Episode 9 - This Just in...

As usual its raining. So heavy, in fact, and so windy that it seems like its going from left to right and not top to bottom.

Rushing home through the drone traffic is never a pleasure and today the weather just adds to the sense of distaste. In fact, it adds to the danger as white van man is always lurking.

The radio is on and there's an article about a hospice for children, somewhere in England. I was half listening when a nun started talking about a special room that they had at the hospice. The idea was, that when a child died, the parents/carers/close friends could move the deceased to a room that was made up to look like a bedroom, but had all the qualities that prevented the body from deteriotating in the days leading up to the funeral or burial. People could then give the room the childs personality by placing objects there that reminded them of the child, or just be able to visit whenever they chose.

Well, like most men I can be a bit emotional distanced from things like this, but I found the whole thing tremendously moving and was almost overcome by the sensitivity of this nun and the work that she and her colleagues did. The stories from the parents of a dead child were ones of imense courage and warmth.

Hanging around in a room with a dead person should sound macabre but I can see the comfort it could bring. It seems that in Britain at least, we tend to hide the bodies away as soon the spirit has departed, but maybe its better to "let go" gradually by spending time with the deceased?

Strange but possibly a help?

Hmmn. Death is a curious thing, but more affecting when it take the young.....