“My mother passed away last spring after a long battle with cancer. We were very close and there are times I find it hard to believe she is really gone,” she writes.

“My parents were married over 40 years and while they worked hard on the farm to provide for the family, they always made time for each other, going to socials, card games, dancing etc. They had their ups and their downs too of course, but were a great example to my siblings and me when we got married and started our own families.

“After mam passed away, I was very concerned about how dad would cope. My brother is farming at home, so that was some comfort, and myself and my sisters did our best to call as often as possible to help with cleaning, filling the freezer etc.

“We also encouraged dad to get out meeting his pals again and after a few months of gentle encouragement, we were delighted to see him out and about, especially when he went to a dance with some other couples he and mam used to socialise with.

“The last thing I expected, however, was that he would meet a woman there. She is about 10 years younger and widowed with grown-up children. Now, they are off every Friday night some place or another! He hasn’t called her his “girlfriend” yet, but she seems as good as.

“I am beyond shocked that he has found somebody to take mam’s place when she’s hardly buried a year. However, my siblings don’t seem to be as upset as I am, saying it’s probably a good thing for all of us that he has some company.

“The latest is that he wants us to meet her. I can hardly bring myself to go up to the house, not to mind meet his new “squeeze.” Am I being unreasonable?

“Concerned Daughter”

Miriam will share her advice in the next edition of Irish Country Living, on shelves Thursday 5 March, but what would you say to this reader?