I have a long and tiring day today – I’m travelling to Hither Green (just outside London) to attend the funeral of an old friend of mine. I’m travelling alone (for once) because it is our youngest granddaughter’s first birthday, and my wife simply can’t bear to miss out on it.
I leave the house just before 8.30am to catch the train into Norwich from Gunton, eventually arriving at the house of some friends in Hither Green a shade before 1pm. I cadge a lift to the crematorium, and the sad business of saying goodbye begins. The service goes smoothly, is well attended, and over within half an hour. We adjourn to a local pub to raise a glass or two to our departed friend, and then a few of us go for a curry at a restaurant close to the railway station, finishing our meal just in time for me to catch my train back into London for my connection to Norwich. I finally stumble through the front door of our cottage at 11.45pm – it’s going to take me a couple of days to recover, so I’ll be taking it even easier than usual this weekend.