First things first. Conditions for a run would have been great today had I not slept through my alarms. I’ve now found the volume setting and I now have half a chance of waking up rogging (running and jogging) a Parkrun in the morning – I can do this!

Funerals shouldn’t be funny, or perhaps they should be. It’s always good to catch up with relatives and chat about the good times. The thing that gets me is a congregation of non-churchgoers turning up for a 20 minute service. To be honest, today’s was quite good with a few funny stories. The problem is the hymns. Today there were two, and the first one would have been sung in a key so high, sopranos would have had to warm up before singing, and which dogs would only be able to hear. Vicars must know this, but don’t seem to give easy options we could all have a go at. This gives the possibility of drowning out the mistakes from the organist.

Bill never smoke or drank, and so it was easy for me to negotiate another family social occasion without having a beer, a whiskey, and/or a port. This not drinking is getting serious. And one thing I pick up from people is that they think about stopping too, but don’t have a big enough reason or the chance to do so. I think it is my responsibility to be a good example of what can happen. I’m not moody anymore. I may be in the future, but I don’t expect to be. This isn’t something I want to share, so I’ll have to look fit and well instead, which isn’t a bad thing. 

I was very happy I could be here today. It was something I could do and I did. Looking back, I remember thinking that when the day came at some point I wouldn’t make the journey. Perhaps I wasn’t thinking clearly and it was my pre-quitting days, I’m not sure. If there’s something important, and more importantly it will mean a lot to other people, then do it.

Bill liked a bet on the horses and in his memory I’m going to place one too. He wouldn’t have placed a bet on-line and neither will I. It will be done the old fashioned way just like he would. So tomorrow, I’ll pick a race, check the form and hand over a tenner on the nose of hopefully the best nag.