Thursday night late (might as well call it Friday morning, mostly because it was), after tying up blogging loose ends here (and leaving Jay to the sweating heat of Songkran), we shoved suitcases into a taxi and off we went. To Suvarnabhumi, Thailand’s new(ish), but not uneventful airport (BA, join the club!)
Except for an overly-helpful stewardess waking me up to turn off a light so’s not to wake anyone up, the flight was uneventful. I know because I was awake the rest of the way. The best part of 11 hours awake.
Landing in Heathrow, I tiredly grinned when they announced first and business class luggage was to be delayed. Grins turned to frowns when it changed to all luggage on our flight. A 40 minute delay they say.
Fast forward past the gathering of luggage, the wait for the rental (heads shaking at a prediction of snow), down the M3 past Stonehenge to lunching at The Queens Arms. Then finally, entering Exeter.
So strange. Nothing has changed. It’s like blink in time. Here might as well be around the corner from there. And it is. From point to point, with a kink tying up the middle, it’s a mere 23 hour corner.
Skipping the rest of that day and yesterday, we come to today. Sunday. A beautiful day. A snowy day. An April day. And a day of remembrance.
(It’s snowing? by C Morley)
Yesterday and before were typical Devon spring days. Sun and no sun. Nothing new. But today, first thing, large gobs of show floated down past windows. Black snow-filled skies, then lightening followed by thunder. A dark day.
(Snow shine by C Morley)
Then, as is typical on a snowy Devon day, sun followed snow. Brilliant and warm, a welcoming and welcomed sun.
(Snow flowers by C Morley)
So here I am today. Sunday morning late. On a day of remembrance. A beautiful day of remembrance. Yes. A year ago today, my precious father inlaw was laid to rest.
A year ago today, an undertaker, walking under a large and black top hat, led the way on foot. A laden Hearst crawled behind, with us after. Slowly, slowly we went, up that road of snow.
A year ago today, we woke, dressed, then gathered across the hall for shots of brandy and warm hugs. To start our day of saying goodbyes to a dear, dear man. A man who, at the end of his life, hated the cold and the snow.
But I’m sure he would have loved this new beautiful day of sun and snow flowers. And a brandy or two.
So, here’s a bottoms up.
And a warm cheers to you all and yours.
And of course, to those who will be blogging.
(The sun between the snows by C Morley)
Technorati Tags: Blogging, devon, Ramblings, remembrance
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What a lovely tribute to your father-in-law Cat. Snow shine and snow flowers are beautiful indeed, and seem particularly fitting.
Joanna
Joanna Young’s last blog post..Do You Have An April Birthday? Then This Is For You
Thank you Joanna. On the way back from a seafood lunch, we remarked at how we couldn’t believe it’d been snowing only hours before.
Btw – Happy Birthday again. I realise you are all the way up in Scotland, but here’s hoping you also get some of that fantastic weather. I do miss Aberdeen in the winter. There’s nothing like Scottish weather with snow on the ground and bright blue summer-like skies.
great pics i love the snow!
This tender remembrance was read on a rainy, cold day in Iowa. And by the time I finished it the sun was shining, ending our day with warmth on our faces.
Loved your phrase, “a mere 23 hour corner” — when humans pay attention it turns out we don’t live that far apart.
Keep creating…a story worth repeating,
Mike
Mike Wagner’s last blog post..What Position Did You Play?
Thanks Mike.
Iowa – I’ve never been but I’m been near (a few states away). I hear spring out there is beautiful.
Yes, 23 hours isn’t that far away when you really think of it. A sleep away in a way (as long as you do sleep ;-)
It’s been a teary-sweet trip this year, peppered with “Dad said this” and “Ken said that”.
And it’s not just been the memories of what’s been said. It’s remembering his cheeky smile when sneaking that extra glass of wine while Mum was in the kitchen cooking … the way he wore his woolen hat to keep his bald head from the cold … the way he shuffled up hill to bowls. Yup. That hill.
But, life keeps fast forwarding on. And now it’s spring again. Spring in Devon. And what could be sweeter than that?