There are plusses and minuses. Knowing you’re within kicking distance of the bucket means you have time to get organised; say goodbye to the people that matter; right some wrongs; arrange your funeral; sort out your will and all the financial stuff; even do the things you’ve always wanted to do but never got round to. But waking up every day knowing you’re one day closer to the grave would be a tough thing to deal with, and it would be torture for your family. I don’t know how people with cancer etc cope knowing their expiration date is within touching distance.

My friend’s friend died last year. She had her whole death/funeral/legacy all planned out to the nth degree. The funeral was supposed to be a celebration. She’d made a video. There were decorations and champagne and fancy cupcakes at the wake. She’d written individual letters to her friends that her husband had to hand-deliver in the weeks afterwards. My friend found it really really upsetting (she wasn’t the only one), and she absolutely dreaded the visit with the letter. Instead of being a celebration it was morbid and extremely distressing.

I’m a great believer in ripping off the bandaid - get things over and done with. I think I’d rather go face first in my spag bol than looking at the sunset. Hopefully I’ll have eaten most of it first.