It's been a long while but i thought i ought to have a go.
Thanks to those who e-mailed asking how i was and apologises to those i forgot to get back to.
What's been happening. Well, my sister and daughter went to the chapel of rest to see Mum, i sat in the office with my g'kids. Somehow they decided Mum had lost her legs. Exactly where they thought they had gone i don't know. The lady behind the desk assured us they only take them off if they are wooden. I went and found them, then my sister asked well where is her foot then. My response was, 'on the end of her leg, where do think'. Foot was duly found where i said it would be. By now we couldn't really stop laughing and it was a good thing that there was no one else visiting a loved one or they would of wondered what was going on.
My sister put a plastic bag in the coffin ( cos Mum was always rattling one at inappropriate moments) and a newspaper and pencil with rubber so she could do the crossword she loved. Youngest g'kids wanted to go and say goodbye so after a lot of thought it was decided to take them and we would only find out if it was the right thing to do after the event.
I was given the job of taking them in although my daughter decided to stay as well. Anyway, they had brought pictures and cards to put in as well and duly added them to carrier bag and paper etc. when suddenly g'son (8yrs) whips out the camera and says can i take a photo now. Well you should have seen our faces. Before we could get our heads round it g'daughter took two photos for him as he wasn't tall enough to get good shots. Then away went the camera.
Daughter decided to take them off of his camera and has them in a folder on the pooter. It would be too tempting for an eight year old not too use them in the future either for monetary gain or horror factor.
The kids handled it very well and it was the best thingwe could do. It certinly taught them about the circle of life and when the funeral came round they decided that was the boring bit and the get together afterwards and they wouldn't bother with that bit again. They said goodby to their great grandmother and moved on.
The undertaker walked the whole way in front of the hearse from the house to the church, walking straight through the red traffic light. We was nearly taking bets on when they would stop and he would get in, but he never did. He said, 'well it's a nice day and we were a bit early.'
Mum would have loved being the centre of attention and knowing she stopped all the traffic up the High Street. She would have seen the funny side of it all.
Since then we have tackled the Probate Form and are waiting for their appoinment for us to go and get probate and then we sell the house.
We have a stairlift to get rid of but nobody wants. She only had it for 3 weeks and it would be a real waste to throw it away.
Soon we will be having a go at emptying the loft which will probably mean more stuff ending up at my house. My back room is already full of things that are too good to chuck or have family memories.
Ah well soon it will be all over then it's the end of an era and as someone pointed out i now have become the head of the family. Help i'm not old enough yet.
Jenny <><
