Mum's funeral day.

A lovely, sunny day for mum's funeral. Not very many attended the crematorium service - but the people who came thought very fondly of mum and she had affected their lives in many positive ways.

Mum had always been active in her Methodist Church and we had more than our fair share of Methodist ministers in the congregation!

The service was taken by our lovely (now ex-) neighbour, Mary - who is also a minister. She was very fond of mum and dad, and they of Mary and her husband too.

It was lovely to have the service taken by someone who really knew and loved mum.

Originally (as we hadn't expected many people to attend) we'd planned to have the after service 'tea' at home, but as the date approached I became increasingly hysterical at the prospect. (I also had a concert last weekend, and next and have the family in the house, so it was all a bit overwhelming.)

I *did* have a plan B in the back of my mind - but when I rang the place, it was closed for refurbishment.

Then - a brainwave! I have been involved with charity knitting group at a local church - originally doing a bit of knitting, but more recently just attending their fund raising afternoon teas.

I rang Liz who runs the group - and amazingly they agreed to help.

About fifteen of us went and they had absolutely done us proud. A table full of sandwiches and lovely home baked cakes. It was fab having familiar faces helping us to teas and coffees and generally being kind and supportive.

I had barely been able to breathe at the service, for sobbing - but at the afternoon I gathered myself a bit and had a lovely time. And the charity knitters will get a big thank you donation from us, to spend on yarn or anything else they need.

My blip is a phone snap of the posy of garden flowers that I'd picked to put on a table with photos of mum at the afternoon tea.