Goodbye 2016 and Hello 2017

We come to the end of 2016 with mixed feelings. The two-year extension we were so pleased to announce in our End of Year 5 Report has now been rescinded by our funders, Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). They are facing budget cuts, like a lot of other sectors, and are reviewing all of their services and the projects they fund. At the moment, we are safe until March 2017, but are anxiously waiting to hear the outcome of the review in the new year.

Rachael McMeacock, Project Manager of The Bucket Project, receiving her 5 year service award

The positive news is we are still moving forwards with the work of Compassionate Cities/Communities and are leading a task and finish group to develop this initiative. This could prove all the more important with the cuts facing health and social care services, where we will need the community to step in to support those that are dying, their families and carers as well as the bereaved. The Telegraph recently printed a story about a similar initiative, which you can read here. 

As part of this work, we have been compiling a list of end of life and bereavement organisations across Liverpool as well as collecting case studies to help others plan and prepare for end of life and death. If you have a story to share, we’d love to hear it. Read some of the stories we have collected so far here.

Both the Helper Service and Our Time Liverpool, a time banking project, are involved with the task and finish group. They have been sharing their expertise and best practice models to help develop the direction of this work. We also have a great mix of people from a range of backgrounds who bring a wealth of personal and professional experience to the group, and we thank them all for their contributions. 

Image taken from Nasir & Habib's Helper story

We hope to have established firm foundations for a Compassionate Liverpool before the potential end of The Bucket Project. If you would like to get involved or support Liverpool in getting this status, please get in touch.

You can find out more about Compassionate Communities, Compassionate Cities, Marie Curie’s Helper Service and Our Time Liverpool by clicking the highlighted text.

We would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We hope that 2017 brings us good news and the opportunity to continue working with the people of Liverpool. Look after each other, be kind and take care.

 Image taken from Desktop Nexus

Remembrance Events in Liverpool

28-29th November 2015

Our Day of the Dead celebrations are taking place this weekend in Liverpool City Centre at the Central Library and World Museum. Over the road at St George’s Hall, you can also pay your respects and view the beautiful poppy installation, Weeping Window, which will be on public display until January 17.

Photograph taken from Liverpool Echo

Remembering the dead can be a community experience, and although it may not appear to be everybody’s cup of tea, around 150,000 people came to see the poppies at St George's Hall in the first week they went on show. This astounding number is more than all of the people who saw the Weeping Window installation on show at a Northumberland museum over seven weeks.

Paul Cummins, who created the sculpture with designer Tom Piper, paid tribute to the people of Liverpool in a letter to the ECHO. He said: “I was so overwhelmed and delighted by the impressive display of Weeping Window at St George’s Hall. I was especially taken aback at the way that people of Liverpool have taken the installation to heart, showcasing their appreciation for the project and the install of Weeping Window itself.”

Weeping Window initially formed part of the larger installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, which was on display at the Tower of London in 2014. Every ceramic flower represents a life lost by British and Commonwealth forces in WWI.

The display at the Tower of London

Photograph taken from Defence Imagery MOD

So if you’re in the city this weekend to see the Weeping Window, do a bit of shopping or visit one of the many attractions Liverpool has to offer – then call into Liverpool Central Library or the World Museum. Keeping the memory of late loved ones alive is a positive way to deal with loss. We don’t talk about the lives of the dead comfortably enough, and just because they’re gone from our view, doesn’t mean they are gone from our hearts.

Photo from The Bucket Project 

Bring along a photograph for our Day of the Dead altar at either event and we’ll have some frames available for you to use. Take time to personalise yours at our special craft station. If you haven’t got a photo we can use, you and any children you bring, may like to draw a picture, colour in or just write a few words. 

Photo from The Bucket Project 

Day of the Dead "Mexico" Celebrations

November 2015

Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday typically celebrated on 1st and 2nd November. The purpose of these days is to celebrate and remember those that have died. Too often, we don't get the chance to talk about our loved ones who have passed, as some people shy away from what they perceive to be "morbid." Keeping the memory alive of those important to us can help with the grieving process, no matter how long it has been. We learn to live with our grief and trying to forget about the dead doesn't often help. We provide a safe space to remember, chat and leave a memorial photograph on our beautifully decorated altar.

Photograph from our November 2014 celebration

The tradition of honouring our ancestors and remembering the dead has a long standing history. All Souls' and All Saints' Days are observed on the same dates as the Day of the Dead. In modern times, people continue to create colourful altars adorned with photographs of departed loved ones, paper flowers, decorated skulls, candles and offerings of food that the deceased enjoyed whilst saying nice things and sharing happy stories of the deceased.

Our hand-decorated sugar skulls, mug and snow globe

These events help recognise that death is a natural part of the human experience; a continuum with birth, childhood and growing up. On these days, the dead re-join the community to share in the celebrations with their loved ones. We want to remember the dead throughout the year and will be organising a number of events at various locations.

Our next Day of the Dead celebrations are connected to Mexico. The prestigious venues have either a recent exhibition, or have just had one linked to Mexico. Recently, the World Museum was the only UK location to host the Mayas exhibition - you can find images of the fascinating objects that were on display here: Mayas: revelation of an endless time.

Liverpool Central Library are hosting Frida and Me: an exhibition about Frida Kahlo, who died in 1954 at the age of 47, and who is widely regarded as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Using Frida’s self-portrait as the main axis and guide, children will be able to question themselves about notions of their own life, and while playing, can get involved in several notions of art.

Both celebrations are completely free and suitable for all ages. These events could be a useful way of talking about death with children in a positive and friendly atmosphere with tools to help and direct your conversations. 

The first Day of the Dead event is on Saturday 28th November 2015 at Liverpool Central Library from 1-3pm.

Liverpool Central Library

Photograph taken from Wikipedia

The second event is on Sunday 29th November 2015 at the World Museum from 2-4pm.

World Museum Liverpool

Photograph taken from Wikipedia

Alongside our colourful altar will be a craft stall where you can decorate your own frame. Bring along a photograph or send us one in advance and we'll print it for you. We'd love it if you would also share a story about the person who died to accompany their photograph. Please email Rachael for more information.

Decorated frames on our beautiful altar

Analysis of 4ft Lettering: Dying Matters 2014

After Dying Matters Awareness Week 2014, The Marie Curie Institute undertook an analysis of our display at The Walker Art Gallery. Members of the public were invited to ‘Write or draw what symbolises ‘Life’ and ‘Death’ to you on our Hollywood style lettering’. The aim of the analysis was to gain an insight into peoples’ perceptions of death (and life) in order to inform public engagement techniques to normalise the topic of ‘death’.

 

Here are some excerpts from the findings:

Background

Within the context of Western Society, advances in medical science have simultaneously reduced the incidence of childhood and early adult deaths and extended life expectancy. One result of such advances has therefore been to delay personal experiences of death and dying into midlife (House of Commons Health Committee, 2015). Further, since the foundation of the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1948, an increasingly paternal, medicalisation of death and dying has resulted in more deaths now commonly occurring in a hospital setting, which has further removed ‘death’ and ‘dying’ from general society (House of Commons Health Committee, 2015; Mellor and Shilling, 1993).

 

The philosophical underpinnings of the meaning of 'life' and 'death' have been much debated over time. 'Meaning of life' seeks to understand the purpose of human existence within a broader metaphysical context over and above individual human contributions (Horne, 2013). Given the shift towards an individualistic focus this makes ‘meaning of life’ contemplations difficult in a traditionalist/religious vacuum. ‘Meaning in life’ on the other hand could be expressed in terms of subjective views that individuals' lives have purpose through the activities undertaken, which may provide pleasure and happiness (Wolf, 1982; Sigrist, 2015).

 

In May 2014, the National Museums Liverpool (NML) hosted an interactive, public exhibition, consisting of individual lettering, spelling ‘LIFE’ and ‘DEATH’. Members of the public were invited to write comments directly on to the lettering and these comments and illustrations were recorded verbatim and made available to the Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool (MCPCIL) at the University of Liverpool to enable a form of qualitative Content Analysis of these public contributions to be undertaken.

 

The aim of this report is to provide a qualitative analysis of these contributions (written and illustration) in order to gain an insight into peoples’ perceptions of death (and life) with the purpose of informing future public engagement techniques to ‘normalise’ the topic of ‘death’. As previously discussed, it is envisaged that contributions will be more focused on ‘meaning in life’ than ‘meaning of life’. Further, those contributions to ‘what symbolises ‘life’’ will include but may not be limited to: purposefulness; happiness; self-actualisation; youthfulness; and health. Similarly, it is envisaged those contributions to ‘what symbolises ‘death’’ will include but may not be limited to: ambiguity; fear; frailty/old age.

Engaging the public

The Bucket Project representatives were present for an hour or more each day that the exhibition was active and they engaged in conversations with the public about the Bucket Project, Dying Matters and the lettering display. They gave a background to the project and inquired whether people would like to contribute. Other people also contributed to the display without personally talking to the representatives, though they may have taken leaflets/newsletters from the display stand.

The results of this content analysis concur with the hypothesis in that the written contributions largely related to ‘meaning in life’ over ‘meaning of life’ reflecting a priority of purpose for individuals over broader human existence perspectives. This focus on the ‘self’ was evident by the significant proportion of written contributions which reflected individuals’ names. Whilst these were reflected on both ‘life’ and ‘death’ lettering they were more frequently noted on the latter, which may support the individualistic ‘meaning in life’ perceptions in a reduced traditionalist/religious framework.

 

Similarly the frequency of the acronyms ‘YOLO’ (i.e. You Only Live Once) on both lettering and ‘YODO’ (i.e. You Only Die Once) on ‘death’ lettering could provide additional support for a shift of focus to ‘meaning in life’, prioritising ‘life’ over ‘death’. These acronyms are examples of the type of language adopted largely within more recent technological communication, and are arguably more synonymous with younger individuals.

A proposed youthful demographic of a proportion of the participants to this exhibition is also supported via the use of ‘emoji’ and ‘hashtag’ punctuation across both ‘life’ and ‘death’ lettering which again reflect more recent language style adopted largely within technological communications.
The hypothesis that written contributions to ‘life’ lettering would incorporate purposefulness, happiness, and self-actualisation comments is also supported by this data analysis. Those written contributions relating to ‘happiness’ were the most frequently reported category within this lettering. ‘Purposefulness’ and ‘self-actualisation’ were largely reflected within the category entitled, ‘purpose to life’. Examples include: ‘Be, all, you can possibly, be’; ‘Fullfill your life to the fullest’; ‘Life is all about people - you are who you spend time with’.  The remaining significant category within the ‘life’ lettering related to ‘Friends/Family’. Within the literature connectedness to others is subsumed within descriptions of potential purposeful activities that may provide happiness. Therefore this category provides additional support that the current focus is towards individualist ‘meaning in life’ perspectives incorporating purposefulness, happiness, and self-actualisation ideologies.

 

Contrary to our earlier hypothesis, however, neither ‘youthfulness’ nor ‘health’ were represented within the written contributions provided for the ‘life’ lettering. However, given that the demographic of the visitors to this exhibition may have included a significant proportion of young people this may explain why these categories did not feature, as the young are synonymous with ‘youthfulness’ and ‘health’, the mindfulness of which may only be encountered when these natural qualities start to ebb.
Whilst the category representing ‘unclassified’ written contributions was reflected within both the ‘life’ and ‘death’ lettering, it was significantly represented in the latter (i.e. 10% - 3 times greater representation within ‘death’ than ‘life’ lettering). Examples of these written contributions include: ‘Look out for drowning people! Lol’; ‘Pomegranete    Izzy’; ‘To enjoy your death... After all they have cookies! Eve S THS’. As these examples show, these comments are diverse and ambiguous in meaning. It could be argued that the greater frequency of this category of comments within the ‘death’ lettering reflects public ambiguity about death and dying, in line with aforementioned literature, and is therefore supportive of the hypothesis that ambiguity will be a feature within the written contributions reflecting perceptions about ‘death’.

Interestingly, however, the illustrations accompanying some of the written contributions followed more traditional categorisation, whereby ‘life’ was depicted by  ‘positivity’ (i.e. chick, happy face, smile, the sun) and ‘love’ (i.e. heart, kiss, people) whilst ‘death’ illustrations represented traditional death imagery (i.e. skull, bomb, flower, ghost), love (i.e. broken heart, heart, people) and sadness (i.e. sad face). Whilst imagery can promote universal messages and meaning, specific detail regarding such meaning can be compromised and limited by the artists’ abilities, which may explain the basic illustrations and their more traditional nature in relative comparison to the written contributions.

Conclusions

In support of the aforementioned literature, the analyses concur that the written contributions focused more so upon ‘meaning in life’ over ‘meaning of life’, suggestive of a reduced focus upon traditional/religious frameworks to support existential meaning. Further, those contributions to ‘what symbolises ‘life’’ included expected categories of: purposefulness; happiness; and self-actualisation. Similarly, those contributions to ‘what symbolises ‘death’’ included ‘ambiguity’. Contrary to our earlier hypothesis neither ‘fear’ nor ‘frailty/old age’ were representative categories within the contributions provided for the ‘death’ lettering. However, comments with more negative connotations were recorded within these contributions.

These results suggest support for the previously argued theory regarding the privatisation of death and dying and ensuing individualist perception and experience afforded death and dying. Future public engagement exercises should aim to reduce the ambiguity regarding death and dying and to find ways to initiate social discourse.

 

For more information on this analysis email amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk

Make Your Wishes Known

 

 

Whilst listening to a popular radio programme, I heard a feature that indicated the amount of organ donors has decreased for the first time in a number of years. I thought that it would be helpful to include some of the information we have recently produced and collated from a number of leading sources on organ donation. It is important to make your wishes known and to record them or you may not be able to donate, even if you want to.

 

 

Excerpts from our ‘5 Things To Do Before You Die’ booklet:

 

Modern medicine has made it possible for us to donate healthy organs and tissue to those in need after we have died. Transplants depend on the generosity of donors and their families who are willing to donate to enhance the quality of someone else’s life. It is possible that one donor can save or improve the lives of a number of people.

 

Why it is important to make a decision

Deciding whether or not to become an organ and/or tissue donor is an important personal decision. If you think this is something you would like to do, it is a good idea to add your name to the organ donor register and share your decision with close relatives or friends. If you are not registered, when you die, your next of kin will be asked whether you would have wanted to be a donor so it is essential that they understand your wishes.

 

By joining the register you are giving legal consent to the use of your organs and tissue for transplantation after your death if you are considered as a viable donor.

 

Exceptions

There are certain exceptions that may prevent you from becoming an organ donor, such as being diagnosed with HIV or CJD (a brain condition). If you have other medical conditions you can still join the register and a doctor will determine if your organs are suitable for donation. Becoming part of the register does not necessarily mean you will become a donor as this depends on the viability of the organs and circumstances of death. But the more people that join the register, the higher the chances of helping someone in need.

 

It is possible for you to specify which organs you are willing to donate if there are certain elements you are not comfortable with them taking. You must tick the appropriate boxes on the organ donor registration form or donor card in these circumstances. In the case of cornea donation there is currently an upper age limit of 80 years, and for the donation of heart valves and tendons there is an age limit of 60 years. However, there is no upper age limit for joining the register to donate other organs and tissue, viability is determined by condition.

 

You can join the NHS Organ Donor Register by:

 

• Filling in a form online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk
• Calling the NHS Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23
(lines are open 24 hours a day all year, charged at your local rate)
• Text SAVE to 62323

 

You can also join when you:

• Register for a driving license
• Register at a GP surgery
• Register for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• Apply for a Boots Advantage Card

 

Make sure your family and loved ones are aware of your decision.

 

For more in-depth information, please visit the NHS Organ Donation website listed above. There is a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions and guidance on how to join.

Dying Matters Week Review 2015

We kicked off this year’s Dying Matters Week with a ‘Memories’ event at the Marie Curie Hospice Liverpool. We invited people to share their stories of loved ones who have passed whilst sipping tea and eating cake. There were some really touching moments shared and placed on our daffodil wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main event took place on Thursday 21st May named ‘This Event Won’t Kill You!’ at Quaker Meeting House, where stallholders from a number of specialist fields, such as funeral planning and organ donation, provided information and advice. Alongside informative displays there were interactive pieces, such as our 4ft ‘DEATH’ lettering and popular remembrance tree.

 

 

 

 

To round off the week, our final event, ‘May Day of the Dead’ took place at the stylish Siren Café on St. James Street. This was well attended with a group discussing lost loved ones and the topics of life and death.

 

 

 

We would like to thank our members, partners and hosts, who made these events possible. And don’t forget, Talk, Plan, Live!

Launch of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2015: Talk, Plan, Live

Today is the national launch of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2015. Here in Liverpool we would like to officially introduce our awareness poster campaign and ‘5 Things To Do Before You Die’ booklet, which contains an overview of key actions you should think about taking in preparation for the future.

 

See our posters below:

 

Find out more about the booklet by viewing the ‘5 Things’ tab. Alternatively, you can download the booklet from our ‘Downloads’ page.

 

 

We have an exciting week ahead with events taking place on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday (click HERE to see what’s happening!). All of our events are free of charge, so head on down and Talk, Plan, Live!

Impact Survey

The Bucket Project began engaging the community of Liverpool around the topic of death in 2011 and are currently funded until March 2016. As we progress, we need to develop different ways to monitor our impact and effectiveness.

If you are aware of The Bucket Project, have attended an event, picked up a newsletter or found us online - we ask you to spare 5 minutes of your time to complete our Impact Survey, either online by visiting Survey Monkey or downloading the document from our Downloads page and returning to us either by post or email.

Your 5 minutes could help us evidence the need for an engagement project like ours, which helps people become more comfortable talking about end of life and death. We can also find out what works best, and what doesn't, so we can make the best use of our time.

Thank you in advance. Even by reading this far means that The Bucket Project has reached you.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2015

Image taken from hmd.org.uk

Yesterday was Holocaust Memorial Day, which marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Aushwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Candles were lit in Liverpool Town Hall every day on the run up to memorial day.

 

Not only are there events this month in remembrance of those who died during the Holocaust but people who were killed in genocides in Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur. Across the UK people are ensuring that future generations never forget the awful persecution that so many have faced in the past. Take some time to search for events in your area and read the stories of those who were wrongly persecuted during the Holocaust. Whilst almost 6 million Jewish people were murdered in the death camps, other groups were targeted such as the disabled, political rivals and homosexuals amongst many more. Altogether almost eleven million people were murdered under the Nazi regime.

Image taken from flickr.com

This is still a significant event for many today and there is an obvious national grief. Through this grief we can educate people about the horrors populations have been subjected to in the past and in some places, are still being subjected to today. The only way to move forward is to learn from the past and never forget what happened during each of the genocides that took place.

 

There are a number of events being held this January to remember those who were lost during this time of great suffering, including a number of film screenings and talks at the Museum of Liverpool. Follow this link to find out what events are being run by the National Museums of Liverpool: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/events/holocaust-memorial-day-listings.aspx

 

Search online for events happening near you throughout January and February.

New Resolutions for a New Year?

Happy New Year from The Bucket Project! Hopefully you had an enjoyable time over the holidays.

 

Image from 1234newyear.com

In December I wrote a post encouraging you to visit those you care about that may be lonely or find Christmas a difficult period, as your time can often be the most valuable present. It turns out that I had to take my own advice over the holidays after an unexpected bereavement in the family. Admittedly, I was nervous before approaching the difficult and sometimes awkward conversation of ‘giving my condolences’. What do you say? What don’t you say? Whilst there might be obvious choices that would not be appropriate in that particular situation, your presence and a listening ear can really provide reassurance and some consolation.

 

I realise more than ever, the importance of being inquisitive and asking questions about your loved one’s lives or upbringing. A year ago I suggested creating a ‘Memory Book’ together with your family or children to record special events and memorable moments, you can view it HERE. Whilst this is a fabulous way of making new memories, why not give older loved ones a book where they can tell their story? You can buy pre-made examples online from a number of sources or you can personalise your own with questions such as:

 

• How did you feel when I was born?
• Tell me about a memorable Christmas in your childhood.
• What was school like?

 

Any of these questions will give you an insight in to the lives of close friends and family prior to your relationship with them. Often people have so many interesting stories to tell, which would be lovely to keep as a reminder of them after they have passed.

 

wanderingamericantravelblog.com

Maybe this year when making resolutions, we could think about those we care about a little more. Instead of changing aesthetical aspects of ourselves such as losing weight, we think about a change on the inside. How about making a conscious effort to consider ways we can help others, such as picking up shopping for an elderly friend or spending an hour with someone we love.

 

I hope that 2015 is a happy and prosperous year for everyone and that people can find the strength and support they need when difficult times arise.

 

If you have been struggling to cope with bereavement or grief, below are some websites you may find helpful:

Dying Matters
Macmillan
Marie Curie

In Flanders fields the poppies blow…

Image taken from p2p.biplin.com

Tomorrow is the 96th Anniversary of the end of the First World War and thousands of people across the country have already paid their respects through attending services and memorials on Remembrance Sunday. Being the Centenary, 100 years since the start of WWI, it feels even more poignant to remember those who gave their lives to protect the world that we live in today.

 

In 1918 on the 11th November, the eleventh month, an Armistice was signed between Britain and Germany, effectively ending the First World War with a ceasefire at eleven o’clock. It is hard to imagine the suffering of not only those who fought in the war, but the families who lost loved ones, often more than one. There are still people today who grieve the loss of the brave men and women who are fighting in conflicts abroad and they will certainly be in our thoughts tomorrow too. 

 

A Beautiful Remembrance Sunday service was held yesterday in Liverpool City Centre at the Cenotaph, with a parade of ex-servicemen marching and applauded by the crowd. It was wonderful to see so many people show their respects and gather together as a community to support each other in their loss and grief, whether personal or on a national scale. One of the most emotional and striking moments was the release of thousands of red poppies from St Georges Hall, cascading down over the crowd. They represented all the lives lost in World War One, which really put in to perspective the loss of life on such a large scale. It is no wonder we can often find it difficult to talk about death when generations before us lost so many people close to them.

 

Poppies released from St George's Hall

 

Many families will have been directly affected by the World Wars with some even having parents and grandparents who fought. My Great-Grandfather was born in 1899, and fought in the First World War. In May 1918, at the age of 19 he was captured at the 3rd Battle of Aisne, in France. Presumed missing or dead, his family were informed and I can only imagine the pain and heartache felt by his Mother in that moment. In this case, he managed to survive and made it home in 1919, but for many others this was not the outcome. As I have mentioned, for some this is their reality today, waiting for news and hoping this isn’t the day that their world falls apart. Please spare two minutes tomorrow and keep past and present families and servicemen and women in your thoughts.

 

My Great-Grandfather Stanley Charles Hayward 1899-1985

 

There is a short service at the Cenotaph in Liverpool City Centre tomorrow, November 11th at 11am for two minutes silence. We will never forget.

 

Image taken from liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

 

Celebration Success!

Our Day of the Dead Altar @ Maya

The Day of the Dead Celebration on Sunday was a fantastic success. A number of wonderful people turned up with beautiful photographs of loved ones they have lost. They placed them on our altar surrounded by flowers and food offerings to celebrate and share stories of their departed loved one’s lives.

 

Some of the beautiful photos brought by attendees to the celebration

 

Once everyone became acquainted and enjoyed the delicious food at Maya and our homemade cookies and cupcakes, we each chose a card from our Dead Good deck of cards. Images on the cards relate to a subject surrounding death, dying and loss which people presented their interpretations of and shared personal experiences with the group.

 

It was inspiring to listen to the stories of people who have dealt with such loss and grief but manage to bring a positive and heart-warming outlook through sharing touching memories of those they have lost. Part of a discussion I was involved in brought up an interesting point about how uncomfortable people can feel when remembering funny instances and events in a deceased person’s life; that it is somehow disrespectful to speak about these moments. However, more than one member expressed that sometimes wit and comedy were at the heart of the loved one’s personality and pushing aside these memories is denying a part of who the person was.

 

Some of our lovely attendees

Day of the Dead teaches us that whilst we are hit with tremendous grief at the loss of someone close, through sharing stories, we can keep their memories alive and remember how they touched our lives.

 

At the end of the celebration, we all shared a tequila toast to the loved ones who have passed. In that moment it was comforting to know that whilst all of our experiences with death are unique and individual to us, we all experience it in one way or another.

 

Tequila toast

 

The Bucket Project would like to thank everyone who attended the celebration.

Day of the Dead Celebration

Autumn is already upon us, with Halloween fast approaching! Not only is Halloween a celebrated event for many people but Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is too. In Mexico people celebrate the Day of the Dead between October 31st and November 2nd and take this time to remember loved ones who have died. There are musical tributes and altars are set up containing colourful flowers, festive foods and photos of the deceased. This is a social time for many people who gather at gravesides to share stories and celebrate the lives of their family and friends.

Day of the Dead Altar
Image taken from gomexico.about.com

Many countries around the world now celebrate a Day of the Dead inspired event with the popular imagery of decorated skulls and bright colours. This is a direct contrast to the typical imagery associated with death and loss, usually black or dark colours and a sombre atmosphere. This celebration encourages people to celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us and keep their ‘spirits’ alive through telling stories and bringing family and friends together.

Day of the Dead Skulls
Image from lamariposaimports.com

The Bucket Project would like to invite you to our very own Day of the Dead Celebration on Sunday 2nd November. Join us at Maya Bar (below Lucha Libre) between 4 and 6pm for a tequila toast to our departed loved ones in honour of Dia de los Muertos. Bring along a picture of them to display on our specially designed altar and participate in a Dead Good Game of Cards. This event is completely free and we welcome anyone to attend. Please see the contact details at the bottom of this post to confirm your place!

 

You can find Maya Bar (below Lucha Libre) on the map below: 



96 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ

 Book your place now by emailing amy.king@mariecurie.org.uk , alternatively you can phone 0151 801 1444 or message The Bucket Project on Facebook or Twitter.

O Captain, My Captain…

Image from forevermagicmovies.blogspot.com

Many people will have awoken today to find out the upsetting news that actor Robin Williams has died. After suffering bouts of depression, it is suspected that he took his own life in his Californian home yesterday morning. He leaves behind a wife and three children, who our hearts go out to at this difficult time.

 

Robin Williams was best known for his superb talent in acting, allowing him to assume a wide variety of roles, capturing audiences around the world. Some of his most notable and memorable works are Good Will Hunting, Dead Poet’s Society and Mrs. Doubtfire, no doubt favourites of many a family. He was an actor that inspired many people through the characters he played, bringing a certain unique charm that filled you with hope and warmth.

 

Is it odd that we mourn celebrities that we have never personally met? This death will certainly affect a number of people whose only connection with him is watching a film through a television screen. It seems those we so regularly invite into our homes through a film or series become akin to that of extended family. We are also reminded that no one is immune to death, grief and loss, it happens to everyone, even the celebrities we so often idolise. I certainly haven’t escaped without shedding a tear for an actor I have grown up watching, an actor who has contributed to the shaping of my childhood through his portrayal of the genie in Aladdin, to Alan Parrish in Jumanji.

 

Image from cineplex.com

Much like talking about death is a taboo, talking about mental health is somewhat of a taboo in our society as well. Often when people need help the most, they are unsure who to turn to, but there are a number of UK charities that can support people suffering from a wide range of issues. ‘Mind’ is a nationwide service that provides advice, information and support for individuals and families regarding mental health. You can visit their website HERE.

 

There has been an outpouring of grief and remembrance on Twitter over the last 24 hours, with #RobinWilliams and #depression being in the top 10 trending hash tags. He was a kind-hearted man who inspired us in so many ways and will surely be missed by all of those who knew him.

The Great War: On this day in 1914

Image taken from 67notout.com

2014 marks the one hundred year anniversary of the start of World War One. On August 4th 1914 at 11pm, after a failed ultimatum and the invasion of Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany, embarking on a bloody and horrific war that lasted four years. To mark this devastating moment, an artist has created a ‘lights out’ movement, to last for one hour between 10pm and 11pm this evening, where all lights except one or a candle are turned off to reflect on the events that unfolded a hundred years ago. You can find out more here http://www.1418now.org.uk/lights-out/.

 

Almost every living family today will have some form of connection with World War One, whether a grandfather or great-grandfather fought for their country, whatever the link it is still an emotional subject for many people. Every year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we mark the armistice at the end of the Great War with a moment of silence in remembrance of those who sacrificed themselves. This year however, there are a number of events taking place across the UK to encourage people to learn more about World War One and share their family histories.

 

Image from nl.wikipedia.org

Maybe this World War contributed to the taboo surrounding talking about death, dying and loss. With grief and bereavement on such a national scale, it no doubt had an effect on the way that people approached the subject. For many it is difficult to imagine so many loved ones leaving for war, the uncertainty and despair, waiting to hear from your father, brother, husband. However for others, this fear is still very real, with family members fighting in conflicts across the world on a daily basis. A phrase we utter is ‘lest we forget’ though in some ways it seems we already have.

 

 

Celebrity Bucket List

Cheryl Cole recently revealed her near-death scare after contracting malaria in 2010 prompted her to create a Bucket List of her own. The large rose tattoo that has been the centre of controversy was one of the items on her list, she shared with Graham Norton on his show in June. However, she did give it rather a different name, which we won’t discuss here! The concept is the same, a near death experience encouraged her to start living life to the full and realise that life is short so make the most of it while you can.

Image from elleuk.com

It is easy to get bogged down in the chores and worries of everyday life; I know this from first-hand experience. But creating a Bucket List is a good way of focussing on what we want to achieve in our lives and what would make us happy. Whether you want to travel the world or bake your favourite cake, there’s no time like the present.

One famous Bucket List is that of John Goddard, an anthropologist. He created a list of nearly 130 adventures at the age of 15 and is well on the way to completing them with over 100 currently crossed off! From reading the works of Shakespeare to climbing the highest mountains, he has achieved a number of life goals that many of us can only dream of. Why not create a mini list today and attempt to cross them off by the end of the year?

Image from telegraph.co.uk

We want to know what is on YOUR Bucket List! Let us know on Twitter or Facebook #bucketlist

Death neatly packaged

Here is a though-provoking extract from our April newsletter written by our very own Rachael McKindley about the food industry. 

 

I often wonder how many of the people who aren’t ready to talk about death, are vegetarians? Now, this article is neither for nor against meat eating or vegetarianism. I wanted to write about how we stare death in the face each time we walk in to a supermarket, past a butcher’s window, or pull that neat package of meat from the fridge.

 

Image from howtosurvivealieninvasionnovels.blogspot.com

To survive in life, we need to eat. And a lot of us choose to eat meat as part of our diet. How many of us appreciate that an animal had to die to sustain our life? We actively farm a range of animals to suit our dietary needs. This means animals that are born and bred into a life that consists of them being fed and given shelter, until someone deems them large enough to make a profit. It’s a clinical process that makes money from death. And we (meat eaters) buy in to it.

 

That the nice cut of meat, all neatly packaged, that you might be planning to have for your tea, is only here because an animal gave its’ life. By refusing to acknowledge this, are we disrespecting that animals’ sacrifice? If young children ask what meat they are eating, do you tell them the name of the animal it came from, or do you describe only the food? Is a burger just beef, or is it from a cow? We often try to shield children from death, for fear of upsetting them. Often, it is the adults’ fear that is preventing the child from developing a healthy understanding of where our food comes from.

 

Does it ever cross your mind, when you’re pushing a trolley through the aisles of your local supermarket, how many dead animal bodies you are surrounded by? Why does it horrify some to think of eating road kill? These animals lived natural, wild lives and they died living that life. Why is this worse than breeding and raising animals for the slaughter, just so they can be neatly packaged before arriving in our home? If we ever had to return to our hunter gathering days, would you be able to catch, kill and then skin an animal – to survive? Nowadays, we are in a position to pay someone else to do the farming and butchering. But have we forgotten that this still needs to happen?

 

Image from prlog.com

I think we do the animals that die to feed us a disservice by not honouring their sacrifice. We don’t need to dance around fires whilst chanting and ritualistically slaughtering animals ourselves; let’s just give them an occasional thought, and a thank you; for becoming a delicious meal that helps to sustain us through another day of life. I hope this article hasn’t changed anyone’s eating habits in any way. Though it’s important to note that vegetarians don’t escape guilt-free – many plants will die too, to provide you with those essential nutrients...

You can read more interesting articles like this by downloading our 5th Animal Edition Newsletter from the Downloads Page.