Shock horror here as the phone lines are red hot (thanks to Open Reach for delays installing the superfast broadband) with news that yet another of our unhappy geriatric band of brothers, sisters, and gransexuals has fallen by the wayside. More unhappy news....what a sad week this has been because of my sore spot oh yes and the other funeral of course.
The shock is not over the passing, the deceased is/was extremely ancient and it was expected, but over the timing!
This unfortunate family (newcomers to our area) have chosen THURSDAY!!!
This may mean nothing to you, dear reader, but it certainly does here.
True story (lemongrove the doubting Thomas of the Argy please note!)
Picture if you will the solemn scene of a funeral procession. The hearse is loaded. The flowers tastefully arranged on the casket. Grieving relatives peer out the windows of the limousines. We, the neighbours, (leaning heavily on our walking sticks, frames, and assorted rollators) solemnly lower our eyes.
The cortege moves off, very slowly, as the chap from the Co-op is walking in front of the hearse. Great Dane and I cross ourselves and prepare to get in the car to follow.
BUT
by the time we have fastened our seat belts, it's clear there is a problem.
IT'S THURSDAY!
So now the Bin Wagon has come round the corner and due to vans parked at the end of the road blocking both the driver's line of sight and any possibility of safely reversing out again, the cortege comes to a grinding halt. The only sound the deafening grind of wheelie bins being emptied. It's a Mexican stand off.
Everyone gapes in horror before of course, the sound of a snigger can be heard ( yes, I confess it was me).
There followed an increasingly agitated conversation between the chap on foot and the driver of the Bin Wagon. Much waving and much shaking of heads, and then the long walk back to the limousines with an extended and earnest conversation conducted through a half open window. Then a brief visit to every vehicle behind the first. Then the slow reversal starting at the back like watching the rewind of a dvd.
What seemed like an age later, everything is lined up once more in a different direction, the other end of the street is luckily a T junction, and it all starts off again.