Feel free to ignore
I won't mind. My spak-tardly account of yesterday. Rocked up to the tube station for 9:30am, no trains for 10 mins...that's ok I have plenty of time to get there, get off to change for central line, someone's been taken off the tube at Bank sick on the train before mine so they've shut down the central line at bank. Call brother to find out quickest way, advises Jubilee, so get back on northern to London bridge. All jubilee trains are stopping at West Ham instead of Stratford, kick bits of London bridge station for a bit. Get tube 10 mins later into Stratford which goes as slowly as possible. Tube is partly overground so get countless phone calls enquiring where I am and when I'll be at the homestead. Get to central line platform, hear announcement that three trains ahead the driver has decided to reverse and as such there is another delay on the central line. 20 minutes later I'm on the right train which then stops at the station before mine for an eternity without reasoning or explanation. Receive very dark looks from lady opposite for using creative language in explaining situation to one of my brothers on phone. Get to my stop and get cab to homestead, no space in road to actually drive up it, so run very very fast to house in time to see funeral cars arrive. So 2 hours, 40 minutes wasn't bad for a one hour 15 max usual trip.

Actual funeral was very nice if they can be described as such. I didn't look around that much inside the church, but it's estimated by my brothers that there were around 200/300 people in there. I cried like a baby when the opening music started and continued snuffling at certain poignant bits. The eulogy was delivered by one of my dad's friends who's known him for around 20 years and he pinpointed him exactly right. The actual crematorium bit was over in less than 10 minutes so I barely had time to start crying all over again as the curtains were whisked across and we were ushered back to the cars.

Got through the meet and greet bit afterwards by only walking up to people I wanted to speak to to thank them for their role in his life or the funeral. Faaar too many old women walking up and saying "I bet you don't remember me...Ooh I bet you don't." got a bit wearing, so I resorted to "No, give me a clue or I'm finding someone else to speak to". Apparently I haven't changed a great deal in 20 years.

Everyone finally left an hour or so later and we were presented with a mountain of food to take home. We ate some of it, but managed to ply it off on neighbours as my mum hates wasting food.

I've now quit smoking, which probably accounts for why I'm feeling a bit more rubbish than usual today, but I promised him I would, along with some other stuff that I'm determined to honour.

Think I'll stop rambling now.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 16:20, 18 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

*hugs*
Good luck with the smoking!
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 16:26, Reply)

*hugs*
*hugs again*
(happylittletulip helpless and delicious, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 16:37, Reply)

All ramblings gracefully appreciated
This is b3ta after all!

*hands out chupa chups*
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 17:00, Reply)

Just
*big hugs* for you Mrs.
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 17:15, Reply)

*hugs*
and an extra big hug.

Never fun. I cried so much at my father-in-laws funeral that my brother-in-law was comforting me!
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Thu 9 Oct 2008, 17:20, Reply)

I'd just like to leave this here:
*hugs*
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 17:20, Reply)

*hugs*
Just stay away from Kaol if you want to have success with the smoking thing...
( rubberduck should only be used after consulting with your GP, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 17:36, Reply)

*big jugs*
Thinking of you.
( Captain V, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 18:01, Reply)

Just...
... some more *hugs*
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 18:32, Reply)

*somewhat awkward elbow-pats*
Good luck.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 19:18, Reply)

*hugs*
And hugs to your family, too.
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 19:30, Reply)

*hugs*
for the whole family
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Thu 9 Oct 2008, 19:41, Reply)

Just to cheer you up.
At my paternal grandfathers funeral many years ago, all the old folk thought I was my dad.

I am fairly large in the chest department so what they thought my dad was doing with breasts, God only knows.
( girlinthehole, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 19:43, Reply)

* hugs * and more hugs
Good luck with giving up smoking. Remember, b3ta bashes do count. If you plan to be near Kaol again, I can teach you some wristlocks (this also applies for rubberduck).

Anyway,I'm glad you got through it and glad you spoke your mind with the "No, give me a clue or I'm finding someone else to speak to" bit.
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 19:50, Reply)

Have
A big hug from me three.

*HUUUUG*
(never-right -getting it wrong since '78, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 20:51, Reply)

Thanks guys
I had my nephews behind me during the church ceremony and while they were very good and well behaved, they were asking a helluva lot of questions as they'd never been to a funeral before.

One gem spouted forth was "Mummy, what do you think Grandad's doing at the moment?" Trying not to laugh or cry at the same time was difficult, but they were great comic relief in the quiet bits.

Great example of the intelligence levels where I'm from originally though...we went next door to give leftover food out and she said how lovely my neice was...Umm, she's in the States, she couldn't make it over...No, the one you walked down the aisle with, she was so pretty with the same colour hair as you...Umm...that'd be my nephew wearing his transformers t shirt and jeans then!
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Thu 9 Oct 2008, 22:17, Reply)

as per everything above really
....

oh plus a hug and a hair ruffle for good measure
(Halfy By light alone, Fri 10 Oct 2008, 8:27, Reply)