Woke up earlier than I needed to this morning. Morning went fine, went and did some more Christmas shopping. Came home, had lunch and just as I was about to leave for work noticed a message on the phone. My parents - can I ring them as soon as possible. Ring them, only for the day to be shattered. This morning my Great Aunt Olive passed away. It was semi-expected, she hadn't been well for the last 6 months, but we had all been hoping she would make it to Christmas, but it was not to be.

I know it means she is at peace now, she was struggling in the last few weeks and months, but I know it's selfish but i never got to say goodbye, she lives 3 hours drive away. She finally accepted going into hospital yesterday morning and my parents were told that they didn't expect her to last the next 24 hours, but they never f****ing rang me to tell me, else I would have been straight down there. Instead I get the phone call today, when it's too late.

Rang work and said i'd be late in and told them why. Gave myself some time to cry with my wife and then headed into work. Made it through the shift, and drove like a bat from hell most of the way home, hoping i would make it home before the tears hit, but only managed to get 1/2 of the way home. Slowed down for the rest of the journey as couldn't see properly for the tears.

It was at this point that I noticed that despite there being a clear sky I could only see one star up there twinkling away. And whichever way the road went it was always in my line of sight! Maybe it was Auntie Olive saying goodbye and watching over me while I drove home. Or maybe that's just me wishfully thinking and clutching at straws.