Naseeb’s 30th Birthday

Most people reading this will probably have noticed the recurring theme of daffodils in the posts on this blog. To recap: when Naseeb was little and someone asked when his birthday was, the usual answer would have been an approximation of the month and day. Instead, Naseeb would simply say “It’s when the daffodils come out”. It was a sense of this part of the year in relation to the seasons and nature which he somehow connected with, and so daffodils have been a regular feature in our lives around his birthday.

Daffodils for Naseeb's 30th Birthday

This year is special (but really every year is), he would have been 30 years old today. As parents we dearly hold our love for Naseeb every day expressed in all kinds of ways – including daffodils.

Continue reading “Naseeb’s 30th Birthday”

Birthday Cake!

Today is Naseeb’s 28th Birthday. He loved birthday cakes, especially Victoria Sponge, Madeira cake and lemon and poppy seed cake.

Naseeb designed this birthday cake on his 4th birthday specifying for it to have an aeroplane on it carrying a lion, a tiger and elephant. We’ll be having a lemon and poppy seed cake today.

Continue reading “Birthday Cake!”

Light up the earth

On Saturday it will be Naseeb’s birthday, he would have been 27 years old. Here’s a poem which Balwant wrote recently, along with a few photos of daffodils in our garden taken by Kooj.

We hold you close
So close
We celebrate loving you
holding you
seeing you
touching you
hearing you
knowing you

You can spot them
a mile off
At this time of year
They light up the earth
Daffodils, like you lit up our lives
And remain shining
in all the spaces
we now turn in

We hold you close
So close

Poem for Naseeb read by Erin and Billie

This poem was read out by Billie and Erin when the tree was planted in memory of Naseeb at Longford Park last year.  It’s taken a while for this to be posted, thanks to Meghann for getting the words to us.  It’s nice to have it now as a revisit to that day a year ago.

The Poem:

We thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday
And days before that, too.
We think of you in silence.
We often speak your name.
Now all we have is memories
And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake
With which we’ll never part.
The sky has you in its keeping
We have you in our heart.

Continue reading “Poem for Naseeb read by Erin and Billie”

Your birthday will never pass uncelebrated

We wanted  to share this beautiful Facebook post from Naseeb’s friend Meghann Forrest which was created on his birthday this year.  The drawings and poetry are full of warmth and sensitivity, delicately photographed with the daffodils.  Here it is:

Your smile is one to always remember,
Your laughter will always be infectious,
Your kindness always overwhelming,
Your spirit will always be unparalleled.

You will be in our thoughts forever,
Your birthday will never pass uncelebrated,
Your heart will be carried in our hearts,
Your memory will never be forgotten.

Happy Birthday Chew x

Here is also a message that Meghann sent us on Naseeb’s first birthday after he died:

Hi Balwant and Kooj,

I hope you are well. I just wanted to let you know that yesterday me, Sarah and Dom bought some daffodils and walked up to the viewpoint in Brandon Hill Park. We left the flowers on a bench overlooking Bristol, to wish Chewie a happy birthday. I felt it would be a good place to celebrate his birthday due to his love of nature. I’m sure he would have visited this park during his time in Bristol. My thoughts were with you both all day.

I also just wanted to say thank you for the way you raised Chewie, he was always so kind, respectful and had the most beautiful heart; he really was a credit to you. He will always be in our thoughts, and in our hearts. I look forward to seeing you both again at Easter when we plant a tree for Chewie, and I look forward to having a place to go and remember all of the amazing memories I have of him.

Sending you both lots of love, Meghann

Thanks Meghann, and to all our friends for their reflections and support in the different times and ways they give them.  x

Daffodils and birthdays

Hello everyone, it’s  been a long time since anything was posted on this website.  With Naseeb’s birthday coming up on Monday we thought you might like to see this photo.  It’s of Naseeb crouching behind daffodils in our old front garden on his 3rd birthday.  As you can see he had a keen eye for fashion even then.
The recent cold weather and snow has slowed down the flowering of daffodils in our garden – they’re the signature flowers for Naseeb’s birthday.  So we’ve got a few bunches from a local shop.  Love to all from Balwant and Kooj  X x

Are the daffodils coming out?

The question of daffodils coming out was important for Naseeb very many years ago…

When Naseeb/’Chewie’ was young (as in ‘little’) people would ask him when his birthday was, he would reply “When the daffodils come out”. Ever since then we have had daffodils around on his birthday, which is coming up on 5th March. Not sure at all how we’ll feel on that day (bite nails…), but we got hold of some daffs and they are in a vase gradually opening up. If anybody else wants a moment to remember Naseeb you’ll have your own memories, but some of you might like to try a few daffs maybe… (…I know one or two are doing so). [originally posted on Facebook on 3rd March 2017 by Kooj, Naseeb’s dad]

[ps. image is daffodils photoshopped over Naseeb walking up the lengthy Spanish Steps in Rome 2015]