Where would you like to go when you're dead?
Posted by: Rasher on 19 February 2007
I'm going to pick up my aunt's ashes from London. Trouble is, those that are left of us are undecided what to do with them. We were considering sprinkling them over the wall into the garden where she grew up (they needn't know), or in the park where she used to go and read, or from the balcony of her flat in London.
Then I thought that as she flew about a half million miles during her lifetime, I could put a pinch in a load of envelopes and send them to random places all over the world to places she visited. That'd be funny.
Still undecided.
Still undecided what I would want done with mine too. It would be funny to have them cast with cement and made into a small garden gnome and put in the garden, but some people might not see the funny side.
Anyone got any thoughts?
Posted on: 21 February 2007 by Alexander
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
What strikes me most about your replies is that this is a far more serious matter than I had previously acknowledged.
Okay....
My ashes will be mixed with a very strong and longlasting sneezing powder and a plane
will disperse them over my neighbourhood and a hundred years from now
people will be having dinner and someone will sneeze powerfully and refreshingly and
people will remark that is an alexander and someone will wonder about the origin of the name and they will talk about it and
it will have been an entertaining meal.
Posted on: 21 February 2007 by acad tsunami
Bury me in an cardboard coffin thingy and plant a tree above me so that my rotting remains will feed the tree.
According to Private Eye there is someone in the US who will paint a portrait of your deceased loved one mixing the ashes into the paint!
Posted on: 22 February 2007 by JohanR
Half of my ashes should go to cafe Florian, the other half to cafe Quadri, both at the Place San Marco in Venice. In the 18'th century one of them was visited by Venetians only, the other only by non Venetians. Nobody went to both places. Except Casanova and much like to join him.
JohanR
Posted on: 22 February 2007 by Bruce Woodhouse
Thinking vaguely seriously about this last night I realised that when I'm dead I really do not give a fig where my ashes go, in fact I decided it is almost a bit selfish to specify anything. I've certainly seen some unpleasant family disputes because someone has made certain wishes that have vaguely offended one or other party.
I'm happy for whoever survives me to make the memorial they feel appropriate for the memory they wish to preserve; if they want to do something interesting with my remains then that is up to them! My residue is irrelevant to me, my memory is their posession.
I'm much more intrested in making a charitable bequest via my will; that feels more worthwhile.
Bruce
Posted on: 23 February 2007 by Jono 13
When my father died 18 years ago we scattered his ashes next to the Plunkett Memorial in Windsor Great Park as it was his favourite place, we actually have a photo of him standing right where he is now.
The view and the valley to Virginia Water is lovely all year round and will always be there in my lifetime.
The other slightly weird thing that occurs every time we go to visit him is that the sun starts to shine as we walk up to the place without fail. It is both unsettling and reassuring at the same time.
It also means that we know exactly where my mother wants to be when her time comes.
If any of you get the chance to visit the Valley Gardens in the Great Park look out for the little house.
Jono
Posted on: 23 February 2007 by Rasher
The thing is Bruce, it really is the most helpful thing you can do: specify what you want done with your ashes. I am having to guess and I want to get it right, so it's become an issue.
I want to be buried, but I want a compact coffin - only 4ft long, so I phoned the undertaker to make arrangements to be measured up for it. He was a bit taken aback, then asked "How flexible are you?" I said I can't make Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Posted on: 23 February 2007 by Bruce Woodhouse
quote:
I want to be buried, but I want a compact coffin - only 4ft long, so I phoned the undertaker to make arrangements to be measured up for it. He was a bit taken aback, then asked "How flexible are you?" I said I can't make Tuesdays or Thursdays.
That has made me grin on a rubbish day so far. I'll tell you a true tale. Some years ago we installed our first automatic phone system with pre-set numbers. We got a call from a lady to say her elderly and rather overweight husband had fallen out of bed and she could not get him back up. My partner pressed the button and spoke to the ambulance station locally asking them to visit this chap and help sort the situation. Unfortunately he'd pressed the wrong button.... An hour or so later he got a call from the house, explaining that they'd popped him back in bed and the chap was now recovering from the fall, and also the shock of the well-known local undertaker arriving with a suitably serious expression and his tape measure.
Bruce
Posted on: 23 February 2007 by JWM
Where would I like to go when I'm dead?
I've always wanted to go to Canada.
Posted on: 23 February 2007 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by Jono 13:
When my father died 18 years ago we scattered his ashes next to the Plunkett Memorial in Windsor Great Park as it was his favourite place, we actually have a photo of him standing right where he is now.
The view and the valley to Virginia Water is lovely all year round and will always be there in my lifetime.
The other slightly weird thing that occurs every time we go to visit him is that the sun starts to shine as we walk up to the place without fail. It is both unsettling and reassuring at the same time.
It also means that we know exactly where my mother wants to be when her time comes.
If any of you get the chance to visit the Valley Gardens in the Great Park look out for the little house.
Jono
Jono
My family and I love Windsor Great park and Virginia Water and the added attraction is that there is a branch of Laithwaites opposite! Great for picking up a nice red on the way home for Sunday evening.
I have walked through The Valley Gardens many times but can't recall the little house, perhaps you can enlighten me and I will keep a look out next time I am there.
I once stumbled across a shrine there amongst the wooded area towards Savill Gardens which was obviously where some children had scattered their father's ashes. I can think of many worse places to end up, it's beautiful there.
Regards
Mark
Posted on: 26 February 2007 by Jono 13
Mark,
If you can find the Valley Gardens car park by Smiths Lawn Polo Club then head down towards the Totem Pole. After about 50m there is a junction of three paths, go past this down hill, take the next righthand path and the Plunkett Memorial house, an open front temple like building is just around the corner. It looks down one of valleys to the lake.
Jono
Posted on: 26 February 2007 by Chillkram
Thanks Jono.
