I’m not live tweeting Rachel’s inquest as I didn’t get to speak to her family in advance and don’t have their permission. I do wish to report on what happened in court as I think it’s highly likely it’s of wider relevance and interest to others. Day 1 has just finished and I’ve written over […]
A year ago right now I was lying on my Mum’s bed, holding her hand and talking to her as she spent her last living, breathing hour on this earth. Mum was at peace with the fact she was dying, and that peace was a total gift to those of us who love her. Given […]
Last month I spent three days in the Court of Appeal live-tweeting the first conjoined domestic abuse appeal #DAAppeal for twenty years. Others have written up the detail of the appeals and the calls for systemic change so I’ve focused on four brief reflections as someone who is unfamiliar with the Family Court. I’ve never […]
Until last month I’d never attended an inquest without already making contact with the bereaved person’s family, to try and get to know them a little. As Thomas Rawnsley’s inquest came to a close, I moved straight to Joanna Bailey’s inquest as it was half the way through. I have written a number of posts […]
Happy Birthday Sammy Today is Sammy’s 14th birthday but he is not here to celebrate it. I’ve been speaking with his mum, Patricia, and this morning I spoke to his sisters and promised that I would share about Sammy so more people know of him. They fear he’ll be forgotten. Sammy was born on Friday […]
Jared was his mum, Vicky’s, first born, arriving into this world on Sunday 20 February 1994. Vicky was a young mum, only 19, but so excited for what the future held. She described Jared as a perfect baby, he didn’t cry a lot, he slept and he fed well, but at his 6 month check-up […]
This question from Liz this morning has resulted in my finishing this blog, I’ve less rage than yesterday and was going to leave it but I’ve so many half finished posts I decided to crack on or it might never see the light of day. Liz’s question is the ultimate one, and one I ask […]
Still angry, I know its not healthy and if my lovely ma were still alive she’d be imploring me to shut my laptop and do something to relax. I tried this afternoon after posting my last three blogs, honest I did, but I managed to balls up my knitting and lose the plot of what […]
I told myself I’d take the weekend off, to decompress, spend time away from a screen, try and release some of the anger and tension that is searing through every sinew of my body. Couple hours into the weekend and I’ve given in to the rage and am sat banging away at my keyboard. I […]
Thomas was a beautiful, loving, compassionate and most of all mischievous little boy. He enjoyed spending time with his family and was loved like only a youngest brother to three big sisters can be. Thomas was a very much loved son, brother and uncle. Thomas had Down Syndrome and by the time he was a […]