I watch the birds fly south across the Autumn Sky

Many, many years ago I was asked by an employee if he could leave early because his little sister had taken ill, and his mum needed to go to work. I said "of course", and "I'll see you tomorrow".

He came in for his Saturday shift as normal, and said things were okay. On Sunday he phoned in and said would it be alright if he missed his shift that night because his sister had died. She was 12.

I was stunned into silence and then managed "take all the time you need".

I went to the funeral on the Wednesday. From Flu on Friday to Meningitis and the worst possible on Sunday. That quickly.

As they brought her white coffin in, Justin Hayward's voice rang out throughout the crematorium.

I haven't been able to watch birds fly across the sky, or hear that song without thinking of that awful loss since then.