PublicGetting straight to the point: I just can't manage Christmas shopping this year on the scale I've done it in the past. I finally realised this today when something as simple as a shop's stereo playing Wham!'s "Last Christmas" (one of Susan's favourite silly Christmas songs) forced me outside on the verge of tears. Actually going round shops ( Read more... )

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We've had a poll on UK of Equestria in the last few weeks about which charity should be BUCK's official beneficiary this year. And the winner was Cardiac Risk in the Young -- which I nominated. Last year, the charity auction raised a pretty penny; I don't have the exact figure at my fingertips, but one item (a plushie of the con mascot, ( Read more... )

PublicToday's trip to Gloucestershire for the Prescott hillclimb was the first time I'd been to a motorsport event since October. Since Susan was a huge motorsport fan (before I was, really) I wasn't sure how I'd deal with things, but actually it was mostly okay. I did enjoy myself, the sun shone for some of the time and there were some very good ( Read more... )

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We went to the cemetery today, for the first time since Susan's memorial had been completed. This is it: a little gravel garden with a simple plaque. Some people have much more elaborate memorials, but they didn't seem right for Susan. I like this as it is. The stick at the back supports a Dame de Coeur rose, though of course that's not in ( Read more... )

PublicA little milestone today: with the exception of going to Bristol to visit Granny, this was the first outing to somewhere further than Worcester. It takes about an hour to get to RAF Museum Cosford, and that was about at the limit of our endurance, we discovered. It was perishingly cold, with a strong wind and light snow for most of the day, ( Read more... )

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This is from the BBC's Bereavement section:


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PublicThis photo was taken this afternoon at Tanners Hill on the edge of Bewdley, the first time I'd been here since Susan died. The two of us often used to walk out here together, since it's barely a ten-minute walk from home. We'd lean on the gate I'm standing behind (not visible in the photograph) and talk about anything and everything. The ( Read more... )

PublicThis was at midday today, and remarkably - despite a very unpromising wet and windy morning - the sun was out. The celebrant was a good reader, and did justice to what we wanted to say about Susan. (Most of the address was written by my dad, with input from my mum and me.) The wicker coffin looked gentler than a traditional "big wooden box", ( Read more... )

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I honestly have no idea whether anyone is affected by this, but just in case: I have no problem with people saying things like "I'll keep you in my prayers." Although Susan and I weren't/aren't believers, that sort of kind thought is nevertheless touching, whatever your faith. I'd only be upset by the sort of people who started on about how ( Read more... )

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My parents and I went to see the cemetery and crematorium on the edge of Stourport this afternoon. This is where the ceremony for Susan will take place on Thursday, and where her ashes will be scattered later on. There was absolutely nobody else about, which suited us fine. Part of that is because it's a very new site (opened just under a ( Read more... )