A special word of thanks
To everyone who has reached out to us over the last few weeks, we just want to say a massive thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The sheer volume of messages, cards, and beautiful condolences we have received about Mam has completely blown us away as a family. We are still trying to read and get through every single one of them, so please bear with us, but know that each word has brought us so much comfort.
As many of you now know, Mam struggled with Dementia for the past three years. The last six months in particular were a real challenge for us. Trying to juggle her care alongside running the flower school was a lot to handle. We know from your lovely messages that you noticed we went a bit quiet on socials and missed our live sessions. To be completely honest, we just weren’t up to it, and we needed to focus on family.
With that in mind, we have also made the decision not to attend Bloom this year. It is an event we absolutely love, but we just don't feel we have the energy right now to give it the usual 100 percent that it deserves. Instead, we have passed our tickets and our lunch with Neven Maguire over to three of Mam’s very good friends. We know they will have an absolute ball and will look after Neven for us.
Instead of being at Bloom this year, we have decided to do something a little different on the Thursday. We are heading into Dublin city centre to support the FTD Brothers. These incredible men are finishing up running 33 marathons in 33 days, with their final marathon ending on Thursday the 28th in Dublin City Centre. They are doing it all to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, an organization that was an absolutely incredible support to us during Mam’s illness. We think cheering them over the finish line is the perfect way for us to spend the day.
Thank you all again for your endless patience, your understanding, and for loving our Mam as much as we do. We also want to say a huge thank you to our current students, who were so understanding with the postponement of their training, many are with us for the very first time from all across the globe, but their kindness and understanding was exceptional.
Thank you to all the suppliers and wholesalers who reached out and supported us in the organization of Mam's funeral. We want to give a special mention to Dave in Fleuramet, Gillian and Siobhan in Harold Elms, Stuart and Ursula in Wicklow Foliage Farm, and the Irish Flower Farmers, in particular Iseult and Amelia. A very special thanks goes to Mary Bell of Forever Flowers, who supplied us with the Lily of the Valley, Mam’s favorite flowers, which she held in her hands.
To all the florists and past students from way back when who turned up at Mam’s wake and funeral, traveling the length and breadth of Ireland, we are extremely grateful. To those who made Mam’s final journey one of amazing color and flowers, and to those who sent flowers to us, yes, florists love getting flowers too, we are blown away by your kindness.
As one of the lads said in their speech at Mam’s funeral, we always knew she was a legend. But she was not just a legend to us, she was a legend to so many others too. Reading your stories and notes in cards, online, and by email has made us realize just how much she meant to everyone else, both inside and outside the flower industry.
We will be back with you soon, doing what we do best in the only way we know best - Live Flowery Classes
Thank you all so much, Janette and Deirdre xx