I have been told by my son to stop spreading rumours about winklepickers! (He's getting more and more like his dad every day, except he's 3" taller). Apparently what was actually said was that he is kitted up in the most expensive fashionable (Russian) style suit, and although nobody has actually checked, I should be warned that the latest fashion for shoes in Moscow is winklepickers. The undertaker will know, but I don't want my image of Ian's broad fitting size ten feet in winklepickers ruined!

In my mind he's still wearing 'em! He was wearing something along those lines the night I met him!

I'm in the calm before the storm at the moment. The undertaker has shown me a photo of the coffin: it's Canadian! It is a proper casket. He estimates it weighs about 15 stone without Ian, who wasn't much short of that himself. After measuring it John, the undertaker, thinks it'll go in the hearse with about one or two inches clearance at the top!

For any of you who will be there, apologies for the snivelling wreck that will dribble in and out of the church: I'm bad at funerals at the best of times! Also, we are expecting a LOT of people, and when I get round the corner into the Priory and see them, I'll just go off on one. It's also quite a long aisle (but the carpet's red, if my memory serves me right). The clergy are also going with the red theme, as are the staff of the Brewer's Arms! (Conveniently this Sunday's liturgical colour is red).
I'll be okay once we get to the pub and someone gets a drink into me.

The main stress at the moment is getting the booklets for the service done. They're nearly finished, and Cyril, the Rector, has suggested we print 250. I've even bought a posh new printer for the job...my old Epson would probably have imploded under the strain!
Got the financial advisor coming today, but he hasn't let me know when.

Andrea