Goodbye Les ...

You were a good man.

Today was a jigsaw of fitting things in. Had to be at daughter no 1’s before 9.30am to pick up baby seat to borrow for when we picked up daughter no 2 later in the day. Had to get dogs walked before bathroom fitters arrived at 10.30. Then we had Les’s funeral at 12.30. We couldn't  make the ‘wake’ as I had to get to Milton Keynes railway station for 3 o’clock. Hayley got in at 10 to 3. She knew if Dad was picking her up he’d be sat waiting for her as he’s always early. I said I’d be there at 3 - and I was dead on the chime of 3 which she knew I would be!

Back to Les, he was our neighbour many years ago, a wonderful kind, intelligent man who lived a long and happy life. He’d been married to his beloved Eleanor for over 70 years. Eleanor has outlived him, even after a major stroke and suffering from dementia. What was touching was she fleetingly remembered us. There were a few lighthearted laughs with other neighbours who had lost partners about us all eventually being neighbours in the churchyard!

One thing that surprised me was to see a female pallbearer. Initially I thought she was perhaps a granddaughter of Les's, but she wasn't. She was very slightly built, yet looked very smart amongst the three other men carrying the coffin. How wonderful to see women doing what has always been traditionally a masculine roll. Hayley, daughter no 2 will certainly approve as she is a champion of equality.