‘My story starts at sea, a perilous voyage to an unknown land. A shipwreck. The wild waters roar and heave. The brave vessel is dashed all to pieces. And all the helpless souls within her drowned. All save one. A lady. Whose soul is greater than the ocean, and her spirit stronger than the sea’s embrace. Not for her a watery end, but a new life beginning on a stranger shore. It will be a love story. For she will be my heroine for all time. And her name will be Viola.’

William Shakespeare 

I was in a Quad tonight rowing on Lough Erne – it was the first time – two blades, co-ordination and more chance of being unbalanced and befriending the Lough!! Unlike the Bards quote the water was calm, thankfully no shipwreck but there were heroines!!

I want to let you know I love the strength, the softness, the power, the love, the empathy, the solidarity and wonderfulness of the women in my life!

I have always been surrounded by strong, loving nurturing women and I married into a family where a wonderful petite women revealed to me the power of gentleness, graciousness and forgiveness (Gary’s mum) – (I always teased him that I was petite/dark/strong like his mum) and I used to say to him when we bantered and bickered – if you wanted a ‘wishy washy woman’ you shouldn’t have married me – you married your mum! (He never disagreed)!

I had such love and respect for his mum and was delighted at the love they shared for each other! 

I remember when Gary was going for his brain tumour op and his mum was with us, I walked out of the cubicle and she helped him into his gown and when she came out she said ‘Tracey you should have been doing that’ – I replied ‘no – you are his mum, if it was me I’d want my mum, if it was my George I’d want to do it!’ 

I’ve been blessed with my own wonderful mum and extra blessed with having known a wonderful ‘mum-in-law’ – (who died the year before Dishwashing dad of cancer).

Tonight in the quad the wonderful women with me supported, laughed, forgave, were concerned, happy, delighted, excited and thrilled!! The row was uplifting, affirming and joyful! (Supported wonderfully by our young coaches).

Let’s always remember to be kind, gentle and loving to ourselves and others – in doing so we will realise that we will be and can be that woman as Shakespeare tells us, ‘Whose soul is greater than the ocean, and her spirit stronger than the sea’s embrace. Not for her a watery end, but a new life beginning on a stranger shore.’ 

For Judy – you were looking forward to a blog – enjoy – thankyou Dishwashing mum-in-law for your wonderful soul and son xox