Orphan

Bails' father died last week. He had been living in a nursing home for some time after becoming unable to look after himself and needing special care due to having a form of parkinson's disease. He was very frail. She's up in Hull helping his widow (his second wife) deal with the arrangments.

Somehow, however old you are and however regularly (or not) you see your parents, the loss of the last surviving one leaves you feeling like an orphan. My dad said the same when his mother died - he was in his late 60s or early 70s (for some reason I can't remember exactly when nanny died). Something about that person just not being on the planet anymore has a psychological impact on your sense of... not sure whether its security exactly or maybe it is.

Anyway, my thoughts are with Bails, its a busy time, after death, with little time for your own emotions (focus on other people - making sure everyone knows, making arrangments etc).