I have recently been making a toy castle for my small grandson. This is how it looks at the moment:
Whilst it is hopefully obvious that I have done a lot of the work, it is also obvious that I am awaiting some supplies to be delivered to complete the job. Fortunately, I have plenty of time as he is a little young for it at the moment.
It has reminded me a great deal of Andrew. We have been members of English Heritage for many years and he visited a huge number of castles and so forth as he grew up with us. Andrew and his sister Charlotte shared their 8th & 10th birthdays in 2001 at Conisbrough Castle, where a group of their friends were dressed up as Knights and Ladies, taught some basic defensive skills and enjoyed a picnic banquet. I even made this cake using baked bean tins for baking the towers:
It has reminded me a great deal of Andrew. We have been members of English Heritage for many years and he visited a huge number of castles and so forth as he grew up with us. Andrew and his sister Charlotte shared their 8th & 10th birthdays in 2001 at Conisbrough Castle, where a group of their friends were dressed up as Knights and Ladies, taught some basic defensive skills and enjoyed a picnic banquet. I even made this cake using baked bean tins for baking the towers:
| These are of course, treasured family memories. As with my unfinished toy castle, it occurs to me that the most difficult thing having a missing loved one is that, unlike the castle, you never finish. The sense of missing Andrew daily seems never-ending and even though he will be 27 on July 10th, we still have no resolution or idea of what happened to him. It is quite different to experiencing a bereavement for example, where a conclusion, however sad and painful does exist and so, over time you recover from that loss. |   |
Usually for Andrew’s birthday I give a flower to everyone in my church to take home as a reminder to pray for all missing people and I always find an envelope with cash in it for Missing People whether I have asked or not. Because my church remains closed at present I cannot mark his birthday in this way and instead will light a candle and make a donation to Missing People who help so many young people in particular.
If you are reading this, please join me in any or all of those activities, not just for us and Andrew, but for all missing children and their families. If you are able to donate to Missing People, this can be done here using the donate button: https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/ Many thanks if you are able to help in this way at such a tough time for the charitable sector.
If you are reading this, please join me in any or all of those activities, not just for us and Andrew, but for all missing children and their families. If you are able to donate to Missing People, this can be done here using the donate button: https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/ Many thanks if you are able to help in this way at such a tough time for the charitable sector.
