The Tale of Two Ladies

My auntie Flo (my Dad's sister) died last week aged 90. In fact she died 5 days after her 90th birthday.

She was quite a character and today's her funeral. Dad and I drove to Southend and, strangely, had a lovely day. Dad hasn't seen his family for a few years (I have). He was able to catch up and have a few drinks. He even got chatted up by the lovely Zoe, my second cousin Alex's girlfriend.

Some of the stories told about Auntie Flo involed her being in the ATS during WW2. She quite regularly went AWOL if she fancied a weekend at home! She would get chatted up by soldiers and when they offered to buy her a drink she would then ask them to buy one for her two sisters sitting in the corner!

She loved a good knees-up and would be the first on the dance floor at any family party. Very appropriate then that we ended the service with Julie Andrews singing I could have danced all night!

The other lady featured in today's blip is my good friend Karen who did the flower arrangement for me. Five years ago Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer just as she was made redundant from a well-know high street bank.

She went through treatment including chemo which meant she lost her lovely blond hair. She's always been interest in flower arranging so as part of her therapy she re-trained as a florist. She works from home and any profit she makes on her arrangements she donates to a breast cancer charity. So far she has donated £3,500.

I was very pleased and proud of Karen's efforts with the flowers, Auntie Flo would have loved them.