Yesterday I met up with a friend for lunch. She used to go to my church, and was one of my good school friends - and it so happens that her father died just before Christmas last year. I had such a good talk with her. It is the first time since Mum's death that I have been able to talk with someone outside family who really understands, and from whom I don't have to hide stuff. What a great, cathartic feeling. I actually ended up bursting into tears in the middle of the busy Riccarton Mall foodcourt at one point, embarrassingly enough, but it was good to get some of that out, I think.