Showboating the dead
Intriguing piece here from the Standard, ‘Kenya’s Bold Newspaper’ satirising modern funeral fads in a countrywhere oneupmanship is, according to the author, so rampant and absurd that ‘Even someone who dies in a Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru hospital or at a witchdoctor’s dungeon, is reported to have died in London, Germany or the US.’ and ‘if […]
Priests and secular celebrants
By Richard Rawlinson Today’s elderly, even when not religious, are more likely to choose a funeral conducted by a priest (pastor/vicar depending on denomination) than a secular celebrant. Given the choice between a person in a robe or business suit, they opt for the former. Their decision seems as natural to them as taking the […]
Touchy-feely felt
How’s it going with the Christmas shopping? Look, with time running out, it’s time to get going. Here at the GFG-Batesville Tower we like to support our own — the people who share our values. There are precious few of these in the high street for, verily, they are a precious few. One of the […]
Quote of the day
“Kill me, you fucking fool!” Kingsley Amis, as he lay dying, to his son Philip.
Psych-Vikings
Here’s some text from Consequence of Sound: Everyone deals with death in their own personal way, but psych-rock outfit Crystal Antlers offers a unique perspective on the topic in their music video for “Dog Days”. In said clip, a group of friends commemorate a dead friend by carrying around his/her ashes in various cups and cookie jars, […]
Dire fact of the day
Independent funeral directors in the greater Leicester area number only 25% of funeral Service providers.
Vicar gets cross
Obviously, any building created by the state at the behest of its citizens should be faith-neutral. It’s a given, it goes without saying, so why say it? Because the Co-op seems to have fallen foul of an unholy alliance of some townspeople of Shrewsbury in the matter of its £1.7 million refurb of the town’s […]
Quote of the day
“I started taking better care of myself once I learned how expensive funerals are.” Source
Sidecar conversion
The Revd Paul Sinclair, proprietor of Motorcycle Funerals, occupies, in the unanimous opinion of all who toil round the clock here at the GFG-Batesville Tower, the status of national treasure. He’s a thoroughly good egg, a lovely man. At weekends, when crem chimneys grow cold, Paul and his wife Marian like to travel the country […]
Please talk about this
This press release was issued this morning by Dignity in Dying following Geraldine McClelland’s death at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland: 08 Dec 2011: My dying wish: please talk about my death In September I decided to travel abroad to die. Having made the necessary arrangements, in October I contacted Dignity in Dying and asked […]
