Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

The forms are done - sorry Karma! But I needed to finish that job.

My bag is packed apart from the food. I have 1 hour 40 mins to sort that before getting pip. The food issues make it a much more stressful thing, doing any journey.

apple_muncher

It's a journey of adrenaline rush and anxiety spike. Over 4 hours of travel and we're only at Watford junction. Pip has kept me sane and helped prevent some tears.

A major incident at Bushey meant getting off at shepherds Bush, taking the overground to willesden junction, the tube to Harrow and wealdstone where we tried to get a bus to Watford but went back to the train as they started running and the bus would have taken over 40 mins and we'd already waited over 20 mins for it.

We've been at Watford for well over an hour but no trains have left Euston yet. It'll be a right squash when it does get here, with a backlog of several hours...

I have a banging headache.

f0xh0les

I heard that on the radio. You will get there. Hope you don't get caught up in Glastonbury traffic. 

Karmacat

I'm glad you've got each other, at least - and I really hope you have some ibuprofen and some water.

Sleep well.

apple_muncher

'There's a freight train running through the middle of my head' sang Bruce Springsteen. That's what my head feels like. Ugh.

Yesterday we did finally squeeze on to a train and I asked people to give up a seat for pip (with their crutch) and two lovely people did so and stood for their whole journey. Prior to that I'd broken down in tears when the ticket person at Watford suggested we go to Euston to get a train to bham. I said a rude word and she pulled down the blind and refused to talk to me. I understand why she did that, but I had told her I had to get to bham for my mum's funeral, so where was the compassion... After that I asked a platform lady who was just so so kind to us. Pip was fab.

In the meantime, DH had finished work and trotted over to Euston. He squeezed onto a train just a few mins behind the one we got, so we basically arrived at bham together.

We arrived at our final station at 10 and big sis + friend with car came to meet us and brought us to the flat. It's diddy but nice. Apart from the trains at 4.30... We ate and showered and got to bed after 11.

Big sis suggested that I don't go to the church where the procession will start, but I wasn't able to go and see mum last night as I'd planned, so I want to go. Her friend will take me. Yay.

I have had breakfast and a coffee and ibu. I have tissues and more ibu in my bag to come with me. Now to get dressed. There's no problem with looking tired, bloodshot eyes and haggard on the day of your mum's funeral, is there?!

f0xh0les

Tired and emotional is the new black.  
You just have to get through today. 
Breathe. 

Karmacat

apple_muncher said:

Big sis suggested that I don't go to the church where the procession will start, but I wasn't able to go and see mum last night as I'd planned, so I want to go. Her friend will take me. Yay.

I have had breakfast and a coffee and ibu. I have tissues and more ibu in my bag to come with me. Now to get dressed. There's no problem with looking tired, bloodshot eyes and haggard on the day of your mum's funeral, is there?!

There certainly isn't a problem with that **hugs**.  What a horrendous journey.  I'm glad you've got the ibu - get some water too if you can.  Though I think you'll have gone out by now, and I'm glad you're going to the church where the procession will start.  

I hope all the arrangements run smoothly today, and the rest of this trip.  Thinking of you.

apple_muncher

Today is done. It ran well. The morning crem was the more personal part, and I basically led it.

Then lunch at big sis' friends' house, with cousins. It was lovely.

The afternoon was the celebration of life and I was only reading the eulogy, and I was glad to take more of a back seat.

However, pip lost their phone. Between the house and getting to the afternoon. No idea how. We cannot find it. They are gutted but planning to try and hold things together until they get home. And then fall apart. I'm just relieved that pip is now dh's responsibility.

I came back to the flat and howled. It feels so empty without them.

Tomorrow we are seeing the solicitor at 9.30; I have to be out of the flat by 12; we are scattering most of the ashes at 2 followed by a walk in some local woods to scatter the rest.

Then I head to Mancunia for the weekend.

But now I'm going to wander over to see big sis' to talk about tomorrow. We could phone, but a walk will do me good.

Karmacat

That all sounds beautifully appropriate, apple (except for the loss of Pip's phone, poor thing!).  Howling is completely appropriate - as long as you drink water afterwards.  You're already deep in today's arrangements, so I hope its going positively.

apple_muncher

We met with the solicitor this morning and set things in motion to get probate.

Then back to the flat to collect my stuff and up to where big sis is staying. A quick lunch and off to bury the ashes and walk in the woods to scatter some too.

And now I'm in between Stafford and Stoke en route to Mancunia.

It's like a sense of relief, getting everything done.