It's been a tough year for our family and my own writing has had to take a back seat as September of 2024 saw the tragic loss of my daughter Corinne to cancer. She had so much to live for and one year on we are all devastated by her loss. She lives on through her children and also within our hearts. She will never be forgotten.
On the first anniversary of her untimely and tragic death, I'm proud to announce that her twin, my daughter Kay, has released 'Life Without Coz.' The book is a poignant, deeply moving, and unexpectedly humorous memoir chronicling the journey of my daughters after the sgock of a cancer diagnosis. 'Coz' as we knew her was a spirited Welsh dairy farmer and racehorse breeder living in the tranquil countryside of France whilst the author Kay is a dedicated retail manager rooted in the heart of Wales. Though separated by geography, their bond remained unbreakable — two souls, born together, living parallel lives, always intertwined.
A single devastating phone call shattered their world and set them on a path of unimaginable grief and unwavering love. The book witnesses the raw, unfiltered reality of coping with terminal illness — not just the pain, but the humour, the absurdity, and the fierce determination to hold onto each other through it all. Through laughter and tears, my daughters show what it means to be truly brave - not just in facing death but in living every moment that remains.
Both women are accomplished, resilient, and devoted to their families. Their journey is one of courage and connection, of facing the unthinkable with grace and grit. As the days unfold, they navigate the chaos of loss with a quiet strength, always wondering if love alone would be enough to rewrite the ending.
Life Without Coz is not just a story of illness — it’s a celebration of the twin bond, of shared spirit, and of the kind of love that endures even when everything else falls away.
"The two girls sat, riddled with grief, shoulders slumped with nothing left to give. Silence all around, with the exception of the animals grazing in the nearby field. There were no more words to be said. Everything had already been spoken. Hand in hand, they both exhaled sharply, not in surrender, but in shared sorrow, beaten by life and what it had thrown at them."
The Blenheim Boys
‘The devotion and gallantry… are beyond all praise. The Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava is eclipsed in brightness by these almost daily deeds of fame.’
Winston Churchill on the Blenheim Crews - Prime Minister’s Personal Minute, M.852/1, 30 August 1941
