I guess as good a place as any to start this blog is with Ella’s birth.   Ella was born on 18th February 2002 and was another surprise little girl (I find it extraordinary that so few people have ‘surprises’ anymore).  I was one of two girls and always imagined having the same, but never in a million years, did I think I would be lucky enough to have two daughters.  Around 7 and a half months earlier, I had excitedly shared the news that Al and I were expecting another baby, to a special friend and neighbour who I will call ‘Cecilia’ …

It is poignant to say that ‘Cecilia’ was the first person outside of our immediate family to know that Ella was on the way, and also the last of our friends to see her alive, being that she was with us as Ella took her last breaths.  As Ella slipped away from us, ‘Cecilia’ slipped quietly away to leave us to mourn our loss.  I will tell you more about this friend in another post. Read more