Three cafes and a funeral

Early start to the day for flights to NI for my great Aunt's funeral. A sad occasion but also a family reunion and a chance to share stories and celebrate her almost perfect record of 91 healthy years.

Our journey there was via 3 cafes: pre-breakfast, breakfast and pre-family gathering. It really was an early start.

It's quite strange being in a room with lots of different family members you don't know very well and each of them exclaiming you like another. I am used to being told I look like my mum but the comparison with 3 different 2nd cousins was unexpected.

Growing up in a manse next to the church in the twenties my great aunt has always had a fancy for a horse drawn hearse and frankly if you get to 91 you should get what you want. So here is her final carriage, after which she will definitely be the talk of the village.

Auntie Maureen, we salute you. x

PS taking photos at a funeral felt really weird but again, it's what she wanted. The only other horse drawn hearses I've seen have been related to Orange Lodge high hiedyins. It's amazing the difference the removal of a flag draped over a coffin makes.