Carolyn and I chose St Patrick's Day as a fitting day to scatter John's ashes on his beloved Ninian Park, home of Cardiff City FC. Two of his good friends also attended (Dave and Dexy)along with my husband Pete and parents in law, Di and Joe. We each took a turn to scatter John's ashes (using a very taseful Sex Pistols mug) into the hole behind the goal at the Grange End, prepared by the very obliging and enormously respectful groundsman. It was in many ways as hard as the funeral itself, perhaps harder as it was the final goodbye. But, we had the comfort of knowing it was most definitely what he would have wanted as he had said as much to Carolyn on more than one occasion, though I'm sure he didn't think we'd be carrying out his wishes for many years to come. Below are the words we shared to 'send him on his way' - they are the same words used at the commital part of his funeral. John - the peace of the running water to you; (Dave) - the peace of the flowing air to you; (Di) - the peace of the quiet earth to you; (Joe) - the peace of the shining stars to you (Pete) - and the love and care of us all to you (Mel & Carolyn) Carolyn and I also chose some words we felt would reflect John's feelings about how we might deal with his passing and we all felt that for certain, he would want to have sent us on our way with the old 'Irish Blessing' The words for this and the other words we used are on the following pages. Finally, before we left, we linked arms and through our tears managed the 'Na Na Na' version of Men of Harlech with an Ayatollah or 2 thrown in for good measure... Carolyn's Words (by Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959) Miss Me - But Let Me Go When I come to the of the road And the sun has set for me, I want no rites in a gloom-filled room, Why cry for a soul set free! Miss me a little - but not for long And not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me, but let me go. For this journey that we all must take And each must go alone; It's all a part of the Master's plan A step on the road to home. When you are lonely and sick at heart Go to the friends we know, And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds. Miss me, but let me go. Cont.... Mel's Words (Unattributed)- see next page.. You can shed tears that he is gone. Or you can smile because he lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back. Or, you can open your eyes and see all that he has left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see him. Or you can be full of the love and laughter that you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow because of yesterday. Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he is gone. Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on, You can cry, close your mind, be empty and turn your back. Or you can do what he would have wanted, smile, open your eyes, love and move on..... An Old Irish Blessing May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.