It's good to be back...

[SeasideMark]

After a while off the forum I am now back in harness having had a ridiculously busy couple of months during which free time was literally at a premium.
You may recall the sad story I posted before Christmas of Mike the badge collector who died penniless but left me some badges.
As he had no family, few - if any - friends and left no will, he was left in the mortuary until such time as a pauper's funeral could be arranged for him.
The upshot of that was while I tried to help as best I could I just hit a brick wall of red tape from the local council who said I had no legal or blood ties to the poor chap and so they could not (or would not) divulge any information regarding the situation. Ditto the local hospital.
Anyway, it transpires he was eventually buried and after selling off some of his badges I was able to give the council a decent sum to partly offset the costs of his funeral 'bill'.
Thanks to all the members of the forum who bought items or offered donations towards the cause.
On another topic, some reasonably interesting bits and bobs have come my way in the past few weeks and I will offer them up to forum members over the next few days.
It's nice to be back and I hope everyone is fit, well and happy.
Diolch pawb
Mark

[DonQuixote]

A magnanimous gesture on your part but giving money ad hoc to a council seems all wrong to me.

They are hardly going to re-inter him I'd have thought?

Perhaps the money would have been better donated to a heart or cancer charity - to name but two?

[Wullie]

Personally i'd have given the council feck all. They steal enough from us when we're alive, but easy for me to say as i'm not in your situation. I should be sad for the old guy, but to be honest i think it's a rather nice way to go. The idea of a bunch of scrounging vultures who never bothered with you when you were alive leaves me cold. It's quite romantic i think to leave with nothing except a few nice items for a close friend. When you're dead you're dead . who cares about a fancy funeral. ??? Penniless , no family , few friends . Sounds a top bloke to me. RIP

[littlewiggy]

As decent of you as it is Mark, I'd have kept the money myself personally mate, he obviously wanted you to having valued the friendship and kindness you gave so clearly.

Fully agree with Wullie's post, absolutely spot on that.
Mike did indeed sound a top bloke, as is Mark himself.
RIP buddy.
_________________
NEWPORT COUNTY & GENERAL FOOTY BADGES:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/newport-county-badges/albums

[SeasideMark]

It was a very difficult position to be put in and all I can say is I did what I thought was right at the time. If - and it's very unlikely - I am ever in that position again I would certainly not give the money to the council who were to say the least unhelpful, unsympathetic and cold hearted.
Anyway, what's done is done and it's time to move on...

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Mark, you did yourself proud, mate. A lot of people would have made themselves scarce.

By the way, I said I'd make a donation but haven't seen a way of doing it. Let me know please.