Farewell

Friday began with a funeral. A chance to give thanks for the life of a man who did so much for so many. As DH was printing the church annual reports ahead of the AGM, the KHT accompanied me to the funeral, as we were heading into town afterward.

The church was packed - memories shared, prayers led and voices raised in praise by the full house that gathered to pay tribute to Mike. It was a poignant reminder that, compared to the vastness of time, life is short, fragile and precious. Pack in as much as you can, to help as many as you are able.

Afterwards, as we walked towards town, I asked the KHT where she would like to go.
"Let's go and see M & S"
The store shut while we were away.
In her head, the KHT knows it has closed, but she needs to see the evidence for herself. This will enable her to supercede the image in her mind, of a place with pizza and a warm welcome, and replace it with the reality of an empty shell.  This will help her to convince herself, that the days when she could saunter casually through the doorway, have passed.

We approached the store and the KHT stopped in front of the  hostile roller shutters in Walford Walk.
"Oh!" she said, as reality started to hit.
We turned the corner, and walked past where the cafe was. The windows have been covered up with bright posters advertising the shopping centre.
"Why have they done that?" she asked.
"So that people don't just look in and see an empty store."
Artificial light was visible where the double doors met. The KHT peered through the gap, into the void where the kingdom of St. Michael had been.
"You are right. It is empty!"
I stood there, clothed in M & S from socks to my shirt - the only exceptions being my coat (Roman) and my trainers (TKMaxx), and shared her sadness.

When we lived nearer the town centre,  I used to joke that M & S was my corner shop, which was really convenient.  I have continued to use them sporadically, as I like their food - their large blocks of vintage cheddar are both a bargain and a joy - slightly crumbly, with a taste normal supermarkets cannot come close to, with their rapidly processed rubber produced cheese. We also now need to find a palatable alternative to their fair trade coffee, as we will no longer be able to pop into town to pick up the odd jar for church.





Instead of our customary lunch in M & S, we visited Debenhams cafe. The KHT was going to have an egg sandwich, until she discovered they did a small, perfectly proportioned lasagne. Sorted.






So long, M &S, with your bunches of Daffs,  ease of shopping, and cafe with cheery staff to gladden the heart of the KHT and parent.

Memories of people and places live on, but that doesn't mean that we wanted to say goodbye.