We Have A Few Days Away
It has been such a long while since we had a proper "break away," and we decided the time was right to take the opportunity and actually have a mini holiday.
We drove up north, to Preston Brook, booking accommodation at the Premier Inn; we have stayed there before, it's a lovely hotel, the staff are always welcoming, and everyone very careful to maintain excellent standards of hygiene to keep the guests safe in these still uncertain times.
It's a long drive, but we bowled along happily, taking Al's good advice to use the section of the M6 that is a toll road, but that is an absolute pleasure to drive along, with the added bonus of a very modern and rather superior set of services en route!
The last time we were up north was in September 2020, for Mum's funeral in Kirkdale. I couldn't think what sort of flowers to take to lay on her grave, but then, as we neared Chester, Wendy saw a Garden Centre, so we pulled in there and had a good look around. I explained to a very helpful lady that I was looking for something that would be tolerant of being left alone - I can't get up to water any plants - and she directed us to a section where there were rockery and alpine plants, which she reckoned would fit the bill.
I chose three: they were all quite small, one with pink flowers, another with yellow flowers, and a third that looked circular and cactus like, and hoped that at least one would "take"!
On arrival at the Hotel, and later in the Restaurant, we were greeted like old friends; it was so good to be back!
The next day, we drove into Liverpool and to Kirkdale; Wendy knew exactly where to go in the cemetery, and parked right by the line of graves where Mum is buried, and we found it easily, next to Aunt Marion's gravestone. The two little "frames" that had held the information about Mum at the time of her funeral, were still in place at her head; our family grave had slipped and settled a little bit, but I can see it won't be too long now, before I shall be able to start making enquiries about a headstone and kerb for Mum. I know she wanted to have one in the shape of a book, so that the names of the four members of our family can be inscribed: Mum's elder brother, Austen, who died in 1938; her father, who died in 1943; her mother, my Grandma, who died in 1985 and then of course Mum herself, who died in March last year. I will make sure I follow her wishes, and I think I will be able to do something about it, next year.
Bob had bought a little gardening fork and some gloves; he set about tidying up the grave, removing any adventurous weeds, and it wasn't long before it looked really neat. Then he hollowed out three little holes and put in the alpines we'd bought from the Garden Centre - we weren't sure if we were allowed to put in any plants, but as they are so small, and very unobtrusive, we hoped any groundsmen tending the graves might let them stay there.
We then went for a very happy visit, meeting a lovely family who live a few miles away. These are folks I have written to and kept in touch with for years, but have never actually met! So we all felt it was about time we did get together, and put names to faces. What a treat it was! and for me it did not feel as though this was our first meeting, but more like a wonderful catching up after some time when we couldn't see each other!
