Hi Elsie,

Sorry but there is nothing amazing about me - I'm just a woman....!!

Actually I am a bit of a "sad muppet", can't seem to keep away from this
machine!!  I don't know, I think it was because I was so heavily involved in
Tony's care and frustrated that there wasn't much particularly that I could
do, that in some small way, it helps me offering others hugs.

I was bowled over in the hospice by the empathy that relatives and carers
had towards each other, I found myself hugging complete strangers in the
visitors kitchen, basically because we so knew what each other was going
through.

I am also a strong believer that tears don't solve anything (that doesn't
mean to say that I don't do a few of those still), laughter is the only way
to go and both Tony and myself had/have a wicked sense of humour.  People
that don't know me very well treat me like I am putting some sort of "act"
on, it simply isn't true, there is no rule book on how one grieves, you
should just do whatever feels good.

I know that J read it, and it is not everyone's cup of tea, but Tony wrote a
diary on our bike club web-site tigermcc (then org uk), it is part of a bike
thing so you only have to click on his twisted diary if you don't want to
delve further!!

I am head honcho in the bike club (I so love giving men orders), and the
week following Tony's funeral we held our own rally and raised ?9K for
unwanted animals as a result.

Waffling now - kids need attention.....

Thanks Elsie,

Alayne

p.s.  Yep, it's cold here, I reside in the UK about a couple of miles from
Cambridge.....

Well put, Elsie.  I second your feelings for Alayne.

Marc

Yep!!  I was thinking these very thoughts the other day.  Thank you Alayne,
for sticking around and sharing *you*!

Love,
Trish