December Sabbath

I stumbled off this morning to the Kirk in spite of the easterly wind opposing me, the distance apparently increasing week by week, and a woman invited to speak and lead communion as the vicar is still hiding far away in sunburnt India.  

No jealousy here.  

In the end all went reasonably well, I was welcomed by all the women, given a bag off leftover sannies afterwards for lunch, and Rosie spoke well and appeared to know what she was talking about.  Chatting to her afterwards I was impressed, an Anglican woman that knows God I thought.  A lift home and sannies, of various types, for lunch.  Then France beating Poland in the world cup.  No surprise there.

PRAYERS FOR A SICK PERSON 

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech you to behold, visit, and relieve your sick servant, for whom our prayers are desired. 

Look upon him with the eyes of your mercy; comfort him with a sense of your goodness; preserve him from the temptations of the enemy; and give him patience under his affliction. In your good time, restore him to health, and enable him to lead the remainder of his life in your fear, and to your glory; and grant that finally he may dwell with you in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

World Cup Post Strikes

In spite of the postmen striking for the second day in a row I hobbled down to the Post Office and sent off two last packets, though that word does not cover the cheapness of the gifts.  The young lass smiled at me as always, though she was surrounded by two days worth of mail sacks full of items awaiting collection.  This was not helped by the man in the shop unloading a van's worth of items some of which were being dumped upon her.  

The strike continues, it appears to be having no effect on the Tory led privatised top bosses, the top man on £750,000 a year, who wish to amend the pensions, change the rota's, and altar every rule they can to save money and increase shareholders payout.  I doubt the workers, or indeed the railway workers and nurses also on strike for similar reasons will succeed.  The press is Tory controlled, the Labour Party (should it not change the name?) has distanced itself from the strikes in order to get the 'Middle England' vote, and it appears not a word about this was mentioned at PMQs!

Anyway, trudging back in the chilly sunshine I ate and slept.  Having cleaned some of the place today I was in danger of doing too much for my fat bulk.  With so much football taking time I have lots to do, and tomorrow will be another day of housework, possibly.          

Being the 1st day of December, the day I usually post my Christmas cards and parcels, I am a bit annoyed about the strikes.  Two items and one magazine are out there somewhere, no doubt being delivered soon, but I am becoming fretful regarding things sent and when they will arrive.  I support the workers, I understand how difficult life is for them at the moment, but it is a nuisance.   

So, I sit here writing cards, though all the posted ones are already awaiting posting, and these are mostly for the church people.  If I give these out early that forces them to present me with one!  No fool I!  

I know await the Costa Rica showdown.. In 45 minutes they will be playing their last game at the World Cup, against a desperate German side that are close to going out!  Costa will give their all, they may even score a goal, but can they possibly beat, and eliminate a German side?  We live in hope.

World Cup and Anglicans!

I wanted to get out this morning but the rain was teeming down.  I searched the weather men to find out what they were saying and found 'Light rain and gentle breeze.'  Lies!  All lies!  The rain teemed down, the breeze was wind, from the south and not so breezy, and so I remained indoors searching for second hand cars at cheap prices.  None were found, another dream shattered!  

Not going out I noticed a church stream on facebook from St James, Garlickhythe.  It would be easy to imagine this a made up name!   St James is just of the busy Upper Thames Street in the City of London, a 'Wren Church,' and one that claims to have made use of the Prayer Book of 1662 from then until now.  Hmmm...  Still, any port in a storm.   

I put up with this until 10 am when I switched on to the Japan v Costa Rica game.  This we all expected to be a rout, but happily instead Costa played well, especially under pressure in the second half, and even stole a goal towards the end and won the game one nil!  Naturally i missed the goal as I looked away at the time!  

This mean they are third in the table, Spain, Japan and now Costa have 3 point each, Germany in 4th place have 0 points.  Tonight Spain play Germany, a win for Spain, which is likely, will see Germany go out!   Costa have one more game, v Germany, if they lose tonight Costa are in a good position to embarrass them.  No need to open the brandy as yet Costa.

The recorded Advent service, the preparation for Christmas begins here, comprised the vicar, the verger, and a choir of four singing the service in a manner not likely to encourage vast numbers to attend.  Some of course prefer a religion that they can see.  In days of old there were idols to worship, some find it important to 'see' an object before they can pray, an invisible God who demands faith in him without such items is hard for many to accept.  I suspect this is also part of 'being English.'  This is what they expect church to be, a relaxed non obvious item church can be hard to understand.  In fact I was surprised when I first entered a Baptist Church and found no Black robed minister, no Beadle to lead him in, just a man in a second hand suit (it looked like) come from the back door and walk on and begin the service.  Nothing else makes sense now.  

Watching such a service, the elaborate Church, the singers, the young folks reading, I mentally compare this to the settings in which the bible originated.  A man dressed in fancy purple robes (no women will lead in this church I guess), candles for Christmas, middle class and excellent singers, I just wonder about the robed Abraham, David and Jesus and his mates, and this lot.  

Breaking off once again I return to watch Belgium v Morocco.  Again I find plenty to mumble about.  The close up of individuals faces, especially in the crowd, female referees!  Have they no pie stalls in Qatar?  Commentators and their mates exaggerating and talking baloney throughout.  There is always a lot to complain about in this house.  It's fun being a miserable old git!

The old git fell asleep and missed the only goal in the Morocco game also!  This is becoming a pattern.  

Maybe instead of watching more football I ought just to plan the week ahead, shop, spend, Post Office, spend, Parcelforce, spend, and maybe sort the Christmas cards out this time?  Maybe...

Saturday Sun and Football

 There was a pale sun shining through the thin cloud as I hobbled round to market this morning.  I went to obtain Thick Brown Tape for the pacjage I must send up north.  Luckily the cards I bought online from 'Etsy' arrived today, this means I can sort them out, send them off and finish others cards.  Only the one or two online shop left after this.  I boast to others about my good work, they are all very rude about it!  Apparently, though they have time, and have been aware Christmas is coming, they are not yet ready, many have not begun the task.  Naturally I rub it in, somewhat exaggerating my worth.  This does not win me friends.  

I had almost finished the bread I bought yesterday, this meant wandering into Tesco for a loaf, and only a loaf, but I accidentally bought other things, much needed, along with a, reduced price, bottle of Courvoisier Brandy.  I am not sure how that happened.  

When I got home I found I had forgotten the Brown Tape!

Fool!

 

Even I am wearying with all this non-stop football.  At the last World Cup I believe we only had three games a day at this stage, just like the Africa Cup of Nations also had.  Now we have four games daily until the knockout stage, and it takes a toll.  The routine has gone, things are rushed to fit in, and then the game is often ignored as other duties arrive.  I would love this if I were 15!  

However, one aspect is the chance to get involved with a stramash on Twitter about English football hooligans.  Naturally I trolled a wee bit, but the English are so imperialist, it comes out when you correct the media in that they are 'English fans, not 'British!'  Lots of laughs here!  The lack of knowledge about Scotland and the United Kingdom is apparent and all too easily brought forth.  Still, now I have several English enemies I did not have before, and one or two new friends.  It's all a laugh really.

 

Supreme Thrashing!

During the year 1707 the Scottish Lord's accepted many large bribes, retained their lands in England, and happily sold Scotland to English dominance without asking the people what they themselves wished.  The riots following indicated their position quite well I think.

Today the descendants of such Lord's have once again gone against the will of many Scots and bound Scotland to domination 'until England allows this.'   Any nation that has pride in itself will naturally be up in arms at this, not unexpected ruling, however, there appears to be online social outcry but little effective noise from the powers that be.  I wonder why?

The Scots government, led by the SNP, could as I understand it,

call an election based entirely on independence.  It would be good if those sitting as MPs in Westminster were also to resign their seats and force a by-election in each one.  Has Nicola got the desire for such things?  I do not believe she, her MSPs or her MPs have such willing.  Nicola enjoys being queen of the state, she cares little re independence, her power is more important, her MPs do not wish to lose £84,000 a year plus pension either. 

Once again Scotland is treated as a colony.  

Once again the Scots government will do nothing, while being well cared for thank you.

Once again England dominates a colony from which she dare not be free as she cannot pay her own way.

Once again Scotland loses out.

It is time for change.

I tried, honest I tried, but I could not watch Spain toying with Costa Rica.

As the thrusting, young, eager Spanish players warmed all over the unfortunate opponents I feared the worst.  Clearly this is not yet a Spanish side destined to win the World Cup, however, it is one with every chance this time.  

When the third goal went in and all over Costa Rica lunch was spoiled by the rioting natives I decided to join them, not in rioting but in looking away.  I returned to my Christmas shop.  Here I wished to make use of a voucher, from an unusual organisation.  I decided 'Waterstones' was the place to go online.  I searched, glanced back at the football to see the fourth goal go in, and looked away.  I sought books of solace, well anything really.  Every so often I glanced at the game, 5-0 now, I looked away.  I went through the rigmarole to pay and naturally the new voucher they say works is not represented here!  I paid anyway as well, I might as well.  With the post again on strike for two days they may be another Christmas present for me.

What?  Oh, 7-0 huh?  

OK, Costa were not going to win, this is the toughest group, and lots of goals will be sought at the Costa end.  Two more long games ahead for the goalkeeper...

Rain, Football

I am not the suspicious, cynical type as you know, however, when I wake to bright skies and sunshine, the warm air penetrating even into this dim lair, I expect it all to go wrong.  I know not why, living in this nation possibly is the reason, cynicism grows when the weather changes from baking sun to storm downpour every half hour.  

Living at the edge of Europe, cast out into the Atlantic, we receive the joy of west winds bringing rain all the way from the Americas.  Just take note of the hurricane season in Florida and a few days or so later that same storm will be dying out somewhere over Edinburgh.

With the joy of an east wind in winter, beginning in the Arctic circle, wending its way through Siberia and Poland and ending coming up my trouser leg, it is not to be surprised we are the people we are.

Southern winds are the opposite of cold northern winds, from the south comes Saharan heat, usually bringing sand with it, though only the very southern reaches notice this.  They might notice the little red Ladybirds that often accompany such wind, and they certainly notice the warmish southern rain from the Bay of Biscay.  As if we needed that!

Today the sunshines and the BBC tell us that rain, from the south, will follow on later.  How nice of them.  The people who lived in Doggerland would have known such things long ago.   I bet a swift sniff of the air told them almost as accurately as the powerful computers at the weather man's house can tell us today what the weather would be.  I am convinced that amongst the Mammoth tusks, spears and cooking utensils discovered on Dogger Bank there are also many umbrellas to be found.  They were not daft then.

 

Dunfermline Press

 

We have not even finished last years Euro 2020 as yet but tonight next seasons Scottish Football begins!  Kelty Hearts play Dundee United in the first Scottish League Cup game, this while last season has just finished!

In times past, we ended the season with the Scottish Cup Final, followed by the Scotland v England game.  That would usually be the end of April or early May.  There would follow all of June and most of July with no football whatsoever.  As a kid I hated this time!  Euro Championships were not shown at all, nor the World Cup shown until 1966, and the long wait for the season was too long for me then.  Today, I am tired of too much football without a break.  Covid meant Euro 2020 had to be put back a year, this means the next World Cup will be in 2022, next year!  This also means disruption as it is being held in Novemmber in Qatar and to avoid the heat it will be held in the dark!   Covid has not died, Bumbling Boris has failed to control the Johnson Variant, and all our football will be disrupted by the World Cup at that time.  What a shambles it will be.  Maybe we will get two weeks off next Spring before it all begins, but then that will be under LockDown again!

 

Telt ye!

Here I was, sitting here recovering after walking up the road, when I noticed it was raining.

This rain is coming straight down, stair rod fashion.

As I looked Twitter informed of a weather warning.

'Danger! Heavy Rain from, well, from Now until Then!' 

They could have warned me earlier.

Already the streets are swimming and the 'rush hour' is splashing its way slowly through the puddles.

Hee hee, I will not be out again today.