Damon

Today I travelled with V from Bexhill-on-Sea to Forest Hill to visit Damon's tree, on what ought to have been his 44th birthday. We waited on a park bench in the low sun while the gardener finished mowing the grass in the memorial garden, and then V planted this tiny plaque she has had specially engraved. The gardener came to speak kindly with us and suggested cutting some turf away from the base of the tree in order to surround it with mulch. He told us that this would help to strengthen the tree, keep weeds away from the base meaning that the mower didn't need to get so close to the trunk, therefore keeping the plaque in plain sight. V agreed because gardeners know best. After he had left she wondered why he had bothered to consult her. I supposed that it was in case the prospect of disturbing Damon's ashes upset her.