Have you ever tried to oraganise a funeral ? The family inertia is tremendous. You've often got people coming from the other end of the country (if not the world). If you just informed everyone that the dispatching was the day after tomorrow, you'd be on the family shit-list - mind you that could have it's advantages..., but don't try it if there's the possibility of a big legacy from Great-Aunt Flo.

Mind you, I quite enjoy funerals, they're usually more fun than weddings and christenings etc. After all there is a tradition that you must cheer up and be merry afterwards so that life can go on, and the soul of the deceased can move on and not be "earthbound". I might be a sceptical about the latter - but I'll always be willing to down a few glasses - just to make sure !

One of my favourite pictures of the Queen Mum was one of her pulling a pint of Young's beer.