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.