Undertaking funeral arrangements by visiting Cobbolds of St Neots and registration formalities at Stowmarket and composing and sending the invitations to as many relatives and friends that I could find amongst Mum’s papers.
Also taking care of Sam and walking him opposite which cleared my mind but made me concerned about the weedkiller used there
I had some urgent arrangements to complete for Mum today but first I had to see to Sam and took him for a walk over the meadow opposite. The grass still smelled of weed killer and I saw the weeds curling up and so I had cause to worry about Sam and regretted taking him there afterwards. Once back, I had to return a call to Cobbolds and arranged to visit their St Neots office later in the morning. I also made a couple of calls to friends to tell them of my predicament in case they wondered what I was doing for the next few days.
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I then went with Diana and the girls to have coffee, and later, lunch at Brackenbury's in St Neots; leaving them to do some shopping whilst I called on Cobbolds and made the funeral plans with Mary Richardson, their funeral arranger. I had noted that I had once organised Dad's funeral for a Monday at noon which had been satisfactory and so decided on the same time and day for Mum and luckily this was convenient for everyone. I also dropped in to see my conveyancing solicitor but found no further news of my Eaton Socon purchase. After returning home and talking to Freda, I decided to rush over and organise the registration of Mum's death at Stowmarket and we just about did this in time.
We then found out the fax numbers of the newspapers for the death notices and agreed the words that we would use so that I could go back and send of the advertisements in the evening. On to Stanton, where I had another go through Mum's papers and took away any referring to bills and finance as well as the family photographic archive for safekeeping. I then removed the two pouffes, the weather-vane ornament and a few other effects promised me by Mum or agreed to be taken with Freda, before locking up and driving home. Arrived quite tired and hungry and, after a tea of grilled trout and some time with Sam, I settled down to compose and fax the death notices and then the funeral invitations.
We ended up late looking at the list of Mum and Dad's addresses and worrying about who to send the invitation cards to. It would be equally bad to leave anyone out as to invite someone of whose prior death we should have been aware. To bed late after finishing with my journal and my customary milky drink and banana with which I have ended many a happier day than this.