The Ashes Challenge

To get to the beach where the Ashes were to be scattered we were faced with several obstacles. Firstly we had to cross the Great Fish River mouth. Not too much of a challenge there as Clive and Melanie, friends from Pretoria had a rubber duck which could be used for this. Once on the other side there was the 2mt cliff that we had to get up on to get to the footpath leading across the dunes. Not a problem,, we took a step ladder on the rubber duck. So in various trips all 7 of us  got across with all our "stuff". This included a skottel braai and a gas bottle, a cooler box with ice, a cooler box with champagne, 2 tables, an umbrella, various mats to sit on, my camera and the food and Toti's ashes in a gift bag and the 2 Poodles and a Yorkie.
 The priest who was doing the ceremony and a family member from Joberg was still to arrive, but nevermind this did not deter us from getting the celebration on the way. We settled on the beach, which is probably one of the most stunning beaches on the coast and swam and had some champagne and put Toti's ashes on a towel for the last bit of sun. This was her favourite place on all the earth and she was always laying in the sun, so we thought it appropriate to do this.
Well the priest arrived by plane from Joberg and him and Emlin, the nephew, was fetched from PE airport by Melanie and arrived at about 12.30. So another boat trip to get them across. The priest arrived in shorts but with proper priest regalia from the waist up. Again the 300 odd metres across the dunes to "Old Woman's" for the ceremony.  First some MOET champagne and then the ceremony!!
We all gathered around the ashes, Anglican prayer books and all and sang Guide thee O my Great Redeemer, Toti's favourite hymn and then did the service. When we were done some of the ashes were buried right there in the sand and the rest was scattered in the sea. It was so what she wanted and then again so different and even if you imagined it, you could not believe that you were not watching a movie. Fellini at his best!!When all was finished we made fish and chips on the beach, as this was the way it was always done.
Later in the afternoon the whole process by boat was reversed. The Indian fishermen who watched us in the  morning were still on the beach and we dared not speculate what they had thought about this strange goings on.
At the end of the day we were all of one mind that Toti has been laid to rest properly and appropriately.