At home, Aug 2004
Julia Boxer - A very fond memory I have of Cha was last summer. The weather was wet
and miserable despite it being the middle of August, and Cha, Solly and
I stayed indoors and played a game of piling the toys as high as we
possibly could and then knocking them all down, over and over again.
The afternoon was spent stewing over life and trying to fathom out the
worlds problems over endless cups of tea. I distinctly remember taking
this photo – it’s a typical Cha pose with her beautiful smiley face
next to her cool, good-looking eldest son.
Marstrand, Sweden, Aug 2004
MRB - It
was Arnon and Linnea's wedding. A truly wonderful trip. They got
married in Gothenberg, Sweden; the wedding was followed by a boat trip
to Marstrand (a small island) where they held the reception. Solly was
just two and loved the boat trip with all the family and friends. I
remember he was dressed in a kilt for the reception in an old castle.
We all stayed over in Marstrand for a couple of days and had a
wonderful time. Charl was pregnant with Sam (although you would never have known it).
Sorelle Brauth - Our last time together was such a happy and wonderful experience being able to reunite after so many years at Arnon and Linnea's wedding in Sweden. Me and the girls remember laughing hysterically with you and Ben (and even Solly) over jokes. Charlotte was enjoying the beautiful summer and times with her family and looking just fantastic with your soon to be new baby.
Charlie’s magic smile, late summer 2004
Liz Jeffay - ‘What a beauty… inside and out!!’
Camber Sands, Nov 2004
MRB - Sam (although we didn't know it was a Sam) was due in 2 weeks and we
thought we might just be able to get away for one last weekend before
he arrived. We had booked a room in a hotel in Camber Sands and decided
to drive down on the Friday evening. We had been on the M25 for
about 15 minutes when Charlie said, "I think the baby is coming!". I
pulled over at Bluewater and we decided to head back to London.
By the time we reached Finchley it was clear that it was a false alarm.
We stayed at home and headed for the South East in the morning.
Sunday Dec 5th, 2005
James T - I remember quite clearly being at Char and Martin's a year ago (to the day), and Char going into labour with Sam whilst I was there. Of course, being Char, she didn't admit it was labour. She was in the middle of making lunch for Solly and Eben and was "just having a few Braxton Hicks contractions". In her inimitable self, this didn't stop her busying away, even as we left after lunch. Sam was born about 5 hours later! We had a good laugh about it less than a week later, when I brought round freshly made pasta for Saturday night dinner, to force Char to take it easy and stop her busying.
Royal Free Hospital, 5 Dec 04
MRB - Having initially thought we might be having the baby in
Bluewater on the M25 2 weeks earlier, Sam actually did decide to come
on December 5th. It was quick, very quick. We left for the
hospital at about 4:45pm. Char wanted to have a natural birth
without any drugs or doctors if possible and she had decided to have
the birth at the new Natural Birthing Centre at the Royal Free.
The birthing pool wasn’t available when we arrived and so a bath was
drawn and we were told that as soon as the birthing pool became free we
would be told. Char got in the bath. I had come prepared with
some music and put on Smile by Brian Wilson. It was a favourite
of ours and I guess Sam like the choice because he was out in what felt
like just a few moments (certainly before the album had ended).
Watching her give birth to Sam was possibly the most amazing site I
will ever witness in my life. The strength, power, determination
and most of all love that Char exhibited was incredible. And just
like that, Sam Bruno had arrived, mellow, smooth, and hungry.
He’s still like that!
In this picture Char is wearing a necklace that Soph made for her; she wanted to have Soph there with her in some way. I wear it today to remind me of that day.
Sam first night home,6 Dec 2004
Jo Sadie - Tired but happy.
MRB - I was so tired that I don't actually remember this moment, so thanks again Jo for the pic. I do remember that Sam came really quickly and that once he was born, the hospital took so long to get the papers together that Char had to stay in overnight. Probably all for the best. The girls were all there (of course) as always with support and energy - something which neither Char nor I had much of.
At home, Dec 2004
MRB - Sam
was born on 5th December 2004 (at 5.45 pm). We only just made it
to the Royal Free. It was a 'natural birth' in a bath.
Brian Wilson's Smile was playing in the background. Maybe
that's why he is such a happy baby.
A week later Miriam and Barry, and James and Annicka were over to see Sam (I think Miriam took this pic).
Amazingly, this is one of the only pictures that I have of the four of us.
Finchley, 31 Dec 2004
Jo
- This beautiful photo of Char and I was taken on 31 December
2004 at Zizzi's - a family lunch on my Birthday - special times with all
the kids running around (Josh, Nat & Sol that is - Sam not quite
old enough to be running anywhere) and obviously eating pizza and pasta
galore.