Missing You This Christmas <3

Observation

Learning to cope is like learning to walk.

Initially everyone watches your every step and stands close enough to catch you if you loose your footing.

Eventually as time goes on, when ability is evident those arms of safety net disappear. 

Just because we learn how to do something, doesn't mean we won't fall from time to time. 

The only difference is we also learn how to pick ourselves back up. 

How could I forget? 'Dress up for Halloween'

Great fun with Vicky & Emma 'Zombie School Girls' 

'Make Career Steps'

I guess the subject titles gives you a good indication as to what this post will be about!

This year has been a difficult one for me to say the least and I hope that this will be a new start as 2013 closes and the New Year begins.

'Courage does not always roar, sometimes it's the small voice at the end of the day saying, I'll try again tomorrow' - This step will be my tomorrow

After two interviews and lots of nerves, I have managed to get a new job with a great company locally and it is an opportunity I feel very excited about. 

I know that of all the things on the list, Jack would be probably the most happy about this one as he knew how important it was to me and how much it would improve many aspects. 

It's a massive step up for me and I will give my new role 110%. 

Excuse the no make-up, this photo was taken after a huge shopping trip with my mum to buy all new fancy clothes for my new job, I know she's very proud. 

'Go to Alton Towers again' Fireworks 9th November

Well it's that time of year again, the title sums up the post. Last year Jack and I went to Alton Towers to see the fireworks with our friends Snowie and Fay. It truly was one of the best things i'd ever seen and vowed to go again this year. So, that I did. Oddly this year, they'd made the display a little different with a voice over talking about memories as the lights filled the sky and the music filled the air.

Watching those fireworks last year is one of my favourite memories of Jack, I even have this picture on my desk at work and on my bedside table. So, without hesitation when the voiceover said 'think of your happiest memory' I thought of last year, I thought of Jack <3

Jack & I last year <3

 This years gathering, thanks for coming with guys. 

Brilliant display, I'll be back next year.

Jack's Live Lounge

As a continuing fundraising quest and several months of turning an idea into reality (with much help) Jack's live lounge took place on the 1st of November 2013.

                                The Tickets

Myself, Vicky and Fay put together our best efforts to hold a Live Lounge style music night in Jack's Memory. The response we have had back since has been amazing and has made all the stress worthwhile.
A huge thank you to all of the acts, raffle contributors and of course, all of those that attended.

                                                        Setting up @ The Wortley Hotel

                           A huge thank you to all of those that donated to the raffle

A couple of photo's Vicky managed to grab in the midst of organising (and drinking too much *cough ME)

I thought it would be a really positive way to remember an amazing person, who deserves to remembered.
In Jack's name lots of fundraising has taken place this year. The Live Lounge shot up the total to over £5000, putting him in the top 3 for Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust. I said months ago when in sixth place that I maybe wouldn't be able to get him into 1st place but I would certainly do my best to get him into the top 3.

                                         A thank you from the Air Ambulance


To be able to say that I have, is a massive achievement and it makes me feel so, so proud to have been able to work hard over this year when it would have probably been much easier to slip into giving up. When people have asked me 'how do you do it?' my reply is simply very easy.
I do it for Jack.

This being said, I know I can't do this forever, because if I am true to myself, this list has greatly taken a lot out of me, all through which organising this that and the other, running, mountain climbing, fundraising, decorating, moving home and everything else, i've done it on very, very little sleep, working full time and trying to accept in all of that, that I have lost the greatest love I ever could have wished for.

This Live Lounge marks the end of my fundraising, I will still continue to personally donate to the Air Ambulance as it's taught me what a worthy cause it is as i've learnt so much about it over the past months.
I hope that the money raised to date will contribute to saving someone elses life and prevent them having to go through what we all have.

I set out with a goal to raise £2100 initially, £100 for every year of Jack's life. I then went on having reached that initial goal to say  I would like to get Jack's Memory fundraising page into the top 3 for Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Thanks to all the amazing support i've had, I can now say 'I did it, and I did it for you'.

Jack's chain,

I can't even begin to explain how special this is to me <3 I now have Jack's chain back in the form of a ring engraved inside with his initials and our anniversary date.

                                                                'JB 12th January 2007'