An older woman with short, curly blonde hair and glasses smiling while sitting on a teal couch. She is wearing a black top, a pearl necklace, and a black-and-white checkered blazer. Behind her, there is a wooden bookshelf filled with books, some framed photos, and decorative items. A plant is visible to the left of the woman.

About

I like being my own boss. Comfy clothes, dogs snoring at my feet, no one looking over my shoulder as I work. You, too, will come to value ‘me’ time. You’ll need it.  Sometimes, when visiting the bereaved, you’ll meet with just one person. On other occasions you’ll be greeted by spouses, children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, exuberant parrots and more often, the family dog. You’ll learn how to gauge the mood. How to really listen to what is said and what is simply implied. You’ll learn how to put strangers at their ease.

You'll need to really like people, as I do. It's great when you've interpreted a family's thoughts, helped to express their feelings and delivered a funeral service that really helps. What can I say about me? I love this job because there is no satisfaction like it. It couldn't be done without a sense of humour because life - and death - can be humbling, inspiring, heartbreaking at the same time. You'll learn this the first time you write about the life of a World War Two veteran.

Personally? I'm all about comfort. Good wine, perfume, cashmere, spa breaks...the vital importance of trivia!