I write a lot about friendship and the support of friends through the process of grief. I like this article at the Daily Record called The Power of Friendships which says
“When it comes to bereavement, women will have a strong source of support in her friends, while a man may have suffered a double bereavement, losing his wife and friend at the same time.”
Strong platonic friendships can be difficult to sustain, mainly because of other people’s perceptions of them.
“Most of us rarely stop to analyse our friendships, but knowing you have this bond with someone is an incredible source of …read more

Since losing Dad, Mum and I have grown even closer. We have always been close, always had a special connection but since Dad died, that has become more than a mum – daughter link, more of a best friend feel.
I am having a few days away with her…we are going to the place where Mum and Dad last holidayed together. Mum can’t wait to show me where Dad was so happy. I cannot wait for 2 reasons

Just spending quality time together. I live away and when I go home, we end up in the car , in the garden, at …read more

I wrote a post called Who I am, or More Accurately Who am I and Jessica left a comment which will resonate to all widows and widowers out there, including
“There is only me and I will turn 60 in July without my best friend (and younger spouse) there beside me. I don’t think I have a day where the tears do not well up. I am so alone and so lonely, too.”
Loneliness is awful, it is like a stream running through your body, swirling around and catching you off guard. I want to stress that this blog is home to …read more

As we journey through the grief process, I have come to the conclusion that part of the process is about the friendship with yourself. You need to work at the relationship with your inner self, here are my quick tips  

 Are you honest with yourself? Honest about your feelings, honest about the lost relationship (sometimes we can look through rose tinted glasses), honest about what you want from the future – it is OK to want to be happy.
Are you honest about the way you feel – do you let the anger and resentment out?
Do you listen to your own …read more