I'm sorry if I've been rather occupied for the last month. My Mum was very ill and died at 8.05pm on Friday 24th August.

Please read my piece in Attitudes & Opinions.

And Photos in the Photos section.

I'm sure I can speak for everyone here and extend our sympathies to you at such a difficult time.

91 and still active is an incredible innings. I think you're right to look at the brighter side of things. It's never easy, but we have to let them go eventually of course. Wanting someone to hang around while they are in pain is basically selfish.

What an incredible time she has covered. 1916 was the First World War and the Irish Rebellion. She was 20 in 1936 (I'll let the rest of you do the maths and insert your favourite dates).

I do appreciate all the kind messages and mails.

Everything logically says she wanted to go at the end of a happy and successful life before it deteriorated even more but that doesn't stop it hurting. We spoke two or three times a day every day of my life.

A point she believed worth making. When I asked her whether, if she'd known the pain her damaged circulation system would cause eventually, she would still have smoked she said definitely not.

I did point out that her 60 a day for 75 years was the main reason I never smoked so she did me a favour.