The Landlord I have known for around 25 years has passed on recently. He was always good to me and there was rarely problems. The staff who worked for him, under some pressure because of his miserly ("What 4 tea bags for 4 people? Use a teapot!") ways and constant interfering, pushing them to do two jobs at once when they were already doing two others! However I did not suffer and now he has gone the houses have been taken over by his daughter and her husband.
What changes she will bring running the organisation we have to wait and see. However in the meantime there are legalities to be gone through, an estate agent must visit to value the house's and flats for probate, and depending on who you speak to there are between 180 and 300 properties, not counting the big 'pile' he himself lived in (but bodged up rather than splash out on).
So today it was arranged for her to come with agent for valuation, this meant I stayed in just for the opportunity of meeting her or the assistant lass who does the work in the office. This also meant I had to forego the opportunity to visit Southend, the home of the 'Essex Girl and Essex Boy' where my niece was playing piano at lunchtime. Thus deprived of music and the opportunity to take a picture of the mile long pier while the sun shone I remained indoors.
Rising half asleep as always I breakfasted on stale bread forgetting the new loaf was available and spent time ensuring the place looked tidier than it actually is. This meant placing items on rusty sinks, hiding blotches and piling things in neat piles rather than higgledy-piggledy.
So I waited.
There are six flats, two unoccupied with the workmen (workman as the other has gone down to Mersea, by the estuary to work there while the sun shines!) redecorating and renovating the flats. I was the only person in today as all the others are at work or play.
So I waited.
I was ready by nine more or less and continued my day, without making any mess, while I listened out for the door. By eleven I was becoming hungry and took the recycling bag out and spoke to John the hard at workman. "He was supposed to be here at 9 am," he said from up a ladder. We groused over this, and the rubbish outside and discussed what to do with it and waited, well he painted.
So I returned to waiting.
Having found the new loaf from yesterday I made a far to thick sandwich with old turkey meat, and I mean old, and watched 'Match of the Day 2' as I gobbled.
I waited on.
Eventually a noise was heard, John failing to work out which key opened the door was getting desperate so banged on the front door. He was there with the estate agent but no landlady, no assistant just John! Well, thought I, this was not worth waiting for!
So the man did his job while we all chatted about things of great merit and then he left with John struggling to get the hall light to work and to find the key for No 5. I helpfully enquired if he would be able to find the door on the way out but did not catch the response.
So I waited in vain.
I would have thought the new boss would wish to meet me, don't all women?
At least the second in command of the office could have come over.
Instead I sat here listening to radio programmes and wondering what I ought to be doing but failing to find an answer I wish to discover....I am still failing there.
Did you notice the clock date is a day out?
Justice is done!
Some time ago a man called on a in Belfast baker ordering a cake. This was acceptable until he demanded it was topped with a message supporting gay rights. Daniel McArthur who runs Ashers Bakery rightly refused as being Christian and profoundly disagreeing with gay marriage this was against his beliefs. Gareth Lee, for it was he, sued. Supported by the 'Equality Commission' in Northern Ireland (according to power sharing this is run by Sein Fein) he went to court and the local judge, a woman, found the Ashers had discriminated by refusing to bake something that disagreed with their beliefs and conscience. This goes against the freedom of conscience that must be allowed in the United Kingdom. This surely is part of 'British Values.'
Ashers appealed and eventually the Court of Appeal turned down their appeal but questioned the motivation of the Equality Commission in bringing the case. Thus the Ashers went to what is now called the Supreme Court. This was once know as 'The Lords' as the Law Lords judged sch cases but Tony Blair in his desperation to be president amended the name thus. Today the Court gave the verdict that no discrimination because he was gay was involved.
''As to Mr Lee's claim based on sexual discrimination, the bakers did not refuse to fulfil his order because of his sexual orientation. They would have refused to make such a cake for any customer, irrespective of their sexual orientation.''
"Mr Lee had no claim against Ashers on the grounds of religious belief or political opinion."
In short the whole thing was a stunt.
Belfast, a divided city, a protestant baker approached by a gay man hoping to be refused, there are other bakers in Belfast. Supported by nationalist equality commission he sues with £250,000 being spent by them on this case. Four long years in which discriminating against Christians has been legalised has come to an end. Gays discriminating against Christians is a common thread, a determined attack on any faith that rightly opposes gay marriage or abortion.
This court judgement ends that discrimination.
Give thanks to God for justice, give thanks as the repercussions will go far and improve many lives.
