h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I knew it was bad news when my Mum was ringing me. I also knew my cousin had been taken into hospital last weekend.

He was just back from a snow-boarding weekend with his son - he wasn't feeling the best, had been losing weight (but had been on a diet so was feeling Ok about that aspect). But his wife grew concerned and took him to hospital last weekend. They kept him in, put him on a drip, diagnosed some sort of lymphoma, but they needed to do a biopsy to find out more details.

His major organs failed yesterday afternoon, and he died.

The whole family is in shock - he was 47, the youngest of me and my cousins. Always full of life, guaranteed to be the joker in the group, loved his job as a police driver/ biker.

Oh that's so sad! I feel so sorry for the whole family.

so very sorry to hear this Bea & family

and for your cousin.


GB

so sorry to hear that Bea

Sorry to hear about that Bea

I'm so sorry to hear this, Bea - he was far too young.

That is just so sad, and so shocking. I am really sorry to hear your news Bea

I'm very sorry to hear that, bea. It's very sad.

I'm sorry to hear that, Bea.

My sorrows for you. That's ridiculously young.

This is so very sad. I'm sorry Bea

Far too young.

Condolences to all, my friend and *hugs*

Thank you all so much for your support - it really means a lot.

It's really hard - I called his mother tonight - my godmother, who's always been a huge rock and positive support for me and my own children. I couldn't begin to imagine how it must feel to lose your youngest child.

I didn't get speaking to her - the house was full. But I spoke to my uncle, a normally cheery, euphonium playing stalwart of the caravan club. He could barely string a sentence together.

My sister is in London, feeling very very far away from this close knit family.

I got upset by my Mum this evening, who, when I rang to ask "How are you feeling?" interpreted my call as "When's the funeral?". And then I remembered that I hate that question, and always prefer to deal in practicalities rather than emotions.

I'm taken aback by the grace and strength of my godmother.

Being a cop in Norn Irn is still a risky occupation - she commented yesterday:

"He wasn't shot - he didn't have his life taken away by someone else. It wasn't violent. It wasn't in a horrific car accident after a high speed chase. He didn't know how ill he was - none of us did. But he didn't suffer"

As am I.