Actually, it was mostly Lindsey and Stella who put the funeral together, aided by one of the parish vicars and with telephone assistance from the rest of us.
We averted the inclusion of Amazing Grace in the service. Tony had, in any case, specifically said he didn't want it. It was one of the few instructions he had given us. No Amazing Grace. Definitely Jerusalem, which had been his school hymn. No going on his own to the crematorium. He had been at too many services where everyone has said farewell at the church and the centre of attention has trundled off to the crem on their own. Apart from that, we were on our own. We made it up as best we could. Lindsey, Stella and the vicar have worked very hard.
Lindsey brought Stella up to Mount Helen. Rupert and Hugo were pleased to see Lindsey - until they saw that Stella was there too!! They do love Stella.
In the meantime, cousin Paul has rocked up from the UK. He arrived on Friday morning and leaves tomorrow evening. A short visit! Obviously he had come for the funeral but we thought we ought to be a bit entertaining as well. So on Saturday we went out to lunch. On Saturday evening everyone at the Mount Helen house came to our place for dinner. On Sunday we took Paul and Stella to Lal Lal for the (small) annual community market, then we went to Buninyong to look for their spring market. Couldn't find it. So we had coffee and cake instead in the Pig and Gooses. Then discovered that the spring market was in the botanical gardens. Couldn't be bothered hunting for it so all went home.
Jim and I have bought trousers and I've bought a shirt for the funeral. I wish you to understand that I bought a proper, linen shirt for real money. None of this $10 from Kmart stuff :-D
Lindsey and Stella have gone back to Mount Martha for a final chat with the vicar. Ian and Paul have gone to Melbourne. Jim and I are up at Hill House.
We all convene at Mount Martha tomorrow lunchtime to send Tony on his way.
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