Is This A Step Too Far?

Forward Planning With The AGA Queen, Mary Berry

There’s forward planning and then there’s Mary Berry forward planning.

With bestselling cookbooks such as One Step Ahead and Cook Now, Eat Later, Dame Mary Berry has always been known for being beautifully organised. From make-ahead recipes to relaxed entertaining, she has spent decades helping home cooks feel a little more prepared.

And as the much-loved Queen of the AGA, it’s probably no surprise that Mary seems to think ahead in every area of life.

But this time, has she taken forward planning a step too far?

Funeral Planning, Mary Berry Style

Dame Mary has spoken openly about planning ahead for her own funeral, and in typical Mary Berry fashion, she seems to have approached it with a mixture of practicality, humour and kindness.

She reportedly said that while it might sound a little morbid, she is not too bothered because, after all, she will not be there. She also joked that she would rather have a party before it happens, because she loves having people round and sharing.

Honestly, that does feel very Mary Berry. A little bit sensible, a little bit funny, and somehow still thinking about everyone else.

Is This Taking Things Too Far?

Dame Mary and her husband Paul are said to have reserved a double grave plot next to her mother-in-law and their late son, William, who sadly passed away in 1989.

She has also apparently chosen some favourite hymns for the service, even admitting that she keeps funeral sheets from other people’s services so she can tick off the tunes she likes best.

I’m not sure I would go quite as far as collecting funeral sheets for future reference, but I can see the thinking behind it. There is something quite kind about making those decisions yourself rather than leaving them for your family at a difficult time.

Still, it does make you wonder. Is it sensible planning, or is this one step too far?

Making The Most Of Life With Mary Berry

Of course, Dame Mary has never been one to sit back and do nothing. She has always seemed to be someone who believes in making the most of life, staying active and keeping involved.

After breaking her hip, she reportedly committed herself to physio and swimming, and encouraged others to do as they are told after an injury because it is worth it.

That feels like another very Mary Berry lesson, doesn’t it? Plan ahead, do the sensible thing, and then get on with enjoying yourself.

Why Mary Berry Still Inspires AGA Owners

For many AGA owners, Mary Berry will always be closely linked with cosy kitchens, proper home cooking and the kind of calm confidence we all wish we had when feeding a crowd.

Whether she is talking about cooking, entertaining, family life or even funeral planning, there is always that same practical thread running through it. Think ahead, keep things simple, and try not to make life harder than it needs to be.

It’s probably why she continues to inspire so many home cooks after all these years.

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What Do You Think?

So, what do you think?

Is Mary Berry being wonderfully organised, or has she taken forward planning a little too far?

I’m still not sure I’ll be choosing my funeral music any time soon, but I do admire the thought behind it. And really, if anyone was going to have their final arrangements neatly planned in advance, it was always going to be Mary Berry.