Grave Goods – Steven Delaney/Count Arthur Strong.
Tools of the Trade – a tool/implement without which you’d be lost, whether it’s a pen, trowel, notepad, bottle-opener or scanning electron microscope.
Up until a couple of months ago I would have said my Makita Router but having recently bought a Bosch site saw, I’m not so sure. The router is an incredibly versatile machine… but the saw…! Then there’s my cement mixer! This may sound terribly boring but we’re trying to do a house up in France. I can’t choose between the power tools. So from the list above I select a pen.
Food for the Journey – a favourite portable snack, or a portion of something from your funeral feast.
Probably a sandwich my wife has made for me. I was single for a long time before my wife and I got together and the first time she made me a sandwich seemed like an extraordinary act of kindness. I’d forgotten other people sometimes just did things for you. So probably a ham, cheese, mayonnaise sandwich with a bit of sliced gherkin. I feel I should say I have made many sandwiches in return over the years. Just in case I am perceived as merely a sandwich consumer.
Memento Vivere – a memento of a companion/event to bring you cheer (can be an image).
I’m presuming this can’t be my wife or son? If that is the case then it’d be one of my lovely Anthony Frost paintings/prints. I met Ant through ‘doing’ Arthur and his work is fabulous. I have several pieces of his. Choosing one would be quite difficult but it might be ‘Saturation Green’. But it might not.
Ex Libris – the book or text you are least likely to tire of reading.
I read a lot but I forget books almost as I’m reading them. I’ve had a hankering to read ‘Catch 22’ again for the last year or so. I read that in the early 70’s, when I was quite impressionable. So it might be that. Be nice to remember how impressionable I used to be. Either that or some Kafka. ‘The Castle’ was the first of his I read in my teens. It had quite an impact so I ended up reading the rest of his books, over about a fortnight. I think I use some similarly repetitive frustrations in scenarios for Arthur. Though I’d probably just grab a book as I was breathing my last gasp and make do with whatever that was. I always have a pile of books by the side of the bed. I’m presuming I die in bed here? I suppose I could breathe my last in a myriad of ways? Some of which would somewhat complicate things on the grabbing of a book front. Taking that into account, I’ll say ’Great Expectations’!
Lucky Deposition – a bonus selection chosen by the guest – can include transport.
Obviously this can’t be my wife and son? So… a 1960’s Jaguar MK2. An earlyish one with the shelves that pull out of the backs of the front seats. Cherry Red. And a workshop manual for it. And a full tool kit. And a heated garage. I was saving up for a MK2 a few years ago but spent the money on a 1972 Saab 96.
A Message from Beyond the Grave – an entirely discretionary option – leave a note for a future generation to find.
Thank you! I’m here all week!