"Right to Die" and a neighbour's funeral

With the usual objections from certain elements of the press / lobby groups etc, Sky Real Lives screened a programme last night on assisted suicide. A surprisingly long programme, nearly two hours, perhaps to enable a slow progression, rather than a soundbite approach, what this definitely wasn't was some sort of sensationalist production. Indeed I would say it was a beautifully crafted piece of work - excellent use of silence, of lingering shots showing normal everyday activities, and so on.

Clearly the programme was helped enormously by the lead figure - Craig Ewert. His thoughtful discussion of the issues involved made his decision all the more difficult to argue against. His willingness to confront the religious arguments of "playing god", for instance, was calm, methodical and highly convincing.

One point that I was particularly moved by was a comment from his daughter that she had cried when she last saw him because "I didn't want him to think I was not sad".

As one might expect, the show brought back loads of memories of 2006 and the death of my father. These days I perhaps only think about him two or three days a week, not every day as it was not so long ago. These things change people irrevocably.

This afternoon was the funeral of Liddy Mansel, our neighbour. She was a very old lady when we moved her 15 years ago and I have been frequently amazed that she has lived as long as she has. I was always on hand to help her sister-in-law, Mary, who lived with Liddy and was her full time carer. A few times a year, Mary would ring and need help as Liddy had fallen over and Mary was not able to lift her back up. Mary has also had a very tough few years. Maybe now things will improve a little for her.

The funeral is at our little village church - the one that our cottage is named after. As always, a moving experience - particularly so in the light of last night's programme. Dignity to the end of live is often illusive, but is well worth trying to achieve.