Ex 🪖 & 👮♂️. Learning badly to be a widow whilst parenting a 10 yr old usually on a mountain. Can swear a bit. Lucky to have the best job in the world🚑
Next month my 10 yr old son is trekking across the Pyrenees from France to Spain to mark 80 years since the RAFs Great Escape & raise some dosh for St Gemma’s Hospice. Please share and sponsor him so he can reach his £100,000 target & give my knees a rest!
I just adore the way Jacob still wears his mothers dressing gown over two years after her death. He says he can still smell her….I don’t have the heart to tell him I put her perfume on it for him 💔
Day 2 in Lewisham Hospital and it’s Fish & Chips Friday for my sister.
I wonder what the CEO of the trust is having for lunch today🤔
I’ve decided to tweet this everyday in the hope something might change for the better.
3 yrs ago today I asked Andrea to go for a picnic after being told she had terminal cancer. We didn’t have any food in so I went to the garage & bought 2x £3 meal deals, went for that picnic & asked her to marry me. We got married 4 months later just before she passed away❤️
Four years ago today Andrea got told she had Stage 4 Breast Cancer. I went and bought us a £3 meal deal each, went for a picnic on the nature reserve where we live & asked her to marry me.
Hi all, I'm a Health Care Professional and I work for a NHS Ambulance Service. Whilst I appreciate the kindness and generosity I don't need free pizza, free coffee or money off vouchers etc. Why? I still have an income-please give to those who have lost their income
#InItTogether
After 5hrs & 35mins Jacob climbed to the top of Mt Toubkal, 13,671ft. He told me he saw his mummy, made me cry, gave me a hug, told me he loved me & flew his RAF flag at the top of North Africa❤️
All for the hospice that cared for him mum, pls donate👇
Daddy it’s Father’s Day on Sunday.
I know Jacob
Mummy isn’t here to get me a card for you, sorry.
I know son, it’s ok.
<gives me a hug>
For fucks sake….this is never going to get easy!
Just over a year after my wife lost her battle with breast cancer and I’ve started to watch After Life. Crying & laughing in equal measure as I’m living that exact life apart from
@rickygervais
isn’t dropping the C Bomb as much as me.
1/
I’m not a fan of D-Day , I’m a Dunkirk researcher-the poor cousin that few remember in comparison. Today though I was reminded of a friend I never met but exchanged emails with many years ago who landed on Omaha Beach. He served in the RAF and few believed his story, some
Jacob: I saw mummy at school today.
Me: Really? What did she say?
Jacob: Yes, it was her ghost. ‘When you get home thank your daddy for working so hard to look after you. I’m very proud of you and love you to the moon and back’
That’s me done for the day😢
Pls Share😁
My 9yr old son is climbing the highest mountain in North Africa for
@stgemmashospice
in memory of his mum who died from cancer 2 yrs ago. At 14,000ft & 4 days to reach the summit-it’s by far his hardest challenge to date.
Pls sponsor him here➡️
Having served in the forces, the police and currently the ambulance service I’ve seen some and done some incredibly tough things in my life. But buying a dress this week for my wife to wear for her funeral is right up there💔
#ShitTimes
#CancerCanFuckOff
Hi
@Ryanair
, we are flying with you this week to Marrakesh. My 9yr old son is climbing Mt Toubkal for the hospice that looked after his mum before she died. Could you pls get the Captain & crew to wish him luck-it would mean the world to him as he wants to be a pilot. Thank you🙏🏻
Literally 22 minutes into Mr Bates v The Post Office and I’m screaming at the TV in rage. All those good honest people criminalised and over 60 died without justice.
Shame of the Post Office and shame on this government for allowing this to continue for so long!! Unforgivable!!
The ‘Skipper’ did his mum proud today❤️
Jacob saw the news this morning and asked if he could put Sunflowers on his mums grave. When I asked why he said ‘Hope for Ukraine Daddy’
Nine bloody years old and he’s more wiser, caring, loving than I’ll ever be.
2 years ago today Andrea got her terminal diagnosis. I asked her if she’d like to go for a picnic. She said we don’t have any food in so I went and bought two £3 meal deals from the garage, took her to the nature reserve where we live and asked her to marry me💍
Amazingly humbled that not only have
@Etihad
flown us out to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix all expenses paid but today they gave Jacob a specially made uniform and their head pilot took him flying on their A380 simulator. Completely blown away.
That’s me done 😥
Stranger just come up to me & said ‘I just want to say how amazing your son is, he’s been playing with my daughter all day in the pool, he’s so polite and charming, he’s lush we absolutely love him’
Bloody tears rolling out of the bottom of my sunglasses!
Last night I was reminded how Monty was very much Andrea’s dog. When she came home from hospital he slept on the floor next to her knowing she wasn’t well. When she left us he refused to sleep anywhere but in her bed.
I was looking through my wife’s phone today. I found out she’d set up a email for Jacob and had been emailing him since she was diagnosed with cancer. Clearly she knew I’m shit at remembering things and took matters into her own hands.
Before Andrea died she told Jacob to always look of for a Robin as it will be her checking in on him from time to time making sure he’s being a good boy. When we did 3 peaks one literally walked the start with us & Jacob believed. Just seen this one staring at me in the kitchen😢
We are at base camp & the hard work starts tomorrow. Me & Jacob need to say how truly blown away we are by everyone’s kind words and generosity, we’ve passed halfway to fundraising £1 for every foot of the mountain Jacob will climb.
Comms is poor but I acknowledge your msgs💜
Jacob’s gone on his 1st skool residential 2day. I was really looking forward to the peace & quiet but not so sure now. We spoke this morning of how proud his mum would have been & that she would be crying as she’d want her little boy back. We both had a cry & then he was gone🥲
I don’t really believe in fate. I voted to strike but today I decided to cross the picket line and respond to all emergencies🚑
6hrs in just before my meal break we were in the right place at the right time & a little human is still alive because of that decision 6hrs earlier.
Visited Andrea today as we do almost every Saturday since she died…
Jacob: ‘I love mummy more than you daddy’
Me: ‘So you should, she was amazing’
Jacob: ‘She wasn’t better than you though, well she was actually only slightly better than you’
This morning my 8 yr old son
@Jacob_The_Pilot
asked me if a family fr Ukraine could come & live with us until the fighting stopped. I wish his mother was here to see the the result of the foundations she laid for him in life. He is what he is because of her.
Of course I said yes!
Mega Rant
This might end up being an unpopular post for some, but I don’t care as it is on an issue I care deeply and greatly about and to hell with it, I think it needs to be said. I have spent tens of thousands of hours researching those that fought for this
My thoughts are with the family of a boy 4 years old than my son today. But perhaps we should also think of these officers that placed themselves in harms way for around £16 per hour for strangers when some folk like to bash the police on twitter
#Heroes
Here we go again…Hey
@DVLAgovuk
, this is your second letter, I told you my wife died over 3 years ago & I’m not returning her licence-It’s in my 10 year old son’s memory box. So much for tell us (UK Gov) once and we’ll never bother you again. First dramas with passport now this!
❌❌NEWSFLASH❌❌
Nine year old future fighter pilot climbs Englands highest mountain in wind, rain, sleet and freezing temperatures to fly his
@RoyalAirForce
flag & have a hot chocolate at the top.
Mission Accomplished 😎
I have studied thousands and thousands of 1940 Dunkirk related photo’s over the last 20 odd years and this one I can across around ten ish years ago is bar far the darkest and most disturbing one I have seen.
It seems to have gone by again unnoticed as it does every year. So here’s a little reminder 73 years ago the Japanese surrendered to the Allied forces in the Far East effectively ending the Second World War. It’s was a rather good day for these chaps.
#ForgottenArmy
#LestWeForget
Three years since I held your hand, since I kissed your lips, since Jacob got into your bed & hugged you, whispering not to wake you that you felt cold, since we said we loved you, since we said goodbye.
Three years of tears, heart ache & missing you💔
#GriefJourney
#GoneToSoon
Listening to the news about lockdown parties at No.10 whist at work today and my overriding memory today are these images taken on Christmas Day and two days later.
Never have I felt such hatred for a British Government than I do right now.
Someone is wearing his flying suit one last time before he hangs it up for good and says good bye to the
@RoyalAirForce
@rafredarrows
who started his £100,000 plus fundraising journey 3 years ago at the
@airtattoo
with that ‘Salute for Jacob’ photo ❤️
Whenever I need him he’s always there for me❤️
Taken by
@stgemmashospice
last night whilst they spoke about Andrea & Jacob at the opening of the young persons ‘Cabin’.
Home from work & Jacob asks why I’ve not hugged & kissed him.
I just need to get out of my uniform & shower 1st, then I’m all yours skipper.
That means you’ve had a bad job daddy. You know I’m here if you want to talk about it don’t you?
Literally I own the best 9 yr old in🌍
Some Jacob facts:
Walked 32 miles
Climbed three peaks=33,500ft
Drank 18 litres of water
Consumed 10 lollipops & Haribo
Named our Mules Sausage & Mash
Slid 5 meters down Toubkal
Caused an Avalanche Yodelling
Drank 3 Mint Teas with 6 Sugars
Got congratulated by 40+ climbers
So I’m not in a great place at the moment, dreading Christmas more than ever this year, work witness thing going on, feel stressed, emotional, generally I think I just want to be happy but I can’t seem to find happiness. Anyway I made a video today and it made me smile. Winner😁
Two days ago I told my seven year old son his beautiful, loving, funny, kind, caring, intelligent and generally amazing mummy was going to die in the next few days. My heart is broken 💔
Hi, are you Jacob’s daddy?
Morning, Yes I am, everything ok?
Someone mentioned to us Jacob wanted a snorkelling mask, we’re going home today so we thought he could make use of ours
I’m rarely lost for words…😳🥺
#BritsAbroad
#SingleParenting
#TravellingTheWorld
with
#MyWorld
Had a discussion with Jacob earlier about his mum. Just gone up stairs to start getting ready for work and Jacob has put his teddy made from his mums pjs in my bed, ‘Because I know you miss mummy daddy’ 😳
So Jacob is cutting the ribbon to officially open St Gemma’s Hospice’s ‘young peoples cabin’ tonight that supports bereaved children across Leeds. I’m bursting with pride right now whilst simultaneously being an emotional wreck!
Thank you all so much for your kind words and best wishes for my son this weekend. He’s had the best day of his life ! Special thanks to
@RoyalAirForce
@rafredarrows
and especially Dan
@RAFLossiemouth
for pulling it altogether and making it happen from one emotional Daddy.
Dropped Jacob off at my neighbours for the next few days & I’m struggling to pack my bag for hospital. Never have I felt so scared, not for me but for him. It’s moments like this when you realise how life can change so much in a heart beat & he’s already had enough change💔
I’m reminded 8 years ago today after three years of trying we found out Andrea was pregnant with our amazing son Jacob. What an amazing, kind, caring, loving human being he’s growing up to be because of her. He is your legacy Andrea 💔
I lost my wife to cancer two days after Xmas. My 7 year old son is climbing 3 mountains in 3 days for
@stgemmashospice
in June because they looked after his mummy & they continue to support him through the worse time of his life. Please share & donate👇
My mental health has taken a battering over the last seven days with significant dates, my home life, work life & just insignificant stuff. My best medicine is the outdoors. Today I locked the front door & took the dog to where I proposed to Andrea 3 yrs ago to sit and reflect.
Calling all the amazing Millionaires🗣️
My 9yr old son has raised £110k for charity. This week he climbs the highest mountain in North Africa @ 13,670 feet!
He asked me if anyone is cool enough to sponsor him £1 for every foot he’ll climb?
#DontAskDontGet
🤷♂️
So I’ve had a wobble today😢
Some great kindness thrown our way and I realised my son has now raised over £110,000 for charity. Whilst I’m bursting with pride for him, I’m also heart broken in equal measure that his mum isn’t here to share that pride with him💔
My wife had a necklace with a big heart. It went missing years ago & we never found it. Jacob denied having it but we knew he’d hid it somewhere.
Y/day he said to me when I give mummy’s dress to the man looking after her can I ask him to put his heart in her hand for him💔
I decided for the first time in 41 yrs not take part, attend or watch a remembrance parade. Instead me and Jacob raced the sun to the top of Yorkshire’s highest peak & had a chat about what remembrance means.
#NoMedals
#NoCeremony
#NoTrumpets
#NoDrums
Just
#RemembranceSunday
I don’t think I’ve thought this through very well. Fin work at 6am, school run 9am, check & pack our kit, school run at 3pm, dinner at 4pm, cricket lesson at 6pm, Manchester at 8pm, 3am alarm for flight to Morocco, arrive Marrakesh 10am & move to base camp.
Sleep is for losers😂
Ages ago one of my tweets was disputed by a well know historian stating there were no cranes in Dunkirk to load vehicles on to ships. As usual it got lots of likes by their thousands of followers that believed them over me. I just found this aerial image of Dunkirk dated June 40
Last ten miles completed today from base camp to Imlil. Just waiting for our transfer to Marrakesh while Jacob sticks my ears out even more than they normally do!
Today on my wife’s birthday I gifted all her clothes to
@stgemmashospice
who supported us through the toughest of times💔
I can’t help but smile thinking she’ll be laughing that some1 will be getting a bargain-there’s a £500 pair
@PaulSmithDesign
shoes in there she’s never worn😂
My wife was in hospital when they danced, fucking dancing!! She didn’t get to say goodbye to our 7 year old son, we only spoke in txts. I’m so angry it just makes me cry. People say we should move on. That’s fine but I’ll never forget what they did, never
Happy 50th Birthday Wifey.
As promised-Red roses for Lancashire where your life began and white roses for Yorkshire where your life ended. You’re loved and missed in equal measure every day by me and your amazing son
@Jacob_The_Pilot
💔
To answer a few Q’s from y/days tweet Andrea wanted to be buried in the village church as we got married there 3 mths earlier. The church warden & vicar suggested the grave site as they had seen Jacob climbing the tree that over looks the it numerous times. He still climbs the🌳
So I proper hate flying. My wife was always going to chaperone our son
@Jacob_The_Pilot
but life doesn’t always work out how you expect.
Today I put my big boy pants on and swallowed the vomit!
The things parents do for their kids!
#ProudDad
wish his mummy was here to see it.
Day 2 was 10 miles of trekking up to 11,700ft and we got our first view of Mount Toubkal 7km away🏔️
We are now at base camp I’m absolutely exhausted and feeling rather nervous. Jacob however is smashing out of the park and can’t wait to fly his RAF Flag at the top!
Whenever we climb a mountain Jacob looks for a heart❤️shaped stone to remember his mum. He got to add another one to his small collection yesterday.
#SingleParentLife
#WidowLife
8 years ago today and look at him now 😍
Couldn’t be prouder of how brave he’s been this last 9 months. Living his life and smashing it out of the park👊
The
@RoyalAirForce
never cease to amaze. Today the aviators at
@RAFBrizeNorton
did something for Jacob I didn’t think was possible and I truly can’t thank all involved enough. Jacob said to me on the way home he felt like he was actually in the RAF today!
Mission Accomplished 🫡
Too excited, I can’t wait any longer! I took off from from Brize this morning in a Voyager, started circuits at 20,000 feet over the North Sea & I helped deliver 27 tonnes of fuel to a 4 ship of Typhoons from Coningsby then flew in formation with two A400. Best Day
📷stock images