A Quiet Walk on the Thames Path Near Mortlake Crematorium

Yesterday I took my dog for a walk along the Thames Path near Mortlake Crematorium. It had been raining, and the air was somewhere between a fine mist and the beginning of more rain. Everything felt damp and green. There was that lovely smell you get from the trees and plants after a shower.

I live locally in SW14, and as the owner of The Tapestry I know this part of the neighbourhood well. I walk here often, but yesterday made me stop and appreciate it again. Even on a grey day, there was something very relaxing about being beside the river.

A little room to think

Like most people, I sometimes take my whole to-do list out with me. Yesterday I was thinking about the work at The Tapestry, the project ahead, the jobs still waiting and all the ordinary pressures that fill your head when you run a business.

Then my attention would move back to the dog and the people passing. There were still people walking, with dogs and friendly faces along the path. My own dog was keeping an eye on the other dogs too, sometimes getting a little upset with them. Between watching him and noticing what was around us, my attention kept coming back to the walk.

I like that about this walk. There are trees, gardens and stretches of greenery, with the Thames beside you and familiar bits of the neighbourhood along the way. On a sunny day the river is beautiful. Yesterday, with the mist and wet leaves, it had a different kind of beauty.

A pause after a funeral

Walking past Mortlake Crematorium also made me think about the families who come to this area for a funeral. Through The Tapestry, I have met many people gathering after a service, often on a day that has taken a great deal out of them.

If you are visiting for a funeral or a wake and feel like some fresh air, you might like to leave a little space in the day for the riverside. That could be before meeting everyone, afterwards, or another time entirely. It is simply somewhere nearby to walk, sit or have a quiet conversation, whether you are coming to The Tapestry or not.

There is a bench on the footpath outside the crematorium that caught my attention. Sometimes somewhere to sit for a moment is all you are looking for. You might take a deep breath, look at the river and let your thoughts settle where they want to.

For some people, that may be a chance to remember a happy moment with the person they have lost. For others, it may just be a little quiet. There is no need to make it into anything more, or to feel a particular way.

Take it at your own pace

If you do go, choose whatever distance feels right for you and the people with you. After rain, parts of the path can be wet or muddy, so suitable shoes are worth thinking about. There is no need to turn it into a long walk.

I wanted to share these photographs because they show a small part of the place I live and walk in, on an ordinary misty day. With everything going on at The Tapestry and in life, I appreciated having that time outside with my dog.

And if you are arranging a wake reception nearby, you are welcome to get in touch with us at The Tapestry. We are currently closed for everyday dining while we refurbish, with private functions and wake receptions available by advance arrangement. We can talk through what you have in mind and check your date.

Jackson

The Tapestry, Mortlake