Michael Palin admits he's 'preparing to die' in sad update
Discussing their relationship, Sir Michael said: "Helen and I met on holiday in 1959. I was about 16 at the time.
"It was a holiday romance that built up to a long marriage.
"There was always a feeling that we were a unit – I hadn't really realised until that, after she'd died."
Adding: "That was a difficult thing: there was half of your life gone. I still say, 'We've got in our garden…', 'We have two grandchildren…' although she's still here. I still use the 'we'. I find it almost impossible to say, 'I am...'"
Sir Michael Palin shares that he's preparing for the end of life
Sir Michael also opened up about his health, speaking on the Marie Curie Couch podcast, the TV star explained that his late wife had some health problems.
Sharing: "She had some problems with her heart. The gradual withdrawal from life was something I think she found very, very difficult; she was a gregarious person and full of fun.
"In the end, she was diagnosed with kidney failure. Then she got pneumonia and we went into hospital. We had a pretty bad experience there."
Following Helen's death, Sir Michael admitted that he had thought about death more and discussed it with his children, William, Rachel and Thomas.
Adding: "I do think about death and the family are rather wonderful about it: "Have you made a will? Can I be in your will?"
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"I've made my will and all that. My family, my children, know where to find what they need to find should I die."
The TV star added that he still works but is "slightly unsteady" now: "I kid myself that I'm going to be alright, and yet I know that I won't because you feel tired at certain times.
"You're slightly unsteady as you get out of bed, and you think, what's happening? Well, the old car's getting a bit rusty."
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