Forward Planning

They say that to fail to plan is to plan to fail. I had a meeting with client this week who's advanced planning took me a little by surprise. 

I always enjoy my meetings with this particular client as it is probably fair to use the word "eccentric" to describe him. We were busy reviewing his cover when he slipped into conversation that he had "sorted his grave". The phrase sat like a ticking bomb for a few seconds before I asked him for an explanation. 

He said his wife had pointed out to him that the real estate in cemeteries was beginning to become scarce and as he was now 71 and "in no burning desire to be cremated", he should secure himself a plot sooner rather than later. 

The following week he was down to his local cemetery where he had laid his father to rest many years earlier. He took the manager on one side and asked whether he might find him a suitable corner. He received a call back a few days later from the manager saying he had found him just the spot. He was straight back down there and was taken to a plot right along side his father's grave. Clearly, he was delighted with this and secured it right away. He then asked that the plot was dug and a vault built for himself and his wife. The following day he was down at the cemetery again watching the JCB dig out his plot and then supervising the brick layer building his vault. The brickie did say it was slightly unusual to be watched in action by the eventual long-term user of his handiwork. 

Eventually, the tomb was complete and my client is delighted to have secured his resting place and indeed, tried it out for size, dryness and warmth. His wife is also delighted that their long-term future together is secured. 

Whilst this may have been an amusing and, frankly, slightly bizarre anecdote, it does demonstrate almost the ultimate in forward planning. He pointed out that his sons would not have to make any decisions or have any hassles regarding his funeral as he had done all of this work for them. 

Well done my organised client and long may you tend to your own grave from the outside.