I must admit I don’t think about my mortality a lot even though I am aware that I’m getting older and nearer the end than the beginning of my life. I tend to live in the present or just a little while ahead. I’m almost surprised that I have ‘got away with this’ for so long and know I’ve been lucky.

I do think about deaths and different ones I have known: suicides, unexpected death, and death at a very great age. I feel that the end of life can define the feelings that others have about a life and yet we all have a story in us at any stage of life. I have been lucky to have had a really full life. The most important thing has been family and the joy of watching my children grow up and now parent themselves. I’m proud of how they are all contributing to the world and they are kind and generous. They will be my legacy, as will the relationships I have had in my life. As long as there are enough good people about, things will work out.

There are still so many things to do and I hope I feel like this right to the end. I like to take up as many opportunities as I can as I’ve seen people who didn’t get the chance. I hope I don’t spend too long thinking about my mortality and spend longer thinking about all the things I have heard seen and done. I know this will depend on whether I lose my mental capacity. I’m just going to travel in hope.