My stepmother Dorothy died last week, 24 years after my father. Her funeral is tomorrow and I am going, along with 2 brothers and 2 sisters. There is to be a church service followed by interment at the town's main cemetery… my father was cremated but Dorothy wanted to be interred next to her first husband of 28 years… her 2 children asked and there were no objections – we knew her first husband Jack, he died of cancer and Dorothy and my father got together, first as friends, then shared 15 years of very happy marriage.
I don't know if I can cope with the walk to the graveside and the standing around for the internment so I will most likely attend the service and then go on to the reception at a small hotel owned by friends of my Dad and Dorothy.
I have decided that I want to be cremated… with my ashes interred under a new apple tree on my Nana's old farm on the side of Dinas Mountain in Pembrokeshire… the place of most of my childhood joy and the setting of my current novel (permission from the current owner notwithstanding that is):-) .
My Nan sold the farm to a Doctor as a holiday home in 1965… it is now owned by his son, also a doctor and in touch with my sister Sian who has taken over from me as the family archivist. The farm, 'Pen-Y-Mynydd' (The Mountain Top) is currently being overhauled and the owner has said he will be happy for our family to use it as paying guests (he is keeping its use for family and close friends, so we feel duly grateful and honoured).
I hope to stay around until it is ready so I can go stay there. I know it will be totally different but the spirit of the place will be the same. I am sure that the owner will not object to a small apple tree in a far corner. I know my children will continue to visit Fishguard occasionally and the thought of my grandchildren enjoying an apple fed by 'Tadcu' fills me with joy.
As stated I will be at the funeral tomorrow but I will raise a glass to Peter's birthday Min… and I will whisper a small something for you too.
Dai.
tom 12 years, 11 months ago.
