Yes, I'm Back

[debris4spike]

It was a very long 2 days, compounded by the fact I ended up doing an 11 hour shift on Wednesday.

In the end Auntie Joyce's funeral went well .. and I was able to focus on the fact that she was family.  Tim wasn't able to go due to work (aggrevated with some health issues).  So I took Claire up the day before and we stayed overnight near the sea, so had a nice walk on the morning, and then went to the soliciters to pick up my great-aunts ring, and so to the chapel in the cemetery.  The chapel caretaker was there to meet us and he was great.  We then met Nick & Brenda, and Andrew, so it was lovely that there was another generation of the family to be there to commemorate our aunt's life.  Claire didn't want to do anything, but Brenda did the Bible reading, I did the eulogy, Andrew led the service and Nick took the sermon and the committal.  Auntie Jooyce had chosen her reading and hymns, so that bit was nice to know we were honouring her wishes.  We walked from the Chapel through the cemetery as it was such a lovely day.  The undertaker & team, were lovely, and so respectful.  They also stepped back and let us do what we wanted, in timing ... so a massive thumbs-up, and thanks to everyone.

From there we went to the chapel that Auntie Joyce had attended for 35 years ... we didn't have the service there as the last 3 years, when she needed the help, they weren't supportive of her.  But we had a nice "bun-fight", and left about 3.30pm.

It was a good journey home, but tiring.

This morning I woke at normal time, so have sat and watched some "old" TV, and then had a long walk to the shop to get some groceries.

As I type this I have "Traitors" on in the background.  The TV in my hotel didn't work, so I am 2 episodes to the final, although sadly I have noticed who won (although not really suprised)

Let me catch up with the missing questions -




24. National Peanut Butter Day - have you ever made your own peanut butter? If not, which type do you prefer?
I have never tried to make it, why bother? I like crunchy, but don't always eat it ... I tend to open a jar to make biscuits, then use it up in sarnies!

25. It's Burns Night - will you be raising a small dram?
No ... I'm not Scottish ... and I was working

26. International Customs Day - have you ever been stopped at Customs when travelling?
No

27. Are you a fan of chocolate cake? Have you ever made one?
Yes, and yes. My grandmother (auntie Joyce's mum) used ot make the most stunning Chocolate Cake possible

28. Lego has been around since 1932, have you ever made things with Lego?
Yes - loved it, and won a competition when I was 11. I love watching Australian LegoMasters when it was on.




Right - photos to follow

Hope that you are all doing well ... will try and catch up soon x

Comments

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the funeral went well (although all the way through I would have been thinking that Auntie Joyce would not have appreciated all the trouble you all went to!).

[debris4spike]

Yes, it was good to have a family time.

Auntie Joyce would not have been happy that we printed hymn sheets (when it was Grandma & Granddad's funerals we just had a local hymn book), and would not have been impressed that we walked across the cemetery ... what a waste of time!

But, we were happy ... and as I have said all along it was for Dad

[jerusha]

I'm glad to hear that the funeral went well, and that you were able to focus on the family connection. That can be difficult at times.

[debris4spike]

Thanks - in the end it was good to remember she was Dad's sister ... so special to focus on the family (and ignore the tensions as best we could)

[deepseasiren.livejournal.com]

I just buy a jar of crunchy. I don't bother with making it and I know no one who does LOL. What is BURNS NIGHT? Have I been stopped at customs? Yes, and I think it was racist. We were coming into the UK and I remember they stopped us, and the Hindu family, and all the whites got to go through without being stopped. So yeah I was pissed about that. I like chocolate cake but I'd prefer a burger LOL . Long ago I did like Legos and tried to build a castle with it :P

[debris4spike]

Hee - Burns Night comment made me smile.

In the UK we have 4 saint's days ... St George, St David, St Andrew & St Patrick ... however Scotland have 2 real "party" days ... New Year's Eve is one, and Burns is the other. It is on the birth date of Robert Burns the Scottish poet, and you are meant to celebrate the food "haggis" as he wrote a poem celebrating it, which you are meant to quote (I am glad I am not Scottish)

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin’-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy o’ a grace
As lang’s my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich! .... etc
The full poem is here

[deepseasiren.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. Walter is English and Scotch-Irish. And yes LOL I what haggis is :P.
He visited Ireland but not Scotland. I never fully understood the term Scotch Irish. I know many settled in Appalachia over here in the states and you can tell from the dancing and fiddling and some cultural aspects of that...but I am assuming Scotch Irish meant Scots living and working in Northern Ireland many generations ago?

[debris4spike]

It's funny hearing the "Scots-Irish" phrase, as not something we really have over here. Both countries have countries and clans that spread back over centuries ... so there is a lot of rivalry ... they even spell Whiskey/Whisky differently!