Quiet waters

Today was sad, because my sort-of-stepfather' Kim's funeral was being held in Duror, Argyll, but only our mother and one sister could attend the service. Our other sister and her daughter were at the burial, but for the rest of us, who live in other countries, no chance.

I thought of them, of course, and hoped that our mother's health and her skirt would last the day. (She has lost weight since she last wore it, and didn't want to buy a drab black outfit, so she decided to wear her late husband's braces under her blouse to hold it up!) I've heard that it went well, and that mother has retired to bed to warm up with an electric blanket. I hope there was at least a ray of sunshine at some point. The service was held at the church where they were married, five years ago. We have known Kim and his children for over 45 years, since we first moved to Duror in 1974.

Anyway, today was also friend Dave's birthday, as well as my sister and my nephew's, and I'd said I'd help him celebrate. I went over to Cheltenham on the train (held up because there was a person wandering on the line by the level crossing) and brought lunch with me, because Dave eats mostly vegan food in Lent, and it's much easier to get take away home made food in Stroud. We had our three courses, because Dave insists on all of them, and then I begged to go to the park, because it was such a clear, sunny day, with a sense of spring in the air. We managed to get a space at Pittville Park car park, and headed off to the lake. Dave was amazed to see people socialising without exercising, and sitting on benches, and generally enjoying themselves. He has not been to any parks during any of the lockdowns, and gets most of his news on his phone from a sensationalist source. I have begged him to watch the news every day, but I don't think he does. Walking out with him was like being a guide to a foreign country. I still don't understand why he doesn't crave fresh air and green spaces on a regular basis, but as it's his birthday I didn't labour the point.

I caught the train at 5 and was home by 6, when it was still daylight. Yes, really, daylight. Since then I've been playing Scottish tubes on Spotify and letting my memories wander through the decades of Kim's life in Duror.