Swift succession

Yesterday was yet another ashes ceremony at sea. The grieving family looked oddly familiar, though. It turned out we had taken them out on the same mission just two weeks before. On that occasion we had physically carried the widow, in her wheelchair, onto the boat and lashed her securely to the safety lines for the trip out for her late husband. She had been unconsolable. Now it was her turn to be committed to the deep. Yours Truly had the unenviable privilege of casting both sets of ashes: nobody else felt up to it.

It was a difficult occasion for the family, who were fantastically dignified and very grateful to us for being there and reuniting the couple beneath the waves. It was quite difficult for us, too, and we went about the tasks aboard with a moist eye and a lump in our throat.