Quite a funeral - and another in the offing

Michael, our brother-in-law, had many connexions to Rochester Cathedral, so we weren’t surprised at his wish for his funeral to be conducted there.  He and Martyn’s sister Sandra met through their musical involvement with the cathedral, and they were married there, 53 years ago.  Michael was for some time chairman of the Friends of the cathedral, and he and Sandra both volunteered as meeters and greeters for visitors.  Well, the funeral was comparable to many a state do: two anthems and a psalm sung by the cathedral choir, three hymns, a sermon, a eulogy bravely and flawlessly delivered by Sandra, and several tributes from friends and brother  masons, as well as the usual prayers and liturgical devices.  The congregation pretty much filled the choir: well over 200, we think.  The committal was up the road at the Crem, and by comparison was mercifully brief.

Some days before that, our lovely neighbour Rowena died peacefully, mere hours after going into the nearby hospice.  She had undergone much surgery and treatment after developing breast cancer in her late twenties, but the latest lot of treatment just made her feel awful, and did no good.  When she died she had just had her 39th birthday.  We last saw her when we witnessed her will a couple of weeks ago: she was very weak and jaundiced, so one has to be grateful that she is no longer suffering.

The late heatwave has abated, thank goodness.  We have had some pretty lively downpours, and I gather that there was thunder and lightning last night.  Didn’t wake me.  Out in the garden, most of the tomatoes are finished.  We’ll get a few more to pick - and possibly even a few San Marzanos.  The mini-greenhouse is chock full of cuttings, seedlings and bought plug plants, so I’d better restrain my propagating ambitions.

It’s that expensive time of year when the car needs re-insuring, plus a service and MoT.  The renewal quote came in with an increase of over 60%, so I’ve moved to another company.  Still a good bit more than last year, but even without a voluntary excess, it’s a lot cheaper than the quote from my current insurers.  Given the lousy service we had from the same insurer when the hot water cylinder leaked, we’ll be looking to insure the house and contents somewhere else as well.