Ahhh families, gotta love em
Oct. 25th, 2004 12:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
boodieWhen my Uncle Charlie died, it was of course a sad time, Uncle Charlie was the man I always wished that was MY father, he was the perfect Uncle, and I envied my cousins something shocking.
My Uncle Charlie was a very community minded man, and ended up getting an Order of Australia, plus innumerable other Govt awards and recognitions, he was the Warden of his home town, and was loved and respected by many many people, so when he died, they mentioned his passing in the state parliament and had a minutes silence for him, we thought this was wonderful, and very fitting due a man of his calibre.
So when my Aunt rang up and said that as a mark of respect the Governor of Tasmania, would be attending his funeral service, we all thought that was just amazing and showing of how much he was appreciated. Now certain sections of my family have always been more upwardly mobile than other sections of my family, and some sections of my family were definitely low-rent.
So the word went around the family that everyone and that meant everyone was to be on their best behaviour, before the service the Gov was to be introduced to immediate family, a little small talk, etc etc, you know how it goes.
Now one of my Aunts was/is definitely more upwardly mobile than all the rest of the family put together, she, somewhere along the way managed to acquire a very genteel accent, far different from any one elses in the family.
Unfortunately, she was married to one of the most uncouth people in the family, mainly due to the fact of a little thing known as a shotgun wedding and a VERY premature baby, stern words from my Grandfather 'YOU WILL MARRY HER!' and so it was.
My grieving Aunt had words especially with another one of my Aunts, that went something along the lines of 'Please refrain from drinking until AFTER the funeral, and no swearing' this Aunt promised faithfully to behave and to even wear something decent.
On the day of the funeral we all turned up, looking I might say, rather well dressed for us, except of course for my UM Aunt, who always dressed so much nicer than the rest of us, she'd even managed to get her husband into a suit, which only made him look like an overdressed weasel, but there you go.
The Governer arrived, a venerable old man, nearing IIRC retirement age, and the family created a small reception line, and he wandered down the line, murmuring condolences etc etc, then he got to my UM Aunt, who all but curtsied, and he said something and she replied, graciously, then he got to my Uncle.
And my Uncle in his best orstrayian accent, broad and gutteral said ' G'day Cock'... and my UM Aunt all but fainted then and there, she shot him a look that should have withered him where he stood, and as soon as the Gov had passed onto someone else, she elbowed him VERY hard in the ribs and he doubled up in pain.
That was just the beginning of the fun day that was my Uncle Charlies funeral, next enthralling episode will be the punchup at the wake.
My Uncle Charlie was a very community minded man, and ended up getting an Order of Australia, plus innumerable other Govt awards and recognitions, he was the Warden of his home town, and was loved and respected by many many people, so when he died, they mentioned his passing in the state parliament and had a minutes silence for him, we thought this was wonderful, and very fitting due a man of his calibre.
So when my Aunt rang up and said that as a mark of respect the Governor of Tasmania, would be attending his funeral service, we all thought that was just amazing and showing of how much he was appreciated. Now certain sections of my family have always been more upwardly mobile than other sections of my family, and some sections of my family were definitely low-rent.
So the word went around the family that everyone and that meant everyone was to be on their best behaviour, before the service the Gov was to be introduced to immediate family, a little small talk, etc etc, you know how it goes.
Now one of my Aunts was/is definitely more upwardly mobile than all the rest of the family put together, she, somewhere along the way managed to acquire a very genteel accent, far different from any one elses in the family.
Unfortunately, she was married to one of the most uncouth people in the family, mainly due to the fact of a little thing known as a shotgun wedding and a VERY premature baby, stern words from my Grandfather 'YOU WILL MARRY HER!' and so it was.
My grieving Aunt had words especially with another one of my Aunts, that went something along the lines of 'Please refrain from drinking until AFTER the funeral, and no swearing' this Aunt promised faithfully to behave and to even wear something decent.
On the day of the funeral we all turned up, looking I might say, rather well dressed for us, except of course for my UM Aunt, who always dressed so much nicer than the rest of us, she'd even managed to get her husband into a suit, which only made him look like an overdressed weasel, but there you go.
The Governer arrived, a venerable old man, nearing IIRC retirement age, and the family created a small reception line, and he wandered down the line, murmuring condolences etc etc, then he got to my UM Aunt, who all but curtsied, and he said something and she replied, graciously, then he got to my Uncle.
And my Uncle in his best orstrayian accent, broad and gutteral said ' G'day Cock'... and my UM Aunt all but fainted then and there, she shot him a look that should have withered him where he stood, and as soon as the Gov had passed onto someone else, she elbowed him VERY hard in the ribs and he doubled up in pain.
That was just the beginning of the fun day that was my Uncle Charlies funeral, next enthralling episode will be the punchup at the wake.
