Hello everyone
Nearly a year, the 30th May, since Barry died. Still can't believe it and haven't really accepted it at all. Probably never will. Just learning to be me again, living alone, but with a lovely pussycat who has been my loyal companion throughout.
As I live in France, the funeral arrangements were very different to the UK, and it all had to be done within 5 days, cremation and funeral. Certainly focused me to do everything as Barry would have wished too. Luckily I knew what he wanted long before, but we didn't dwell on it. I bought a plot which will be for me later too, and I organized a small tribute at the Jardin de Souvenir, memory garden. I managed with the help of friends to get through it. Then afterwards, the following days with all the paperwork to do that had to be done quickly too.
A few months passed, and I thought a bench would be good in the cemetery for Barry, and for me when I came to visit. This is not an idea that the French really do, certainly not in rural areas like me. The cemetery is owned by the local Marie, not the Church. I enquired and nearly a year later I think I am going to get it done. They say they now have one and it is being repainted.
It has taken so long ? Very unsettling. I managed to do a plaque relatively quickly which was good. It reads with his name and the words And we begin again . One that Barry knew about.
Fingers crossed we might get the bench on the 30 the ?
Hugs to you all out there
I got a bench placed opposite where Colin is buried (with his dad who died 1980)and bought it through our council complete with a plaque. It took me ages to decide what to have written with the number of characters allowed and I must've gone through half a notepad with options! I love the bench and it gets used a lot as I still go everyday, before that I took a fold-up chair as the spring and summer 
of 2020 were beautiful 
Thank you Daybreak2 I do love it but its quite high maintainance or I'm a bit OCD on keeping it clean with it being under trees and what comes with that if you know what I mean 
etc 
I hope you get a nice place for your partner's ashes soon (((hugs))) x
