(no subject)

[turps]

We picked up Freesia's ashes from the vet yesterday.

She came home in a lovely box with a card containing her paw prints, a small keepsake bauble filled with some of her black and white fur and a small plastic bag containing more fur. The box that actually contains her ashes is small with a small brass plate with her name, and that was inside a much bigger sturdy box that looks really practical and smart. Except it also has a heart embossed on it, a heart that contains a sitting cat and dog. I've hidden that in a corner until I'm emotionally prepared to deal with it, and Freesia is next to the boxes that contain Moffet and Tex.

Yes, I shed yet more tears, but I'm glad she's home. And soon I'll be sending some of her ashes off to be put into a bead for my bracelet. I know some people don't like ashes jewellery but the bead that contains mam's ashes is a comfort to me and a beautiful emerald green bead containing some of Freesia's ashes will do the same.



It was also my MiLs 70th birthday yesterday. Sadly the situation with my nephew has blown up even more so she wasn't in any mood to celebrate. I feel bad as last year her birthday was completely overshadowed by mam's funeral which was the next day. And now this year the celebration we planned has been shot down in flames. We have bought her a very basic smartphone though as the one she has now is tiny with no internet access and this way she'll be able to get online and look at photos.

We also got a phone call saying we're getting a new stairlift. The one we have now is 19 years old and apparently, you can't get the spare parts now. So when the guy came last week to service it he said he'd request a new one, and it's been granted and will be fitted next Tuesday. Hopefully, it shouldn't take too long and won't create too much mess.

Today we went to see Midsommer at the cinema, all I can say is... I'm not sure what to say really, visually it was stunning in places but, yeah... What I can say is it has some scenes that will be branded in my brain for a very long time.

ETA: Some spoilers for the film in comments.

The next sunshine challenge is up, but I haven't decided on my answer yet. Something for tomorrow I think.

Comments

[adelate]

I'm sure the bead will be beautiful and remind you of Freesia whenever you look at it. ♥

[turps]

I really hope so.

I know I need to pick a vibrant emerald green, I just need to decide on details now.

[shadowhive]

I give you all the hugs*hugs* we still dunno what to do with Danny’s ashes from last year. They’re just sitting in the book they came in.

Aww no, that sucks that things went so wrong for her

I hope it all goes well!

Branded in a good or bad way?

[turps]

It's hard to decide what to do with ashes. I didn't know about ashes jewellery when Tex and Moffet died, but I like they're both in caskets in the house. I think sometimes all you can do is hang on until the time is right then you'll know what to do.

I know. We'd planned this big family dinner where she'd meet Corey's girlfriend for the first time and all her kids and grandkids would be there. But understandably she didn't want that now.

Well, spoilers for the film so if you're planning on watching maybe don't read.

Some were branded in a graphic, gruesome and horrific way, the main one is just weird. Spoiler space below in case you do want to watch without knowing details.



The one that sticks with me is the main guy gets drugged and takes a woman's virginity. It's her that drugs him and the scene is her lying naked on a mound of flowers surrounded by other naked women of all ages and shapes. As the scene progresses the women start pumping at their breasts and humming, while one woman holds the hand of the woman having sex while another naked woman gets behind the man and pushes at his backside to thrust him inside harder. It's just weird.

Like I said, visually it's stunning in places with a lot of camera trickery but at the same time, some things I wish I hadn't seen. Especially as they seemed even more graphic as they happened in sunshine and surrounded by beautiful meadows, trees and flowers.

[shadowhive]

I didn’t know about ashes jewellery either until you mentioned it

Aww yeah of course, I hope she had a nice time anyway

I’ll probably see it sometime but not till it comes on tv or something

That really does sound so strange! *hugs*

[frausorge]

The ashes and other mementoes sound very lovingly prepared. I hope they'll help you hold her memory as close as you wish.

I'm sorry to hear about the blocked birthday celebration. Sending hopes for things to ease up for everyone tied to that situation.

However, I hope the new stairlift will serve you well!

[turps]

I don't think I'll ever forget Freesia, she was my good girl and I loved her so much.

Well, the stairlift situation is a lot of waiting. But that's fine, the old one is still working atm. So, obviously, people in critical need need theirs first.

[turlough]

I can imagine it feels both sad and good to have her ashes home. I wonder if putting the ashes in beads like that exists here in Sweden. I didn't even know it was something that could be done until you wrote about it. Is it common in the UK?

That's so sad for your MiL.

I don't know how long stairlifts usually live but 19 sounds like quite a respectable age. But yes, if you can't get spare parts any longer you should probably get a new one. Good luck with the installation!

[turps]

It is both sad and good. I still think I see her out of the corner of my eye sometimes, because she's pretty much been in the house forever.

I don't think ashes jewellery is that common. Mostly I think because not many people do it. I got mine done from someone on Etsy and even then it was sort of undercover as while they can advertise putting pet ashes into beads and jewellery they're banned from advertising for human remains. Which is understandable, so I needed to email and make a private sale off the board.

If you can remember Kay, Kayleigh's old ex, she got some of her dad's ashes put into the ink of a tattoo she got. So I guess new things are being discovered all the time.

19 years is an excellent age for a stairlift, and at least it'll have a nice new seat as the one we have now has a pillowcase on the back as one of the cats scratched the hell out of it back in the day.

[turlough]

That's interesting to hear about the difference between handling human ashes and pet ashes. I suspect it's even more strict here in Sweden.

I didn't even know you could do that with tattoo ink!

[stellamira]

I'm so sorry about Freesia. It was always clear that she was loved very much.
I think it's a lovely way to keep a part of her close with the bead.

[turps]

Thank you.

She was loved, very much so.