Frank was fine at take-off, but was now bitterly regretting his over enthusiastic agreement to leap out of an aeroplane for anyone. I mean, who in their right mind would be attempting such a feat, knowing full well they are afraid of heights anyway?

Secrets, lies, surprises and ceremonies, all in the lead up to new grandparents, Maggie and Frank’s Wedding Anniversary! Throw in a few Rod wigs and Mick Jagger’s vocals at top volume in an understairs cupboard along with Maggie’s suspicions that Nan is part of an international spy ring; and you’ve got total normal family behaviour! A good giggle mixed with a splash of tragedy, makes this sequel to Hatch Match Dispatch the perfect summer read!

‘Why is there a hearse in our drive, Mum?’ ‘Why indeed,’ Maggie replied. ‘I’m sure there’ll be a perfectly straightforward explanation, darling.’ ‘Ladies,’ Frank began. ‘Strong start, Davis,’ responded Maggie. ‘This better be a good one.’ ‘The … er … there’s a slight flaw in the plan today,’ he said brightly. ‘Bernice, I’ve got you a car. It’s just not quite the car we’d anticipated.’

With a key member of local village life popping her clogs and the funeral planned on the same day as the wedding of the year and at the same church, it’s easy to imagine that mistakes might be made and things might get complicated! Confusion and hilarity reign in this gentle, warm-hearted comedy, that has love running all the way through it and love really is all you need.

A supportive self care journey to finding creative expression in bereavement.

I created this workbook after losing my son to childhood cancer and being unable to find anything that spoke to my heart in the way I needed.

This book was an absolute labour of love and provides ways to express your innermost thoughts, to reflect on all that has happened, to find creative expression, hope and purpose again in grief and in life.

I hope that those who are bereaved or those who are supporting someone whose child has died, will find this a positive resource for those walking the most extraordinary path.

A collection of forty-two poems reflecting the profound impact of child loss and dual reality felt after losing a child to cancer. I hope these poems provide some hope, some clarity and understanding for those bereaved or supporting families in similar situations.

In June 2018, our lives took an unexpected turn, when our then ten year old son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Over the following fourteen months, we saw Ben undergo three rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Benny relapsed in July 2019 and died in my arms in the August, shortly after his twelfth birthday.

This is a story of love, hope, grief and courage; of a family of five, facing unimaginable loss, bringing forth the inspiration of a boy who dealt with the reality of his illness with dignity and gentle determination, despite knowing the outlook might not be what we all hoped for.

This is a labour of love, detailing our own experience through childhood cancer, including some important points around what is to be expected in hospital and how we coped and continue to try and cope without our boy and brother. I hope it can help other families walking a similar path.