It was all a bit odd. Three of us went together - all friends who met about ten years ago through our local music scene. We'd never been to a service in a natural burial ground before and I think we expected it to be very organic and lovely and peaceful. It wasn't. it should have been because we were outside, among the trees and the flowers, but it wasn't.
Our friend who died, like her brother before her, died ultimately because she could not control her drinking. We were therefore a bit surprised to find that her family had turned up with an endless supply of cans of Skol Extra, which they were passing round and drinking throughout the service. At one point, during the music for reflection, which to be fair was a bit long, the chap standing in front of me lit up a spliff!
I have to be a bit careful that I am not imposing high standards on others from the moral high ground of my sobriety, but when we got back in the car, the other two, occasional drinkers only both, were just as disgusted as I was.
Fair play to the deceased though, her coffin went into the grave to the tune of Going Underground, by the Jam.