The heart of this trip is to honour Rachel. This is her first home, and a place she loves so many of the activities connect with or honour her.
Saturday is parkrun day so I headed to Wollaton Hall & Deer Farm in Nottingham. I remember coming here as kids with Rachel, playing in the Autumn leaves and enjoying the deer.
I was joined by my cousin Bernadette, a 2024 London Marathoner, and somehow a first-time parkrunner! While all parkruns follow the same format, this is definitely the first where I’ve been told to beware the deer… apparently they’re large and feisty 😬 Surprisingly, out of 525 park runners I was the only international tourist.
As with all parkruns, they’re filled with welcoming and inclusive people and we had a great chat to some of the organising team and hearing their stories of kids who are off exploring Australia. One was in the middle of ‘Boy Swallows Universe’ on Netflix… it wasn’t selling Brisbane to him!
It’s a beautiful parkrun course through the park, past the Hall and around the lake. I feel thoroughly ripped off that there was no sign of any deers, unheard of at Wollaton! I came in at #222… perfect with Rachel’s favourite number being 22. Bernadette really enjoyed it and is now lined up to join me next week.
Lunchtime brought our family together to scatter some of Rachel’s ashes in Shipley Park. Rachel had asked my Aunt Kate to select a spot where the snowdrops grow and at this time of year it was fresh and green, with dappled light, and doggos playing in the leaves. We shared some words, plenty of hugs and tears, and a poem from Kate. I think she will enjoy this space 🩵
We then came together exactly as Rachel wished – with platters of cheese, bread, olives and fruit, and bottles of Rachel’s favourite champagne. The owner of Basilia in Langley Mill did such a lovely job of helping us to honour Rachel’s wishes.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with Mum’s family at the cricket club watching my cousins’ Ilkeston-Rutland team take on South Wingfield, while the kids played football for hours on the side of the pitch. It’s always been a part of my Auntie Andree and Uncle Richard’s life, and my cousins and their families come together in this strong, warm, supportive community.
It’s been a day filled with families, enjoying time together in the park. This is what life is about 🩵
Love M & BBx
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