A DAY OF NEW CREATION AND SAYING GOODBYE

Dark autumnal sky and constant driving rain albeit still very mild. I cleared the DVD orders and returned from the shop and carried on with my bike machine until I had had enough, roughly 3 minutes. Well how long are you expected to pedal away in the garage. I got all the Minidv tapes I'd copied films on to rewound between other jobs and uploaded the first to the computer timeline ready to get stills for EBay and put on Youtube. Thus far and no further as time seemed to have slipped by and I needed to change for the funeral. I got the baby presents packed and after 6 attempts to leave variously going back for keys, set alarm, unset alarm, reset alarm, go back for sat nav etc, you get the picture I was on my way up to Mossley in the foot hills of the Himalayas. I'd also forgotten an oxygen supply but had fited my ice water cuff around my knee, quite head turning in a what the heck sort of way. Actually the sat nav wouldn't take Ruth and Trevor's address but I reset it when I got to Mossley and it worked , it took me through roads which had last been used by Dick Turpin, one way lanes better suited to Devon , then the final plod through the flooded potholes to the house. Baby was upset big time, mum and dad sleepless. I did stay and have a brew and a catch up, time once more warped out and it was urgent that I reset the beloved where would I be without you satnav for Glossop.

Its very hard work this retiring lark, I used to get a rest at the office. When I arrived at the Central Methodist Church in Glossop the car paerk was already filling fast , parked up next to Cath and Alan and after a short while we went in even though it seemed a bit too early. Not at all as it turned out, standing room only and  we were serenaded as we waited by Glossop Town Band with whom Mark plays indeed we learnt it was at a band contest that Mark took Sue on their first date. A lovely order of service book befitting a publisher, the band and full church added a lot and a nice selection of hymns. Then Sue's old headmaster gave his reminiscences and then told us about their staff meetings and the price of a loaf etc, it rather went on and again we learnt that Sue had usually acted to curtail his rambling when on the large screen where family photos were being shown a sign came up from the computer, 'battery running low' perhaps Sue was after all trying to give him a hint.

We then found out that long standing friends Martin and Gary were sitting at the end of the row in front of us and after the service we popped back to the cricket club for a while - territory which was very much home from home for the family. Martin had done lots to support the book stall for Mark over the past few years and it was good to catch up with Gary. Mark's words at the service were spoken by the minister , Mark had summed up the need not to put things off until tomorrow, get the tickets, do the trip etc. When Mark came and had a chat he, very sweetly I though,t mentioned that Mandy and I might not need to heed his last bit of advice as we never seem to stop. Still it is good advice and certainly makes you aware of how important it is to make full use of our time and cherish those special to us and also challenge us on what we do for our communities. I suppose being pretty driven myself I could see that the many interests Sue had were just so many challenges successfully juggled. Needless to say a tough time for not days but years but I  thought Dan and Hannah were supporting dad well and Mark seemed relaxed later amongst the many family and friends back at the club.

By the time I got home, spoke to Mandy in Ireland, tried to ring John in Eastbourne, had a pudding ( eaten at the wake) it was fast heading towards bed time although I did get a fall bag of orders ready to post, checked the weather, will try Burton again tomorrow, Mandy gets back late. Thursday looks promising may try out new truck film locations not too far from home. Still didn't get any further with the films and Youtube, rather upset at an ill timed tirade on Youtube from a what the f........ you sad blah blah. Just getting up to 19 million hits on our Youtube channel I think our friend was the one out of step with those who have an interest in transport etc.  Posts read each week on this blog are around 6000, with a hard core just under a 1000 following almost everything. Whether you are in the warmth of a New Zaaland summer or tucked up warm against the wind and rain in Britain or a hundred countries between I wish you good night and a happy tomorrow although I've a feeling that sorting the ongoing Amazon saga may tax my Karma before long. Pictures, surely not it's getting late ok lucky dip though!  Well even if I don't get film tomorrow it's a Staffs collection.