Hi everyone! It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted to blog. As with everything there are lots of reasons; I have had some ordinary days when little seemed to happen, some busy days when too much seemed to be happening and then felt a bit daunted about writing this catch up post.
We went to the Air Day at Kemble on 17th June. These shows are often on Sundays and we took the opportunity to go this year. We regularly pass the airfield at Kemble on our way to Chippenham. It used to be a large RAF base but is now decommissioned. It was for 20 years the home of The Red Arrows and they performed a vituoso display of formation flying. It really is incredible how close they fly to one another. We saw the Team Guinot wing walkers, young ladies strapped to the wings of bi-planes, who flew past right way up and upside down whilst waving- thankfully managed to persuade Bev not to join up!
Another highlight was a simulated operation to take possession of the base from "enemy fighters"; this involved AWACS, Tornado fighters and a Herculaes C130 fom nearby RAF Lyneham carrying troops and Land Rovers. Our home in Chippenham was under the flypath and the Hercules is a familar sight.
The Typhoon or Eurofighter displayed and this the newest plane in the RAF fleet performed some incredible manoeuvres seeming at times to stop and turn a corner!
The cost of war was brought home with a flypast by a VC10 from the Falklands 25 display.
Friday 29 June 2007
Friday 15 June 2007
Day 46
Ruth Bell Graham
Late last night I noticed in an email that Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham was close to death. This morning, when I logged on, the website was announcing her death at the age of 87. For some reason this has profoundly touched me. Maybe it awakened memories of my own mother who died three years ago. I have spent time browsing the tributes to Ruth Graham and am touched afresh. We live in a harsh and at times cynical world and to encounter such genuine goodness and spiritual vitality is humbling to say the least. I ask myself the question how vital is my spiritual life?
For information about the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association follow this link
http://www.billygraham.org/
To go direct to Ruth Bell Graham's memorial (and I encourage you to do this) follow this link
http://www.billygraham.org/RBG_Default.asp
This morning I had my third and final Human Givens session. I still have a lot of reflecting to do but am grateful for the insights and help gained. Sandie has lent me three books which I am going to get stuck into. This will help gain broader perspective I hope. What I think is that the sabbatical is giving me the opportunity to begin this process and whilst there will be some immediate things to write, share and do both in my own life and within the church it will also be something I want to continue with in the coming months.
Yesterday we had an inch of rain and more in the night but this is nothing compared to some parts of the UK which have experienced severe flooding. The Three Counties Show is on and I expect the ground will be very sticky.
This afternoon I attended John's funeral and just as the cortège left the church a storm broke with thunder, lightning and very heavy rain! It was good to see people but is still strange being there but not being there of you see what I mean.
Afterwards into town to post a card and collect Baptist Times, required reading for all ministers!
So if you want a taster follow the link!
http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/home.htm
Late last night I noticed in an email that Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham was close to death. This morning, when I logged on, the website was announcing her death at the age of 87. For some reason this has profoundly touched me. Maybe it awakened memories of my own mother who died three years ago. I have spent time browsing the tributes to Ruth Graham and am touched afresh. We live in a harsh and at times cynical world and to encounter such genuine goodness and spiritual vitality is humbling to say the least. I ask myself the question how vital is my spiritual life?
For information about the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association follow this link
http://www.billygraham.org/
To go direct to Ruth Bell Graham's memorial (and I encourage you to do this) follow this link
http://www.billygraham.org/RBG_Default.asp
This morning I had my third and final Human Givens session. I still have a lot of reflecting to do but am grateful for the insights and help gained. Sandie has lent me three books which I am going to get stuck into. This will help gain broader perspective I hope. What I think is that the sabbatical is giving me the opportunity to begin this process and whilst there will be some immediate things to write, share and do both in my own life and within the church it will also be something I want to continue with in the coming months.
Yesterday we had an inch of rain and more in the night but this is nothing compared to some parts of the UK which have experienced severe flooding. The Three Counties Show is on and I expect the ground will be very sticky.
This afternoon I attended John's funeral and just as the cortège left the church a storm broke with thunder, lightning and very heavy rain! It was good to see people but is still strange being there but not being there of you see what I mean.
Afterwards into town to post a card and collect Baptist Times, required reading for all ministers!
So if you want a taster follow the link!
http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/home.htm
Thursday 14 June 2007
Day 45
Hi there. Today I attended an event in the Cathedral. A friend of mine, Christine, from our Enfield days is part of The Schools Music Association which organised a singing event for primary schools. I attended as a "special guest". It was a marvellous and uplifting occasion. Twelve schools were present for the morning session and another twelve were expected in the afternoon. It was not a concert but an opportunity to sing together songs which each school had worked on separately. We had everything from a song about Pirates sung with great gusto to Elgar's Ave Verum Corpus sung more solemnly. My favourite was a song entitled Life is a wonderful thing. Does anyone have the lyrics? In between blocks of singing there were some items from Bishop Perowne pupils including the marvellous African drums, an historical talk, and two items by an organist from the Royal College. Truly it all lifted my heart.
If you are interested in schools music you might like to look at their website.
http://www.schoolsmusic.org.uk/index.php
Back home with a little shopping a bite to eat and off to catch the bus to take me to the hospital for my appointment. I had quite a wait and almost dropped off in the hot waiting room. The Doctor told me that the nerve conduction tests had showed quite sever impairment of the median nerve and that an operation was essential if the loss of sensation was to be recovered. This was quite a shock as I had assumed everything would eventually return to normal. Anyway it is a simple op done under a local and aims to relieve pressure on the nerve. I don't have a date yet; waiting list is about four months but I could be called sooner.
Just off to watch the last programme of Springwatch 2007.
If you are interested in schools music you might like to look at their website.
http://www.schoolsmusic.org.uk/index.php
Back home with a little shopping a bite to eat and off to catch the bus to take me to the hospital for my appointment. I had quite a wait and almost dropped off in the hot waiting room. The Doctor told me that the nerve conduction tests had showed quite sever impairment of the median nerve and that an operation was essential if the loss of sensation was to be recovered. This was quite a shock as I had assumed everything would eventually return to normal. Anyway it is a simple op done under a local and aims to relieve pressure on the nerve. I don't have a date yet; waiting list is about four months but I could be called sooner.
Just off to watch the last programme of Springwatch 2007.
Wednesday 13 June 2007
Days 40, 41 and 42
June 9 to 11th
Got a free CD with the paper which included George Butterworth's lovely idyll, The Banks of Green Willow. It seems appropriate to link it here if you want to listen to few bars of this as you read about our time alongside the river.
George Butterworth was born on July 12th, 1885. On the outbreak of World War I in August, 1914, he quickly joined the Durham Light Infantry as a Lieutenant in the 13th Battalion. During his year in the trenches, he was "mentioned in dispatches" for outstanding courage, won the Military Cross for his defence of a trench that was subsequently named for him, and led a raid during the Battle of the Somme. The raid was successful but Butterworth was killed by a sniper's bullet. It was August 5th, 1916. His memorial is at Thiepval.
(From the Web http://www.calculator.net/Butterworth/Butterworth.html)
Play background music
Saturday was a lovely day. The weather was warm indeed quite hot and sunny. This brought tens of thousands of downy seeds off the willow trees; they floated in the air landing on the water blowing into the van like great clouds of fluff. In the morning we went into St Neots walking through beautiful riverside parks to the bustling little town. had a coffee in the Market Square and chatted to to a local couple who sat at our table. Looked round the market, and scouted out the baptist Church ready for Sunday. Bought some cheap CDs. Back to van for a sandwich. Listened to Gospel CD
Got a free CD with the paper which included George Butterworth's lovely idyll, The Banks of Green Willow. It seems appropriate to link it here if you want to listen to few bars of this as you read about our time alongside the river.
George Butterworth was born on July 12th, 1885. On the outbreak of World War I in August, 1914, he quickly joined the Durham Light Infantry as a Lieutenant in the 13th Battalion. During his year in the trenches, he was "mentioned in dispatches" for outstanding courage, won the Military Cross for his defence of a trench that was subsequently named for him, and led a raid during the Battle of the Somme. The raid was successful but Butterworth was killed by a sniper's bullet. It was August 5th, 1916. His memorial is at Thiepval.
(From the Web http://www.calculator.net/Butterworth/Butterworth.html)
Play background music
Saturday was a lovely day. The weather was warm indeed quite hot and sunny. This brought tens of thousands of downy seeds off the willow trees; they floated in the air landing on the water blowing into the van like great clouds of fluff. In the morning we went into St Neots walking through beautiful riverside parks to the bustling little town. had a coffee in the Market Square and chatted to to a local couple who sat at our table. Looked round the market, and scouted out the baptist Church ready for Sunday. Bought some cheap CDs. Back to van for a sandwich. Listened to Gospel CD
One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What you'd have me do
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time
That's all I'm asking from you
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What you'd have me do
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time
Later we walked along the river in the opposite direction; lots of reeds and conscious we were surrounded by Reed Warblers but, of course, we saw nothing.
Later that night as I walked to the loo block passed a lot of vans. Their lights were on and one looked into other worlds and then looking up there were the stars, "other worlds" maybe and God sees all. Does God look at this world as I looked into a caravan? Does He see it so small and compact, so oblivious of others around, so self contained?
I wonder.
Sunday to St Neots Baptist Church. Not in the Baptist Union which was why I didnt find them when I looked in the BU Directory before we left. We were made welcome and it was a good service. The Minister was on crutches having fallen off a table and torn ligaments in his leg. The Sermon was from Matthew on not giving the dogs what was holy nor casting pearls before swine. It was part of a series. He had a sense of humour but gave us some wise words. Afterwards a good talk with Jenny and Paul Todd. They too have a van much like ours so we talked vans! Paul is an artist and retired from teaching on health grounds. Hope we will see them again sometime.
After a short walk we retired to Ye Old Sun for a roast lunch and in my case a pint of cider. This combination brought on the inevitable sleepiness! After lunch we walked to the park where a Band was playing. They were in the Big Band style and we had, Aint she Sweet, Mack the Knife, Aint Misbehavin etc. They were great. Back to van, slept, cup of tea listened to cricket and then another walk by the river as the previous day to Eaton Socon Sluice where we saw a boat in the lock. Unlike here in Worcestershire the upper lock gate is a guillotine type. Took some photos which are posted alongside. On way back met a 40 year old Pole called Greg. He was in his own words "drunk" but was coherent and lonely and aggrieved at his flat mate who seemed not to share his love of nature. He said he believed in reincarnation although he also said he was a Christian. Made me think about those in Worcester who like Greg are lonely and at a lose end on Sunday with nothing to spend their money on except drink - is there nothing we as a church can do?
Back to the van for tea; heard Lewis Hamilton had won the Canadian Grand Prix!
Monday was pack up day. On leaving the site we drove the short distance to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. This was based around some old gravel pits and in fact alongside working pits also. We went bird spotting. We think we may have heard a Nightingale; we certainly heard the cuckoo, our first this year! Most amazing were the Cormorants, a very large inland colony. We saw lots of young and adults flying over the lakes and perching in the trees. Sadly we did NOT see a Kingfisher.
Eventually we reached home safely, Bev having driven home. All was well. Very tired but a most enjoyable few days.
If you are interested in the Baptist Church here is their entry on Find a Church with a link to other web pages
http://www.findachurch.co.uk/churches/tl/tl16/nsbc/
Later that night as I walked to the loo block passed a lot of vans. Their lights were on and one looked into other worlds and then looking up there were the stars, "other worlds" maybe and God sees all. Does God look at this world as I looked into a caravan? Does He see it so small and compact, so oblivious of others around, so self contained?
I wonder.
Sunday to St Neots Baptist Church. Not in the Baptist Union which was why I didnt find them when I looked in the BU Directory before we left. We were made welcome and it was a good service. The Minister was on crutches having fallen off a table and torn ligaments in his leg. The Sermon was from Matthew on not giving the dogs what was holy nor casting pearls before swine. It was part of a series. He had a sense of humour but gave us some wise words. Afterwards a good talk with Jenny and Paul Todd. They too have a van much like ours so we talked vans! Paul is an artist and retired from teaching on health grounds. Hope we will see them again sometime.
After a short walk we retired to Ye Old Sun for a roast lunch and in my case a pint of cider. This combination brought on the inevitable sleepiness! After lunch we walked to the park where a Band was playing. They were in the Big Band style and we had, Aint she Sweet, Mack the Knife, Aint Misbehavin etc. They were great. Back to van, slept, cup of tea listened to cricket and then another walk by the river as the previous day to Eaton Socon Sluice where we saw a boat in the lock. Unlike here in Worcestershire the upper lock gate is a guillotine type. Took some photos which are posted alongside. On way back met a 40 year old Pole called Greg. He was in his own words "drunk" but was coherent and lonely and aggrieved at his flat mate who seemed not to share his love of nature. He said he believed in reincarnation although he also said he was a Christian. Made me think about those in Worcester who like Greg are lonely and at a lose end on Sunday with nothing to spend their money on except drink - is there nothing we as a church can do?
Back to the van for tea; heard Lewis Hamilton had won the Canadian Grand Prix!
Monday was pack up day. On leaving the site we drove the short distance to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve. This was based around some old gravel pits and in fact alongside working pits also. We went bird spotting. We think we may have heard a Nightingale; we certainly heard the cuckoo, our first this year! Most amazing were the Cormorants, a very large inland colony. We saw lots of young and adults flying over the lakes and perching in the trees. Sadly we did NOT see a Kingfisher.
Eventually we reached home safely, Bev having driven home. All was well. Very tired but a most enjoyable few days.
If you are interested in the Baptist Church here is their entry on Find a Church with a link to other web pages
http://www.findachurch.co.uk/churches/tl/tl16/nsbc/
Day 39
Friday June 8th turned out quite busy. On my way to my Human Givens session I called at a caravan accessories store in Halesowen and bought some essentials. After my HG session I hurried home and cooked myself lunch before a short nap and then started loading the van. This always takes longer than one thinks! Bev home at 4.20 and next two hours a nightmare caused mainly by the recurrence of a drip from the water heater and my need to examine the inside of parts of the bench seat to check water was not coming into the van. This developed into a major faff on my part and left me exhausted and ringing with sweat! Any way we set off eventually at 6.35. Journey to St Neots took just over 2 hours. Site was welcoming and sunny, none of the forecast thunderstorms had materialised
Wednesday 6 June 2007
Days 34 to 37
June 3rd to 6th
Hello again!
On Sunday we visited St Peters - not the one in Rome but the one in Worcester! The new building housing what was Redhill Baptist. We were made welcome and enjoyed the service. As part of the sermon we were invited to think of things that chain us and I jotted down
After church we nipped home and picked up our picnic and travelled to the County Ground to watch Worcestershire take on Warwickshire. It was a remarkable match. The visitors made 303 a large total which should by all rights have been beyond Worcester who have had a miserable start to the season. They reached them for the loss of two wickets with overs to spare!
The Birmingham Mail noted:
Vikram Solanki led Worcestershire to only their second victory in any competition since April 22. Indeed Solanki, with the 12th List A century of his career, batted with such supreme skill that his side cantered to an eight-wicket victory with 24 balls remaining. Easy.
Hello again!
On Sunday we visited St Peters - not the one in Rome but the one in Worcester! The new building housing what was Redhill Baptist. We were made welcome and enjoyed the service. As part of the sermon we were invited to think of things that chain us and I jotted down
- TRADITION
- FEAR
- LAISSEX FAIRE ( Non-interference in the affairs of others)
After church we nipped home and picked up our picnic and travelled to the County Ground to watch Worcestershire take on Warwickshire. It was a remarkable match. The visitors made 303 a large total which should by all rights have been beyond Worcester who have had a miserable start to the season. They reached them for the loss of two wickets with overs to spare!
The Birmingham Mail noted:
Vikram Solanki led Worcestershire to only their second victory in any competition since April 22. Indeed Solanki, with the 12th List A century of his career, batted with such supreme skill that his side cantered to an eight-wicket victory with 24 balls remaining. Easy.
It was a victory that defied logic. Warwickshire had already set the biggest total in List A matches between these sides. Unbeaten in all competitions, they must have fancied their chances against a team that had won only one of their first six matches at home this season. No side had ever successfully chased 300 to win here.
It was a great day and the locals left the ground in good spirits.
Tuesday we visited Dad and found him well and in good spirits. He needed a new bulb for his uplighter and I walked through John Coles Park to a local shop to buy a replacement. The walk through the park was a trip down memory lane. As a child from the age of 5 to 11 years old I walked through that park on my way to school. I remember 1962 when three feet of snow covered everything for months. I remember hurrying to school as a storm came rushing in. I remember running a race and looking round and thus missing out on first place (now there's a spiritual lesson!) I remember going down to see Highland Soldiers beating the retreat. I remember watching a military display. There used to be old air raid shelters by the entrance but these have long gone. The Tennis courts and bowling green are still there. The shrubberies used to be more overgrown and as children we used to run home "through the bushes" much to the annoyance of "the parky". The bandstand is still in place and I remember hearing concerts as a child and being impressed as people stood for the National Anthem, a practice I now uphold. I also recall reading a prayer from that bandstand as a child on what was called The Sunday School Demonstration; someone waiting for a train on Chippenham Station told me they heard every word! (Surely not!) The park played a big part in my childhood, we played on its grass, walked its paths, and watched it develop. Mum took us for walks when we were little. I passed the place where a flowering cherry used to blossom and I have a photo somewhere of Mum in her older years standing looking up at the sky through the pink blossoms. In time we took our own children there and they played on the swings and the slide as we had done. Yesterday it looked magnificent. Office workers were eating their sandwiches and a new generation of children were playing football during their lunch hour. Just walking through the park was a great blessing. We all have special places and John Coles Park is one of mine. (John Coles was a Chippenham business man who kept a shop in the Causeway. When he died he left money for the purchase of the park which is named after him. It was a wonderful gift and will serve the residents of Chippenham in perpetuity.)
Today I had a visit from Alan. Alan has accompanied me over many years now on my spiritual journey. We talked a lot about things I have been reflecting on. We also enjoyed a good lunch at Eden Coffee Shop, St Peters Baptist Church!
For info on St Peters follow this link http://www.stpetersbaptist.org.uk/spbc/index.php
For info on St Peters follow this link http://www.stpetersbaptist.org.uk/spbc/index.php
Saturday 2 June 2007
June 1st and 2nd
Day 33 June 2nd
On the 2nd May I heard news of Maisie's death, today I heard the news that John had died. Went to see I.
A pottering sort of day. Wrote up my prayer diary for June and worked on the Blog. Topped up bird feeders in my own garden. Did a bit of shopping including two weeks of Baptist Times and a Telegraph with a free Elgar CD.
Bev and I did some food shopping.
Earlier we had watched The Derby and were taken with the Trainer's response one moment leaping for joy and the next overcome with emotion and in tears.
Didn't the Lord say something about joy in heaven? How restrained we are as Christians!
Day 32 June 1st
This day I died and went to heaven! Not actually - Bev, who is much improved, and I attended a concert in Symphony Hall Birmingham. It was a performance of The Dream of Gerontius to mark the 150 anniversary of the birth of the composer Sir Edward Elgar. It was a remarkably moving experience. A vast choir and orchestra transported us on a journey into the presence of God. For me the pinnacle was the choir singing Praise to the Holiest. (This is not the traditional hymn tune but the words as written by Newman but set by Elgar to his music). I found the work very reassuring spiritually. One almost looks forward to death if it is accompanied by such glorious music. This link will take you to a site which explains a little about the work http://www.elgar.org/3geront.htm
Earlier in the day I had my first visit with a Human Givens Therapist in Birmingham. If you want to know more about the scientific basis for HG Therapy I suggest you follow the link to the website. http://www.hgi.org.uk/index.htm
So one month completed!
On the 2nd May I heard news of Maisie's death, today I heard the news that John had died. Went to see I.
A pottering sort of day. Wrote up my prayer diary for June and worked on the Blog. Topped up bird feeders in my own garden. Did a bit of shopping including two weeks of Baptist Times and a Telegraph with a free Elgar CD.
Bev and I did some food shopping.
Earlier we had watched The Derby and were taken with the Trainer's response one moment leaping for joy and the next overcome with emotion and in tears.
Didn't the Lord say something about joy in heaven? How restrained we are as Christians!
Day 32 June 1st
This day I died and went to heaven! Not actually - Bev, who is much improved, and I attended a concert in Symphony Hall Birmingham. It was a performance of The Dream of Gerontius to mark the 150 anniversary of the birth of the composer Sir Edward Elgar. It was a remarkably moving experience. A vast choir and orchestra transported us on a journey into the presence of God. For me the pinnacle was the choir singing Praise to the Holiest. (This is not the traditional hymn tune but the words as written by Newman but set by Elgar to his music). I found the work very reassuring spiritually. One almost looks forward to death if it is accompanied by such glorious music. This link will take you to a site which explains a little about the work http://www.elgar.org/3geront.htm
Earlier in the day I had my first visit with a Human Givens Therapist in Birmingham. If you want to know more about the scientific basis for HG Therapy I suggest you follow the link to the website. http://www.hgi.org.uk/index.htm
So one month completed!
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