Friday, June 12, 2009
Last Saturday went well, I think.
We set off for the Lost Valley at around 11am. It was a nice day for walking - quite cool, no midges to speak of, and the sun kept peering out from behind the clouds every now and then. The odd shower, but nothing to worry about. The walk was just as I remembered it. Short, but quite hard-going at times, and clambering over the rocks was a trial with an urn full of Ian's ashes on my back. But we got to the top and stopped to eat our packed lunch. Then off down to the valley floor to find a suitable place.
I found a lovely little rowan tree with mossy rocks around it's base, and when we approached it a pair of chaffinches landed on the largest rock and twittered for a few seconds before flying away. Ian loved the birds and would have thought it suitable, so that was the decision made. I had chosen a lovely little passage from the Talmud to read which seemed appropriate, but me and Ian's sister were too emotional to read it, so my friend Puddy stepped in and read it for us.
And this is the way of the world: When a child is born, all rejoice; when someone dies, all weep. We should do the opposite. For no one can tell what trials and travails await a newborn child; when a mortal dies in peace, we should rejoice, for he has completed a long journey, and there is no greater boon than to leave this world with the imperishable crown of a good name.
We then took turns to scatter some ashes around the tree, and then a we all had a tot of his favourite whisky - Bhunahabhainn - and said a toast to Ian. I sprinkled a tot of whisky around the tree as well. Then we all took a few rocks and built a small cairn at the base of the tree. Spike had the idea of getting a plaque made on a stainless steel chain that could be hung from a branch and not harm the tree, and to come back next year to place it. I think that would be a lovely thing to do.
I would like to thank everybody who came along - it meant so much to me to have the support of my friends there and if Ian could have seen our little ceremony I know he would have been chuffed to bits.
I couldn't get any photos, except a shot of the valley floor from where we stopped for lunch. However, others took some nice shots so I will post them here when I have copies.
