Famous People at the Co-op Funeral

All famous people seem to enjoy publicity, and indeed, they need some exposure to make sure that we are aware of them. The difference, however, is between publicity and intrusion, as the Royal family has found out at their cost over the years. Both Prince William and Prince Harry have had, and continue have a difficult relationship with the press, with the experience of their mother very much in mind. Ok, I know that sometimes they might deserve some adverse publicity, but not intrusion. Now, if you add Uncle Andrew into the equation, the situation gets even more difficult, at least for Prince William. This week, he was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia to meet their crown prince. As they were walking together, an inane Reporter shouted a question aimed at Prince William, referring to his discredited uncle Andrew. As you would guess, he was totally ignored, and he surely knew that he would be before he asked the question. The same shouts are regularly heard outside the Prime Minister's home in Downing Street, with mostly the same result. I do not pretend to be a professional journalist, but surely they do themselves no favours by resorting to such amateurish behaviour, and more importantly, their actions do nothing to raise our perception of their profession. 

This week at the Winter Olympics in Italy, a Ukrainian athlete has been banned from competing because his helmet displayed photographs of Ukrainian Olympians who had died in the conflict with Russia. Apparently, he is still welcome to stay with his team members, and he can carry and wear his helmet before and after his event, but because he is insistent that he should wear it during his race, he has been banned. I agree that sport and politics should be kept separate, but there are many instances across the sporting spectrum of sportsmen and women displaying images of a lost colleague. Personally, I know that the rules are somewhere in the small print, but sometimes just interpret the rules with some latitude. I cannot see that an act of remembrance can be judged as a political statement, but I am not a member of the Olympic committee, so, as with most things, I have no influence whatsoever.

As a young boy at the Fruit, Vegetable, Flower, Game and Lolly shop, we were part of a road full of shops selling everything that you would ever need. The only two shops that I was warned not to enter were the rival fruit and veg shop about one hundred yards away on the other side of the road and the largest shop, the CO-OP shop. Every independent shop owner viewed that particular shop as the enemy. When the Junior Partner died, it was, of course, my job to arrange the funeral. I had a friend who was an undertaker, so I asked him to arrange the funeral. Unfortunately, he worked for the Co-op and as a friend of my dad said, “If he knew that his funeral had been arranged by the Co-op he would come back to haunt me”. In reality, I think that he would have appreciated the irony of that choice. This week, we went to the funeral  who we had know for a number of years. He had lived a long life, having created a successful business and a large, close family. The order of service said that it was a celebration of his life, but nearly everyone there was dressed in black. I want colour and laughter at my celebration. Take note.

If you have successfully avoided Valentine's Day this week, don’t worry, the shops are already full of chocolate Easter eggs, with Mother’s Day also tugging at your credit card.

Just a Thought:

Poor Prince Phillip, 99 years old.He just missed getting a letter from his wife.

My friend said if laziness was an Olympic sport, he would come fourth so that he would not have to climb on the podium.

What’s pink, oinks and shoots arrows on Valentine’s Day? Cu-pig.

Brian