Thanks everyone for the kind comments. There have been dozens of things to do, but the bulk of the immediate work is now done. My Dad's death was completely unexpected, so this has been an awful shock, far earlier than I ever thought, but we had a great relationship, and I have no big regrets hanging over me.
For hydrus, I am missing work and keen to get back to it when my schedule is free again. More than anything right now, I am simply busy and tired. I won't rush things, but I'll have some empty days coming up over the next week and would like to catch up with my messages at least. Rather than put out an anemic release on the 21st, I'll work that day instead, let it all roll over, and be back to normal schedule on Saturday the 24th, with a proper full-changelog v500 out on the 28th.
Thanks again!