Death

[Bjorn Brimble]

Bit of a biggie. But something that awaits us all.

Do you spend much time thinking about it?

Best way to go?

And what happens in the afterlife. Any thoughts on that?

[Slutty Rimmer]

Eh, ‘Medical advice and Information Exchange’ ?

Are you in need of advice and information, or something ?

If so, this might be of help…

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.

Ernest Dowson (1867-1900). A chronic alcoholic.

It’s as good a summary as you’ll find, and it’s not really possible to talk about death without also talking about life.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Kind Regards,
Rimmer.

[geordiesouth]

I’ll give it a go.

As I’m not religious. I don’t believe there’s such a place as heaven or helll for that matter. Or whatever else others name afterlife retreats.

I’m getting on a bit. Let’s just say there’s a hell of a lot of my life I’ve lived than there is for me too live. So I suppose I do sometimes give death some thought.
I wonder if I’m like others. Do we think about how our life will end.
Go to sleep and not wake up rather than a painful end being torn apart by sharks after falling overboard on that expensive holiday you booked.
Bugger that would be irritating. You all know my thoughts on spending cash

I can do without death at the moment. I’ve spent the last week being exhausted by grandkids. Wake up, get them ready, feed, drop off at nursery. Pick up from same. Dinner, baths…….. few minutes tv before a story in bed.
If someone mentions Cocomelon to me I’ll kill you.

Baby shark do do do do do do. Arghhhhhhhhh.

A nightmare to me was once thinking a mistress had tied me to a chair in front of the telly. Forced to watch Sunderland winning the World Cup. Extreme torture.

But no.

It’s bloody Cocomelon.
The wheels on the bus go roun……….. kill me now.

But no (again)
I look at them and want to live forever. School, bruises, more holidays together. Boyfriends…….. I’ll throttle any guy that breaks their hearts. Girlfriends…… get stuck in lad. 😂

[Slutty Rimmer]

Originally Posted by geordiesouth

It’s bloody Cocomelon.
The wheels on the bus go roun……….. kill me now.

Which reminds me…

Originally Posted by Bjorn Brimble

Best way to go?

I want to die like my Grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep…

…not screaming and shouting like his passengers !

It’s an old Bob Monkhouse joke.

Kind Regards,
Rimmer.

[geordiesouth]

Originally Posted by Slutty Rimmer

Which reminds me…



I want to die like my Grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep…

…not screaming and shouting like his passengers !

It’s an old Bob Monkhouse joke.

Kind Regards,
Rimmer.

Stolen (sort of) and used years later in Only Fools and Horses

Yes

On and off

Both my parents died relatively young and I have certain conditions which don't help. Also carrying too much weight

OTOH happier and more relaxed than at any other time in my life so, hopefully, that's some sort of counter balance. Plus not sure at my age I want to go through all the dieting etc that might help. Quality of life.....

As gs (and others) said it's the dying rather than death that bothers me. Plus I worry about my cat and what would happen to him. Fortunately, there are people who would take him...

[geordiesouth]

Of course as you get older all kinds of ailments crop up.
I find I’m doing far more research on the interactions of medications nowadays.

Soon be getting to the point where I’m taking more medicine to help alleviate the issues caused by the other stuff I’m taking 😂

As for the cat. I swear blind he had opened the bottom drawer in the study the other night and was checking the will.

[ex nihilo]

This Pink Floyd song Free Four, makes some interesting observations on getting old and dying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPSb5QjgjAc

As for afterlife, I guess it comes down to whether consciousness is a function of brain biochemistry/electrochemistry or is a non-material mind that goes on and on for eternity, a ghost in the machine.

Death without illness ? Has to be Ayrton Senna driving an unreliable Williams flat out around Tamburello corner, Imola. So quick, no pain. Like Abraham, Martin and John, only the good die young…

[Slutty Rimmer]

Originally Posted by ex nihilo

Like Abraham, Martin and John, only the good die young…

…because the young haven’t had chance to be corrupted by the everyday necessities of living in a world competing for limited resources.

They weren’t good, they just hadn’t yet become bad !

Kind Regards,
Rimmer.

[Slutty Rimmer]

Originally Posted by Lisal

Yes

On and off

Both my parents died relatively young and I have certain conditions which don't help. Also carrying too much weight

OTOH happier and more relaxed than at any other time in my life so, hopefully, that's some sort of counter balance. Plus not sure at my age I want to go through all the dieting etc that might help. Quality of life.....

As gs (and others) said it's the dying rather than death that bothers me. Plus I worry about my cat and what would happen to him. Fortunately, there are people who would take him...

Yes and no, each week I dine midday with a group of now very old senior work colleagues. They started out 30 odd years ago with a ‘retirement’ club of about 15 and they would take holidays and travel and had meals and gatherings etc*. Now there are just 4 plus one in a care home with severe Alzheimer’s. One of the four remaining has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, two have asbestosis, and the other is well into the Parkinson’s illness. They are all past 85 (The eldest is 95 and is as sharp as a pin when we have a quiz and is currently learning Italian at the local college - the bloke is a marvel…when he can get the breath to speak !)

I do most of the running around but they are all still mobile (just) and fairly independent. I have come to treasure these weekly gatherings. It is so refreshing to hear unvarnished free voices of experience who have lived and built and curated our current country over the past century. Everyone of them is a proud man who laughs unashamedly at the nonsense of the more ridiculous modern day follies, and they all recount smiling tales of growing up during the first half of the 1900’s.

I find it rather sad though when we discuss e.g. technology as one of them considers getting a new I-pad yet wonders if it’s worth paying £900 because he won’t get the full life out of it**.

They are level headed chaps but all still have that same zest and humour they always have had. Chatting with them puts a different 'long' perspective on life, especially when the wives remind them of those ‘minor details’ which they have conveniently omitted.

The only word any of them fear is 'process', as they discuss the recently absent member who now stares at the wall in a care home and no longer recognises his old pals, but just complains he is running out of his favourite boiled sweets…with two full packets at his side.

Yes, don't stare at your navel too long contemplating life and death when you can be out f*cking and loving and having fun elsewhere with others.

A life with plenty of passionate f*cking is important I maintain if you want not to fear death. Those days of wine and roses are indeed not long.

Kind Regards,
Rimmer.

* Odd really. Whilst at work they mostly hated the place and were pleased to part company at the end of each day.

** I try unsuccessfully to bite my tongue but the Barry Cryer ‘green bananas’ joke keeps getting an airing. It gets a laugh !

It’s creeping up on me now. Just last year I decided to buy one final barrel of whisky as I realised that by the time it matures I won’t have enough years left to get through all the bottles ! Possibly.