It’s hard to write down but the last week or so has been very difficult for a lot of us round here since our friend Lynne died. It was her funeral on Monday just gone. She’s going to be missed by all who knew her, she was a really lovely person.

The hearse was to be escorted by motorbikes as Lynne’s long long time friend is president of a motorcycle club. We all met up at the pub where she lived and worked in preparation for the procession. Those of us who don’t ride bikes were going to follow on in our cars.

Outside the pub it was really something to see, all her friends were there standing and waiting amongst all the bikes that were lined up along the street ready to follow on in procession. The hearse arrived and set off followed by at least 50 gleaming bikes some of the riders having removed their helmets as a mark of respect. Some of the bikers took it in turn to stop other traffic at the lights so we wouldn’t get split up on the four or five mile drive to the cremortorium. Later, a lot of the bikers said that they’d had difficulty seeing as they were filling up with tears as they rode along to the place where we would pay our last respects and say goodbye to our dear friend. We were all very emotional and moved by the occasion and the experience of the procession. At times it felt like we were in some scene from a film and it put me in mind of a place like New Orleans, maybe, where a procession of mourners would be passing along a road and all the bars and saloons would be empty because everybody had gathered to line up and watch the funeral procession go by. It really was a very fitting send off and I think she would have been very proud.

Goodbye dear friend and may you be forever free.

Tasmin, I’m very sorry for you loss. -george

I wrote these poems as a reminder of things that are “natural”, and hopeful. I hope you like it. Elvis Rivera

“Out Loud”

Heartfelt words adorn your lips
Sincerity shines in your brown eyes
Genuineness makes up your skin
Beauty, as a whole, in you, exists

To be touched, someday we hope we’ll be
To touch someone, happens naturally
To find someone, we should not seek
When they find us, there’s no need to speak
Like stars in the night, it’s meant to be

Sometimes moments slip from our sight
We wish we would have taken more time
Then follows regret closely by
Such an injustice we wish we could undo

It’s never to late, it’ll never be through
as long as you remember, and pass on their wisdom
That’s time reversed, and put wisely to use

So everytime you feel that someone you missed
it’s them reaching out with a loving grip
They reassure us when we doubt ourselves
Though we can’t hear them
in our hearts, if you listen, they speak out loud
——————————————————
“There Are (Let Them Be)”

There are some chances you take
there are some mistakes you make
there are some regrets you correct
there are some gifts you collect
Don’t get in the way, let them be

There are some wishes you say
there are some prayers you pray
there are some hopes you believe
there are some dreams you achieve
Don’t get in the way, let them be

There are some romances you invest
there are some frienships you forget
there are some memories you relive
there are some promises you give
Don’t get in the way, let them be

For each cause there is action
for every emotion there is passion
for everything there is something
for everyone there is someone
let them be, let them be

Cheers! Elvis. Thank you so much for those lovely poems.