Life, death and everything in between

Yesterday's funeral went as well as could be hoped for. I was shocked to see how the mother had deteriorated in the 48 hours since I saw her last. Stress and grief had scored red/black lines deep in her face and a large cold sore had appeared on her upper lip. If ever there was proof needed that unhappiness is bad for your health, there it was.

I had spent the previous day in bed with a cold, so it was a bit strange to be driving through the sprawling suburbs of Bristol that my Sat Nav insisted was the best route. On a map it looked simple - follow the river on the road North of the Avon then turn right up the hill. Whoever programmed that gadget probably lives in China.

Young people piss me off these days. I and another old person were discussing transport to the crematorium in the pub the day before, and were offering lifts to young people who had no cars, let alone licenses. One young woman (about 30) decided she would go with me because I said that I would be driving straight back to Bath after the service and not bothering to try and find a parking space outside the tiny house in a packed street where the first reception was to be held.

The evening before I tried to message her for arrangements, but no reply. I tried to actually phone her, but no answer. I left a bleak declaration that I would just leave without her if I did not hear back, and she finally informed me that she was going with someone else but may ask for a lift home - if it suited her. I could hear the pantomime sigh of exasperation in her voice, even in a text. In the event it was never mentioned and I went home alone in my large, empty car.

There is a culture now which says it is perfectly ok to cancel any arrangements without telling the other party if you get a better offer.

I have actually heard some young people arranging to meet - unless something better turns up in the meantime. I have seen friendships fall apart because of this - it upsets them too when it is done to them by someone else. The friendships only repair themselves when it is eventually pointed out that they all do the same thing to each other.

It is taking the young longer and longer to grow up these days.

Somehow this has turned into a grumpy old man's rant. I was going to talk about life and death, but now I cannot be bothered. I am still not very well.