Day by day

Hi Ashley,

I am pleased that you felt your Dad had a good send off. Yes it was a nice gesture to offer people the option, donation or flowers - some still feel odd at not having the chance to send a floral tribute. At the same time its so good to be able to make donation that help people who may be in your Dads position

Well done with doing the reading - I realise it would of been so hard but hope it brings you comfort in the future when the pain is less raw and you think back to that day as being a celebration of your Dads Life.

Yes understand that Christmas is going to be tough for you and your Mum, especially this first on. Only question I wanted to raise in your mind :

What would Your Dad want you and Mum to Do ?

You will get through it by being there for each other, I know you don't need to hear things will get easier - we all cope in our own ways - but you do have memories you can share with your Mum.

Maybe just say - hope your Christmas as easy as possible.

Love hand hugs

John xx

hi ashley

firstly, i am sure you did indeed give your lovely dad a good send off, and i think you did incredibly well to be able to give a reading. and i'm so pleased for you and your mum that you received the exact sign that was asked for - some people may scoff at such things but not me, i believe in spirits and i believe they can contact us. hopefully your dad will send you many more signs.

as for christmas - i wont pretend it will be a breeze because it wont be, and it wont be like it was before, but the only bit of advice i can give is to just ride the storm as best you can. those who love and know you wont expect you to be full of festive cheer. some people find doing something different to what you would normally have done on xmas day itself can help a bit, as if its something new, there will be no 'last year dad sat there' etc thoughts going through your and your mums mind, which only adds to the pain. maybe that might be something you and your mum would like to consider. the 1st christmas without my dad we took the tree and all xmas stuff down on boxing day - mum figured we'd made it through xmas day and that was as much as she could manage. to be honest i was as glad as her to take it all down and stop having to look at christmas things. so you and your mum just get through it as best you can, and remember we are all here to talk to, and there is the Quiet Reflections chatroom for people finding it hard to cope with the festive season.

with love and hugs, from claire xx

Hi Ashley,

Glad all went well at the funeral. You did the right thing to do a reading,it will stay with you for the rest of your life. Now you have to look after yourself and

your health. All the best.

Take care and be safe Big Hugs Love Sarsfield.xx