So What’s Been Happening Recently? #25

Saying Goodbye

27th February

4.30am.  Finally crawl out of bed. Time for another long day.

Today we say goodbye to my grandad. But to do that we have to travel a very long way. We have to travel to Barnstaple. I’m still not healed from my surgery. Still wearing my nappies. Still bleeding. Guts are not a hundred percent. But none of that matters. It will be my one and only time to say goodbye in a family setting.

Harry Sparks died on the 31st January. There won’t be a funeral as he wanted to donate his body to science. Which I think is pretty cool. I didn’t really know him that well. We would send each other Christmas cards every year. But that was it. He lived over two hundred miles away from me. I don’t really like traveling so I never got to see him enough. I knew he was a man of common sense. What I knew of the man I really liked. He didn’t go in for all the religious mumbo jumbo. A genuinely nice bloke.

Today is a memorial to a great man and celebration of his life.

6.53am. Waiting outside whilst the rain continues to come down. Father in law should be here soon. My bag is packed with extra nappies. Pain killers, if needed. And a few other choice items to help me through the day.

7.05am. The father in law arrives. He had set up his special foam pillow for me. So my bum will be a little comfortable.

7.08am. After getting settled we are off.

9.01am. We arrive at Fleet Services. And it’s snowing. Lovely. I rushed off to the toilet while everyone sorted themselves out. We spent a while deciding whether to eat in but ended up with buying some “cheap” thermal cups and getting some hot drinks. The missus had brought some snacks with us so I had a couple of pork pies. While she had her “chicken” vegetarian sausage rolls.

10.07am we’re back on the road again.

10.20am. The sun finally came out.

10.47am. We drive past Stonehenge.

12.23pm. Devon. I’m inside you.

The wife checked on my sisters progress. When parked up for a sec. They drove past. Nice!

12.42pm. North Devon. I’m inside you.

1.07pm. Barnstable. I’m inside you.

1.13pm. We’re here.

The residents is really nice and I am glad my grandparents found their home here. The staff seemed really happy and friendly. The whole place felt homely and welcoming and I would be happy to spend my last years here.

After a needed toilet break. We met up with some of my family and waited for the memoriam to begin. We found some boards with some photos on them. I was surprised to find a baby picture of myself as I had thought I had lost them all.

The celebrations started with the Curate of the complex going through some memories from herself and the people who lived and worked there about Harry. This lead to a poem from one of cleaners, who couldn’t be there.

My Uncle took over and continued with the Eulogy.

After we enjoyed the history of the man that was Harry Sparks. We had a live performance. Sorry about the flowers in the way. I was trying to be discrete.

We were then encouraged to join in with a final song from Judy Garland.

When it all ended we hanged around and chatted for a while and headed around the back for some food and drinks.

3.15pm. We started the journey home. Father in law was hungry. So we decided to find somewhere to eat. I also wanted to get a keyring of Barnstaple to remember my grandparents by but….

4.21pm. Somehow we entered Cornwall.

4.24pm. We entered Killhampton.

4.33pm. We had entered Bude.

4.39pm. We parked up for some shops. Me and the wife found a shop and purchased these.

5.20pm. We parked up and had some chips. We went to a place called The Plaice. The food was okay but they got the order wrong. Even though we said the order about five times. We drove to a car park, near the beach and ate our dinner.

5.41pm. The missus took a few more pics and then we were on our way. Oh and also jumped out of her skin when a dog jumped up at her.

6.02pm. Father in laws food was abit dodgy. Popped in Morrissons for the bog.

8.00pm. Stopped at Taunton Dean services for a wee and a tea. Oh and a coffee for the missus.

8.18pm. Back on the road. We nearly cashed in to some unlit road closed signs. The car behind did the same. We ended up going an extra twenty-six miles, out of our way, to get back to road we were originally on.

10.38pm. Returned to Fleet services. And another cup of tea.

11.12pm. Last leg. Here we go.

What is going on with the roads? The exits we need are either being closed off or the roads are being strunk for maintenance. Someone doesn’t won’t us to get home.

12.48am. WE ARE HOME! WWOOOOOOHHOOOOOOOOO!!!