My Granddad Small Teen Bigger World

I'm Jazz and I'm 16. This is my mum, Bev, and my dad, Paul.

We live in Colwyn Bay in Wales, but we're not a typical family.

"..your dysfunctional Mummy and Daddy"!

Dad used to be a homeless drug addict, so I grew up without him.

But now he's off heroin, I've let him back into my life.

You are trying so hard.

I'm just so proud of you.

'I'm getting on with Dad really well...and so is Mum.'

'I can't sit here and pretend there's no feelings developing,'

because they are.

And it's not just Mum who's falling for someone.

-How are you, darling?

-Much better now.

'Having a boyfriend is not the only step I'm taking into adulthood.

'I'm going to learn to drive.'

So release the footbrake, and then you need to use the gas.

Oh, God, oh, God!

But right now, the most important thing

is that my granddad is facing the fight of his life,

and I'm terrified he won't make it.

He has been like my dad,

I can't imagine life without him and I don't even want to think about it.

So this is me - a small teen trying to make my way in a big world.

'Even though I'm only 16 and just 3ft 11 inches tall,

'I've already left home to study animal care at college.'

They're both really clean. Not too warm, either.

I live on campus, but come home most weekends to spend time with my mum.

Remember this time about a year ago, when you were going to America,

and you were going, "Oh, I'd love to, like, go out with somebody"?

Is there anyone you like around the bay or...?

-That is for me to know and you not to know.

-And me to find out.

-So...

-No, you're not going to find out, you're not going to find out.

When it comes to, sort of, confiding in my mum, telling her things,

I tell her anything about my friends, anything about me,

but boyfriends, no, no, no, no.

-Why don't you talk to me about it?

-Because, ask any teenager...

-I won't talk to them and go, "My daughter fancies you".

-No, but you would,

-that's the sort of thing you'd do!

-I wouldn't.

-You would.

There's so many young lads who think you're gorgeous and can't...

They see past this... So, what, she's a bit smaller than everyone else?

And they just think, "I'd love to go out with a girl like her".

Because when I was your age, I always thought, "Oh, God, no-one will want me",

because some people just won't consider ya as a girlfriend, just...

just because you're not the right height.

-Oh, my eyes are really bad, I'm sorry...

-Right,

-leave that a minute and wash your hands.

-I can't see...

-Jazz, that's a full onion.

-Yeah, I like onion.

-Why so much onion?

-Because you're not cooking it, I am.

Because if you have onion breath like that...

Go like that...

no-one will want to kiss you like that...

Mum, that's enough!

I've told Mum I've been chatting online with a friend of a friend,

but what I haven't told her is that I think I'm falling for this guy.

But he lives miles away in Liverpool.

Levi is sweetest, most thoughtful person I've ever met.

He'll say nice things to me just because, to make me feel good.

And that's what I love.

Originally, we just started talking about the usual stuff that teenagers do,

just about music, and what our interests are,

and it just spiralled into,

"So, do you want me to come down there?" And it all went from there.

Levi's my first proper boyfriend. It's all new and very exciting.

Erm, and it's great, it feels really good.

# Oh her eyes, her eyes

# Make the stars look like they're not shining... #

Jazz is just like any ordinary teenager of our age.

Just bubbly and a bit loopy, but I love her for what she is.

I just like Jazz's quirkiness, and she's really pretty.

She's got a boyfriend. You know, and I'm so like,

you know, like ringing up, going,

"They're holding hands", you know, and my mum's going, "Oh!"

It was such a relief - she's going to go through her life now thinking,

"I don't have to restrict myself.

"Somebody would be lucky to go out with me".

I think she's beginning to realise that, "YOU were lucky to be my boyfriend".

# Just the way you are... #

You would not have believed in the last 12 months

how she's progressed

and got so much confidence since Levi came in the picture.

How she's changed so much for the better.

'Levi's average height

'and I was really worried about how it was going to work.

'Is it awkward, how's he going to react to people saying horrible things to him,

'and he's been great.'

Most people are just intrigued about it,

because it is something different from the norm.

No-one's been nasty, just, like, all been asking questions.

I think it's just something that's intriguing to a lot of the people

and I'm not, like, shallow-minded enough to let her condition bother me.

He's actually put on Facebook, "I am proud to walk down the street with my girl.

"I look at my girl and think, wow, that's my girl".

And he put it up for everybody to see...

I love her too.

He's taller than me, but I'll still beat him at billiards when we get the chance to go!

Well, I've been seeing Jazz now for about a month,

I don't get to see her that often, only at the weekends.

It is hard, but I like how it is.

I'd just like to buy some flowers for my girlfriend, please.

'I'm going to get Jazz some flowers.'

I can't wait to see the look on her face.

So why are you buying the flowers? Anything special coming up?

Or just cos you haven't seen her for a while?

I just want it to be a nice surprise for her.

-Is it a long time since you saw her last?

-Um, a week.

A long time!

She's never had anything like this before.

When she sees you with those flowers, my goodness gracious, will she be...

she'll be absolutely gobsmacked.

I never would have thought I'd be stood with her boyfriend

waiting for flowers for her, so it's good for me as well, you know?

To see this happening to her. Jazz will be absolutely over the moon.

-I hope so.

-She really will be.

-Is that OK?

-Yeah, they're lovely, thanks.

Fabulous range of colours, aren't they?

-Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

-Yeah, amazing.

Thanks for that.

-Getting really nervous now.

-Nervous?

Well, I'm getting even more excited. But we've only got 15 minutes to go.

I know!

'It's not just me who's got a new interest in the opposite sex.'

Right, random plate check.

'Dad comes over every day to look after Mum

'because she has a lung condition and needs to rest.

'It's great he helps us so much, but when they start flirting with each other,

'it gets really embarrassing.'

-Oh, dear, what's that?

-It's a bit wet.

You've got a wet patch, haven't you? You've wet yourself.

'It's a bit awkward, we've been thrown together, in a way. Our sense of humour brings us together.'

I started to remember why I was with him.

When Num and Dad got together almost two decades ago,

they were in love and made each other laugh.

But then Dad's drug habit got in the way.

Now he's on a methadone programme, they seem to be picking up where they last left off.

If you were wearing a pinny, like I suggested...

-I don't think so.

-Well, we'll see.

-We'll see!

Remember when you first was here, "I'm not doing this,

"and I'm not wearing gloves, I don't need to wear thermal underwear

"and I don't need to wear this, that and the other..."

And NOW look at you. I'm watching football and what are you doing?

-What are you doing?

-Washing pots.

-Right, so, what'll you be doing next week? Wearing a pinny.

-No!

Yes, you will.

I can't pretend there's no feelings developing. And it's awful because they are.

-I'm not wearing a pinny.

-Right, OK!

I've tried it once and it doesn't suit me.

What do you mean, you've tried it?

-You wore a pinny in this house when nobody was in?

-Yeah.

Oh, I'm locking the cupboards up.

I'm not coming in one day and you're there in one of me tops...

THEY LAUGH ..or me underwear!

-Oh, no that won't happen.

-Why, will you wait till the doors locked?!

-Yeah!

-THEY LAUGH

'When we're together, we have a laugh.'

If she wants me to do something, she'll make sure I have to do it.

Right, let's check your list.

-Have we done dogs?

-Yeah.

'I know I'm really hard to live with. Incredibly hard.

'And Jazz said one day -'

because I said sometimes I do feel like I love him again, and sometimes I absolutely don't, you know,

because I can't forgive and forget -

and she said, "Well, let's be honest Mum, who else is going to put up with you?"

'He seems to cope somehow. And then she looked at her dad,'

and he was like laughing, dead cocky, and they went, "And YOU? Really?!"

So you've got three minutes of your own television time today.

I'll choose it now while the football's on.

I think I'd be fine if Mum and Dad, you know, got back together,

I wouldn't be bothered either way, to be honest.

I know, like, some kids want their mums and dads to get back together,

but as long as they're happy, I'm not bothered, because I'm not there.

So I can't really say, "Do this, do that, do the other".

Whatever makes them happy.

I'm nearly packed and ready to go home for the weekend.

Granddad should be here any minute.

You go and give her the surprise.

Levi has only been dating her for month,

but we've got to know him

and he's really a super lad.

She couldn't have met a nicer chap, and, er, she's,

er, so excited. It's her first boyfriend,

and you can just imagine the surprise and the feeling she's got right now

not thinking she's going to see him for the weekend.

I can imagine her world is, er, right at the top of the tree.

# It's a little bit funny

# This feeling inside... #

I just think she'll be really surprised, cos... at the end of the day,

I haven't told her I'm coming

and I'll be the last person she'll be expecting to see walk through the door.

# What I really mean... #

KNOCK ON DOOR

Come in.

-Oh...!

-Hi...

-Hello!

How are you, darling?

Much better now.

I was really surprised and...

..shocked in a good way, like, wow,

somebody actually wanted to do that for me.

# How wonderful life is Now you're in the world... #

I'm not even going to try hold them, because they're bigger than me!

'I didn't know what to say, how to act

'because no-one's ever done something that amazing before.

'It was just really thoughtful.'

I've never had flowers from anyone as special as you, definitely not.

They are lovely.

'It feels really, like, flattering

'to be sort of fancied and liked

'and wanted to be with.'

-I'm so glad to see ya.

-I'm made up to see you, too.

I'm just so glad you're here, I thought I wasn't going to see you for two weeks.

# ..I put down in words... #

-I do feel so much better now.

-Oh, good.

# How wonderful life is Now you're in the world. #

'But Levi's not the only new man in my life.

'I've recently met my half-brother, Alan.

'Before my dad got together with my mum, he already had children with a previous girlfriend.'

-Oh, my goodness gracious!

-I want to see.

I'll show you on the television in a minute, you dirty monkey.

'I grew up as an only child, and used to wish I had a brother.

Little did I know I DID have one, but he was miles away in Stockport, near Manchester.

Alan was three when I was born, and we never met when we were kids.

-Not much luck on here...

-Just sort of nudge it a bit.

I really, really get on with him, there's just something that I just absolutely adore about him.

Hey, you better not be wasting my money!

You've got about 10p back, you put a pound in already!

Oh, Jazz, she's great, she's just funny all the time.

She's well spoken, she's a lovely girl to get on with.

I've been here loads of times, never been in the snow, though.

Me, Alan and Dad have been spending more time together since our first meeting.

All those years of living on the streets as a drug addict means Dad's got a lot of catching up to do.

Why is it eating their feet?

I don't know, that must be the most munchiest bit of it!

Well, this is a really good chance for me to get to know me dad.

He's treating us all the same. He texts me every night saying,

he can't wait for me to come back.

It's like he's a total different person now, yeah.

-Have you got any otter's at college, Jazz?

-No, thankfully not.

What's that, a butty on you?

That's just in case he fancied a chip butty.

I've got everybody's interests at heart, Bev's, Jazz's, me son Alan.

If I mess up then people are going to think, "Told you so, we knew."

That's just nasty, isn't it?

But it's his nature, he's got to eat, hasn't he?

They gel really well, the pair of them. They love each other to bits.

I do feel like I'm part of a family, yeah. And I love it.

I love my life right at this minute. I love being where I am.

How uncouth, eating on a stone.

Tramp.

You wouldn't catch me doing that.

Hello, Jazz.

'It's Sunday night and I've come to my grandparents' house,

'they're going to take me back to college.'

Finish that and I'll just go and get your, you know, stuff.

Your bits of stuff.

Nana and Granddad really spoil me.

I don't know what I'd do without them.

-Jazzy?

-Yeah.

-Come and see if you want anything out of me oven.

OK.

'Nana hides a secret stash of goodies in her spare oven.'

-I've put you some tuck biscuits in.

-Oh, brilliant.

-Some cheeses.

Do you want these to take with you?

No, please! No sweets. I'll eat them all for myself.

-Anything else you need to take?

-No, don't think so.

-You got enough this week?

-Yeah, I've got a bit already...

-Have you got biscuits?

-Yep.

-Sure?

-Got loads.

-OK, so there's nothing else you need?

-No.

-What about minerals?

-No, Nana.

JAZZ LAUGHS

'That's Nana being Nana.

But I'm worried about Granddad, he's not been himself lately.'

Do you want me to put these in the boot?

'He's been getting more and more ill, he got paler, he got more tired,

'he didn't want to do anything all day, if he did any exercise

'he'd be out of breath and he was always complaining of stomach ache.'

He was always, you know, rubbing his stomach and holding his stomach.

-Have you got everything?

-Yep.

Granddad's been to the doctors to have some tests

and we're hoping it's nothing serious.

A few days later, Granddad got his results back.

It wasn't good news.

The doctor came to me and told me, "I'm sorry to tell you this

"but you've got a malignant tumourous cancer in the bowel."

When you think about that, you've just been put on death row.

I just looked at my mum and looked at my dad and their faces just...

..they were blown away.

There was nothing I could do to protect them from that

and, you know, er, my mum was white

and, erm, my dad was sort of tearful

and said, "Oh, I thought it'd just be a few tablets and it'd go away."

It was quite a blow,

and it was a blow for Margaret and a blow for Beverley.

You know they were both extremely upset.

The rest of the family were upset too.

I don't want to lose him.

Cos he's loved me from the minute I was born.

He's done...unconditionally given and done everything.

More than any other dad, or granddad could ever do.

And he's been Jasmine's dad.

He's always been there. Every time I've had a problem, I've called him.

And I can't imagine life without him and I don't even want to think about it.

I'm terrified to be honest. I don't know what's going to happen.

In just a week from now, Granddad needs to have an operation

to remove the tumour.

It's usually Granddad taking Mum to hospital

rather than the other way round,

because, from the age of four, Mum's been considered a medical mystery.

Until Mum was born, no-one in our family had restricted growth

and for the first four years of her life, no-one noticed mum was different.

We didn't realise there was anything till I had Shelley.

And as Shelley started to grow then we realised Beverley wasn't.

'Mum is the middle child. Her brother, Gary, is 18 months older

'and her sister, Shelley, is a couple of years younger.

'By the time Mum was four, Shelley was taller, even though she was only two.'

She started having problems with breathing

and always having colds and things like that.

We had to take her into the hospital.

And the lady doctor came to us and said,

-"I think we've got your age wrong."

-That's right, yeah.

And we said, "No, that's her age," and she said, "She's rather small."

She said, "Well, we know she's petite,"

and she said, "She's unusually small."

She said, "Would you like to go and see this professor in Macclesfield hospital?"

'What followed were endless doctor's appointments to try to find out

'why Mum wasn't growing and maybe find a cure.

'In those days being small was seen as a problem that needed to be fixed.'

Every time they went, me mum and dad, they were never given any answers.

But there was a lot of family pressure. What's the matter with her?

Why isn't she breathing properly? Why isn't she growing?

And you know when you go to relatives at Christmas?

Then they'd go, "Oh!"

and they'd say to the other kids, "Oh, haven't they grown?"

And me, they'd be like, "How's things about Bev?" "Don't know."

Even though we knew she was going to be small,

we didn't think she would never grow.

We just thought it was going to take time

and there would be something that would help her to grow

and that is why I decided that we would have every test done.

'By doing many tests, including skin grafts,

'doctors tried to find out why my mum was small,

'how her body was working,

'and if there was anything that could be done to make her grow.'

The tests I had, looking back,

were the kind of tests that you do on people to torture them.

Mum and Dad weren't allowed in with me.

But one time they said "We're going to cut some skin."

So I had a local anaesthetic and they were pinning me down

and they cut a piece of skin right through every layer

from the back of my leg.

The most painful memory I've got,

they took me into this children's ward,

they stripped me to my knickers and put me next to a boy of 11.

And I was 11. I was mortified.

I've never been so embarrassed in my life.

The painful tests Mum was put through

also had an impact on the rest of the family.

It affected the other two

and it affected Shelley more than it affected Gary

because Shelley thought, well... She was being special.

She was getting all this attention.

I pretended I was deaf so that I could get a hearing aid,

I pretended I couldn't see so I could get glasses.

Just so I could get some of the same kind of attention, of course.

I was hugely jealous.

But all the tests turned out to be pointless.

The doctors told Nan and Granddad my mum had a very rare form of restricted growth

and there was nothing anyone could do to change that.

Mum will always be small.

Me mum still thinks she's to blame.

When I talk to her about it, she could find it very hard to talk about.

I'll say to her, "Why do you blame yourself?" "Well, I made you."

My mum was dealt a card back then.

She had this child and she didn't know what to do, she had no support,

a family who didn't know what to do about it and nobody in the neighbourhood.

And so I believe she did the absolute correct thing that she needed to do,

which was bring Bev up the best way she could have done,

which was from her heart.

The doctors also told my grandparents

my mum wouldn't be able to have children

and everyone believed them...

'..until I decided to come along.'

When I was pregnant I was really, like, shocked.

Thinking, how could my little tubes, get, you know,

the little sperms go up into my little tiny tubes?

Wouldn't they get blocked?

You know, how naive is that?

When I was born, Mum was 30, and she decided I'd never go through

what she went through to find out why I was small.

When Jasmine came along, we were totally in agreement with Beverley,

because we'd gone through it all with Bev,

and there wasn't any necessity to go and see about growth.

It just wasn't on the cards at all.

It was totally accepted that what she was like

is what we wanted, you know, and that was it.

I don't think I can ever appreciate

what it must've been like for Mum and Dad. They tried to bring me up

the same as Shelley and my brother and my sister

and make me quite independent, which is why I'm independent now

and which is why Jazz is.

And I owe them...

So much.

Never pay it back.

No matter what happens to the Burkitt family,

we always pull together.

So in true Burkitt style, my Aunty Shelley and her two daughters

are flying in from their home in America

to help support Nan and Granddad whilst he tries to beat cancer.

-Do you want me to go on before she comes through here, yeah?

-Can't wait.

We're looking for American passports.

-Have you come from America?

-Yeah.

-Oh, have you? Coming through already?

-Yeah.

-Oh, brilliant, thanks. ..We're none too soon, then, are we?

'I'm very lucky that Shelley has been able to come over from New York.

'It's actually made it a delightful time, if you can say that.'

Come on, Shelley, come on.

'It will be just great to come out,

'and I've got Shelley and the kids to look forward to.'

I'm getting really excited now.

-How you feeling?

-Fine.

-I love you.

I'm really excited but quite sad at the same time

that I get to see my aunty and my cousins.

It's not for a very good reason.

'I am glad I could be here

'at the time when they need me.

'We're here to look after my dad,'

because he's having a life- threatening surgery on Friday,

and we have to...deal with it, all of us.

Come on!

Off we go.

SCREAMS

Hello!

'Granddad's brought Aunty Shelley and my cousins

'to see me at college.

'Naomi is seven, and Sarah is five.

'Family means everything to me.

'They've been there when Mum's been in hospital,

they're the ones that have supported me when I was bullied at school.

'They're the ones that have encouraged me to come here.'

-I'm so proud of you!

-Oh!

Come and see my room!

'You can quite easily lose friends,

'but your family are always there to support you.'

If you've got no family, you've got nothing, really.

-This is my room.

-Look at it!

It's a bit tidier than it is normally!

Oh!

Look at you!

Yeah, all my stuff.

Wow!

I'm so proud of you.

Oh, thank you.

Are you dead happy?

Yeah, I absolutely love it here.

Jazz seemed so calm and so...

together

'and so natural in that college.'

This is where I work, every day.

I always made the mistake, I think, of thinking of Bev

and thinking of Jazz as the same person.

'And I think, this time, I've seen something completely separate.

'So I see Jazz in college'

and I see a whole new young lady that I didn't know before.

This is Max, the milk snake, he's lovely.

-No - snake and lovely...

-Yeah, he's actually really nice.

Not quite going in the same sentence!

Here you go, ladies and gentlemen.

'Tonight, we're having a meal to celebrate Shelley's arrival.

'It's incredible for me to see my mum and Aunty Shelley together,

'because now they spend so much time apart,

'but they used to live in each other's pockets.'

# Thank you for coming home

# I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn... #

Me and Shelley shared a bedroom.

I would rather have slept in the shed than in the same room as my sister.

She was untidy, she played the same records over and over again.

# Gold! Never believe in...

# It's impossible Gold! #

-Oh!

-# You're indestructible... #

So we'd fight like cat and dog, but as we got older, we became friends.

I remember being very angry at people who would tease her

and I would stand up for her and say, "Hey, don't tease her."

Because to me, she's my sister, and that's how she always was,

and she's not different. She's Bev - that's how she is.

When we got to 16, 17,

we had a very difficult time, because suddenly she had boyfriends.

She had a job, you know, a Saturday job,

and she had this and that. I had nothing.

But Mum did have something,

because, at 20, she left home to go to university.

In her mid-20s, Mum went to live on a kibbutz in Israel,

and this time, Shelley followed her.

Mum introduced her sister to her friend, Yariv.

It was love at first sight,

and within two years, Shelley and Yariv were married.

This is my Aunty Shelley's wedding in Israel.

Six months earlier, Mum had met my dad in Manchester.

It was a happy time for both sisters.

But now, Aunty Shelley lives with my Uncle Yariv and their children

in America...so our families are only reunited on special occasions.

My sister...had moved...

-Have you got another sister?

-No, no!

I would only want this one.

It's just fantastic, all the girls together.

It's just amazing and surprising that it was able to be achieved.

He ordered a glass of red wine, "une glass", but he said "carafe"!

-SHELLEY:

-'It's very rare that we're all together.

'Whatever happens throughout our lives, we've never had a situation

'where we're angry with each other, because as soon as we're together,

'we start remembering all those hilarious things that happened.'

Got up, apologised and fell over at the table...

'And those fun times are what just pulls us through everything.'

And it doesn't matter whatever happens around us,

because those times are things that move us through life together.

I can remember cruising round the village with you two,

looking for the noisiest party.

And you wouldn't go in the ones that were quiet.

This evening has been tremendous. It's been the final boost for me.

'We're all together. Now I can go forward with confidence'

that everything is going to be all right.

-To Shelley...

-Yes.

-..for flying...

-A long way.

-A long, long way, to show her dad how much she loves him.

-I do indeed. Cheers!

Tomorrow, Granddad's having an operation to remove his cancerous tumour.

-Hello, Mr Burkitt, you all right there?

-Yes, thank you.

-All right if I take your blood pressure?

-You can indeed.

Just pop this on your arm.

Just check your temperature as well.

That's fine. SATS are 100%.

Oh, 100%. Wonderful stuff.

Excellent.

'I'm actually looking forward to this operation tomorrow.'

This will mean that that deadly thing inside me is...is going out,

and I've got a second chance of life.

All done.

I just wonder why my, er, pulse rate was a little bit higher?

It's probably cos I've got two angels, just going...

Ah!

Granddad's having an operation to remove the cancer.

And it's hard,

'because I'm at college, I can't see him before the operation.'

And it's quite lonely when you're sat worrying on your own

and you've got no-one to hug or to tell you it's going to be OK.

'I've wanted to be there to help them and to support them,

'so I've not felt like part of the family, really,

'but I know he's proud of me that I'm staying in college'

and I'm working really hard and I'm not letting it affect my work.

And I think that's... that's the best thing I can do.

Mum's visiting Granddad.

It's the last chance for her to see him before his operation.

-Hello.

-Hello, chuck, how are you, eh?

Sweetheart, don't be upset.

Yeah. It's the day I've been waiting for.

The day I've been waiting for.

It's all worthwhile.

So it'll all be over this time tomorrow night.

-I've had me hair done.

-Oh, that's wonderful.

And here's your card.

-And who's this from?

-Me.

That's just wonderful.

Champagne! Oh, my goodness - champagne!

I didn't want to buy a sad one, because it's good luck.

Do you get a real bottle with this, that you can drink afterwards?

-The sooner you get better, the sooner we can drink it.

-OK.

So don't be selfish.

Oh, no, I will expedite my recovery.

Just looking forward to seeing everybody tomorrow. Granddaughters and yeah, OK.

-Don't you dare let me down.

-I won't, don't you worry.

-I need you.

-I won't let anybody down.

So no problem. All right, chuck? Don't worry.

Don't worry? If I was here lying like this, would you say that...?

"Don't worry about me, Dad, I'm fine."

-What would you say to me? You'd say, "Don't be so stupid!"

-Yeah.

-How many years have you been sat with me in hospital beds, worrying?

-Time and time again.

That's why I've got grey hair - it's not because of my age.

I can assure you.

Go on, blame me.

-I'll see you in the morning.

-OK.

-All right. See you tomorrow. OK, bye.

-I love you.

-OK.

I'm very proud of you.

I know, yeah.

Very proud of you too.

There are blue skies over Wales,

but a dark cloud hangs over our family.

Granddad is on his way to have an operation to remove a cancerous tumour.

'I'm at college on my own,

'but I'm going to see Granddad after his operation.

'I want to be positive and believe he'll survive,

'but I'm terrified he won't

'and that my family will lose the most important man in our lives.'

Nana and Granddad have been married for 52 years

and have spent almost every day together.

He is half of the rock, and my mum is the other half.

How is Mum going to manage mentally?

This is somebody she's lived with for 50 years.

How is that going to work without my dad?

This is Nana and Granddad's son, my Uncle Gary.

He followed in his father's footsteps and works on the railways.

He and his family live 100 miles away

but still share a special bond.

He's always there for everyone.

He makes everybody around him sort of, er, come to life.

My dad is 100% relied on.

If anything happens to my dad, then the family falls apart.

He's my dad. He's everything a dad should be, and more.

He loves me.

He never stops telling me he loves me.

He looks after me.

He looks after Jazz.

Jasmine wouldn't be Jasmine without him.

-Do we look the same?

-Yeah, you've got the biggest teeth.

He's been my dad for the last 16 years.

He has helped me, he's guided me, he's taken me out places.

Right full rudder, right full rudder.

Jasmine, the helmsman, right rudder, please.

No matter the circumstances, he's always happy to see me

and he's just my wonderful, wonderful Granddad.

I couldn't imagine life without him.

Granddad's been brought back from the operating theatre,

and we're waiting for him to come round.

It's quite hard to see him so ill,

cos I've never seen him that ill before,

so it's quite hard to see him like that.

Don't' worry...you'll be a hundred times better tomorrow.

Well, at least it's all done, finished.

We're the luckiest grandchildren in the world.

We've got the strongest granddad ever.

Granddad is going to be all better.

Right, Granddad?

Granddad's going to be all better.

We can stay all night, if you like!

Well, YOU can!

Yeah. I tell you what...

'Fortunately, the cancer hasn't spread,

'and the tumour's been removed,

'but Granddad will have to stay in hospital

'until he's well enough to come home.'

'My brother, Alan, has decided to move from Stockport

'into my dad's flat in Colwyn Bay.

'Me, my best friend, Naomi, and my boyfriend, Levi,

'are helping to decorate his room.'

That wall is going to be blue, and this one

and the other walls will be in sandstone.

I've decided to stay down here in Colwyn Bay,

because I wanted a fresh start, same as me dad's doing.

'Helping out my big brother is great,

'but I don't quite think we're qualified for this job!'

I've never done any painting, so I'll probably be hopeless!

I've done painting before, but I don't know if I'll be good at it.

I've painted the kitchen.

That's why it ended up looking rubbish, but you know...

-It's spraying onto you.

-It's spraying all over my arms!

You're making us all look bad. Look, look at that!

Spending time with Alan is really good,

because he acts like a proper big brother.

You're doing well, Jazz.

Thank you!

'When we were painting, he was showing me how to do it properly.'

I'm getting it all over me bottom.

It'll wipe up, don't worry.

It was really good, because I've never had the concept

of a big brother, to sort of protect you and help you,

and he really is like what you'd think a big brother would be like.

You all right down there, Jazz?

-Don't drop it on my head, will you?

-Try not to, anyway.

'It's important to me that I've met Bev and Jazz,'

cos I'm glad that they're willing to make a little family together,

'because I can't believe how we got on, from the gap we've had apart.'

It's like we knew each other for ever, really.

-It's looking good, this, isn't it?

-I'm proud how quickly we all did it.

Yeah, I am quite proud of it.

Although I didn't do a lot, but I supervised, you know?

One wall complete.

Right, I think it's time for a tea break now.

'Granddad's been out of hospital for a week now.

'He's still on medication, but he's no longer in bed all day.'

Whenever I go and see my Nan and my granddad,

'I'll always take my granddad a train magazine,

'cos he absolutely loves trains.'

And when I was younger, he used to drag me round

hundreds of train exhibitions,

and I pretended I didn't like it,

but I think I secretly did.

TRAIN WHISTLES

Right, this is us doing another steam train for Dad.

Another year, another steam train. We're all absolutely freezing.

Jasmine's full of the cold. We're really enjoying it(!)

When he was younger, he used to work on the railway.

He used to manage Piccadilly Station.

So he feels very proud of that

and he doesn't want to let it go, really,

so I always try and bring him steam train magazines

or little steam figures and things like that.

Hi, Jasmine!

Hello, you all right?

-Have you come to see Granddad?

-Yep.

-Good.

-He's just sat here. There we go.

-Hello!

-Hello, sweetheart.

-You all right?

-Mind me tummy. Mom!

-You all right?

-Yeah. Lovely to...see you.

You all right?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-Have a sit down, Jazz.

-Yeah.

-Have you brought him something?

-Bought you a steam magazine, cos I knew...

-Oh, my goodness gracious me.

That's the best medicine you could've brought.

-Glad to be out of hospital, anyway.

-Oh, my goodness. It's lovely to be home again, yeah.

My own bed, and no bleeping going on in the night.

-I bet you're sleeping better.

-Got to be very careful,

cos you think you can do things and you can't, you know.

Take it nice and slow. No need to rush.

-Your insides take a long time.

-There's no need to rush.

'After the operation, he looked awful, he looked so poorly,

'and now he looks so much happier and he is happier, because of it.'

It's made him appreciate life

and think how quickly it can be taken away from you,

and we're all just so happy for him, it's great.

I'm on my way, I'm lucky. Lucky I had a good team,

lucky I had a very good surgeon. He was wonderful.

I'm lucky I've got a good family around me as well.

-We're all really proud of you.

-Yeah, I know.

We're all so glad that you've come through it so well.

-Like that top.

-Thank you.

-Are you going to wear your cardy with it?

-Yeah.

'Today, me and Mum are getting ready for a family party we've organised,

'to celebrate Granddad's recovery from cancer.'

-Why are you in MY room getting ready?

-Cos I can't get in my room.

I have to not go in her bedroom.

Which is a rule we've both decided on.

And she walks in my bedroom.

Why aren't you at that mirror?

-Because this is where the plug is, you go in that mirror.

-No.

You go in that mirror, this is where the plug is.

That little 12 ft by 10 ft is my sanctuary,

and no-one is allowed in it and no-one can come in it.

But she does.

She has every right to come in it,

because she's a teenager.

Nothing needs doing with your hair, it's perfect.

-It's not.

-It's not.

-Not perfect.

Oh, you're right(!) Oh, my God, look.

Look, no, there is, there's piece... Oh!

Oh, it's just going to ruin the whole day.

Oh, I'll go like this, nobody'll notice.

What about that pretty one there?

That's quite nice.

No, I'm wearing a scarf, so you won't see it.

You're wearing a scarf the whole evening in the pub?

Oh, I don't know.

Well, they've got a roof on now and put windows in and doors,

so you don't have to wear your outdoor clothes any more.

And it's been like that for a while, apparently.

Dry me hair.

I'm getting fingers like you, look.

Carrot fingers.

They are, look.

Yeah.

Sorry?

I said, "Thanks, Mum."

It's all right.

Giving me your carrot fingers.

Given you a beautiful face.

Give you an iPod Touch.

Right, boots - I need you to help me put them on.

I can't.

-Oh, no.

-I can't.

I couldn't pull them, they'd break off.

-Thank you for your help.

-Any time.

Oh, God, you're loads taller than me.

Only cos I'm wearing heels.

So, you can't help me on with my boots.

Well, you're not having nails done again, forget it.

As well as celebrating Granddad's recovery,

what makes this family party extra special

is that it's the first time my dad, Paul, and my brother, Alan, are going to be there.

My granddad rang my dad up and said, "Please come today,

"we've got to make you part of the family now,"

and that is a huge step from going 16 years

to being accepted back in the family, and it made me very happy.

Hi, I'm Alan, Jazz's brother.

Hi, Alan, nice to see you. I'm Shelley, Bev's sister.

Nice to meet you.

Sorry, I can't hear, somebody's squashing me..

We'd like to propose a toast.

First of all - thanks, everybody, for coming.

We're here mainly for one reason today,

and that is Granddad Norman.

What about you?

We'd like to say that Granddad Norman has battled through a very debilitating disease,

he's got through it, he is now a cancer survivor.

Thanks to his friends and family, he is fighting fit,

and today we're all here to celebrate his continued...

Normaless.

-Normalness.

-Normaness!

-Normaness!

Hey, I've never been called that before.

So here's to Norman.

CHEERING

Nana and Granddad were wary about my dad being in my life again,

so it's the first family occasion he's been invited to.

It makes me realise how far we've come as a family.

Hi, Paul, at last.

-Yeah, at last. Are you all right?

-Yeah.

-Good.

-I've been trying to across to you, it's been so busy.

-I know, yeah.

It's just tremendous to see you and Alan here today.

Yeah, I'm glad he's here myself.

I wanted to be sure you're extremely comfortable with us today.

Nobody's made me feel uncomfortable.

You're Jazz's dad and you're part of this family,

that's the important bit, and I'm really glad that you've settled in.

I'm happy I'm here, and everybody I've spoke to has accepted me,

as Jazz's dad,

and that was important to me, cos I was a bit nervous at first,

cos I weren't sure how people were going to react.

I knew you'd be a bit nervous. That's why I wanted to talk to you

-and make sure you was comfortable.

-Thank you.

You're part of the family, and that's it.

I'm glad to be part of the family.

Could we get any more in, girls?

Now everyone's sure Granddad is making a full recovery,

it's time for Aunty Shelley, and my cousins, Naomi and Sarah, to return home.

-I'm not going up yet.

-I know.

Oh, that's a nice one. That's lovely.

Oh, that's gorgeous.

My mum and dad were falling apart when I first came,

and when I see them now, I see them totally blooming.

Only now do I realise how vital it was to be here right now.

Try and get the squares on everyone's head.

All he's got is your feet.

Has it run out?

Oh, no, not one decent one there.

There's not, there's not, there's just feet.

If someone had said to me, "Do you know what,

"when she is going home in three weeks,

"they would all have had a fantastic time, your dad will have recovered,

"the girls will have had a fantastic time, and we'll have become so much closer as a family."

I am just so upset for Mum and Dad.

My mum and dad are always heartbroken to see them go.

I am not crying for me, because I know me mum and dad are devastated.

Saying goodbye is always difficult, but this time it's bitter sweet,

because Aunty Shelley is leaving behind a much healthier father

than the one she met when she first got here.

-Skype me every day.

-Look after yourself, stay out of that hospital.

Love you.

Bye-bye.

Before Granddad was diagnosed with cancer, my mum, Aunty Shelley

and Uncle Gary bought him a flying lesson for Father's Day.

-I ordered the sun.

-That's great.

Six months after his life-saving surgery, he's totally recovered and is ready for takeoff.

'There's only one problem - guess who he wants as his co-pilot...

'me!'

I really wasn't sure about flying.

I wanted to do it for my Granddad and I wanted to do it,

because I know if I did it and everything went well, I'd feel great afterwards.

But I was just terrified.

We carry a first aid kit behind the seat.

-Do you have a sick bag?

-We do.

-You'll be all right, Jazz.

Dad, I am trusting you with my daughter's life, so enjoy it.

If this is the way they've got to go, Bev, this is it.

Don't say that.

'Nana isn't exactly filling me with confidence,

'but after all Granddad's been through, I'll do whatever he wants.'

You can imagine how proud I was when she walked out to that plane and got in with me.

'It made the day that little bit extra special.'

-Right, have a good trip.

-Yes.

'This is a dream come true. He has driven steam trains,

'he's driven tanks, he's been in a helicopter ride in New York,

'he's been in a hot-air balloon,'

but he has never taken the controls of a plane.

Be careful not to trip over the wire.

-Are you OK in the back, Jazz?

-Yeah, I'm fine, thanks.

'Extreme excitement as we approached the runway.'

Here we go...

'The minute we started taking off, it was incredible

'and all the nerves just went.'

Looking down - just magnificent feeling...floating on air.

-What if something happens to them?

-Bev, you've still got me.

-Is that a bonus?

-Yes.

Is that supposed to cheer me up?

Yes!

Place your hands on the control wheel.

All of a sudden, he said, "Take control," and then I was in control of the plane.

So you have control.

I have control.

It was just brilliant.

OK, what I want you to do now is just gently lower the nose.

Perfect.

I could see how proud he was and how happy he was,

and the pilot kept saying how well he was doing.

So I was really proud of him.

-You're doing really well.

-Very, very well indeed.

Wow.

Ooh, he's coming back this way - duck!

-Duck?

-He's coming back!

Just looking at where I live now... yeah, I've got it.

Right over the top of your house, Jazzy.

-Got a picture of it, Granddad.

-Better than I could ever have imagined.

We have this special relationship. We always have had.

'And that's why it made all the difference today that,'

at her age, she was still alongside me and doing things like this.

Brilliant, love, brilliant.

'A few months ago, I was in hospital with a serious operation,'

and at that time, you thought perhaps a lot of the things in your life were over.

'I feel fitter now than ever'

and I could never have believed A - how fit I would be

and just how excited I was about doing things like this.

There's a train going down the Menai, Jazz. There's a train.

-Hang on, Jazz, we'll give them a wave.

-Woo!

Ooh! Oh, my goodness gracious!

A victory roll!

'I've always known my granddad was special, but his illness has made me realise

'just how much my grandparents have done for me over the years.'

Absolutely brilliant.

My dad may not have been around when I was growing up,

but Nana and Granddad were always there,

helping me and my mum every step of the way.

I really do have the best family in the world.

Group hug.

Next time, me and Mum go Strictly Come Bollywood

and unveil the mysteries of Marrakesh.

'But we have to deal with becoming a tourist attraction ourselves.'

Being followed. It's like being Madonna.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]