In Service ….together

Last Sunday night we attended an Ordination at an Episcopal church where we used to attend. This is a service when someone who has been studying for the priesthood over a number of years, is admitted to what is curiously called the Order of Presbyters. This is a fancy word for minister, in the Episcopal Church, and in the New Testament it was a synonym for Bishop, meaning a local leader in the early Church. Curiously it also means a teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church.

Whatever, the lady in question has been known by us for about 30 years, and in front of a packed Church made her vows.

The Bishop in his short talk indicated that this was not only important in the life of the local Church but in the whole local community, which was well-represented by all the local churches and clergy. So thank goodness that sectarianism is not a problem in this area.

On a broader spectrum is is very pleasing to see that the ‘Irish question’, if not solved in a truly-political way to some, seems at least to be lessening as an aggressive force for suffering and evil, and we may eventually see the genuine friendship and handshakes we witnessed last weekend, on a beautiful Summer evening, in a small church in the west of Scotland.

…….Now if we could only see it world-wide….

Another death…..

A death has been reported…..not Michael Jackson….but a young child only a few months old, brutally killed by a 15 year old baby sitter… and yet the position within the order of news is perhaps some indication of how little we (or the media) feel about such an event. Or is it because we are so used to hearing it, just like the stabbings of young men in London.?

Jackson made a lot of money, and achieved a lot of power in his life. How he decided to use this was up to him. On the other hand, the little child never stood a chance in his brief existence.

I don’t know how we bring back a sense of revulsion about such murders and find a way to prevent them, but perhaps we have to re-assess how we value life.

The death of a celebrity may or may not prove important in the long-run, but if we continue to accept murder of innocent children with no effective way to deal with the perpetrators, then our civilisation is doomed.

Up, up, and away….almost!

 

Today was supposed to see Daughter (birthday present) and Lady of the House on a hot-air-balloon trip from Falkland Palace in Fife. We had a pleasant drive over to this beautiful countryside and had a meal with old friends. However the flight was was diverted at the last moment to Perth, and so we had a mad dash to be there…..only to arrive and discover that the flight had been cancelled because the wind was 10 miles/hour!

The limit is 8 miles/hour, so a 150 miles round-trip and meal costs have been wasted. I wonder if the Mongolfier Brothers were held up because of a difference of 2 miles/hour, or are we seeing the safety culture going to silly levels. Surely part of the thrill of such a flight is the adrenaline rush!

If you are considering getting involved in such an event be prepared for a disappointment.

………….Let’s hope a re-booked flight is not called-off.

UNCUT

I usually like my lawn neatly cut, as it contrasts well with my ‘wilderness’ borders. However a couple of weeks ago I loaned my lawn-mower to Son, for his extremely-large grass area, and so my lawn went uncut! 

Good sun with the occasional light shower provided perfect growing conditions. I was intrigued by the number of daisies, buttercups and various grasses which appeared rapidly…..they were actually quite pretty. There was a total difference between the morning scene when the blooms were all shut, and it all looked a bit dull….but when the sun appeared, suddenly they all turned towards it and opened up to provide flashes of white and yellow….a glorious sight. It took us back to visits to Austria, where great swathes of countryside were left to produce wonderful areas of natural habitat.

So maybe, just occasionally, you should leave things to nature!

Another Good Man Gone!

We’ve just lost a good friend to a brain tumour. He was only about 52, and we got to know him when he came to join my choir. He showed an immense talent for music composition, keyboard skills and a wonderful sense of humour through even the dark days. He also came over as very thoughtful, caring and non-complaining.

He had looked forward to going to Ballachulish, Argyll in March to join in Evensong. His health had badly deteriorated, and we were very unsure about whether it was wise for him to go. If anything had happened while up there, the distance to a suitable hospital would have proved catastrophic, and we might have carried this in our mind for many a long year.

My final opinion was sought, and I had to say YES, as I could never have forgiven myself if I has said NO. In the event, two members very kindly looked after him over the weekend and he thoroughly enjoyed it. It was his last major event outside his hospital and hospice.

So, ‘CARPE DIEM’…..never let an opportunity of any kind go by….you may never get the chance again!

UPGRADE

Have been out of the blogging habit over the recent past few weeks (but still reading every-one else’s) because we are having work done in our house….verrrrrry,  slowwwwly….

We have been here 30 years and the downstair’s bathroon (used only by visitors) and the radiator system throughout all the house, were all in need of some re-furbishment.

It started out on the 5th of May when the two lads came to dismantle our downstairs bathroom, and fit complete new units, tiles, shower system etc…’We’ll be finished this bit in a week!’ they said.  NO WAY!….. problems with a leaking loo, disagreement on position of  switches, and fitting us in between other jobs (we felt like a piece in a rather large jigsaw!) etc took us well into two weeks. Luckily we had the upstair’s bathroom! Mostly then all sorted-out except for some snagging.

Then some 10 days gap whilst one was on holiday with his family and we could get some peace from the dust, noise and general disruption to our lives. Then back to the radiators being ripped out. That meant that carpets and flooring had to be lifted, and brackets taken off walls, causing destruction (and ultimate need for lots of replacement or refurbishment) in many cases.

They went off yesterday, leaving a trail of little things we wish they had done differently, jobs for us to finish off, temporary flooring, a big hole in our bank balance etc. We now have the task of choosing wood and carpet flooring for quite a bit of the house and decorating throughout! That will keep us going for a few days lol!

So is it all worthwhile? I suppose the charity shops will be happy as we passed-on stuff which had been in our cupboards, on shelves, and in the loft, for many years. The childreen have been handed back stuff we have stored for decades. The economy will be bound to improve as we re-assemble the things which we MUST have, but the land-fill site managers must be wondering what else is coming!

Now, back to the keyboard, before the Lady of the House starts working out a plan for the next project! It is her birthday today so going out for a meal to the Birds and the Bees Restaurant (click on the Search button for a report on our last meal there), so we can get the glad rags on and pretend all this work doesn’t really lie ahead!

50 things you don’t really need to know about me!

It seems to be the ‘in’ thing nowadays, to self-analyse oneself and then present a open-book…but these are not in any particular order of importance!

1. Born near Lisburn, Northern Ireland in 1945….yes, a baby-boomer!
2. My High School was the house which belonged to Sir Richard Wallace
3. An ancestor of mine, (we share the same name, was hanged in the town square where I was born
4. Some of my teachers told me I would end up the same, if I didn’t behave!
5. I’ve worn glasses since about 14….and still hate wearing them!
6. I started growing a beard in my late teens and it has never left me.
7. Came to Scotland in 1962, when my father was transferred from BBC Belfast to BBC Glasgow
8. Met my wife-to-be, a Scots lassie, on the street, when her father’s car had a puncture.
9. Joyfully married to her for almost 42 years.
10. Have two marvellous, caring, grown-up children.
11. I used to smoke the pipe, but gave it up on the request of my young son, who said he ‘did not like the smell’.
12. Have never fallen-out with our neighbours of over 30 years.
13. We live in the shadow of the beautiful Campsie Fells.
14. I cannot do the Rubik’s Cube.
15. I am right-handed but my ‘grip on a cricket bat, golf club, or hockey stich, is left handed.
16. I can play tennis with my left hand…but no better than with my right hand!
17. I used to enjoy cycling but I now have to start practising again, for my retirement
18. Enjoy Sudoku and cryptic, and skeleton crosswords.
19. Grew up in the country so love all things rural.
20. I adore the smell of newly-cut  grass and new-mown hay.
21. Cannot stand crowds and shopping!
22. I adore languages…favourite is Italian.
23. I once tried to learn Esperanto, but found no-one else who spoke it!
24. Music is a great love…organ, piano, composing and choirs.
25. Making music along with other people is best.
26. I was taught the clarinet by a retired Band-Master of the Gurkhas…Major Ben Bently….he failed!
27. Favourite classical composer for orchestra….probably Beethoven, or Mozart.
28. Favourite modern composer for orchestra…..not yet sure, maybe Ravel or Stravinsky.
29. Favourite classical composer for choral works…….too many!
30. Favourite modern composer for choral works….John Rutter…definitely!
31. Most emotional musical…..Les Miserables
32. Favourite food is probably pasta.
33. Favourite country is Italy….followed closely by Croatia.
34. Most memorable sight….sailing into Venice one sunny morning.
35. Saddest view………………sailing out of Venice that evening
36. Most spectacular countryside view…..overlooking Wolfgangsee from the Mozart Blick, in Austria.
37. Favourite author, when I get the chance to read…Bill Bryson.
38. Worst regret is that I did not practise harder at piano and organ.
39. First played the piano in public at the age of 11…..it was a little time before I was asked again!
40. Enjoyed studying Pure and Applied Physics.
41. I still occasionally see the Lecturer who taught me everything I’ve forgotten about thermo-dynamics!
42. Designed sound and inductive loop systems for literally hundreds of buildings, including Dunblane Cathedral, Iona Abbey, and the Queen’s Church at Crathie.
43. Went on to study and qualify in hearing aid audiology
44. Have had our own family businness since 1984
45. Have fitted hearing aids to some famous politicians and entertainers
46. I like company and going out for meals….
47. ……………because I CANNOT COOK!
48. Prefer good strong East European red wines to almost any white wines.
49. ……..but beginning to like Chardonnay!
50. Unachieved ambition….to visit Petra….’a rose-red city, half as old as time’.

Have a guess…

 

Those who get comments from me may have noticed that the above picture now replaces the christmas wreath (I am really quite slow at all this!). Any guesses as to what it is? 

It’s not terribly difficult!

STOP PRESS!

I’ve recently appeared twice in the press. I’m afraid it was not in the big nationals, or even Hello magazine. And I am glad it isn’t in the Obituary section! No, the reports and quotations were to do with my great little choir Angelus Singers.

It followed our appearance at one of the churches in Ballachulish near Glencoe (see a previous blog).  The local press there (The Oban Times ) published a very large colourful photo with a two line report….I think they were trying to fill a lot of space! Our local paper here (the Kirkintilloch Herald) has just published a small black-and-white photo with a quite extensive report, …..I think they also were trying to fill up non-used advertising space! Several copies have been purchased for some reason, by the Lady of the House!

Have you e ver cringed at, or been proud of, any references to you in the Press…..come on spill the beans!

Now…there’s beauty!

 

If anyone has lingering doubts about visiting Scotland, have a look at http://scotlandinthegloaming.blogspot.com  Got the link via http://porcelainrose-glo.blogspot.com …..thanks