Saturday 4 January 2014

2014, A New Start

Life has certainly been a roller coaster since Richie started this blog back in 2008.  And my family and I have seen many changes, some sad, some bad and some fantastic.

The saddest is the loss of our beloved Nanny Joan, my inspirational Nan and the pillar of our family.  As with all those we have lost she is never forgotten and discussed frequently as we share our memories of a most fabulous (and glamorous) lady.  I am happy in the knowledge that she is back with Granddad Owen and no doubt they are dancing across the stars every evening.

The bad, for allowing work to dominate my life and make me unwell.  My new years resolution is to ensure that I continue with a proper work/life balance, bring my blood pressure back to normal and make sure my family is not compromised because of my job.  I share this on the blog as Richie once told me that if you write it down it strengthens your resolve to make the thing happen (I should possibly add lose 10lbs, stop eating chocolate and cut back on my wine consumption, but lets take it steady!!).  Richie also taught us that life is precious and sometimes far too short, so I will not waste any further time stressed out and covered in eczema!!

Now the fantastic, of which I have much to share.  I type this blog from my new home, I moved house on 20th Dec.  I have not gone far, literally around the corner, but it is a home I share with my partner Andrew.  It was a hard decision to leave the house that Richie and I lived in together, and I am blessed with lots of happy memories from the home that we shared when he was alive.  Summer BBQs with Katy, little Richie and Pokes :) Richie and Henry singing Happy New Year everybody in our garden on New Years Eve :) Our adventures with the Mad Cat Woman!  Petey the cat getting stuck up a tree in the school playground opposite!  Answering the door to Becs whilst we were dressed as a pantomime horse called Magic!  Rich painting the back gate after a few beers!  Bringing our son home in 2005, seeing him take his first step their (pushing a bright pink pushchair) and watching him grow into a giant just like his Daddy.  This is just a small snippet and I am thankful that I have so many.
I share my new home, or our new home with our Brady bunch family, and we are quite the troop to mobilise!  Andrew (almost 40!), Sam (a lady never tells her age!! Let's leave it as 30ish), Bec (15 going on 20!), Lauren (9 but with the intelligence of a 15 year old), Harry (8, but the height of a 12 year old!) and Heather (5 high maintenance but gorgeous so gets away with it!!).  We have only been in the house for a couple of weeks but it is already home.  To complete the Brady bunch look, Andrew and I are getting married on his 40th birthday in February (I should really get serious about this 10lbs business!). Andrew proposed to me on my birthday last year, an emotional and private moment that will stay with me always.  I am blessed to have found another man that I love so very much.

Whilst life moves on and changes Richard is always in my thoughts.  In 2014 I will continue to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, and will be running for team unstoppable in the London Marathon in April.  Every inch of the 26.2 miles will be with him, I will run it for him and run it with his memory getting me through every step.  I will use this blog through the final 99 days of my training to keep you up to date on how the training is going - so far it has been tough but manageable.  Last Sunday I ran for two hours - this time last year I would have laughed in your face if you said I would get up on a Sunday morning and run for a couple of hours!!  It means I can totally stock up after on Sunday roast calories though so every cloud!

Tomorrow's training is a 90 minute run, which feels like a treat after last weeks two hours!  But then next week we are up to 2 hours 15 eeekkk.  Lets hope that rain stays away tomorrow............

www.justgiving.com/samantha-wildman
Just Text Giving - SEAL78



2 comments:

Unknown said...

HI Samantha, Its Annie here - Adrian Evetts wife.... I need to email you but don't know how... can you email me please?
annie@annieevett.com

Anonymous said...

A great post Sammy. Makes me very happy to read this!

pIKEY