Away

Very rarely do I stay in hotels. They are not my ‘thing’. Over the years I have found them unwelcoming, impersonal places. I guess I like my home comforts. At the moment I am staying at this hotel near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. It’s a long way from home, almost 300 miles. I was made very welcome by two people who actually looked at me, smiled and were helpful. I’m here for just one night (£165 for b&b) because it is convenient for a funeral I am attending tomorrow of my friend (89 years old) who was the vicar of the first church I ever attended at the age of ~26 and who prepared me for confirmation. We kept in touch. We last met in 2019. I’m not sad at his death. Just grateful he lead a good, long life. But I wanted to come to his funeral. It’s important to me to be able to pay my last respects.