my big sis sam |
Martin Seligman set a task for everyone reading his book Authentic Happiness. "Select one important person from your past who has made a major positive difference in your life and to whom you have never fully expressed your thanks"
What can I say there is so much, so many reasons to thank you, my big sis Sam. Time and time again through life your friendship, counsel and example steered me to a happy positive life. I chose the image above as it reminds me of the back of the shed that we decided to paint in Lambourne Close. It is one of my fondest memories of childhood and well worth taking the blame for and the forgotten punishment that Dad duly issued!
My earliest memories are of playing schools, dancing to Top of the Pops, dashing about in the garden and exploring caravan sites with you. I don't remember an specific instance of you being my translator but I know it to be true. I do remember listening to the cassette tapes of Dad talking to us when we were little though and always knowing that I had my big sis looking out for me when we out to play in the Close which allowed me to have fun without being scared. At nights when mum and dad would argue you would always be with me at the top of the stairs to re-assure me that everything was going to be alright. My best friend.
The age gap between us starts to widen and I must be a VERY annoying younger brother. Always trying to go into your room, jumping out your window and borrowing your brilliant CD player and listening to your music. That's why I still love Del Amitri and Van Morrison, but I always knew when I had really upset you because of your dignified silence. That's when I knew I had overstepped the mark. When teenage life got complicated I was incredibly grateful that you could trust me about how things were with Dad and you would never judge me too harshly for my foolish exploits. I thought you were amazingly brave to stand up to Dad's racial prejudice and it still makes me smile now. When I had to turn my back on my social group because of the massive negative impact they were having, when I doubted myself like no other time before or since you welcomed me into your world of friends. I can not say thank you enough. That made so much positive difference to my life.
I was and still am so proud of your choice of career. Working with the children at Brookfields school and allowing me to help out on school trips showed me how beneficial and much fun helping others can be. Your friends Helen and Owen were as a good a people as I have ever met and they also made me feel like that's how I want to be.
I am so happy that you found such a fantastic soul mate as Darren and I smile when remember how pleased you were that he didn't like sport very much and football in particular! When I was single and you had bought your brilliant house I always felt so welcome. The nights playing Bishi Bashi Special and other silly games were the highlights of my week. Somehow I was still welcome even after when I drank your alcohol and decorated your wall in interesting colours
At your amazing wedding day (which I would of loved Helen to see) I was incredibly proud and certain that it was a marriage that would go from strength to strength. Scattering confetti at your house for your return from honeymoon was a lot of fun too! .
Life with a young family meant time become limited for both of us but I was always brightened by your calls and I loved the fact that we could just pick up from where we left off. I would and still do come off the phone feeling better about life.
Your support to not only me but Helen too during my version of "The operation where everything goes wrong" was simply amazing and I will never forget it. You were there every step of the way for us. Even though you are not the biggest fan of tales of blood and injuries you showed immense strength to stay in the consulting room in Cambridge which was the only thing to make me smile on such a bleak day.
Not only are you my best friend but you have become one of Helen's too . Our holiday to Snowdon was so much fun and I loved getting to know Amber and Anthony even better. They both have a beautiful spirit about them and no doubt will continue to do you and Darren proud. I will always be there for them whenever I am needed.
Finally I love going out on a regular basis like we are tonight and I really hope it continues for many years to come and we find other fun interesting things to do like our trip to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I think life is truly only as special as the people you are able to share it with and I am lucky enough to have hit the jackpot to have such an amazingly kind, honest, compassionate, friendly and most of all fun big sis to share it with from the very start. Thank you.
What can I say there is so much, so many reasons to thank you, my big sis Sam. Time and time again through life your friendship, counsel and example steered me to a happy positive life. I chose the image above as it reminds me of the back of the shed that we decided to paint in Lambourne Close. It is one of my fondest memories of childhood and well worth taking the blame for and the forgotten punishment that Dad duly issued!
My earliest memories are of playing schools, dancing to Top of the Pops, dashing about in the garden and exploring caravan sites with you. I don't remember an specific instance of you being my translator but I know it to be true. I do remember listening to the cassette tapes of Dad talking to us when we were little though and always knowing that I had my big sis looking out for me when we out to play in the Close which allowed me to have fun without being scared. At nights when mum and dad would argue you would always be with me at the top of the stairs to re-assure me that everything was going to be alright. My best friend.
The age gap between us starts to widen and I must be a VERY annoying younger brother. Always trying to go into your room, jumping out your window and borrowing your brilliant CD player and listening to your music. That's why I still love Del Amitri and Van Morrison, but I always knew when I had really upset you because of your dignified silence. That's when I knew I had overstepped the mark. When teenage life got complicated I was incredibly grateful that you could trust me about how things were with Dad and you would never judge me too harshly for my foolish exploits. I thought you were amazingly brave to stand up to Dad's racial prejudice and it still makes me smile now. When I had to turn my back on my social group because of the massive negative impact they were having, when I doubted myself like no other time before or since you welcomed me into your world of friends. I can not say thank you enough. That made so much positive difference to my life.
I was and still am so proud of your choice of career. Working with the children at Brookfields school and allowing me to help out on school trips showed me how beneficial and much fun helping others can be. Your friends Helen and Owen were as a good a people as I have ever met and they also made me feel like that's how I want to be.
I am so happy that you found such a fantastic soul mate as Darren and I smile when remember how pleased you were that he didn't like sport very much and football in particular! When I was single and you had bought your brilliant house I always felt so welcome. The nights playing Bishi Bashi Special and other silly games were the highlights of my week. Somehow I was still welcome even after when I drank your alcohol and decorated your wall in interesting colours
At your amazing wedding day (which I would of loved Helen to see) I was incredibly proud and certain that it was a marriage that would go from strength to strength. Scattering confetti at your house for your return from honeymoon was a lot of fun too! .
Life with a young family meant time become limited for both of us but I was always brightened by your calls and I loved the fact that we could just pick up from where we left off. I would and still do come off the phone feeling better about life.
Your support to not only me but Helen too during my version of "The operation where everything goes wrong" was simply amazing and I will never forget it. You were there every step of the way for us. Even though you are not the biggest fan of tales of blood and injuries you showed immense strength to stay in the consulting room in Cambridge which was the only thing to make me smile on such a bleak day.
Not only are you my best friend but you have become one of Helen's too . Our holiday to Snowdon was so much fun and I loved getting to know Amber and Anthony even better. They both have a beautiful spirit about them and no doubt will continue to do you and Darren proud. I will always be there for them whenever I am needed.
Finally I love going out on a regular basis like we are tonight and I really hope it continues for many years to come and we find other fun interesting things to do like our trip to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I think life is truly only as special as the people you are able to share it with and I am lucky enough to have hit the jackpot to have such an amazingly kind, honest, compassionate, friendly and most of all fun big sis to share it with from the very start. Thank you.