I have had, and continue to have, the best of friends. In my younger days I taught P.E. and have enjoyed a physical life.

I love nature and the feel of the wind in my face and blowing through my hair. Storms are my favourite, in particular to be near the sea and see the crashing waves.

I have loved boxing and judo and aikido, and those friends I made have remained true to me. Grateful is a word I would use for my experiences in life.

As I am older now I look back and smile and continue to enjoy each new experience. Savour it all.

No one knows how the end will come and my hope is that I have not offended too many but that I have made many people smile. Being well thought of is important to me.

Some people who I thought highly of have died now and they are missed because I felt they were rich in character.

I have had one or two health scares and I know there is a fragility to life. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. I do not feel afraid as I know that life follows a pattern.

Living on a farm I see life and death on a regular basis.

It would be good to think in some way I have enriched the lives of others and I hope I have been kind to people.

Make the best of every opportunity and keep smiling.

Things begin and things end.

Many will tell you it is not rational to fear death. Why worry about non-existence, they ask. They are right, but I still do. It’s only natural I guess, an innate part of us that some can overcome but many, myself included, can’t. Some suggest we seek solace in the legacy we leave behind us after we’ve gone. Children perhaps, the memories others hold of us, the ripples of the good we have done. Yet I have no children, memories will too die with those who hold them, and ripples fade away to nothing over time. Anyway, even if I could console myself a little in that way, I’m not sure how much effect it would have chasing away the fear of death.

So, what to do? Especially as, entering my 60s, I’m aware that death is no longer the distant prospect it once was. My answer is to remind myself that time spent worrying about it is precious time wasted for no purpose. It will make no difference to the inevitable end of my life, just sap the pleasure I can enjoy in the meanwhile. The one little piece of good I can draw from the occasional pang of fear is to see it as a reminder to make the most of what life is left to me. I would like to think that will be many years, but I need to be conscious that I may not be so fortunate.

I’m lucky that I am retired now and can focus on making the most of the time remaining. I hope that, when the end does come I can look back on my life with some satisfaction, or at least the minimum of regrets.