(A WEEK LATER)
 
I was in York last Wednesday afternoon - a cold day with spells of pouring rain and howling winds.  I was earlier than planned but the bus was jammed in rush hour traffic (also earlier than it used to be).  I came back the long round, via the pharmacy - no queue at 5 pm, no rain or wind and the sun was out. 
 
Someone pointed out a rainbow (half a rainbow) coming from WSW and fading out in the sky, probably heading the all the way to ********* (9 letters, York Theatre Royal Pantomime 1965 (I think).  Back in the good old days when the building was black with soot, pavements were covered in snow and Jack Frost came every night.
 
Walking past the local fish & chip shop, I decided to treat myself - jumbo cod with scraps £7 (they only had cod, no haddock or coley available).  I supplied the mushy peas and newspaper - feeling nostalgic about my childhood, my mum, ‘one of each and a carton of mushy peas’ (with sugar) from a place just round the corner.
 
I didn’t think about Michael until I sat down to eat - I’d been doing and thinking about things connected with him so that feels alright.  Now Whackers is closed and I can’t remember the last time I went to our local ‘award-winning’ shop - neither one was a patch our old local Holgate Fisheries (now Labour party headquarters).
 
I have no mobile phone so took a photo on my webcam at bedtime - I’m on the left, upside down, in a blue bath robe holding the (beautifully arranged) leftovers up to the camera.  There appears to be a naked man (top right) and people popping out at all angles (grease stains, reflections like a double exposure at the end of a roll of film).
 
I do believe that they (we) have time to pause, look back to earth, to loved ones and over our lives before we go on to the next life.  I hope everyone has used this time to sort through Michael’s affairs and things (maybe just into piles to re-sort), remember old stuff, maybe learn new stuff and is ready to go on with this life.
 
This has been one long story - I must get on now!  With love and best wishes to all  XXX