I've had a really excellent birth-day
Karen brought me the most beautiful roses and we were going to have a special Morning Tea somewhere but it being a Public Holiday (many places closed; Auckland Anniversary Day) and a State of Emergency which had closed shops and roads, added to which it was raining, we postponed it.
I'd put together some things for the Evacuation Centre but they only have room for the storage of people right now, not bedding, clothing and toys. Once people are back in their homes, then they'll need such things.
My family came over to take me to a 2pm lunch where every mouthful was heavenly.
I'd been unable to finish my breakfast, so was extra hungry and could fully enjoy the fish and dessert (though not at the same time).
Conversation over lunch was straight out of a comedy film. When my DS took a slightly restless Gubbins for a short walk, my Dil leaned across the table and asked if they should start looking at care homes for me. This because DS had reported the spilled, ignited meths incident and she was worried.
I pointed out I’d dealt calmly with the conflagration but it was clear she had visions of self-immolation in the not too distant future.
‘And do you want to be buried or cremated?’ That presumably, if I don’t see to the latter myself.
‘I’d quite like to finish my pudding before I do either if that’s all right?’
‘No, I mean what sort of arrangements do you want us to make? Do you want to Lie in State in which case you’d probably need to be embalmed for an open casket.’
She’d begun the meal with a large glass of Rosé , topped it up twice and was well into a Chocolate Martini with her dessert, so was not far from being ‘embalmed’ herself.
Dgs chipped in with, ‘I’m sure Gramlyn would love a Viking funeral.’
He’s absolutely right but are you allowed day release from Valhalla to watch your own send off?
‘The Council wouldn’t allow that. It’s illegal to set fire to a body in public,’ opined Dil seriously.
We debated the relative merits of Viking versus a New Orlean’s style Jazz Funeral, which got dgs vote; he even started choosing the music.
Eventually and just before DS and Gubbins came back, we decided Dil will make some sort of miniature Viking longship (or failing that a Maori waka), put my ashes in, light it and send it off across the Waitemata Harbour. Happy Birthday to me.
When did UK governments lose their way?