It is with great sadness that I share that we lost my wonderful Aunty Mandy last week. It came very suddenly and we are heartbroken. It feels so surreal. Words feel futile in describing the loss of this wonderful, creative, talented and loving woman.

Some of you may know her as the author, Mandasue Heller, Queen of Manchester crime fiction but I’m grateful that I got to know her as my aunt, the next closest person to me after my mum. Her loss is felt deep in our family but we know the loss will be felt deep in the literary world too. I’m grateful so many got to enjoy her books!

It’s got me thinking about our last day, we really do not know when it will come. It can creep out of nowhere and be the most unexpected time. It makes you think about what really matters in this world. For me, it’s people and my loved ones.

Life can get so busy and our focus can easily shift to money, success and all the things we think matter, while we take for granted the people we assume will always be there.

People are not here forever and you don’t know when that last conversation will take place or when you will last see their face. We take that for granted too much.

Money, success & material things will come & go, they don’t care about you. People are only here once. Those moments only happen once. Money can be replaced, people cant. Treasure them, prioritise them.

We were created for connection, but sometimes life gets in the way and we lose sight of just how important that connection really is. Nothing comes close to family, the ones who have been there since day one – all those memories created, stories told, love shared can all just be gone in a moment with no time to prepare.

I realised this when we went through the journey with Azariah, it shifted something in me but again it’s hit home with suddenly losing my aunty. Time with loved ones is precious, treasure it before it’s too late.

.And don’t get me wrong, times like this really give you an understanding of just how short life can be. There’s a big old world out there to explore, so go and do it! Just keep those connections open, share the journey with the people you love and make the memories with them along the way.

My beautiful Aunty Mandy xx