Bye Tod

An early start for the drive down to Stroud to attend Brian's Uncle Tod's funeral. Brian drove us, his brother Ste and sister Diane, down in his car and he has a habit of letting his car's fuel get really low so we were all on pins in case we didn't make the funeral in time or even at all. We made it with minutes to spare but still with not much diesel. The church service for Tod told some amazing facts of his life...an evacuee; a boxer; a motorcycle display team member, a dog whisperer and a real country gent with a straight talking manner. His photo on the service pamphlet showed Tod with two English springer spaniels; his beautiful wicker coffin had a spray of countryside flowers and the choice of "hearse" was a Land Rover. We then drove a good thirty minutes or so to the crematorium (still with no diesel added) for Tod's final farewell.

The wake was held in the local club where a buffet was laid on and there was Tod made Cherry port for all on the bar...really good it was too. Apparently Tod spent most evenings in the club and used to sit with a big jar of dog biscuits so all the local's dogs will definitely miss Tod. There were at least five dogs roaming around the club and very interested in the chicken legs on the buffet table!! They were so well behaved though as their owners were just at the bar chatting and the dogs just wandered around gaining strokes from all. If my dog's had been there, Amos would've been dragging all of the food off the table and Jeeves would've been physically launching himself at the table!

I really took to a gorgeous working cocker called Dixon. What a handsome chap (extra photo)!

Before returning home, we went to Pat's (Uncle Tod's wife) house for a natter without the club noise and a cup of tea. Pat is like a little sparrow and just devastated at the loss of Tod. Luckily her son lives at home with her and he's been a Godsend. She has good daughters around her too. Life is wonderful but also cruel.

On the way home, Brian did finally fill up the car and we made it home in good time.