Category Archives: Uncategorized

Well, I had a book launch. I. Had. A. Book. Launch. It still doesn’t feel normal to say that sentence. Other than Mum’s funeral, it was the biggest, most important event of my life. And it was magical. One week on and I am still glowing with all the love and warmth that filled thatContinue reading “LAUNCH PAD!!”

In 10 days my book We Need to Talk About Grief will be available for the public to read. Yikes. Its clear to me, and by now I’m sure many people, that I’m rather fond of writing publicly about raw and painful personal material. But, there’s something significantly more revealing about an entire book onContinue reading “10 days to go…”

I got my first little book review in Bookseller last week. I couldn’t stop crying for several hours after reading it. It took a while to understand why I was crying so much. My tears were not so much the result of being moved by the kind words of the reviewer, (though of course thatContinue reading “My first review”

Mary has died. She died peacefully at St Christopher’s Hospice. It still bewilders me that one can be so prepared for someone’s death and yet be so distraught when it actually happens. Mary had deteriorated rapidly this last month and I went to see her twice in the hospice before she died. The first timeContinue reading “Farewell Mary”

Well my book is finished. Signed off, ready for production. It feels really strange. As with most big deadlines, one builds up to it, and fantasises about feelings and reactions…and of course nine times out of ten, the reality is always significantly different. But I could never have predicted how bereft I would feel. IronicContinue reading “One book down…”

On Friday 11th April I gave a talk at Death Salon UK at St Barts Pathology Museum – a conference where individuals who work in the death industry, or have an interest in death/dying/grief, gather together to share their experience, with the shared goal of subverting death denial in society. It was a great event toContinue reading “Dos and Don’ts of Being with the Bereaved”

I’ve recently taken on a new role at the hospice. Every Wednesday morning I help out in the gym. I love it. The day begins with a morning meeting where staff and volunteers gather to run through all the day patients that are expected in, and update on whether they are “less well”, “better” orContinue reading “When it’s my turn to die”

Mary finally heard the words that no other doctor has been brave enough to say…that her disease is going to kill her. I sat next to her, watching her avert her eyes from the computer screen, which showed her tumour, as she listened to the doctor tell us that there is nothing more they canContinue reading “The Brave Doctor”

It’s happening. She’s dying. Back in hospital again. In the space of a week she’s halved in size and is drained of any colour. Apparently she’s losing blood…but no-one knows where from. She smiled happily when I walked in to the ward. And I genuinely felt pleased and relieved to see her there alive. ThisContinue reading “Slowly giving up”

I think I’ve cracked. Mary went into hospital again. This time because she fell over several times at home. She is covered in bruises and has an absolute corker of a black eye. I had my first experience of NOT wanting to leave her. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to articulate whatContinue reading “Death Day”