We buried L-G's mother today, in glorious spring sunshine, accompanied by close family and friends, afterwards sharing a meal and fond memories of her life. May she rest in peace.




The day was weather perfect and it was a real chance to come together and remember her. I think Evy ordered the weather herself. She was a great stickler for fine details, so I'm sure she's never leave a thing like that to chance. The ceremony was at S:t Botvids kapell in Huddinge - a beautiful, forested cemetery up near Flottsbro, which today was alive with birdsong, spring flowers and leafy trees.





We had a sit down lunch afterwards, which I thought would be sad and awful, but in fact was wonderful, as people mingled, chatted about her and we sort of pooled our collective knowledge. I gained a great deal of insight into how Evy was viewed by family and friends. I particularly liked meeting some of her old friends who knew her well when she was in her 20s and 30s. They spoke of a woman full of life and laughter who was the centre of all of the social gatherings.

And I met some family for the first time - some of L-G's cousins from Finland, who spoke with genuine love and warmth about Evy, remembering her as a stylish, happy woman whom people admired and tried to emulate. It really added a lot of new texture to my memories of her and put the last few months of her life into a kind of perspective.

The room resonated with the sounds of laughter as people remembered fun times with her, so I think that lightened the day considerably. Evy was a naturally happy person, so she would have liked us all to think of her with a smile.

So yes, it was a sad task, but one that we could remember with feelings of warmth as well. This is a perfect resting place for her, in the same grave as her late husband, surrounded by nature.

We still have to go back in early June for the official setting of the urn into the grave, but today was the chance to say our goodbyes.

Last week

Evy died. Arranged funeral for May 9th. Talked to relatives in Finland. Told the kids. Much sadness and tears.

We launch the boat, mast her, fill her with all her equipment, launch the buoy.
Pack up our Vadstena apartment.
We advertise our Vadstena apartment on Blocket and at Lokus.
Broadbandsbolaget switch off internet in Vadstena.
Open inspection and sell the Vadstena apartment (first who saw it, bought it!!!). They want vacant possession asap.
We advertise our boat wagon and buoy place at Motala on Blocket.




This week
Monday - packing, cleaning in Vadstena.
Tuesday - Move a huge load to Oxelösund, start to set up furniture.
Wednesday - Unpack and set up what we can in Oxelösund.
Thursday - Drive back to Vadstena, final packing, final cleaning, sign over apartment, get MONEY for apartment (yay!!!), drive last load back to Oxelösund.




Our plan for yesterday

Stay in bed for HOURS
Mosey up around mid-morning and unpack at leisure
Maybe bank the wads of CASH we had been given by the seller (who pays for an apartment in CASH?)
Maybe do some much needed food shopping
Book a laundry time as we have nothing decent to wear that is clean.
Check if broadband is available in the new apartment.

What we ACTUALLY did yesterday

Awoke to a bed covered in blood and a listless dog
Rang the vet in a panic who said "COME NOW!!!"
Drove to Upplands-Väsby at full speed (140 kms) to her fabulous vet
X-rays, consultation and diagnosis of vaginal tumours plus pyometra
Told that treatment involved emergency surgery to remove tumours, womb, ovaries, plus she had an infected mouth, needing cleaning and stitching up. It would cost us upwards of 20,000kr payable TODAY.....
Alternative: immediate ethanasia.




Much sobbing while we weighed up the alternatives.
Decided to go with the surgery and bugger the cost. She's family! And I can't handle another death right now....
Waited anxiously holding her for several hours while they started a drip.
Stayed while she was given anaesthetic.




Waited for over 2 hours at our dear friend's home while they operated
Went back when they rang at 7.30pm to be there when she woke up
Stared at our shaved, tiny, sick puppy
Waited for her to revive while the dear vet, who had stayed back late to operate, told us she would recover well.
Drove carefully home with our wimpering doggy.




The house looks like a bomb site.
We are living out of boxers with no idea where anything is.
We have to go and start packing mother's apartment next weekend.
Lambi needs to see the vet on the 29th.

I'm exhausted.
My eyes are still swollen and red. I look like a witch.

But Lambi is ALIVE! She will get better.
Thank goodness......

Mind you, we'll be living on gruel and water for the next year to pay for the operation.... :)