reflections

Well, I don't mean those that are achieved by holding up a mirror, but more thoughts on the strange world we live in.

So much happens to us all. We have now had the celebration of Maybelle's life. It was a good send off I believe. It was candid and heartfelt. We will spread her ashes in the sea at Porto Pollensa, in the spring. This will be the ultimate send off for the organiser of the feeding fish group. The celebration was as the lawyers say proportionate. It was good having so many friends and family together again for this sad event, which was nevertheless timely.

It was lovely too that Hannah was able to be there, and speak so well of her wonderful grandmother. It was poignant in that of course Hannah, Nick, Zoe and Esme were about to depart for their great adventure on Sunday. Now as a write this, one week on they have had their own first week out of England in Thailand. By all that is good in the internet, on FB particularly we know that they are having a great time.

Of Hannah and Beth, I can only say how proud I am of them. They both have proved what wonderful people they have become, during this time. I am lucky indeed. Whilst Hannah had a future to organise, Beth managed to combine working, being a mum and wife, with fixing the details of Maybelle's death. She dealt with all the details of the administration. A huge task for anybody under any circumstances. She did it pretty much on her own.

Sometimes the other issues in the various organisations with which I am involved seem small compared with these personal challenges. However of course for the people involved they are vital and all absorbing. So in a future blog I will try to explore the tension between the personal and the professional and to decide what really matters.