A moving and inspiring account of how one Final Flinger used the site to help her live life to the full, right to the end.
Living life to the full – right to the end
Living and dying well
Last rites and plain talking
I live my life as a Humanist and get my spiritual highs from nature, loving relationships and the joy of being human, with all our frailties. I don’t feel any loss as a result of not having a religious practice. That is, until recently, when I came across something for the first time that I […]
Childhood bereavement support in Scotland
Here’s an update on childhood bereavement support in Scotland.
5 out of every 100 children in the UK lose a parent by the time they reach 16. That’s around 4,600 children in Scotland who will experience a parent’s death every year.
Living with the end in mind
I was thrilled to meet Kathryn Mannix in Glasgow at Aye Write book festival where she was talking in her gentle, wise voice about living with the end in mind. The audience hung on her every word as she shared the years of knowledge and experience she has built up as a palliative care specialist, […]
How to plan for the end on Final Fling
I had an email today from Trevor asking for help to plan for the end on Final Fling. It reminds me that sometimes it’s nice to be hand-held and guided through options in life. Trevor wrote…
Death Cafe feedback
This week, I’m reaching out for Death Cafe feedback from anyone who’s attended a Final Fling Death Cafe.
Absent Friends Supper
This Thursday, 9 November, I’m hosting an Absent Friends Supper at Kinning Park Complex. It’s free to attend and starts at 6pm.
To Absent Friends is an annual Scotland-wide festival promoted by our friends at Good Life Good Death Good Grief.
This is Me dementia care document
I’ve just recently come across the great thing that is the This is Me dementia care document and thought I should share it. This came up when I had the privilege of speaking in Cardiff at the Byw Nawr (Live Now) event last week for Dying Matters Awareness Week 2017. We were playing Fling-O-Bingo and I […]
A Time to Live – documentary about dying
Perfectly timed to keep up the momentum of Dying Matters Awareness Week, is next week’s A Time To Live: a documentary about dying. It airs on BBC2 on Wednesday at 9pm. “I met with documentary maker, Sue Bourne in March last year,” says Barbara Chalmers of Final Fling. “On the back of making the very successful film The Age Of Loneliness, the BBC asked Sue what she wanted to do next. She wondered what it would be like to live in the light of a terminal diagnosis and was looking for help to reach out for participants. I was glad to help and reach out to members of the Final Fling community – people who are engaged with the process of living and dying.
Spirituality and belief
Final Fling’s Founder, Barbara Chalmers, is exploring Spirituality and Belief as part of a Masters in Design Innovation at the esteemed Glasgow School of Art:
I imagine that spirituality and belief comes into sharp focus for many of us when we are facing mortality… in our daily reflections, at times of heightened awareness, when we’re coping with death, dying and loss. Spirituality might feel like a need or gap. It might feel like a support or crutch. Belief might help make sense at a confusing or troubling time.
What it’s like to care for an elderly parent
This week, Final Flinger, Sue Friston shares her experience of what it’s like to care for an elderly parent. Sue shares honestly and openly: Mum’s need for supervision and assistance in dressing and washing has noticeably increased in the past few weeks. Slower. More frail. I notice how easy it is to wish this over.
Palliative care helps people live
This week, Professor Scott Murray talks about his belief that early palliative care helps people live with – not die from – a serious illness. A recent medical scare of his own means Scott has been able to bring a very different, personal lens to his thinking about his professional area of expertise.
Too Busy to Die?
The limited edition guide Too Busy to Die launches on 14 October 2016 at Cheltenham Literature Festival, when Barbara Chalmers, Founder of Final Fling, talks about end of life planning.
Time for a Life MOT?
Are you interested in a Life MOT? Barbara Chalmers, Founder of Final Fling offers personalised Life MOT packages. A qualified life coach, executive coach, and COSCA Counselling Skills qualified, Barbara is trained in MAP and PATH techniques and is also considered a death coach.
End of life care for LGBT people
Marie Curie recently published an excellent report on end of life care for LGBT people (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). Three cheers. It’s so welcome to find that our care matters too to major influencers like Marie Curie.
Living to Die
Are you dying to live or living to die? And does your view change if you are told you only have months to live? This week’s blog comes from Sue Bourne, award-winning documentary maker, who wants to connect with YOU, if you have had a terminal diagnosis and want to share your experience.
Remembering Christine
Friend of Fling, Barry Ward, this week shares news of Remembering Christine – the book he has written in tribute to his wife Christine who died last year.
5 tips for making life matter
Are you actively making life matter? I am acutely interested in making life matter. Every day, top of my to-do list is just that. Every day.
If today were the last day of life…
“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” That was the question Steve Jobs asked himself in the mirror each morning of his adult life.
End of life care experience: survey
Do you have end of life care experience? Can you help with a new survey? The Co-Care project is trying to understand how volunteers can provide support for family caregivers at home.