As we sat in a space where we watched a moving picture, beyond the garden that stretched out behind your house, we saw different hues according to the time of day and season. Splashed across the garden and field beyond, as we cleared the lounge of your belongings, butter sunshine spread, reaching across and warming the deer who kept a twitching ear on our proceedings.

As you entertained family and friends, the pallette changed and from your large glass panes, racing in stormy weather, clouds were in a hurry pushing their way across the sky, wind and rain dramatically swept across the garden and we wondered if we would join Dorothy in Oz and the house would be whipped up into the sky.

In winter, crisp frosting lay on grass and wrapped up the trees in coats for a grand ball where, catching the light they swayed and sprinkled their sparkles. The picture was forever changing, as life does and we grow older.

Now a new family have arrived in Ambleside. I wonder if they hear the echoes of our karaoke at Christmas, many family meals and celebrations. Do they know we filled the room with dancing and that you mum, could still kick your legs high in your eighties? Can they hear the babies play? Are the walls filled with our laughter and your stories of family, grandparents and a past which now, I wish I could listen to again.

This is where we all gathered, the centre, the heart of the family was with you mum. You are not the house, you are not your belongings but you are the warmth and love, the very essence of our family. 

Until we meet again mum, until we meet again.