A personal update

Hello and welcome back, it's been a strange and difficult few years for me personally and I want to take a moment to tell you about what’s been happening and how it will impact Crosskey Avenue going forward.

In late 2021 we lost my Mother to an aggressive type of blood cancer called Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Her name was Angela and she was just 63. It happened incredibly fast. One weekend in May she was in my garden with the family enjoying the sunshine and the next week she was diagnosed and needed to immediately start treatment. She braved six months of brutal chemotherapy but was too poorly. She passed away in November 2021.

Photo: RIP Angela Crosskey

The feeling of grief and loss was immeasurable and it's been a tough year and a half but each day it gets easier and I have a wonderful husband, amazing sisters, in-laws and nieces and nephews and some amazing friends which has helped – even on those days when all you want to do is stay in bed. I don’t think anything can prepare you for the death of a parent, when we lost my Father in 2019 the whole world turned upside down but the last thing I expected was to lose my Mother within two years. Life goes on all around us though, day turns to night and springtime follows winter. In some ways it’s a comfort, in other ways its confusing and you end up thinking ‘how can the world just carry on as normal, as if nothing has happened’. Grief can be all consuming and we are fragile creatures. 

Time is a healer and as cliché as it sounds, each day gets easier. I still think about my Mother every day, but now, at the start of January 2023, it doesn’t break my heart when she pops into my mind. I grew her favourite flowers this past summer, highly scented pastel coloured sweet peas and I have a bottle of her favourite perfume, a beautiful orange blossom fragrance that I occasionally spritz and reminds me of happy memories.

Photo: Happy memories, fun times at my sisters hen party 

During this time of upheaval and grief I started a fixed term job at a large beauty brand and more recently joined an exciting food tech business which is disrupting mealtimes around the world. With new jobs and personal loss, my pet project had to take a hiatus. I didn’t close Crosskey Avenue, it has continued to trade but I didn’t have the emotional energy required to keep it moving.   

Now life is feeling more settled and my sense of loss more manageable, I’m feeling positive and looking forward to the future. I’m committing more of my time, energy and passion back into my cherished project which brings me so much joy. It’s a new year, and I’m proud to be in a place where I can dedicate the time and attention Crosskey Avenue needs to grow as I share my original  perfumes with the world.

I have so many ideas and exciting plans for Crosskey Avenue that I can’t wait to share with you all. In the meantime, our three signature scented candles, inspired by treasured destinations around the world are available for you to experience and bring a little extra joy this murky January.  

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and fruitful 2023! Onwards and upwards surrounded by beautiful fragrance.

Love, Howard x

Founder, Crosskey Avenue

If you are reading this in the UK and looking for help you can visit Cruse Bereavement Support.