This is a sepia saturday post
 |
| from my Aunty Brenda's photo collection. an unknown stranger outside her door in Perth Scotland.... |
I told you two weeks ago that we were attending the funeral of Sue Trigg in Fixby.
As a result ,we did go to Fixby Crematorium.
We did attend at 2pm on Friday
But, It turns out ,I got the week wrong and we attended on Friday 13th (not Friday 20th).
To compound the mistake ,we followed the mourners into the 2pm service.
Now I wasnt surprised not to recognise any of the fellow mourners.
I knew Sue from 50 years ago at School plus our various much more recent 1- to -1 meetings had been at Hebden Bridge Trades club.We know none of her family or none of her more recent friends.
So . Me & Cath are sat at the back of the room at Fixby Crematorium on Friday 13th.
The only speaker was a Polish Priest who talked for about 5 minutes...but his accent was soo thick that I only understood about 10% of anything he said.
Although,halfway through,he did say "JILL" which set a few alarm bell ringing........
No family members spoke. So after a short service I went to the coffin ( no photo on it). Touched the coffin. Made the sign of the cross and we followed the other mourners out the door and down a corridor.
I then shook hands with the priest, who was stood next to the framed photo of a beautiful elderly lady called (you guest it!) JILL. Me and Cath left blushing to avoid upsetting to our fellow mourners......
I had never been to Fixby Crem before,so at least it turned out to be a 'rehearsal ' for Sue's funeral today.Although ,are not all funerals "rehersals" really?
Sue's funeral was packed today.Very moving ,and a great tribute to such a grand lass.
Lots of music! As we entered the service we were greeted by Santana playing "She's not there" playing full blast.
I couldnt help thinking that Sue ,sat in the sky,was looking down on me and taking the piss about my adventures the previous week !
During the service,the vicar asked the mourners to give Sue's coffin a round of applause ( a new one on me).
Her service concluded with John Martyn singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow".
Now,the previous week i had taken this photo of a rainbow over the crematorium.Maybe this was the real purpose of my mistaken visit to Jill the previous week? one Door Shuts: Another One Opens I Guess.......
Finally, my most recent photos......
See all these photos in one place here
22 comments:
Jill was happy to have you there and that rainbow was beautiful. I wonder about all our attendance at funerals being practice for the final event. We won't need any practice for that one.
The stranger outside the door - if that was a movie, I'd be worried about the time he showed up.
Indeed Kristin!
I just wish it was like weddings where the priest asks the congregation if they know of any" If anyone knows of any lawful impediment.... to prevent the ceremony ...!
Yes! He looks like an undertaker! 'Though ,in my experience, they can be very Jolly Fellows!
Jill was a lovely lady. Or so I've heard.
She attracted very good people to her.
Condolences on the loss of your friend, however, the sad certainly leavened by getting 2 funerals in for her.
Last one I went to, graveside mourners all handed cans of beer to drink and then we threw the empties in on top of the coffin in the grave. That lightened the mood.
That Perth house looks very handsome, and IMO Livvie Neutron-Bomb cannot sing.
Yea i tried to get the John Marytn version of Rainbow (that was played at the funeral) but couldnt find it...yea,Ms Neutron-Bomb is pants.......but her version seemed 'right' somehow for this post (maybe she kills the song.......?)
I particularly love the picture of Fixby Crem. And there is a good chance that it you examine it in detail you will probably see a fat old chap walking a chocolate labradoodle up the path, as the walk through the crew is part of our daily routine. I just look on it as getting her used to the occasion when she will need to follow my coffin.
As I say, I had never been To Fixby Crem before Friday 13th.It'sa a Beautiful setting.I especially enjoy the apple trees there! big juicy ripe red ones!
How lovely that you were able to mourn a total stranger in that way. I like the idea of the rehearsal too.
Nothing funny about funerals but attending the wrong one is amusing in a way, and a stranger at the door could be ominous, especially the gentleman in your photograph whose outline seems to blend into the shadow around him.
In this context he does look like an undertaker..........
Would chalk it up to Friday the 13th, but at least you were a week early (not late) and still had a chance to pay your respects to Sue. And excellent report on a disconcerting experience. Condolences on your loss.
Thank You Molly X
A great story, Tony, and artfully introduced with that grime stranger. I add my condolences too on the loss of your friend, but you've gained a new one so-to-speak in Jill. Mixed with the coincidence of Friday the 13th and a rainbow to boot it's a story of unexpected friendship. True tales are the best.
Thank you so much for sharing your serious but amusing story. I walked in on the wrong wedding once - not knowing quite what to do when the usher asked whether I wished to sit on the groom's or bride's side and looking around, I suddenly realized I didn't know anyone there. I had gone to the wrong church! I think I mumbled something about needing to do something I forgot first, and hurried out, getting to the right wedding at the right church just a shade late. Whew!
Now, if funerals were the same as weddings, and the priest had asked "If any of you know cause, or just impediment, speak now, or forever hold your peace... I could have shouted out ."yes"."me"
n.b.i have deleted the Olivia Neutron-Bomb version of Rainbow & replaced it with the utimate sound of Judy Garland singing it .
As is my way,I will also delete this eventually but here is a direct link to my source for it.
Coming late this week, I missed the earlier version of "rainbow" and didn't understand comments above...glad you told us that it's now Judy singing! My comment on the post is that it's one of those stories that should be publicized. Capturing the rainbow was definitely worth the date mix-up. I like the photo (recent) of the tower through the library's skylight.
Yea the tower is a feature in the newly opened Halifax Central Library.A very impressive combination of new & old here is a feature about it in the local newspaper's website.
Where I live it is unusual to put a funeral off that long. It is both amusing and sad to be early for the send-off.
Post a Comment