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I am doing fine but dad is somewhat down. It is not helping because of Christmas/New year holidays and snow arrangements for the funeral and registering the death are taking for ever.

Because mum died before 24 hours were up after entering the hospital the Coroner's Office (police) had to inform the Coroner in case they wanted to do a Post Mort em. They decided no but this took all morning (today being the first working day in Britain since Christmas). So finally hospital had death certificate ready this afternoon because of weather conditions dad asked me not to go till tomorrow when forecast is better.

I then found out you have to make an appointment to register the death you cannot just go to the registry office like you used to be able to. I cannot get them on the phone looks as if they either had an extra day off work or wherever the call centre is cannot be reached because of snow and ice.

The undertakers phone has been engaged all today, so all in all no arrangements yet done towards the funeral. Tomorrow is another day, I will collect death certificate and actually call into the the Funeral Directors shop as this is on the way home from the hospital.

Thank you for your kind thoughts everyone has helped so much.

I didn't realize there was so much red tape involved in the arrangements for a funeral there. Of course, with offices closed for Christmas it would cause more delay than usual.

We are all thinking of you and your dad - we care.

Our hearts go out to you and to your Dad during this difficult time, Snugs. The red tape involved just makes having to do all these things even harder to bear. We are with you as you go through the funeral....we'll be thinking of you and praying for you....and holding your hand in spirit.

Gracious, snugs. All that sounds so complicated, it makes me glad I live where the undertaker takes care of everything. He picks up the body, secures several death certificates, puts the obituary in the newspaper, etc. It's a great help to grieving families who have no idea where to start. Of course we pay through the nose for all that. I hope by tomorrow things will become easier for you.