@Paddy53. I envy your long marriage, and very sorry for your pain… I believe our beloved partners have just temporarily departed, one day we all will be reunited again in heaven. Here is some of my favourite videos for you:
Emanuel Swedenborg’s vision of the afterlife and marriage.
May God bless your day and lots of hugs…
LolaA
Hats off to you. You are so strong!
I will now have to start focusing on being alone sufficiently - new life new normal 2024!
Big hugs X
Hi @Angel1309
Woke up crying today
Sudden realisation that after my 1st Christmas without him that now my life has to go on and i must learn to accept my new life without him.
Like you said by strong and positive 
Lynne Xx
Hi Lynne
Cry if you need to as I’ve read it somewhere that tears help ease the pain. I have been crying on the inside in the past couple of days. Being with friends so have to keep the mask on all the time. Sitting down and relaxing with them but feeling so empty, sad and lonely inside, reminiscing about being with him during this time last year and the years before 
I’m glad we’ve got through our first Christmas without our beloved, we should be proud of ourselves we’ve come this far and still survived.
2024, the new reality of life alone is facing us, and like you, I am anxious about facing it and for we don’t know how long!
Together, we are strong and positive.
Sending love and strength to everyone X
@Angel1309
Thank you .
Next year will be hard but i believe 
we will get through the times and trials ahead.
Life is short. No one knows how long we have left so best not waste time
I will look at a bucket list now do thinks i have always wanted to do helicopter ride, visit Uk towns , visit Paris go to Ireland be kind volunteering. Look at setting up club for other widowers to learn DIY skills as i have found since losing my husband i have had to pay people to do jobs he would have done. I am 66 do maybe fixing the flat roof on the garage i should get someone else to deal with.
Facing the days ahead without him will be hard but knowing he is with me in spirit will be enough for me to do more in the days ahead.
Staying strong for 2024
Lynne Xx
Hi Lynne
Not at all, we are all here to support one another as long as we can.
I couldn’t agree more with everything you said!
Your bucket list is full of brilliant ideas so much to look forward to ticking them off one by one - what a way to conquer sadness and loneliness!
DIY projects are on top of my list too and the first thing I bought was a tool box!
Soon we will be DIY experts fingers crossed 
Love & hugs
Xx
To whoever is responsible for the making of this video.( Not directed at you, Lola!)
Couldn’t listen to this because of the dreadful background ‘music’. Why, oh why, does everyone think it’s necessary to put music behind every video etc? It is so annoying and people with hearing problems can find it almost impossible to make out what is being said. My hearing is excellent but I still had trouble.
Please use some common sense.
Well as I have said in another post . There is nothing I can add to what you have said . Only all the very best in what you do X
No it’s not a nice feeling being ghosted as it’s known . I have so called friends" that live hundred a yards from me . Known them since my daughter was three she is now coming up to forty and I have seen them twice in two years . My wife and I were even good parents to there daughter All the the best to all x
Hi @ Jeff007
Thanks regarding friends and family.
Being ignored or left to get on with it generally.
I have 2 daughters 1 in Australia 1 in Scotland only 1hrs drive (I dont drive but she does) only see her once in 7 months and had a text ever month. She generally does not understand she is 46 so no youngster but told me she has her own life to be getting on with. Just think they are too wrapped up i their lives to help.
My other daughter in Australia phones weekly for chat.
Friends seem to just disappear and maybe a couple phone but its just not the same. Its almost like you’ ve disappeared too.
Time to make new friends i guess next year will join some other groups.
Lynne
I agree with all you’ve said, I got through yesterday somehow but it’s the thought that Christmas will always be hard and facing 2024 seems like another huge challenge to overcome.
My towel rail fell apart this morning and I had a vague recollection of it happening before and hubby fixing it, so I managed to find the right screwdriver and took it off, fixed it and put it back together. I was so pleased with myself I burst into tears and cried for about 20 minutes 
Feel a bit better now though 
I’ve also had family that are too busy with their own lives and quite a few who have just disappeared, along with some friends. Sad really but I suppose that’s life. I’ve just got to get on without them. Its hard sometimes but nothing I can do about it. Take care. Ann xx
@Sam25 Well done for fixing it. It’s reassuring when we manage to do things that we never had to do in the past. I had a panic last week after I defrosted the freezer. I switched it on afterwards and then realised that some electric things like lamps weren’t working. I remembered about the trip switches but twice it happened. I immediately panicked that I now had a major problem with the electrics in the house. I always seem to get things out of proportion. I was waiting for a neighbour to come and help me when I realised that I also had the washing machine and dishwasher on, and guessed that I’d overloaded the system. I too was in tears dreading how many more silly mistakes I’ll make. The awareness that we will face things on our own that we didn’t ever think about is overwhelming but every time we solve our problems we will gain more strength and confidence. Xx
Hi @ Sam 25
Glad to see you got through yesterday.
Also you managed to fix your towel rail
My husband always doing DIY just before he died he built raised beds for vegetables
Just cant being myself to use them.
He left me with electrical tools he had a tool for everything however dont think ill use 6 drllls !
Still either sell use or leave in garage.
Another task for next year to sort
Life is so changed for each of us.
Dont thing i will tackle the leak i the garage roof though.
Taks care
Lynne x
Hi @ AnnieG1
Family and friends looks like we have to get on with life and little support and help now.
Guess we just have to learn new things now however i am not very hands on so DIY and gardening but now ive got time to learn.
Anyway have a good day
Lynne x
At least we are all here for each other. We have to support each other and keep in contact. I am determined to reach out more instead of isolating myself. Love to you all. Xx
Yes I second that motion . I have just had a roast dinner cooked by my good self . Sat and eat it through floods of tears . I wouldn’t dream of taking the enjoyment from anyone . But for me it is just a bloody awful time of year it’s just so bloody awful . Glad there is only a few hours of it left !! All the best to us Grievers hope the coming year is better for us all x
Hi @ Jeff007
Dont know what it is today.
I also have been in floods of tears
Managed to heat up something from freezer.
Now like yourself will be glad when the festive period and New Year is over.
Planning on going to bed this year usually we would have stayed up had a drink and wished each other happy new year.
New tradition stay in bed this year and wake up its 2024.
Take care x
It just gets under my skin when we hear about poor poor Jeremy Clarkson and all his problems . When we in the real world are dealing with this ton weight of grief . Just go count your money JC . Bless you all x
I’m a coach builder by trade . All I can say is ( WELL ) done you 
bless you x