Friday 20 April 2012

After the funeral but still dressed up

The boys in the family rented black suits for the funeral

Adam in his 

Chloe and Adam resting

Rosie in her black dress and Charles in his suit

Charlie

Rachel

Funeral

Shay's funeral was on Wednesday. It was a fitting sendoff for a wonderful man. The little stone church at the end of Binsey Lane was full to bursting with friends and family and many more were standing outside under umbrellas. It rained on and off, mostly on, for all the day. Had the day been fine, my plan was to park at the farm and walk down Binsey Lane to the church but I had to abandon that idea. Rachel had warned me to arrive early if I wanted to be inside and in a seat for the service. She was right. The service itself was simple and appropriate. Rachel and Charlie each read a poem and one of Shay's old friends delivered the eulogy, a beautiful tribute to this much loved man. Then we went out to the churchyard for the burial. Shay's wife, Barbara, died 14 years ago and was buried in the churchyard and now Shay rests beside her. I was doing fine until they lowered the coffin and then I lost it. He had a very good life and a good end to that life but it is the end of an era. We stood in the rain under our umbrellas and cried and then we went back to the farm to celebrate his life.

Thursday 19 April 2012

Monday 9 April 2012

Easter

Rachel did Easter lunch for all seven of us. I say seven because, of course, Shay wasn't there. I sat in the place at the table where he always sits. It was very sad. I know that he was an old man (89) and it was better that he not linger in a vegetative state, blah, blah, blah. But he was a wonderful man and we will miss him; I will miss him. Being at the farm and knowing that he will not come out the door with a cheerful greeting, Millie coming along behind limping a bit and trying to wag her tail, leaves an empty feeling that is not going to go away any time soon. And what about his bicycle? One of the iconic sights of Binsey was Shay cycling along with Millie running behind. The funeral is next week, 18th at the little ancient stone church at the end of Binsey Lane. He will be buried in the churchyard beside Barbara.