New Year at Ulysses Road, Jan 2005
Annicka & James Terry - Sadly there is no picture to accompany the special memory of new year 2005. Sam was very new on the scene, but undeterred Char and Martin still came over with the boys for dinner & celebrations. Together with Vikki and Rich (with Hannah and Alex) and Rob & Leila we saw in the new year with warmth and friendship. We stood on the top floor of our house with a clear view across london, watching the fireworks all across town. Char, with remarkable poise and lack of fuss, held Sam to her breast and quietly fed him as she stood with us all. It was clear she was so enjoying her new son and we embraced at the thought of so much fun to come together in the coming year.
Snowed In, HPG, 4 March 2005
Tash Ziff - Whenever I'd planned to see Char I came to expect and look forward to my usual text the night before suggesting venues and times to meet up. The usual texting happened on Thursday 3rd March but little did we know that our plans would be scuppered by a flurry of snow overnight! A quick change of plan the next morning and we agreed I'd go over to Chars. Carly did however insist on taking her newly acquired goggles to show Sol the "Goggle King". The two of them were playing happily on the kitchen floor (with Sam Brass safely napping in the lounge and our Sam watching happily) when the first toddler crisis took place - Sol got out his remote control car and proceeded to race it around the kitchen driving it at full force into the kitchen cupboards, whizzing past our legs. Carly (having never seen a remote control car) proceeded to jump on my knee, start crying and then tremble with fear. Char explained the issue to Sol and suggested putting the car away and perhaps choosing another toy instead. Sol then decided it was time to examine Carly's goggles and the next crisis ensued whilst Char and I tried to deal with 2 kids fighting over the same toy. The problem was sorted by handing Sol his most precious item at the time - his black goggles. Char knew just how to make Sol's face light up with joy! But obviously weeks of intense play had weakened them and when Sol put his goggles on they snapped in two. To poor Sol the world had ended and we spent the next 20 minutes or so calming him down whilst still trying to deal with a still trembling Carly. I remember Charlotte and I looking at each other wondering what had gone wrong - the usual calm had been shattered and both of our kids seem traumatised! Once we had managed to comfort them the rest of the day passed fairly smootlhy until we were standing saying our goodbyes in the Hall. Carly turned round to me in a very loud voice exclaiming "Mummy, I don't want to play here again - it's too noisy!". Later that day Carly repented and told me that actually she did want to go to Solly's house again - I spoke to Char and we both laughed at our traumatic play date and how totally thrilled we were that despite it all the kids still wanted to play.
Holly Park Gardens, 14 Mar 2005
Sophie -
This picture was taken at M's 40th and 1/4 Birthday party at Holly Park
Gardens. Charl had just been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma the
week before but in true C&M style they wanted to live life to the
full, not make a big issue and throw a great party for all their
friends. This was at the end of the night - plenty of cocktails later -
with my best friend in the whole wide world.
Finchley, Mar 2005
Astrid Williamson - If I had to remember a favourite snap shot of Charlotte it would be of her great big smile so full of warmth and affection that it brings a tear to my eye just thinking of it now.
The morning after Martin's 40th (and a quarter lest we forget) birthday party as we said goodbye she gave me the hugest hug. Not the slight 'peck and squeeze' variety no sir; think burly Scottish fisherman and your only just beginning to come close. Her kindness and sincerity were simply overwhelming.
My other enduring memory would be of Martin describing his fantastic amazing girlfriend when we first met in July 1995. How it had been love at first sight and he'd just opened a door and BAMM....there she was. Beautiful.
March 15th, 2005
Charlie B Lunch, 20 March 2005
Liz Jeffay - In March this year I injured my knee around the same time that
Charlotte found out she had Lymphoma. She wanted no pity and typically
was far more interested in talking about me and my recovery. After my
operation I was staying at my sister’s and as we girls often meet up
for Sunday brunch and I wasn’t so mobile, my fave girls (and little
boys) brought themselves and brunch to me. As only the Bergers can
manage, lunch was looking delicious and served up within moments. All
the rubbish already in the bin and tidied away. I hadn’t even had
chance to offer them a drink!
Anyway, lunch was delicious and in the best company. Char, as ever
managed to juggle Sam, food, conversation and ‘Solly play’, no problem.
After a very patient moment of sitting through our girl-talk Sol needed
his ‘goggle fix’. It was time for Auntie Snoopy to leap into action as
Master Pilot Extraordinaire leading Sergeant Sol on their exciting
mission. All this as you can see to the delight of mummy Charlotte and
perhaps even baby Sam.
I feel so privileged to have known and experienced so many fun and wonderful times with Charli B. This was just one of them.
Lymington, Mar 2005
MRB - It was Easter weekend and Char had just had her first chemo
treatment the Wednesday before. We spent a beautiful weekend with
my parents in the New Forest. We went to a playground in Pennington on
the Saturday and then went to the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum in
Sway on the Sunday.
Char wasn't interested in bikes at all, but enjoyed watching Sol who couldn't get enough and didn't want to leave. I think we resorted to some 'positive re-inforcement' with an ice cream in the end.
Sam was just beginning to be his own character, smiling and happy, and was focussing for the first time.