Download Sheep Spotter App ~ done
Flight checkin online ~ done
Hotel checkin online ~ done
Passports in handbag ~ done
Packing ~ half done
Tomorrow my two daughters and I are flying to Bristol to do the Shaun The Sheep Trail in memory of Leah.
When Leah was in Bristol having her bone marrow transplant in 2013 there were eighty 6 foot high Gromit sculptures dotted around the town.
Leah managed a sneaky trip off the ward to see a small number of them before they were all gathered up and auctioned off in aid of Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Before we left Bristol they had announced that they would be doing it all again in 2015, but this time using Shaun the Sheep sculptures.
Leah and I talked about it and agreed that we would just have to return for this event. She looked forward to coming back as a tourist rather than as a patient.
Much of Leah’s time in Bristol was spent in isolation, feeling very unwell. My outgoing, fun loving daughter found this very hard going.
We even discussed with her sisters about this plan to return in 2015 and see Shaun the Sheep. They were definitely up for it too.
So, after Leah died, we talked about it and decided to go ahead with the plans, as part of our way of remembering her.
Now that it’s here I’m both excited and terrified.
Excited at the prospect of returning to the City where Leah and I spent 14 weeks and laid down some very precious memories. Leah wasn’t acutely ill all of that time, often times we traced the rainbows through the rain.
Terrified that it will all be too much for me emotionally.
Excited at the prospect of having a holiday with my two lovely daughters in a City that I absolutely fell in love with, despite the tragic reason that took me there in the first place.
At times in recent weeks I have asked myself “Vicky, why are you doing this? Why are you returning to Bristol?”
I have known since Leah died that I would return there for a visit, but I can’t quite explain why. It just feels right. Bristol was such an important part of our journey.
When I was with my counsellor a few days ago I asked her “Why am I doing this?” she’s very good, she always helps me, she replied “You know that you’re doing the right thing, but some things only make sense when you’ve done them and can look back at them.” I thought that was quite a good answer.
As with some other things that I’ve done since Leah died, which have been emotionally very difficult, I feel like we are honouring Leah’s memory and continuing her legacy within our family.
Sometimes you just have to go with your gut feeling, trust the process and hope and pray that everything works out.
I came across this F-E-A-R acronym recently and I like it:
My Journey: 