Le Pissenlit

Apparently the French slang for Dandelion! For as we all know from being a child, having the flowers smeared down ones arm to leave a yellow smear meant you would wet the bed that night! Apparently it is a diuretic so as usual there is some basis of truth  in this old wives tale! It is also known as  blowball, cankerwort, lion's tooth, priest's crown, puffball, swine snout, white endive and wild endive!  I would like to say this blip is the only dandelion on my allotment - but it is soooooo not! This morning I looked in dismay at the number flowering everywhere, despite the war I had raged on them last year. I have heard they sell them in the London garden centres! If anyone from there wants some just let me know! So whilst the chickens ate their nighttime treat, I picked as many heads off the plants as I could to stop them turning into clocks and sowing themselves all over my plot! So my hands are stained yellow and I will await with interest the coming nights sleep and awakening!
Today was my neighbours funeral - I had intended to set off early as the hearse was arriving at her house and I did not want to be part of the procession. Unfortunately I was later and the hearse earlier than expected and I left as her family were getting into their cars and as I got into mine she passed me in hers - with a man walking in front of it. We all drove slowly out of the village - the man leading the way by foot until we were at the level crossing, whereupon we stopped and he got into her car - then on we went for what turned out to be an hours procession to Bodmin. 
This was my third visit to the crematorium - one of the daughter in laws first and first cremation. She whispered none too quietly that she did not understand why her brother in laws wife had brought her teenage children from her first marriage, neighbour  had never liked them anyway,  she wondered if crematoriums were on Tripadvisor as she did not wish to wait next to the Ladies as we waited for the sons to carry my neighbour in, and finally why one of her brother in laws was being a pallbearer as he was notoriously clumsy!!!
After this start the service was very moving, two of the four sons spoke, as did the retired vicar who had asked to lead the service as she had been one of his parishioners, and a regular sunday attendee at church,despite the fact she had stipulated there was to be no church service nor eulogies!   As her eldest son stated, there was no way her passing could go unnoticed given her incredibly strong character and caring nature and acts for everyone and her  impact on everyones life. I don't usually find services a beneficial experience in the process of coming to terms with loss, they usually make me angry at the inaccuracies, and often in the case of children I have taught, the language used to describe their lives and now happiness in the after life with God, running free and/or being butterflies in His garden after having a miserable life confined to a wheelchair.  I find this utterly offensive and wrong. 
However today the service gave me time to fully acknowledge the fact she had gone, it had up till then been just a continuation of her absence from the 3 weeks she had spent in hospital before passing. I had time to reflect on her and  celebrate her life and what she had meant to others and to me. I both laughed at her sons humour, and cried at their and my loss. 
So - what a week this has been, not one I wish to repeat, ever, but having my sister here turned out to be the best bit of it, she was  great support and company. I shall be pleased come sunday to  resume my everyday life, knowing for certain there will be more trials and tribulations ahead, but also cause for fun, laughter, company,thanks and celebration. This is, after all, what makes life. I have a Baby Shower to attend Monday - life does indeed go on.