Yet another big milestone in
the Watson journey. On Wednesday
November 13th it will be Caroline’s 50th birthday. Georgina, Joe and I will do our best to
celebrate and cherish Caroline’s life.
This is my tribute to our Sweet Caroline.
The World remains a
poorer place without Caroline. Caroline personality and demeanour touched
everyone that she met. Her kindness, her sense of adventure, her sense of
humour and above all her selflessness were all overwhelming attributes that
humbled everyone Caroline met. Beneath the easy going exterior lay a drive and
determination to do what was right
As we all know
Caroline was an absolute fantastic chef both in her career and at home. The kids and I were overjoyed the other week
when we finally found Caroline’s recipe cards.
The kids tried to re-create a couple of dishes using these recipes. All I’m going to say is “nice try but… a hard
act to follow"! All those that worked
with Caroline had a huge amount of respect for her and all remained in touch
with her. In recent years Caroline built
a reputation for making the best Christmas puddings ever and struggled to keep
up with the ever burgeoning demand from friends and family.
Friends of Caroline tell me how she was a
“great friend” and just how much they miss her.
Caroline was remarkable. Given
some of the setbacks that Caroline suffered in her life she was never fazed and
always made time for people. Always the
first to visit someone in hospital, never forgot anyone’s birthday or
anniversary and always made it a special occasion. Time and time again people tell me that
Caroline would listen and never judge.
As Caroline’s husband I was rarely afforded that luxury. Ha ha! 
Caroline’s biggest
life success was the manner in which she raised her children. Caroline
typically applied her own behaviours and values to our children. Caroline was a
very loving and caring mother and nothing was more important to her. We were a
happy family (well most of the time).
The kids and I use to be in stitches when Caroline use to confuse her
sayings and expressions. I can recall “kill two dogs with one spoon”, “the ODI
Career story” and “park behind that yellow car…what that red one… yes!”. These stories will mean little to many people
but to the four we would be in stitches when we recollected them. Caroline wasn’t afraid to laugh at
herself. Our family anthem was “my
first, my last, my everything” by Barry White.
When we now reflect on that song it is so poignant. As a consequence of Caroline's direction
Georgina and Joseph, are people that we are extremely proud. They are absolute
credit to her memory.
I will never forget
and will always appreciate the support Caroline’s always gave me in everything
I did. Together we were a formidable
partnership. We were teenage sweethearts
meeting whilst both at college in 1980. Caroline and I married on 19th July
1986 at Knowle Methodist Church and bought our first house in Brislington. I
was, and still am, the luckiest man in the world. I had married the girl of my
dreams and someone I absolutely adored.
I was truly blessed.
Caroline's
loved music and dancing. Caroline was a trained dancer and very proud of her
ballroom trophies she won as a child. However, Caroline loved nothing better
than attending a gig loving all types of pop and rock music. She was avid
follower of new music listening only to Radio 1 and was kept up to date by her
children. In fact when we attended a very muddy Glastonbury in 2007 it was
plain as day that Caroline had landed in heaven especially as the Killers were
headlining.
She
dealt with every situation with the same assured determination. Caroline was
fostered by Mrs Hilda Ball (Nan) from an early age alongside Anne (Nan's
daughter) and Davids family allowing Caroline to grow up with Mark and Karen as
brother and sister. Caroline also spent a lot of time with her Aunty Joy and
cousin Teri in her early childhood. Caroline always appreciated that she had a
loving family network around her that shaped her into the person as we know
today.
We
shared many great moments and great holidays, too many to mention, with our
dear friends Rich and Cher. On Wednesday
we will certainly looking up to the sky singing “Catch A Falling Star” as the
four of us did in Barcelona on Cher’s significant birthday
So on Wednesday Caroline
will reach the big five-o! Whereas many
people dread these big birthdays, 30 40 50, Caroline would have been so happy
and made sure we all celebrated. As I
keep repeating nothing fazed her (well the odd spider). There’s no doubt that we would have been off
somewhere hot and exotic to celebrate. It’s
so difficult to believe Caroline won’t be with us, well in body anyway. I firmly believe Caroline will have a hand in
proceedings. There is no way she will
let her 50th pass without letting us know she is watching over us.
On Wednesday we will be
meeting in the Lock Keeper to raise a toast to our beloved Caroline and all are
welcome. The kids will be at Uni so we will have our own toast on Friday
evening. We will remember all the great
times we had together and actually appreciate how much Caroline had an
influence on each of us. Although we are
trying to get on with our lives there is no way we can let this special day
pass us by. Actually there is no way Caroline will let us!
We will never forget what you gave to us all
Always thinking of you
Happy 50th my
"English Rose"
Paul
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