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Category: Widow Life

Sadly, this topic is about just that: The impacts of widowhood on my life. Whilst the keyword “widowhood” is attributed to posts across a range of topics, posts under this category are specific to the mourning and grieving processes, the ongoing impacts that widowhood has on my life, and the art of “moving forward”. (Don’t worry: The posts are not all tragic and sad. I have found an odd form of happiness over the years.)

Posted on21 February 202122 February 2021Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

47 furlongs for 47 years

by Just Frances2 Comments on 47 furlongs for 47 years

Today is my 47th birthday and to celebrate, I ran 47 furlongs! Which I know seems weird, but I like to have a bit of…

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Posted on28 October 2020Everyday Life, Health & Wellness, Widow Life

Widow dreams, again

by Just Frances1 Comment on Widow dreams, again

This morning was one of those days. It was one of those days when I woke up and I wasn’t a widow. I woke up…

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Posted on10 October 202011 October 2020Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

A stroll down Memory Lane

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A stroll down Memory Lane

Over the past two months I have gone back through every single one of the 1,400+ posts here on my blog, as part of the…

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Posted on21 May 202013 October 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Mrs missing Mr

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Mrs missing Mr

Today would have been my 15th wedding anniversary. And in this very strange time of social distancing and self-isolation, I find myself missing Paul even…

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Posted on26 April 20209 October 2020Travel & Adventure, Widow Life

A pilgrimage by proxy

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A pilgrimage by proxy

Today marks 11 years since my beloved husband, Paul, passed away so unexpectedly. His death has impacted my life more than I ever could have…

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Posted on5 January 20209 December 2020Everyday Life, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Stronger holidays

by Just Frances1 Comment on Stronger holidays

My primary goal for 2020 is to be a stronger and more confident me. But if I’m honest, it’s a goal that I have been heading…

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Posted on31 December 20199 December 2020Academic Life, Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travel & Adventure, Widow Life

A look back at 2019

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A look back at 2019

And with that, it’s time for another annual re-cap post. Although quite how we’ve got to 31 December 2019, I couldn’t tell you! Yet, here…

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Posted on7 September 201924 September 2020Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Thoughts on crumbling stones

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Thoughts on crumbling stones

On my way to the Death Café a couple of weeks ago, I wandered through a couple of old kirkyards at the base of the Edinburgh Castle.…

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Posted on30 August 201928 September 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Death and cake

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Death and cake

I attended my first “Death Café” last weekend. I had heard about these events in the past but had never had the time to attend,…

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Posted on6 July 201924 September 2020Academic Life, Everyday Life, Widow Life

The doctor is in: Frances Ryan, PhD

by Just Frances5 Comments on The doctor is in: Frances Ryan, PhD

It has been a long time coming, but I am finally a doctor. Oh yes, I am now officially Dr Frances Ryan. The PhD kind…

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Posted on21 May 201917 September 2020Widow Life

14 years a Mrs

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on 14 years a Mrs

It has been 14 years since I became Mrs Ryan, although most of that time has been spent as a widow rather than a wife. Yet…

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Posted on28 April 201923 September 2020Musings & Ramblings, Travel & Adventure, Widow Life

The border of Berwick and grief

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The border of Berwick and grief

On my way home from visiting my late husband’s grave, I stopped off in Berwick-Upon-Tweed for some adventuring. I thought that it would be a good way to…

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Posted on26 April 201923 September 2020Musings & Ramblings, Travel & Adventure, Widow Life

Ten years a widow

by Just Frances1 Comment on Ten years a widow

Today marks ten years of widowhood; ten years since my darling husband died so unexpectedly in the middle of the night. These past ten years have…

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Posted on7 December 201729 September 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Holiday favourites

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Holiday favourites

Today’s post* is brought to you by a writing prompt. The prompt is to “write a list of your favourite holiday activities”. I wanted to…

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Posted on15 October 20176 October 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Grief and the art of “moving forward”

by Just Frances4 Comments on Grief and the art of “moving forward”

I am a widow. I was widowed when I was a young woman of 35 and my life has never been the same since. In the…

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Posted on16 June 201729 September 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

It was his loss, too

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on It was his loss, too

When we think about the grieving that happens after the death of a loved one, we often think about the suffering those left behind are…

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Posted on22 May 201724 September 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Toasting twelve years

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Toasting twelve years

Yesterday was (would have been?) my 12th wedding anniversary. And much like last year, I spent the day distracting myself with my PhD before taking some time to…

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Posted on26 April 201722 September 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

A shattered heart, still beating

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A shattered heart, still beating

Today marks eight years since his heart stopped beating. And in that very same moment, my own heart shattered into a million pieces. Remarkably, my shattered heart…

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Posted on25 January 201728 September 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Dangerous widows

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Dangerous widows

When the Dangerous Women Project was launched last year, I immediately found myself wondering if I was a dangerous woman. I wondered if there was anything about…

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Posted on2 January 20171 October 2020Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Dating disclosures

by Just Frances2 Comments on Dating disclosures

Since (a few failed attempts at) re-entering the dating world post-widowhood, I have learned that there are many struggles to dating in the modern era. From the drama…

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About Just Frances

Just Frances is a silly and pointless website maintained by me, Frances Ryan. I am a quirky runner, writer, thinker, drinker, and researcher. I am also a daughter, sister, aunty, friend, and widow. But mostly, I am just Frances.

I blog about my life, including my travels and adventures, my experiences with PKD and ITP, my life as a young(ish) widow, and my life in general, really. Learn more about the topics I write about here.

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