I am going to be unpopular with some people!

[Plantaholic]

I have ordered one present and I am sure you can guess who that is for.

[Gemini]

Plant is it....

[Plantaholic]

Yes of course, he is next door atm but I am keeping away because of my cold.

[Daisy]

Awww - I hope you cold is soon better so you can get your share of the cuddles again - he's such a scrummy baby. xx

[ZIZI]

We are at Westfield in Stratford by the Olympic Park staying at the Holiday Inn. Idea was that we would whack the Debenhams plastic in the Christmas sale and get q. the extra percentage off for being a card holder. Didn’t think to check but there is no Debs at Westfield Stratford. We had a sandwich and a beer each at a ridiculous price of £23.33 and bad service as well for which they put a “discretionary” 12.5 per cent, I took the service charge off much to husbands embarrassment.

So we looked around a bit but the place was packed and we went into a sports store to look at joggers and fleeces for the little and big boys and it was too much for me and I had a panic attack. Not a major one. I could feel it coming and managed to get out before I ended up on the floor. Husband decided we should just get out of there so we did. Not a pleasant experience.

Anyway as there was no Debenhams and as I was a lump of jelly we decided to go to the hotel and I ended up buying Christmas stuff from Debenhams on line from the hotel room. Spent £181 saved just under £100. All this way to shop on line. I ask you??

We got to Stratford station lunchtime and as we were walking toward the hotel I heard my name being called and it was one of my youngsters from Time To Shine- he is 22 now. I first knew him as a shy, utterly unconfident 13 year old and now he is out ther on the forecourt selling his rap CDs! I also saw someone from work when we were eating the horrendously expensive sandwich. I clocked him straight away but I think he probably took a bit of time to think who I was as I wasn’t in the right clothes or the right place for his brain to immediately get. He works in sites so he sees the same people all the time whereas I move around and if I don’t know every name I do remember faces and events.

Tomorow there will be about 100 kids at the event, some we won’t know but many we will know. It has been some years now since the start of the project and, as they do, the kids have grown. Tissuesnat the ready methinks.......

Very sad that T2S is ending but the lad outside the station was talking about it and, bless him, he said it was a privilege to have had the opportunity to get to know us. THAT is worth so much.

[Plantaholic]

What a nice thing to say Zizi, but well deserved. I hope everyone has a fab time.

[Daisy]

Zizi - what a pity that it's Time to Shine for the last time, but judging by that young man, there will be many young adults who will remember the fun, the confidence it gave them, and the friends they made. Definitely a worthwhile legacy.

I'm glad you managed to ward of the panic attack - but I think I would have had one as well at the price of that sandwich and beer!


I do hope the youngsters have a fabulous time tomorrow. x

[Gemini]

Zizi, meeting someone from early TTS days must make you feel good. I know you helped s lot of young people over the years. I'm sorry you had the panic attack, but glad you and OH avoided it becoming full blown.

[ZIZI]

Just home from Stratford Olympic Park. The event was not terribly well attended, Bout 50% full, but we did get to see many of the children we have known for some years. I had to make a speech at the VIP part of it. There is a little downs syndrome boy called Ashley. I think he is about 14 and he absolutely adores my husband. He was doing wheelchair basketball when we got there and he made them all stop so he could give husband a hug. I get a hug too but the biggest is reserved for the sainted Paul!

We got there around 11 after breakfast at the hotel and left around 2.30pm. Got home 4.30 and just about to get ready to go out tonight with Paul’s colleagues who accepted VR. I don’t really want to go if I am honest, it is all BA talk and nothing I haven’t heard twenty two thousand (or thereabouts) before but husband wants me to and, if I am honest, he knows how I feel and usually goes on his own so I feel I owe it to him as he probably won’t see some of the people again. Hope it is not a late one as I am quite tired, still I don’t need to get up early tomorrow which means that I will wake up at the crack of sparrows.

Decorator is coming on Wednesday to do sitting room so I shall work from home. I saw the most gorgeous coffee table in Stratford. It is silver and looks like a cut log. I did try to get a yes we will have it from husband but he was not playing. It was expensive I must admit but I think it would have looked lovely in my new sitting room.

[Gemini]

It sounds lovely Zizi