My husband and his family (The Wisbeys) had long been given the nicknames Wiz or Wizzy by schoolmates and work colleagues.
Matt, aka Wiz and I met when both our respective group ski holidays were cancelled and rearranged to be in Sauze D’oux. The week was a hilarious coming together of two groups of friends intent on having a laugh, singing Karaoke every night and dancing into the small hours. For some reason My friend Nicky and I skied part of the last day of the holiday in our bikinis - I am still unsure why we did this and particularly why it was just the two of us that were daft enough!
During our first summer together Wiz and I went out with his friends in their boat where I attempted to learn to water ski. I can still hear them shouting from the boat, "We didn’t know you could do the splits Glyn!" as a wave caught the left ski and took it in the opposite direction to my right one. The result was a torn hamstring which was loudly represented by a black bruise from the top of my ankle to my bottom. Even once the bruising had subsided I could no longer get both legs to run at the same speed with hilarious consequences, particularly on the hockey pitch!
When Matt and I got married it seemed obvious to our friends that henceforth I should be known as 'Mrs Wizzy' - yet the moment someone uttered those words the resounding reply was that 'Mrs Bizzy Wizzy' was considerably more apt. You know that saying; if you want something done then give it to a busy person to do? - I was already that person. The name stuck!
In my younger days, I played tennis, badminton, hockey, cricket and football with great enthusiasm and a variety of encouraging skills. I also used to run the local pub darts team but to be fair, although we won numerous trophies, it was mainly the perfect excuse to socialise with the girls on a school night.
Although diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 2012 I'm now in remission, so its effects on my body are such that my health is comparatively stable for the moment. Consistent exercise and nutrition is key and I take a variety of supplements to try and keep on top of my health as my time looking after Elke requires my undivided attention. Pain management has become a daily focus which swimming and increased walking (despite the broken kneecaps) help with. Weekly Rossiter stretching or Pilates has also had a positive impact too.
I still have a pole to dance around and keep fit with but at present, my restricted ankle and the two broken kneecaps mean it is gathering dust in a corner - but it’s not on eBay yet! My pain management consultant knows that the pole is the goal even if my ability to hang upside down may well and truly have left the building.
I endure a daily swim and really enjoy any time spent in the garden or the greenhouse where all the lovely seeds I lovingly plant and sporadically nurture genuinely have two hopes of survival – most of them try very hard. When injuries permit, I love walking our dogs in the woods or along the beach.
There are several mindful activities that I particularly enjoy such as reading and colouring in, but these seem to be considerably easier to fit into the day when Elke is in hospital than at any other time. My aim for 2024 is to spend more time doing the things I love.
My life motto is, "Always have a concert and a holiday booked" - we all need something to look forward to, and with Elke to love and look after it has become part of my daily life to ensure that she too, has a broad range of fabulous things to look forward to in amongst the relentless hospital appointments, therapies, and equipment reviews.
I love music, singing and dancing so really enjoy going to see some of my favourite bands in concert, usually across London but occasionally I will travel further. My youth was spent in the eighties so we were treated to an enormous variety of fantastic up-and-coming musical genres. I’m sure I have been to more than three hundred concerts in the past forty years with my most frequent outings in recent years to see Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Howard Jones, Nile Rodgers, Paloma Faith, and The Cure. I have to admit to seeing Elke’s favourite band, Take That twice in one week back in 2018, but couldn’t get in the ticket queues fast enough to get Elke a wheelchair-accessible seat. In April this year, Elke has got a VIP ticket to see them for the very first time. Obviously, as her Mum I will be going with her!
Matt recently attended The Cure, so I didn’t have to go on my own yet again! I may need a concert buddy if they tour again!
I am a member of Demelza’s Choir which is made up of staff, volunteers and family members that are supported by Demelza, our local Children's Hospice. We have been privileged to sing at several auspicious occasions including the Christmas carol concert at Canterbury Cathedral.
I am a Parent Ambassador for Demelza which has supported our family since 2005. My role includes speaking to potential or existing fundraisers about the positive impact Demelza has had on our family. This information is also shared with families that may also benefit from the love, care and support that this charity offers from diagnosis onwards.
I have attempted several fundraising challenges on behalf of Demelza; with my commitments to looking after Elke I don’t have time to train for a marathon run or bike ride - I much prefer to turn up and do something slightly mad. To date, those have included a wing walk and abseiling down the second-highest building in London known as The Cheese Grater.
I am also a Trustee for a charity called Choice Through Education which helps educate abused or disadvantaged children in the Masai Mara of Kenya. The charity has supported many children to receive an education; several of them have progressed from primary right through to university-level education. CTE has also built and developed several schools in the area and has recently built a women’s empowerment centre to support, educate and provide a business hub for local women.
Currently, I spend about six hours a day managing Elke’s diary, appointments, medications, equipment, supplies and care companies and I often describe Elke as my full-time job. Hence my book about our adventures which is to be released shortly, is entitled, 'Training an Angel'.
Over the years I have frequently heard parents and professionals say that the world was waiting to see if Elke would make it to 'transition' so 'Glynnis' could 'sort it out!' In all honesty how Elke has managed to keep going for so long having had at least nineteen occasions where we were given, 'the talk', perhaps suggests that she too would like to see how it (transition) and several other things along the way could be sorted.
When I’m not trying to change the world I really enjoy nodding off in a comfy armchair in front of Doctor Who, Strictly, Silent Witness, Sherlock Holmes, Alfred Hitchcock films, Ghosts, Death in Paradise, Sci-Fi films or any series of the Traitors - yet I have an innate ability to stay wide awake as my husband watches World War Two films, scary movies, engineering programs, Car SOS, and F1 races. We do usually manage to watch Pottery Throwdown together!
Matt and I love seeing comedians and comic plays at the theatre. We usually go together having filled up with delicious food beforehand.
As Mrs Bizzy Wizzy I have several businesses that help families in the UK including my partnership with Utility Warehouse who help families simplify and reduce their household bills. This website also showcases my workshops and workbooks to help families with disabled or medically fragile children aged fourteen and over with the transition from child healthcare services to adult ones.
