KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

GreyQueen

How does this direct cremation work, where does the body go between a person dying and the cremation? Do you have to have a funeral director collect the body from either a person's home or the hospital morgue and hold onto it until the cremation?

I'm another person who doesn't find comfort in funerals. I don't like being in public when distressed and I know from experience that I'm not the only relation who feels the same way.

MMF007

Dropped a bag of clothes into CS - these garments were given to me by mum 'to try and if you don't want them put them in CS'. I think she just wanted shut of them! Like GQ, I was happy to facilitate this Kondo

Am very cynical when it comes to pre-paid funerals (not covering all costs, not being traceable at the necessary time etc), and in our case, as we have no kids, I have no hesitation in leaving instructions for a swift cremation, do what you like with the ashes and pay for funeral out of my estate!
I briefly wondered whether to specify that my ashes should be scattered somewhere sunny abroad, just so the benficiaries would have a holiday

Today's work included finding the glue (client asked where 'we' had put it. I've never used the glue so I had a wild guess that it would be the kitchen drawer , you know the kind of drawer I mean!). Found the glue, improvised some new feet for the 2 missing from the bottom of a radio and bob's your uncle, job done . Kondo rolled towels, kondo folded pj's - top folded into trousers so pairs stay together, filed much paperwork and then dropped client off at Waitrose (I have high class clients:D).

VJsmum

My friends aunt had, what i suspect is a direct cremation. She wanted no ceremony, no mourners, no wake.

The undertaker took her to the crem - her brother and sister (her next of kin) drove there themselves (against orders). They had a couple of minutes in the chapel and then it was over and they went back to their daily business (whilst i suspect feeling terrible).

I don't cry easily - and certainly not in public - so i look like a right hard c0w at funerals.

OH is painting the kitchen. :eek: There has been little to kondo, but when clearing the only bookcase he said "Hmm i don't think we need any more recipe books" (mine - 2 small shelves) to which i replied "well then we certainly don't need any more train books" (his, also 2 shelves in the kitchen, Plus 2 large shelves in the lounge, another shelf in the conservatory).

He said "don't be nasty" :rotfl:

MMF007

I need to confess something - I have just collected my new purse from JL. It was in the sale, half price, exactly what I had been looking for, and it is bringing me lots of joy.

My only other purchase in the sales was a beautiful breakfast tray to replace the one I dropped. Again, half price. I broke the original months ago but was biding my time, looking for a joyful bargain :T

GreyQueen

How delightful! Things you wanted and reduced prices, what could be better. Enjoy, enjoy!

I was sorting out me drawers (ooo-errr missus) when I came across an old mobile with a cracked screen. I have a vague recollection I saved this on the theory that it could potentially be brought back into play in an emergency stand-in.

Am trying to charge it now, if it doesn't wake up, it'll be off to charitable recycling land soon.

Siebrie

I had my first (errrmm how to call it, frantic search in memorised English vocabulary....) gymnastics-stretching-musclebuilding class by WI, so at a nice level of difficulty; I definitely feel it, but think I won't be too sore tomorrow. Lovely group of local ladies, two of which I met before at dds' schools. They rounded the lesson off with cava and nibbles I will be going every week from now on, due to my house being mostly in order :T

PollyWollyDoodle

Direct cremation usually means that the person goes to the funeral directors' premises and then to the crematorium with no funeral service at all. It's cheaper because the crematorium can fit them in when it suits them and the chapel doesn't have to be used (did you know that most crematoria have different prices depending on the time of day?).

You can still have a funeral, either before the cremation at a different venue (church, parish hall, your own front room if you want) or afterwards with the ashes - in this country we tend to tie the two things (funeral and disposal of the body) together but in other countries it's normal for the two to be held separately.

GQ, I don't sell funeral plans but I think if you definitely wanted burial you'd buy the plot at the same time as taking out the plan - otherwise there's no guarantee one would be available when you wanted it IYSWIM. It's quite common for people to do this especially with green burial parks - you can pick your own tree!

Sorry, this has got a bit off-topic but I'm always keen that people should know what the options are; when you've just lost someone you love it's not the best time to start making decisions about what to do. I'm sure MK would approve of having a plan in place and then forgetting about it so you can get on with life!

Karmacat

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Direct cremation usually means <snip> You can still have a funeral, either before the cremation at a different venue (church, parish hall, your own front room if you want) or afterwards with the ashes - in this country we tend to tie the two things (funeral and disposal of the body) together but in other countries it's normal for the two to be held separately.

That reminds me! On my mum's housing estate, there were a couple of times when the elderly neighbours of a couple of elderly ladies didn't feel strong enough to go to the funeral - and ten or so of them ended up gathering together in a local house, at the same time as the official funeral, with the knowledge and blessing of the bereaved family; a few of them went along to the house afterwards too. It's becoming easier to do things the way *people* want to do them ...

MMF007

Oh Siebrie , that sounds great! Does this mean I can round off my keepfit dvd session at home with a gin and slimline tonic??! I like it that doing KM is now [STRIKE]an excuse[/STRIKE] a reason to have a bottle of cava!!

I have to say that I am still amazed at how neat and tidy cupboards and drawers are staying, making getting ready, even on a Monday morning, a pleasure rather than a palaver

Slinky

Don't imagine that cardboard coffins are cheap! We had one for my Dad, since he always used to say 'leave my body out by the bins'. I'm sure he would have approved. It was just a plain one, but cost more than the cheapest wooden one.