It's been many months since I posted on my blog, but this note is just to wish everyone who visits my site the very best of health during this dreadful pandemic. This is the toughest of times at present, when we're unable to gather with all those we love and interact the way we always did. I personally am trying to draw on the strength of character I always saw in my mother and I'm sure it came from living through World War II. I am sure we can do this and make it through to better times for family and friends in the future. Meanwhile I am sending my love and best wishes to all those who have lost those they love during this time. Stay safe and keep well, Kathy

2018 was the 1st Christmas without Mum. It was difficult as she had lived to 91 years of age and by that age we almost thought she was invincible and would live forever, she certainly had the grit and determination to outlive even Albus Dumbledore. We'd only ever known Christmas with Mum, so this 1st Christmas was very different. But we talked about Mum and did not ignore the fact she was not there. And I reminded my sisters of the time, probably only 10 years ago, when Mum decided she was walking up to town with her rucksack on to collect the Christmas turkey from Waitrose, only to find it weighed a ton. Some shoppers behind her in the queue at Waitrose helped load the rucksack with turkey onto mothers back and she set off for the long walk home, looking  much like an arctic explorer fighting against prevailing weather.  Half way home she had to sit on a wall for a rest and two boys in hoodies helped her stand up again to continue her journey home. But the absolute scream was when she got home and into the kitchen, our brother was not home to help and she could not get the rucksack off, so she ended up lying down on her back, on the kitchen floor, on top of the turkey and wriggling out of the rucksack straps. My goodness, she'd earnt us cooking the turkey for her that year and we'll always laugh when we remember her stoic (and stubborn) true British spirit. To everyone who was missing someone they love this Christmas, here's wishing you peace and happiness in the future and don't forget to keep sharing all the wonderful memories you have of them with others. 

Some crematoriums still have old fashioned music systems and require you to supply your music on a CD. Sometimes you might want music, to play on a portable CD player, for woodland or graveside services. If this is the case and you are struggling to source the music we can probably help. As long as the music you are after has been commercially released, ie we can buy a copy in one format or another,  for a small fee we should be able to burn a CD Rom with the tracks you need for your service. Please call 07585 034246 or email kathylunn@hotmail.co.uk for more details.

Thank you for the lives of all those loved ones who, whilst no longer walking beside us or holding our hand along life's journey as they once did, live on in the collective memory of those they have left behind. Enjoy their company, Loving God, until we shall meet again. Amen.

I recently conducted the funeral ceremony for a very brave young lady who passed away from cancer. Her lovely Mum gave me a copy of this poem, which I had not seen before. It reminded me of a couple of other, well known traditional funeral poems, with a modern twist and it was so poignant. I thought I would post it here in case it is of help to others.

Weep not for me though I have gone

Into that gentle night

Grieve if you will, but not for long

Upon my soul’s sweet flight

 

I am at peace, my soul’s at rest

There is no need for tears

For with your love I was so blessed

For all those many years

 

There is no pain, I suffer not

The fear is now all gone

Put now these things out of your thoughts

In your memory I live on

 

Remember not my fight for breath

Remember not the strife

Please do not dwell upon my death

But celebrate my life

It is a very old fashioned saying, but there's something in it. I do believe taking time to sit, sip a cup of tea and maybe eat a slice of homemade cake, does help get the mind to rest when everything seems to be getting on top. I am not a great baker, but I discovered this really easy moist pineapple fruit cake recipe, which actually works! and makes a delicious cake.

Moist Pineapple Fruit Cake

175g Butter
200g Sugar
2 Eggs
250g Plain Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Almond Extract
435g Golden Raisins
85g Glace Cherries
240g Mixed Peel
1 x 432g Tin Crushed Pineapple with juice


1) Cream butter and then beat in sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in extract. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in raisins, cherries, pineapple and mixed peel. Allow to sit overnight in covered bowl.

2) Line a tube tine with baking parchment and brush with melted butter.

3) Pour mixture into a prepared tin and bake at 150c/Gas 2 for 2 ½ hours with a tin of hot water placed on the lowest rack of your oven during baking. Brush warm cake with some melted butter.

When the cake is done you can invite a friend round to help you make a start on it, or in my case don't tell anyone you've made a cake, keep it in an airtight container and have a slice whenever you want.

With very best wishes, Kathy

I came across this wonderful charity, when looking for somewhere to donate my own wedding gown. Losing a baby is one of the most soul destroying things that can happen in life. Cherished Gowns supply beautiful outfits, in many sizes, so that your baby can be dressed as a true angel. Their gowns are made with so much care. Here is their website link in case they can be of help to you   http://www.cherishedgowns.org.uk/

I've used my photograph of this pretty little kitten in a teak monastery in Myanmar for this post, as he was so cute and also to illustrate that we might take photographs of many kittens in different countries but every one of them is different. A unique soul, character and personality. I have been really pleased this week to receive another beautiful thank you card, from a family I worked with recently, saying how much they liked and how appropriate the funeral ceremony for their father was. My aim is always to get to know the person and write a unique ceremony around their life story, thereby creating a funeral ceremony that suits the individual themselves and their families specific requirements.  It is such an interesting world, let's celebrate how we are different! (We certainly don't offer "one service fits all" here). Please feel free to email or call if you would like to discuss how we might be able to help you.

World events, especially recently, have really troubled me. I kept thinking, if only I could be more people, in more places, to be of some help to those in the midst of conflict, sorrow or fear. And then I got to talking with my friends in the UK and around the world about these worries and realised that I already am one of many people, who are equally concerned about violent world events and who wish to do something practical to help people such as those in Las Vegas, Catalonia, Myanmar, to name a few. So, in better heart, knowing there are many good people around the world, I will continue to do all the things I can to make a difference to those around me. And without wishing to sound too much like Miss Congeniality, if we all do the same, we may be just a little closer to World Peace.  So whilst the news brings us daily fresh stories of such terrible atrocities, I am saying a prayer for World Peace and am thankful for the many kind and peace loving people I know. Sending my love and best wishes to you all, Kathy.