In my mum's will she specified a number of beneficiaries. As executor I am responsible for paying out her bequests but it has taken an inordinately long time to wind up her estate and release the money. Lawyers! It's especially frustrating because I feel that this is all part of putting mum to rest, and it's just dragging on. It's also been frustrating for Dad in particular.

But at last I have received enough to start paying out. I have opened an account with Smile because I wanted people to receive a cheque from mum saying "smile". Tonight I was able to write the first cheque and the one that most evokes mum's spirit. All her bequests were very specific: family, friends, good causes she had supported; her will specifies names and addresses. Except one provision. She dedicated "One Thousand Pounds to a charity benefiting education for African children in South Africa. Such body to be chosen by my son John". When I first read that, I thought it was so typical of mum: first that she was still committed to South Africa. And that she would want to engage me in it, knowing that I'd be interested.

I started by getting in touch with some family friends in South Africa. In no time I got a great suggestion - The African Scholar's Fund, run by Dr Margaret Elsworth MBE in Cape Town. The ASF is an "independent educational trust which assists promising pupils in need of funds to complete their education". It sounds absolutely what mum had in mind and comming so highly recomended I was delighted to write them a cheque today.