It’s the end of June already and there are consecutive days of sun and a feeling of summer has arrived at last. It’s been an extraordinary month and a whirl of emotions starting on 1st with a wake for mum. Anne Stevens died on 31st March after many troubled years in residential health care. Family and friends gathered in beautiful rural surroundings close to the family home for 50 years. She provided the support and encouragement for whatever we got up to, with good humor and a twinkle in her eye, always!
Sisters Vanessa and Emma did such a lovely job of setting up the barn so we could host everyone to share the celebration of a very full and loving life, much missed. Bill Drake accompanied our Ruby on flute and we heard tributes from family and friends before feasting together, listening to Melissa sing jazz ballads and catching up with each other. Love these notes from mum’s artist friend of many years, Annahita. The gallery of drawings and paintings were pinned up around us was up for grabs so everyone got a slice of the creative legacy cake!
In some contrast on 5th June Lisa Bennett and YT married after 33 1/3 years together. Our amazing daughters Laurel and Ruby were witness at the Lewisham registry office ceremony before friends and family first gathered at our home in Deptford, then joined a huge picnic in Greenwich Park Flower Garden till dusk. It was such great fun we should repeat each year!
It was Lisa’s 60th birthday the following day so we traveled out for the day to Broadstairs for Fish and Chips and Ice Cream in the sunshine (mostly).
Then on Sunday 11th June was Ashfest a day with our road closed for partying and street art activities all afternoon with fine food and refreshments, live music and jolly neighbours.
