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• JOURNAL 70

  26 January, 2016

  Hello Sweetheart, In our journey together over those 50+ years, you often observed (complained!?) that you felt left… [more]

• JOURNAL 69

  25 January, 2016

  Hello Sweetheart, In a recent letter to you I made a reference to “the deep well of grief”. While… [more]

• JOURNAL 68

  18 January, 2016

  My darling, “Well, today is your birthday!” OR “Well, today would have been your… [more]

• JOURNAL 67

  11 January, 2016

  My Darling, I’ve just returned home from having lunch with D & H. It’s Sunday and guess who the… [more]

• JOURNAL 66

  3 January, 2016

  My Darling, Well, Christmas 2015 is now part of our history. I confess that I was not looking forward to this event… [more]

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• JOURNAL 66

  3 January, 2016

  My Darling,

  Well, Christmas 2015 is now part of our history. I confess that I was not looking forward to this event because, as was noted in my last letter, this would be my “first Christmas without my beloved Bev”. Strangely, it wasn’t as difficult as I had anticipated. Of course I am not saying that it was not a difficult time for all of us but, for me in particular, I felt sustained, supported and cared for by my (our?) family. We were all conscious of the “empty chair” – the place you occupied last year and so many years before that one.

  There was a deep and unmistakeable sadness felt by us all over those days of the Christmas week. Yet, alongside that sense of sadness and grief, there was a sense of gratitude. How so? Because the enjoyment that we experienced over that period was possible only because of the legacy you left with us.

  I think I appreciated more than ever the richness of that legacy as seen through the lens of these last few weeks. We owe you a great debt because your role of wife, mother and grandmother when you were with us.

  A highlight for me came on the Tuesday after Christmas when Pete hired a plane and flew Keith and I up to Bathurst so we could spend some time at your memorial. How special was that?!

  I sat alongside the memorial stones and plaque – and just wept. The sense of missing you was overwhelming. Keith & Peter maintained a respectful distance yet placed an appropriate hand on my shoulder.

  Karen has been so helpful and supportive. She has taken me shopping as well as helping in other household chores. There’s no doubt that we have raised three terrific kids.

  I will write again soon

  But until then……

  You remain the love of my life,

  Mike