A dream come true.....

My little girls were stars yesterday....stars as in TV.  I'm going to tell you about a roller coaster ride of amazement, nerves and sheer and utter joy!

Last year, Children in Need donated some of the funds which were raised to Craighalbert - they had the kitchen area built out to allow the children to learn about cooking.  I won't go into the full story, but children could be nominated for a special treat....and as Molly is one of the kiddies who benefited from the funds, Kirsten at Craighalbert (fund raising miracle worker) and I put Molly forward as a nominee this year.  Next thing I knew, a real Gent, Miles from the BBC called me.  I told him all about Molly and how challenging her life had been - how she wasn't even able to sit up when Rosie was already walking.  That I tried not to compare them, as it can make you worry unnecessarily, and told him about the day I found out that all my secret little worries and fears were substantiated - the day I found out Molly had CP.  While telling him about Molly, I couldn't help but talk about how Rosie helps Molly with her clothes, and splints, and school bag - - - - how Molly became very confident talking to adults as they were always all around her, and that while Molly became Rosie's voice, Rosie became Molly's legs.  Miles couldn't help but tell me he was hearing about 2 little girls, not just one.  Perhaps the nomination should be for both of them.  That made me smile.

Then a whirlwind of events took place.  I flew back from Poland on Friday (17th) morning to Edinburgh Airport, out into a taxi to Andy's work, jumped in his car and drove to Haggs, where we picked up the girlies from my Sister at a motorway offramp, drove from there to Glasgow, to the BBC studios (and phew is that place amazing inside!) - where Miles and a lovely lady called Holly spoke to the girls - on camera.  They were asking them all about Craighalbert and what it meant to both of them.  Molly chatted as she always does, and whilst Rosie was quiet, she did talk to Miles and Holly.  When Miles asked at the very end if there was anything else they wanted to say, Molly told him about the fund raising she was trying to do, to raise money so that her little friend Amy could go back to Craighalbert (funding has been withdrawn for both of them).  That evening, a few photos sent over email.....and we got word that they would be going forward in the nominations.  Can you feel the goosebumps already?  When Miles told me...I found myself reaching out for the closest chair!  On Monday he called back, they wanted to come out to film a chat with me (eeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkk!!!).  Tuesday I was in the toilet about 50 times with nerves.  They came - Louise (Producer), John (Camera man) and Denis (Sounds and Lights).............yes!!!!! this was all happening in our front room!!!  I put too much concrete on, and stopped and paused and became tongue tied..........they were so patient, and kind.  They interviewed Blair too (I had to go out as I started coughing, so I'm hoping he hasn't said anything too inciminating!).  They left, after telling me that John Barrowman (YESSSSSSSSSS J O H N   B A R R O W M A N !!) would be at the girlies school the next day to give them a surprise!  Oh man - can you imagine it, can you????  

Yesterday, after another morning of feeling nerves like I have never ever done in my life (driving test, parachute jump, child birth, motorbike test, first kiss with Andy)...... I was in pieces....and FIT TO BURST as I was not to tell a soul (to keep it a secret for the girlies)...........I went down to the school (after leaving with my slippers on, stalling the car....)....and met Kirsten from Craighalbert.  She gave me such a lot of support.  And we sneaked in the back door of the school into the Computer Room - and there were camera screens and wires and men who knew what they were doing, and I met Holly and Louise again, and the Director Abi..........and they were all so gracious and patient (I was bug eyed at it all!).  Then "Johnny B" came into the room to say hello. 

I'm going to stop here .... and add a few words about John Barrowman.  I knew who he was of course..but I only really saw him, or got some insight to him, when he was on the Jonathan Ross show.  I remember watching him and thinking he's really down to earth, what I would term a nice guy.  I liked he had Scottish roots, but I just admired how he could talk about his own life, and what was important to him....what made him happy, and how very grateful he was as he knew he had a very special life.  And there he was - standing in front of me......and yeah, he is just GORGEOUS!!!!  He knows his stuff, knew what was happening, what needed to happen (no waiting for everyone else to do stuff for him - he was in control and knew what was needed to make the whole thing successful) and I just couldn't help but admire him.  Anyway.........I just wanted to note here that he is just gifted in entertaining kids 'live'.  Good fun - not above them at all - gave the kids queuing a high five as he walked past.....and sat and talked to my girls about his home (and I'll leave that detail out as I respect his privacy).  He's just wonderful, and I really admire him all the more for it now.  Anyway, just how funny he can be - I hope you all see a few clips from what he did...... during Children in Need this year....

So.......the idea was that Johnny B was going to come into the Assembly Hall when all the kids were there, in disguise as a Paramedic.  I knew this, and yet....when I glanced at the screens (camera's were hidden all around the Assembly Hall) and saw this guy in a Paramedic suit and a bag over his shoulder......yeah, I did!  I thought they had brought in a real Paramedic to help him make the whole thing more believable - yep, it was John Barrowman himself, wig (silver and dirty blonde), moustache, glasses and false teeth (how come he's also blessed with the most amazingly perfect teeth!?!?).  The ladies from the BBC started to talk about him, and I sort of sat, pretended I knew it was him all along too...but I just had to keep looking, and so admitted I had been fooled.  :)

It all started so quickly - Mrs Lapi (Head Teacher - so accommodating and got right into the whole thing) got all the kids to quieten down, and introduced "Dougal McPhee".  And then there he was on the screen I could watch from the room - and cameras on the kiddies.  Well, he asked the kids if they new much about First Aid...brought a little lad (Connor) out onto the stage, and threw himself on the ground and said in a hurt voide "I'm not well Connor, what do you do" and Connor shouted "HELP!" - it was PRICELESS.  Then all the kids shouted "HHEEELLLPPP!!!"  Then he managed to put a plaster on the Head Teacher's mouth (and of course the kids just went into powerless giggles).  Then Mrs Dennis was on stage, and 'Dougal' suggested she got two volunteers- she chose Molly and Rosie (Rosie already had her hand up - yeah, the quieter of the two!).  And they were up putting bandages on her ankle and wrist, while Dougal was wrapping one around her head, and her eyes, chin.... lolololol.  And then he took them to the side..

Well Rosie and Molly - did you not have bandages on you recently?  "no" they respond......"Not when you got all those mosquito bites while there?"  "Oh Yeah, but they were plasters, not bandages"  LOL  "And, I hear you like to BBQ Monster Munch Molly?"  Molly grins and nods...."and one of you likes butter biscuits?"  Rosie grins and nods... "..and what kind of buscuits?"  Rosie: "Ginger Snaps" and laughs.  "And who do you think told me all of this?"  To which Molly and Rosie say "Dad" "Andy"  Johnny B: "No, it was your Mum, who is here..."  I walked out with all those kiddies starting to smile and laugh, and all I could see were my two little girls startled to see me............and Molly started to cry.   As I stood there and Johnny B talked, he took off his wig, glasses, moustache and teeth - and there he was...... Molly not Rosie could believe their eyes!!!  I soooo had to stop myself from crying....it was their moment, and I couldn't just break down. 

So - it's all filmed for Children in Need, on in November.  And my girlies get to go and be VIP guests on the live show at the SECC.

See all my fSDC friends...........magical, dreams come true moments, can happen at any time, to any child.  While I know they are incredibly fortunate to have this happen to them, and it might never have happened...........Johnny B told them it was because I loved them so very much.  Can any of my ramblings on here ever tell you how happy my heart was at that moment?      never