The British way of death
The composer Benjamin Britten’s last words to his sister, Barbara: “Sorry, old thing.”
Familiarity breeds contentment
The so-called traditional or Victorian funeral derives from a time when they did death differently, when people grieved differently. It was characterised by hush and awe, ostentatious gloom and social pretension. It was an invention of the Gothic Revival and claimed, spuriously, descent from the medieval guild funerals devised and superintended by the College of Arms. […]
Just walking the dead
Posted by Richard Rawlinson When David Bowie is on good form, he’s darn good. As a childhood fan, I was pleased to read rave reviews of his new album, The Next Day, marking a return, aged 66, from a decade of semi-retired obscurity in which the cigarette-puffing, ex-coke sniffer suffered bouts of ill health. His new […]
Lily sees off vicar
From the i. More in the Telegraph here. Hat-tip to Michael Jarvis
Today’s mystery object
They’re key fobs. Available here.
Shoot thy neighbour
In the US, The Onion mischievously reports: NEWTOWN, CT—As the nation continues to mourn the women and children who lost their lives in last month’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the National Rifle Association has reportedly joined the outpouring of support for families of victims by sending each household a bereavement gun basket. “On behalf […]
Let’s hear it for the mui fa koon choy
Sad news here from the New Straits Times: THE traditional Chinese coffin is not a popular option for funerals anymore mainly due to its daunting size and medieval shape. New Cham Fei Casket operator, Cham Swee Hung, 36, said the demand for mui fa koon choy, which in Chinese means plum blossom flower has dropped […]
Chaos theory
“A contemporary theologian has described mercy as “entering into the chaos of another.” [Source] Is there a better definition of what those who work for the bereaved do?
Inconsolable dog
From yesterday’s Telegraph, one of those faithful-beyond-death dogs you like so much: Ciccio, a 12-year-old German shepherd, waits in vain in front of the altar of the Santa Maria Assunta church in the village of San Donaci in the southern region of Puglia. He heads to the church as soon as the bells begin to […]
Adventures in Funeralworld
2. Experiences of a coffineer What’s in a name? Before I start this piece I should just say (and I think it’s completely appropriate given the subject of this particular post) that this post was very, very close to being titled “The experiences of a confiner”. Not because I thought this was a particularly good title or […]
