When I lost my Mum and my husband within two days of each other, my whole life crumbled around me.  I very slowly learned how to live again, with the help of my then two teenage boys and my grandchildren. Since then, my Christmas has changed, with my daughter now being the host of Christmas lunch, with family coming from Ireland, London, rest of the United Kingdom, and particularly my lovey grandchildren. 

Above, Christmas 2015 at my daughter Helene's, with four of my grandchildren -- Thomas, Carrie, Louise, and Orla (and Nanny, of course).

I do have a life now, just not the one that I had envisioned with my husband and mother by my side. ... Life is cruel, but, with my grandchildren, I have learned that we must take every moment we can to treasure our loved ones, here in the present, and never take them for granted. We do not have tomorrow, we only have today, so tell them you love them now, now, now!