Alexandra Shulman reflects on the days following the death of her mother, describing profound exhaustion and the unpredictable nature of grief. Though her mother’s passing at 98 was not unexpected, the loss has left her sleepless and emotionally raw, navigating funeral arrangements and waves of memory. She writes candidly about how difficult it can be for others to know the right thing to say, and how certain remarks, particularly being called an 'orphan', feel jarring rather than comforting.

She has found solace in small, thoughtful gestures such as handwritten letters, home-cooked food and quiet check-ins from friends. Brief escapes into work and social settings have provided moments of relief, allowing her to step outside the immediate weight of bereavement. At the same time, she acknowledges there is no perfect script for responding to grief, only the importance of kindness and sensitivity.

In other reflections, she touches on assumptions made about her mother’s background, new research suggesting pregnancy changes the brain, and the return of the puffball skirt on the Paris catwalk, offering her characteristic mix of personal insight and wry observation.