It’s been a month since my mum passed away, and as my cousin, who lost her dad three years ago, said at her funeral, “Welcome to the shitiest club ever!”. Mum was the glue that held our family together and a central character in our extended family. Her sudden passing has left a huge gap in our lives. Even this afternoon, during a family dinner at a local restaurant, there was a noticeable absence of her warmth and presence. Christmas, a time when she would shine, is approaching and she’d invite people to the family home, but that’s not going to happen. A lot is lost when you lose someone.