Peter,
he used to tell me which coffins went back to the undertakers, and on the cheaper ones they took off all the fitments ( handles etc). Let's be honest, it sounds sensible to me, but only if the funeral parlours rented the coffins for the ceremonies only. I am sure that at the time and soon after the War there was a different attitude to death and dying, more pragmatic in some ways perhaps, but certainly far more bound up in 'ceremonial' drawn curtains, wreaths, everyone in black etc.
I know one thing though, the word 'ecological' hadn't been invented!
Feeding a garden would be my thing. The whole ecosystem would benefit and I wouldn't have to travel. I'd really like to see us able to decide the day and conditions of our death where possible and the disposal of the atoms we loaned.
I remember Del, carrying an urn of ashes he wanted rid of, doing a double-take as he walked past a cement mixer........ Even more inappropriate!
I'd love to pinch from Spike Mulligan and have, on my tombstone in our local pitch,..."Je vous ai dit que j'étais malade!", but, as an atheist, I won't be able to look down and chuckle. Similarly, I won't be able to hear John Coltrane playing "My Favourite Things" as they put me in the hole!
I know it is hardly appropriate, but does one care when we can laugh? This how I hope NOT to go!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63rcdLeXiU8
I used to live in a village with too many living people who were dead there. Funny how some places are quite the opposite to others.
There are too many dead people living in our village, so the churchyard has run out of space. But there is a rather tasteless "columbarium" where you can deposit the ashes of the departed. Whether for aesthetic or sentimental reasons, some prefer to make their own arrangements and deposit the ashes (illegally) in the Baie de Mont St. Michel.
I once met a widow who kept her old man in an urn on the mantlepiece. Cynical friends said that at last she could be sure where he was of a night. But it certainly worked a a big turn-off for prospective suitors!
I have no interest in what happens to my body when I am gone. All I hope for is swift and painless passing and disposal of my remains with a minimum of environmental pollution and expense. No flowers, thanks!
"Meet the mother-in-law". "Where?" says the guest. "Where to are about to sit down" says host. "I can't see her" says guest. "We had her recycled by Ikea" says host "and you are now just about to sit on her".
They used to write science fiction along those lines, think Soylent Green, although eating reprocessed people does not appeal.
Norman, the treatment goes by a few names: bio-cremation (although it isn't cremation), alkaline hydrolyisis and resomation. It's not widely available yet. Still being legislated in the UK and Netherlands I believe. It sounds more environmentally friendly than standard cremation, but in the end, I don't really want to get flushed down a drain ;-), even if I have been turned into environmentally friendly components. I think I would rather be recycled as Ikea furniture.
Doreen, are you talking about the television series featuring Roald Dahl stories? My favourite. I watch it on YouTube now.
As the actress said to the bishop !
Going out with a bang then?
Ah, we're alright Peter, Brian's joined in
*wipes thin sheen of guilt sweat from brow*
It's ok Ian, you got away with it...
Del Boy had something resembling a brain between his ears?
Don't know if there is a 'ggod' time to go Brian but my preferred way would be to be in bed with a a couple of 20 year old swedish ladies dressed in the Spurs kit whilst drinking champagne and watching Spurs score the winning goal in the F A Cup Final.
This is total folly of course because what earthly chance have Spurs of reaching the F A Final ???
Some nice wines in Lidl nowadays. Their Bourgueil at €2.99 for example is very quaffable.
Ah, but none better than my fave all-time player Denis Law !
*looks round nervously, thread hijack here*
Maybe 're useable' coffins could be a nice little earner ?
Now, where's my hammer & nails ? .....