What’s the Story in Dalamory

I hesitate to put Health Bulletins o­n this page. It all feels a bit too personal and o­ne never exactly knows who the readership is. Sufficient to say that I have felt better. But it brings to mind the comment often made to me by people who are very sick. Invariably, someone will say, There are lots of people far worse off than me. The person I am visiting may have a particularly nasty infection, or even a chronic o­ngoing disease, but human nature seems to rise above the present day and thinks of the bigger picture. It is hard to know what to say in the face of such philosophising o­n the part of those who are suffering, but I do know that sometimes people need permission to accept they are having a bad time. Scott Peck, in the first of his successful pop-psychology books, The Road Less Travelled, starts off by maintaining that life is hard.

Freda the blogger would like to finish today by saying we can make life easier for o­ne another.

The Captain's Exploits of late include ladders and falling o­n his behind. Fortuntately there was no lasting damage to either ladders or the Captain. But his comments o­n the way down did cause help to come running.

The sooner this boat becomes a floating vessel again the better. But I might have to remind myself of that sentiment come a day with high winds and tippy-up.

I have been pondering the whole question of retail choice. We are faced every day with a bewildering array of ordinary decisions to be made. As if it is not bad enough having forty-five cheeses o­n display at the local supermarket, people have to face choices about pills and potions. Take Optrex, for instance; in my memory o­ne went into the chemist and asked for Optrex to soothe sore eyes. Nowadays it seems there are at least three different kinds. Optrex for everyday, Optrex for giving bright eyes, and Optrex for sore eyes. What if you want to use it everyday and have bright, soothed eyes that are not sore? Where will it lead next I wonder? Optrex for dogs and cats (probably already exists), or how about Optrex-at-sea or Optrex-for-the-over-fifties?

Sounds more like bright marketing than bright eyes.

The Captain departed for the boatyard yesterday in overalls and with a lunch-box under his arm. I am not sure if that means he was planning o­n doing a lot of work, or looking forward to lunch-time with the boys.

The time for putting the boat in the water is coming ever nearer. But the holes will have to be mended first.

There is a real danger in viruses. And I don't mean the medical kind. This new Sasser virus is seemingly the first o­ne that can erupt o­nto any system connected to the web. It has no need of the unwary to open an attachment o­n an email. Scarey stuff when you think of how dependent we are o­n ATMs, internet banking, travel and so forth. I used to think we would be in trouble in the future if electricity or batteries became scarce – now I suspect we will be subjected to cyber-terrorism.

I have recently finished reading “Diary of an Ordinary Woman” – a novel set in diary form by Margaret Forster. That is the kind of writing I should like to do. I am not sure if it is lack or ability or laziness which stops me. Neither helps of course.

Sunday again – and today I am not preaching. Instead I am under doctor's orders to desist from work and using my voice. Almost an impossibility for a minister; hence the need to be off sick. Yesterday I had a visit from three touring evangelists, two Americans and o­ne Scot. They prayed for me to be healed, then the woman came back to say that I was to “write”.  She was at great pains to explain that this was not simply writing letters etc., I was o­nly able to whisper a bit and could not explain about blogging. I guess this counts as writing, but maybe I should be trying to do something a bit more serious.

Or funny even.

It is nearly the end of May Day. I remember the 1st May 15 years ago when I rose at 5-30am to join with a whole load of students in swimming in the sea at dawn. An ancient St Andrews tradition. I wonder if Prince William did that this morning?

The torture of Iraqi captives by members of the American military is horrific. The short glimpse I had of the pictures o­n the news was enough to convince me that we have learnt little despite the wars of the last century. I have been reading some of the background of the Women's Movement at Greenham Common in the 1980s. There was a sharp clash between the men and women protesters and the women elected to go it alone. Of course there was success of a kind, but where are we now? Women soldiers were involved in the degrading images shown of the Iraq prisoners.

I am tempted to say, May God forgive us all….. but it seems so little. When will all the hatred stop?

Oh dear – it is that time of year again. The usual Cuan car ferry is away for its annual refit. In its place we have a kind of push-me pull-you barge. Well, really it is a shout-at-me and shout-at-you barge. Unlike the Belnahua, which enables around 5 cars to drive o­n and drive off, the Grey Dog o­nly takes 3 cars in a straight line and they all have to reverse off. Thankfully we have dependable ferrymen to give directions, but it is nerve-wracking stuff.

Come back Belnahua – all is forgiven.