Bit sad

Went to a funeral today for our friend and neighbour John.  He has been ill off and on for about two years.  John and his partner Michael have been our friends and neighbours here in Spain for getting on for 24 years.  We weren't close friends but always knew they would help if we had a problem and think they felt the same.  I was a bit surprised when they took the lid off the coffin in the crematorium before the service.  John was Irish and some of his family were there.  I think maybe it is an Irish thing to have an open coffin but it is not here and they closed it before the service began.  I really feel for Michael as they had been together for over 50 years.  It could not have been easy for either of them in the early days but they stuck together, had a successful business which they sold and came to Spain where they were more readily accepted.  Can you believe that, a catholic country gave them more protection, more tolerance than we did in England.  I worry about the UK, it seems to me that too many do gooders are worried about anyone other than their own.