What’s the Story in Dalamory

A lone rose in the garden.

Jean Vianney, of Ars, noticed an old peasant sitting for hours in his church. Vianney asked the old man what he was doing.  “I look at the good God, and the good God looks at me.”

There is a lot in that.

Drama over Fox the cat today. He was off his food and has taken to his bed.  We took him to the vet this morning and it seems he has been trapped or attacked as he has two small wounds on his hocks. He had an antibiotic injection and has anti-inflammatory drops to take. Trouble is it is almost impossible to get him to eat. He hobbles – occasionally, when he has to move, but doesn’t seem in real distress.

The new imac has induced all in this house to start a grand tidy-up, however I look at the miscellaneous cupboard in horror. It had all manner of stuff bunged into it when we moved here four and a half years ago. Lurking in the depths are things like obsolete wiring, CDs from magazines, back up copies, stationery that has seen better days and heaven knows what.

The cupboard waits for another day. But you should see the streamlined (and dusted) computer desk wherein sits the new apple computer in all its glory. The cat has taken to its bed in disgust, (it was originally the dog’s bed but said cat has taken over) and the dog has given up hope of ever having a lap to sit on again.

Envy, as we know, is a bad thing to have; so perhaps I should change that to “admire”.  I like the quality of graphics and definition on HBTW’s new applemac computer. Makes me wonder if I could manage the gubbins of buying and installing a new graphics card for my pc. And even a bigger/better quality screen.

Am busy pondering.

HBTW has bought a new imac. Which does he prefer to do? a) get the email to work: or b) play with photos, videos, music and download games.

No prizes, of course, and after all he does like the games and stuff.

Much comment in the Sunday Times today about the various choices facing the government regarding the conflict. (Link here, but more digging is required to get the sense of debate covered in the hard copy of the paper.) I think I now understand more of the situation and I can only feel great sadness at what is happening. All of a sudden the world seems even more dangerous. Long ago, at school, we had air raid practice which consisted of putting off all the lights and crouching under the desks. And we grew up living with the very real threat of the “four minute warning”.Then many years later came the collapse of communism and the joy of seeing the Berlin Wall  come down. Now, terrorism is a new yet very old form of warfare.

Remembrance matters to me for now as well as for wars and times past.

Something to marvel at:

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4BYMvVvMg0]

These are old memories, new memories, old tales and new tales……

One of the privileges of ministry in churches is the pastoral work. People allow you into their homes, their lives, their thoughts and their dreams as well as their sorrows and hurts. When I visited the Old Folks or people who rarely got out to church I was often told how much they enjoyed the BBC’s Songs of Praise. It helped them to feel part of the community of the church and was their way of joining in worship. I rarely see the programme on a Sunday afternoon – it tends to be before I am ready to switch the television on – but in recent weeks I have enjoyed watching it on the BBC iplayer (repeats of popular programmes are available online, usually for 7 days.) The thing is, that I find myself in floods of tears. It is as if I am connected with all those old people, many of whom have now died. And that leads me down pathways of memories of all the good advice and encouragement I received from many of those people.

The question is this: how do we turn into people with good advice and encouragement for others? It is too easy to give well-meaning advice that is plain wrong for the situation and the person. I guess it is a trap we all fall into at some time or another. In the meantime, perhaps I should read some inspirational books.

Don’t usually read so-called “funny” books. My sense of humour is quite particular. But I am thoroughly enjoying Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife by Niamh Greene. Not only do I vividly remember what it was like to be at home with children all day, I also identify with the mother and mother-in-law. I am reading it with a permanent smile on my face. It helps with the rotten weather and dark nights. The sequel, due out in the UK later in the year is definitely on my Christmas list.