Guest Post: Susanna Green

Helena and I lived together in Queenstown Road, London, back in 2005-6, after studying Italian together at UCL. We became very close during that time, and I have incredibly fond memories of our time in the flat.

Helena also played a pivotal role in the meeting of my now husband, Tim, when we were out one night in All Bar One, Clapham. Her blonde swishing hair and beautiful smile attracted a friend of Tim’s to come over to chat to us, and Tim followed shortly afterwards, noticing that there were in fact two girls to entertain!

Tim and I moved in together about a year later in Kingston but it wasn’t long however before Helena’s drive also took her from our flat in Queenstown Rd to begin a new job in Milan. I went out to Milan to visit her twice in October 2006 and February 2007 and each visit was met with a very carefully planned itinerary, taking in all of the sights of the city, both by day and night.

One of the first things Helena had done in Milan, was to buy a Gucci bag with her bonus, as she had noticed that all of the women in Milan owned beautiful designer bags and she wanted to feel as Milanese as possible. It wasn’t hard for her to fit in to such a stylish city, as she was always so naturally glamorous, and had a great eye for fashion and accessories.

On my second visit in a bright and sunny February 2007, I particularly remember us dressing up extra smartly to ensure that we would be allowed access to some of the designer stores in Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga. We darted in and out of Prada and Gucci pretending that we could definitely afford all of the season’s key pieces, in fact ending our morning buying some clothes and shoes in the more affordable H&M store!

Via Montenapoleone

We stopped for lunch at a wonderful little restaurant off the tourist track, which Helena had discovered through work. We enjoyed primi, which consisted of Milanese salami and cheeses, before enjoying risotto washed down with local white wine. Helena insisted even after discussion, that she paid for my lunch; she was always so generous to her visitors, and made every minute of my trips a real joy.

After a day of touring Milan, we returned home ready to glam ourselves up for the evening! Helena had researched a few great bars in the area and we set off on a mini tour of the city by night. First stop was a swanky hotel bar near to her flat, where we ordered ourselves Martini Rosso. I remember Helena’s order being met with the response of ‘Eleganza!’ from the barman. Helena not only looked elegant but drank elegantly as well!

Susie and Helena 

Pretty smile

On the Sunday morning, we went out to take coffee in a local café. Helena really enjoyed taking coffee, tea & hot chocolate with friends and I have many memories of all the little café’s we found over the years in London, Milan and Brussels. As usual, Helena’s intellectual side shone through, as she sat sipping her cappuccino reading the paper, voicing all her concerns over the then current political issues.

I admired her intelligence and passion for politics greatly and this photo really sums up both her fun loving nature, as well as her more serious & intellectual side. The Gucci bag also takes its place on the sofa next to her! 

Reading the paper

These memories of Helena make me smile every time I think of them and I am so glad that I was lucky enough to be Helena’s friend and share in part of her wonderful yet short time with us. I am always thinking of her.

Brugse Zot

Last night I went to a Belgian restaurant in London called Belgo that serves mussels, fries, and a plethora of Belgian beers. As I was looking over the menu of dozens of beers I suddenly saw a name I recognised. Where had I seen it before? 

Then I remembered, Brugse Zot is brewery in Bruges that we  visited a little less than a year ago. The memories came rushing back of a magical day Helena, Cecilia, Josh, TAB and I spent in the beautiful town of Bruges just after New Years. We took the train from Brussels and spent the whole day together, touring the town where Helena had spent a year doing her masters.

We took a carriage ride through the quaint medieval town, walked among the chocolate and lace shops, and took a tour of the Brugse Zot brewery. Although it was meant to be an English tour, the old lady spoke an interesting blend of Flemish with a few English words thrown in. We laughed and giggled our way through the brewery, and were happily meet by a pint of Brugse Zot at the end of the tour.

Enjoying our Brugse Zot

One of the things I remember most though is Helena and her unbridled joyfulness. She relished every moment, sitting proudly in the carriage, strutting down the cobble stone streets in her UGG boots, giddily chewing chocolates and sipping that delicious beer. Oh, how I miss her joy and sudden bursts of silliness! A few more pictures from the day......

Striking a silly pose !

Cuddling up on the carriage ride

All smiles on the main square

Hot on Chemo

This time last year Helena and Anne had moved into a beautiful apartment on Place Stephanie in the middle of Brussels. Helena was full of energy, feeling less pain with her treatment showing some early signs of success.

The apartment had a lovely and large living room with plenty of floor space, and almost everyday Helena would put on a CD and dance around the room. She bounced around to Bonnie Tyler, Roxette, and of course some Dolly Parton.

Helena was proud of her strength, and with her usual humour and positive attitude she suggested that maybe she should make an exercise video, become the Jane Fonda for people with cancer. The title: Hot on Chemo.

Helena doing her Hot On Chemo moves

Cecilia and I loved to join Helena for her dancing sessions when we were there. We spun around the coffee table, sang, giggled, and forgot all the of the very difficult and scary things we were all facing.

A little blurry, but still one of my favourite memories from our time in Brussels

It still amazes me how incredibly upbeat and full of humour Helena was during her illness.  Of course there were times when she was low but they were the exception, and Hot on Chemo is just one of the many examples of her ability to rise above her daunting reality.

Guest Post: Johanna Eklöf

On the morning of Saturday the 19th of June, I found myself sitting in front of the mirror combing my hair after my shower. The fringe I'd let grow out hung very annoyingly in my eyes, you know when it is in that middle stage of 'not a short fringe' any more and 'not as long as the rest of the hair'! A vision of Helena sprung up in my mind and I knew exactly what to do with it!

During the years I was fortunate enough to know her, she always kept the same hairstyle. She had her long fringe pinned back with an elegant thin clip. I did my hair like Helenas that day, and thought about her through the weekend. I hadn't thought about her for quite some time, but she was there that weekend lingering in my mind. I decided that when Monday comes I'll sit down and look for her online, getting back into contact. I missed her!

I had seen her briefly some years earlier at Kungsträdgården in Stockholm, bumping into her late one evening just outside of the Opera. We had a hug, shared some laughs and promised to meet soon again. It was serendipitous that we ran into each other outside the opera as we have shared some special memories from that place.

When we were around 14 we both did an internship there. We got to know the Opera house inside out. We knew every shortcut through the rehearsal rooms and were the proud key-keepers to Oxögat, a small private room with a little viewing window, above the Minister's balcony. I still remember the lyrics that we heard being rehearsed over and over again from "Der Rosenkavalier" (The Knight of the Rose) by Strauss. When there was no one around we would stand on the stage and play the parts, singing in our very best opera imitation voices. We had so much fun together, giggling like the young girls we were when were when we were stuck in the elevator with Papageno and some giraffes from the Magic Flute ensemble. These are very special memories that we shared, and now they are mine to cherish alone.

Monday June 21st came and I googled Helena. I found her Facebook account, but it was locked. Then I saw that Camilla, a girl from our old middle school at Bodal, was friends with Helena and I read her sad words about Helena. She had passed away only 5 days earlier.

I will never get the chance to meet her again and say hi, but in some ways it felt like she came and said goodbye that weekend just after she'd passed away.

I never got the chance to get to know the young woman Helena, but I will always keep the memory of the young girl I once knew.

All my love,

Johanna

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week

This week charities in the UK are running a campaign to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund and Pancreatic Cancer UK are trying to ensure that more research goes into improving early detection and diagnosis and treatment of this often forgotten cancer.

Helena's story underscores the great importance and need for this work. Indeed, the lack of funding for research into pancreatic cancer means that there has been little change in the chances for those diagnosed. Forty years ago 3% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survived five years or more. Today, that figure is still 3%. 

Since this summer Cecilia and I have been raising funds in Helena's memory for both of these UK charities through the Hope Jewellery collection.  Thanks to so many of you supporting us we have managed to raise £240 for Pancreatic Cancer UK and £210 for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. We feel very proud to be able to contribute to their work. 

Please have a look at the charity websites and help us raise awareness! We know many of you made donations this summer after Helena passed away, but if any of you have ideas for any fundraisers you would like to do in the future in Helena's memory let me know. 

Guest Post: Mia Christenson

For those of you who don’t know me I am Helena’s best friend from High School in France.  Already as a seventeen year old she seemed wordly, filled with ambition and effervescent joy.  It clicked between us right away.  We were placed in bedrooms next to each other for two years and our friendship lasted ever since then.

Last November I made a dear visit to Brussels, like so many of you. I remember clearly the morning Helena said at breakfast that if it was to be her last Christmas she wanted to decide how and with whom it would be celebrated!  We smiled at each other despite what she was insinuating.  Because the way she did it, with her back straight, her head held high and with a determined gaze, was like any other day when Helena’s will was demonstrated.  It was effective, wonderfully and typically Helena.  It has become a natural manner that I have acquired over the last thirteen years.  My mother will at times laugh and say “now, Mia you look just like Helena!”

Helena, Mia, Anne & Cecilia during breakfast at Place Stephanie

I laugh often at our crazy adventures, and remember also less happy times that we have shared together.  Today, with a huge sense of loss and with tears of joy I am thankful that I participated in Helena’s life.

Love Mia

Two Chocolate Pots

A few days ago I sat down for breakfast quite late and managed to watch the BBC show Under the Hammer. Its a morning program that follows individuals as they purchase properties at auction and then renovate them, sometimes restoring them to their old glamour.

It was a joy to see the show again because Helena used to love watching this program when we were in Brussels. We would discuss what we thought about the renovations, and Helena would always talk about how she would decorate her home in the future. She had so many different ideas; all of them full of a glamorous yet understated taste that only she could imagine.

When we moved to the English countryside in May Helena and I discovered this adorable little antique shop in the city of Rye. The town is full of them but this one has a particular charm about it. It is just full of sweet little treasures that tell stories of families past. It doesn't have the arrogant air of some antique shops, but instead offers you pretty things that may not be worth much to collectors but may still make your home unique.

On our first visit to the shop Helena found these two adorable little pots decorated with delicate flower wreaths, framed by a gold and pistachio lining. She fell in love with them instantly and purchased them with delight from the very sweet old man who owns the shop. He told us the they were hot chocolate pots from the 1920's and that the porcelain maker was reputable. Helena knew them by name of course.

Helena's Wilkinson Ltd chocolate pots

When we got back to the cottage Helena pulled out the little pots and told me her vision for her new room in London. Its colour scheme was going to be pistachio, gold and mahogany, and she quickly picked out what basic things she needed from the IKEA catalogue. But she was firm that we had to go back to the antique shop and find more little gems that would work with her newly inspired theme. And we did. On days that she was in a lot of pain and there was little I could do to cheer her up, I would drive her to the antique shop and we would delight in new treasures.

It is still a great sadness to me that Helena never got to move into our house here in London and decorate it. After all our little talks day dreaming about it I feel I know what it would have looked like, but I also know she would have added many beautiful personal touches, ones I could never imagine.