Yesterday Claire and I travelled up north to the Fylde to attend the funeral of Veronica, our dear friend Dom’s mum. Whilst it was a sad occasion it was also a joyous celebration of Veronica’s life, with many, many people attending, a testament to the friendly, supportive loving person she was. As was said on the day, she was irreplaceable and will be sadly missed by everyone who had the privilege to know her. The whole event went off well and was particularly well organised and executed a credit to Dom, his older brother Mike and sister Loretta. Mike and Loretta and Lorretta’s husband Adrian had travelled all the way from Perth in Western Australia to be there, and it was really good to see them and many other people after such a very long time. We also got to see and chat with Dom’s lovely partner Rachel, which is always a pleasure, as well as seeing Rachel’s ever so cute Jack Russell little Radish. It is certainly a day that will live in mine and Claire’s memory.

I almost forgot to mention that the reception was at the impressive Singleton Lodge Hotel in Poulton-Le-Fylde, hence the photo of me next to a lit Cleanburn Stove, which was in the hotel lobby – Claire couldn’t resist the photo, she never stops thinking of work that girl!!