Summary

Diski begins “The Natural Death Centre” by discussing a friend who asked her if she would like to be buried in a three-deep plot with her in Highgate Cemetery. Diski considers how people generally go about life without thinking much at all of those dying around them. There are three bodies to be buried in the plot in question, one on top of each other, and Diski considers the odds of whether she would die last, thus securing the top spot. Diski’s child, whom she calls Heir Apparent, gets frustrated with their mother’s plans and with the expense, and thus the reduction in inheritance she will receive. While thinking about death, Diski thinks back to a time in the 70s when there was a block party with loud music. A man came out and tried to...