ONE of the most famous songs penned by Irish pop pin-up Ronan Keating features the chorus "Life is a roller-coaster, you've just got to ride it".No-one knows that better than East Anglian Daily Times diarist Rhona Damant, a mother-of-two who is battling terminal cancer.

ONE of the most famous songs penned by Irish pop pin-up Ronan Keating features the chorus "Life is a roller-coaster, you've just got to ride it".

No-one knows that better than East Anglian Daily Times diarist Rhona Damant, a mother-of-two who is battling terminal cancer.

And last night a special Christmas wish came true for Rhona, who lives in Great Waldingfield near Sudbury, as she met the pint-sized pop star.

The courageous 44-year-old travelled to London, where she came face to face with Ronan before he went on stage to play to his adoring fans at Wembley Arena.

Ronan, currently at number two in the charts with Father and Son, has penned the foreword for Rhona's forthcoming book of diaries about her fight with cancer.

Speaking from the venue last night, Rhona told the EADT of her joy at meeting the singing sensation along with son Kristopher, daughter Francesca and a close friend.

She said: "I'm in another world at the moment. We've just met him and it was absolutely wonderful - we had quite a long chat.

"It was quite weird because I was thinking what in the world do I say - I'm standing right in front of Ronan Keating. I was almost speechless."

Rhona, who confessed to being a huge fan of the Irish crooner, said the popster signed autographs for her children's friends, as well as signing her son's rugby shirt.

She added: "We spoke about the book as well and he said he wanted a copy sent to him.

"The foreword he has written is lovely, very well written and very well thought out - he hasn't just thrown it together.

"He was lovely, and very down to earth. It's a dream come true."

Rhona, who developed breast cancer five years ago and now has secondary, inoperable tumours in her lungs, liver, brain and spine, was speaking just before taking her place alongside Ronan's screaming faithful to watch the concert.

She laughed: "I will enjoy every single moment of it and might have to go on oxygen all the way home.

"I just can't believe it - I love him to bits."

It was the second time Rhona has rubbed shoulders with celebrity in the past few weeks - earlier this month she met the Queen during a special party at Buckingham Palace.

Comparing the two meetings, she giggled: "This was better actually - I'm madly in love with him.

"This is the start of Christmas now. It's wonderful."