I still remember how I felt looking at him, I was 4 or 5 years old my parents had just got divorced and we had moved to live with my Nonna and Nonno in Harrow until we found a new home. I was sat on his work bench at the top of their home, it was right next to the bedroom I shared with my brother, we’d shared that room every other weekend from the moment I was born and now we called it home. He was home; familiar, comforting, warm and safe, he was everything my little heart needed during that confusing and disruptive time in my life. As he handed me a piece of his tailors chalk so that I could mimic his every move as he magically turned pieces of fabric into exquisite suits for fancy people in London I began to wonder if the fancy people in London got to meet my Nonno, the magician. Whether they were lucky enough to get to sit and watch him work his magic the way that I did. How lucky I was to be able to be around him I thought, to have him as part of everything I had ever known. That’s all I remember of that time, him, making me feel safe when I needed it the most. 

And now he no longer remembers who I am. In his world he’s 20years old, I don’t exist. Those memories and moments throughout my 32years, the ones that mean absolutely everything to me, the ones that shaped the person I am today only have significance to me now and when I shouted back from the door for the very last time “I love you, Nonno” instead of saying I love you back, he asked “Whose Nonno?”.

On Monday 12th October, despite my uncle moving countries and my aunties efforts to care for him and the effects of Alzheimer’s my Nonno went into a home and because of the current situation, I don’t know when or if I’ll see him again.

So no this isn’t another unboxing, this is a plee. To help support the work of Alzheimer’s Research in hopefully one day curing what is one of the cruelest diseases I have ever known.

To enter to win a BRAND NEW IN BOX Louis Vuitton POCHETTE METIS:

1. donate a minimum of £2 but please donate as much as you can and as many times as you can
2. Comment on my instagram @lydiamillen when you are done
3. Share this post on instagram/Facebook/twitter so that as many people can donate as possible.
4. I will choose a winner at random and I will be checking for proof of donation. 
5. WINNERS WILL NOT BE CONTACTED BY ANY OTHER ACCOUNT OTHER THAN @LYDIAMILLEN

I of course will be donating myself to kick start. 

THE PRIZE IS ONE LOUIS VUITTION POCHETTE METIS HANDBAG - BRAND NEW AND BOXED.

This bag was purchased by me full price from Louis Vuitton and is in no way affiliated with Louis Vuitton or instagram. 

Please help me by sharing this with all your friends and family so we can raise as much money as possible for Alzheimers Research. Thank you so much. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.