Hi, I’m Gemma.
For many years my life has revolved around caring for others. I spent 6 years caring for my mum who has alzheimer’s, and the last few weeks of my dads life caring for him, supporting them through illness, loss of independence, and eventually the final journey in their lives. Like many careers, I put much of my own life on hold without really realising it.
When my parents passed away, I found myself standing in a place I never expected to be. Alongside grief came probate, paperwork, funeral arrangements, difficult decisions, family dynamics, uncertainty and the challenge of learning how to live again after years of simply surviving.
This blog began as a way to make sense of that journey,
Here you’ll find honest reflections of grief, caring for aging parents, navigating probate, rebuilding after loss, and discovering who you are when the role of carer comes to an end.
I am not a solicitor, counsellor, or financial expert. I’m simply someone walking this path and sharing what I’ve learned along the way. My hope is that by being open about my experiences, others facing similar challenges will feel a little less alone.
When I’m not writing, you’ll usually find me with my children, spending time with my dogs in nature, exploring the outdoors, or dreaming about the next chapter of my life and all the possibilities it might hold.
If your grieving, caring for someone you love, dealing with probate, or trying to find your feet after loss, welcome.
You’re not walking this road alone.
Gemma x
Finding Your Way Through Loss
I started On Your Own Cocker in the depths of grief.
After loosing both parents within a few months of each other, I found myself trying to make sense of a life that no longer looked like anything I knew. Alongside the heartbreak came the practical realities of loss – coroners, probate, funerals, paperwork, clearing possessions, learning to carry their love without them.
Writing became my way of untangling the thoughts I couldn’t always say out loud. It gave me somewhere to put that love and helped me realise I wasn’t as alone as I thought I was.
Wherever you are on your journey, I hope these words remind you that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means learning to carry love with you while finding the courage to keep living.
Timeline.
Every journey has a beginning, and this is mine. This timeline isn’t just a list of dates – it’s a collection of moments that have shaped who I am today. From caring for my parents and navigating loss to rebuilding my life one step at at time, every chapter has led me here. I hope that by sharing my journey, you’ll find comfort, hope, and the courage to keep moving forward on your own.
On Your Own Cocker 