That Sinking Feeling

[tig]

sorry to hear that mate

many condolences to you and your family

hope your ok

[kathyv]

The night after my Mom died, I had a dream that she was able to walk and talk again, she was visiting with people and laughing. It was good to have that dream, picturing her doing things she hadn't been able to do for 2 years after her stroke and before she peacefully passed away.

It's very comforting to know she's not in pain any more.

Enjoy your memories of him!

[apict]

Condolences and best wishes.

[wee flower]

my sincere condolences to you and your family

[Lachlan09]

Thanks folks. Well, he's getting cremated today (Thursday) at 4.30pm at Mortonhall Crematorium, Edinburgh. His ashes will be scattered (shhhh unofficially) at Inveresk Churchyard, over the grave of my mum's parents, where my mum was scattered in 1999. It's a bit odd to think I'm the last one of the auld Gows, my dad, mum and brother gone, no aunts or uncles, no cousins I know of etc. I've bought a second big suitcase to bring back to Oman, full of family docs and photos going back as far as the 1870's. Looks like I'm the family guardian for my folks, their parents and even my aunties and uncles' pasts. That'll keep me busy piecing together who was who. I've also a plethora of family WW1 docs (letters, forms, embroidered postcards and photos) I think my daughter should get an A at school for her upcoming WW1 Show and Tell !! No-one in Oman has stuff like this ! I even have a photo of my grandad Montgomery with cup-winning Musselburgh Athletic Football Club Season 1911-12. He was their physio. I'll have to pay a big excess at the airport but what the hell, I'm carrying my family in a suitcase and it'll be a while till I'm back in Scotland again.

For my dad, I've worked out a nice service with the reverend. I'm not absolutely sure about the precise order but it will start with the CD entry music, Karen Matheson (ex-Capercaillie) singing An Ataireachd Ard. Then there will be the 23rd Psalm, then a short verse read out (the English translation of An Ataireachd Ard - The Surge of The Sea, as my Dad loved the Atlantic on the West Coast), then the Eulogy, then my parents's favourite song "We'll Gather Lilacs", then a short verse reading of Johnny Head in Air, then a modern hymn "Going Home", then a verse "Miss Me But Let Me Go".

Lastly, when the deed is being done (though we don't see the coffin go), I'm playing him out with a CD of Bobby MacLeod playing his 1950's After The Games selection (The Mist Covered Mountains, The Hills of Glenorchy and John Morrison of Assynt House) and afterward, as we shake hands etc, we'll play Bobby doing To The Games (Kitchener's Army, 25th KOSB's Farewell) and if needs be Highland Waltz (Isle of Mull, Mull of the Cool High Bens, Maids of The Shieling).

And then back to the Quayside, Musselburgh for buffet, a dram or two and a bit of a ceilidh and lots of laughs - no room for long faces !!!

The send-off he would like !!!

[Lachlan09]

It went really well. I have bought an extra suitcase and filled it with old family documents, photos etc etc. At Edinburgh Airport, my two cases weighed 46 kilos total. I was expecting a drubbing, but I only had to pay 40 quid excess. Amazing ! I thought it would be 200 or something. I'm now at Heathrow waiting for my flight to Muscat. See you later !