Without any exceptions every one I have met since my wife Joan's death have all said the same thing,
"If there is anything that we can do to help, please ask."
Every one knows that I have no family and now live alone, but the one simple, easy thing they could do, but never have done so, is to ask me if I would like to come around for a coffee and a chat to their place. Such a simple, easy thing for anyone to do and so very, very helpful it would be for me, trying to come to terms with the loss of Joan, having lived with her for 60 years.
. As soon as they scoffed the food at my reception after the funeral they are off, gone, disappeared, vanished.
So, next time any one here finds themselves saying those words , " Is there anything I can do to help," to a newly bereaved person they know, follow it up with an invite to coffee. You will never realize how so very helpful that might be for them, especially if they now live alone.