Its 8:45AM on Sunday 24th January 2021.  Its not my usual Sunday morning, as I am not lazing in bed, catching up on emails in my home office or enjoying a cup of tea. Instead I am working in the garden clearing debris from pruning trees & shrubs the previous evening. I am doing this in a vain attempt to try and divert my mind from the fact that 6 hours earlier, I had received the call from Lister hospital to inform me that my dear Nanny Kath had been taken from us by the cruel and indiscriminate Covid virus.  

It's freezing outside - about minus two celsius and as I work, it starts to heavily snow. Within minutes there is an inch of snow on the ground. It now becomes a race to collect all the debris before its covered. I finish my work and sit quietly, under the cover of my summer house porch and watch, and listen. Heavy snow and almost total silence. No sounds of daily life, No cars, No planes - just the sound of the snow.

Amongst the silence I focus on the far off sounds of excited children, the occasional dog barking and the birds chirping. At 9AM i hear distant church bells ring the hour. I can hear every snowflake as they hit the ground. The silence is deafening and I become surrounded in thoughts and love for my Nan. I can almost feel her there.

That moment was perfect - peaceful and quite beautiful. I will never forget it, or you Nan

All my love - Matt x