Feature Article What A Way To Go!
March 4, 2020 Monumental Muse

I’ve always thought that a nice way to go when my time comes is in my sleep.  But what of these unfortunate and mostly untimely deaths?  How did they come to take their last breath? *In 620 BC, an Athenian lawmaker by the name of Draco was smothered to death by gifts of hats and cloaks showered upon him by an appreciative audience in a theatre in Aegina! In 455 BC another Athenian, this time a tragedian by the name of Aeschylus met an untimely death when an eagle dropped a tortoise on his bald head, mistaking it for a…

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Uncategorized Keeping Up Appearances – Caring For Grandma
March 3, 2020 Monumental Muse

I never knew my paternal grandfather, he sadly passed away 8 years before I was born.  My grandmother “gran” however was a huge influence in my life, and to a large degree, she still is. It has been alluded, more than once, that the TV character Hyacinth Bucket from “Keeping Up Appearances” was modelled on her.  I have several poignant and amusing memories of her: I can still see her walking to our local methodist chapel every Sunday, hat on, dressed in her “Sunday best”, hymn book and the bible in hand.  She had her own, black, leather-bound hymn book with…

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Uncategorized Live A Life Without Regrets
February 29, 2020 Monumental Muse

In her book, “The Top Five Regrets Of The Dying: a Life Transformed By The Dearly Departing”  author Bronnie Ware shares an insight into the top five regrets of the dying, based on her experience of several years working in palliative care, looking after people in the last 12 weeks of their lives. It makes for very interesting reading as she discovered there were five “regrets” that were expressed many more times than others.  There was no mention of “I wish I’d lost more weight” “I wish I’d had more money”  “I wish I’d travelled more” or “I wish I’d…

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Uncategorized A Monumental Muse
February 29, 2020 Monumental Muse

Muse “As a verb, to muse is to consider something thoughtfully. As a noun, it means a person — especially a woman — who is a source of artistic inspiration.” (Vocabulary.com Dictionary). Everyday I deal with the aftermath of a death, and sometimes those who are dying, but, although the circumstances surrounding my work may be sad, my workplace is often filled with happiness and laughter as amusing incidents and characteristics of the person who has passed away are recalled and retold. It helps to talk.  Not only does it help the family but it helps me to have an insight into…

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