How The Spectator saved Thanksgiving

When a Spectator editor, who shall remain nameless, emailed months ago to ask for an article on the business of post-mortem tattoo preservation, I was horrified. Not because it’s such a horrifying subject, as I discovered and had the pleasure of outlining in this week’s issue. Rather, horrified because it’s a subject that would require genuine effort on the part of your untattooed correspondent. It’s just not something this particular writer could whip up on inspiration, experience, and Googling alone.

But one doesn’t like to deny Spectator editors, so I wound up harassing my tattooed sister on the matter. She let me, despite her extreme reluctance to discuss post-mortem anything. That was weeks ago – well before the US election. Now the article is online – just in time for Thanksgiving and to distract one’s family from politics with the question: ‘Shall I have my sister’s skin peeled off for display after she dies?’