Palm Sunday 2024

Psalm Sunday.

I dragged myself out this morning, far from willingly I must say, as I was feeling the lack of foodstuffs, the diet losing weight but not feeding me well.  

Many greeted me, the women offering hugs, the men distain.  

Back to normal then.

I was glad to be there, various things had hindered me for a while, and Psalm Sunday is one of the major events in the year.  The Anglican lot have many 'feast days' and memorials to various people, many of whom are better forgotten in my view, and Palm Sunday, Easter and Christmas are three that must be remembered.  

Unfortunately, today coincided with what they call 'All Together Sunday.'  This began when many kids were around, fewer today, and instead of a proper Palm Sunday the man in charge brought along people working among 'youth.'  

'Hooray' thought I.

Now the work they do is tremendous, speaking for Jesus in schools, clubs and so on everywhere, and they offer what appears to be a proper Jesus to the young, though why she called the 'children' when they are teens I fail to understand.  Luckily, when the speakers spoke, my mind was so tired I failed to concentrate and missed the practicalities, including the news of lack of cash.  

While this spoiled things for me, others were encouraged so it was not all bad.

I was glad to be there, to speak to one or two, and listen to others gabbing away.

I failed to join in the 'march' around the church waving my palm branch, as you may expect, but many did parade happily.  The CoE member is easily pleased.  The tambourine's and shakers on offer also missed me when handed out.  

I did not manage to avoid getting my tea mind.

I Broke Out!

From early yesterday morning I planned a break out.  The day looked good for it, they said the sun would shine, and it did rising early around 6 am and encouraging people to rise also and queue outside of Sainsburys!  
I was not one of them.

The day was indeed warmish, you can see how the crowds flocked to the park er, well, later on that is.  I remained hooked on staring into space, this now replaces football as my favourite sport.

 
I sit at the desk, piles of work all around, 'To Do' lists littering the area, and stare out the window at the sunshine across the road.  This is usually more productive.
I listen to the news and decide that I can say little, occasionally grieving as a 5 year old dies, or anger rising as another minister lies barefaced to the camera.  It appears to be what they do these days.  No shame is felt, lie barefaced Boris style and they expect to get away with it.  This the result of not having a 'Free Press.'  The lackeys are all tied in with the Boris gangland so they cannot grumble, they may be found out also.
These are the men who demand footballers give up their high pay to help the NHS.  These ministers who have deliberately run the NHS into the ground, failed it in the hour of need, and are themselves all multi millionaire who are not putting their hands into their own pockets for the NHS, which they all wish to privatise, demand footballers pay towards their, the ministers, mistakes!
The irony.   

I broke out.
Late at night, as the sun began to hide behind the trees, I left my abode, dressed for the chilly wind, and took pictures of the dying sun.  Nobody was about, except one poor lad who is either of low intellect, has mental problems or is on drugs.  He walked ahead of me talking and singing to himself. He often passes this way and I wonder what goes on inside, what is the cause?  Not much I can do.
No-one else is about.

The round yellow thing goes down there every night, there must be hundreds of them lying there burning themselves out...

A flock of Geese fly over, or is it Swans, surely not?  Geese I think, heading to a farmers field or down towards the Blackwater Basin for the night.  They could at least have come closer.

A walk in the park, a blast of cold air, some pictures of the sunset, I went home happy but cold.  The little things in life are more enjoyable, going outside, when no policemen are about, is more enjoyable than before.  Finding things hidden away indoors, things long forgotten and now appear as new gifts, is also fun.  Cooking however remains a drag...

Today I ventured out in the hottest day so far of the year, large coat and pullover,  to deliver a letter I thought urgent.  The park was busier, two or three dog walkers and a couple with kids, those I met on the road kept more than 6ft apart from me.  One poor man (with mask) jumped 6 ft as I came around a corner, was the mask to protect him or us I wonder?  Are we genuinely protecting ourselves from the virus or overreacting?  I'm not sure face masks help unless we sit at a checkout or drive a bus.     
However, I did attempt to catch a picture of this Red Kite twirling around.  Several groups of pigeons were scurrying while a flock of seagulls languidly made their way south.  I fer the Red Kite caught no-one as the gulls would put him off trying anything.  He refuse to pose either, coming quite close and disappearing.  I have several shots of the sky!   
I hope you remain at peace, but I fear this period has a long way to go yet.  The virus will only die when  vaccine arrives.  Some pre-vaccines are being tried on Chinese volunteers (do they know they have volunteered?) but at least a year will be required.  I hope the sanity remains with us...

Today is Palm Sunday, therefore here is our improvised social media church service.

Hosanna!