Manic Day (3 of 5)

Today was Mary’s service of remembrance and that was held at 14:00. S2 was picking up C from the airport and this was hassle free, and then came to the house. We went for a walk to the nearest park, and then had some lunch before going to Mount Jerome cemetery and crematorium for Mary’s humanist celebration. The place was packed and there were some lovely tributes to Mary, including the one delivered by S2. He managed to inject some humour and our love of Mary came across, and we just about held it together. The blip is of the fearsome thorns of the Crown of Thorns tree, a member of the genus Paliurus, that grows in the cemetery.  We then went to the Hilton for a meal and ended up seated beneath a big screen showing the football. The first half Ireland scored and we had some good natured ribbing, but in the second half Scotland equalised so we gave it all back. Mary’s nephews came to watch the last few minutes and we agreed both sides were mediocre. Honour was satisfied. The evening was for family and friends, at B and Mary’s house and once again Mary was present. This is odd to us but seemed appropriate. We had drink and sat around a turf fire outside and attempted to sing folk songs; it was a lovely evening that Mary would have enjoyed.