This story may offend. If you are easily offended, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Angry People in Local Newspapers – we’re not just here for the nice things in life.

We’re also here for those sad, tragic stories that also make you snort coffee through your nose because we are terrible, TERRIBLE people.

Like this one, which features pathos and awful symmetry at its most extreme.

Sunderland Echo: Grave of woman who was tragically killed by a car 25 years ago is demolished by a car

While this story is not funny in the slightest because of the tragic circumstances, one cannot help but see the grim humour in this line, which was responsible for the coffee-through-nose moment:

“We can’t believe this has happened. Even in death, she’s being hit by cars.”

Also, the call for CCTV cameras to stop people accidentally damaging graves and driving off. Because that’s a sensible reaction to what is, on the face of it, a relatively minor incident.

And here comes the serious point, because I’ve got a social sciences degree and no you shut up:

Interestingly, it shows how some people grieve and remember the dead, the stone and plot of land becomes an extension of that person, or even the person themselves.

Damage to a grave (and we see it often at APILN when churches and cemeteries get it in the neck for clearing the beer cans and cuddly toys from the graves of the recently deceased) is a personal attack against the family and the dead.

I’m having none of that. When I go, I want to be left up a tree for the birds to peck at my body. Also, no bloody car’s going to get me*.

*Unless driven by Jeremy Clarkson or his heirs.