My nan was an incredibly strong woman. She was amazing...although I hardly ever saw her once I got onder than about 10ish, even though she lived in the next village.

In 2006 she was diagnosed as having lung cancer, it was unfortunately incurable due to her unknowingly having it for so long, but with tratment they estimated that she could have a couple years.

In october 2006 we found out that the cancer had spread to her brain, she had treatment for that too.

She died in November 2006, and held on to the very end. I saw her the day before she died...it was heartbreaking to see her in hospital, hardly able to breathe. The doctors gave her 2 hours, she held on for 16.

At the funeral we wore bright colours and held helium balloons throughout the service which we let off outside afterwards. Then we went to my nan's old house and had a party to celebrate her life.

Unfortunately I haven't quite grasped that she's really gone...it's just so strange when I think that I can't just walk to the next village to see her when I want to because she won't be there. I still haven't cried properly.