Friday 31st January - we made it!

 We made it to the end of January! Or more specifically, to the end of this week. I overslept by two hours thus morning; didn't wake in the night, didn't hear the alarm, didn't notice BB getting dressed...

This afternoon was the last of the week's appointments;

Monday - zoom meeting with the lady who is to be the celebrant at the cremation 

Wednesday  - whole day in a bitterly cold London for lung function tests, and in the evening a zoom meeting with friends in Canada

Thursday  - piano lesson to teach in the morning (they're a bit of a treat so I didn't cancel), dentist for both of us in the afternoon, regular zoom meeting in the evening (which is very important to me and the small group of us who meet every Thursday)

Friday - start work on the address list for nigh on 75, maybe 100  people who need to be informed of the funeral arrangements by letter (we've already contacted around 200 by email), and in the afternoon actually, finally registered my father’s death (he died on 2nd January)

So that's why I didn't get round to a post yesterday.  It's a good job the diary is clear for tomorrow morning as I wouldn't be surprised if I overslept again! 

.....

I do love having candles around. There's something comforting about the gentle movement of the flame. These are all battery candles. The one on the left is the one I took into the hospital to give to my father on Christmas day. It seemed to give him a sense of peace and comfort when we switched it on; he relaxed and watched the slow steady flicker of the 'flame'. 

We gave the middle one to my godmother back in about 2017. She was living on her own, fiercely independent, but said once she liked to put it on to remind her of us, and her family hundreds of miles away back in Finland.

I've said it before, somewhere, that if you are looking for a gift for someone in hospital a better or rechargeable candle is a good idea.

On Wednesday we had lunch actually in a church! Afterwards I lit a load of candles  - like I said, I love candles. I was careful; naked flames and oxygen and all that. Prayers for all our family, and my brother's family as the funeral arrangements are quite a lot to be dealing with along with the regular demands of our lives. 

'I think you should stop now' said BB firmly.

'One more, for me,' was my reply. In fairness, the right-hand candle was already lit...

(There is a donation box for candles and we did give generously).

I like lighting candles in a church. I might not have many words to add to the action, but it's a prayerful action, and I'm sure I'm not the only one to include the intentions behind the other lighted candles in my prayers.

....

So, the passage from Ecclesiastes 3 was complete yesterday. 

I'll leave you with this prayer of St Columba shared by a member of the Thursday evening zoom group. This will see me - and you? - through tonight and this weekend.

Be thou a bright flame before me, O God,
A guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path below me,
A kindly shepherd behind me,
Today, tonight and for ever