sadness – My thoughts on a page.

When all you can do, is just be there.

November 28, 2018

November 29th. A day without significance in my life for over four decades, until five years ago when it became the day when the force that was young Daniel left this life, hopefully for adventures somewhere new. Since then time has continued to tick by. My own children have grown up, some have finished school … More When all you can do, is just be there.

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Time does not heal

April 13, 2016

Come November Daniel will be gone three years. If I were to think of the past three years in terms of days and hours it would seem like a long time, so much has happened. Yet when I look at his photo I cannot believe it. It seems like only yesterday we worried about his … More Time does not heal

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It’s all we can do.

March 21, 2016

Sometimes something happens that goes way beyond what you think of as horrific. Last night at about seven thirty such a thing happened in a small town in Ireland. In Buncrana Co Donegal, a car somehow slid down the slipway of a small pier. In it were six people. For a few minutes the car … More It’s all we can do.

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Maybe I’ll post tomorrow.

September 17, 2014

There are times when I sit to write and the words just fly. They are typed before any conscious thought has taken place. In a way it is similar to free writing. Usually on those occasions there is hardly need to edit, and I am often surprised by what I’ve written. Then there are days … More Maybe I’ll post tomorrow.

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Today is not a good day.

July 26, 2014

Today I have cleaned the house, including the bathrooms, I have chatted with my children, and made lunch, done laundry, and cleaned the house some more. Externally I have smiled, and gone about all I have to do as normal. But today, inside I weep. It is just over a year ago since young … More Today is not a good day.

Four minus one.

February 20, 2014

Grief is a strange emotion. For a time it is all consuming. Eating into my every moment. And then it begins to recede. Burrowing deep inside me, taking up residence next to my heart. It becomes a lurker, on occasions out of nowhere it rises to the surface. At other times Grief hits me with a … More Four minus one.

Walking through grief.

January 22, 2014

Once or twice a week a couple of friends and I go for a walk. It is quite a long trek of about 8km, off the beaten track. This walk has become a huge part of our friendship. Prior to December 2012 we walked this walk with no real cares. We chatted about family, relationships, … More Walking through grief.

Happy Birthday Dan.

January 17, 2014

Today you would be fourteen. Not yet an adult but not a child. Even though we will mark your birthday today, and think of you as another year older, in our minds eye you will always be thirteen. Perhaps it would be more truthful to say, that to most of us you will always be … More Happy Birthday Dan.

That was the year that was.

December 30, 2013

It is that time of year, when we look back, analyse and wonder. When we look forward, dream and plan. What a year 2013 has been. In some ways it was a magical time. Imagine this time last year I had never written publicly. I didn’t know what a blog was, and my outlet for … More That was the year that was.

I’d prefer to be remembered in the pub than in the Church.

December 29, 2013

Christmas in Ireland seems to be different to some other countries. Our Christmas celebrations begin for most of us on the 23rd of December, and continue until the first Monday in January. In effect two weeks off work. It is an eagerly awaited holiday. One in which family is of the utmost importance. We all … More I’d prefer to be remembered in the pub than in the Church.