It has been some considerable time since I last posted an
entry on Fred’s blog. A friend of mine,
Katy Graham, is raising funds for CLIC by running the London marathon this year. Hopefully through people being more aware of
the great work CLIC does, it will mean that Katy can raise as much money as
possible – and spur her on to make the 26+ miles through the capital. That is some doing and good luck to her. I (and some other friends) abseiled down the children’s
hospital in Bristol although that only took a few minutes and I was aided
greatly by gravity, so no stamina or training was required, unlike a marathon.

Reading through some or all of my ‘blog should give you an
insight in to the good work that CLIC do for ordinary people, like our family,
who unexpectedly need their assistance at the drop of a hat. The ‘blog does go on a bit in places so it
may take a while to find the CLIC related information.

Fred would have been six this year in May and he would have
started school proper last year too. Time
has passed so quickly but it still seems like yesterday that Fred was with
us. His little grave in the church yard
in Chagford is regularly visited, trimmed and tidied up. In the spring the birds pick at the moss to
make their nests, although at the moment slugs and snails seem especially
prevalent in attacking the wreaths and flowers placed there. There is fox-run by the side of him, which
runs down on to the lane below. Over in
the distance you can see Castle Drogo across the valley so he has a good view
from there.

His little sister Heidi, who will be four in May, also takes
great pleasure in making sure her brothers windmills run smoothly. She started pre-school in September last year
and enjoys this very much for her 2 ½ days a week. Her learning and social skills have developed
well, even though at home she can be a real pest and somewhat domineering….. She is due to start school in September of
this year and she talks about Freddie a lot, even though she never met her
older brother, knowing who he is in the various photographs that we have around
the house, so picks she things up quietly.
She has got to an age where she has started asking more searching
questions about Fred so we will address those as they arise.

Since my last post Heidi and we have been joined by baby Wilfred
James, who was born on the 14 January 2011, weighing in at 9lb 10oz and as he
grows he bears many similarities to his late brother Fred. We chose the name
Wilf as it is a bit traditional, includes “Fred” in it and retains James as his
middle name. This relates to Rachel’s grandfather.

No doubt I will post another entry sometime soon, but as I
say, time flies all the quicker nowadays.

Yesterday would have been Fred’s third birthday.

We took an early trip up to Chagford, with the sun being rather bright and a heavy frost on the ground. We had a chat with Revd Gearing who conducted Fred’s funeral in May 2007, just as he was opening up the church.

He’d guessed it was an anniversary as we had a number of flowers to lay on his grave. Heidi mean while was pulling “Winston Churchill” faces at him. We trundled down to see Fred which is a bit difficult as the ground is uneven and Heidi’s pram isn’t really “terrain” at all.

The birds have been pinching moss of the grave, I suppose to build their little nests this time of year.

Once tidied up we headed off to Gran and Grandfer to say Hello, before driving down to South Petherton for the day to see Fred’s godmother, Frances. A lovely day with her, and Samuel and Daisy her two children, plus Shaun appeared too. I was a student with him many years ago in Newcastle and he’s now a nurse and who visited us whilst we lived in Bristol.

God bless you Freddie.

Over the Christmas break we visited Fred as we normally do, and I thought I'd post a photograph of his little headstone, taken on Boxing Day.

Thinking of you Freddie, on New Years Eve........ Daddy x

Today was a long, but lovely day, in that Rachel gave birth to Heidi Rachel Wills, weighing in at 8lb 8 1/2 oz. Born at Torbay Hospital at 1436h she shouted quite a bit. Heidi, not Rachel (who did really well of course).

It is sad in a way as I guess this will be the last time I ever put anything significant on here, as there isn't much to say really. I have though started a new 'blog just for Heidi as she desreves it I reckon: http://heidiwills.blogspot.com

Heidi will never meet her truly wonderful big brother. I am sure they would have looked after each other. I will maintain this 'blog as I don't want the hosts to think it is dormant in the future.

I wish you were with us Freddie, I really do.

Much love, your happy but very sad Daddy xxx

Today saw Rachel and I go to Torbay Hospital to see the registrar, anaesthetist and the midwife in preparation for tomorrows delivery.

We shall get there for 0800h and she is third on the list, so fingers crossed all will be well.

I'll probably do another post on this 'blog and see what happens.

Thanks

Today is the anniversary of when Freddie died, a year ago in Exeter.

We took a stroll to the Zoo as soon as it opened this morning and went to his little bench by the Gorillas and Orang Utans. The sun was shining and the apes were out on the island I thought enjoying the warmth. I think actually it was because they had all been locked out of their house whilst the keepers were inside sweeping up all their muck and empty banana skins.

We tied a little yellow rose to the bench, and because we were one of the first people in there, we spent a while quietly watching the apes and listening to the birds and monkeys.

Rachel and I thought about our beloved little boy and wished so much that he could have been with us. Sadly not.

Its been a quiet day today which is nice, very similar in weather to last year.

I won't do much more on this 'blog once baby is born, though I might add things just to make sure it does not appear dormant.

God bless you Freddie. x

Today Rachel and I visited Torbay Hospital to see the consultant about how baby is going to be born.

When Freddie was born he got stuck and was delivered by emergency caesarian and so at the time they suggested we would need to see if it were likely to happen again another time. After a chat with the consultant, he advised that a caesarian was probably the best option again, although this time we would do it by appointment....

So, all being well Rachel and I will head into the hospital on Tuesday 13 May and later meet a new little person. Baby may appear earlier of course (like Freddie who was nearly three weeks early) but we cannot do much about that anyway.

So hopefully all will go to plan.