Category Archives: Uncategorized

Making the case for elderhood

Posted on April 21, 2019 by diealoguecafe

It’s a sad state of affairs that at a time when senior citizens abound, elders are thin on the ground. In his new book, Come of Age, Stephen Jenkinson makes the case that we must birth a new generation of … Continue reading →

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More choice is on the way

Posted on April 19, 2019 by diealoguecafe

More choice for the disposal of body remains is a step closer, thanks to a group of dedicated public benefit enterprise people in Washington, USA.  Katrina Spade is the driver behind this new way of dealing with our bodies post … Continue reading →

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Bodies as bones as landscapes 

Posted on April 1, 2019 by diealoguecafe

Life, death and landscapes Every now and again for whatever reason, we have those thoughts about where we fit into the scheme of things; the meaning of life; perhaps that we are in fact mortal beings; or even that there … Continue reading →

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Less choice as funeral group gobbles up small regional providers

Posted on March 26, 2019 by diealoguecafe

Note: This is a US publication, but the same principles apply.  By the way, it’s not a home – no one lives there. The funeral industry is a massive for profit commercial activity with a 100% assured customer base. We … Continue reading →

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Possession takes on a new meaning if we’re only passing through

Posted on March 3, 2019 by diealoguecafe

We live at a time, as we’ve noted before, when we pride ourselves as having outlived myths.  We’ve grown out of believing in fairytales, we’re big people, grownups and don’t believe in the Santa Claus stuff anymore.  At least that’s … Continue reading →

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What to do when there is nothing more you can do

Posted on February 24, 2019 by diealoguecafe

It’s all very well to say let nature takes its course.  It’s all very well to take what some see as the high moral ground, but when this impacts on another persons right to die with dignity, then we say … Continue reading →

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The nightly annihilation before I wake

Posted on February 5, 2019 by diealoguecafe

“When we prepare for sleep, we strip ourselves of the accoutrements of selfhood: our clothes, glasses, make-up and false teeth. We bid goodbye to the people around us, lie down in stillness and return to our original solitary nakedness. As … Continue reading →

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Resilience through ritual

Posted on January 31, 2019 by diealoguecafe

There is a saying that goes: Failing to plan is like planning to fail.  That failure on our part has knock on effects that often results in ‘grief’ of some kind. Grieving is a natural and to be expected emotion … Continue reading →

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In a few words

Posted on January 26, 2019 by diealoguecafe

What’s to be said following the death of a partner, friend, child, colleague; someone we hold dear who has died? The job of wording a eulogy usually ends up resting on the shoulders of a close family member or friend … Continue reading →

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New Year ritual not everyones cup of tea

Posted on January 3, 2019 by diealoguecafe

In times past, before access to technologies like the internet, we tended to live in our somehwat isolated little bubbles believing that most other people were probably not all that much different for us.  This is no longer the case.  … Continue reading →

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