After saying goodbye to Mum the other day, I realise that there’s work to be done now! So we’re on the ‘making arrangements’ trail…..
Yesterday, we went over to Mum’s care home and packed up all her clothes and belongings. I didn’t like that experience at all. All that’s left is a ‘bag o’ bits’? Not a nice feeling.
Paul and Michael helped because there was a large-ish chair, a TV and a lamp to transport home, so Michael took his van so that we could get it all in.
Paul, having had plenty of experience in this area, was ‘on it’ and immediately fell to, gathering everything into the suitcases and wheeling the chair out of the door. Michael and I stood around like spare parts, surveying the room, remembering, and not quite knowing how to respond.
Anyway, the bits and bobs are now at my house for sorting to send to the charity shop. This was a job I planned to do today, but other things took over. There’s such a lot to do isn’t there?
After we’d brought Mum’s things back yesterday, John and I went over to Paul’s for a cup of tea and a bit of cake, and ostensibly, to look at their emerging extension. The kitchen cupboards are now being fitted and some large snagging jobs being attended to. John went and had a look round, but I didn’t because I’d been there the day before and had a look see already. It’s coming on and the cupboards are really lovely, but will it be ready by Christmas? Hehe! (family joke)
Today promised to be a day of enjoyment and a little bit of work. Kaffee und Kuchen with the Crosses this morning, and another go at getting together with Anita for paper-sorting. Just as I was about to set off to the shops, Anita phoned. She too, was going out for coffee with friends and we both agreed that it would be a bit of a rush to travel down to Balsall Common this afternoon. So we’re planning to see each other on Monday. Third time lucky, I hope!!
We had a good old natter round at Pete and Dawn’s – always, always lovely to see them and chew the cud. We always have a laugh, too, which lightens our moods. So we feel very blessed.
This afternoon, then, I thought I’d do a bit of paper sorting on my own; and put Mum’s clothing into appropriate piles and bag them up ready for the charity shop. But first, I thought I’d watch a bit of tennis.
John decided to toddle off to Wickes to buy some wood, waved goodbye and left me to it. About five minutes later, the funeral director phoned. He had a question. “I know you’re coming on Monday but…” He was wanting to know about the service for Mum. “No worries,” I said, “My friend isn’t coming today after all, so I can come across to you now?” Yep. That would work. Hold the tennis. And the paper sorting. And the clothes sorting……
I texted John to let him know what I was doing. Ha! That was a waste of time. No proper signal in the funeral director’s part of the village, so it never got through. Poor John had no idea where I was when he got back. And naturally, I wasn’t responding to texts or phone calls without a signal, was I?
Anyway, all was well. After just over an hour or so, I toddled back home, much to the ol’ man’s relief.
Decisions. That’s what the visit to the funeral director was all about. Decisions. Ouch.
Still, I came away having agreed that we will hold Mum’s funeral at St Peter’s Church in Balsall Common, on Thursday 27 July 2023 at 12 noon. My dear friend Moira will lead the service, about which I am delighted, and we are hoping that Kim, the choirmaster, will play the organ/piano and the choir will be in attendance. That’s what Mum wanted, so fingers crossed.
So there we are, making arrangements.
In the meantime, friends are thinking of us and sending lovely messages of support, cards of condolence or flowers. Gorgeous bunch of flowers from Linda Bones today. I was very touched.
Take care everyone. God bless.