2002, an interesting year!

We had a quiet start to 2002. I (Mandy) progressed in my job from 10 hours per week to 21 hours at a Day Centre for people with dementia. I passed my bus test, so I now collect the clients in a South Gloucestershire bus, and then work throughout the day with them. I love what I do, and the clients that I work with. Simon continues to work happily at the Highways Department also for South Gloucestershire, spending the vast majority of his working life in meetings.

In February Simon and me had a long weekend in Paris to celebrate Simon’s 40^th birthday. In May we all went to Devon for a long weekend for Lewis’ football team’s “tour”. This would be our holidays for the year. Later in the year Lewis and Ashlie went to Euro-Disney with My Dad and my sister Sarah (and others).

At the beginning of this year, we started a children’s triathlon club (with some of our triathlon friends), and it has been a huge success. We have made headlines on the British Triathlon Association Website. Check out the website at the top of the page to find out more. Ashlie joined in with the training and events and Hannah started the year with the club but events over took her (and us).

Then, in July, unforeseen events took over the Speds lives, and turned things around and upside down somewhat. Hannah (our eldest daughter) broke the news to us that she was pregnant. A trip to the doctors confirmed that she was 22 weeks pregnant. After two weeks of desperately trying to come to terms with what this would mean to our lives, and of course, Hannah’s life, Hannah went into premature labour. She was rushed into hospital, given medication, which thankfully stopped her contractions. She was given the all clear after a week in hospital, and sent home. A week later though, she went into labour again, and this time gave birth to a baby boy at 26 weeks. Jamie was 2lbs 5oz at birth on 19^th August.

He has had a rough beginning to his life, including tubes and life in an incubator plus candida meningitis (of the lining of the brain) at 3 weeks of age. This was the toughest time of all. Miraculously, tests have shown that he has completely escaped any damage from this.

Jamie came home after 101 days in Southmead hospital and weighed 7lb 4ozs. Hannah and her boyfriend Luke (Jamie’s dad) are doing a very fine job indeed of being parents. They are both totally committed to Jamie. Of course, life is very different to what any parent could plan for their child. Jamie is still on oxygen, but hopefully will be off it by spring.

Simon and myself escape from the house with our training and racing, which keeps us both sane! Simon is looking forward to the London Marathon in April 2003 and will raise funds for Southmead Hospital. Photo above is just after the Kingston Marathon in October 2002:-2 hrs 52 and an entry to London)

Lewis is still football crazy, and playing well for Bitton Boys controlling the centre of midfield with his silky skills and visionary passing (for a 10 year old anyway).

Ashlie is following in our footsteps, doing well in children’s triathlon and has competed in a number of events this past year. You’ll find her on the Tristars section of the website.

2003 the saga continues

So where did 2003 go?

The year started for the Speds with baby Jamie out of hospital for about a month and about the size of your average newborn baby, despite being 4 months old. Everyone else was in good health In March Jamie came of his oxygen so whenever Hannah took him out there was no need to carry the bulky thing around too. Not long Simon ran in the London marathon and raised £1200 for the baby Unit at Southmead hospital.

. The picture to the left was taken later in the year when the cheque was presented to the hospital. It’s a long-ish story but due to a billing error, Simon, Mandy and Ashlie ending up staying in a London hotel for £1.98!

March saw Simon move jobs (still with South Glos. Council but based a lot of the time at Almondsbury (M4/M5 junction). A few more quid too so roll on the holiday in the autumn.

In May we went off for a short break in North Devon, on tour with Lewis’ footy team Bitton. By the time we travelled down, we were in our new vehicle a VW Sharan. The old Primera was fine but we couldn’t fit everyone in.

The football team played well all through the season and then went into the tournaments and won a few. While this was going on Mandy and Simon were continuing their triathlon coaching with Yate Tristars

and Ashlie was training hard preparing for a whole series of events during the summer. Her swimming improved and she now has the most relaxed stroke of the family. She is a strong cyclist and runs well too.

Hannah worked really hard at school and juggled this with looking after little Jamie, who by the autumn had perfected a commando crawl and by earlier December had mastered the art of walking. Not only is he buzzing around everywhere he has a great knack of making everyone laugh with his antics including a groovy dance act! A superstar indeed.

The summer was a busy period with taxi journeys to Lewis’ football, Ashlie’s triathlon and in between time Simon and Mandy managing race a few triathlons too.

With the autumn came a different sort of busy, still the football, still the coaching, still the training, exams for Hannah, planning for week in Mallorca (nice break). Ashlie is seen to the right having cycled up this “hill” from where we were staying at the sea-side and Barry the builder in converting the garage to a new bedroom for Ashlie. This will free up the small room for Jamie. As this is being typed we just need a radiator and some flooring before the big move in for Ashlie.

A brief mention to Buster the dog and Fish the cat. Despite starting life in true dog chases cat, they are now best mates. Buster is up to running 19 miles at a time and may enter is first race next year.

So what does 2004 have in store? Another London marathon for Simon, plenty of footy and sport for everyone, Jamie learning to talk. All this and more

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