Early January 2025 Uncle Charlie's funeral was a worthy send-off, I didn't see the burial, but the church service was special. It was standing room only and many had to watch the service on a tele in another room. I didn't think the service was going to move me to tears, while I respected Charlie and thought he was a top bloke, I really didn't know him that well. Owen, my wife's dad and Charlie's older brother, had me in tears by the end of his eulogy with an allegory of him and Charlie as kids playing their favourite board game called Squatter, finishing the game and packing up, still wanting to play more, but being glad that they could play in the first place. Charlie was a farmer, he played the game of farming, and he was happy that he played even though in his final days, the game for him was about to come to a finish. Then my father-in-law finished up by saying Charlie would probably be playing the game in heaven, farming that is, not squatter. The New House I'm glad we are in our new house at Birch Ave, I'll feel even more at home once we are in our own bed and my office is set up. While I'm mega keen on the new digs, I'm missing Furlong Street more than I thought I would. Probs because I will continue to feel in limbo until everything is over here and sorted. I may even stay in limbo until I tidy up Furlong and have it ready for tenants. While there are a few plusses to Furlong, I know we've made the right decision, touch wood, as while there are a few issues with Birch the plusses are many. It's 5 AM and I'm staying at the keyboard until 6. You'll be able to judge if I lasted by the length of this document. I helped out a little in setting up Birch - the new house - with Owen for his brother Uncle Charlie to stay when he needed to be close to the hospital, and I was surprised and rather chuffed that Charlie's son Roger gave me a mention in his eulogy to his dad. Happy to take the kudos. I wasn't planning on going out to Mendooran - an hour from Dubbo - after the church service. I went to Mum's in Geurie to decompress, but Liz called and said she needed me because Grace was being a handful, so I made my way to the Mendooran showground. I had missed the burial at the cemetery on the outskirts of town but got there for the afternoon tea. I thought that it was only for family so was surprised to see so many faces of people I knew and ones I didn't. Liz explained to me the next day that there was an open invite for afternoon tea, but dinner at the showground was just for family. I sat down next to my father-in-law shortly after arriving, I did my best to dodge Liz's cousins and extended family as I wasn't prepared for the social gathering and I generally need to prep myself for such things. My wife and I talked to a few friends from in town and though I was sitting next to my father-in-law Owen we never actually chatted. I wanted to tell him about how top-notch his eulogy was and how he brought me - a stoic bloke not moved by the winds - to tears, but we left before having the chance. Grace had been a pain and Liz wanted out, so we didn't stay for the dinner. Grace was planning on having a sleep in the car for the hour-long trip home but we were having too much fun so she felt encouraged not to rest. I'm hoping the move has been hard on her, in which case, this would explain why she's been such a turkey lately, acting like she's in charge, and the one to make the rules, I say I hope it's the move, because if not our parenting formula has raised a spoiled little brat. But truth be told, us Browne's don't bow to authority for better or for worse, and that DNA has been passed onto her. The only difference with her is, she thinks she's the authority, little shit. It's five thirty and I may have come to the end, let me think. Think you old bastard. I was planning on staying over at my mum's yesterday as I stayed there the two nights before. I told Mum we would all be staying, for three or four days, but Grace and Liz pulled the pin on night one and stayed in the temporary beds in my office at Birch while Aunty July and Uncle Charles - Not to be confused with Uncle Charlie - stayed in Graces double bed. Uncle Charles and Grace struck up a mighty friendship apparently. The next night after the funeral Aunty Wendy and Uncle Allan stayed in beds in what will be mine and Liz's room, and because Liz needed me, I skipped Mum and stayed in my office with Grace, while Liz slept in the other temporary bed in her office. I think Owen is coming around in his ute today to take the beds set up for Uncle Charlie and Aunty Kay in our room, so we can get our king bed mattress in there before buying a base online because the existing base - once owned by Liz's sister and brother in law, Lex and Dave - is not right for the room. I went out to Mum's yesterday morning to pick up the roast I missed out on the evening of the funeral and to let her know, I see how much she does for us, even if she doesn't recognise it herself. I should also mention that I gave Charlie's wife Kay a hug at the funeral and she thanked me for helping out with the setting up at Birch Ave, which was nice of her being that it would be something easily forgotten in the fog of grief. The sun's coming up. I'm sitting at the kitchen table with a slender but majestic view of silhouetted gum leaves and a backdrop of orange sky and deep purple clouds. I hope Owen comes tomorrow rather than today, so I can potter around the house and get things organised here before moving more stuff. Liz goes to work tomorrow after a break, and if we have our way, Grace will be spending time with Georgie Vol and the Breen kids. And I can have some alone time. Six minutes to six, that'll do I think. #reflections Published 20-1-2025 Written on https://freewriter.app