Guess who's back……

Lizzie's back (sung Eminem stylie!!). It's been a while hasn't it? Why? Life.....in all its glory. Last time I wrote I was doing two jobs, the day job back in IT (boooooo) and then evenings on a virtual event. Goodness it was hard, and bloody exhausting. Honestly by the time the event was delivered I was running on empty, I didn't have any brain power or an ounce of creativity left in me.

When I started to get my spark back, we had some family health issues which meant a lot of my free time was taken up.....then the saddest, most heart breaking thing happened. We lost our beloved Dad at the end of August. I still can't quite believe it and I've got tearful just writing that sentence. The pain, how everything gets turned upside down and inside out. How the world didn't and still doesn't seem quite right without my Dad in it. But everything else just carries on as normal.....God it's awful. Actually, if I'm being honest it still is. Most weeks I get tearful, every single day I miss him. Life goes on but I didn't want it to. I wanted it to stop, to acknowledge the massive hole he's left in our family. It throw me off kilter, I lost my spark, nothing mattered and it put soooo much in perspective. Turns out all the old cliches are true.

Almost 6 months now without him. I will never get use to him not being here. But life does go on and I think the best thing I can do, is to honour him in a way I think he'd want me to. By starting to write my blog again.

My Dad loved to write.....short stories, long stories, poems and little quotes. When I published my first blog, he emailed me saying how proud him and mum were, how much they enjoyed reading it. So this glorious journey is now dedicated to my beautiful, kind, clever, fun, gracious Dad. Who I truly believe is watching over us and is by our sides. And whilst I'm talking about Dads writing, I've decided (along with my bro and sisters) that I'm going to publish Dads stories and poems here, on this site. Please read them. Please share them. Please let me know what you think of them. But most of all, please help me get my Dads wonderful writing out there for all to see. I wish I'd suggested it whilst he was still here, but that's life isn't it. I'm not going to dwell on that thought, I'm just gonna make it happen now.

On a lighter note, I'm back working in events....whoo hoo! And it's only on the Commonwealth Games.....I know, I can't believe it myself! So once again this glorious journey has taken an unexpected turn. I now find myself in Birmingham for most of the week. It's been a steep learning curve as I've never worked on anything like this before and I've never worked away from home, other than the odd night. So me and Mr R have had to adjust to a new weekday lifestyle.....it's only for a few months, but crumbs I miss being at home with him and my little furry baby.

That's more news.....we became proud parents to a gorgeous, cheeky little springer in July. He goes by the name of Murphy or Murphy George if he's been naughty! Yep....George after the great man himself, Mr George Michael.

Murphy kept me going just after Dad died.....obvs Mr R and my lovely friends were a massive support, but Murph made me get out of bed every day. He made me smile and laugh with his cheekiness and naughtiness. He snuggled into me when I needed a cuddle and tried to lick me when I cried. This little bundle of fur and joy has literally changed our lives. And the timing of him coming into our lives....we were actaully looking for a marquee on Gumtree when we came across him - was this divine timing again from the universe? Yep, I believe it was!

So to says the last 9 months have been a roller coaster is something of an understatement. Tragedy, unexpected opportunitites, a new family member, a wedding, a funeral, all the family coming together....it's had it all.

And whilst I'm writing and sharing, I want to pay homage to my wonderful Mum. My Mum has been an absolute star, a tower of strength, a rock for us all. It's shit for us kids and grand kids but what must it be like for her....they were together 60 years. Yet through it all she's been dignified, found an inner strength I'm not sure she even knew she had. She's shared stories about Dad, she's hugged us, smiled, laughed and cried with us, and still managed to cook delicious meals for us all. Honestly, she's been a bloody marvel. Dad would be proud of her, just as we are.

And so back to the here and now. This glorious journey was started so that I could share my story about a change in lifestyle, about trying to build a little business with the little slice of heaven Mr R and I call home. And we will, of that I have no doubt. But for now it's all about #lizzieinbirmingham. Not quite Emily in Paris but we're all dealt different hands!!

And I want to end this blog with a true story....I started to write this piece on the train, on the way home from Birmingham, obviously with my Dad in mind. I looked down at the seat next to me and there was a little feather.............

That was my Dad, right there by my side. Encouraging me, believing in me, loving me.