Apologies for being a little boring today but this post is just to confirm some details:
The service of celebration will take place at St Martins Methodist Chapel this Thursday 27th at 2:30pm.
As was mums wish, we ask that you all wear bright colours. I've got a nice orange shirt to go with my suit that i'll be wearing.
We expect there to be quite a few people in attendance, so please make sure you arrive in plenty of time.
As well as the Chapel, we've arranged for seating in the adjacent hall with a video / audio link.
We've secured additional parking in the field next to Chapel, but there will be someone directing traffic so you know where to go.
The wake will follow at the RJA&HS from roughly 3:45pm onwards.
Tuesday, 25 September 2018
Monday, 24 September 2018
Cards
Short post tonight as i'm trying to write a speech.
First of all we have this card that I made that I believe accurately depicts my mother. Not sure when i made this but I think I was probably about 25.
On the topic of cards - we've had somewhere between 150 and 200 in the last week. Our daily routine has been to open and read them all after dinner. Thank you all for taking the time to write many heartfelt messages full of love. Dad has made a display on the dining room table, but we've run out of space already!
Onto the dogs. As they haven't made an appearance in a while, here's a photo of them "sharing" a dog toy.
Sunday, 23 September 2018
More gems from the memory box
Today we focus on Jack and how he showed mum he loved her.
Here is (probably) his first handmade mothers day card that had me in stitches for its somewhat patronising tone!
And here it appears he has just used the word 'love' for the first time ever when wishing mum a happy birthday.
This last gem is quite accurate given his height!
Any of you passing the house lately may have noticed that we've been flying the St Martins flag at half mast for almost a week now. It'll likely only get raised again on Thursday afternoon after the service of celebration.
Friday, 21 September 2018
Memory boxes
Before she passed, mum informed us of her memory boxes that she's curated since she came to the island. There are seven boxes of cards, newspaper cuttings, photos and the like.
There's so much stuff in there that it took us a couple of hours to go through, and we didn't even get to read it all properly.
We did find some gems that I plan on sharing on the blog over the next week or so.
I'll start by poking fun at a younger version of myself by posting a 3 part note that I must have written to my mum one night when she was out (probably playing sports, lets be honest).
There's so much stuff in there that it took us a couple of hours to go through, and we didn't even get to read it all properly.
We did find some gems that I plan on sharing on the blog over the next week or so.
I'll start by poking fun at a younger version of myself by posting a 3 part note that I must have written to my mum one night when she was out (probably playing sports, lets be honest).
Thursday, 20 September 2018
Some fresh perspective
This is my first post under my own account. It was time to stop pretending I was Jill Luce.
I scratched my car a little bit whilst parking in Pier road this morning, however I didn't mind so much. Funny how certain life events make other incidents seem very insignificant. That fresh perspective is nice though because it helps to make you realise what's really important.
I had to make some design changes to the blog - i'm sure you all noticed. Mum did love her blog, but her and I do not share the same design taste! If you're feeling religious then i'm sure you'll agree that the clouds seem apt.
The last couple of days have been very busy, with a lot of time spent organising things. Most of us are signed off until at least the end of the week, but some of us hard working folk have businesses to run! The distraction is actually quite welcome.
Dan went to the Southampton boat show on Wednesday to actually look for a new Jersey Sea-safaris boat, although when I asked him about it he said "I didn't talk to the guy I want to buy a boat from". A curious buying tactic indeed!
We've eaten dinner together the last couple of nights, however we've not had to cook as food has been very generously provided by LT and SP. We know that this level of generosity will not last forever so Dad is going to have to brush up on chef skills (beans on toast most likely).
We've also received an enormous number of cards that we've opened and read aloud as a family after dinner. There have been so many heartfelt messages from so many of you that I think i've lost track. The fact that one woman has had such a positive effect on such a large number of you is truly an inspiration. If I manage to get one tenth the amount of love and warmth that we've felt over the last few days I will end up a happy man.
I realise that there haven't been many photos on here over the last week. Whilst walking into the kitchen I noticed this sign on the milk churn outside the door. Apparently it's been there for years, but as a 'typical' boy i've only just noticed it.
It's very mum. She's definitely still with us in spirit.
I scratched my car a little bit whilst parking in Pier road this morning, however I didn't mind so much. Funny how certain life events make other incidents seem very insignificant. That fresh perspective is nice though because it helps to make you realise what's really important.
I had to make some design changes to the blog - i'm sure you all noticed. Mum did love her blog, but her and I do not share the same design taste! If you're feeling religious then i'm sure you'll agree that the clouds seem apt.
The last couple of days have been very busy, with a lot of time spent organising things. Most of us are signed off until at least the end of the week, but some of us hard working folk have businesses to run! The distraction is actually quite welcome.
Dan went to the Southampton boat show on Wednesday to actually look for a new Jersey Sea-safaris boat, although when I asked him about it he said "I didn't talk to the guy I want to buy a boat from". A curious buying tactic indeed!
We've eaten dinner together the last couple of nights, however we've not had to cook as food has been very generously provided by LT and SP. We know that this level of generosity will not last forever so Dad is going to have to brush up on chef skills (beans on toast most likely).
We've also received an enormous number of cards that we've opened and read aloud as a family after dinner. There have been so many heartfelt messages from so many of you that I think i've lost track. The fact that one woman has had such a positive effect on such a large number of you is truly an inspiration. If I manage to get one tenth the amount of love and warmth that we've felt over the last few days I will end up a happy man.
I realise that there haven't been many photos on here over the last week. Whilst walking into the kitchen I noticed this sign on the milk churn outside the door. Apparently it's been there for years, but as a 'typical' boy i've only just noticed it.
It's very mum. She's definitely still with us in spirit.
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
Arrangements
Tom here. What do I even write.
The last few days have gone past in a bit of a haze. So much emotional energy spent, with not enough food and not enough sleep.
We've all had little "moments" today, which is Becky speak for a little bit of a cry. Most of the time you end up having a moment when you find yourself on your own, but luckily we've had each other to distract us.
In trying to keep ourselves busy we've been pragmatic. The house has been neglected for most of the last week, so there's plenty to be done. We have also been making a lot of lists such as things we need to do, estimations of funeral attendance, and perhaps most importantly, people we need to thank.
The thank you list is a long one, and to be honest I feel a little bad for not thanking people more on the blog in the Jill Luce way (by not using names). AA brought us lunch today, and AH provided dinner. Papa did the shopping and ran errands. Yes, I am allowed to say Papa, because his real name is Cyril. Wait...
We had the funeral directors round at midday and ironed out all of the details over the course of an hour. Given how organised she was, it's probably of no surprise that mum had already decided everything beforehand.
We even have a playlist she left us. I don't know whether she put much thought into the order of the playlist though, because I personally wouldn't have immediately followed Eva Cassidy's "Over the Rainbow" by "The boy does nothing" by Alesha Dixon. It's like she wanted people to go from crying their eyes out straight into dancing the night away!
So, onto the funeral arrangements.
Firstly, we're not calling the funeral a funeral - instead we're having a celebratory service of thanks.
Anyone wishing to attend the service are invited to meet at the St Martins Methodist Chapel next Thursday 27th September at 2:30pm. A private family cremation will have already taken place.
As was mums wish, we ask that you all wear bright colours.
Donations in lieu of flowers in memory of mum can be sent to either:
We're still working on the location of the wake, but we do know that there will be some form of little cakes. I'll provide an update as soon as I know more.
The last few days have gone past in a bit of a haze. So much emotional energy spent, with not enough food and not enough sleep.
We've all had little "moments" today, which is Becky speak for a little bit of a cry. Most of the time you end up having a moment when you find yourself on your own, but luckily we've had each other to distract us.
In trying to keep ourselves busy we've been pragmatic. The house has been neglected for most of the last week, so there's plenty to be done. We have also been making a lot of lists such as things we need to do, estimations of funeral attendance, and perhaps most importantly, people we need to thank.
The thank you list is a long one, and to be honest I feel a little bad for not thanking people more on the blog in the Jill Luce way (by not using names). AA brought us lunch today, and AH provided dinner. Papa did the shopping and ran errands. Yes, I am allowed to say Papa, because his real name is Cyril. Wait...
We had the funeral directors round at midday and ironed out all of the details over the course of an hour. Given how organised she was, it's probably of no surprise that mum had already decided everything beforehand.
We even have a playlist she left us. I don't know whether she put much thought into the order of the playlist though, because I personally wouldn't have immediately followed Eva Cassidy's "Over the Rainbow" by "The boy does nothing" by Alesha Dixon. It's like she wanted people to go from crying their eyes out straight into dancing the night away!
So, onto the funeral arrangements.
Firstly, we're not calling the funeral a funeral - instead we're having a celebratory service of thanks.
Anyone wishing to attend the service are invited to meet at the St Martins Methodist Chapel next Thursday 27th September at 2:30pm. A private family cremation will have already taken place.
As was mums wish, we ask that you all wear bright colours.
Donations in lieu of flowers in memory of mum can be sent to either:
- Macmillan Cancer Support (Jersey) Limited, c/o Michelle Parker, Fundraising and Events Co-ordinator, Suite 2.13, The Lido Medical Centre, St Saviours Road, St Saviour, JE2 7LA
- Jersey Hospice Care, Clarkson House, Mont Cochon, JE2 3LB
We're still working on the location of the wake, but we do know that there will be some form of little cakes. I'll provide an update as soon as I know more.
Monday, 17 September 2018
Even the brightest stars burn out eventually
It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I have to tell you all that mum passed away at around 8pm tonight.
She went very peacefully surrounded by all her family. As she took her last breaths we all held her, stroking her hands, head, and feet and told her we loved her. It was sad and we did not want her to go, but at the same time we all knew that deep down it was for the best. She is at rest, and is no longer in any pain.
Jill's life deserves to be celebrated, so it won't surprise our reader to know that she has this planned already. We will post more details on this page as we work them out.
In the meantime I can only thank everyone who has helped us to get through the past 6 years. Jill's battle against cancer has been a roller coaster par excellence. When she was first diagnosed she didn't expect to live very long...in the end we had another 6 absolutely wonderful years. We are all so grateful for that extra time....and we're grateful to have had so many wonderful friends and relatives to share that time with.
She went very peacefully surrounded by all her family. As she took her last breaths we all held her, stroking her hands, head, and feet and told her we loved her. It was sad and we did not want her to go, but at the same time we all knew that deep down it was for the best. She is at rest, and is no longer in any pain.
Jill's life deserves to be celebrated, so it won't surprise our reader to know that she has this planned already. We will post more details on this page as we work them out.
In the meantime I can only thank everyone who has helped us to get through the past 6 years. Jill's battle against cancer has been a roller coaster par excellence. When she was first diagnosed she didn't expect to live very long...in the end we had another 6 absolutely wonderful years. We are all so grateful for that extra time....and we're grateful to have had so many wonderful friends and relatives to share that time with.
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