Out with the grandchildren and their cousins we went to a
church fete and to a nearby play park. The youngsters had fun at both venues,
but seemed to enjoy themselves more at the park where they could expend their
energy.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
Our England
Twenty two million homes have been given a special edition
of the Sun newspaper with the headline, ‘This is Our England.’ On page 2, under
the heading, The Sun says, the author
explains that the reason for the free paper is to ‘celebrate Englishness and English
football’, and to mark the start of the World Cup.
The front page, taking the form of a photographic digital
collage, features 118 people, chosen to ‘capture the essence of England today’.
Queen Elizabeth is at the centre of the collage, and being the monarch, she is
represented larger than any other. Incidentally, Bruce Forsyth is the next
largest. Ed Miliband, David Cameron, and Nick Clegg, have fairly average size heads,
but in that order, they are represented by images of decreasing size, Clegg’s being the smallest. The very
smallest of all is Rowan Atkinson’s, which is attached to the body of Mr Bean
who is depicted carrying the chancellor’s oversize budget briefcase. Big Ben has
stopped at eight thirty two, and cute Peppa Pig and a smiling Laura Mvula are
pleased to be included in the celebration.
Of course, the whole thing is a joke, except for relatives
of victims and survivors of the Hillsborough disaster who bear the scars of
the tragedy. They are incensed that Ed Miliband posed with a copy of the
newspaper. He has made an apology for unwittingly promoting the Sun, because the
paper had erroneously reported disgusting incidents done by Liverpool fans at
Hillsborough. The newspaper, in 2012, published a profound apology for their
inaccurate and offensive coverage.
The prime agenda of the Sun is not to celebrate Englishness and English football, but to promote
itself and make money. Of the 24 pages of the free edition, 8 are full page advertisements. Page 12
guarantees cash prizes for every participant in Sun Bingo, and offers a unique
code to encourage registration. The small print states that entrants must register to become members of
Sun Bingo and they must supply their credit card/debit card details. Before
prizes can be withdrawn, a minimum deposit of £10 must be made, which itself can be withdrawn.
On the plus side, if you are a football fan, there’s
something for you - a two page spread featuring ‘England’s Greatest’ football
players.
Is this really 'Our England'?
Links
Ed Milliband apologises for offence over Sun picture
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Beauty
We all know when we see a thing of beauty: a beautiful
sunset, a beautiful flower, a beautiful painting or a beautiful sculpture.
We all know when we hear beautiful sounds: the song of a
nightingale, the sound of waves caressing a beach, Chopin’s piano sonata #2 in
B flat minor or his nocturne #6 in G minor.
We all know when we feel a thing of beauty: the skin of a
ripened mango, the surface of a polished pebble, the touch of silk to the skin
or the texture of tanned leather.
We all know when we taste a thing of beauty: a succulent passion
fruit, a mouth-watering melon, well roasted beef or freshly baked bread.
We all know when we smell a thing of beauty: a fragrant
rose, the awakening aroma of carnations, perfume such as Chanel No. 5 or the
smell of roast turkey.
Subjective in nature, beauty can be elusive and vary
according to the preferences of those sampling particular types of beauty. Beautiful
things are both natural and manmade, but the natural far outnumber the latter.
Roses in their wonderful and many varieties are my favourite
objects of beauty. Not only do they look fantastic with their multifarious
forms, colours and patterns, but their perfumes are absolutely gorgeous. No artist
could sculpt, shape or mould such beautiful creations; they are living organisms that
morph from minute buds through to full bloom in all their glory, before wilting
and dying. Even in death they retain a certain beauty.
Revelation 4:11 ‘You
are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for you created all
things, and by Your will they exist and were created.’
Links
Beauty
Melonseed Skiff (A very beautiful boat.)
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Getting Back on the Horse – Part 2
Thanks guys for contributing: Steve and Richard. I’ve made
note of your helpful comments: Steve, on the doubtfulness of spending a long
time self-analysing - instead, get on with it, and Richard advises I should
listen to my feelings and act accordingly.
Both of you advocate I should take ‘action’, which is in
accord with my conclusion to yesterday’s post.
I should get back on the horse to find out if my desire for sailing can be
rekindled.
If I were to act on feelings alone, I would not remount the
horse.
When there’s time to think before acting, it is better to do
so, but where the pros and cons are of equal worth, feelings may influence the
outcome.
My lack of desire for sailing is at the heart
of the matter, and the objective of any action is to discover if it can be
rekindled.
It seems to me that I shall have to give it a go. To that
end I’ve put my left foot in the stirrup by bringing ‘Minnow’ from her
boathouse to the driveway for an airing. When an opportunity arises, I’ll swing
my right leg over the horse, and with both feet firmly in the stirrups, I’ll nudge
the flanks with my knees, shake the reins and get off to a canter.
Well, we’ll see - maybe, I’ll fall off, and never want to
ride again.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Getting Back on the Horse
I think Steve is right with his comment to yesterday’s blog.
Too much self-analysis is not a good thing. However, I remain cautious, because
I know my confidence has been badly dented, perhaps irrevocably lost.
Confidence has a foundation. If there’s a strong foundation, confidence is
high. When the foundation of a building is made of concrete and steel, and the
building is built on rock, the builders can be confident it will stand.*
My self-analysis shows there is a structural weakness within
the building, and the ground upon which it stands is like putty.
Indulging in a little more self-analysis, I know that my
physical strength is not what it used to be. I have to be exceptionally careful
not to put a strain on my back – the consequences of cricking it are debilitating
and painful. Lugging and hauling the boat on her trailer is therefore
problematical. I have to take care when handling the outboard, retrieving an
anchor and when moving any heavy objects. I am less agile than I was, which
means I am unable to easily move around in the cabin, and if for any reason I
have to go on deck, I have to take great care not to end up in the water. If I did,
getting back in the boat would most likely not be possible. In 2008, when I
fell off ‘Faith’, I had great difficulty in doing so.
The biggest hurdle to overcome is my lack of desire for being on the water. Since desire is the driving
force, without it there is no motivation. As I’ve said, before, I find this
state of affairs perplexing, numbing and shocking, but facts are facts, and there
are other unmentioned and personal reasons for my lack of zest.
There is one hope, however, and that is to get back on the
horse, and give it another go. If my desire is not rekindled, I shall know the
time has come for me to retire from sailing; in which case, I shall not be
saddened, because I know I’ve had many wonderful times afloat.
* Luke 6:46-49
Links
Objective Assessment – To Sail, or not to Sail
Monday, June 09, 2014
Confidence
Yesterday, world number one tennis player, Rafael Nadal won
the French Open Singles tennis tournament for a record ninth time. He faced up
to his ultimate opponent, Novak Djokovic, in the knowledge that he had lost to
him on four consecutive occasions. Would this turn out to be the fifth? Novak, on
the other hand, because of his success, may have been supremely confident, and
especially so, after winning the first set. However, on losing the second set, he
may not have been so confident, and when it came to playing the third, any
confidence he had, may have been lost altogether, though he did not show it.
Confidence is built on knowledge, i.e., that which is known;
for example, an army General going into battle with a vastly superior force,
may be supremely confident of victory, but confidence does not always bring
success. Where human endeavour is played out, there is always an element of
doubt, for humans are fallible, and they know that the unexpected may intervene.
Right now, I am experiencing a loss of confidence regarding
launching ‘Minnow’ and taking her for a sail – even a day sail. My lack of
desire and my loss of confidence jointly conspire against giving it a go. A
further analysis* of what is causing my lack of confidence and reasons for my
lack of desire may help me work out a way of overcoming my reluctance.
1 John 5:14, 15 ‘Now
this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His
will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.’
Links
Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic, French Open final 2014
Rafael
Nadal's French Open record is nothing special, according to Spaniard's coach
and uncle Toni
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2652947/Rafael-Nadals-French-Open-record-special-according-Spaniards-coach-uncle-Toni.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2652947/Rafael-Nadals-French-Open-record-special-according-Spaniards-coach-uncle-Toni.html
*Objective Assessment - to Sail, or not to Sail
Sunday, June 08, 2014
Freedom
Freedom - what is it? When you see a bird in a cage, you
know it is not free. Instinctively you know something is terribly wrong. You know
this is not right. A bird should not be caged! Eagles soar, and wrens forage;
lambs skip and lions roar; whales roam the oceans, but not all. Some men are
free, and others are not.
I value my freedom above all else. Without freedom I would
loose my very soul – the heart of my being. I have freedom in Christ, and at
the moment, in this country I can express my love of Him without fear of
imprisonment, without fear of torture, or fear of death. That has not been the
case with millions of Christians over the past two thousand years, and is not
the case in parts of the world today. I think of the Christian lady in Sudan
who was imprisoned for apostasy, and was forced to give birth to her daughter
while chained to a bed.* She has been given a reprieve of two years in prison for
nursing her daughter, after which she will receive 100 lashes and be hanged.
This afternoon I had the freedom to walk beside the River
Crouch at Fambridge which is a very special place for me. Some of the happiest
days of my life have been there, where the sky stretches to infinity and the
turning tides harmoniously rise and fall in unity with the pulse of the oceans at
the behest of the moon.
I saw a young couple rolling in mud, glorious mud, nothing
quite like it for cooling the blood, on a very hot afternoon. I saw children
with their parents searching for crabs. I felt the soft wind and heard terns
squabble and a pheasant’s call.
There was peace and freedom by the river today. Although
alone, I did not walk alone. The One who walked on water was there too.
(Matthew 14:26)
Galatians 5:1 ‘Stand
fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be
entangled again with a yoke of bondage.’
Links
*Jailed Sudanese Christian Woman Chained to Bed during Birth
of Daughter
Sentenced to death for being thirsty
Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan ‘for blasphemy’
Saturday, June 07, 2014
Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014
The start of the thirteenth Round Britain and Ireland Yacht
Race took place at Plymouth on 1st June, 2014.
Every race has been under the patronage of the Royal Western
Yacht Club. Yachts are between 30 and 50 feet in length, both monohulls and
multihulls, and they must be manned by a crew of two.
To the best of my
knowledge, eighteen yachts were scheduled to start. At the time of writing, fifteen
had arrived at Kinsale, the first stop, where they have to remain for 48 hours
before heading off on the next leg to Barra in the Outer Hebrides.
Three more legs will see them back at Plymouth, after
stopping at Lerwick in the Shetlands and Lowestoft in Suffolk. This is no mean
feat - flat out racing between stops in the most demanding conditions: a
combination of ocean and coastal sailing. The course of 1,865 nautical miles is
clockwise around the British Isles and Ireland leaving all islands and rocks to
starboard, including the Eddystone, Bishop Rock, Fastnet Rock, Bull Rock, Great
Skellig, Inishtearaght, Tory Island, Barra Head, St Kilda, Flannan Isles, Muckle
Flugga, at 61 degrees north, and from there around the Scottish and English coasts
to the finish.
Links
RB&I Homepage
Round Britain and Ireland – Facebook
Round Britain and Ireland Race 2014 – By Robin Price on 3rd
January, 2014
RNLI Announced as the 2014 Round Britain and Ireland Race
charity
Round Britain and Ireland Race 1974 – My own abortive
attempt in a 24’ boat
Friday, June 06, 2014
D-Day Anniversary
Here’s a selection of short videos made from archive film
footage of the D-Day landings. They give us an inkling of what happened on 6th
June, 1944 when allied forces established beachheads for the disembarkation of
the largest seaborne invasion in history. (See yesterday’s blog.)
Seventy years on we can look back and be thankful for the
liberty we have because of the great sacrifices made by those who gave their
lives and by those who suffered injuries and those who played whatever part.
Links
D-Day Landings (1944)
Dramatic Original Footage of D-Day Invasion
Omaha Beach, D-Day, 6th June, 1944
1944 D-Day in Color! New Outstanding Footage 3 of 3
Rare D-Day Footage in Color
D-Day Footage Link
Thursday, June 05, 2014
70th D-Day Anniversary
Tomorrow, 6th June, 2014 marks the 70th
Anniversary of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy. I was ten at the
time.
As I look back in remembrance I am extremely sad that so
many people died that day. One hundred and sixty thousand troops crossed the
Channel in the largest seaborne invasion in history. Just over eleven and a
half thousand allies were injured, and a further four hundred and fourteen were killed.
One thousand Germans also gave their lives.
A bridgehead was established, enabling more troops and
weapons of war to follow. That was the beginning of the end of the Second World
War which ended with V.E. Day on the 8th May, 1945 and V.J. Day on 15th
August, 1945 - officially on 2nd September, 1945 when documents were
signed by Japanese General Koiso. Six years of war had ended in peace, but at horrendous cost! It is impossible to know, but the estimate of those who died is between fifty and seventy million.
I can only look back with deep gratitude for the
sacrifices made by so many, including my brother Jack who was in the RAF, for
freedom from tyranny that I and countless millions have enjoyed.
Needless wars continue, and will do so until the end of
time.
Matthew 24:6 ‘And you
will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’
Links
Preparations of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day
Normandy Landings
History: D-Day Beachhead
History: World War Two
D-Day Anniversary: Queen honours France’s war dead in Paris
How many people died in world war 2?
Wednesday, June 04, 2014
Worthless Trash
Garbage, rubbish and trash are commonly defined as being
worthless. Paul, the evangelist in Philippians 3:7-11 described all that he had
stood for and upheld before becoming a Christian, as rubbish.
Those who live long enough to learn what life is about, and
that may be short, will recognise that not all they did was profitable for
themselves or others. When seen in the light of day, they measure the
significance of their past actions in terms of worth - worth not based on
wealth through the acquisition of riches, but on value-added love through the
giving of self for the good of others. This may sound altruistic, but the
alternative selfish, self-gain, self-willed lifestyle brings no satisfaction. Those
transformed by the light of the Gospel understand the foolishness of seeking to gain the whole world in exchange for their soul.*
On the road to Damascus,** Paul was challenged by Christ who
appeared to him in a blinding light, and from that point on, his life became
profitable. Repentant and renewed, he was enabled to throw away the trash and
count it as worthless, and thereafter live a worthy, selfless life in the
service of God.
Much of what I have done with my life has been worthless
trash, but I praise God for His revelation in Christ and I look to the future.
*Matthew 16:26 ‘For
what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’
**Acts 9:3-19
Links
Garbage, Rubbish, Trash
Recycling, Carbon Footprints and Survival
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Worth in Relation to Value
My daughter sent me a text message saying that a yacht she
had been renovating was valued by a surveyor at a price considerably more than
was paid for her. The value obviously reflected work done, plus the cost of
materials and value-added items. The surveyor would have compared the
vessel to other similar yachts and he would have taken note of how much was being asked for them.
On the part of the buyer a subjective factor comes into play regarding worth. The worth of a vessel is
determined by desire or perceived need, which may well lead the buyer to
pay over the odds.
Market values fluctuate according to the law of supply and
demand. In a stagnant market, asking prices may fall well below true values because of building costs i.e., the payment of wages, the purchasing of materials, renting
premises, general maintenance, buying new tools, paying for energy, transport, publicity
etc.
The value judgments of prospective buyers are determining factors. Their preferences and prejudices
may vary considerably, e.g., those who prefer big boats or small boats; wide boats or
narrow; those with shallow draught or deep; fin keel or long; gaff rig or Marconi;
junk or lugsail, ketch or schooner etc.
Worth and value are not the same, and the realisation of
this axiom can lead us to ask serious questions, such as, ‘What is valuable?’
and ‘What is worthwhile?’
The prime answers to these questions for me are: ‘Life is
most valuable,’ and, ‘Living it to the full for the glory of God is extremely worthwhile.’
Matthew 13:45, 46 “Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he
had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought
it.”
Links
Stephen Sutton who lived his short life to the full
Stephen Sutton, teenage cancer fundraiser, has died
Monday, June 02, 2014
Decorating the Bathroom
Most things in the bathroom are fixed; therefore there is
little to do by way of decorating. Apart from the ceiling, every surface is
tiled; therefore, all I had to do was to prepare and paint the ceiling. This
meant applying masking tape to tiles where they came into contact with the
ceiling, and sanding a small area that was slightly stained. I also had to
apply masking tape to five chromium plated light fixtures.
I had some Dulux White Magic paint left over from when I decorated
the back bedroom. Rather than applying paint with a roller, as was the case
with the bedroom, I used a brush instead. That’s because I would not have been able
to manoeuvre a roller around the light fittings without painting them too!
I like Dulux White Magic paint, because when freshly applied,
it has a pink hue that disappears as it dries. For as long as the paint remains
moist, I can see where I may have missed.
The end result, when the masking tape was removed, was very
satisfactory. One coat of paint was quite sufficient, and it should last for
two or three years.
My wife was pleased, which means the job was worthwhile. I
doubt I would have bothered, if it had been up to me; therefore it’s a good
thing she keeps me up to the mark. I tend not to do such things, unless I deem
them absolutely necessary.
Links
Dulux White Magic Paint
Sunday, June 01, 2014
Hullbridge Waterside on a Sunday Afternoon
Activities at Hullbridge Waterside were typical of a fine
Sunday afternoon in midsummer. Loads of people relaxed in the grounds of the
Anchor Pub that overlooks the Up River Yacht Club’s slipway and across the
River Crouch towards South Woodham Ferrers.
A number of ski boats and fast runabouts were being launched
at the Public Slipway; children were doing a bit of crabbing, and swans were
begging for scraps. Kayakers arrived at the URYC slipway and they were helped
ashore by the Yacht Club’s safety boat crew. I was surprised there were no
dinghies racing, as conditions were ideal. The tide was making, and it was
almost high water. Moorings were pretty full, but few yachtsmen were taking
advantage of the fine weather.
I walked beside the River almost as far as Brandy Hole Yacht
Club, but I couldn’t get as far as the Club, because the footpath was damaged
during the winter rains and Rochford District Council has blocked the right of
way until repairs have been carried out.
Links
Anchor Pub at Hullbridge
Up River Yacht Club
South Woodham Ferrers
Brandy Hole Yacht Club
River Crouch
Rochford District Council
Hullbridge Footpaths
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Innocence Lost in Pursuit of Wisdom
Eve was created innocent, but in pursuit of wisdom she lost
her innocence in the Garden of Eden by disobeying God. She was deceived by the
serpent and ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She
saw that the tree was good for food, and it was pleasant to the eyes, and its
fruit was desirable for making her wise,* so she took of the fruit and ate it.
Compounding the tragedy, Adam also ate of the forbidden
fruit. Their eyes were opened, and they were ashamed of their nakedness. They lost
their innocence and as a result they tried covering their nakedness by making
garments of fig leaves. Having disobeyed God, they hid from Him, but to no
avail. The consequences of their disobedience made them cognizant and culpable
because of their knowledge of good and evil. With these god-like attributes God
banished them from the Garden of Eden, lest they were to take of the tree of
life which was also in the Garden and live for ever. (Genesis 4:22-24)
William Blake’s poem, ‘The Sick Rose’, could possibly be seen as an
allegory telling of the horrendous effect of sin brought about by the insidious
serpent that violated Eve’s innocence. The sickness of sin pervades the human
race.
*Genesis 3:6
The Sick Rose
O Rose thou art sick.
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm:
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm:
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
Links
Innocence
Innocence
Innocence Synonyms
Innocence Rose
Innocence Rose
Songs of Innocence and Experience
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