Yesterday was all about castles and funerals.
First I booked us a midweek break to the Warner Leisure Hotels Studley Castle in Warwickshire. These holidays are a real treat, brilliant surroundings, a spa and pool for Alan to use, and peace and quiet for me as there are no children in the hotels. I always go all out with the booking to make it extra special, getting us a VIP pass, a bottle of wine with every evening meal and a late check-out on the last day, so that breakfast can be leisurely before we set off for home.
This time we also have a day trip out to Stratford upon Avon to look forward to, so we won't be in the hotel for the full four days. Last time Alan had archery lessons, but he's been there and done that so no need to do it again. 🏹
Then I sat down at the computer to 'book' something completely different. 😄
Mum has had a Pure Cremation funeral plan in place for a number of years now. When she paid it was below £1,500 in price and it's locked in at that price until it's needed. When she got a letter last week with three vouchers to give to family or friends, which gave her and them a £100 gift card for signing up, her for the recommendation and them for the booking of a plan, we decided it was a bit of a no-brainer. She stands to get £300 worth of gift cards and us £100 each. Plus for signing up before the 1st April we all got an additional £100 off the cost of the plans. A frugalista's dream.
So me, my brother and Alan have all made use of the vouchers this week. Locking our future funerals in at £1,895 ... which hopefully by the time we need to have them will be an even bigger saving than it works out at the moment. Seemingly the average price of a basic UK funeral is just over £4k for a cremation and just over £5k for a burial at todays prices.
It seems a strange thing to some folk to talk about funerals and future wishes for after you're gone, but it's something that I have absolutely no qualms in talking about, and neither has my Mum. We have a good dark humour thing going on in our family, that only my oldest son thinks is strange.
My only bone of contention is that Alan wanted my ashes back to scatter himself. I have a weird dislike of urns in the house, so I have told him that he needs to dispose of me in one little hole in the ground ... so plopped in not scattered to the wind ... and then top me with a bush or tree, and as soon as is possible.
He, however, wants his ashes taken to Scotland to be scattered on the grave of his Mum and Dad, that's fine I can do that, but his urn will have to live in the shed until the day I set off. 😐
I do hope the urns are recyclable, in one bin or another!!
So all in one day I spent a good amount on a great holiday for us to look forward to, and saved us money on our funerals, a very good use of my time.
Sue xx
Not strange at all - exceptionally sensible and a really, really kind & thoughtful thing to do for the loved ones who will be grieving for you. Himself knows where to place mine and Daisy's ashes, and I know what he would like to happen with his.
ReplyDeleteIt's very calming to know that everything is taken care of.
DeleteOne of the odd quirks of being a clergy household - my husband sometimes conducted funerals, and was then asked to look after the ashes until they were scattered or interred. They were kept discreetly out of sight (and out of reach of small children)
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, imagine if children started playing 'shop' or something with rows of urns ... there I told you I had a dark sense of humour!!
DeleteA healthy attitude indeed, also one of the odd quirks coming from a health-care household. Death was served with the porridge and we all learned early not to leave those decisions to the grieving.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best bits of having already gone through all of Mum's things while she is still with us, is knowing that we have saved ourselves that trauma when she isn't.
DeleteWe've collected ashes before now in a cardboard (pretty patterned) scatter tube (loose plastic bag inside with ashes in) - can be easily recycled.
ReplyDeleteI get what you mean - when I collected my dad's ashes on a Friday before they were buried in the family plot on the Monday morning I kept him in the garage all weekend - I felt a bit weirded out at the thought of them being in the house (plus I had 4smallish children (
A cardboard box would have been ideal, but that wasn't mentioned anywhere on the website, maybe I need to give them a call. :-)
DeleteMy Uncle's ashes were loaded into an enormous firework rocket (he loved fireworks and always did displays at home or family weddings). We all trooped to the top of a hill overlooking where he grew up at dusk, poured out champagne for all, lit the blue touch paper and shouted ooooh and aaaah as he shot off into the darkening sky. Then we all went for a pizza. Excellent day to remember.
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is a brilliant send off. :-)
DeleteOooh now I like the idea of that! Brilliant!
DeleteAngie x
It's amazing isn't it Angie. :-)
DeleteYes indeed, Sue, I quite fancy that idea ...lol...
Delete😀 xx
DeleteWe are all of us different. I have Keith on the sideboard. We bought a lovely woven wicker basket from the Crem which contains his ashes, most of which will be spread at Scarborough when we all feel up to it. I speak to him daily, and stroke the basket and say goodnight. I feel comforted by having him near me.
ReplyDeleteAs long as it comforts you, that is all that matters. :-)
DeleteI'd feel a bit weird having an urn of ashes in the house too. Pure Cremation is something we've been thinking about lately, after seeing the TV ads. Maybe we need to get a wriggle on. After all, I'll be 76 in November :/
ReplyDeleteIt's just so reassuring to know that with one phone call everything is dealt with and relatives don't have to do or pay for anything. I was quite surprised when Alan said he was going to organise it for himself as well, but very pleased. Now all three of us 'oldies' can relax and not have to worry about family struggling to do anything.
DeleteWe did Pure Cremations last year. It was very quick and simple to do and very nice people to deal with. Two for the price of one was hubbies reaction at the price.
ReplyDeleteHaha ... a brilliant way of looking at it. :-)
DeleteOur wishes are all sorted too as I don’t want my daughter wondering what we wanted when the time comes. Catriona
ReplyDeleteExactly, it's all well and done to have books or lists with our wishes written in them, but this goes a huge way in getting things done doesn't it.
DeleteWell done. I love the idea of a no children hotel. Unlike when we raised our sons, parents don't seem to care how their children behave in public.
ReplyDeleteIt is always remarkably peaceful in the Warner hotels. 😄
DeleteI think a dark sense of humor is a healthy thing, particularly when dealing with death. When we picked out our mother's headstone, my brother and I howled with laughter when the sales woman told us that it came with a lifetime guarantee!
ReplyDeleteHaha ... I can see why. Brilliant 😄
DeleteI'm so excited about your holiday, after all the rushing about you've been doing lately you and Alan so deserve some quality time together.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love Kirsten M's comment about her uncle's send off. What a brilliant idea! xxx
Gosh we are really looking forward to it, four nights of no cooking and washing up is good for a start. 😄
DeleteThe rocket idea is amazing.
A great post and I too loved the send off for the uncle above. I hope you enjoy your holiday!
ReplyDeleteWe have another little one next month, one that Ginger can come on too. 🙂 The rocket idea is great isn't it.
DeleteThe castle hotel looks very impressive. I hope you enjoy your holiday there.
ReplyDeleteThat was very wise of you to get your funeral arrangements organized. I have discussed what I want for my funeral with my daughter, but, I haven't prepaid for anything. I should look into that.
Thank you. I like the idea that my boys don't have to do anything .. at all. We've found that most family squabbles start with people misunderstanding what the deceased persons wishes are and the best way to interpret them. No arguments this way.
DeleteWarners does a very good holiday, doesn't it? What you organised sounds fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI haven't prepaid for a funeral but I have an insurance policy that will cover all my debts and expenses after I pop off. It is a great comfort to me to know that my children won't be financially challenged by my going. xx
Yes, they do a great holiday, when we no longer have Ginger to worry about Alan wants to holiday in each venue. This is our third Warner hotel.
DeleteI do have a policy that runs out next year that it was taken out when I left my husband, designed to pay off my first mortgage, pay for a funeral and give them both a lump sum. Now as I have no debts at all and my funeral is paid for, I will not have to take out another one. 😀
Next we just need new wills. 🙂