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• JOURNAL 65

  24 December, 2015

  Hello my Love, “Your first Christmas without your beloved Bev…’ So many people have referred to… [more]

• JOURNAL 64

  21 December, 2015

  Hello Sweetheart, With Christmas and Its associated celebrations just just a few days away, I have been busy… [more]

• JOURNAL 63

  18 December, 2015

  Hi Sweetheart, Every day in seemingly countless ways I am surrounded by memories of you. I guess there would be… [more]

• JOURNAL 62

  14 December, 2015

  My Darling, It has been a while since I have had a really good cry. Well, this afternoon I’m making up for that… [more]

• JOURNAL 61

  11 December, 2015

  Hello, my love, They say that Christmas time is a time of engaging with grief in a new way for those who have lost… [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