When in Turkey, I noticed that I had difficulty climbing three flights of stairs. So on our return from England I booked into the doctors for a check up. He sent me to a cardiologist who proceeded to put me through harrowing tests. I was told I was suffering from chronic heart failure.
To say John and I were in shock, was an understatement. I was immediately put on umpteen tablets, and told our overseas trips were definitely out of the question. Damage to the right side of my heart was caused during another operation, and it was irreparable.
It took a little while to organise the sale of our house, but we were lucky enough to downsize into a charming home in Rivergum Ave, Benalla. Life was good, we had our family and friends close by.
Then COVID struck. The next two years were a nightmare. We felt so lonely. John got solace from using his iPad, so I started writing my life story, using a pencil and pad. I didn’t feel well, but thought I should leave some information for my family to look back on.
The first year I spent writing my story. John and my immediate family, loved it and said I should get it published.
The second year was taken up with sorting out my photos. Finding help with the publication. Emily Burke from Wangaratta, worked on the design and layout, remembering most of it was done on the phone, due to COVID. She also found a publisher in America.
Christmas 2021 was expensive but gratifying. Every member of our family, and close friends, received my book as a present.
By the 17 December, 2023, my darling husband had passed away suddenly of melanoma. How could that be? The doctor had just informed me I had suffered two silent heart attacks during the COVID years. It was so unfair. It wasn’t supposed to be him.
IT WAS TIME FOR. CHANGE.
Nothing could prepare me for losing John, or the bureaucracy that was to come. Endless hours were spent ringing Government Departments, or writing long letters and sending copies of wills and death certificates.
Notifying them of my widowhood. It was a nightmare. The time to grieve was made difficult, every bill and document had to be changed from his name to mine. The most expensive being the rate bill, which was done through my solicitor and the Titles Office. By mid October, when the phone calls subsided. I was a wreck.
What next? the garden needed attention, but my weary heart refused to do the work that was necessary to keep it tidy. My neighbour introduced me to her Gardener. Problem solved.
Every week, more problems arose. Light bulbs, loose screws, dripping taps, bottles I couldn’t open. I had quite a list by the time a man entered my home. Mainly my son Jason.
Christmas was hard. My family were wonderful, but they were still grieving too. We did our best, but it was hard to accept that twelve months had gone bye, and we were still looking at the empty chair.
When the New Year arrived, I decided I had to change my lifestyle. Find a new interest that would keep me busy, and enable me to meet more people .
My neighbour introduced me to U3A. I read through the papers and chose courses of interest. I wasn’t sure I was up to freelance writing, but I chose Creative Writing, and As Time Goes By, and I am loving every minute I spend with you all.
Thank you U3A for bringing purpose back into my life.
Jan Nichols
October 2025
To say John and I were in shock, was an understatement. I was immediately put on umpteen tablets, and told our overseas trips were definitely out of the question. Damage to the right side of my heart was caused during another operation, and it was irreparable.
It took a little while to organise the sale of our house, but we were lucky enough to downsize into a charming home in Rivergum Ave, Benalla. Life was good, we had our family and friends close by.
Then COVID struck. The next two years were a nightmare. We felt so lonely. John got solace from using his iPad, so I started writing my life story, using a pencil and pad. I didn’t feel well, but thought I should leave some information for my family to look back on.
The first year I spent writing my story. John and my immediate family, loved it and said I should get it published.
The second year was taken up with sorting out my photos. Finding help with the publication. Emily Burke from Wangaratta, worked on the design and layout, remembering most of it was done on the phone, due to COVID. She also found a publisher in America.
Christmas 2021 was expensive but gratifying. Every member of our family, and close friends, received my book as a present.
By the 17 December, 2023, my darling husband had passed away suddenly of melanoma. How could that be? The doctor had just informed me I had suffered two silent heart attacks during the COVID years. It was so unfair. It wasn’t supposed to be him.
IT WAS TIME FOR. CHANGE.
Nothing could prepare me for losing John, or the bureaucracy that was to come. Endless hours were spent ringing Government Departments, or writing long letters and sending copies of wills and death certificates.
Notifying them of my widowhood. It was a nightmare. The time to grieve was made difficult, every bill and document had to be changed from his name to mine. The most expensive being the rate bill, which was done through my solicitor and the Titles Office. By mid October, when the phone calls subsided. I was a wreck.
What next? the garden needed attention, but my weary heart refused to do the work that was necessary to keep it tidy. My neighbour introduced me to her Gardener. Problem solved.
Every week, more problems arose. Light bulbs, loose screws, dripping taps, bottles I couldn’t open. I had quite a list by the time a man entered my home. Mainly my son Jason.
Christmas was hard. My family were wonderful, but they were still grieving too. We did our best, but it was hard to accept that twelve months had gone bye, and we were still looking at the empty chair.
When the New Year arrived, I decided I had to change my lifestyle. Find a new interest that would keep me busy, and enable me to meet more people .
My neighbour introduced me to U3A. I read through the papers and chose courses of interest. I wasn’t sure I was up to freelance writing, but I chose Creative Writing, and As Time Goes By, and I am loving every minute I spend with you all.
Thank you U3A for bringing purpose back into my life.
Jan Nichols
October 2025
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