Normal service will be resumed?

I couldn’t agree more, Maw. Dwelling on the past, as opposed to occasional reminiscences, is quite depressing.

I couldn't agree more too! It was a wonderful and moving occasion but it went on far too long, I don't mean the funeral itself, I mean the many days leading up to it where what was happening elsewhere in the world was relegated to a footnote and more importantly was what happening here politically behind the scenes. I wanted some cream yesterday and suddenly realised that not one shop was open, it was like the worst lockdown during Covid. I don't blame the Royal family, there was no edict to shut everything down but when our local bike racks were closed off out of respect to the Queen I knew that this country had finally gone mad. In desperation I watched a film on Freeview last night only to find that every commercial break was a grey screen with the date of birth and death of the Queen, as if any of us were unaware! I'm sick of the BBC and its fawning coverage, I've cancelled my subscription to the Radio Times as a sign of my refusal to be told how and when to grieve. The Queen did an amazing job, she was 96 and had a life of luxury that we can only dream of, it's time to move on.

I agree, but the mood of the country is quite sombre at the moment regardless of the death of the Queen. Good news to lift the national mood is sorely needed. At least Strictly is back this weekend.

Strictly, jumpers, soups and stews - hurray!

smudgie I agree 100%

The ten day period was far too long. All in all it was wonderful to watch and to be part of history but at times, I had just had enough. It is hard enough to live our own lives in an upbeat mood. I went cycling early yesterday, got all my washing out when I got back and indeed watched the whole funeral, while seeing my washing drying in the sun

I have now drawn that line across and have to say that `a place to call home` on prime saved my sanity throughout

I think we all have memories of the past funeral customs etc. I don't think we all said they were good.
My father's favourite sayings were "Life goes on," and "Look to the future".
I think this is a far more positive attitude and agree with you Maw. I don't want to feel old and a dinosaur.

Yes, I agree too. I loved the Queen and have devoted myself to her death for this last ten days, but it's time to move on now and cheer up a bit.
Someone gave me a gift voucher for my birthday so I'm going to go out and spend it. Yay!

Live in today, as we never know what tomorrow will bring.

Posting from my experience when our beloved Mum died we needed the three weeks between death and funeral to grieve, and a slower pace not only suited us but definitely helped.

The night of the Queen's death, I surfed the radio stations to find something - not funny, not light-hearted, but less gloomy. Finally I tried Classic FM and what did I get? Abide With Me. Now, this morning, flicking through the TV channels, I'm amazed at how quickly they are back to normal - we even have Strictly on Friday night.

I didn’t think it went on too long, nor do I think that things shouldn’t have been closed down yesterday. Yes, life goes on, but it is a different life. As I’ve said before on other threads, my own mother died four days before the Queen, and her funeral was the week before the Queen’s. Maybe the way I feel is bound up with that, but I feel that life is totally changed now. I’m crying now just writing this, and my mother wasn’t even the best mother in the world, but we, I , need time to grieve and to adapt to the new normal. That is the same for us all, the Queen is the only monarch we have ever known and things are now different. I’m not even a monarchist but somehow I just feel everything is different and we will never go back to how it was before. When all the problems of the world are sorted or moved on or changed into new problems, yesterday will remain as one of the most magnificent and historical days in the country, and even the world.

In a way I don’t want normal service to be resumed, I want much more optimism about our future, and a feeling of cohesion and community in our countries.

I want to stop this dreadful period of lurching from crises to crises ( I am not including covid in this as it was unavoidable) and to be able to face the future with energy and pride.

I don’t feel like we are moving forwards. I was thinking about this earlier and I feel like we are regressing. The new king is elderly, the new prime minister is very right wing and the UK is becoming ever more isolated politically. I hope I’m wrong, I’m usually quite a cheerful person. I’m not worried for myself but I worry for the future of our youngsters and the vulnerable in our society.

I’m ready to move on, with optimism. Slowly we WILL heal. Some positive news would help in the short term.

I absolutely agree with you, Blossoming.

Blossoming

I don’t feel like we are moving forwards. I was thinking about this earlier and I feel like we are regressing. The new king is elderly, the new prime minister is very right wing and the UK is becoming ever more isolated politically. I hope I’m wrong, I’m usually quite a cheerful person. I’m not worried for myself but I worry for the future of our youngsters and the vulnerable in our society.

That is what is so worrying me - we are regressing.

I am an optimist my nature, but am struggling at the moment.

Oh please try not to turn yet another thread into a doom and gloom political thread.
Plenty of them in the right category.
It isnt that I do or dont agree. I just want to avoid these circulating arguments, with no solutions. If they are under the correct heading it's easier to do so.
Here's hoping.

Last night, we watched Paddington 2- the perfect anti-dote!

Political 'doom and gloom' is normal service, Namsnanny.

I’m expressing my opinion Namsnanny which all forum members are entitled to do. I haven’t started any circular arguments as far as I’m aware.

So did I Fleurpepper such a perfect thing to relax to.
I personally thought the long long procession from the Abbey to the barracks was far too long and drawn out.
Some of those walking were elderly and must have been exhausted.
I truly believed some would not make it.

Well I was looking forward to the start of a new thriller with Keeley Hawes called Crossfire, BBC1 at 9.00pm. But No! the BBC/grief police had decided that I wouldn't watch it. I accept that the Radio Times was printed in advance but it still had a picture of the Queen on the front cover and constant reminders of "schedule changes". There should be one or two dedicated 24 hour channels which show nothing else for those viewers who want total saturation. I see the BBC licence fee is up for discussion again and about time too.

I thought Paddington was the perfect film to show after the Queen's funeral as well Fleurpepper.

I agree with the posters who said that all this went on for too long. Far too long.

Apparently these funerals are planned years ahead down to every detail, including how to manage queues. So why not leave more of the organization to that subset of people who are planned to run these ceremonies, rather than letting the death of one person (however important they may be) take precedence over a national crisis.

I'm not sure that is exactly what Maw was saying.

I thought she was saying that we shouldn't see the past as fantastic and we should try to embrace change. Or maybe that is just how I am feeling.

I apologise if I have misrepresented you, Maw.

WWM2. Good post.