Forgiveness

Posted on February 26, 2012 by freda

There is something magisterial and rather comforting about the following prayer of forgiveness. I don’t mean to stress the way it lingers on our “wretchedness” but I do love the sense of God’s love of all creation and willingness to forgive.

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

From the liturgy of the Scottish Episcopal Church

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Technology beyond belief

Posted on February 25, 2012 by freda

Buying a watch battery used to mean a trip to Timpson’s and a few minutes’ wait. Then, in later years there was the added excitement of a 1 year guarantee. Latterly, this grew into a 2 year guarantee for the battery. Today, I am promised a life guarantee. I am presuming this is for the battery itself, though I am not sure if the shop think that either the watch or owner will come to the end of their lives before the battery itself.

Has anyone else come across this?

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Forgetfulness

Posted on February 19, 2012 by freda

The American Poet Laureate…… such a beautiful voice.

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Promise of Spring

Posted on February 18, 2012 by freda

This is typical of the views around the village at the moment. The promise of spring is in the brighter green of the mosses and the swelling at the ends of the trees. Catkins are even appearing on some of the hazel trees.

You cannot see the birds sing, but there is more than the odd cheep – bull finches in particular, inhabit this stretch of the glen. You can imagine hobbits and goblins and nefarious creatures of fantasy films.

The worst thing is that at any moment the weather can revert to deep winter. Indeed, as I am uploading these photos sleet is streaming horizontally outside. Any walk for you-know-who will involve waterproof trousers, anoraks and boots. (For the adults!)  Misty can wear her waggles coat. This is me trying to talk myself into braving the outside world.

Happy weekend to you and yours.

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A Sweet Obscurity

Posted on February 15, 2012 by freda

This has been sitting on my “to read” shelves for some time – presumably it got there by recommendation or book review. I’m glad it did, though must admit that it is not an easy read.

I got through to page 87 then had to resort to going back to the beginning to try and remember the various characters and strands of stories. There is an overlaying storyline but the author’s method of moving the story along is by looking at the plot through the eyes of one of the principle characters. From my point of view, I was just getting into the character big-time, when whoops – it was time to switch to another point of view. Indeed some of the time and character switchings did make for a slightly confusing read. However, it is worth persevering, and could be one of those books that even deserves a second read in a few months.

The characters were convincing in themselves and quirky individually and collectively. Perhaps that is what makes me give it an 8 out of 10. Has anyone else read it?

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Topsy Turvy

Posted on February 11, 2012 by freda

It really has been one of those odd weeks. Most of Europe, including England has been having below freezing weather with freezing rain and snow. Meanwhile here in Dalamory the crocuses and snowdrops are in bloom and the birds are chattering fit to bust.  It is so different from last year.

We managed to learn a Catherine Waltz at Dance Class – the trouble is that we will probably have forgotten the steps before next time. The undernoted video is not of us, but does show a couple doing a good job of the dance. (I can mug up on it daily.)

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Technologised again

Posted on February 6, 2012 by freda

Prior to today’s little rant, I must just say that recovering from the dental treatment carries on apace though a bit slowly…… but I’m getting there. The sun has been shining today and it is amazing how that helps. The answer to any question is go outside and forgo the dusting.

Back to technology. Like many people I enjoy the portable telephone system that enables the phone to be on hand no matter where I am – within reason. These systems have a base phone and radio/wifi system with up to 3 handsets. The 10yr old model was replaced before Christmas but it turned out that it was a duff sale offer which didn’t do half the things possible with more up to date models.

In short, it was replaced with a BT cordless digital set of three. At last, I thought – technology mastered by the experts. Indeed all went well for a couple of months. I was lazy about keying in numbers in the phone book, so call recognition wasn’t fully functional. Now it may just be that the phone took the huff at not being used to its full potential; sufficient to say that all of a sudden the phones either worked or did not work, speech was either heard or not heard. No combination of secrecy buttons or otherwise could put the matter right. It was not only frustrating for me, the caller, but probably left those being called upset as to who the mystery phone call was from.

It used to be that in these circumstances a handy booklet could be consulted – not nowadays. A 100 page pdf file has to be downloaded on the computer and then searched to see if there is anything indicative of the fault. Again – no luck. So I phoned the help number where I was given a Fault Reference Number, so that I can get the phones exchanged. The interesting thing is that there was no attempt on the part of the operative to try and rectify the fault. It is obviously cheaper to ditch and spend than to try and mend. Typical.

What happens if the new set doesn’t function either? Does it mean I have outgrown telephone technology?

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Dentist again

Posted on February 2, 2012 by freda

What I want to know is why does going to the dentist give you a pain in the shoulder? Was it being tensed up against the chair trying to get away from the multitudinous number of drills he used? Or was it trying to avoid the automatic reaction to give said dentist a thump in the jaw? I must explain that this in no way reflects on his skill. He is one of the good guys, but years of near terror caused by some of his predecessors take their toil. The worst was one who looked about fourteen – and I am not exaggerating.

As you can tell, an outing to visit the dentist can be quite entertaining. There was I trying hard not to be too anxious – fair do’s, he had warned me he didn’t know what he would find once he started excavating the offending molar. Anyway, ping! All of a sudden there is one poor crippled dentist with part of my tooth in his eye. High drama ensued……. dare I say it was a “man-chip”?  After some coming and going and a full-scale eye wash out we were ready to resume the digging. Of course by then I found myself wondering if the anaesthetic would be worn off. Thankfully this was not the case and modern glue meant that the tooth has lived to fight another day.

Unfortunately I did not get off completely and have been warned that all may not be well. Thus a follow-up is scheduled for the end of the month. It remains to be seen whether my cobalt plate beds in or not. So I am feeling a tad bruised and in need of gentling. Indeed I am considering instituting a pre-birthday month of treats. Well, it’s a thought.

 

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Enforced break

Posted on January 31, 2012 by freda

It is good to be back in blogland again. The last week or two have been an enforced rest, courtesy of power cuts, email cuts and blog-hosting problems. It is strange how unsettling it has felt, and now that all is working I don’t seem to have anything to say – except to have a little moan. In truth, the space should have given me the chance to think about my whole purpose in blogging. Unfortunately, the inability to send or receive emails has been much more problematic – the consequent stress nearly shutting out the resting benefits.

In other words, it has all been a bit of a damp squib. I’ve not even been keeping up with online news and blogs. And all of a sudden January is coming to its end; the days are lengthening and the air is somehow heavier…… a bit the way I feel with online bills and banking to see to.

Aha! I’ve worked it out; as so often happens when writing things out, the answer pops into my head. My body/mind/soul are getting ready for the annual spring-clean. That’s why the air itself feels in suspense. And it is a good enough excuse to hover on the cusp a bit longer. I’ve not seen the signs of spring like friko, but I am going to look harder.

 

 

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My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece

Posted on January 22, 2012 by freda

We had another power cut yesterday – 10 hours in total; that is the ninth significant outage this winter. It was less stressful than previously because I was enjoying Annabel Pitcher’s debut novel – My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece. I was well into the story, enthralled by the voice of the storyteller, (10yr old Jamie,) before discovering that it is actually written for children. No wonder the language was sharp and clear…… no wonder there was little swearing.

Thanks to a new LED lantern it was easy enough to read the print and quite fun to be able to read for a long period without interruption. The narrator’s point of view took me right back to my own childhood; what at first seemed like a fudge of commentary on the story, became eventually a rounded out picture of a family living through tragedy, crisis and grief.

The book is no namby pandy botch-up of a story about loss. It tackles prejudice on all sorts of levels. All in all I was impressed at the craft of the writer. It reminds me slightly of The curious incident of the dog in the night……… but only in the sense that the story-teller’s voice unfolds in tune with his understanding and emotional growth.

Interestingly, I was given this book by our Mobile Librarian – I suspect someone else’s mistake is my gain.  It leads me on to think of reading some other children’s literature. Any ideas and views? (Apart from Harry Potter of course!)

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