Going away for a couple of days

[NZminilops]

Not tomorrow, but the two days after that (Thursday and Friday for me) I'm going to be at a funeral 'up north' in a beautiful area of NZ called the Bay of Islands.

It's not someone I ever I met so I'm not grieving, kind of looking forward to leaving the house for a bit actually . It's my partners grandmother on his dads side (whom he barely knew either), we are going more for other family members who want us there.

I've got someone awesome to come and keep an eye on the animals, so no worries there.

So I'll be here tomorrow, will try and do something hgelpful, nudge me with a PM if you have anything not too brain consuming to take care of. Still a bit in shock with BunBun but can do some stuff.

 

[Leaf]

I hope you have a safe and relaxing trip despite the purpose.

 

[NZminilops]

It ended up being really awefull. We all slept in the marae (church type thing) with the dead body and all the lights on all night, with people wailing and weeping all night. The weather was awefull and we all pitched in to dig the grave in the pouring rain.

Glad to be home.

 

[jordiwes]

You've got to be kidding!

You need to pamper yourself this weekend. Grab a book/magazine and head for the bathtub. Right NOW!

Oh and hug a bunny.

 

[Bo B Bunny]

Is this a normal funeral for all of you? It seems very very odd to me at least. In the states it's not common to dig the grave ourselves.... it's usually done by the cemetary and no one would be allowed to sleep in the room with the body! :shock: My great-uncle used to work for a mortician years and years ago and was cleaning when a body "moved"..... muscular reflexes are common after death. He was gone..... left a streak of shadow he said and nothing more! LOL!

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Oh Chelle, that is horrible. And here I was thinking you maybe enjoyed yourself a tiny bit:shock:. I just cannot believe that. You poor thing.

Yes, pampering yourself is demanded! Go get some wine or something and light some candles this evening while you enjoy a nice long bubble bath.

I'm sorry to hear it went to horribly.:hug:

 

[NZminilops]

It was a traditional maori funeral. Maori are the the natives to NZ, my partner Mathew is a half maori and half european. It was his dads mum, she was 91.

The coffin lay open on the floor at one end of the building and everyone had to go greet the body. To everyone else there is seemed normal but I was terrified! I'm scared of dead things and I was trying not to pass out. Mat's mum wasn't helping by pushing me forward. I didn't even know her and it just felt so wrong. The first time I meet someone shouldn't be when they are dead :shock:. Little kids were running around, going up to her and kissing her cheeks then running off again. The entire back wall was covered in pictures of other passed peaple, seemingly hundreds of them.

They all said it was normal for the family to dig the hole, it's definelty not something normal on my side of the family that's for sure :?. I've only been to one other funeral before and it was nothing like this at all. I helped move the dirt away but as a woman I wasn't allowed to actually dig (yay).

It was a good learning experience though. Some parts were fun, like the singing and everyone was warm and friendly. I must have been hugged and kissed 100 times. After she was buried we all had a huge meal that went on for hours.

I got to see one of Mat's brothers again though and that was good too, we really get along well. He lives in Australia and he came over for the funeral. He must have spent hundreds buying everyone drinks, he's really nice.

I'm feeling more back down to earth now , I did feel weirded out for a bit. It's LOVELY to be home!

 

[Bo B Bunny]

We have a "viewing" like that in the building, but not the other part - sleeping there! yikes!

That's really interesting, tho. I don't know that much about New Zealand. Now, I'll have to start learning. I'm sort of an information junkie. LOL!