Sunday 18 December 2016

Moving on

Thank you all for thinking of me on Friday.  It wasn't easy - I knew it wouldn't be.  When my daughter and I were sat in a little italian coffee shop in Highcliffe beforehand, I was dreading it.  Once we got there though, there were lots of familiar faces - she had a good turn out - and a horsey friend of Tricia's whose pony has shared a field with Tricia's pony for quite a few years now, dyed her hair bright pink in memory of Trish (whose hair turned white very early and so she always jazzed it up with pink or purple flashes.)

I sat by two old school friends of mine (Lin and Hilary) who knew Trish from their teenage years and I'd not seen Hilary since we were 21, but knew her instantly.

It was a lovely humanist ceremony and the man who gave the reading about Tricia's life was really good at his job.  Tricia's husband John had chosen 3 tracks by Curtis Stigers, who was Tricia's favourite musician.  I hadn't read the final line of the programme, so I was totally unprepared when Knights in White Satin began to play.  I had just about held it together up to that point (by dint of biting the inside of my lip and trying not to let my breathing get shallow.) Much nose blowing though, as tears will out and come down your nose if you deny them liberty from your eyes.  That particular song just finished me though - we played it in her bedroom for hours on end (her poor parents must have got sick of it - I know her sister did!)  I was glad when we were out in the fresh air and everyone walked across the grounds to put Tricia's ashes in the place they had chosen.

It was a perfect spot, in a little private bit of wild woodland away from the main burial area.  Birds were singing (in December!) and although I didn't see it, there was a squirrel in the oak tree and her sister said that the squirrel had been there when they had chosen that tree as the focus for the ceremony.  I am glad that the funeral is now behind me, and we can all move on, grieving in our own ways.   

G is based in Portsmouth now, and below are a few photographs from inside Gunwharf Quays.  As you can see, it is all dazzling with Christmas lights - the Father Christmas and his reindeer were spectacular at night.

Sorry, I have run out of time as I need an early night for a very early start tomorrow to finish the last jobs and get sorted before our house viewers turn up.  Positive thoughts from 10 a.m. onwards please . . .



The Spinnaker is very impressive.







13 comments:

  1. My deepest condolences on losing Tricia. Nights In White Satin is such a touching song, and clearly moved you deeply. Music surely touches our souls.

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    1. Hello reader, and thank you. 59 1/2 years is a long time to be friends and she leaves a large gap. Life goes on, but will never be the same again. Music is deeply moving, and I am having a serious rethink about having Vaughan Williams@ "Lark Ascending" to see me off!

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  2. Given the 6 hour difference in time, I shall begin--right now [10: 20 CST-USA] to keep the scheduled house-viewing in mind. I KNOW [too well] how stressful the run-up to viewings can be--and how quickly one can unravel at the last minute. All that hard work!

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    1. I hope you can stay awake long enough then Sharon!! You will know what I'm going through right now. I am only on here for the duration of a cup of Earl Grey . . .

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  3. How brave you were to push ahead through the difficult time. That is what I am doing these days upon the recent death of my dear husband.

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    1. Oh Terra, I am so sorry to read of your husband's death and can only begin to know how deeply you must be missing him. You are in my thoughts.

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  4. Everything crossed for the viewing.

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    1. Thanks Sue. They seemed to like it and were planning where this bit of furniture could go, and when they saw the master suite in the attic, she laughed and said "This is MINE!". We shall see - they have another 5 properties to view but hopefully we have set the bar high.

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  5. I am sure that you are glad the memorial service is behind you - and you have said goodbye to a dear friend and left with good memories of your friendship.
    Good luck with the viewing.

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    1. Very relieved Pat. We're planning to go down and stay with her husband in February, so will be still keeping in touch. She was like a sister to me, so her family feel like an extension of mine.

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  6. We were at Gunwharf last month and your photos are a lot like mine! I'm still thinking of you and sending big hugs and lots of love.xxx

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  7. Sending warm hugs, BB, I am so sorry for the loss of dear Tricia. Even when we expect, the finality can shatter.

    Sounds like the viewing was successful--holding a good thought there too.

    Happy Holidays, however they present to you.

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  8. Thanks Yarrow and Lynda. I still keep going to phone her to get her up to date with our news, then I realize I can't. At least I can cry now.

    We hope we may soon hear from the folk who viewed yesterday . . .

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