Death of a race car
Posted by Vale I have never loved cars. I side with H.G.Wells when he said that everytime he saw an adult on a bike ‘I no longer despair for the future of the human race’. Or Orwell when he said ‘Four wheels bad, two wheels good’. Or something like that. But I do understand that […]
All in a state funeral
Posted by Vale When is a state funeral not a state funeral? Back in 2008 there was speculation in the press about plans for a state funeral honouring the life and achievements of Lady Thatcher. The rumours were denied at the time but have never gone away or stopped being controversial. Look at the reactions […]
Chinese woman rises from the dead
There’s one of those curiosity stories in the Daily Mail that may tickle you. Briefly, a 95 year-old Chinese woman died. She was coffined at home and spent the following days being farewelled by her neighbours. Six days later — the day before her funeral — neighbours arrived to find the coffin empty. A search […]
They fit into a spread hand, yet reach into eternity
Posted by Rupert Callender, owner of The Green Funeral Company. As human beings, we look for meaning everywhere, superimposing it over everything that comes into our lives. The Australian aborigines believe that the world was vocalised into existence, literally sung into creation, and that the song needs to be continued so that reality can flourish. […]
Image management
The Undertaker This is for the Undertaker Who’s story is sad to tell, For what he does is never mentioned, And often overlooked as well. He’s not at all what you might picture, He’s not wrinkled, old and grey, His face is not pasty white, Like storybooks portray. Some people laugh and make their jokes, […]
Ane Brun – Your tears are much heavier these days
Your tears are much heavier these days I’ve seen them coming in like waves From the ocean, I’ve seen them coming From the ocean, I’ve seen them growing And moving with the water The rocking is getting more severe They’ll sail with you anywhere We will make it A little further Don’t you worry We’re […]
Plus ça change…
“It is curious that long association with the sadness of death seems to have deprived an occasional funeral director of all sense of moderation. Whether the temptation of “good business” gradually undermines his character—knowing as he does that bereaved families ask no questions—or whether his profession is merely devoid of taste, he will, if not checked, […]
Thoughts of a funeralgoer
Posted by Lyra Mollington On the day of cousin Trevor’s funeral, I woke up in a cold sweat. I’d had the most awful nightmare. I dreamt that all the mourners had been instructed to wear novelty slippers – the bigger and furrier the better. If that wasn’t bad enough, there were shaven-headed monks in saffron […]
Wrong coffin with a twist
Here’s an extraordinary thing. A funeral director brings the wrong coffin to the crematorium. The crematorium staff spot that it’s the wrong coffin on arrival, and inform the funeral director. So far, so banal. What happens next? The service goes ahead with the wrong coffin. At the conclusion thereof the coffin is not burnt but, […]
Two to the power of… Funeral Directing
You remember Kathryn’s post here setting out the rules of the Two Things game? Here’s how it goes: For every subject, there are only two things you really need to know. Everything else is the application of these two things, or just not important. Example: The Two Things about Arranging a Funeral 1. Do what needs […]
