I awoke to the sound of rain pouring down, and the sky was as black as the ace of spades.
My body, as is normal, was screaming at me, as lying in bed for 6 hours causes every joint to seize, and my broken bones burn.
I slowly twisted my legs off the bed and carefully moved my torso into the sitting position. I needed to stay like that, just for a little while, to catch my breath and breathe through the pain.
My walker was awaiting, to help me get up and get on with my normal morning routine.
Every morning, the first thing I do, before contemplating my strategy to get breakfast organised, is put on the TV to catchup with the overnight news. It’s usually full of ordinary, repetitive stories.
Usually, but not today. Today, the news stopped me in my tracks. Today the news brought immediate tears to my eyes, which soon turned into a flood of unexpected crying. I was not prepared for the news of today.
Queen Elizabeth II Has Passed Away At The Age of 96
The darkness of the sky outside seemed ominous but strangely fitting. The sky cried. The people cried.
As a London born Australian, Queen Elizabeth was my Queen. The Queen of my birth country, and my adopted country as part of the Commonwealth.
The UK and Commonwealth today are mourning the loss of our beautiful Queen Elizabeth II.
What an amazing reign she has had. She has been always faithful to her calling, through the good and tragic times, in public and private life. She has always openly shared her faith and her love of God. She has been steadfast in her service, unwavering.
While we will celebrate her life and remember it with joy, there is also a deep sorrow at her passing and the end of this second Elizabethan era.
My prayers are with the Royal family, as they mourn the loss of their family anchor, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and so much more.
I pay tribute to this incredible lady and I am sure she is welcomed into heaven with the words:
Matthew 26v23 (NIV)
“Well done, good and faithful servant”.
May she rest in eternal peace.
“Grief Is The Price We Pay For Love”
This beautiful quote was a gift the Queen gave us, after the passing of Prince Philip.
My Dad passed away the week before Prince Philip, and in my mourning and raw grief, this quote resonated with me on so many levels.
I felt deeply the Queen’s loss of her much loved husband, as I was consumed by the loss I was feeling with my Dad’s passing. I felt a strangely warming connection with this lady. A lady I felt I knew so well, who had always been a constant in my life since I was born. Yet, in reality, I didn’t know her at all.
So many around the world will experience a similar grief today. Losing the Queen is like losing a member of our own family in many ways. Our grief may catch us by surprise. It’s the end of an era. The end of a beautiful life here on earth.
I think we should take time to grieve and be grateful. We have lived in a time where we have witnessed a Queen reign with grace and dignity. She has been a strong example of a “Servant Leader” in action, so often in incredibly difficult times. We won’t see that often, so it’s to be celebrated. The Queen’s life should be remembered as an amazing time in world history.
Her passing, in her diamond jubilee year, is an iconic historical event.
“Grief is the price we pay for love”. She was right and it is a price worth paying.
Thank you Ma’am for your faithful service.
Sam xx
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My Medical Musings 
While not completely unexpected, it still seemed like a shock. She was an excellent emissary for Britain but also for the best of the human race.
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A beautiful tribute, Sam. You’ve sadly known the pain of loss and can attest to how true Elizabeth’s words were – that love comes with a cost when that person dies. I don’t think you need to be a fan of the royal family to appreciate the loss of Her Majesty – she’s still a mother, grandmother, friend. I really feel for her family and I can’t imagine the life they will have had, the way they’ve shared The Queen (or their mother, for instance) with the world and now their grief is a public display, also. It’s a very sad time indeed.
Caz xx
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Thanks Caz ❤️
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