exactly as I had hoped. In fact, to see our girlies running up and down the aisle with such happiness on their faces, was a very special moment, and beyond expectation.

I like to think that Lisa was still orchestrating events from upon high. I am certain that she would have heartily approved of the whole day and how her wishes for it to be a celebratory occasion were seen through. It really was everthing she wanted.

Thanks to all of you for help making it happen.

By popular demand, I have put all of the readings from the day on the site. Just click on the titles below to open each one up in a new window.

Things are slowly settling down at home. The girls have gone back to nursery and continue to be their normal happy, boisterous selves. I'm doing OK and looking ahead as positively as I can.

OK babe, I've got plenty of jobs to be getting on with now. As you said many times, those clothes won't iron themselves! I love you.

This is a quick note to give all you lovely people intending to celebrate Lisa's life next Tuesday a 'heads up', regarding one of my good lady's wishes for the day.

When you arrive in church you will all be given a paper pink heart within the order of service. The idea, is that you write on them a particular memory or anecdote about Lisa from any point in the past. Just a line or two is fine... ie, "I remember the day you drank 2 pints of Stella and managed to stay awake". That kind of thing.

Please also include your name and how you knew or knew of Lisa. Pens will be provided.

The hearts will be collected later on in the service and used to create a memory book for the girls to treasure in the future. Thank you.

I look forward to seeing you all next week.

Simon

Hi everyone,

I can now confirm the details for Lisa's funeral:

It will be held on Tuesday, 22nd April, commencing with a cremation service at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Sheffield. This will start at 12.00pm and will be for family only. Here are some Multimap directions from Bakewell to Hutcliffe Wood.

We then head back to All Saints Church, Bakewell, for a thanksgiving service starting at 1.30pm.

We then move on to The Wheatsheaf public house at 2.30pm to a raise a glass or 3 in memory of Lisa. Nibbles provided.

Lisa is very keen that the overriding mood of the day should very much be one of a celebration of her life. With this in mind she has specified one or two clauses for your attendance that should be observed:

• No one should be dressed in ALL black.
• Everyone should wear at least one item of pink.
• Children are very welcome. Our girls will be there and we are hoping to create a small 'nursery' area in church.

Lisa's close family are arranging flowers for the day. All donations will be given to The Sheffield Leukaemia and Blood Disorders Appeal.

I look forward to seeing you all on the day.

Si

There’s not much more to add here from what I have said above. Suffice to say, they were the hardest words I will ever have to write.

But in the words of that indie pop classic by the Wannadies (and an absolute fav song of Lisa’s), that I’ve just heard on Co-op radio, its just...

“You and me always, and forever”

Well, its not quite the mini-break that we had planned.

Yes, Lisa is feeling a bit poorly again - high temp, sickness, fever, cough (a new one!). Generally feeling "bloody awful". You know how it is. The Hotel Hallamshire is therefore her place of residence for the next few days.

Its a shame about the timing, as it has scuppered our plans for the holiday to Filey we were embarking on tomorrow. Still, given the weather forecast over the weekend, maybe thats no bad thing!

The owners of our holiday accomodation have kindly agreed to rearrange our trip for a few weeks down the line, so all is not lost there.

Prior to the current lurgy, we have been out and about quite a bit (well mainly to pubs actually). One venture that didn't involve alcohol, was a trip to Cauldwell Mill in Rowsley, for a game of that old classic - Pooh Sticks.

See the action here:

Good to see that Ella has inherited Daddy's keen sense of competition.

Wrap up well everyone.

Hello to you all!!!

At last I am home, following the 'pit stop' which turned out to be a bit of a 'stop.'

I am being looked after by my amazing husband who is doing a superb job catering for my every whim as well as dispensing medication.

Hopefully it won't be long till I can build up my strength and get on that Eurostar!

Unbelievably, Ella is poorly again so super Grandma and Grandpa have taken in the children again - can't face another virus on top of this one!

While I'm on the 'thank yous', I have to say lots of huge ones - yet again to all those amazing people on P3 (temporarily G2).

At my poorliest moments I was grumpy, upset, and needing help to do everything.

Being ill doesn't always bring out the best in a person, but you are always kind, caring and dedicated - thank you.

Thanks for the multitude of offers of fans to keep my temperature down!!!