Jane and John previously visiting
Jane and John previously visiting

An uninviting day characterised by more frost and cold and a further visit from Mum who was rather difficult and challenging, carping on quite unnecessarily about my level of church-going! Thankfully, The Rev Peter Lewis arrived and we planned Dad’s service details.

Jane and John arrived and stayed for lunch before I visited the Registrar’s office to progress the arrangements and secure the green registration document to take to the undertakers and reserve plots in Little Paxton cemetery; laying out the Order of Service this evening. The news tonight is of Czechoslovakia, the ambulanceman dispute and the plight of the people of Afghanistan suffering a new famine and drought

A busy day that was greeted with the degree of reluctance of a day justified by the frost and cold but, after breakfast, we soon had mum arriving by taxi for a visit. I had a long chat with her – at times getting close to upset – over years past. She has a very selective and self-illusory memory and I rise to the bait so easily. For instance, she ventured, ‘perhaps this will make you turn to the church at last ‘. This, when I had to go to Sunday school on my own at 7 to 9 years old, had no family church outings and no confirmation. If she really wanted me to be a churchgoer, I deduced that she had started 40 years too late! Thankfully, Peter Lewis, the vicar, arrived for coffee and handled mum very well in terms of her grief and the service details.

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A nice meeting and, as she was leaving, Jane and John (Freda’s daughter and partner) arrived and we chatted, and they stayed for lunch. This afternoon, I went down to the registrar’s office and prepared to get my dad’s death certificate at last – but this was not to be. As that involved the cancellation and reissue due to the incorrect details of birth being given, I have to go back again next Friday to see the chief registrar! Onward via the undertakers to give them the green burial release form and then the Parish Clerk to give details of the reservation of plots in Little Paxton cemetery. Home finally and then the evening typing in and laying out Dad’s service sheet for the funeral which ended up a pretty thing. On the way, I had much trouble over the words and form of Psalm 23 – there are so many modern and different versions and I had to search high and low for the authorised and old-fashioned words for this, the Lord’s prayer and the grace. The news tonight is of Czechoslovakia, the ambulanceman dispute and the plight of the people of Afghanistan suffering a new famine and drought. Another cold night in prospect