Everyone misses her smile, warmth, laughter and affection.

As each year goes by the pain becomes less and less - the memories, however, are stronger each and every day.

The dreadful news that my Mum had suddenly died on Wednesday the 24th of March was utterly shocking. My Mum was 65 and (as far as we all knew) perfectly healthy. True, she had arthritis and her ankles were very painful but she never let it get her down and she most certainly didn’t let it get in the way of her interacting with my two kids whom she loved so much.

I had just started a new job and was on my third day when my Dad called from Spain to tell me what had just happened.

It felt like my world had just fallen apart. I was utterly heartbroken.

I managed to get a flight to Spain and got to my Dad about 11pm that night.

We then spent the next 5 days together trying to come to terms with what had happened. Viewing her lying so peacefully in the funeral home was one of the most terrible and emotional things I have ever done.

While we tried to bring her home my Dad and I had one of the best times together in the most terrible of circumstances. I was always closer to my Mum but loved them both equally, spending 5 days with Dad brought us closer and we truly felt we were living in our own “bubble”.

Because of the Easter holidays and such like, it took until April 16th to have Mum’s funeral - a day that we all dreaded but knew it had to come.

It was wonderful to see just how many family, friends and acquaintances came to pay their respects. I will be forever grateful that my childhood friends Lorraine and Colin came along - we MUST catch up!

The next few months were pretty difficult for my dad and I, however with the love and support of our families and friends, the last three months have most definitely been better.

Don’t get me wrong, we all still miss Mum terribly, especially my kids who still talk about Nan (Mackenzie often talks about Nan being in heaven) however as time has passed it has become less painful.

It still really hurts to think that Mum will miss things like watching my kids growing up, Mackenzie’s football achievements and Georgia’s dancing shows. I take comfort, however, in knowing in my heart that she would be immensely proud of how Georgia and Mackenzie are growing up and how they have dealt with the past six months.

Love you always Mum. xx