Ray Birch

RAY



Anyone that knows me will know that there is not just me!!  There is another part of me,  another half of me, the part that makes me whole and complete.

It all seems very 'Mills and Boon' but .......................Let me introduce you to my husband Ray Birch,  Since getting together with my soul mate in 2003 we really have been a team in every sense of the word.  We've battled through people not believing in us (completely understandable considering the circumstances), we've struggled through the shock of finding out I was pregnant when it was never even considered because I'd been told years ago that I would have to undergo medical intervention and then had to endure tragically losing our little girl.

We then lived the worry not only of being pregnant again but going into early labour and giving birth to Benjamin 10 weeks prematurely. 

Together we suffered the unexpected loss of my wonderful Dad who was not only my rock and mentor but one of Rays best friends.

Only recently Ray lost his Mentor and great great friend (and since losing his Dad his Father figure Lou Betros).  For the first time I saw him physically crumble.    How do you endure a 72 hour round trip to Kansas in the USA alone to say goodbye to your longest running friend of over 35 years??  Ray did and wouldn't have been anywhere else, that's friendship and thats the wonderful man I married.  He always puts on such a brave front and is so strong for others to help them through, this time it was our time to help him through and my turn to hold him up.

As you can see with such a small synopsis of our bad times (oh there are plenty more!) it would have broken many couples but with the love and friendship we have for each other it's brought us closer together, made us stronger and changed our lives.

I have to add at this point that it hasn't always been bad luck and trauma!  We have lived life like we would never dream.  We've walked and laughed the full length of Alcatraz together looking in every nook and cranny, we've hung off the side of trams in San Fransico just like Mrs Doubtfire.  We have sat in the square in Barcelona sipping on wine watching the world go by.  We've sat on our own patio until the small wee hours putting the world to rights, laughing about our experiences and planning our future.  We married aboard the Sea Princess just off the coast of France on 1st June 2005 which was one of the happiest days of our lives and we've watched our little boy grow up with such beautiful manners.  We've endured 10k's, half marathons, climbing the 3 peaks together to name but a few. 

We have met some wonderful friends and our door is and always has been open, our kitchen table holds more secrets and conversations than I would care to mention but he really has got the best shoulder to cry on and has seen so much of life and the world he is possibly the best source of knowledge that I would know. 

He is kind, generous and loves company, he always starts the day with a smile and I love him unconditionally.  One of my friends said to me only last week.  "If I'm HALF as happy as you and Ray are then I have found my way in life".  In response, I never dreamed I would be this happy and can't imagine life without my Raymondo

Ray is my biggest form of support and we now lead a healthier life TOGETHER.  Yes we enjoy a glass of wine and yes we enjoy entertaining but we are alive and we so enjoy living it.  We also know what needs to be done to compensate our luxuries and we enjoy training together so when I set out on my challenge of getting 'the girls' together it seemed weird that he wasn't involved. 

I know he would never have said anything and I also know that he was screaming inside to join us, after all he had done the previous two Moonwalks with me.  Before very long it seemed obvious to me that the girls expected Ray would be joining us in London.  All I can say is, your gonna have to step up to the plate love and get them legs a moving to keep up with us!

So he is now one of the team and we have his outfit all sorted for the London Moonwalk 2012.  Let's face it we just know he adores wearing he bra and flashing his way all the way to the finish.

Ellie

xxx