WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A MIDLIFE ORPHAN

Her parents' death left Claire Hall, 50, feeling alone, despite having her own family

- SARAH WHITELEY

Hearing the bedroom door slam, I close my eyes and sigh. My daughter Estelle, 15, and I have just had another row over something so petty but according to her, I'm incredibly unfair'. It's times like these when I long to pick up the phone and ask my own mum, how on earth do you deal with teenage daughters? Equally, I long to run into my dad's arms, getting one of his big bear hugs that made everything seem all right with the world.

When you hear the word 'orphan', you automatically think of a young child, but that word summed up how I felt when I'd lost both of my parents by the age of 42. Yes, I was married then and had two children of my own, but it felt like my foundations had been removed, as if my whole life had become unstable.

Along with my younger brother, we had always been an incredibly close family. Brenda, my mum, was a chef, very strong-willed and an amazing organiser. She ran our house, while Dennis, my dad, a graphic designer, was far more laid back. Together they worked perfectly.

Mealtimes were always a big thing in our house, and we'd laugh and joke around a Sunday roast. As a teenager, Mum and I would go shopping on Saturday, while Dad would be the one waiting outside the nightclub for me to make sure I got home safely.

They both worked hard and instilled in me the determination to do well. I'm so proud of you!" Dad beamed, sweeping me into one of his hugs when I became the first person in our family to go to university, to study French and Spanish.