I lost my Dad last year - the 26th July although I don't think it actually registered with me until about October. In fact I think it was around my birthday when it suddenly hit me that I would never spend another birthday or Christmas with him.
I know I am totally biased but my Dad was wonderful, in fact I am not biased the church was packed to the rafters and we were inundated with cards and flowers...I realised he was not just my Dad but meant so much to so many people.
Its a bit of a cliché but me and my dad really were soul mates, in some ways I know what it feels like to have a terrible disease because I felt every bit of his pain, fear and anger and what was happening. And in many ways I feel guilty if I am at all happy although I know my Dad would boot by backside if he knew!
What I am determined to do it help other people who are maybe in a similar situation, I work in the voluntary sector and always have done so I am now a fundraising volunteer for The Brain Tumour Charity and I have just registered to support Marie Curie with their daffodil appeal
