January - doesn't it just go on forever?  We are almost there, the month is almost up and we can start to look forward to Spring.  Already we can see the evenings starting to draw out which always lifts my spirits.   So what did I do in January?  In the main it was funeral based.  

I have helped families to say 'the Right Goodbye' to their loved ones and had my first double Funeral of a Husband and Wife who passed away 10 days apart and both in their 90s.   We had a beautiful service with their coffins placed side by side flanked in the most stunning red roses.

I did of course do Crematorium work but another service that stood out for me this month was a 2 part service. We started with a Green Burial at the beautiful (but very wet)  Mole Valley Green Burial site followed by a Celebration of Life Ceremony at a local village hall.  We had speakers, singing, guitar playing, had video messages, slideshow of photos and heard all about the amazing life of a local man (I never print names on my website).  We also got to raise a glass together to this lovely man which is a special thing to do and not something you get to do in a Church or Crematorium service.

My other website is coming along, but I do need to give this more of my time to get it up and running. That website will tell you all about your options when arranging a funeral.  There are so many options and many of them are not offered to you, but, are available if you ask for them. One of them is where to hold your service - you do not have to have the service in a Church or Crematorium, you can have the service anywhere that will host, and is accessible with the coffin. That opens a whole host of possibilities for a truly unique service and also then allows for a private committal if the family do not want a large gathering for that private moment.

It is always an honour and privilege to support a family through this very difficult time, I am always humbled that they choose me to lead the Ceremony. I have very recently been told I was 'made' for this role and the person wanted to know what had led me to this as I had a clear passion to make the service the best it could be, and so I thought I would share that with you all.    I came in to the Funeral industry - specifically as a Celebrant, after a close  member of my family passed away - the funeral was ok, but it wasn't quite 'right'. It affected me, I felt no family should leave a funeral thinking something was missing or wasn't quite right and I couldn't shake that feeling.  Having worked for many years with people in vulnerable situations and supporting them through some very difficult times in their life I felt I had the 'life skills' to enable me to be a fantastic Celebrant.  I went and did training (very important) and I am fully Diploma qualified for Funerals including Baby and Child services.  I haven't looked back - I cannot call it a job because it is far more than that and ensuring that the family that I come alongside has the best farewell for their loved one is something I am passionate about.  I limit the amount of services I take to ensure that I am always focused on the family.

I have also taken new bookings for Weddings and got to see the fabulous Fox and Hounds at Eggesford where I will be uniting a lovely couple in love and commitment later this year.