Up The Farway Tree

Special Day

Today is Frances Ann's birthday and she would have been 25. Hard to believe really. Yesterday we were coincidentally at a memorial day organised by the Butterfly Trust (a Scottish charity who support people with CF). My mum was very involved with the preparation and there was clearly a lot of work put into the day. Corey is also up for the weekend so he was able to come with us. The morning started with coffee giving people a chance to mingle before the service. It wasn't really a service as such as it was not meant to be religious - but a chance for people who had lost someone to CF to gather and remember their loved ones. We had some nice music, some poetry and readings and lit candles for each month of the year. Myself and Corey both read something (mum likes to volunteer us for things!) so it was nice to fully take part. We then had some lunch and had a chance to chat and also to sign a memory book the Butterfly trust has created. They did a similar service about 20 years ago so flicking through the book there was an entry for my older sister Claire and my signature was on the page - I would have been about 10 at the time. Very strange seeing that.

We have spent the weekend at mum and dads, especially since Corey is up this weekend. My mum is having a fundraiser next month for the butterfly trust so I had the idea of making some butterfly phone/bag charms. I had bought some tiny butterfly charms for mums birthday dinner so I managed to get hold of these again with lots of coloured phone charm strings. I had not quite realised how tricky it would be to get the butterflies onto the string!! The strings first had to have a hook attached and then the butterfly hooked on and it took me about 10 minutes to get one done - I had 80 to do!! So when my cousin Sarah (who makes jewellery) popped in I ended up having her working the whole night - along with Corey and Andrew - making the charms! We did get them all done though - just shows what can be achieved with team work.

I have a public holiday tomorrow so looking forward to the extra day off! I am doing PBL on Tuesday though so have a bit of reading to do first. I was supposed to be doing one last week but it was cancelled at last minute - I was actually quite glad because it meant I could go and see my friend instead, which clearly is much more fun :-) I also met my friend Claire for dinner as she was working nearby last week - she has a new job which will hopefully mean her moving closer to the west (hint hint Claire!) which would be great for me!

I am hoping for a quiet week to allow me time to get clear my head and come to terms with all the thoughts running through my mind. It has definitely been a hard month and I feel a bit anxious and not in the best mood really so hoping to feel a bit lighter and easier in mind as the we reach a new month. I do like the Autumn months and people who know me well will realise that Christmas in the world of Jac starts around then....seriously!