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Stopped for

Comments

1. At 10:40 AM on 17 Jul 2007, witchiwoman wrote:

   I think a bow of the head and a pause is more than enough - you have done quite a lot in even acknowledging the cortege (and besides, the corpse may not have been a nice person, likewise the mourners).

   Its a shame we don't celebrate births in such a way; imagine the joy that could bring (a bit like seeing a bride and groom drive by).

2. At 10:52 AM on 17 Jul 2007, DI Wyman wrote:

   Eddie....wots wrong with the coffee and doughnuts I left on the NC's bar at the Beach!?

   
   a bow of the head and a pause is fine.

   ttfn......i told you i was ill.......init
   

3. At 11:18 AM on 17 Jul 2007, wrote:

   I am guessing tap dancing would be the wrong answer?

4. At 11:26 AM on 17 Jul 2007, wrote:

   Jason -- that's outrageous but it made me laugh ;-)

5. At 11:41 AM on 17 Jul 2007, wrote:

   Got to say that I'm blurred like that 'til I've had my coffee too....

6. At 12:17 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Tim wrote:

   Eddie - what sort of hat do you wear at easter? Mitre? Crown of thorns? Tiara?

7. At 12:20 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Big Sister wrote:

   I remember as a child we were always told to hold our collars (which, from memory, had to be white). I think it was connected with superstition, however.

   Bowing the head sounds good, stopping in your tracks (unless crossing the road) could be good, not tailgating (if you're driving behind one) is essential (though I've seen it happen). I suppose you could salute it as an alternative to doffing a hat? But that might seem a bit odd nowadays .....

   I found the following link on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ website:
   /relationships/coping_with_grief/practicalissues_funeralprocession.shtml

8. At 12:21 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Charlie wrote:

   
   Stopped (possibly) for... concealing matters it would seem from today's Press comment.

   Wondered why dear ol' George had gone quiet lately. Strange really, because he used to have so much to say...

   "George Galloway should be suspended from Parliament for 18 days, a committee of MPs said.
   
   George Galloway testifies before US Congress
   The committee criticised the Respect MP's conduct aimed at "concealing the true source of Iraqi funding" to a charity he set up and failure to co-operate with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

   The Standards and Privileges Committee backed a finding that there was "strong circumstantial evidence" that his Mariam Appeal received cash from the UN's Oil for Food Programme "with Mr Galloway's connivance".

   It said the MP had been "complicit in the concealment of the true source of the funds" and had "damaged the reputation of the House". And it said he was "clearly irresponsible" in refusing to look into the source of substantial donations to the fund".

9. At 12:39 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Piper wrote:

   ...well, it's either stand with legs straight, feet together facing the centre of the road with head bowed, or, it's stand with legs straight, feet together with one's back to the centre of the road whilst bending down to touch one's toes...

   I guess the choice of posture may depend on whether or not the deceased had been refusing to pay you money owed at the time of passing away...

10. At 12:40 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Stewart M wrote:

    My dad had a Hearse. No he was not an undertaker, yes he used it at funerals. The local funeral directors were all part time in the good old days (being joiners, fishermen etc). this being rural northumberland. So the Hearse was the remnants of a car hire business.

    The one I remember as a child (converted pontiac) still runs but has been converted back to a classic car.

    The second one Ford Zephyr went to auction.

    The Third Austin Princess was sold to the bloke that took over the local undertakers business when my Dad and the local undertaker retired.

    As for funeral etiquette, a short pause is perhaps correct.

11. At 01:07 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Whenever I have been in a funeral cortege I have been comforted by the acknowledgement of strangers that this is a terrible time for those of us inside the car, and that someone has gone. A pause and some sort of gesture (such as a nod or bow of the head) is sufficient.

    PET HATE ALERT:
    I find overtaking/getting in between the cortege hugely offensive and upsetting. It might not be easy to tell when all of the cars are different makes and models and colours, but, see those people dressed in black packed 5 or 6 into a car, following the hearse at close range? Those wearing black and crying into handkerchiefs? They are mourners -- let them go by before you pull out!!!

    Thanks for listening.

12. At 01:09 PM on 17 Jul 2007, michael Gouda wrote:

    Well when I was a believer, I used to cross myself. Not quite sure why. Perhaps so that God wouldn't strike me next.

13. At 01:21 PM on 17 Jul 2007, wrote:

    Great Photo.

14. At 01:24 PM on 17 Jul 2007, pinkle wrote:

    At my Dad's funeral, I hated the way everyone stared at the cortege. Nobody bowed their heads or anything, but lots of people thought it fine to just stand there and gawp. It wasn't a showy cortege either. People also stared in the windows of the car like they were watching reality TV or something, wanting to see someone mourning.

    I accept I might have been feeling especially sensitive that day, it was a horrible time. But I would suggest if you don't know the deceased, just carry on about your business.

15. At 01:26 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Stewart M wrote:

    Am I cynical or is the ASDA vs Bloomsbury Press thingy just a way to Hype up further the book launch on Saturday?

16. At 01:41 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Gossipmistress wrote:

    I was driving up to St Andrews a few years ago on the M6 and was doing around 70 in the middle lane (NOT hogging it!!). I was rather surprised to be overtaken by a hearse in the outside lane, complete with coffin, flashing past at about 90. I wondered if this was some sort of last request...or maybe they were just late!

17. At 02:31 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Charlie wrote:

    Gossipmistress @ 16

    From what you say, there's little doubt that at least one of the hearse's occupants was late...

18. At 03:03 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Aunt Dahlia wrote:

    GM SB16
    In all probability he was lost... and as all men tend to cure being lost by driving faster.... QED, not only that but my current squeeze used to drive for a coach/funeral director during the hols, and he assures me he lost the cortege a number of times as a rookie through sheer tedium, and then had to tear about trying to find them, inconspicuous? I should say so.

19. At 03:19 PM on 17 Jul 2007, b carbury wrote:

    Our family, up from the country for a city funeral, lost the cortege.We went round the same roundabout so many times that a policeman on duty nearby saluted.My uncle stopped and asked him had he seen a funeral.Not our finest hour.

20. At 03:24 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Stewart (15) Yes and yes.

21. At 03:27 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Stewart (15) Yes and yes.

22. At 03:56 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Oh dear. My excessive "yeses" to Stewart make me think of things that would get me sent to the naughty corner!

23. At 04:41 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Peter Bolt wrote:

    I remember whilst in the Army in Germany (1957) a funeral party passed us. Our Officer saluted the hearse, us squaddies were called to "Attention".
    Once it had passed, naturally one of us said "That was probaly a ex Gestapo Officer, sir" and we laughed. Awful really.

24. At 05:06 PM on 17 Jul 2007, DI Wyman wrote:

    Aperitif (20) & (21)

    
    Ooooohhhh......yesss..........yesss.....yess....yes....yes....yes..yes.yes....yesssssssssssss..

    
    ....I'll 'ave a pint of wot she 'ad....

    ......ttfn........orgasm*c......init?

25. At 05:30 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Tim wrote:

    Weep?

26. At 05:39 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Jakie Rolling wrote:

    Stewart M (15)
    "Am I cynical or is the ASDA vs Bloomsbury Press thingy just a way to Hype up further the book launch on Saturday?"

    I believe it's the groundwork for a further book:
    "Harry Potter and the Grocer of Greed".
    

27. At 05:48 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    DIY (24), You put it even better. Hie thee to the naught corner right now!

28. At 06:03 PM on 17 Jul 2007, Butthead wrote:

    heh ... heh ... heh.

29. At 07:32 PM on 17 Jul 2007, mittfh wrote:

    From what I've heard, JKR won't release any further adventures of Harry (presumably, the character's adult life could be assumed to be relatively unadventurous - and it would be hard to conceive a scenario involving Adult Harry fighting off Voldemort's successor). Although she might release further background materials, which would no doubt keep fan fiction alive and kicking.

    Of course, by saying she won't write another HP book, she isn't necessarily ruling out getting Hermione or the Weasley clan involved in further adventures...

    And given the amount of preparatory work JKR did before scribing Philospher's Stone, she may have already started preparatory work on another set of novels - or she may decide to retire her wordprocessor and live off the royalties (which will increase further when the final two films are completed)
    

30. At 07:40 PM on 17 Jul 2007, DI Wyman wrote:

    Aperitif (27)

    re..naughty corner......not got my hearing aid in so missed wot youse said.......cum again?

31. At 07:56 PM on 17 Jul 2007, DI Wyman wrote:

    Eddie...

    ...You're standing there and want to show you care, but somehow bowing the head doesn't seem enough....

    
    .....24 gun salute?

32. At 11:34 PM on 18 Jul 2007, wrote:

    Charlie (17) hahaha I corpsed! Aunt D - I think we can be sure they never stopped to ask directions either!!