Someone asked me after church yesterday whether I was still gaming. I was non plussed for a moment wondering if he meant gambling! He grinned realising he'd used the wrong word and said..."Backgammon isn't it?"
It is.
When I had young children one great delight on a rainy weekend was to get the games out and play Monopoly, Cluedo, Trivial Pursuits, etc. Once they had left home I was stuck.....no one to play with. The dog couldn't seem to master a board game!
The computer age changed all that. I graduated from solitaire to other more complicated games and Backgammon is one of them. There are plenty of games that are made for one person to play but I do like to play a real human being....so now I play not only Backgammom but Scrabble and even occasionally Cribbage all with real people.
I even have the odd game on line with my son....whose main game is chess but I am not up to that one ......yet.
The backgammon site I visit is called Fibs, the first internet backgammon site.
In recent months they have succeeded in making it almost problem free.....by waging war on those who break the rules.
The worst crime on Fibs is to leave a game when you are losing....these people are known as droppers. There is a system of scoring and you lose a point or two if you don't win.
Reputation is everything....and you can see quite clearly that some people are droppers, or cheats and I don't play those....unless I'm feeling reckless!
I suppose that cheats get everywhere....but there can't be much satisfaction in knowing that you are high up the score ladder by cheating and not by being good at the game.
Scrabble is different......if there is a way of cheating I have yet to find it....I have been playing with some people for years . Its all good natured and many have become friends on Facebook!
I read somewhere that people who play games live longest! I am not sure if thats a good thing but it does mean that I am never bored....there is always someone to play with...and making contact with diverse groups of people I would never otherwise meet is a real pleasure.....
Another thing to thank God for in fact.
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Monday, 30 April 2012
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Blood into wine.
I have arrived home from the 8am communion remembering a conversation with a barrister this week.
I had asked him in a relaxed moment what the police response would be to a vicar found to be driving over the limit on a Sunday morning. I explained that in a full church with a lot of visitors it is often impossible to gage how many would take communion but you had to be prepared for them all. This meant that sometimes there was a lot to drink after wards.
One of the party asked why the wine had to be consumed.
I replied, "Because it is the blood of Christ"
Even the people who go to church regularly seemed amazed by this statement.
"Also the bread, in what ever form it comes is the body of Christ....it all has to be consumed by the priest..with some help from the servers if necessary.
Astonishment all round.....it was clearly not something they had ever considered.
The young barrister though was quick.
"You can't be charged with drinking the blood of Christ " he said....
This post is not intended to revisit any arguments about transubstantiation . But it is an interesting point of law I think. He was not saying it as a joke, there was no trace of humour.
I pass it on to my esteemed colleagues and hope they may never have to use it in court.
I had asked him in a relaxed moment what the police response would be to a vicar found to be driving over the limit on a Sunday morning. I explained that in a full church with a lot of visitors it is often impossible to gage how many would take communion but you had to be prepared for them all. This meant that sometimes there was a lot to drink after wards.
One of the party asked why the wine had to be consumed.
I replied, "Because it is the blood of Christ"
Even the people who go to church regularly seemed amazed by this statement.
"Also the bread, in what ever form it comes is the body of Christ....it all has to be consumed by the priest..with some help from the servers if necessary.
Astonishment all round.....it was clearly not something they had ever considered.
The young barrister though was quick.
"You can't be charged with drinking the blood of Christ " he said....
This post is not intended to revisit any arguments about transubstantiation . But it is an interesting point of law I think. He was not saying it as a joke, there was no trace of humour.
I pass it on to my esteemed colleagues and hope they may never have to use it in court.
Saturday, 28 April 2012
David's retirement
I am thinking alot about the first David right now. This is the time of the year when we always came to Cornwall for the first visit of the year. It's also the month he died here, very suddenly with no warning.
He had been one of eight regional Human Resources managers at a bank. His job was difficult, involving much hiring and firing and he hated the description "human resources". None of us were surprised when he took early retirement. We thought it would give him a life extension.
After a few joy filled months he realized that at 56 he still needed something to do so after being approached by an old friend he joined the panel of people who manned the Industrial Tribunals.
He was pleased to be accepted and decided that when we moved house he would transfer from Essex to Cornwall!
I was pleased too. Although I was not then a priest I had become a lay inspector of Care Homes and thought it right that we were both going to be contributing to society in our old age.
Sadly he died. The stress of his job was thought to be a contributing factor.
It hit me hard. But I am still proud of him and the way he did his job and cared for those he looked after at work. I suspect his is a dying breed but it's worth noting that he would still be only in his early seventies now and hopefully manning the odd Tribunal.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
He had been one of eight regional Human Resources managers at a bank. His job was difficult, involving much hiring and firing and he hated the description "human resources". None of us were surprised when he took early retirement. We thought it would give him a life extension.
After a few joy filled months he realized that at 56 he still needed something to do so after being approached by an old friend he joined the panel of people who manned the Industrial Tribunals.
He was pleased to be accepted and decided that when we moved house he would transfer from Essex to Cornwall!
I was pleased too. Although I was not then a priest I had become a lay inspector of Care Homes and thought it right that we were both going to be contributing to society in our old age.
Sadly he died. The stress of his job was thought to be a contributing factor.
It hit me hard. But I am still proud of him and the way he did his job and cared for those he looked after at work. I suspect his is a dying breed but it's worth noting that he would still be only in his early seventies now and hopefully manning the odd Tribunal.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, 27 April 2012
The garden 2
The garden is looking wonderful...Although neglected by me this week, the combination of sun and showers have produced a wonderful show of blossom. I put in apple , pear, cherry and plum trees about three years ago and they are all flowering right now!
To walk around it is a joy, the gardner has made a brilliant job of keeping it tidy without the manicured look I detest. There are five different ceonotis with several different shades of blue, some heavy on the branch and tugging them down.
To create a garden of this size with room for everything I have always wanted is one of the great joys of my life....its almost irrelevant whether or not it all fruits......right now with all the blossom is perfect.
I have a frangipani which has been in constant flower for 9 months! I tried to post a pic but the gremlins are on the move this morning and two post have been eaten already...
It couldn't be the snails could it?
They are also on the move.....I can only cope with one problem at a time.....I might post a pic or two later!
To walk around it is a joy, the gardner has made a brilliant job of keeping it tidy without the manicured look I detest. There are five different ceonotis with several different shades of blue, some heavy on the branch and tugging them down.
To create a garden of this size with room for everything I have always wanted is one of the great joys of my life....its almost irrelevant whether or not it all fruits......right now with all the blossom is perfect.
I have a frangipani which has been in constant flower for 9 months! I tried to post a pic but the gremlins are on the move this morning and two post have been eaten already...
It couldn't be the snails could it?
They are also on the move.....I can only cope with one problem at a time.....I might post a pic or two later!
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Us non Stipendiaries
I got up feeling tired and a bit flat until the flowers arrived....It is really wonderful what a gesture like that can do to restore your faith in all sorts of things.
I was asked yesterday to get my expenses claim in as soon as possible.....What expenses form? My stock answer to anyone offering me an expenses form is to say, "I don't do that"
It then occurred to me that almost certainly no one actually understands the nature of being a priest in the Church of England if you were already an old woman when you were ordained.
There are a lot of us about.....all those of us who got our call into the Church when we were young were only allowed in during the 1990's. We have all had other jobs, teaching and writing being mine. We often have pensions from previous jobs and are financially secure.
We don't need to be paid. We do what we do with joy, being at last allowed to exercise our vocations and it makes me very happy to be able to do it all. But I do what I do for the love of God, the love of the Church and for the love of His people.
It gives the Church a bit of a problem though....we all own our own homes. The church does not have to provide us with accommodation but that in itself creates a problem. In the old days once a spell in any parish was over, the incumbent of that parish had to move on and leave the parish. There were good and valid reasons for this but it can no longer be enforced.
I have moved from one parish close by to this one but hopefully this is where I shall in due course pop my clogs!
I love everything I do but I have my other jobs to fall back on....particularly writing....
When the time comes that I can no longer dash around, sometimes working long hours , I shall still be a very happy woman, writing, gardening, and dog walking.....God has been amazingly good to me.....my expense claim would be to ask for a bit of Spring sunshine to bring forth the apple blossom. And you can't get that onto a balance sheet!
I was asked yesterday to get my expenses claim in as soon as possible.....What expenses form? My stock answer to anyone offering me an expenses form is to say, "I don't do that"
It then occurred to me that almost certainly no one actually understands the nature of being a priest in the Church of England if you were already an old woman when you were ordained.
There are a lot of us about.....all those of us who got our call into the Church when we were young were only allowed in during the 1990's. We have all had other jobs, teaching and writing being mine. We often have pensions from previous jobs and are financially secure.
We don't need to be paid. We do what we do with joy, being at last allowed to exercise our vocations and it makes me very happy to be able to do it all. But I do what I do for the love of God, the love of the Church and for the love of His people.
It gives the Church a bit of a problem though....we all own our own homes. The church does not have to provide us with accommodation but that in itself creates a problem. In the old days once a spell in any parish was over, the incumbent of that parish had to move on and leave the parish. There were good and valid reasons for this but it can no longer be enforced.
I have moved from one parish close by to this one but hopefully this is where I shall in due course pop my clogs!
I love everything I do but I have my other jobs to fall back on....particularly writing....
When the time comes that I can no longer dash around, sometimes working long hours , I shall still be a very happy woman, writing, gardening, and dog walking.....God has been amazingly good to me.....my expense claim would be to ask for a bit of Spring sunshine to bring forth the apple blossom. And you can't get that onto a balance sheet!
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Waterproofs needed
Cornwall is very busy. Remarkably so for the time of the year. Usually we get full to overflowing during school holidays but having spent the last couple of days commuting into Truro I am amazed by how many holidays makers are here.
They are all of a certain age!
The golden oldies have arrived in great numbers and I was once one of them.
Arriving here in April or May is a really good move. The bluebells are out in great profusion, the candle like flowers on the chestnut trees are glowing and the trees are in shiny new green leaves. Everything looks wonderful.
Our drought though is a bit of a problem. Ever since the hose pipe ban was announced its poured down every day!
If your a golden oldy on your way down bring your water proofs!
Negotiating your way around Truro is a bit of a problem as half the roads seem to be up! They usually try to get it all done before the main holiday season starts but it's on early this year.
We have eaten out a bit too during this spell of commuting and restaurants are doing well too!
The Cornish economy needed some boosting. It seems to be getting it right now!
Golden oldies, aka people who are retired with time and money at their disposal , Cornwall is open for business!
-- Post From My iPhone
They are all of a certain age!
The golden oldies have arrived in great numbers and I was once one of them.
Arriving here in April or May is a really good move. The bluebells are out in great profusion, the candle like flowers on the chestnut trees are glowing and the trees are in shiny new green leaves. Everything looks wonderful.
Our drought though is a bit of a problem. Ever since the hose pipe ban was announced its poured down every day!
If your a golden oldy on your way down bring your water proofs!
Negotiating your way around Truro is a bit of a problem as half the roads seem to be up! They usually try to get it all done before the main holiday season starts but it's on early this year.
We have eaten out a bit too during this spell of commuting and restaurants are doing well too!
The Cornish economy needed some boosting. It seems to be getting it right now!
Golden oldies, aka people who are retired with time and money at their disposal , Cornwall is open for business!
-- Post From My iPhone
Monday, 23 April 2012
West Wing therapy
Tonight I got home from a whole day of sitting down and I was very tired. Daft I know but I'm used to moving more than I am sitting. I had just an hour to cook a meal before the next meeting started.
Spaghetti bolognese did the trick and then I sat down and realized that as my presence was not actually essential tonight my husband could go in my place...and bless him he did!
So stretched full length on the sofa I have indulged in a positive orgy! I found a whole episode of West Wing I've never seen as well as several more worth watching again!
What is it about this program? My husband can't get into it at all so I have to watch it alone. It's almost my guilty secret but it does the trick every time.
The intricacy of dialogue, the well drawn characters detach my brain from the days traumas and I'm ready to sleep properly before doing it all over again tomorrow.
I did get the whole series of Studio 60 as well and I would watch anything else that Aaron Sorkin wrote very happily.
Utterly relaxed I will listen to my husbands account of tonight's meeting safe in the knowledge that I was not missed.
I am again posting this fairly early because today is a repeat of yesterday.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Spaghetti bolognese did the trick and then I sat down and realized that as my presence was not actually essential tonight my husband could go in my place...and bless him he did!
So stretched full length on the sofa I have indulged in a positive orgy! I found a whole episode of West Wing I've never seen as well as several more worth watching again!
What is it about this program? My husband can't get into it at all so I have to watch it alone. It's almost my guilty secret but it does the trick every time.
The intricacy of dialogue, the well drawn characters detach my brain from the days traumas and I'm ready to sleep properly before doing it all over again tomorrow.
I did get the whole series of Studio 60 as well and I would watch anything else that Aaron Sorkin wrote very happily.
Utterly relaxed I will listen to my husbands account of tonight's meeting safe in the knowledge that I was not missed.
I am again posting this fairly early because today is a repeat of yesterday.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, 22 April 2012
St Georges Day.
I'm not keen on St Georges day. It is possibly because my lovely husband David had his funeral on this day....but it is more than that I think.
When I was a girl mummers still performed at this time in Rochdale.....I actually loved the street theatre but I'm afraid it brought me no nearer to either God or patriotic duty.....it was just great fun to watch George brandishing his sword and slaying the dragon!
When we lived in Essex my husband joined the St George society in the village. This had nothing much to do with St George and everything to do with a night enjoying male company whilst consuming large quantities of booze. Nothing wrong with that you might say but it meant my husband could not drive that night because he knew he'd be in no fit state to get home.
So I was detailed to take him and bring him home.....which was no problem except it was in the days before everyone had a mobile phone and the pub only had one. As there were around fifty members of this group it took quite a while for us all to be summoned.
.As wives we were not terribly impressed and threatened to start our own group but it was a threat never carried out.
To try to give me an interest in St George David gave me the job one year of researching the saint.....he knew I liked that sort of thing so I took great pleasure in telling him that George was not actually English....no one knew for certain but it was even possible he'd been a Roman left behind in the retreat!
When St Georges Day became the only possible date for his funeral I gave in reluctantly....it felt quite wrong somehow......but all his mates turned up and joined all the mourners on a glorious sunny day and the throng filled the garden to overflowing.
So St Georges Day holds a special place in my heart but not for any of the normal reasons. ....Rest in Peace my love.
When I was a girl mummers still performed at this time in Rochdale.....I actually loved the street theatre but I'm afraid it brought me no nearer to either God or patriotic duty.....it was just great fun to watch George brandishing his sword and slaying the dragon!
When we lived in Essex my husband joined the St George society in the village. This had nothing much to do with St George and everything to do with a night enjoying male company whilst consuming large quantities of booze. Nothing wrong with that you might say but it meant my husband could not drive that night because he knew he'd be in no fit state to get home.
So I was detailed to take him and bring him home.....which was no problem except it was in the days before everyone had a mobile phone and the pub only had one. As there were around fifty members of this group it took quite a while for us all to be summoned.
.As wives we were not terribly impressed and threatened to start our own group but it was a threat never carried out.
To try to give me an interest in St George David gave me the job one year of researching the saint.....he knew I liked that sort of thing so I took great pleasure in telling him that George was not actually English....no one knew for certain but it was even possible he'd been a Roman left behind in the retreat!
When St Georges Day became the only possible date for his funeral I gave in reluctantly....it felt quite wrong somehow......but all his mates turned up and joined all the mourners on a glorious sunny day and the throng filled the garden to overflowing.
So St Georges Day holds a special place in my heart but not for any of the normal reasons. ....Rest in Peace my love.
Madge ran Marathons
On the day of the London Marathon I am always reminded of my late sister in law Madge. When I first met her she was approaching sixty....and had started to train for the Marathon and also for climbing Everest.
What prompted a woman to suddenly become an athlete in her old age is a bit of a mystery but basically she had something to prove! And she did.
She ran her first Marathon, albeit slowly , got funding from various firms around the country for her mountaineering and started a whole new career.
She had already been a favourite on Woman's hour and had written pieces for the Telegraph before she went on to appear regularly on local TV and had the fun of writing a book called "Fun at Fifty. Sin at Sixty" I am not sure it was ever published.
As a woman who also started a new career in her sixties I am certain I could never do what she did....she ran marathons all around the world, then half marathons and then needed new knees!
Still working in my chosen profession I know the joy it brings and the energy it consumes...and I am not running anywhere leave alone marathons!
Madge was invincible....made friends with other runners, got letters of support from all those whose path she crossed....she was quite a woman....her point made!
Sadly she died a few years ago but the world was a better place for having had her in it. I hope she's resting in peace having risen in glory.
What prompted a woman to suddenly become an athlete in her old age is a bit of a mystery but basically she had something to prove! And she did.
She ran her first Marathon, albeit slowly , got funding from various firms around the country for her mountaineering and started a whole new career.
She had already been a favourite on Woman's hour and had written pieces for the Telegraph before she went on to appear regularly on local TV and had the fun of writing a book called "Fun at Fifty. Sin at Sixty" I am not sure it was ever published.
As a woman who also started a new career in her sixties I am certain I could never do what she did....she ran marathons all around the world, then half marathons and then needed new knees!
Still working in my chosen profession I know the joy it brings and the energy it consumes...and I am not running anywhere leave alone marathons!
Madge was invincible....made friends with other runners, got letters of support from all those whose path she crossed....she was quite a woman....her point made!
Sadly she died a few years ago but the world was a better place for having had her in it. I hope she's resting in peace having risen in glory.
Saturday, 21 April 2012
William the Springer.
Following the comments on "social networking" two days ago my mind has returned more than once to my beloved dog William. William was a Springer spaniel and a complete failure as a dog. He bit everyone in the family apart from me. This made him my dog. Every time the first David decided his time was up I took William up the mountain and stayed out till the vet was closed.
He was very naughty indeed and I adored him and it was reciprocated. His worse moment came when a very drunk guest got down on the floor with him and said "woof woof". William was having none of that...he charged in and when the man sobered up we Had to apologize profusely. Another trip up the mountain was called for.
His main problem was that he was a door guarder. That was how he saw his job....people were not to go through a door without his agreement. In the house this was fairly peaceful. On the boat was different. If he'd been left in charge he would growl at anyone trying to get into the cabin.....even us. It took a few minutes of cajoling and persuading for him to reach the conclusion that it was alight.
As he got older this problem got worse. Eventually the vet diagnosed a brain tumor and his time had come. I took him and held him and then wept and wept. Somehow this dreadful animal had worked his way into my affections and I missed him and mourned him for several years.
As a dog he was rubbish but as a friend and companion he was the best.
Links by Facebook.
It's been an amazing few days.....lots of people calling in and lots of encouraging phone calls or emails....
I am particularly busy right now as the wedding season gets into swing. Last year we had to stop the weddings and baptisms when the church was having major surgery and a refurb. All the people who were put on hold then are coming along now, which is why the last two weekends were devoted to babies!
Today we have a wedding which neither of us locals is doing. We are very lucky here to have a brilliant secretary who does most of the grinding paper work and leaves us to do the enjoyable bits.
The priest in charge here told me that today's couple are bringing their own vicar with them..and he will do the ceremony. A day off for us then!
When he mentioned the name of the visiting priest I was amazed....he has been a friend on Facebook for years!
It's a very small world in the C of E and yet another example of how Social net working forges new links and useful links as well as uniting old friends.
It can all go tragically wrong of course. There are negatives as well as positives in everything.
Like most other things in life the choice is ours.....whether to spread the knowledge of God through sharing our laughter and our joy...or whether to find fault and carp. I know which path I chose!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I am particularly busy right now as the wedding season gets into swing. Last year we had to stop the weddings and baptisms when the church was having major surgery and a refurb. All the people who were put on hold then are coming along now, which is why the last two weekends were devoted to babies!
Today we have a wedding which neither of us locals is doing. We are very lucky here to have a brilliant secretary who does most of the grinding paper work and leaves us to do the enjoyable bits.
The priest in charge here told me that today's couple are bringing their own vicar with them..and he will do the ceremony. A day off for us then!
When he mentioned the name of the visiting priest I was amazed....he has been a friend on Facebook for years!
It's a very small world in the C of E and yet another example of how Social net working forges new links and useful links as well as uniting old friends.
It can all go tragically wrong of course. There are negatives as well as positives in everything.
Like most other things in life the choice is ours.....whether to spread the knowledge of God through sharing our laughter and our joy...or whether to find fault and carp. I know which path I chose!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Social net working
Sitting up in bed this morning I got a message via Facebook from a very old friend. It was a request asking us to use just one word to describe our first meeting.
I typed in "lock"
She replied instantly and the memories flooded back.
The first David and I had a boat on the Great Ouse. There are quite a lot of locks and one day we found ourselves in a lock with another boat whose crew were in dispute!
The man was in his cockpit. The woman was on terra firma . The man was brandishing a coiled rope he wanted tied on to keep the boat steady as the water rushed in.
"Take the rope" he yelled .
"Say please" she said sweetly.
This exchange went on for a while until my husband climbed up a lock ladder and secured the boat.
I was enthralled. Here was a woman after my own heart!
We went on our separate way and looked for a pub for lunch. The other couple were already there.
We ate together , laughed alot and remained friends ever since.
Happy Days Babs. The joy of social net working can never be over estimated!
-- Post From My iPhone
I typed in "lock"
She replied instantly and the memories flooded back.
The first David and I had a boat on the Great Ouse. There are quite a lot of locks and one day we found ourselves in a lock with another boat whose crew were in dispute!
The man was in his cockpit. The woman was on terra firma . The man was brandishing a coiled rope he wanted tied on to keep the boat steady as the water rushed in.
"Take the rope" he yelled .
"Say please" she said sweetly.
This exchange went on for a while until my husband climbed up a lock ladder and secured the boat.
I was enthralled. Here was a woman after my own heart!
We went on our separate way and looked for a pub for lunch. The other couple were already there.
We ate together , laughed alot and remained friends ever since.
Happy Days Babs. The joy of social net working can never be over estimated!
-- Post From My iPhone
To blog?
To blog or not to blog that is the question? Actually it's not really the question. For me it's like saying to breath or not to breath? Breath is essential and so is blogging.
I have always kept a diary....not ever of the dear diary variety....I hope.
Long before I was a priest I was a writer....expressing myself in words has always been my thing so it was unlikely to stop after being ordained.
My blog was not ever published until google made it so easy....and maybe that's a trap for the unwary.
People who think priests should not share their experiences and views are those who think the world has not moved on since Trollope wrote his wonderful books about church politics.
The days when a priest had the living of his church and could stay in his parish until he died have long gone....we are all very mobile these days and the old rules are almost impossible to uphold where non stipendiary priests who own their own homes work side by side with clergy who may move several times in their career.
To anyone who is astonished that I blog or indeed any other priest does I would ask them to Google Christian blogs.
So many of us do it it's far from unusual, it's common place.
Christian outreach is a well respected blogging tool. We have to use our own life experience in order to reach people and lots who read this blog are those who may seldom go to church or indeed have any Christian convictions but are interested in what is being said. Just as Jesus told stories to make His message clear so do we....
St Paul was an ace blogger in his day! And look how many people his written words have reached.
Together as a body us Christian bloggers are still proclaiming the good news. Christ has risen and is good! Alleluia!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I have always kept a diary....not ever of the dear diary variety....I hope.
Long before I was a priest I was a writer....expressing myself in words has always been my thing so it was unlikely to stop after being ordained.
My blog was not ever published until google made it so easy....and maybe that's a trap for the unwary.
People who think priests should not share their experiences and views are those who think the world has not moved on since Trollope wrote his wonderful books about church politics.
The days when a priest had the living of his church and could stay in his parish until he died have long gone....we are all very mobile these days and the old rules are almost impossible to uphold where non stipendiary priests who own their own homes work side by side with clergy who may move several times in their career.
To anyone who is astonished that I blog or indeed any other priest does I would ask them to Google Christian blogs.
So many of us do it it's far from unusual, it's common place.
Christian outreach is a well respected blogging tool. We have to use our own life experience in order to reach people and lots who read this blog are those who may seldom go to church or indeed have any Christian convictions but are interested in what is being said. Just as Jesus told stories to make His message clear so do we....
St Paul was an ace blogger in his day! And look how many people his written words have reached.
Together as a body us Christian bloggers are still proclaiming the good news. Christ has risen and is good! Alleluia!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Ebooks , thank goodness
So many good things are happening in my life that when a small troublesome thing happens its easy to cope with because overall the picture is wonderful. This morning I was notified that the book I wrote on the cruise was not only doing well but had been upgraded to Premier Status. Not having any knowledge at all in these matters I really have no idea what this means...I know that it's being downloaded and read and apart from at the beginning has had no advertising at all, so I am pleased .
I have also been told that other frustrated writers have read what I did and have taken the same route! The whole ethos of book publishing seems set for an enormous shift...bad news for those already established possibly but good news for the rest of us.
Apparently many books are free so people are downloading them to their iPads and kindles in great number.
I imagine that possibly not all of them are read all the through ..I have several on my kindle gathering dust as we speak but I also have book shelves with the same problem.
Thank goodness for ebooks. Three cheers! Hip hip!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I have also been told that other frustrated writers have read what I did and have taken the same route! The whole ethos of book publishing seems set for an enormous shift...bad news for those already established possibly but good news for the rest of us.
Apparently many books are free so people are downloading them to their iPads and kindles in great number.
I imagine that possibly not all of them are read all the through ..I have several on my kindle gathering dust as we speak but I also have book shelves with the same problem.
Thank goodness for ebooks. Three cheers! Hip hip!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Nature, Red in tooth and claw
Yesterday the door blew off our summer house! It was not an old structure and is made of cedar wood and fairly solid but the wood of the post and the door was wrenched apart by a massive force....so much so that for a little while it looked as if a malevolent giant hand had intervened...
This morning we've moved the cushions...dry all winter but damp now into a safer place and arranged to have it fixed.
It is one of the prices we pay for living on the coast in what is the most beautiful place in the world. Our old farmhouse is on the highest ground for miles and we really catch the wind coming from every direction.
There are day when we have to bend double to get into the garden!
Despite the damage to the little wooden house though the trees are all intact. The one that came down last year is still tied in to the fence thank goodness. Blossom is scattered around but we've got used to that!
Falmouth which is visible from our windows is very quiet right now.....all the usual shipping is safely anchored and we are all quietly praying for the wind to abate...
The wind breaks I had established having been cut down in places I am really trying to look after all the new stuff. Inventing a hair net big enough to cover the fruit trees would be a good idea....
We've been out on the road to make sure our solar tiles are intact and they are ...so thus far the only real casualty is Jemima Puddleduck a largish garden ornament put for safety in the little house!
Sorry Jemima....your time had come.....
This morning we've moved the cushions...dry all winter but damp now into a safer place and arranged to have it fixed.
It is one of the prices we pay for living on the coast in what is the most beautiful place in the world. Our old farmhouse is on the highest ground for miles and we really catch the wind coming from every direction.
There are day when we have to bend double to get into the garden!
Despite the damage to the little wooden house though the trees are all intact. The one that came down last year is still tied in to the fence thank goodness. Blossom is scattered around but we've got used to that!
Falmouth which is visible from our windows is very quiet right now.....all the usual shipping is safely anchored and we are all quietly praying for the wind to abate...
The wind breaks I had established having been cut down in places I am really trying to look after all the new stuff. Inventing a hair net big enough to cover the fruit trees would be a good idea....
We've been out on the road to make sure our solar tiles are intact and they are ...so thus far the only real casualty is Jemima Puddleduck a largish garden ornament put for safety in the little house!
Sorry Jemima....your time had come.....
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Desperate families.
On paper this week looked quiet. I set off to produce a new service sheet for a Service of the Word next Sunday.....Just as well I gave myself a good start because suddenly life got real and serious again this morning .
People I know and love have got serious health issues. Other people are looking for work and failing to find it, everybody I've spoken to today is very hard up.
Money is tight for most people right now and the results of that make them do things they would not do in any other circumstances. I know how difficult it is for anyone disadvantaged to ask for help...being a single mother did give me an insight into how desperate having no spare cash makes you feel and behave.
The time of my life when I was so poor that even breaking a cup meant either doing without something else or sharing the cups has left me fully aware that at times you get desperate . You may shout at people for no good reason but it does ease some tension.
There are families I would like to help but can't without causing offense.
I have now written several paragraphs that I have deleted. Feeling impotent is not a good feeling and yet it sums up much of what I feel and see on a daily basis.
The old people here are mostly comfortably off....the young people with steady jobs manage quite well. It's the ones who for no good reason can't find work and who have families to support that I see struggling.
Prayer on this issue leaves me often feeling that though I've tried to help, I've failed. So if there is a solution I have not yet found it.
Yet is I hope the operative word there.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
People I know and love have got serious health issues. Other people are looking for work and failing to find it, everybody I've spoken to today is very hard up.
Money is tight for most people right now and the results of that make them do things they would not do in any other circumstances. I know how difficult it is for anyone disadvantaged to ask for help...being a single mother did give me an insight into how desperate having no spare cash makes you feel and behave.
The time of my life when I was so poor that even breaking a cup meant either doing without something else or sharing the cups has left me fully aware that at times you get desperate . You may shout at people for no good reason but it does ease some tension.
There are families I would like to help but can't without causing offense.
I have now written several paragraphs that I have deleted. Feeling impotent is not a good feeling and yet it sums up much of what I feel and see on a daily basis.
The old people here are mostly comfortably off....the young people with steady jobs manage quite well. It's the ones who for no good reason can't find work and who have families to support that I see struggling.
Prayer on this issue leaves me often feeling that though I've tried to help, I've failed. So if there is a solution I have not yet found it.
Yet is I hope the operative word there.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, 16 April 2012
My pretend Aga is clean!
Having had the "Oven Genie" in the house most of this morning I am now feeling thoroughly guilty! Its doing nothing for my peace of mind though I should have expected it.
I haven't got an Aga.....its a pretend Aga and is called an Everhot. And it is always hot and is wonderful.
It works on the same principle as an Aga....having a very large top oven and a smaller bottom oven with a much cooler setting. Its hot plates are much the same too but there is one important feature that an Aga lacks....it has a grill! Its a very efficient grill too and it means I can brown things off nicely as well as all the usual grilling things...
My last Everhot was Imperial Blue and very beautiful but I left it behind when I moved and got a new one....in pale cream! Not the most practical of colours for a cooker but I have tried to keep up with it... I am also very busy so a really thorough going over often fails me....
Enough finally became enough just before Easter....and I rang for the oven Genie.
He used to "do" for David and his first wife and as he was there at least three times a year there wasn't much to do at all ......not compared to this thing anyway!
He arrived very cheerfully at 9am.....the first hour was spent explaining that some packaging has been left in place which had now burned off and left a lot of black everywhere! Thank goodness that wasn't my fault!
The rest is! He's been here for three hours now and I don't think we are there yet. I've got the cheque book out ready for the blow about to fall but its going to be worth it....It looks new now!
The genie is pleased and I've asked him to call once a year from now on!
There is no point in my pretending that I will sort it out myself.....a bit of self honesty is appropriate here I think....
I have to admit that there are areas where I fall down.....I am in fact a bit of a slob!
Confession over for one morning!
I haven't got an Aga.....its a pretend Aga and is called an Everhot. And it is always hot and is wonderful.
It works on the same principle as an Aga....having a very large top oven and a smaller bottom oven with a much cooler setting. Its hot plates are much the same too but there is one important feature that an Aga lacks....it has a grill! Its a very efficient grill too and it means I can brown things off nicely as well as all the usual grilling things...
My last Everhot was Imperial Blue and very beautiful but I left it behind when I moved and got a new one....in pale cream! Not the most practical of colours for a cooker but I have tried to keep up with it... I am also very busy so a really thorough going over often fails me....
Enough finally became enough just before Easter....and I rang for the oven Genie.
He used to "do" for David and his first wife and as he was there at least three times a year there wasn't much to do at all ......not compared to this thing anyway!
He arrived very cheerfully at 9am.....the first hour was spent explaining that some packaging has been left in place which had now burned off and left a lot of black everywhere! Thank goodness that wasn't my fault!
The rest is! He's been here for three hours now and I don't think we are there yet. I've got the cheque book out ready for the blow about to fall but its going to be worth it....It looks new now!
The genie is pleased and I've asked him to call once a year from now on!
There is no point in my pretending that I will sort it out myself.....a bit of self honesty is appropriate here I think....
I have to admit that there are areas where I fall down.....I am in fact a bit of a slob!
Confession over for one morning!
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Christening liturgy.
Last week we christened two boys, cousins who were extremely well behaved and allowed me to walk them around the church to introduce them to their new family.
This week we have twin girls who I am hoping will achieve the same standard set by the boys last week!
An Easter baptism is full of joy. It is Spring, there are flowers everywhere. the newly repaired and decorated church is looking wonderful.
The only real fly in the ointment is the service itself...the language really does prevent the young parents from being able to whole heartedly endorse the process of being admitted into the family of God.
Far from enthusing them it embarrasses them. I hope never to have the situation I had last year where the Godparents started giggling....I talk to them in advance to try not to let it all come as a surprise...a sort of hang over from Harry Potter and he who shall not be named!
I have told several different congregations that the church is aware of this problem and are trying to do something about it but its taking its time.
I realise there are more pressing matters right now but this service is sometimes the first point of contact with a young adult...If we can't appeal to young parents then do we have to wait until they are old before reaching them with the Good news?
I use several gentle Celtic prayers with all the other promises....I intersperse loving parents and Godparents between the devil and all His works....but please..those of you in the church who ordain these things....try to come up with a child and parent friendly liturgy that brings them to the joy of commitment to Christ.
Having got that lot off my chest I can go to church smiling and just get on it with it now!
This week we have twin girls who I am hoping will achieve the same standard set by the boys last week!
An Easter baptism is full of joy. It is Spring, there are flowers everywhere. the newly repaired and decorated church is looking wonderful.
The only real fly in the ointment is the service itself...the language really does prevent the young parents from being able to whole heartedly endorse the process of being admitted into the family of God.
Far from enthusing them it embarrasses them. I hope never to have the situation I had last year where the Godparents started giggling....I talk to them in advance to try not to let it all come as a surprise...a sort of hang over from Harry Potter and he who shall not be named!
I have told several different congregations that the church is aware of this problem and are trying to do something about it but its taking its time.
I realise there are more pressing matters right now but this service is sometimes the first point of contact with a young adult...If we can't appeal to young parents then do we have to wait until they are old before reaching them with the Good news?
I use several gentle Celtic prayers with all the other promises....I intersperse loving parents and Godparents between the devil and all His works....but please..those of you in the church who ordain these things....try to come up with a child and parent friendly liturgy that brings them to the joy of commitment to Christ.
Having got that lot off my chest I can go to church smiling and just get on it with it now!
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Another cold caller bites the dust.
It's been one of those mornings when the world and his wife have tried to get in touch....mostly to sell us something!
In the middle of apparent chaos Sainsbury's arrived with the weekends food, the electricity went off and still the phone managed to ring!
After having a spent a morning hitting the unsubscribe button on my emails this week this line of approach is now clearly working....only twenty emails this morning and some of them were genuine!
I try never to be actually rude with cold callers but I came close this morning. The sheer volume of calls was already beyond a joke when the phone rang again just as I was getting my mobile out to ring next door to see if they had no power either. I was assuming no one could ring during a power cut. But they did.
The woman at the other end asked for me by name and then asked how I was this morning. This gave the game away instantly....she was trying to sell me something. Strangers don't ask after your well being often so its a bit of nonsense to try to sound interested.
Instead of telling her how I was I asked who she was and why was she ringing someone she didn't know!
She told me she was from The Ideal Home company.
As my home is already ideal I asked her to go away. I did say please.
Please join me in repelling boarders....it's time for it all to stop. There must be better ways of getting your product sold than harassing innocent vicars.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In the middle of apparent chaos Sainsbury's arrived with the weekends food, the electricity went off and still the phone managed to ring!
After having a spent a morning hitting the unsubscribe button on my emails this week this line of approach is now clearly working....only twenty emails this morning and some of them were genuine!
I try never to be actually rude with cold callers but I came close this morning. The sheer volume of calls was already beyond a joke when the phone rang again just as I was getting my mobile out to ring next door to see if they had no power either. I was assuming no one could ring during a power cut. But they did.
The woman at the other end asked for me by name and then asked how I was this morning. This gave the game away instantly....she was trying to sell me something. Strangers don't ask after your well being often so its a bit of nonsense to try to sound interested.
Instead of telling her how I was I asked who she was and why was she ringing someone she didn't know!
She told me she was from The Ideal Home company.
As my home is already ideal I asked her to go away. I did say please.
Please join me in repelling boarders....it's time for it all to stop. There must be better ways of getting your product sold than harassing innocent vicars.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, 13 April 2012
Celebrating our differences!
In the old days we used to say in all innocence. "One of my best friends is black/ gay/ left wing, "etc . It was our way of saying we were tolerant.
I have been following the London Bus saga with both amusement and sadness. People are getting very upset at the thought that their sexuality can be changed at whim! And I don't blame them!
Rather I take sides with the Proud to be Gay movement.
And then I start to think about that too.....
We are all different....random selection makes sure that unless we are cloned there are never going to be two people exactly the same in the world.
There is room for us all and for all our beliefs.
Black or blue, straight or gay, Christian or Atheist there is so much to celebrate in our humanity that to start to be judgmental on anyone different is to lose the plot of what God intended I truly believe.
If we are all the children of God then He must have meant us to be different. And there are many different versions of humanity, but to feel pressured into denying what we are or trying to change it must be wrong on several different counts. We can strive to be better , that's something to aspire to.
BUT
With all our diversity in intelligence and talent we are a wonderful ragbag of people. All the races, all the religions, all the sexual preferences, all in the great big melting pot of evolution.
The French had it right "Viva la difference"
Diversity is something to celebrate hugely....so instead of judging other people's personal preferences lets be glad, happy...ecstatic for those of us who have found a way of life they are comfortable with and that makes them happy, and try not to judge those whose lives are different by their own choice.
There are so many people whose lives are shaped by poverty or illness and who feel trapped. Let's celebrate those who are well, whole and different!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I have been following the London Bus saga with both amusement and sadness. People are getting very upset at the thought that their sexuality can be changed at whim! And I don't blame them!
Rather I take sides with the Proud to be Gay movement.
And then I start to think about that too.....
We are all different....random selection makes sure that unless we are cloned there are never going to be two people exactly the same in the world.
There is room for us all and for all our beliefs.
Black or blue, straight or gay, Christian or Atheist there is so much to celebrate in our humanity that to start to be judgmental on anyone different is to lose the plot of what God intended I truly believe.
If we are all the children of God then He must have meant us to be different. And there are many different versions of humanity, but to feel pressured into denying what we are or trying to change it must be wrong on several different counts. We can strive to be better , that's something to aspire to.
BUT
With all our diversity in intelligence and talent we are a wonderful ragbag of people. All the races, all the religions, all the sexual preferences, all in the great big melting pot of evolution.
The French had it right "Viva la difference"
Diversity is something to celebrate hugely....so instead of judging other people's personal preferences lets be glad, happy...ecstatic for those of us who have found a way of life they are comfortable with and that makes them happy, and try not to judge those whose lives are different by their own choice.
There are so many people whose lives are shaped by poverty or illness and who feel trapped. Let's celebrate those who are well, whole and different!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Nuisance spams
I have had several responses to my last post on unwanted phone calls....all are fed up with the sales calls and want them stopped.....I know there is a way of stopping cold calling but many of mine are from people who I might have used in the past but never will again!
Since last night I have worked my way through at least 20 spamming emails trying to unsubscribe! Some of them ask for your e mail address, the irony seems not to have occurred to them!
Junk emails, nuisance phone calls and then there's twitter! Spam is discouraged but there are people who are relentless in their desire to make you buy their product whether it be books or collars for dogs!
If I see the same person flagging up their book day after day I make a mental note not to buy it. As for sending Direct Messages to tell you somethings worth a read....I will never now return to their sites....
Does anyone ever buy anything from a cold caller?
I have relented for long enough in the past to donate to charities of my choice but then other charities join in and there is a limit!
Maybe we are targeted because we seem affluent...My husband is a gentle soul who listens patiently whilst someone spins him a sob story about how much they need his money! Recently I have noticed him barking back......he actually told someone who has been ringing us for two years because we once bought some wine from them, to get lost.....except thats not quite how he put it!
But churches are not innocent in this either.....when we got back from our long trip a letter awaited us asking us to give more generously!
Who ever thinks these missives are a good idea should stop to realise that in many cases it has the exact opposite of what they trying to achieve!
I part with about a tenth of my money to charities of various kinds. So does he....as new ones are needed we will no doubt subscribe, but its our choice.....and our timing. Anyone thinking of getting in touch please note....cold calling has the reverse effect on us....even when you haven't woken us up to ask.
Since last night I have worked my way through at least 20 spamming emails trying to unsubscribe! Some of them ask for your e mail address, the irony seems not to have occurred to them!
Junk emails, nuisance phone calls and then there's twitter! Spam is discouraged but there are people who are relentless in their desire to make you buy their product whether it be books or collars for dogs!
If I see the same person flagging up their book day after day I make a mental note not to buy it. As for sending Direct Messages to tell you somethings worth a read....I will never now return to their sites....
Does anyone ever buy anything from a cold caller?
I have relented for long enough in the past to donate to charities of my choice but then other charities join in and there is a limit!
Maybe we are targeted because we seem affluent...My husband is a gentle soul who listens patiently whilst someone spins him a sob story about how much they need his money! Recently I have noticed him barking back......he actually told someone who has been ringing us for two years because we once bought some wine from them, to get lost.....except thats not quite how he put it!
But churches are not innocent in this either.....when we got back from our long trip a letter awaited us asking us to give more generously!
Who ever thinks these missives are a good idea should stop to realise that in many cases it has the exact opposite of what they trying to achieve!
I part with about a tenth of my money to charities of various kinds. So does he....as new ones are needed we will no doubt subscribe, but its our choice.....and our timing. Anyone thinking of getting in touch please note....cold calling has the reverse effect on us....even when you haven't woken us up to ask.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Don't ring after lunch!
Every day since we got home from our trip the phone has rung after lunch. It has never been anyone we know. It has always been someone trying to sell us something. It's often very hard to shake them off. They persist in trying to get us to change to their product, or service even when we say we are not interested. The hard sell has never worked with us anyway but no one is going to succeed if they have just woken you up!
It's not just the ancient who allow their eyes to close gently in the early afternoon. I've been having a power nap since I was pregnant!
Wrinklies have forty winks after lunch. This is surely universal. I realise that if they are ringing from a call centre in India they might well be on different times but the same thing thought holds good. If you have been woken up for the tenth time you are not going to buy lottery tickets, change your broadband provider or book a holiday.
I am going to start a campaign. "Don't ring wrinklies after lunch". You know it makes sense!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Quick trip on the ferry!
David had some urgent business to attend to this morning so I decided to go with him into Truro and the ferry looked the best bet!
Truro is best in the very early morning now banks open at more convenient hours and we had our respective branches to visit! So I arranged to meet him later.
Finding I had more time than I expected I went into M and S looking for just one thing.plus some soap powder .
As I meandered through the rows of stuff for sale I met an old friend. I have known this lady for thirty odd years...and although we live within ten miles of each other we don't see each other much apart from funerals and the like! So we hugged each other, both said we were fine and then she told me her brother had recently died. I arranged to go with her and the remaining sister to church and light candles and say prayers for them all.
Preparing to leave each other she asked what I was looking for. I told her I just wanted a plain white tee shirt with long sleeves.....they all seemed to have the short variety.
She laughed "Turn round Jean" Whole rows of them had magically appeared whilst I was not looking..
I bought two for ten pounds, and got back to the car early for the first time ever....
On this beautiful morning I had blessed an old friend, sorted out the bank and even bought new clothes and I got back before eleven......it must be some sort of record!
Truro is best in the very early morning now banks open at more convenient hours and we had our respective branches to visit! So I arranged to meet him later.
Finding I had more time than I expected I went into M and S looking for just one thing.plus some soap powder .
As I meandered through the rows of stuff for sale I met an old friend. I have known this lady for thirty odd years...and although we live within ten miles of each other we don't see each other much apart from funerals and the like! So we hugged each other, both said we were fine and then she told me her brother had recently died. I arranged to go with her and the remaining sister to church and light candles and say prayers for them all.
Preparing to leave each other she asked what I was looking for. I told her I just wanted a plain white tee shirt with long sleeves.....they all seemed to have the short variety.
She laughed "Turn round Jean" Whole rows of them had magically appeared whilst I was not looking..
I bought two for ten pounds, and got back to the car early for the first time ever....
On this beautiful morning I had blessed an old friend, sorted out the bank and even bought new clothes and I got back before eleven......it must be some sort of record!
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Complications.
The day started quite well......until I sat down to write out the latest additions in the Baptism register....This all has to be done in indelible ink so you have to concentrate....any mistakes are only too obvious.
Naturally the phone rang in the middle of it....and it was two people inviting themselves down to St Mawes in May..I passed them over to David, they were his old friends after all and he carefully explained that we would prefer to drive up to Devon and have a meal with them up there if they were there on holiday .....but they were coming...minds had been made up. He then suggested that they go to a bed and breakfast and said I would supply them with phone numbers!
He was doing his best.....he says he is now too old to have people staying in the house as it means he has to talk to them at breakfast! Bless him for that....it was my conscience appeased..
Having no list of bed and breakfast places in the area we then had to pop into the village to the visitors centre....He parked outside ready to make a quick get away whilst I went in, promising to be quick.
The two people on duty both recognised me and asked about the christening on Saturday! All this took time with the new Traffic warden prowling!
I came away with a very small list to pass on to David's old friends and then we got stopped in the village by very heavy traffic...the sun is now out so the small streets were thronged ! We sat there for some time...thinking about all the things we should have been doing!
I might get to finish the register this afternoon......its time for a restorative cup of coffee!
Naturally the phone rang in the middle of it....and it was two people inviting themselves down to St Mawes in May..I passed them over to David, they were his old friends after all and he carefully explained that we would prefer to drive up to Devon and have a meal with them up there if they were there on holiday .....but they were coming...minds had been made up. He then suggested that they go to a bed and breakfast and said I would supply them with phone numbers!
He was doing his best.....he says he is now too old to have people staying in the house as it means he has to talk to them at breakfast! Bless him for that....it was my conscience appeased..
Having no list of bed and breakfast places in the area we then had to pop into the village to the visitors centre....He parked outside ready to make a quick get away whilst I went in, promising to be quick.
The two people on duty both recognised me and asked about the christening on Saturday! All this took time with the new Traffic warden prowling!
I came away with a very small list to pass on to David's old friends and then we got stopped in the village by very heavy traffic...the sun is now out so the small streets were thronged ! We sat there for some time...thinking about all the things we should have been doing!
I might get to finish the register this afternoon......its time for a restorative cup of coffee!
Monday, 9 April 2012
Serendipity in action!
As well as being full of joy for all the normal reasons this weekend has been one of surprises....lovely things have happened that I was not expecting.
The christening on Easter Saturday was full of young parents all of the young executive type...As it had been planned from a distance I had forgotten about readings so I took a couple with me, one for me and one for the church warden to read.
Before we started a young man approached me to ask if it was alright if he did a reading......I asked him what it was ...
"Its alright, its from the Bible " he said cheerfully. There wasn't time to enquire too closely so at the right moment I asked him to come out and read. He produced his iPhone and read from it....it was a piece from Jeremiah telling of the goodness of God,,,and very appropriate for the christening! And also very well read!
At the Easter Day service I was most surprised to find a couple I had previously married at St Just. They had spent Saturday ringing round to find out where I was on Easter day! This is not recommended but it did fill me with even more joy than I had when I arrived.
I had gone early to church hoping not to find anyone coming in the opposite direction....my skills at reversing up windy narrow lanes are not good! Nearly there , a car suddenly appeared.....It was my daughter in law.....coming to the service ! A very welcome event.
The next surprise was the most unexpected. There in the congregation was a fishing man..He had supplied the fish for the Sonrise service and had slept on the beach to be sure he was up in time.
In the sermon I had used the phrase..."I have promises to keep" I had not mentioned the name of the author.
After the service when all were drinking their coffee and chatting he approached me and told me how much he loved Robert Frost. We then had the sort of conversation which delighted us both....We shared a similar taste of poets and he told me things about Frost I didn't know...
The moral of all this is an old Lancastrian saying.
"You can never judge a sausage by its skin!" Amen to that!
The christening on Easter Saturday was full of young parents all of the young executive type...As it had been planned from a distance I had forgotten about readings so I took a couple with me, one for me and one for the church warden to read.
Before we started a young man approached me to ask if it was alright if he did a reading......I asked him what it was ...
"Its alright, its from the Bible " he said cheerfully. There wasn't time to enquire too closely so at the right moment I asked him to come out and read. He produced his iPhone and read from it....it was a piece from Jeremiah telling of the goodness of God,,,and very appropriate for the christening! And also very well read!
At the Easter Day service I was most surprised to find a couple I had previously married at St Just. They had spent Saturday ringing round to find out where I was on Easter day! This is not recommended but it did fill me with even more joy than I had when I arrived.
I had gone early to church hoping not to find anyone coming in the opposite direction....my skills at reversing up windy narrow lanes are not good! Nearly there , a car suddenly appeared.....It was my daughter in law.....coming to the service ! A very welcome event.
The next surprise was the most unexpected. There in the congregation was a fishing man..He had supplied the fish for the Sonrise service and had slept on the beach to be sure he was up in time.
In the sermon I had used the phrase..."I have promises to keep" I had not mentioned the name of the author.
After the service when all were drinking their coffee and chatting he approached me and told me how much he loved Robert Frost. We then had the sort of conversation which delighted us both....We shared a similar taste of poets and he told me things about Frost I didn't know...
The moral of all this is an old Lancastrian saying.
"You can never judge a sausage by its skin!" Amen to that!
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Easter Sunday morning
This day is special for us all.. He is indeed risen! I have had some fairly upsetting Easter Sundays as well as the ones filled with joy!
The worst one was a sad occasion. My first David died on a Saturday in April and his first anniversary fell on Easter Sunday! I could not go to church at all....I knew I would weep all the way through....so I took some lilies along to the lane where he died and prayed there for him and me and the dog who was with me!
Another memorable day was my first Easter Day service at St Just. The church was packed with people standing at the back. I was anxious.....all the special responses had fled from my brain and when I climbed up into the pulpit to preach I was very nervous. I looked down and there in front of me was a very familiar face. He looked stern just as he does on Newsnight. It was Jeremy Paxman. help! My brain struggled to get itself in gear whilst I wondered what I was preaching about and hoped it was nothing controversial .
I need not have worried.....he was lovely and complimented me at the end!
Today I drive to Portloe...a most beautiful fishing village along the coast. The tiny chapel is shared by us and the Methodists and is welcoming to all who come! It is a great privilege to be able to do this and I am indeed a very lucky woman.
Here is the last verse of the poem by Bill Vanstone.
Here is God. no monarch he
Throned in easy state to reign
Here is God, whose arms of love
Aching, spent, the world sustain
Alleluia!
The worst one was a sad occasion. My first David died on a Saturday in April and his first anniversary fell on Easter Sunday! I could not go to church at all....I knew I would weep all the way through....so I took some lilies along to the lane where he died and prayed there for him and me and the dog who was with me!
Another memorable day was my first Easter Day service at St Just. The church was packed with people standing at the back. I was anxious.....all the special responses had fled from my brain and when I climbed up into the pulpit to preach I was very nervous. I looked down and there in front of me was a very familiar face. He looked stern just as he does on Newsnight. It was Jeremy Paxman. help! My brain struggled to get itself in gear whilst I wondered what I was preaching about and hoped it was nothing controversial .
I need not have worried.....he was lovely and complimented me at the end!
Today I drive to Portloe...a most beautiful fishing village along the coast. The tiny chapel is shared by us and the Methodists and is welcoming to all who come! It is a great privilege to be able to do this and I am indeed a very lucky woman.
Here is the last verse of the poem by Bill Vanstone.
Here is God. no monarch he
Throned in easy state to reign
Here is God, whose arms of love
Aching, spent, the world sustain
Alleluia!
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Jewish good relations!
I decided that I had better do a follow up blog for this one.....it is more in the nature of a bit of ecumenical good will than the actual christening. All the young people involved were the new breed of those who work in London and hold down jobs that did not exist when I was young!
It was natural then that the Godparents were also in that category.
One of them approached me hesitantly before the ceremony.....he was Jewish. I had been warned but had mostly forgotten this bit of information. He and I retreated into the vestry to sort it out....he really wanted to be a person who could be responsible if any of the babies had lost their parents, even though he could not promise to bring them up as Christians.
I said he could stand with the other God parents and when it came to the vows stay silent but in his heart promise to keep them in touch with God. I also gave him a job. He was to be my book holder! He held the book whilst I did the watery bit and lit the candles and made his responses at the appropriate times...
Afterwards he told me that his own babies had been taken to the synagogue and blessed in an affirming service much like a Christening.
His wife was joking afterwards that if all Christians were like me she would convert on the spot!
I am not looking to convert anyone who has their own religion and holds it dear but by welcoming this very good family into a Christian church I hope to have taken a very small step towards real understand between us. God willing.
It was natural then that the Godparents were also in that category.
One of them approached me hesitantly before the ceremony.....he was Jewish. I had been warned but had mostly forgotten this bit of information. He and I retreated into the vestry to sort it out....he really wanted to be a person who could be responsible if any of the babies had lost their parents, even though he could not promise to bring them up as Christians.
I said he could stand with the other God parents and when it came to the vows stay silent but in his heart promise to keep them in touch with God. I also gave him a job. He was to be my book holder! He held the book whilst I did the watery bit and lit the candles and made his responses at the appropriate times...
Afterwards he told me that his own babies had been taken to the synagogue and blessed in an affirming service much like a Christening.
His wife was joking afterwards that if all Christians were like me she would convert on the spot!
I am not looking to convert anyone who has their own religion and holds it dear but by welcoming this very good family into a Christian church I hope to have taken a very small step towards real understand between us. God willing.
Easter Eve Baptisms
This mornings christenings are not the usual event for Easter Eve. They have been postponed twice and we have now got to the point of no return.
They wanted it during the Autumn half term but the church was having a new roof at that point!
Then they chose Spring half term. I was in the South Pacific at the time!
The parents are people I married several years ago. The grandparents have a house here and they all arrive during every school holiday.
The father is working hard at coordinating stuff for the Olympics so this was the final chance before next winter!
So game on!
Till this week it was just one baby but the brides sister has turned up and asked for hers to be "done" at the same time!
It's going to be a large group in church this morning. The altar is stripped and there's not a flower in sight!
The flower ladies are being held off till mid morning but the babies grand mother is bringing flowers too!
It's very unconventional but it will bring two more souls into the Kingdom.
And I have been told that there are 13 Christenings happening in York Minster today!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
They wanted it during the Autumn half term but the church was having a new roof at that point!
Then they chose Spring half term. I was in the South Pacific at the time!
The parents are people I married several years ago. The grandparents have a house here and they all arrive during every school holiday.
The father is working hard at coordinating stuff for the Olympics so this was the final chance before next winter!
So game on!
Till this week it was just one baby but the brides sister has turned up and asked for hers to be "done" at the same time!
It's going to be a large group in church this morning. The altar is stripped and there's not a flower in sight!
The flower ladies are being held off till mid morning but the babies grand mother is bringing flowers too!
It's very unconventional but it will bring two more souls into the Kingdom.
And I have been told that there are 13 Christenings happening in York Minster today!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, 6 April 2012
Good Friday.
Good Friday has dawned bright and beautiful. We walk with the cross into the village and along the quay where boats are arriving and leaving and hundreds of people are gathered. The visitors sing hymns with us and for many it's a good day out.
In the old days , tradition had it in the north that Good Friday was for hiking. The Unitarians did it and we travelled far afield. One I'd become an Anglican the hiking was out of course but the walk of witness was a good substitute.
This year we are hoping for strong men to turn up....the cross is very heavy!
I am contemplating taking a walking stick.....there's nothing wrong with my legs but my balance is shaky to say the least. I do not want to be thought doddery even if I am but the stick would keep me upright!
Later David goes into the cathedral and does the entire three hour watch. I went with him once but sitting over such a long time is now too much for me so I shall go to St Just where we have an hour at the cross.....that I can cope with!
Here is another verse from the poem I've been quoting from all week by Bill Vanstone.
Therefor he who shows us God
Helpless hangs upon the tree
And the mails and crown of thorns
Tell of what Gods love must be.
It's a day for praying and I include all those I know and all those I do not know.
And I include in that all those who hate. That they might find peace in the Lord.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
In the old days , tradition had it in the north that Good Friday was for hiking. The Unitarians did it and we travelled far afield. One I'd become an Anglican the hiking was out of course but the walk of witness was a good substitute.
This year we are hoping for strong men to turn up....the cross is very heavy!
I am contemplating taking a walking stick.....there's nothing wrong with my legs but my balance is shaky to say the least. I do not want to be thought doddery even if I am but the stick would keep me upright!
Later David goes into the cathedral and does the entire three hour watch. I went with him once but sitting over such a long time is now too much for me so I shall go to St Just where we have an hour at the cross.....that I can cope with!
Here is another verse from the poem I've been quoting from all week by Bill Vanstone.
Therefor he who shows us God
Helpless hangs upon the tree
And the mails and crown of thorns
Tell of what Gods love must be.
It's a day for praying and I include all those I know and all those I do not know.
And I include in that all those who hate. That they might find peace in the Lord.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday with its ritual re-anactment of the Lords Supper is always special...as it leads us into the events of Easter, and we try very hard to be with Christ as He approaches His passion.....this is not always easy. Events in the real world intervene in a disturbing way at times....people ring with terrible problems, and we are forced to admit to ourselves that we in fact are mere humans who can't sort out the worlds problems or even those in the same town.
I have this morning heard a story of such malevolence that its hard to feel any sympathy or even love and yet I must try. Try to understand what leads people to desperate lengths...
As Judas betrayed Christ, as Peter denied Him, Jesus knew the extreme pain inflicted by those he loved. Human beings are weak and driven by events outside often beyond our control...
So I turn again to the words of the poem written by Bill Vanstone. "Loves Endeavour, Loves expense... " .He knew better than most the price we sometimes pay for love....for the pain of separation and he led a life of self sacrifice in looking after others close by on the council estate that was Kirkholt.
As priests we try very hard to love those in our pastoral care....we have the cure of souls for all people, good, bad or indifferent... and that imposes its own pressure upon us when something truly awful happens...
Here is the fourth verse of that poem.
Drained is love in making full
Bound in setting others free
Poor in making many rich
Weak in giving power to be.
Amen to that Bill. Amen
I have this morning heard a story of such malevolence that its hard to feel any sympathy or even love and yet I must try. Try to understand what leads people to desperate lengths...
As Judas betrayed Christ, as Peter denied Him, Jesus knew the extreme pain inflicted by those he loved. Human beings are weak and driven by events outside often beyond our control...
So I turn again to the words of the poem written by Bill Vanstone. "Loves Endeavour, Loves expense... " .He knew better than most the price we sometimes pay for love....for the pain of separation and he led a life of self sacrifice in looking after others close by on the council estate that was Kirkholt.
As priests we try very hard to love those in our pastoral care....we have the cure of souls for all people, good, bad or indifferent... and that imposes its own pressure upon us when something truly awful happens...
Here is the fourth verse of that poem.
Drained is love in making full
Bound in setting others free
Poor in making many rich
Weak in giving power to be.
Amen to that Bill. Amen
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Julie was beautiful
Many years ago now I did some home tutoring. One young girl in particular was very stressed and had developed a genuine school phobia. My brief was to get some much needed English and Maths into her...she had spent years in Primary school either just not going, or hiding in the loo if she did.
She could read and I concentrated for a while on the essentials but in the process I learned a lot about her. Once she trusted me she opened up in a fairly startling way.
At school she had been bullied, made a target for unkind remarks and not always by the other children. Her eyes would fill up as she told me some of the harsh words used by her teachers.
She was about nine when I first met her and even when I went back to teaching in a school again I still saw her and she was a welcome visitor in her teens. She baby sat for us and my kids loved her dearly.
I never heard anyone else pondering her problem. She was referred to as "that child who hates school"
I thought I knew what much of the problem was about. She was just too beautiful. Under all circumstances she looked beautiful, even after weeping! Her temperament was beautiful too. She loved people, cats, dogs and music. She learned quickly and in her teens did go back to school but never made friends in her peer group.....they still teased her.
Beauty and sensitivity ....combined they earned her a painful few years.
I never see her now.....I've moved so often I am completely out of touch....
I am reminded of this story by the out pourings on Twitter and in the press. Julie would never I am sure have described herself as beautiful...she was clever enough to avoid that one, but she was very beautiful and I really believe that it was why she was so hated and teased as a child.
She will be middle aged now and I bet she's still beautiful both outside and in. It's the inner beauty that counts after all and I honestly believe that what shows on the outside is the reflection of a glow from the inside.
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Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Morning glory.
I've just been choosing the hymns for Maundy Thursday's evening service. A natural one to select is "Morning Glory" which was of course written by Bill Vanstone.
He had planned to stay in Kirkholt as long possible but had a period of ill health and had to move away. He went to Chester Cathedral where he was a Canon and lived in a little house in the close. As he never drove a car I was given permission to park in his spot if I was in Chester and as I then lived in North Wales I made use of this and saw him occasionally.
He had written a book during his illness and it was enjoying a reprint and had won a prize for best religious book and he was both overwhelmed and over joyed! It was "Loves Endeavour" of course.
The poem is now in Ancient and Modern under the modern section and I always use it at Easter and Holy week!
Morning glory, starlit sky.
Soaring music, scholars truth
Flight of swallows, autumn leaves
Memories treasure, grace of youth.
Open are the gifts of God
Gifts of love to mind and sense
Hidden is loves agony
Loves endeavour, loves expense.
Love that gives, gives ever more,
Gives with zeal, with eager hands,
Spares not, keeps not, all outpours
Ventures all, its all expends.
There are three more verses which I will no doubt include during this Holiest of weeks.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Holy week with Bill Vanstone.
The beginning of Holy week is always solemn and I remember how it was when I was a girl!
Bill Vanstone took Holy Week very seriously and so did we all. He held a communion service at 7am every morning and I usually managed to get to it and then hop on my bike to get to the Nursery School where I worked.
By Good Friday we were all very tired including Bill. The three hour service was a marathon for him and for us and often I didn't do the whole thing.
A strange phenomenon occurred every Holy Week. Bill had a massive goitre on his neck....the first year I noticed it was very red, swollen and clearly painful. The dog collar did not help....he used to absently pull at it to lessen the pressure on the carbuncle!
The second year the great sore lump again appeared on his neck. During the years I spent at Kirkholt there was never an Easter when he was not afflicted by this appalling hardship!
Years later I realised that in fact this was his cross..... His suffering was nothing compared to the passion of our Lord and he coped with it in silence and bore the pain heroically.
I don't mean that he did it deliberately. I am sure he did not. I think it more likely that during Lent he had fasted to some degree and that it happened whilst his defences were low.
I do remember that one year I took him some orange juice with instructions to drink it so that he didn't fall prey to any ailments but he just looked amazed!
I am privileged to have been a parishioner of this great man...who was truly holy, truly dedicated.... but I am not going so far as to suffer anything in silence. If I get a boil, or toothache during Holy week I will treat it with the respect it deserves!
Bill Vanstone took Holy Week very seriously and so did we all. He held a communion service at 7am every morning and I usually managed to get to it and then hop on my bike to get to the Nursery School where I worked.
By Good Friday we were all very tired including Bill. The three hour service was a marathon for him and for us and often I didn't do the whole thing.
A strange phenomenon occurred every Holy Week. Bill had a massive goitre on his neck....the first year I noticed it was very red, swollen and clearly painful. The dog collar did not help....he used to absently pull at it to lessen the pressure on the carbuncle!
The second year the great sore lump again appeared on his neck. During the years I spent at Kirkholt there was never an Easter when he was not afflicted by this appalling hardship!
Years later I realised that in fact this was his cross..... His suffering was nothing compared to the passion of our Lord and he coped with it in silence and bore the pain heroically.
I don't mean that he did it deliberately. I am sure he did not. I think it more likely that during Lent he had fasted to some degree and that it happened whilst his defences were low.
I do remember that one year I took him some orange juice with instructions to drink it so that he didn't fall prey to any ailments but he just looked amazed!
I am privileged to have been a parishioner of this great man...who was truly holy, truly dedicated.... but I am not going so far as to suffer anything in silence. If I get a boil, or toothache during Holy week I will treat it with the respect it deserves!
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Palm Sunday nightmare.
I got to church at 7.50 this morning to find all the palm crosses had been lost in the recent building works. It brought back in horrid clarity my first ever Palm Sunday as a cleric.
As a deacon I had been entrusted with the Passion narrative and had adapted it into a dramatized version. I had printed it out with the parts in different colours and had even rehearsed it. I got up early feeling pleased with it all. And then the phone rang.
The priest at a neighboring church was sick. He couldn't get to the church so would I get over there fast please.
Served me right for being smug of course!
I was to call into his house en route,pick up his lap top where I would find the service all ready to project onto the big screen on church.
Full of misgivings I got to church half an hour early. No screen as yet so I looked for the service. It was not where the incumbent said it was. Panic mounted as one of the men started to erect the big screen.
I handed the lap top to someone else. He couldn't find it either.
A mother arrived to say the donkey was ready!
No service, a screen all the congregation hated and now a donkey.
It was starting to feel more like a night mare than a service in church.
The large palm branches were stacked at the back of the church and five minutes to go there was still no service. I was not able to do a communion as a deacon so I had to rack my brains.
We enacted the journey into Jerusalem complete with small children dressed as donkeys outside the church.
Back inside there was still no service on the screen.
I did the whole thing off the cuff , the organist holding up the numbers of the hymns every time I paused! Almost at the end I realized that I had yet to pray! They were particularly heart felt that morning.
The congregation loved it....the church warden handed out the Palm crosses grinning from ear to ear whilst I collapsed in a heap!
This was the church warden I subsequently married. So the whole thing wasn't a complete nightmare!
Fingers crossed for the rest of the day!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
As a deacon I had been entrusted with the Passion narrative and had adapted it into a dramatized version. I had printed it out with the parts in different colours and had even rehearsed it. I got up early feeling pleased with it all. And then the phone rang.
The priest at a neighboring church was sick. He couldn't get to the church so would I get over there fast please.
Served me right for being smug of course!
I was to call into his house en route,pick up his lap top where I would find the service all ready to project onto the big screen on church.
Full of misgivings I got to church half an hour early. No screen as yet so I looked for the service. It was not where the incumbent said it was. Panic mounted as one of the men started to erect the big screen.
I handed the lap top to someone else. He couldn't find it either.
A mother arrived to say the donkey was ready!
No service, a screen all the congregation hated and now a donkey.
It was starting to feel more like a night mare than a service in church.
The large palm branches were stacked at the back of the church and five minutes to go there was still no service. I was not able to do a communion as a deacon so I had to rack my brains.
We enacted the journey into Jerusalem complete with small children dressed as donkeys outside the church.
Back inside there was still no service on the screen.
I did the whole thing off the cuff , the organist holding up the numbers of the hymns every time I paused! Almost at the end I realized that I had yet to pray! They were particularly heart felt that morning.
The congregation loved it....the church warden handed out the Palm crosses grinning from ear to ear whilst I collapsed in a heap!
This was the church warden I subsequently married. So the whole thing wasn't a complete nightmare!
Fingers crossed for the rest of the day!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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