Leaflets

It is policy of Royal mail to deliver three items of junk mail to each and every house throughout the land.  This annoys some, pleases those who send them and irks badly the postie who has to carry 500 or so on top of all the other mail.  They do get a few pence for them, not as much as they did once, RM cut the payment to the postie while the useless union agreed.  It could be worse however, some time back they wanted the postman to carry 9 of these each week, increasing the weight in his sack three fold and adding about an extra half hour a day sorting the junk.  That at least failed.  
Here I have some regulars, the pizza advert being the most popular through the door and one of the worst to deliver.  Small 'Pizza Hut' pizza's start at around £10 -£15. I buy mine for £1 in Tesco.  Who bys these at that price, and how often do they bring them in?  Now I like a pizza now and again, though the nurse insists I don't, but I wonder how many folks laziness make use of home delivered pizzas rather than eating food?  Remember we also have 'Domino's' down the road and other smaller pizza outlets.  Now I like the idea of food delivered to the door, not that I like the price mind, but a cheap Tesco one suits me.  Clearly these leaflets work well when selling pizzas as everybody is dropping them weekly through our door.  
'Specsavers' is another regular one.  Clearly this company is doing well as every three months or so a wee mag drops in cheerfully advertising hugely expensive glasses while the girl is always disappointed when I go as I always plead pensioner poverty and go for the cheapest.  The girls are usually too young to know what that means!  This one I don't mind as I have to go sometime, I ought to go this year, and while today it features nothing relevant you never know.
'Sky' meanwhile are offering me a saving off £150 if I use their mobile.  The mobile on offer is one of those nice Chinese ones, 'Huawei,' you know the people who invest in your technology and pass all your secrets back to Beijing?  Well done 'Sky' that's just what I want, well I might if I had some friends to make phone calls to, which I haven't  so I will save a great deal more by recycling this one.
The beer club might be more popular however.  This one offers a free case off trendy beers, 8 in the case plus magazine and snack, and if you join the club you get the same, with differing beers each month for a mere £24 a go!  Hold on, if I buy in Tesco I get 8 beers for about £14 depending on what I buy.  Why pay more for 8 different drinks in which 6 might be rubbish?  Some might be tempted.  This reminds me of a man I once worked with, he belonged to the 'Whisky a Month club.'  He was so into this that when a friend looked after his house while he and the wife were on holiday (in far off Scotland visiting distilleries) she reported the place awash with bottles.  Each contained some whisky at different levels but they lay about all over the place.  I was not surprised to see him recently as he recovered from what looked like a stroke, I suggest I know a reason for this.    
From a business point of view these leaflets are worth it.  Deliver to 10,000 houses and depending on what you sell you will get enough business to make money.  Continue for ever there after and your business will grow or at least it will if you provide a good service.  Leaflets, junk mail, work!  You and I might dump them but most folks look through them before they are recycled.  That way one will eventually catch the eye and money is spent.  There after the leaflets continue.
My recycling bag likes them...

Fire!

I found it quite strangely hurtful to watch Notre Dame burn yesterday.  Strange as I have never been there but I suppose it was because of the long history of the building and the billion euro's it will cost to repair.  All that history lost in a few moments.
Already both the men renovating the building and a variety of Muslim groups have been unofficially blamed for starting the fire, the source of the blame having no evidence for any blame at any time naturally.  Far too early for anyone to know the reason for the fire although firemen will have quickly worked out where it began and possibly how.  We await the first evidence led report.  This however will not stop alt-right groups blaming Islamic types and if evidence shows otherwise cries of 'whitewash' will follow.
The loss of such buildings brings a variety of reactions, not least from the media who love such disasters.  Those 24 hour rolling news station have much to talk about, and repeat endlessly, all day and all night while waxing lyrical about the findings thereof.  There has been sentimental guff flowing from many sides, much desire to see the 'Crown of Thorns' made safe alongside other treasures from the museum.  Whether the thorns are indeed genuine I know not, if they are I would burn them before people worship them rather than Jesus.  One report emphasised the image of the golden cross above the altar gleaming in the mirk as the firemen posed at the door.  This was given heroic status while at the same time ignoring the real meaning of the cross, that would not sell to the public in the same manner.  
I like and dislike such buildings.  As interesting places to visit they are great, as history they tell us a great deal, especially when you follow the timeline down the years.  However rarely are such places real churches!  Ecclesiastical types who end up running these large buildings often have less interest in God than in ecclesiastical position.  Bishops can indeed know their God but too many are so far from them they ought to be deposed.  Such buildings are more heritage than Christian and a glance at the material sold in the church bookstall usually reveals where the church leaders stand. 
I have been round Westminster Abbey, a marvellous building with many national hero's and kings buried therein but is it a church or a national institution?  Durham Cathedral, where I had a short visit in the 90's is a tremendous sight, the columns just reach up into the heights and give a strange impression when you stare up at them.  If only I had a camera then?  Durham also contains the tomb of Bede the historian and Cuthbert the monk.  Both are worth visiting but are they true churches?  I doubt it.  In the 80's the new Bishop of Durham made clear he did not believe in most biblical doctrines, the Virgin Birth was one given much publicity at the time, yet he was appointed because of his academic talents.  This tells us much.     

Like many Abbey's, cathedrals and churches in the UK this one reaches back probably to a Gaulish pagan site which over the years has had a small church erected upon it, as here a larger then even larger building is erected until in the 1100's this great Cathedral was begun.  This would be dedicated no doubt to the glory of God but in truth such buildings are reflections of power, the Norman's rebuilt wooden Saxon churches in stone for this reason and vast stone cathedrals arose to impress upon the natives that they were the boss.  Most natives would of course be impressed yet their lives would change little, sow, reap and suffer was always their lot.  
As you know during 1185 Heraclius of Jerusalem called for the third crusade from the cathedral, and in 1481 Henry VI of England was crowned King of France here.  Happier news in 1537 James V. King of Scots married Madeline of France while in 1558 Mary, Queen of Scots married the Dauphin, that turned out well.  In 1804 Napoleon had himself crowned emperor by Pope Pius VII though I believe he took the crown and laid it upon his own head.  1831 the Victor Hugo novel about the hunchback was published creating a great interest in the building and leading to restoration work.  This would have included the bells had he stopped swinging on them. 
The vast number of people, clerics, congregation or workers who have passed through the building always impress me.  Some came for God, some obediently, many in desperation, many in anger.  The building has been the target of reformers and extremists with bombs, it has fans worldwide and cynics there also.  The poorest in France will wonder at the millions to be spent on a building while they continue to live as they do.  This building has seen many such societal differences!

Sunday Suffering

It's bee a rotten few days so far.  The problem with the line was fixed but now the laptop is running slow.  Speed ought to be around 50-60 and is as low as 2 at one point.  Today I have it at 10.  There is a routine to go through and I will do this once the football is over but it is a drag.
I have run all the scans from Avast to check things are not hindered by bugs,  that took hours late last night, and all is clear, the switch off and on routine and search BT is next.  At least the laptop is clear of bad boys.  
On top of this my wee cough was improving and suddenly turned nasty again, much more bronchial than before and meant I have not gone out.  This is worse than before and they wanted me to do two readings later in the week.  They had better pray well to see if this will clear up in time, it is not good, why me I cry while being grateful I do not suffer what others suffer. 

Good news however in that the Heart of Midlothian have reached yet another cup final.  This I was able to enjoy via the laptop yesterday.  How lovely to see the victory, how lovely to see goals for our side.  Sadly however Aberdeen today threw away the game v Celtic and lost, not only by having two men sent off for violent conduct but also having the manager and the assistant manager sent off for things said to officials.  I did not see this game, a thing called 'Premier Sports' has arisen to make money out of Old Firm games and I refuse to be conned by yet another money making scam!
So we look to the end of May when we meet the green bigots in yet another cup final.  We have played them three times in this game, winning twice, and look forward to the great day.

I see that nice Mr Farage has risen to oppose the 'establishment' again.  He has created the 'Brexit Party' to do this, a party including the CEO's of several large businesses and the sister of Jacob Rees-Mogg who has deserted the Conservative Party and boasts of being a mother for eight  years.  She failed to mention the nanny she pinched from Jacob or the private schools however.  So the elite are lining up to fight the er, establishment!
I see a problem here.
This of course is just Farage wanting to get into the EU house again and line his pockets, nothing more.  A cash cow stares him in the face, he will never get into Parliament and the money is his aim.  Add that to what he has made from Brexit and it is no wonder he can afford to smoke.
His new party has nothing to do with UKIP being accused of some £300,000 worth of illegal data being used during the 2016 referendum?  Clearly Farage would know nothing about this?  It would be trying if he and others, such as Boris and Michael, were to be drawn into something uncool would it not?
I await developments.

My BT Problem, Rugby Problems

This contained my BT problem.  This little box and the wire connected to it prevented me from receiving calls from people offering me tax refunds, changing bank accounts and allowing me to buy anti-virus supported by Microsoft.  All this, plus one or two nuisance calls - the family - because one wire was frayed and required replacing.
The new building next door has been awaiting connection to the mainline for some time but nothing could happen until the new telegraph pole (telegraph, what's that?) was installed.  That occurred Sunday and today the BT Outreach man arrived to plug them in.  Last night my great nephew contacted me via facebook, he is now an outreach engineer and he checked the line confirming a fault.  How he did this from near Edinburgh I did not ask as technology is beyond me.
Today I mentioned the fault to the engineer, made an online fault report, and almost immediately everything went dead!
You canny say they are not fast!
Within a short while all returned including the dead phone.
The men had installed the new line next door, found the corrupted wire, replaced this with new wire and all is well.  All in a mornings work.  Well done Outreach.
The internet and the football it contains, sorry I mean contact with friends and family it contains is important.  My life is lived through the web these days.  For instance when it went dead I had just found on Twitter a new relevant to the museum site concerning this area, the web is great for that.
So many good things but while it was down I was so lost I almost cleaned the fridge!
How sad can one get?
Of course now all is well I am not using the phone until tomorrow, when it is free for an hour...

Discrimination is rife in the world of Rugby Union Football.  One Australian player made a, somewhat rough, statement regarding the end for gays, atheists, liars, drunks and others when they die and meet Christ Jesus, reject the offer of life in Christ Jesus and Hell awaits.  This was a simple biblical statement certainly made in a 'straightforward' manner and has naturally brought upon his head the opposition of the gay lobby and the politically correct fear of the rugby authorities who do not wish anyone to attack them.  Israel Folau an Australian  rugby union international may well lose his position as the nations most important player because of his opinion.  In the rush to be seen as innocent of all charges his own team bosses are 'making enquiries' as to the matter.  I short washing their hands Pilate like.  Rugby is a man's game, especially in Australia, what a shame so few men lead the organisation running it and appear to be in charge of his own club.  
Folau has made it clear he will oppose any attempt to fire him from his rugby international contract, quite rightly, and we must now wait and see if the brave men running the game there will stand up for him and his right to free speech or run from the gay lobby and dump him.  
In England, Billy Vunipola, another rugby playing Christian, has defended Folau's right to speak.  He too now finds himself up before the authorities for offering biblical truth to the world led by the gay lobby that would reject truth.
We now live in a world in which biblical truth is pushed aside for 'political correctness,' that is the social pressure led by the gay lobby forcing the people to accept their demand to be accepted as they are, though no Christian has not done so, and bullying anyone, especially Christians who continue to point out God's views on the subject.  We are corralled into accepting their opinion and afraid to speak out against it.  Hitler's Germany had a similar approach to opposition.

What is the biblical view?
All men and women are born sinners, no-one will be saved on the day we face Christ Jesus, not one!
Therefore as we are totally lost God himself came down to earth in human form, lived some 30 years or so on earth facing the same problems we face, never sinned and gave up his own life after being hounded, arrested, beaten, ridiculed, scourged, and crucified, always offering forgiveness to his enemies, and dying on the cross as the price to pay for our, yours and mine, sin.  Our nature put him on the cross, only a perfect man can stand and none exist, Jesus, fully man and fully God took our punishment, was separated from his father, and the Father from him, so you and I could have an opportunity of salvation.
On the third day he rose again, he being sinless could not remain there, our sin could.
When he rose he offered 'repentance' the chance to change our ways and follow him and receive forgiveness and then by his grace the Holy Spirit who will lead us into a new life.  His life is hard but in the end glorious.  Even now it has its moments.  Nothing compares with knowing Christ Jesus, the living God!
Those who ignore or reject this offer then stand alone before God on that day that comes to us all, only their perfection will enable them to stand, and none are perfect.  One sin rejects us, how many have you?    
The chance of a new life is available, Folau and Vinipola have found this life and will suffer for it, all Christians do.  One day God will receive them through Jesus sacrifice, they wish all others, gays, drunks, liars, even politicians, to be save also, we have one life let us make the correct choice.

Wednesday Waffle

This delight was awaiting me as I came home the other day.  Only the Tories and Labour bother with our house.  Clearly they do not know the people within.  It was the phrase 'Conservative Action' that grabbed my attention.  With three years of Brexit inaction, Theresa going back and forth on her knees and the ERG knifing one another in the back there appears to be either no 'action' or too much of the wrong type of 'action' within the Conservative Party.
This area is of course very much a Tory stronghold and always has been, the 'Daily Express' sells well to people in big houses who ought to know better as well as to the 'Working Class Tory' who clearly doesn't!  UKIP made a big mark a few years ago and the people returned to the Tory vote only after an anti-EU showing, many here are not upset with them and with the MP seeking his fortune by keeping in (successfully) with the big names and ignoring his constituents his large majority will soon take a beating.  The upset voter may not bother to vote in this local election, too few do anyway, and with feelings high there is a possibility changes might occur.  
This however may fail as it is impossible to discover any information regarding the few who have put their names down as candidates.  These Tories and the usual losing Labour types apart we know nothing about the independents, it appears 'social media' is beyond them, the 'Green' candidate I have discovered works in some form of environmental work but otherwise nothing, even their very poor website did not mention him!  I say we must vote however with such a choice and such small minded voters it appears the 'democratic' election is going to be a farce.  
Funny how those who don't vote do complain mind.

I was sitting here idly watching some rubbish on the laptop when I realised I had one of these flea things chomping away at my hand.  Where did he come from?  No pets in here, I have not ventured out, so where did this brown beastie come from?  Indeed where did he go?  I flicked him away and ought to have killed him but I am now wondering where he is hiding, I may meet him again, he will not find fodder anywhere else in here.  How exciting, I have never been bitten by fleas before and now I have the chance to obtain Bubonic Plague, how historically interesting!  But stupid!

 

Busy Day.

Over four hundred kids plus mums came through the museum today, over 400!
One of the trails involves the younger ones seeking five different pictures each with a tray of sticky labels to attach to sheet. The stickies had disappeared!  This meant finding the sheets of new ones and cutting them up, but there were too few, someone had forgotten to order them.  Panic cutting while the crowds came in.  Mums pushing pushchairs, childminders with a tribe of tots, Grans and Granddads being hauled along by sweet angelic children, they said, all crowding in while I cut the sheets and attempted to fill the trays while the kids were cheerfully emptying them quicker than I could cut them.
The other trails required pencils, so mums took pencils for all kids, including those who could not write,meaning we had run out of them soon enough.  Someone sought pencils, sharpened others found in strange places (how do kids get them in there?) and one women began to moan in a manner that could have resulted in cynical remarks had she been near me, luckily she was not in my area.  
The exotic animals, snakes, frogs and things were on show but the crowd had to wait and the queue came back into the centre of the museum.  The kids did well while waiting, especially as I kept ploughing through them to fill wee trays with stickies while others went from one event to another.
Just after noon it began to quieten down.  Lunch helped lessen the flow.  
Another decent event, much fun with the kids, they were happy, the mums were happy and the staff exhausted.  Still that is what keeps us going...

Fault!

I saw a lot of this on Sunday.  I chose to walk home from church, having rejected the offer of a lift as I needed the exercise.  Naturally the rain started soon after and I was fair drookit by the time I got home.  This mood was not eased when shortly after shovelling what passed for lunch down my throat the internet went!
This of course is a disaster, for one I was watching German football and for another it keeps falling out.  On the occasions it returns I find I have had a fault cleared but it keeps coming back, the phone line is also dead and they (that is BT) claim I have an 'Open Fault' while claiming service in my area is OK.  I will therefore have to spend time going through the system to check my end to find it is their end, but will things work?
I did try yesterday to check but this killed the internet for hours as I am wary of intervening until tomorrow or later when I can spend time shouting at it.  It is probably this end but I fail to see how.  The phone matters not as I only use it at weekends and rarely do I get calls but from scammers.  So that can wait but the web must stay alive or I have to actually meet people!  That will never do!

   
Tonight I must rest, tomorrow is museum day with the Easter holidays upon us.  This means the attraction of parrots and other 'exotic' creatures will bring in hundreds of little ones and bring us to our knees by lunchtime.  I may be back by Wednesday...

History in Film

The year is 1902and this short film taken outside St James Church, Hull, is full of interest.
The year 1902 saw the end of the Second Boer War and the British Army adopt Khaki Serge instead of Red Coats, Vladimir Lenin was spending a year at the British Museum reading room, a man named Harry Jackson was convicted this year on fingerprint evidence, the first man to be caught this way.  During that year the Royal Navy introduced its first submarine HMS 'Holland,' a device some thought ungentlemanly,  then too Arthur Balfour became Prime Minister for a short while, his education act enabled local councils to build and run schools while Elgar's 'Land of Hope and Glory' had its pompous premier.  That year saw Hibernian win the Scottish Cup and failed to win it again for 114 years, and the Ibrox disaster occurred when wooden planking gave way and 25 were killed falling through the gap with over 500 injured.  A new King was crowned at much expence, Edward VII became monarch after many years of waiting but I suspect he did not give up his many other women just because of the job.  The citizens of Hull would have flown flags and banners, decorated the buildings and had a party to celebrate this great event, and drink a great deal I expect. 
This appears to be a well populated church with those from all classes in attendance.  In 1902 people dressed in their best for church and it is clear many here have the funds to dress well.  Many 'top hats' sit on heads, only the higher classes wore these while the middle class managers wore bowlers or similar.  Note how long it took all those to dress in the morning!  Service at 10 or 11 must have meant getting up at least three hours beforehand for the women.  Just think of the fuss in the morning as they struggled to get ready.  
Vast numbers of children tumble out, all as obedient as kids today I note, each one desperate to be in front of the camera.  Again it appears they are very middle class but behave as all young ones do.  I wonder how many were to read Kipling's 'Just So' stories that year or possibly E Nesbit's 'Five Children and It.' 
Almost all the men wear waistcoats with watch chain showing, some carry sticks, useful in rough areas, but all also wear those itchy 'Long Johns' and 'Granddad' vests as well as shirt, tie, jacket and overcoat!  How comfortable in the sunshine was that?  Most also had moustaches or beards, the 'Gillette Safety Razor' had only recently seen the patent application applied for and would not arrive for four more years.  Some say it was his success in supplying troops during the Great War that saw these razors become standard, most men in the picture would have used an open blade while shaving, hence the beards!  
Would these upright people have read Arnold Bennett's 'Anna of the Five Towns,' or Sherlock Holmes adventure 'The Hound of the Baskervilles?' 
The church was full but how many were there because of social convention?  How many were true believers?  Social pressure ensured full churches and the teaching, if good, affected the way society behaved.  The churches were less full after the Great War when faith was tested to the nth degree.
The church itself was demolished in the 1950's.
How interesting to look at people who no longer exist!  I wonder if they ever saw the film of themselves, what did they make of this new contraption that captured you on film moving about?  The young ones were all interested at the novelty, some old ones clearly disapproved of being filmed, was there a fascination with the wonderful new inventions that kept arriving in those days?  Did they see the future of the world as a glorious experience?  Could they imagine it all going wrong a few years later?    

The Blurb on YouTube is this:-

 

Gy Jones.

This is a congregation leaving St. James Church in Hull, England in 1902. A rare view right into the turn of the century (most of the films from this time are in extremely murky condition). Set at a natural speed with some added sound ambience to give it the feel of a looking through a time machine. The film is from the Mitchell and Kenyon collection.

 

 

Tired Tuesday

You may not have noticed but as far as I can make out the Brexit thing is still ongoing.  As I write the PM, someone called May, has locked her cabinet in Downing Street, removing their phones, shoelaces, belts, sharp objects and not allowing them to contact a lawyer while she decides what they are thinking.  It appears that the PM might make an appearance soon, late enough to avoid the 6 O'clock news, so fewer people notice it, then she will tell the world what her cabinet has decided and how wonderful it is to be 'Strong and Stable' and that she intends to reign as sovereign for life.   
This may not be good.

'Breaking!  The 'Daily Mail' has a new headline.  "Theresa May says Brexit will be delayed AGAIN after epic nine-hour Cabinet stand-off as she promises talks with Jeremy Corbyn on joint plan for final UK-EU relationship."

More bull this time involving Corbyn.  So a 6, 7, 8, 9 hour cabinet meeting (depending which paper you read) leads to nothing.  I am surprised. 

Elsewhere other MPs are resigning from cabinet, Parties or the local coffee shop as the caffeine is not helping them keep calm while in the House.  Instead they have turned to the House bars where cheap booze helps them sleep.  
In the real world murder, rape, theft, speeding cars, divorcing/marrying celebs/royals fill the gutter press and help most of the population ignore what is happening in No 10.  I suppose some people prefer celebs to reality, I understand there are also an increasing number of royal stalkers, the ones who follow the royals and whom the police have decided are just a little over the top.  I suspect most who follow royals or empty celebs are a wee bit over the top myself.
Being over the top in normal in our liberal society, a society in which we make up the rules as we go along and in the end have nothing but a glorious mess.  One result is the violence offered, through social media, by those who disagree with you!
I read this in the 'Scotsman.'   "Joan McAlpine, who chairs the Holyrood committee which is scrutinising the Census Bill for the 2021 census, has been called a “transphobe”, “trash” and told to “f*** off” for raising concerns around the deficiencies in the way the consultation was carried out around planned changes to the sex question, which was being conflated with gender identity."
Nothing new these days in such a response.
The whole 'gender' issue is such that we are not allowed an opinion today instead we must accept what 'they' decide is normal.  Add to this politicians rush to accept every daftie in the world to show they are on their side leaves us with a law, written and unwritten, that is impossible for many to accept, for lawyers and police to implement and one that will bring many decent people into trouble.  The SNP member is one such.   
Christians must state clearly we are born male and female, there is no other!  It is not possible to be born in the wrong body as science has proved and those who believe they have been, if they really believe this, require help nit justification.  However it is difficult to state this publicly as situations as seen above result.  Lobby groups composed of such people insist we must obey and threaten violence, very similar to Brexiteers placing items on rail lines offering to disrupt society as seen today. 
Where does this hate come from?
The loss of Christina values, often feeble taught but generally accepted to some extent, the liberal approach that says 'if it feels good do it,' and an attitude that no-one can tell you what to do becomes the norm.  Confusion and disaster is the norm.
Oh and climate change is happening also, sleep well....  

Busy Week

It's been a busy and tiring week.  The virus tried to kill me at the start when enduring the museum meeting, then a day's work the next day followed by the housework missed since time immemorial.
Thursday saw our Museum awards evening and while I intended to sleep off the week on Friday I was ordered out to take pictures of Keith Flint's funeral as it passed through Bocking on its way to St Mary's, Bocking.

Having survived work (the term is used loosely) I made it to the Annual Awards ceremony where volunteers are rewarded for their time and effort.  All receive something,  mine was for changing a light bulb, and the dressed up and wells scrubbed ladies looked so different from their normal appearance.  Of course normally they have been dealing with children so this does make a difference.
The big boss from the trustees came along and presented the awards.  She done this very well smiling when she had too, listening intensively, asking the right questions, and laughing at the right place.  What she really thought was well hidden.
So a glass of cheap wine and back home to fiddle the pictures taken in poor light and prepare for a day of rest.

Almost the first thing to arrive at my email on Friday morning was an order to get down to Keith Flint's funeral and get pictures for the museum.
Flint's family moved to Chelmsford and split up and Keith himself had trouble at school.  It appears he was dyslexic and a bit rowdy being thrown out at 15.  He worked as a 'roofer' and became front and took to the 1980's 'acid house scene.'  By 1990 he became the dancer and front man for a music combo called 'Prodigy.'  
This band became famous during the 90's and the 'electronic music' was much admired by that generation because they smoked funny cigarettes while having it blasted in their earholes.  The singles such as 'Firestarter' and 'Breathe' helped them sell around 25 million records worldwide.  This is not my kind of music, music ceased in 1974 when 'Abba' appeared on the scene, but they spoke to a generation as music does and retained a large following in this area.  Keith, known as 'Keef' in the southern English manner, lived in a large house not far from here in Great Dunmow.  Music which sells brings rewards.  
Keith  took part in events in the area and appeared a decent likeable bloke in many ways.  He had an aggresive side, once attempting to get into the pilots cabin by knocking down the door and had to be restrained, possibly the result of drugs, yet remained popular and an animal lover.  His house was designed to attract wildlife as well as having space to play with his motorbikes!  He lived in the house with his Japanese wife but recently they had become estranged and she was in the far east rather than with him.  It appears however he had a tendency to depression and a month ago while alone he chose to hang himself.
He was 41.

The cortege was due to leave at 3 pm, I limped sown to what I thought an appropriate spot arriving at 2:30.  There I, alongside a gathering crowd, waited, and waited, and waited.  We expected things to be late but it was ten to four before the cortège arrived.  
The crowds applauded and cheered, in the background 'Firestarter' and other Prodigy music blasted out as they passed, indeed had been blasting out all day.  The six black horses somewhat nonplussed by the crowds appeared ready to run, I suspect they are more used to reserved occasions and must have been difficult for the driver to control.  
There followed a stream of cars and also motor bikes, Keith had his own team in the Isle of Man TT and was a biker enthusiast.  Crowds then followed and while I would have liked to join them the distance to the church was far too much for my knees.  The crowds at St Mary's danced  away the time, outside and inside the pub, while offering respect for he man and the service relayed on Tannoy outside. 

   
This was a very different happening to the one I attended the night before.  We had a rather happy gathering and I have already begin to prepare my acceptance speech for next year.  On Friday the atmosphere was different but not what you might call sombre.  Death tends to make people think about life yet there was none of that visible in the crowds here.  Not that we can tell what was going on in their heads however the Spring sunshine enlivened people, children looked to the event, beer and who knows what else certainly kept others minds of reality and the well behaved crowd were part mourners and part celebrants of an event, I know that was my position.  Had I not been ordered to attend I doubt I would have noticed the happening.  
  

Dear oh Dear...

After the meeting yesterday I was very tired, the bug fightng back again, and I was home and asleep by 7:30.  Even after I rose at seven, having been awake since six, I still felt the weariness upon me.  Just how weary was to show later.
Early morning talk discussed the meeting whereupon heads once again banged the desks mutterings thing not quite comprehensible.  A longing for the next one did not arise.  I decided tea was the answer and prepared in my usual manner the cups for myself and my colleague with a smile on my face and cheeriness in my heart.  I filled the kettle, switched it on and left to set up the day.  
Imagine my surprise then when I returned to our small cramped kitchen to find the two cleaners sniggering outside.  On entering the place was like a sauna and he had been mopping up the water from the walls.  Some fool had switched on the kettle, left the lid up, and hopped it.  Thus when boiled it continued to boil without ceasing as the lid was up and thus the water evaporated, or at
least tried to but in the small cramped kitchen it just drenched everything.
With a guilty face I denied everything....
Everyone blamed me.
The day continued well enough as little happened for a while except my easy way of upsetting a Ukipper.  For some reason Brexit was mentioned as we chatted to the cleaner, it stops him working, and she next to me gave out the 'Everything will be OK, trade deals will be good' chat that falls easily from such Brexiteers.  Her info is found in the pages of the 'Daily Express' and she, like many, wish it to be true.  I indicated trade deals will be difficult and even Liam Fox has admitted that.  So far he has tentative deal with the Faroes and Burundi or some such and does not wish to discuss the USA demand that we give them the NHS before any deal is struck.  She did not like this and went of and has not spoken to me since.  
This got me thinking.  So many intelligent, usually thoughtful decent people have swallowed the Brexit lie and they cannot and will not accept anything other than what they wish to believe.  This is worrying.  It is as if a great deception has warped the minds and no debate is possible, only one answer is right and all others are wrong, 'Brexit will work' is the mantra even though it has proven otherwise.  Several million decent people have this problem, what caused this?
I have mentioned before that this could be a judgement on the nation, how else could such a situation exist when the false 'liberal' attitude has allowed wrong to be seen as right?  We also have Trump in the White House, put there by evangelicals who wish to stop abortion (good) and same sex marriage (good) but who allow an adulterous liar with an aptitude that makes him unfit for office to rule the world.  God rules the world, how else but by demonic activity or judgement could this be allowed? 
The human side is clear, although 'clear' is not a word that can be used in the House of Commons at the moment.  We can see how people got into this mess but not how they can get out.  Sadly the situation defies simple explanations, I wonder what unexpected happening will occur soon?  
Anyway I finished my day by cutting out various parts of a body, no I don't know why either, and sauntered home via Sainsburys expensive prices to fall asleep for well over an hour.  I suggest 'brain work' is wearing me out but few appear to agree with me here.    
I look forward to hearing what tomorrow brings from my bed...

The Meeting

It started badly.
While I was there on time the main man was not.  A goodbye presentation at the same time reflecting his organisational powers.  The tables were surrounded by our lot, in my half asleep state (it was my siesta time after all) I hardly noticed some of them.  The top table was full of organised chaos awaiting those absurd questions that are not only out of place but sound as if they were replies from Theresa May.  
We waited.
People fiddled with pieces of paper, sipped drinks while the females had nothing to discussbut discussed it anyway.
We waited.
He began discussing local Mills, all gone bar one or two.  My eyes opened enough to acknowledge this point but failed to revive as Mills, flour mills that is, hold little interest for me.
We waited.
The one in charge glanced at the clock and she came to the conclusion we could get most things done and dusted quicker if we began now rather than wait any longer, otherwise he might join in.
She next to her began with comments re upcoming events she runs and the 'wonderful work of the volunteers without which nothing could be achieved.'  Meaning she wanted help with the events.
A few minutes past with the discussion which did not come across my path so I kept very quiet while they blethered on.  
Next Boss one gave a short mention to her ideas, none of which I remember for some reason.  The acoustics are poor and my hearing does not like them so I missed much of this so quietly slipped under the table unnoticed.  
Then a short discussion on upcoming events which I could not hear.  This was short and did not mention the big one nor me in any way, so I remained prone on the floor. 
We waited again.
She went to phone him and disappeared for a while.
We waited.
Convinced she had gone to cafe for coffee we waited.
Eventually she returned claiming he was on the way.
We waited.
I now had enough waiting and talk of mills, few spoke while I pondered on what one lass was scribbling down throughout the meeting.  Most of this did not involve her yet she has pages of notes, I merely had delirium tremors and began to see spiders on the ceiling.
He arrived and having sorted his paperwork began. 
The enlightening talk (he said) concerned the next five year plan.  For some reason I saw us all in Blue Military uniforms holding little red books in our hands, but that might have been just delirium again.
Page after page of the long term aims were presented all of which forgot one little thing, no money! On top of this there is the Brext effect and the dirty big hotel being built, probably from Autumn, opposite our site which will restrict visitors, hamper buses of schoolkids and merely line some councillors pockets, allegedly.  
The last redesign was magnificent but failed as George Osborn became Chancellor and brought in austerity for everyone bar himself.  Our money was cut then cut then cut, we now do it alone with a wee grant!
This plan may not arrive, if it does it will take five years to begin let alone finish.
Nevertheless the fact that none of this will happen in our lifetime did not stop questions being raised that may or may not be required in the distant future.
Sipping slowly on the quarter bottle of 'White horse' that I had brought for emergency I sat quietly muttering to myself as the discussion concerned what the Hall looked like 20 years ago or indeed what would happen if.....
I could take no more, I slipped into consciousness and slipped out the door and made my way to Tesco's where reality returned to me once more.
Tomorrow I have to go back to the museum and do it for real this time, I look forward to hearing peoples interesting comments re the meeting, I really do...

Spring has Sprung!

The chill wind sneaking across Essex from the North Sea did not hide the fact that Spring has Sprung and brightness is upon us.  We can look forward to more light, longer days, blossoming flowers and concentrate on such things while ignoring Brexit.  The birds chirp in the trees while eating the new buds as they appear, the wood pigeons chase each other keenly and the Sparrows have worked out how to hang onto the feeders.  
I contemplated this a wee bit as I trudged down to church to be renewed in spirit and cheered by all the young women ("cough") asking after me.  I had to be there as I was reading.  I made use of my best North Edinburgh voice in between coughing fits bringing a 'thumbs up' from one, a 'cracking voice' from another and 'Scots git' from one of the Ukip persona.  Tee Hee, she does not like me interfering with the Ukip stuff he puts on facebook, she attempted to bite me twice!  I was glad she was in a good mood.  

I was a bit worried last night when I noticed the early Sunday papers were suggesting a coup would take place removing Mrs May and replacing her as 'temporary' Prime minister one Michael Gove!
Michael, the man who stabbed Boris in the back because his wife told him to, has become famous for his weasel ways and interesting ideas.  Some make sense, most do not appear thought through and those that are become presented simply to make him look good, they will never be put into action.
Even worse appeared this afternoon when Theresa called a meeting at Chequers her PMs country hideaway.  Several important personnel were invited to push through the next step of the plan she does not have.  Who attended?  These are who:-

Boris Johnson, the would be PM with the integrity of a louse.

Dominic Raab, the one who did not understand how important Dover was to the economy.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the millionaire member forthe 1700's who has already mad several million from Brexit and advised his people to put their money in Dublin, where his now lies.
David Davis, the Brexit secretary who did not read his briefs, or any paperwork or indeed do anything but got well paid for it.
Iain Duncan Smith, dearie me where do we start....?
Damian Green, fired for watching porn on his Westminster laptop, many others 'history' was cleared soon after, and a May loyalist.  
David Lidington, in theory next in line to PM but does not wish to be PM.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, who?
Chief Whip Julian Smith, didn't he whip the party and then voted against last week?
Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis, have you heard of him?
Steve Baker, ?
Alistair Burt, ?
Oh and it appears Rees-Mogg brought along one of his sons to take part or nick things is not clear.

The big cars sit in the drive, the millionaires with little comprehension or care re normal people cogitate and fight for position inside, the people await the result, knowing it will change as soon as the cabinet meets on Tuesday.  
I wonder if Kim Jong Un could drop one of his missiles on Chequers?

The Venomous Bead sums things up well.

On a brighter note Scotland beat San Marino by two goals to nil today.  This is the fourth time they have played them in San Marino always winning by two goals to nil.  Better teams than tonight's have obtained this result but people still complain the manager is bad the team is bad and they know what to do about things.  They don't actually.  This is the same nonsense we always have because Scotland considers itself a Big Team but it in these days merely middle ranking.  However we are supposed to stuff little teams by many goals, something we have rarely ever done.  Certainly there are glaring problems but removing the failing manager will not answer those.  Many changes required behind the scene, these will not be happening and we had better hope we produce a higher quality of man or just get used to things being as they always are.

Friday Frolic...

Not much of a frolic merely a walk up to B&M's to buy seed for the birds.  At least under the gray skies these daffs were still blooming.  The brightest things to be seen on a dreich day.
I took a couple of pics of things only to find that Microsoft had 'updated' the 'Photos' ap thereby making it difficult to play around with the pictures.  All the usual things are still there but now they are shifted around and difficult to find.  The obvious things are hidden and it is unclear where anything is.
Why do 14 year old geeks get allowed near these things?
'Photos' was a reasonable system yet now it is confusing and clearly not improved by someone who actually uses the thing.  I not 'Outlook' was updated recently and again the first thing you look for is not in an obvious position it is hidden or placed in an out of the way part of the system!  
Have these drugged up geeks not heard about KISS?  I suspect most have yet to hear about women to be honest, 'Keep It Simple Stupid' or 'do the obvious thing' and all will be well, that of course does not go down among the lads in silicon valley....

Hidden from the main road is this old chapel.  Originally owned by the Quakers it is now in possession of the local Sally Ann.  It lies behind an undertakers that at one point in the late 19th century worked as a 'Beer Shop,' not a pub just a place to buy beer.  This was a haphazard system to stop people drinking Gin which was ruining the nation.  People drank less gin but more beer and drunkenness became a problem!  Who would have thought...?
Next door is a house I would have loved to buy if I had money.  It also sits far back from the road and goes back well into time.  Sadly the person selling wanted thousands of pounds for this and the loose change in my pocket did not cover it.  Further along another building, this time commercial, also sits back from the road, I am left wondering why?  Possibly I will never know.

From Brexit to Figs

Having remained indoors desperate to hear information concerning our glorious leaders trip to Brussels (again) I am forced to reuse old photos lying about the laptop.  This makes a change from politicians lying about Brexit.  I also signed the 'Cancel Brexit' petition which has gathered over a million signatures, remember you only need 100,000 to demand a debate in the House, and while the PM will refuse to 'Revoke Art 50 and Remain' at least it gets the nation talking and doing something.  I note the 'Daily Mail' has immediately done something it has suggested that all the signatures come from North Korea and Afghanistan!  Nothing like decent journalism there.  It is clear the lack of decent journalism in the 'Daily Mail' has gone a long way to encourage Brexit and the hate of foreigners that pervades the country.  Last night a man smashed mosque windows in Birmingham and how much of the tabloid racism fed into that?  I would like a police investigation into Paul Dacre while DM editor and also the other racist led tabloids, that would be interesting but I doubt it would be allowed.

Sitting in here staring rather vapidly and the laptop has been very enjoyable.  I managed some housework, not much, and stuffed myself with figs from the storage cupboard.  I did this once I had noticed the 'Eat by' date was the 27th of February!  Tomorrow I finish another bag dated 20th March!  I really ought to check that store a bit more often.  There again if I do I may have to eat considerable quantities of I know not what and that may cause problems.  I bought these so I could chomp them, or indeed the dates I also possess, instead of chocolate.  This was to save my teeth, though both are sweet, and better for me, although not if eaten a bag at a time I suspect.  Only now after two long months am I getting things back into order and shopping for healthy stuff has to start soon.   This is not to say chocolate is not on the menu as it, like other bad stuff, sometimes slips through.  

Tuesday Twaddle

It's been a gray day here in the land of fun and frolics.  The cloud has hung over us all day offering a bit of chill also and this has led me to seek out a sun filled photo from the past.  How lovely to be by the sea where the sun shines, the aid is filled with romantic aromas and people smile at you as they pass, sometimes.
Instead I sat in the museum cutting a yard length of wool and rolling it into a wee ball and adding it to the thousands already made for s project the schools now enjoy annually.  Thankfully people came in to annoy me as doing this drives one bonkers!   One lass brought her young toddlers and once again it amazed me how many arms a child has.  No matter what he did to him he always managed to get his mitts on something we wished he would avoid.  They at least enjoyed their day, this lass comes often, and indeed spent money, so I smiled a lot.  
I might have mentioned my virus, and today one lass from the church came looking for items to send to the USA.  She also made me aware why so many people didn't speak on Sunday, most ran off early as indeed did I.  So many if them have my bug, or are in hospital or some other condition which made them disappear quickly.  My prayer list is longer than I wish.  Add this to the others I already have there and this could be a full time work.  This virus has taken several out, others like me have gone through it, and I suspect others yet will suffer it, I hope none of the kids get it.  I suppose a church will lots of elder individuals will suffer this way when bugs are around.  
In between people offering donations, buying stuff or just coming in to chat I managed to return to my wool work and returned to seeing spiders crawl up the wall after doing this for a while.  My Lawyers 'Grabbit & Runn' will be notified.
Brexit we hear is to be postponed for three months, maybe two years, or not as the case may be.  I am not convinced this will cheer up the EU dignitaries who are already tired of Theresa's visits.  Maybe they will demand she fills out visa applications if she wishes to go again?  

Monday Maudling

Another day of joy and gladness passes by.  This time the joy comes from visiting the happy smiling lass in Tesco, getting home before the sky turned a dark gray and rain hammered down for a while. Joy yesterday came from trundling down to the church and getting a lift home rather than walking into the stiff chilly breeze.  
How nice to get out again and get back into the old routine.  Speak to friends, get up to date news, place IOU in offering bag, the usual things on a Sunday morning.  Unfortunately I then had to watch far too many poor football games.  I managed however....
Tomorrow is museum day and while I would rather lie in bed still I suppose I must go.  It means I do not have to watch John Bercow put Mrs May in her place.

 

Good old John has dug out a law dating from 1604 that will not allow May to run the same question through parliament for the third time.  Poor May, maybe she will be glad about this, maybe she will seethe.  Either way it is good for the nation.  

But what will happen?  What is going on behind the scenes?  Again the DUP in Northern Ireland are holding out for money, again bribes are on offer, again lesser parties are helpless and again the elite line their pockets while the people suffer.

By the way I notice Mr Farage has launched his 'Walk from Sunderland to London' in support of 'Leave.' I was somewhat surprised, but not much, to learn that he is walking via his helicopter (who pays for that?) while the 'people' follow on the ground.  There is something of the Moseley about Farage, rich, pompous but unlike Moseley he fails to get elected anywhere so why does he get so much publicity I wonder?