Mrs Thomas was an old farmer's wife
For the past couple of years she has been resident in a local residential home ( where I nursed her last year) but before that she lived in Bryn Rodyn Farm on the outskirts of the village.
She had a sing song Welsh voice, a bad tempered red terrier called Barney and made loaf after loaf of bara brith for one of my allotment open days , the big one that raised a thousand quid in two hours!
She was well known and well respected by the older members of the village community.
Well it was her funeral today.
I say Funeral , fairly loosely as all you are " allowed" nowadays is 12 mourners and an outside service of sorts, and so as a mark of respect I stood in my field with the ponies as the Minister led he family into the graveyard, the little knots of people separate from each other by the required six feet.
It looked like no Funeral I was used to.
The minister had a fine, strong voice and I could almost hear every word of the bilingual service from a hundred yards away and as I stood the ponies congregated around blowing down their noses at me.
I turned and for a few moments exhaled loudly as they inhaled our noses touching.
It's always a magical moment when ponies do that.
A breathing hello between two species.
Everyday now in lockdown the Churchyard cockerels fly over the wall to have a brief meal of old cat food. They come because the dogs are all over at Trendy Carol's and there is no hysteria over their visit.
It's been a warm , blue sky day today
Does it happen you automatically receive Blockchain two-factor authentication fail error in your Blockchain account? If you are unable to handle all troubles and need steps to fix it, you can always call on Blockchain customer service number which is always functional and the team is ready to guide you. Whenever you are occupied by such issues, you can always contact the team for the better results. They are always one –step away from you, contact them and gain quality Blockchain Customer Support NUmber results completely. Whenever you are in trouble, contact with the team for the useful results that are easy to obtain.
ReplyDeleteIt's like a very grounding moment when ponies do that, I know what you mean. My friend 'attended' her father's funeral this week via video link from the crematorium as did all the mourners. Funerals are like no other at the moment, as you say.
ReplyDeleteI give the ponies a sniff every day
DeleteMaybe it was the sort of funeral Mrs Thomas would have liked. When the farmer died farmers from miles around came to pay their respects - the church overflowed and so did the churchyard and there were well over a hundred at the reception afterward. The farmer was a very private man and I have often wondered what kind of funeral he would have liked. The idea of the cockerels and the ponies would certainly appeal to me.
ReplyDeleteYes good point weave x
DeleteI was wondering how the funerals would look like while most of the world is in quarantine. Now I imagined it, while reading your post.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing in common across the world
DeleteI sadly attended my Mothers funeral by video link in November last year due to me living in NZ (for 35 years) her in the UK...we cried and snotted and felt the same feelings as we would have had we have been there in person in the flesh as my sister and her family did on the day... no emotions were that different to my mind... R.I.P Mrs Thomas... you are mourned and very much missed by whom...it matters not!
ReplyDeleteJo in Auckland
Good point jo x
DeleteIt's a new normal. A little heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteCommuning with another living being in a way that both beings understand is a wonderful thing. Glad you had a moment with your hooved friends.
Yes a little heartbreaking x
DeleteTo me that seems preferable to the usual Church /Cremotorium full of people.I think on occasion a Funeral can be impersonable and this sounds more poignant somehow x
ReplyDeleteApart from the distance between the mourners
DeleteMrs. Thomas certainly seems to have been a contributing member of her community. Even though odd, the funeral seems very fitting for her. I'm glad you could show your respects beside the equine attendees.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful cockerels!
Hugs!
They are quite a pair
DeleteWe are living in truly strange times aren't we. RIP Mrs Thomas.
ReplyDeleteIt was my Mum's neighbours funeral today and of course none of his many friends could go, just the very immediate family. We chatted about it for a while and in a very strange coincidence a hearse and lone funeral car drove slowly past our place as I stood outside in the sunshine. Very poignant, very sad, a strange kind of visual link between Wales and England while we chatted.
We are living through very odd days
DeleteYou make me sorry that I never knew her. Nice eulogy.
ReplyDeleteThe minister was magnificent , he sounded like Richard Burton
DeleteFarewell Mrs Thomas. Farewell.
ReplyDeleteX
DeleteBoth my parents had graveside services rather than formal funerals. They can be quite lovely if the weather's good.
ReplyDeleteYes the weather was lovely today
DeleteWhen I got news by phone of my mom's terminal kidney cancer, I (once I got off the floor and the ground outside, because this knocked me right to my knees twice), I headed out to the pasture where there were about six horses. I'm wary of horses and wasn't seeking them out, but they came gallopping up to me and gathered closely around me as if in solidarity. What a comfort that was. They are sensitive, compassionate creatures. -Kate
ReplyDeleteWow, how wonderful ♥️
DeleteAnimals can be a great panacea to crap and anxiety
DeleteA graveside service sounds nice. Hope you have better weather than we do. It's chilly here, still.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Thomas seemed like a fun old lady. May she rest in peace.
Those are two nice cocks.
XOXO
The weather has been glorious , which is unfortunate in a lockdown
DeleteThank you for being there for your neighbor, in life and after. One lesson learned from 1918, was that people who gathered for funerals, often had more funerals to attend. Though not easy, we have learned a bit over the past 100 years.
ReplyDeleteShow girls like this would feel cheated if we had to have a small affair
DeleteEven now, in some way, the rituals of life and death continue.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.......
DeleteHorses just know.
ReplyDeleteGlad you could pay respect, even if at a distance
Me too
DeleteFunerals here are 10 people or less. There are "drive through" visitations now, and live streaming services. Mrs. Thomas sounded like a dear woman, and deserved much better than this.
ReplyDeleteOh, the warm snuffle of a horse, by your face, those whiskers tickling skin - the gentleness of their souls, their pure connections with us. J'adore.
They were and are so gentle when you quieten them with your breath
DeleteLovely story, the horses were wonderful addition to the service.
ReplyDeleteThe Churchyard cockerels have grown up ? they always seem so small.
parsnip
They have survived so well during two winters
DeleteNice to be able to pay your respects from the pasture side of the wall. And, what a lovely and grounding treat to have the ponies join you. I love that exchange of breath.
ReplyDeleteIt's very relaxing
DeleteI try to do it daily
I am glad my father passed away before this started. We have still not placed his ashes in the wall. We were waiting for a warmer day. Now we are just waiting.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry
DeleteThat's 5 more people than allowed here. My sister-in-law's mother-in-law's funeral is in a few weeks' time and it's only 5 allowed including the vicar. What a lovely John Gray way to show your respects - I'm sure she would have loved it!
ReplyDeleteThe perk of living next to the graveyard
DeleteBoth of my parents had simple graveside services as that was their wish. But we were not separated by distance as is necessary today. We were able to support one another as it should be.
ReplyDeleteI want a MASSIVE funeral
DeleteYou mean with a MASSIVE hole? They'll have to bring in a couple of MASSIVE JCB diggers.
DeleteTwat xxx
DeleteWe know ... with your elegant lady dressed head to toe in black, wearing a thick veil and putting a single red rose on your coffin.
DeleteWe have it planned ..... hehehe
Most funerals are being live-streamed here (a maximum of ten attendees including the celebrant and staff) with memorials put on hold.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you could attend (at a distance) and love the pony presence (and the cockerels).
The ponies are staying another three weeks or so
DeleteThere are so many people dying in NYC that the funeral homes are not able to handle the demand. Those whose bodies were not claimed by loved ones were put in boxes and buried in mass graves on Heart Island. For 150 years this has been the final resting place for the poor and those who have died unloved and forgotten. It was stunning and heartbreaking to see that scene on TV.
DeleteThat is so sad. I once read of someone who devoted her retirement years to attending the funerals of the unloved in her locality. She and a few like-minded souls devised a rota system to ensure all funerals in their area were covered. They received no payment, nor claimed travel expenses.
DeleteMay Mrs. Thomas rest in peace. I agree with Weave, perhaps it was just the kind of service she may have wanted. There are no funerals taking place in our area right now...none. If it's a burial then caskets are being placed on hold in crypts and cremation ashes are sent via UPS to the family. All the obituaries read "service at a later date". There's going to be quite a crush in a few weeks (or months) when the ban is lifted. Take care John. Glad you're feeling better. X
ReplyDeleteOh God ... imagine getting your relatives ashes through UPS delivery. I can think of nothing worse :-(
DeleteA sad and touching event, but rather touching in an oldfashioned way, to gather in the churchyard. My family doesn't do funerals, just cremation then optional party later on.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what is happening here in NY with all those who have succumbed to the virus, rather ghastly and a long wait.
I'm not familiar w horses but my previous pug would blow in my face and wait for me to puff back; we 'd exchange silent greetings that way, he never barked.
lizzy
I can not tell you how much I love the pictures of the chickens. They are so beautiful. Could we please see the ponies?
ReplyDeleteThe ponies are in the first (top) picture! Noses to the camera!
DeleteThis made me a bit teary. The cockerels are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWonderful picture of the cockerels.
ReplyDeleteVery sad John. Maybe they can have a remembrance service at a later date.
ReplyDeleteIt's my uncles funeral next week. He died in hospital having caught Covid 19 there after suffering a fractured hip. As he lives the other end of the country, only my cousin is attending her father's funeral, I shall go and sit in our Church yard at the time.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this, how sad. xx
DeleteMany Binance users get involved into errors while working on the exchange. If you are having trouble in depositing and withdrawing the funds in the Binance exchange account, you can always have conversation with the team of elite troubles who are there to guide you. Whenever you are in doubt, you can always have conversation with the team members who are always Binance Customer Service Number there to provide you the best guidance to users. Speak to the team via Binance customer service number whenever you are in trouble and attain quality-assistance from the professionals in no time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to be out there. Somehow even more powerful than being part of the group. Even 12 aren't permitted here. It must be so hard.
ReplyDeleteOK John, I had to come back to your blog and post this for you once I had read Allison's post, (http://retiredbicycle.blogspot.com/) for today, "These are the cockerels who live in Wales in the village with an unpronounceable name. That's a plate of cat food between them. The man who writes Going Gently posted it. It's just a lovely photograph."
ReplyDeleteThank you x
DeleteI'm glad you were able to pay your respects, it is so difficult for Mourning the deceased during a Time of Pandemic. Most cannot be there in person at the Death Bed if the Loved One is Hospitalized it's just not allowed and at least lovely, kind Nurses and Doctors are using their Phones for a Last Goodbye to the Family via Technology. We live near a huge Cemetery and every day now there are numerous Funerals, but the processions have to be Small and usually limited to Immediate Family Members. Just an added layer of sadness and vast Change from our Normal.
ReplyDeleteI love your work.
ReplyDeleteสล็ŕ¸ŕ¸• คาสิโน 100%
TRUE HACKER IN THE WORLD
ReplyDeleteINSTEAD OF APPLYING FOR A LOAN,, I GOT SOMETHING NEW
Get $5,500 USD every day, for six months!
See how it works
Do you know you can hack into any ATM machine with a hacked ATM card??
Order for a Blank ATM card now and get millions within a week!: contact us
via email address::{jameshackedatm@gmail.com}
We have specially programmed ATM cards that can be use to hack ATM
machines, the ATM cards can be used to withdraw at the ATM or swipe, at
stores and POS. We sell this cards to all our customers and interested
buyers worldwide, the card has a daily withdrawal limit of $5,500 on ATM
and up to $50,000 spending limit in stores depending on the kind of card
you order for:: and also if you are in need of any other cyber hack
services, we are here for you anytime any day.
Here is our price lists for the ATM CARDS:
Cards that withdraw $5,500 per day costs $200 USD
Cards that withdraw $10,000 per day costs $800 USD
Cards that withdraw $35,000 per day costs $2,000 USD
Cards that withdraw $50,000 per day costs $5,500 USD
Cards that withdraw $100,000 per day costs $8,500 USD
make up your mind before applying, straight deal!!!
The price include shipping fees and charges, order now: contact us via
email address:: {jameshackedatm@gmail.com}