Heard today that Nicki, that friend of mine's wife who had the brain haemorrhage, died today after a few difficult days in hospital. I was really upset about that. I didn't know her very well, but everything I ever heard about her informed me she was a well loved wife, mother, partner, daughter and person. My friend is devastated by the loss of his wife, and why wouldn't he be? When a perfectly healthy 40 year old woman pretty much drops dead on one of the happiest days of her life, what else can it do to you?

My heart goes out to my old friend Clive Arrigoni and his four young children. In his heart rending email which he sent around to everyone who wished her well, and I respect him for having the wherewithall to even DO that, he ended with the following which makes me cry every time I read it:

"Last night as I kissed the children goodnight and gave them the cuddle I had brought home for them from their mummy, Helena said "Is mummy an angel now?" Yes she is, and she always was."