Dear Diary,
Today Kate and I did our solo engagement together. We visited a children's hospital in Hamilton. I was pretty nervous about visiting the hospice. "But you've been welcomed well in New Zealand. You'll be great!" Kate encouraged me. We had a formal event at the start of the day and then we could go casual. For the formal event, I took a jacquard dress by Gucci and I took my other clothes with me. I thought about putting on some nice skinny jeans, shoes and a blazer. I put on some nice black skinny jeans, a broderie collar top from Miss Selfridge and a black blazer.
We touched down in Hamilton and we waved to the crowds. We arrived at the war memorial. We laid flowers and soon we were in the car on our way to Cambridge Town Hall. We had a spot of lunch and we got changed into something casual for the hospice. Kate and I set off for our destination.
The hospice is called Rainbow Place. Kate and I were shown around Rainbow Place. It is wonderful as it is a place which helps children with life-limiting illnesses as well as children who are suffering from grief and loss or coping with parents who are terminally ill.
There was one person who I loved meeting. A 17 year old wheelchair user, called Hamish Taylor. He suffered with muscular dystrophy. He gave Kate a grey onesie for George. And the cute part is, he embroidered the name 'George' on it. "Oh thank you!" Kate smiled. "I can't wait to give it to him!". I shook Hamish's hand and he blushed when he met both of us.
There was one little girl called Bailey Rupe who was six. She isn't ill but her mother is. Kate and I sat down to a small tea party with her. "Are you having tea? Can we sit with you?" Kate asked.
"Of course you can!" Bailey grinned. She poured us some imaginary tea and we pretended to have a tea party. "How is mummy?" I asked her. "Oh my mummy is doing really well. She is feeling much better. That is what she told me" Bailey smiled. "You're very brave Bailey" I smiled. She hugged me and I hugged back.
Eventually while Kate was seeing other patients, I sat down and did some colouring in with Bailey and other children. After about 10 minutes, I had to go and be with Kate. "I have to go now" I told Bailey. "Can't you stay a little longer?" She begged. "How about I draw you some pictures and you can colour them in?" I asked. Bailey grinned.
I drew her a house, a star, a love heart and a cat. She sat and coloured in. There was a photographer who took pictures of me and Bailey. I got a copy of one of us smiling and I've still kept it. I will miss Bailey.
Just before we left, Kate and I were given a posy of cream flowers. I kept thinking of Bailey. However I had that photograph. As soon as I got back, as we had no other engagements for the day, I sat the photograph beside my bed. I will miss Bailey.