Apologies for the radio silence on here…I am only JUST starting to be able to walk around without barking at people. It’s been a very long weekend. But! I have to announce the winner of this pretty. THAT I can do.
So many great entries! But there was one that I just HAD to give. And that’s to Ali, with this entry:
Oh mate! This is exactly what I have been looking for.
You remember my mate Hayley, the one of the Jamie Oliver and teapot fame?
Well, I used to say that I only had room in my life for five friends (give or take) and once I was full I wasn’t taking any more ‘applications’…
After a while (and a sherbet or two), Hayls and I decided to rank our friends: Number One, Number Two etc…
When Hayls died and Carlsy, Jo and I delivered our eulogies we (accidentally) spoke in order Number One, Two and Three. I started my speech “Hi, I’m Alison and I was Hayley’s third best friend.”
It was my intention to get all three of us a keepsake for the first anniversary of her death (two weeks ago) with our numbers engraved, but I couldn’t find anything I liked.
This would be perfect.
Imagine Carlsy getting Number One on hers (in the top position), Jo with her Number Two on the second rung and my Number Three on the third.
It’s the perfect keepsake for us all.
So of course I’d love to win one, but regardless, I’m going to get us one each, for our next anniversary.
And then she sent me this photo of the three friends with this message:
Man, Ali, so do I. And it’s BULLSHIT when it’s someone who is young and vibrant and full of life and with little kids. It’s bullshit. So Ali, you win! This is for you. I hope you can get 2 more for your friends as well. I’m sorry about your beautiful friend Hayls, and I hope this can be a reminder of her and your friendships as you wear it around your neck.
Congrats – flick me an email with your address and I will send it to Kate to be engraved and then on to you. And thanks again to all of you for entering…hope I chose right x
Oh this is just perfect. Ali, I have tears. I had the privilege of meeting Hayls – an incredibly special woman. As are you my friend, as are you. x
Oh thanks Nikki. She was such a bloody legend. My heart aches.
Well done, Ali, I hope this brings some sunshine to your day x
Isn’t it?!
SUCH a deserving win!!!! Congratulations Ali!! Great pick Beth 🙂
Thank you Amanda. It will be so spesh for all of us.
Thanks Amanda!
You chose right. Great choice in fact.
Thanks Ruth 🙂
Perfect recipient.
Thanks Janey 🙂
What a glorious celebration – cycle of life! Your big heart gets great karma Beth!
Thanks Kerri!
So glad that Ali won – I was hoping she would!
Thanks Mary 🙂
You chose absolutely the correct winner.
Great! Thanks Yvonne 🙂
I bloody love this!!! So deserving x
Isn’t it lovely? x
That’s beautiful Beth xx
Poor girls…thanks Lisa 🙂
Perfect
I’m glad you think so Renee – thanks 🙂
This is lovely. It’s made me a bit weepy. Enjoy Ali x
Perfect winner Kim 🙂
Okay, enough of me hijacking Beth’s feed.
Thank you all so much for being so gracious and lovely about my entry. I’ve got goosebumps. It makes me feel like you all know Hayely a bit too. And that’s important for me.
All three of us girls miss Hayls like nothing else. We actually weren’t friends before Hayls- she brought us all together. She had a way of doing that- collecting fantastic, funny, spirited people and bringing them together with her massive smile and her open heart.
There hasn’t been a day so far that I haven’t thought about her, alternating between anger and sorrow and just so much SAD.
I can’t even imagine (nor do I want to) what it is like for her family who have already lost another daughter to cancer, or to her husband, or her little girl. I don’t know how they go on.
Thank you so much Beth. Thank you so much Uberkate.
You have made a bad week a bit shiny.
Ali
xx
Oh, I’m so pleased you won. I know that necklace will be special and I love that it will always be close to your heart, just like Hayls will always be in it. Great choosing, Beth!
Thanks Sammie x
I’m so glad Ali, just for a second. Thanks for entering xxx
Sounds like you picked the perfect winner . That was a lovely ( but sad) story x
Thanks Tammy 🙂
Oh No now I’m sobbing over this!! Absolutely the right person to receive this beautiful necklace.xx
Thanks Debs 🙂
I think you got it right!
I’m glad others think so too.
I think that you picked a most worthy winner. How beautiful and moving! I got goosebumps xx
Thanks Kez 🙂
ALI WON.
Oh, Ali. won. That is the BEST news ever.
I didn’t enter your competition Beth because mine would have just been all profanities … suffice to say, it’s my parenting motto I told you about. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten it.
Great news. So happy for lightening Ali’s day/week/month.
xxx
I’m glad you think so too Edie x
YOU CHANGED YOUR PICTURE! As Dr Suess would say, that pic is the youest of you.
Love love LOVE IT xxxxxxx
Course I did. I do as I am told.
All entries was amazing. I read them all. But this one had to win. I know how it feels to lose a friend – I think of my friend Kez every day. Hugs Ali x
Thanks DL – thinking of you and your friend Kez too x
I knew someone who really appreciated it was going to win. And there she is. Thanks for sharing your story. Xx
Thanks!
I’m so glad she won. I read her comment on your post and didn’t want to enter after that I just really hoped she would win.
Great!
Well I was prepared to feel jealous of the winner, but after reading this I am so happy for you Ali. Every time you wear your necklace you will think of your beautiful friendships. A perfect winner Beth xx
Thanks Leoni 🙂