Go to a funeral and a Christening in one week

Funerals and Christenings are not regular activities so to have both in one week was “different”.

Lesley was a “gym changing room buddy” from about 12 years ago, but I lost track of her when I moved away and failed to meet up with her again when I moved back.  It was a shock to hear that she had died at the age of only 41.  I also know her mother (in a different context) so I wanted to go and pay my respects at the funeral.  The crematorium was full to bursting, which was good, and the service was a “celebration of her life” – as much as these things can ever be.  There were some good memories and recollections of her.  I still have problems coming to terms with the idea that she has died as she was one of these people who was so alive.

Funeral programme
Funeral programme

I had the invitation to the Christening weeks before and had replied.

Invitation to Christening
Invitation to Christening

I spent a lot of the rest of the week making 2 batches of cheese straws (which I had never tried before) and 2 batches of flapjacks to contribute to the “light refreshments”.  To get there on time meant leaving about 7.45 in the morning so getting up considerably earlier.  This was not quite such a shock to the system as it might have been as it was the day the clocks changed, so I was leaving at 8.45 by the time of the previous day.  Even though there was a 50 mph speed limit most of the way up the M3 I did arrive with plenty of time to spare.  The Christening went as these things do and Caleb didn’t cry, which was probably because his father held him all the time.  He is quite old as he is nearly 2 and so quite active!

Christening programme
Christening programme

As the Church hall is in the process of being rebuilt/extended/refurbished, the after Church coffee and the “light refreshments” were held in the City Freemans School which adjoins the churchyard.  I spent some time catching up with people I had known when I lived in the area and went to the church, which was nice.  Didn’t really know that many of the people from the Christening, so I didn’t stay too long – especially with the thought of the M3 to tackle again.  I had taken my camera, but the battery was almost totally flat, so I didn’t manage to take any pictures!

So how were these events?  Much as one would expect, I think.  It was lovely to see Caleb’s parents and sister and some of the people from that church, though.

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