Black Friday indeed!

I had a much better night's sleep and woke feeling more refreshed this morning. Although I am sad about my Dad's passing, I feel he didn't have much quality of life, and he would have hated to linger for ages and suffer. I am determined to remember him as he was, and the comments I've received on Facebook have been lovely, saying what a great man he was, which was true. This is one of my favourite photos of him, taken in 2006 with his Mum, Winnie. My parents had renewed their wedding vows, and it was a lovely day.

Sophie went back to work this morning, Keith went shopping, and I pottered about doing housework until he came home and I helped him put everything away.

At 12.30pm, we drove to Kettering to the funeral directors. I was dreading the appointment, but I was pleasantly surprised. We saw Lloyd, who reminded me of one of our Landlords at the pub, Peter (also since passed away but a great character), and he was exceptionally friendly and helpful, without being sappy. I couldn't have borne it if he'd been mawkish!

We were shown to a pleasant boardroom-style office, and he took all of our details. We chatted for about an hour, and provisionally booked a date for the funeral on the 11th of December. The funeral directors handled everything, even the flowers, the notices in two local newspapers, and the buffet for the wake. We said we wanted the pub in Walgrave for the wake, but Keith would have to check this evening when he went.

We chose a coffin, decided the hearse would go straight to the crematorium, and a limousine to take Mum, Sophie and me from the care home. By 2pm, we were all done, and I was mightily relieved! We emerged into a different afternoon than when we'd gone in, as the earlier sunshine had been replaced by dark clouds. I said to Keith when we drove off that I should have asked if the funeral directors had any Black Friday deals, as we also need to sort out a pre-paid funeral plan for my Mum ... only joking! I'm sure humour helps in this situation!

Before going to see Mum again, we popped to Tesco as I was desperate for a cup of tea! (We had been offered tea or coffee in the office and declined.) I bought some things we'd left off the shopping list and a Lindor Advent calendar for Sophie. When we emerged, it was pouring with rain! What a difference to the sunny morning!

We went to the care home, and Keith sat in the lounge next to Mum's living room and read the paper while I sat and chatted with her. Naturally, she was sad and quiet, and I think it's going to take a long while for her to adjust to life without my Dad.

Keith and I returned home, and I hadn't a clue what day it was! It felt like Wednesday, so it was great to realise it was Friday and the weekend was ahead of us. Keith went to the pub tonight, with strict instructions to find out whether we could have the wake, and Sophie and I finished off an open bottle of wine and watched a documentary on Netflix about a man accused of killing both his grandfather and his mother for the inheritance money. 

Keith came home far earlier than expected because a Christmas tree lights switch-on was taking place in front of the pub, and he said the place was rammed with people. Worryingly, the pub didn't seem to be able to accommodate us on the 11th, and Keith said we'd pop in tomorrow to check with the landlord. Let's keep our fingers crossed!