Get the funk up!

I wondered if there might be a way to find somewhere for you to stay the night. Good for you Dana and limey for making it possible. I love ya gutses! xxx

I love the cellar so much.

Off to Essex today, to tend the graves of Nanny and Grandad, and Auntie Alice.
We made a right ragtag procession travelling on the Underground, with two shopping trolleys, Mum and I in the same jeans and Dads shuffling along behind.

Two trolleys?
Well, yes - two rosebushes, assorted gardening and cleaning tools, gloves, kneeling pads, stones etc. Of course they used to go in the car, so I wasn't necessary. But now everything has to be carried up and down the stairs whic hare still part of many station, I get a free ride along. Gets me out of the house anyway.

First to Barkingside.
Cherry trees in bloom in the Garden of Remebrance (they were both cremated).
Second pic shows same with added detail of Dad working and one of the trolleys.

I'd gone to fill a watering can, I wasn't just wandering about taking photos, I promise.

Mum gets really cross about the maintenance people there, as they strim too close to the marker and therefore damage it AND usually get anything planted too.

Hence the stones.
Mum is not allowed to have anything above the level of the plinth; they will be charged if any works equipment is damaged. But at least this might keep them a little further back.

All shiny and scrubbed by me.

Nanny has an extra marker because that was her original. They didn't have the official stone made until Grandad died, as he had a very well paid-up funeral plan. Again, resiting in the hope that the grasscutters/ strimmers do less damage.

Mum left calm and happy, which was good.
It pains her to have them beyond the reach of monthly visits or upkeep.

So off to Barkingside High Street for pie & mash.
Traditional pie shop. No longer as good says Mum, it's being run by Eastern Europeans and she said the potato was not right at all.

.

Proper English breakfast.
Although I didn't need two sausages. This was the smallest breakfast on the menu and it worked out cheaper than any smaller one I could put together.

My Godfather, who still lives locally, came to pick us up and drive us up to the cemetary Auntie Alice is buried in.
This is a much newer graveyard and therefore more tended and more colourful.
Last time Dads and I came here was for the funeral of Peter's father.

This grave was in a better condition, as they don't come right up to it with equipment. We needed to cut some of the highest grass back though. You can't have it both ways.
Again, planted a rosebush, did some trimming and cleaning and left it neat and tidy.

Forest Park is just outside Hainault and a high and windy hill.
I've promised Mum I'll lookout for plants that can take a battering from the wind and rain and need little maintenance. She's like something to go in that little hole, which would usually be covered with a top to hold fresh flowers - which we can't bring more than twice a year.

Alice is in the non-denominational part, but the others are creeping nearer. It felt like she was one of the only people buried there at her internment.

Detail to show hazy London skyline.
You can see the Gherkin and Canary Wharf from there with the naked eye.

With my Godfather, Peter.

That sounds like a good, productive day out. I like the look of Pete :)

Sent by thought transference

I know you've lost weight, but I'd like to know how you and your Mum fit into one pair of jeans. :D

They have to take very small steps. ;)

snort