Sometimes it’s good to be reminded that lots of people loved her. Other widows will recognise the grief hangover that hits after big events. I’ve been very tired since I got home. But I went, I laughed, I talked and I rocked my fancy new suit. Here’s to love. #grief #love

So at the weekend I went to the wedding of a good friend of M. A lot of her uni friends were there. The love and joy of the couple shone through the day. Stories were told. Glasses were raised. M was hugely missed and not just by me.

Iced coffee on the Petrin hill on my last morning in Prague. It’s not all been easy being in our favourite city without my favourite person but I’m glad I came. M would be proud of me. #WidowLife #memories #LivingTheLifeIHave

#NewProfilePic #Prague #LivingTheLifeIHave

#PragueZoo #SunnyAfternoon #RelivingMemories

It’s gone midnight here in Prague so it’s my birthday. After being 3 years younger than M all through our relationship I am now the same age as she was. Undeniable proof that time is moving on for me but not for her. #Grief #Widow #LivingTheLifeIHave #InOurFavouriteCity

Taken 3 years ago today, when we were celebrating arriving in our favourite city on her birthday. It was the last time we’d spend her birthday together. Today I’m heading over to @EdinburghZoo to see the penguins she loved. #grief #widow #LivingWithLoss #EdinburghNotPrague

and wants to give me comfort and love. In some ways she knows me better than anyone does even as her mind fades around us. #grief #widow #HappyBirthday #StillInThereSomewhere

Short break in York for Mum’s birthday. A tough day in lots of ways as vascular dementia increasingly steals her from me. And I always thought M would be here to help me through. But there are still flashes of the woman I know and unexpected flashes of empathy where she’s my Mum

I did get off the settee today, honestly. #RainySummerDays #CatSettee #CatsOfTwitter

Two sides of my #widow #grief life. Watching @AberdeenFC win the cup in tears because M, a lifelong fan, would be beside herself with joy. Then going out to dinner with our lovely nephew. So many things she’s missing but also things to appreciate in my life #LivingTheLifeIHave

Sméagol trying hard to contain his excitement at it being #Eurovision

Lovely walk along the canal on a sunny Spring morning #LivingTheLifeIHave #Glasgow #MayMorning

19 years since our lovely, sunny civil partnership day. This is the third anniversary without M. Most years we went away to celebrate. Today I’m at home with the cats but will go out for a fancy solo dinner later. I miss her #widow #anniversary #19years

helped me through the last 2 years and nearly 4 months since M died. I come from strong women. #HappyMothersDay Mum. #StrongWomen #Widow #LivingLifeHerWay Oh and despite the ‘clearing up before I die’ I don’t think she’s going anywhere any time soon.

is in my character. Her stubborn insistence on being as independent as possible. Her - and I say this with love - bloody minded determination to do things her way. And her insistence of carrying on regardless of what life throws at her. It’s those qualities in me that have

My mum has been ‘sorting out so it’s tidy for you when I die’ and yesterday she gave me this photo of her as a young woman. I see my uncle, my sister and my great nephew in her physical features but not much of me. But spending the weekend with her reminded me how much of her

Sunny afternoon at @EdinburghZoo . Very pleased with the tiger photo. #SunnyAfternoon #LivingTheLifeIHave

Another big step in my #widow journey. I donated the bed M and I slept in for 22 years and bought one that’s just mine. Well, mine and the cats. Definitely bittersweet even though it’s lovely and what I wanted #LivingTheLifeIHave

Me: today I have done a 9 mile walk, spoken to my mum, ordered some new curtains, found a birthday present for my pal, tidied up and am now going to put up some pictures. What have you done? Cats: been our beautiful selves. Me: fair enough.