Yesterday was Mum's birthday. She would have been 57. I spent most of yesterday avoiding Facebook because as the tributes to Mum poured in I felt overwhelmed by all the lovely things people had to say about Mum. She was so loved and she didn't even know it most of the time.
As a lasting tribute to Mum I wanted to share the words I spoke at Mum's funeral and I thought it would be fitting to do that on her birthday. I'm a day late because I decided I needed to protect myself from the raw emotions of how much I missed Mum yesterday and left it for today.
Mum asked that all 5 of her children spoke at her funeral and I am so proud of my siblings for the beautiful tributes they wrote and shared too. Perhaps one day they will give me permission to share their words here too.
So here follows the words I spoke at Mums funeral:
My Mum shone brightly like the sunflowers she adored. She touched so many people's lives, as evidenced by the number of people here today.
Mum loved colour and music and adventures. She was always quick to burst into song, and it is music that flows through so many of the memories that I have of her.
Mum always liked to tell me that she danced to Baggy Trousers by Madness, when she was pregnant with me. And for her 40th birthday my siblings and I gave her a ticket to see Madness live for the first time. I got to go with her and dancing with Mum in the rafters of the O2 arena was an experience I will never forget.
A few years later Mum, James and David invited me to join them on a trip to Jamaica. Bob Marley's house was a highlight on our tour around the island and it was a magical experience to visit the home of Mum's favourite artist with her.
Mum always had a line from a song for every occasion and while Reggae was her true music love Mum's taste in music was as eclectic as her impeccable sense of style.
I'm truly grateful to have such a strong, inspirational Mum and I would like to take a moment to offer my heartfelt thanks to Lee who brought even more colour into her life. Lee renewed Mum's sense of adventure and together they explored even more of the world. At the end Lee cared for Mum with such tenderness and I am grateful that they found each other and that by becoming a part of our family Lee has added more love to our lives.
I'll miss Mum so much and I know in my heart that she is a shining angel in heaven now choreographing dances and decorating with the brightest colours and planting the most beautiful flowers.
Love you Mamma. Xx