The mail doesn't come early here any more.  If you want it before 8 a.m. you
have to pay an extra fee, so I don't.  I makes no difference to me whether
it arrives at 7 or noon.

Today I drove into work to say goodbye to a colleague who is leaving to move
down south to Somerset.  I like her very much, and didn't want her to go
without wishing her well, and talking about her father with her, who died on
Tuesday.

When I went out the front door, there were two cards in the porch with
American stamps on.  I was tempted to open them there and then, but was
running a little late, so decided to wait.
I was glad I did.
I felt a bit sad when I came home, to say goodbye to a very nice - and
professional - colleague, and to talk about her bereavement, as I was the
last one in the team to lose a parent.  It's easier to hold out comfort and
hope, and "do you feel this?".. etc if you've recently been through it
yourself.  It helped me tremendously in my bereavement to know my feelings
were experienced by others - strange feelings sometimes, like memories
running through your head like some kind of film - and she felt that,
exactly the same as I did.  Think, think, think, about times past.

I came home, feeling a bit drained with my bereavement freshened up a bit.
I opened my cards, my first ones, both from rcpa.  Thank you, Catnipped &
Jean H.  It both cheered and touched me.
You lot are brilliant.

Tweed