So long, and thank you

Today was Tom's funeral. You remember Tom - the old guy who kept cropping up in my photos from his birthday parties - 96th, 97th, 98th. The chap who looked about twenty years younger than he was, with a sparkle in his eye and a story to tell you about breeding rabbits in the war, or being in charge of the explosives in the mine, or growing the best veg in the village, or trying to make you drink his homebrew.

We both had to go back to work after the service, so took the opportunity to raise a toast in his memory this evening - my own homemade damson and cinnamon gin, as a tribute to Tom.

We'll miss him, the village will miss him. But he had such a varied and interesting and happy life, we just can't be sad. If I'm still living independently at 98 I'll be very pleased indeed.

Safe travels, Tom, and thanks for being here. x