Goodbye Robin

Robin's post-mortem took place on Monday, the removal to the church was last night, and the funeral service and cremation were today.

We gave him a good old sen-off last night next door, with lots of drink and stories and memories and laughter and fun and general celebration of his life. The funeral mass was at 10.00 am today. I provided transportation for a couple of neighbours who are also good friends of Robin's, I did a reading at the service, we got stuck in bad traffic on the way to the crematorium but still got there in plenty of time. Indeed, we were too early, having to stand around in the biting cold for well over an hour while other funeral groups took their turn in the crematorium. GIven the ever-increasing popularity of cremation as a funeral preference, it's way past time that something was done to improve the procedure and to treat the bereaved with a greater degree of respect than the several queueing groups were given today.

Robin's children had organised food and drink in a restaurant just round the corner from where we live, and it was a great success. Susan was wonderful both last night and today, calm and dignified in her bereavement. After a reasonable period of mingling with different groups of family, friends and neighbours, we persuaded her to call it a day and retire to a neighbouring house for some rest and recuperation. I may join the family later this evening for some more stories and memories of Robin's life and times.