My Diary – June 2009

Tuesday 23rd June 2009

On Wednesday 3rd, I went to Manchester for two days to ‘tick’ another thing off my wish list. It took over 5 hours to get there, so it was a pretty long drive. We stayed in a lovely 5* apartment - we even got chocolates and a red rose on our pillow! You don’t even get that at the Hilton! On Thursday I got to wobble on the cobbles at Coronation Street. My visit was organised by Teenage Cancer Trust as they knew this was one of my wishes, and we spent an hour and a half at the studios. I ‘wobbled on the cobbles’ first of all, and felt different parts of the street including the paperboy sign outside Rita’s cabin, Maxine’s bench outside Audrey’s salon and the stone cladding on the Duckworth’s house. It was really interesting finding out how it all works - I didn’t realise how fake everything is! After wobbling, we then went to the part of the set where they film inside which included the Rovers, where I sat in one of the booths, went behind the bar and felt the pumps and Betty’s hotpot, went to the Duckworth’s living room and felt Vera’s urn with her ashes in and Jack’s prize pigeon (stuffed), felt the Battersby’s couch, felt the realistic but fake meat in Ashley’s butchers, and I also met some of the cast that were filming that day including Jack (David Platt), Helen (Gail Platt), Sue (Eileen Grimshaw) and Michelle (Tina Mcintyre). They were all really nice and we had a great time there.

After Corrie, we went to Christie’s Hospital to visit their Teenage Cancer Trust unit. That evening we went out for cocktails. The building was 23 stories high, and had glass walls so you could see across Manchester. We could even see Coronation Street in the distance! I sat in a very cool chair that was shaped like a big pair of lips, and sipped on my cocktail, so it was a great way to end my first trip to Manchester!

A huge thank you to Helen, Debs and Emily at TCT for arranging this trip for me, and to Alison and everyone at Corrie for a great time.

On Monday 8th I went to Loreto College in St Albans, Hertfordshire. It’s a girls school, and they have had my book as their ‘whole school read’ since the start of the school year last September. The aim of this is to get everyone in the school, including pupils, teachers, dinner ladies and caretakers, to read the same book. They’ve also been raising money for Nicole’s Fund, so on Monday I went to collect the cheque and meet the girls. We arrived at lunchtime where I met some of the girls from Year 7 and 8, who asked me lots of questions, then for two hours I met the year 10 students who are the ones who have been raising the money for my fund. I answered lots of questions, gave a talk and before I left they presented me with a big cheque for £2,500. A big, big thank you to Jan, all the Year 10 students and everyone else involved with raising this fantastic amount, and for a lovely day at the college. Special thanks to Jan for the Tetley tea!

I spent the day in London on Thursday 11th for the Anne Frank awards. We arrived at Penguin books (who publish Anne Frank’s diary) at 11.30am, where we heard some speeches about the awards and had some lunch. We walked to Westminster Pier and went on a 90 minute river tour. After that, we went to the House of Commons where the award ceremony was held. There were four other winners of various ages, and one of them had survived nine concentration camps. My award was presented by Bee Klug MBE, co-founder of the Anne Frank Trust UK and a friend of Miep Gies who risked her life to help the Frank family while they were in hiding. She was also the person who found Anne’s diary. Miep phoned Bee and said she’d like to give an award to mark her 100th birthday this year and wanted it to go to someone with as much determination as Anne. As I had been nominated for an award this year, when Bee read my story, she decided I should get the special Miep Award. Also present at the award ceremony was Anne Frank’s step sister and the actress, Kate Ashfield, who played the part of Miep Gies in the latest mini series on BBC1. If Anne had survived, she would have been 80 years old the day after the awards. Julian Brazier presented me with a lovely big glass trophy, and after the ceremony, we went to the House of Lords for a drinks reception.

Last Thursday I had an MRI scan of my ears at St Thomas’ Hospital. I had a ‘funny turn’ before the cannula was put in, and again after it was done. I didn’t cry or even want to, I just felt very faint and woozy. I think it’s because the last cannula I had done went so wrong, I was worried this one would too. I had it put in my arm again, just above my wrist. Although it freaks me out being there, it’s actually a lot better because Mum can still sign on my hand whereas when I have it in my hand, I ban her from talking to me in case it moves the cannula!

On Saturday night I went to Mum’s cousin Robert’s 50th birthday party. It was a cowboy themed party so it was a great excuse for me to get my pink sparkly cowboy hat out!

And that pretty much sums up the last couple of weeks. Keep checking my diary because I’ll be announcing something BIG very soon!!

Love Nicole xxx

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Monday 8th June 2009

A big, big thank you and well done to Stephen Dalrymple for running the Dumbarton 10K last Thursday in 49 minutes and 32 seconds, and raising an impressive £800 for Nicole’s Fund!!

Thank you to the staff at HMNB Clyde (Faslane & Coulport) plus family, who kindly sponsored and supported him for this event. The money raised will make a huge difference to teenagers and young adults living with cancer. It has gone towards my £100,000 target for Teenage Cancer Trust, so thank you all again.

Love Nicole xxx