Hello Noo and Platypus,

Thank you for the kind words. Noo thanks for asking and John did not suffer too much. He had been unwell and losing weight for some time and was taken to hospital struggling to breathe two weeks before he died and I was warned then he might not make it. They were testing for lung cancer when he died and the cause of death was given as severe pneumonia and empyema (fluid on the lungs) but they said they thought he did have lung cancer. I did not get there in time and was told he was being fed and just closed his eyes and died. I will never forgive myself for not being there.

Since I posted this thread I have decided I do not have the mental or physical stamina to work full time or even part time but I still want to get my Certification if and when the College lift their ban on concessions for this course. I have also been told by the DWP that I would be worse off working than continuing to draw pension and benefits, in other words you don't get rewarded for trying to help yourself and go back to work after retirement.