funeral day

This morning started chilly- 60 degrees F indoors and chillier out!
From 5am I had that knot in my solar plexus....after Redbush Tea and porridge, eaten slowly, I went to the garden to do the watering. I was stuck in the greenhouse with no raincoat, just a gilet, for a good 15 minutes!!
Then back, having decided on the card for Col. I wrote a proverb,

Uchaf ar gof a gerir orau.......What is best loved is remembered best.

and sewed a sprig of Rosemary to its side. "Rosemary....for remembrance" and had a matching sprig on my coat lapel.

I tried to fill the morning with ordinary things, but it wasn't easy. It was one of those feelings that would have been sorted by a Big Hug from Col, then I'd feel safe and everything was ok. So I remembered a hug instead.

Daughter and Family came, and after an early lunch we walked to the village church. More and more people came, and by the time Col was carried in, in his coffin, it was packed.
I was in my place behind him, and I couldn't have said what I'd written. His daughter read a poem, a friend who worked with the ponies with him read a tribute, and the vicar read the Family's tribute. The service was good, but much went over my head as I was there with Col.

Everyone stood and talked outside for a while, then Family and close friends went to the crematorium. We went in to a Welsh lullaby, "Suo Gan"...which really got to me, especially as Col loved children. The curtains closed and I felt SO empty.
The sunshine outside helped as did the vicar. She hadn't known who I was and was very understanding.

On the way back to the village the rain came down with a vengeance! Then it was dry again as we arrived- the weather certainly got it right today.

The Hotel was full, eventually, of Family and friends. I got to meet the other side of the family and got on well. In fact I have been "contacts" on Flickr for a year or more with one of Col's nieces by marriage!! That certainly surprised us both. So we had much to talk about, especially as she has twins like Daughter!

Much talking and meeting, looking at the photomontage of Col's life. A good end to the day, and a third step forward for everyone.