Norfolk Boy in NC

The Big Move

2012-01-25T10:34:00.003-05:00

Six years ago today, we said goodbye to some dear friends at Málaga Airport before flying to London to prepare for our biggest move yet.

Saying goodbye to Andalusia was hard, but our five-year "vacation" had to end some time. On reflection, I'm not sure if, when we had decided to retire to the Costa Del Sol five years previously, that we really thought that we would spend the rest of lives there. It was certainly good while it lasted. The weather was amazing compared to the dull, gray days which seem to prevail in Norfolk since my retirement. The Andalusian culture, when not spoiled by the many ex-pats from northern Europe, was a delight and we made many friends, both Spanish and English.

Ronda - a must for our many visitors

The wonderful city of Málaga. I never tired of this view from Gibralfaro

Our granddaughters spent their summer vacations with us, as did friends from England. As for us, well who could resist the delights of Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Ronda, all on our doorstep. But after visits to our son, who was by this time, living with his American wife in Durham, North Carolina, we both realized that the beautiful Old North State would be a better place to make our forever home.

So, for the second time in five years, we sold our home with all it's contents and on that early morning, with all the possessions that mattered to us in two (large) suitcases, flew to London Gatwick, booked into a hotel in Horley to spend the rest of the day preparing for the biggest move of our life.

January

2012-01-23T20:19:00.000-05:00

A year ago, almost to the day, I posted that although February was my least favorite month, I wasn't particularly fond of January either.

Today reinforces that viewpoint. The weather is what I call "raw". Although currently 45F, which isn't too far off normal, it's gray, damp and miserable. Even though I'm not a huge outdoor kind of guy (especially at this time of year) the weather definitely effects my mood. However, tomorrow looks good and we're back in mid 60s again with plenty of sun!

Being the start of the new year January always has the promise of things "looking up", but to me usually fails. It's not just the weather, it's a month when our household seems to have more than our fair share of bills. You know, the insurance premiums, auto inspection, license tags, etc., and of course it's when most of us start thinking of tax returns.

Now that the insurance premiums have been paid, the car inspected, tagged and serviced and, wonder of wonders, the tax returns have been filed, should I be hip-hip-hooraying that these are out of the way for another twelve months? Of course I should and I am. As usual I soon remind myself how fortunate I am to have the means to do this, a roof over my head and food in the pantry.

So, so many haven't and it angers me to see those "would-be Presidents" having the nerve to tell us that they know what's going on and that they are going to do something about it . . . if only we will vote for them.

There, that's warmed me up - my blood is beginning to boil!

Here's Hoping

2012-01-03T17:03:00.001-05:00

Although I had every intention of posting yesterday, the gremlins got to my (not so) trusty Vaio laptop. After several months of increasingly irritating problems, it refused to do anything on start-up despite all my efforts.

New laptop? I hadn't budgeted for one in the 2012 family budget - big mistake! With congressional debate (that's myself and Gail, not the Capitol Hill version), a decision was made (obviously not the DC version!) but one which had to dip into the "discretionary" fund. Not another laptop, but a new desktop. More bangs for our bucks. A day of setting up, transferring files, software and the like and I'm ready to blog.

I'm not one for New Year resolutions, never have been. If you want to change your life, January 1 is no guarantee that it's going to happen. A good starting point yes, but so is any day. In my view you have to change your life by, well, just getting on with it. That's my "bite the bullet" philosophy (after a board meeting with my CEO naturally - usually made during a bedtime discussion).

No resolutions, but like most, I do have hopes for 2012 however. The most obvious is world peace - wishful thinking perhaps. Another is that the world has a greater awareness, and the determination to act, on environmental issues. An end to hunger - an achievable goal if only the first of my hopes is realized. Perhaps the most unrealistic of my hopes is that those who pursue public office actually serve those they represent - that's you and me folks, not themselves or the corporate giants.

A word my previous CEO would not accept was "hopefully". It just wasn't in his vocabulary. He insisted on "certainly". "Certainly" has to be worked at. If only we could all (including world leaders) do that, we could perhaps have the "hope" that world peace could become a reality.

Love is a bigger word than war. I can dream can't I?

Christmas present

2011-12-26T11:17:00.002-05:00

My previous post was a memoir of Christmas Past.

Fifty-five years later, the Christmas experience is very different. Most of my family of that time, the majority of whom lived within 10 miles, are no longer with us. I now have a family of my own, who are spread over three countries and two continents. Indeed, I now live 4,000 miles from my home town.

As a child I was part of a larger family, now the "blood family" is much smaller. However, I now have a larger "family of friends" in many parts of England, Ireland, Spain and the US. I am referring to "real" friends and, with respect, not the multitude of "social networking friends" that many have (I make a point of "friending" only those I know personally on such networks).

"Present" also means "a gift" and I had more than my fair share of these yesterday. I also experienced the gift of a loving family, near and far, including an hilarious six a.m. "conference call" to our Norfolk, England family, where our wonderful granddaughters were enjoying their day and getting our day off to a good start.

Later our church family provided more love and cheer at Holy Eucharist, whilst after opening and exchanging gifts with our son and daughter-in-law we shared a wonderful Christmas dinner.

The definition of blog is, as I understand: "a Web site containing the writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having links to other Web sites."

I fear that this post is more of a journal entry than the above and sharing photographs is lacking (mainly because, unlike my daughter and daughter-in-law, I don't take many photographs), but I am working on posting more regularly. If no one reads the posts I don't mind, I enjoy writing, albeit not too well and that's my motivation. I enjoy reading the blogs of others and as long as they don't included incitement to intolerance and hatred, it makes us help us understand each other.

Memories of Christmas Past

2011-12-19T21:21:00.003-05:00

“Christians, awake, salute the happy morn!”

The time was 4 a.m. I awoke from a deep sleep to hear dad coming up the stairs singing his favorite Christmas carol. He had done this every Christmas Day I could remember. “Rise and shine” were his first words directed at me, “breakfast is ready.” There was no “Happy Christmas son”. It was work as usual for dad and my job, even as a twelve year-old, was to help him serve his customers, Christmas Day or not, as quickly as possible to enable him to have at least some time to enjoy the festivities. I hadn't had much sleep, having attended midnight mass, so it was always a struggle to rouse myself from a warm, cozy bed.

Traditional Christmas breakfast was, even at that early hour, always the same. Cold pork pie with an egg in the middle (this I have recently discovered was called a “Grosvenor pie”), pickled onions and HP brown sauce, washed down with a mug of hot steaming tea. Dad must have had a palette of iron as he always drank his tea scolding hot. In fact he could not abide his hot food going cold, as he always said, “hot means hot, not luke-warm”.

I was putting off drinking my tea and blowing on it with the hope of it cooling down, but there was no time for delay. Dad’s customers came first. The milk had to be delivered to enable them to enjoy their holiday.

Cycling to the dairy took us ten minutes or so. The streets were deserted and dark, in those days only one in three or four streetlights were left on from midnight to six a.m. It was more often than not very cold, not helped by the strong winds blowing off the North Sea and usually raining. I cannot ever remember a white Christmas, but can remember many wet ones.

It didn’t take long to load the milk float. I was used to lifting the metal crates of pint, half-pint and even quart glass bottles of “pasteurized” (silver top), “TT (tuberculin tested)” (red top) and “Jersey” (gold top) milk. As I often helped Dad during school holidays - not that I was expected to, I just loved doing it, making me feel grown up I suppose – I knew all of his many customers and their orders, so unless there was a change in the order, we didn’t talk much. I delivered on the left side of the road whilst Dad looked after the right (drivers’ side).

We had usually finished and were back home for hot mince pies by 8:00 a.m. After a quick change, I then joined Mum and some of my paternal family (although not Dad) by attending Christmas morning mass at the local R.C. Church. Even though Mum was Church of England, she had been educated at a Roman Catholic school (I never did find out why), so we had to sit out the Communion.

By the time we had Christmas Dinner, which Dad had prepared and got started, it was time for a great English tradition - "The Queen's Speech". Dad an I normally took a nap before walking to my aunt's home for the family get together. After yet another enormous meal we retired to the rarely used parlor, where a coal fire was already roaring away. With an Uncle tickling the ivories we always had a sing-song, gradually getting hotter and wearier as the evening progressed. Around 11:00 p.m. the women would disappear into the kitchen and after a while, a head would pop round the door to state, "Supper's ready".

How we ate all that food I'll never know, but by the time Christmas Night turned into Boxing Day, we were walking home and were ready for bed as, of course, the next morning milk had to be delivered again.

By the way, I can never hear or sing "Christians, Awake", without remember my very happy childhood, thanks entirely to a wonderful, loving family.

Bloggers cramp?

2011-12-16T08:54:00.003-05:00

My blogging statistics for 2011 have not been good. Since I started blogging in 2008, this year has been my least productive. Including this one, just fourteen.

To be fair, the main reason for starting the blog was to record the differences encountered by an Englishman settling to live in the United States. Of course, the differences encountered over the first few years are now perfectly normal for me, so I don't feel the need to recorded them. In fact, there's sometimes a few seconds lapse when I think of how I used to pronounce a word or to think of what I used to call, for example "hamburger" or "ground beef" ("mince" sounds so, well "foreign").

I have learned a lot about myself from my random postings. For example in the early days of blogging I wrote a series of posts on my music preferences and in doing so found I didn't really have a preference, that I really did enjoy all genres of music . . . no, I don't consider a thumping bass that rattles my windows, music, so that techno (c)rap, or whatever it's called, doesn't count.

I was to continue by saying that I have never considered myself a snob, but that last statement could be seen to contradict that I suppose. Of course, there are snobs of every kind, not only in music. But I'm afraid - no, hang on there - I'm not afraid, to say, that if I enjoy it, I like it, be it music, wine, literature, art, or whatever. And that's okay with me. I am not going to like anything because others think I should - however technically brilliant or clever(?) it is.

My favorite Hans Christian Andersen story, The Emperor's New Clothes, may have been written as a "Fairy Tale Told For Children", but I'm of the opinion that many adults would be happier if they saw what the little boy saw and Danny Kaye sung - "the King is in the altogether".

To get back to the point - there is a point? As much as I admire those who blog regularly, especially the once-a-day bloggers, I cannot see me doing that. I do intend to post more, if only I can remember those ideas for a post I have in the early hours!

A Significant Day

2011-11-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

It may have been a local election, but today was a significant day for us.

Last Thursday we became American citizens. That in itself was significant. Becoming a citizen is very important to us and we are delighted to have the right, and more importantly, the responsibility to vote.

At the Oath Ceremony, the District Officer asked, "what will be different in your life, now that you are American citizens?" Among several interesting comments, several answered that they were now FREE. Having lived my entire life in countries where to speak your mind was (and is) not a crime, that answer did not occur to me. But it did to those who were from Somalia and other such countries.

The right to vote is precious and should never be wasted.

No doubt today's municipal election will have had a low turn out. That's a sad reflection on those who take the right the vote for granted.

It's all in the game

2011-09-13T11:44:00.003-04:00

My original idea for this blog was to compare "life in North Carolina from the perspective of an Englishman". In other words to emphasize the differences.

I've always been a fan of team sports and have never bothered too much with individual games. Among the team sports played in England, Association Football, Cricket and Rugby Football are by far the most popular. There can be no doubt that football is by far the most attended.

Here in the US team sports are huge. Although North Carolina has, to my knowledge, only two major sports franchises (NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, based in Raleigh and NFL's Carolina Panthers, based in Charlotte) college sports reign supreme.

Basketball and football dominate, but field hockey, lacrosse and baseball have big followings. Blue Devil (Duke), TarHeel (UNC) or Wolfpack (UNC State), the rivalry outweighs any thing Manchester United/City, Arsenal/Chelsea or Liverpool/Everton fans experience in the soccer mad UK. Tickets are always hard to come by, but nigh impossible at derby games. The TarHeels football stadium seats 63,000, Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the Wolfpack, seats 57,500, while Wallace Wade Stadium, home of the Blue Devils is bursting at the seams with 40,000. These three football venues are with 23 miles of each other!

Although of no appeal to me, motor sports are also big here, not surprising with Americas love of the automobile. NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing - not to be confused or compared to stock car racing in the UK) has a huge following and has, I believe just been made North Carolina's state sport. The Charlotte Motor Speedway has 140,000 seats, whilst over the state line in Tennessee the Bristol Motor Speedway holds 160,000 fans of this amazing spectacle.

Gail has never been a fan of sport (BrEng)/sports (AmEng), but has become a huge fan of baseball. We now regularly support Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Bulls are probably the most well-known minor league team, if only through the wonderful movie Bull Durham. The ball park, Goodmon Field, as a modern, well-appointed and friendly stadium situated in the American Tobacco District of downtown Durham. I can think of fewer relaxing or enjoyable things to do on a summer's evening than to watch a game, drink a cold beer, eat from a large range of concessions and enjoy the between innings fun. Bulls won their section of the International AAA League and reached the play-offs before being beaten by an excellent Columbus Clippers outfit.

It's not cricket? No it's not, but I like it . . . and I just wonder if, unlike here, you could "hear a pin drop" whilst the National Anthem was being played at Lords or the Oval? Oh, I forgot - it isn't PC to do that in England - is it?

Soccer (AmEng)/Football (BrEng) is represented locally by Carolinal RailHawks, who play in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

American sporting events really are entertaining occasions, whether your team is winning or not.

More tomatoes - conclusion

2011-07-15T08:56:00.004-04:00

My original thought on starting this blog was to record the differences between living in the USA and England. To a degree I think I have achieved this, albeit with many deviations along the way.

Now well into our sixth year living in the beautiful state of North Carolina, I've come to realize how many things are similar while, thank goodness, many things are very different, even within this state.

Twenty years ago I asked a visiting technician installing new equipment at my workplace where his work took him. "Europe, North America and occasionally the Far East," he replied. "That's interesting, you must see a lot of sights and experience cultural differences?" His answer made me aware of this changing world. "Do me a favor mate, one Holiday Inn is exactly the same as another!"

That's probably simplifying the global world, or rather the economy we live with, but apart from the language and the prices, that statement rings true. I find it somewhat sad, that any Main Street / High Street / Alameda Principal or whatever, can look very much the same wherever you are.

One branch of one of my many interests is the study of transit buses. I view many photographs of these from the world over. What is more noticeable as each year passes is that not only that the vehicles are becoming so similar looking (even the individually owned, unique and quirky buses of Malta have been replaced overnight by the corporate giant of "sameness"), but the street furniture and the store fronts could be anywhere - one KFC, Best Buy, Starbucks is the same as another. There are exceptions of course . . . . . . . . . . .

A typical Starbucks strip mall location in the US

This Starbucks is located at the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City, Beijing.

Bringing the peoples of the world together to work in harmony must be a good thing, but can individualism survive on Corporate Earth?

I for one hope so.

Footnote - I have nothing against Starbucks, believe me (well perhaps the prices). I just prefer a strong regular at say, a Waffle House (no, that does not make me a redneck)!

More Tomatoes

2011-05-16T11:14:00.001-04:00

An alternate title for "You say tomato, I say tomato". I still have fun comparing American English (AmEng) with British (BrEng), so here are a few more (BrEng in italics):

Home improvement - DIY (Do It Yourself)
Anchor - Rawlplug
Dry wall - Stud wall (in AmEng, "studs" are to what the dry wall is attached)
Flip - House renovation
Outlet (electrical) - Socket
Trimmer (garden) - Strimmer
Wrench - Spanner

Transportation - Transport
18-wheeler (or semi) - Juggernaut
Bus - Coach
Bus operator - Bus driver (operator is the company that owns the bus)
Cross walk - Zebra crossing (or Pelican crossing if controlled by lights)
Engineer (railroad) - Train driver
Intersection - Junction
Moving Van - Pantechnicon
Public Transit - Public transit
Railroad - Railway
Switch (railroad) - Points (railway)
Streetcar or trolley - Tram
Traffic circle - Roundabout

Employment
1st, 2nd and 3rd shifts - Early, late and night shifts
Flex time - Flexi time
Let go - Fired or sacked

I have previously recommended one of my favorite blogs "Separated by a Common Language".The latest posting points out a wonderful English expression "I'm not being funny, but". Check it out, Lynnequist is wonderful at explaining these wonderful expressions and what the American equivalent is (or might be).

I'm not being funny, but I'm no expert as Lynnequist certainly is. Postings on this blog are merely my own observations and just for fun.

The Green Thing . . . continued

2011-04-27T07:58:00.003-04:00

Progress has it's cost. There is no doubt about it. My last posting set me thinking even more of how "un-green" today's society really is, despite the current "green hype", compared to that of my parents generation and indeed, mine.

Let me make one thing clear. I'm not criticizing progress. Modern appliances do save much time and (human) energy. I'm the first to admit that I will walk straight through an automatic door rather than pull open the manual one. What I was really thinking was more of the less wasteful and energy consuming practices of five or six decades ago.

My first thought was that, as general store owners, my parents sold biscuits (cookies), sugar, sweets (candy), dried fruit, etc. "loose". In other words, we weighed out the amount required,wrapped them in paper and the customer took them home in a basket she/he had had for years. There was never any reason to buy (and waste) more than we needed as, for example, Mum or Dad would cut and weigh however many slices of bacon a customer needed. Imagine going into a present day grocery store and trying to buy two rashers of bacon and the like?

Playing as kids, we would, when thirsty drink tap water, or if we had some pocket money (allowance) left we would perhaps buy a bottle of pop (soda) - my father made this on the premises. The bottle had glass "marbles" inside that sealed the fizzy drink as they rose to the top. I don't think you could even buy bottle water - if you could I certainly had never seen it.

We didn't have throw-away appliances. In the twenty-plus years I lived with my parents I can only remember them having one electric kettle. If it went wrong, Dad would replace the heating element. If it leaked, he would solder the seam. All this at a fraction of the cost of a new kettle.

The same with our shoes. Dad would repair our shoes, sitting there in the evening with tacks in his mouth, hammering new leather on the soles and "Blakeys" on the heels (I got through these pretty quick as I loved to make sparks on the pavement (sidewalk) by scraping my heels). Three pairs I had - the newest for Sunday best, then came the school shoes and as they got older, shoes for playing out. I considered myself very lucky - most of my peers only had one pair. I came home from school and before being allowed to play, had to change my clothes. If we were going out later, to the movies or to visit relatives, I would have to change again. Clothes did last longer and were better made even without the advantages of modern materials. We didn't have the "Lady Gagas" of today dictating what we should be wearing, so we never had to try to keep up with our peers.

The streets I played in as a youngster, weren't littered with discarded plastic bottles, candy wrappers, fast food containers, beer cans, etc. The bottles, be they pop or beer had deposits to collect and that was a source of income for us kids. Newspapers were truly recycled in one way or another - to wrap up our "fast food", that's fish 'n' chips (they tasted so much better than eating them from a plate like Mum insisted), and in poorer families to be used as toilet "tissue".

We actually walked places - most everywhere in fact. I walked to school, church, the movies, sports games and would only catch a bus if it was really necessary. Stores were in town (or on the corners of most streets in each neighborhood). Even those who had cars, didn't jump into them to travel half a mile to exercise in the gym.

Yes, I know "nostalgia is a thing of the past", and I'm not suggesting we turn back the clock even if we could. But before we suck up all the earth's oil, gas, coal, copper and other minerals only to fill up the holes with plastic bottles, containers and used appliances, shouldn't we (including myself), think of alternatives? None of us, even the faceless global corporations, own this planet, we are merely (very) temporary stewards and should take that responsibility seriously.

This "Green" Thing

2011-04-25T10:00:00.003-04:00

This turned up in my inbox. It's worth sharing I think. As my dear mother once said, "There's nothing new under the sun!" I take no credit for the contents, even though I agree with them 100%.

In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day. In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.

But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day. Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that old lady is right; they didn't have the green thing back in her day. Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

But she's right, they didn't have the green thing back then. Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But they didn't have the green thing back then. Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?

Feline family (2)

2011-04-15T08:01:00.004-04:00

Introducing Nimbus, aka Nimby. After living here for two years we decided that the time was right to have another cat, a companion for Big H, and for us.

A privately funded and run cat shelter, "Cat Angels" was recommended and we checked them out. One bright Saturday morning we visited the "shelter". To say we were impressed with the set-up there would be an understatement.

Within seconds, literally, of sitting down a small brown tabby jumped on my lap, purring like a Detroit Diesel and immediately decided it was not going to let me get up to check out the other cats! Nimby had chosen us and already decided that we were to give her her forever home.

Nimby was eleven years old, was not in the best of health (although had been nursed and well cared for) and had been with CA for eleven months. No one, it seems, wants older cats. Well, we're seniors ourselves I reminded Gail.

After filling out questionnaires and being interviewed (we had previously been vetted), Debbie, the founder of Cat Angels, asked us to go away to discuss the pros and cons of adopting this particular kitty. We dutifully went off, had some lunch and talked about anything other than Nimby - our minds being already made up before ordering our meal!

After eleven months, Debbie and all the volunteers at Cat Angels, had formed an attachment to this purrfect little girl and there were quite a few tears as we took Nimby to discover her new forever home and meet her new friend Hartley.

Nimby was another "de-clawed" victim (Grrrrr!); in fact the job, presumably done when she was very young, was a botch-up. Her front right leg is deformed as a result and she still has twinges of pain from time to time.

However, she is a wonderful companion, extremely loving, so fussy with her food she only eats one brand of dried chow, keeps Hartley in line (who is twice her size), sleeps on Gail's side of the bed (but not before keeping my side warm if Gail goes to bed before me), loves sun puddles, hate thunder storms (Big H will sleep through anything), sitting on our laptops (only when we are trying to use them), helping Gail to sort out yarn and her cross-stitch floss and has just celebrated her 14th birthday.

Cat Angels are located in Cary, NC. Check them out if you can give a cat a forever home. http://www.catangelsnc.org/Default.asp

Feline family

2011-03-23T11:32:00.001-04:00

Over the years we have been servants to many cats. In fact, with the exception of the five years we lived in Spain, neither of us have never lived without a furry feline companion.

Before moving to Spain we had to make a tough decision. There was no way we could have expected five free-roam cats to be couped up in an attico apartment - that's the reason we did not adopt a kitty there. We were just not used to having "indoor" cats. Fortunately, we found good homes for our quintet - only one of which we had had since birth - the others were all results of someone "volunteering" us to take them in.

Once we had settled in NC though, it became a different story. We have a large yard, plenty of space and trees. Ideal for cats? Maybe, but when we were at the animal sanctuary I was immediately attracted to a large eight year-old gray tabby. He had been named "Berber", apparently because he likes "messing" on the carpet and no one wanted him. "We'll take that one", I said. "You do understand that he has had other homes and his habits have brought him back here?" "We'll risk him"!

I then found out two more important facts about him. He had been de-clawed as a kitten (a barbaric practice which I would loved to see outlawed). The other fact? He had only days left until he was to be euthanized. Was I going to let my heart rule my head? You bet I was and I did! "Hartley", for that was what we named him, was all over me. He knew for sure! However, it wasn't until we were signing the adoption papers that I noticed the clause (pun absolutely intended), that as he was claw-less (front paws) and he was only to be an indoor cat.

Could we change our minds? Of course not. "Big H" has now been with us five years and is a healthy thirteen year-old, is stubborn, gets his own way, absolutely rules the home, will not settle (or let us settle) in the evening until he has been brushed to within an inch of his life and is renowned for his Houdini escape attempts.

Oh - does he mess our carpets? No - although we often wake up to hear him in his litter box making another attempt at "The Great Escape", although we are not sure if he's working on Tom, Dick or Harry? All we know is, he makes a lot of noise and although he tolerates us - we love him!

Hartley - what a beautiful boy.

In like a lamb

2011-03-03T17:18:00.001-05:00

A feeling of satisfaction that February is at last gone. I'm not sure that March has "Come in like a lamb" though. It's been gorgeous weather, but slightly breezy.

Let me explain. The old saying of "March - in like a lamb, out like a lion', or the opposite "in like a lion, out like a lamb", is one of those familiar sayings I was brought up on. It means exactly what it says and is very often proven a correct forecast. I have used the term "breezy", as being brought up on the east coast of Norfolk, England (it's the bit that sticks out), I am used to real winds. Come to that, our time on the Costa del Sol was even windier (but not so cold)!

The couple of days in the eighties at the beginning of the week and a decent soaking have done wonders for bringing Spring seemingly closer.

Don't you just love Spring? A new awakening. With Lent just a few days away - yes, it is as late as it can be this year - the weather by Easter will, God willing, reflect the season of wonder and renewal.

Yes, I am glad to see the back of February. After a busy, sometimes hectic seven months, I eased off some of my church duties. I do feel refreshed, but am so glad to now be back in the thick of it.

http://www.saintjosephsdurham.org - I make no apologies for the plug.

You say tomato, I say tomato (again)

2011-02-17T17:36:00.011-05:00

After five years of living here, I'm still struck by differences in American English (Am-Eng) and English English (Eng-Eng). Now you didn't expect me to say British-English I'm sure.

It's not just the pronunciation of a word spelled exactly the same. It's also the definition - sometimes similar, sometimes different.

As I mentioned in one of my first posts, I do now say to-MATE-toe rather than to-MAR-toe (probably the only American pronunciation Gail still doesn't use). Another great food example is AP-ricot as opposed to Eng-Eng APE-ricot.

Of the non-food differences there is, of course SKED-ule as opposed to SHED-ule (the American version does make sense, no one pronounces school "shool". Syllable emphasizing is another part of the language that takes some getting use to. IN-surance (Am-Eng) as opposed to in-SURE-ance (Eng-Eng); warran-TEE (Am-Eng) against warran-TY (Eng-Eng) and a-DULT (Am-Eng) versus AD-ult (Eng-Eng), are examples that come to mind.

I was discussing with some friends my views on the architecture of our church. It is, I suppose, a very English looking building. I was saying that in my opinion it could be improved (practically and aesthetically) by the addition of a porch. "What!", my Southern friends exclaimed, "It would look dreadful". I realized immediately what a goof I'd made. "Porch" in Am-Eng is a veranda (Eng-Eng) and so yes, it would look awful. They were thinking I'd gone out of my mind and probably had visions of some parishioners, quietly sitting in rocking chairs, enjoying a glass of iced tea! What I meant is the sort of church porch, a vestibule or lobby, found on the majority of older English churches!

A blog I read regularly and can thoroughly recommend is "Separated by a Common Language". The latest posting really makes a point about the layout of our neighborhoods. It uses the big 1980s hit "Our House" of English group Madness as a wonderful example of confusion. Check it out to see what I mean. Can you imagine a house "in the middle of the street". Of course you can if you're English. Not so if you are American.

February Findings

2011-02-09T07:51:00.004-05:00

February. My least favorite month.

I'm still not sure why I think that, but I do. Already buds are appearing and the first tentative signs of Spring are in the air, so I should be happy about that. Indeed, I am. However, I just love the first day of March and am always happier when the second month has gone.

I do have plenty to celebrate. I completed my thee year vestry term (although I'm already missing that); we have a new vicar; yesterday was our eldest granddaughter Josie's 20th birthday (she think she's nearly middle-aged, bless her - I haven't the heart to tell her); I completed the redecoration of our kitchen; it will soon be "Valentine's Day" - hang on a second - is that a cause to be happy? I've never been sure about this. Many year's ago my mother called this and Mother's Day, "Woolworth's Day", her way of calling these simple days of appreciation a commercial heist I suppose. I have heard them called "Hallmark Days" since I've lived here.

Still, although I "love" all things romantic, I could never claim to be one - a romantic that is. Yes, I believe in love, was even a "make love, not war" follower in the sixties, but lovey-dovey, no. Remember, this is the guy who bought his wife of 41 years a wheelbarrow for her birthday! That's a exaggeration, by the way. As if I could really do such a thing? I guess I'm trying to say, go for Valentine's Day, if that's your style. My style? . . . . wait for it . . . . . make every day a special day for the one you love.

Gail has a daily thoughts calendar on her night stand which, after awakening and exchanging our private pleasantries each morning, she reads. This morning the quote (by Dale Evans Rogers) was:

Every day we live is a priceless gift of God, loaded with possibilities to learn something new, to gain fresh insights into His great truth.

Well, there we are then. I guess I'll learn to love February.

January thoughts

2011-01-21T08:14:00.003-05:00

Into the second half January already. It's been very cold here in North Carolina, probably our coldest winter so far.

January is not my least favorite month, but it comes a close second to February. I have recovered from a stinking cold and like most men made the most of it. Usually when I have the signs of a cold, Gail proclaims that it might be best for her to emigrate. "You've done that twice already," I tell her, so it counts as an idle threat.

Our street was always passable, but with extreme caution

It's hard to imagine that we have lived here for five years. Sometimes it seems just like yesterday when we finding our way round. There is so much of this wonderful state I still want to see. I really must make time to put my thoughts and words into action.

A second cousin of mine recently contacted me regarding our family tree. I hadn't been in contact with her for far too long and we finally got round to having a chat by phone. She was keen for me to see photographs she has stored on Facebook. Hmmm! A dilemma here - I recently made my views of "social networking" well know. Shall I rejoin or not?

Call me a hypocrite (I'm sure you will) but, after a considerable amount of thought, I have done just that. I'm still determined not to be involved with the banal gossip and to strictly limit my time on FB. I'm also determined to spend more time actually having real conversations.

With just ten days of January left, I look forward not in the least to February. There are only three good things to say about this month: (1) my mother and my eldest granddaughter were born in it; (2) we can see the signs of spring giving us hope; and (3) it's the shortest!

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T07:28:00.003-05:00

Status symbols I need not, just the love of God and of my neighbor.

Let's worry about the needs of others this year and not our own wants.

May this year by joyful, peaceful and healthy to you all.

Twas Christmas Eve in the Workhouse . . .

2010-12-24T14:20:00.013-05:00

May I wish everyone a Joyous and Blessed Christmastide.

Christmas Eve 2010, our fifth Christmas in North Carolina. Of the past ten holidays we have only spent one in our country of birth. That's not a complaint, in fact 2004 was a very special Christmas for us as we were moving from Spain to NC a few weeks later.

As I write this I am surrounded by our two felines, Hartley and Nimbus, quietly snoring, and at my feet is a sleeping dog. Sammie's owners are out of state for the holidays and Sammie is spending Christmas with us.

Gail is at church, where the turkey she is cooking should be in the oven by now. Although many of our church family are away for the holidays, we expect quite a good turn-out for Holy Eucharist this evening and for our annual Christmas dinner which follows.

It's been a tough six months since our Vicar left, but I think we have coped pretty well. Thanks to our dedicated supply priests not one Eucharist has been missed. We have continued with Bible Study, Daily Office (now six days per week), had a baptism, a funeral and a wedding, and will shortly be starting Catechesis to prepare candidates for baptism, confirmation, reaffirmation and acceptance at Eastertide. For a small church with no clergy, that's no small achievement and a tribute to the lay members.

Tomorrow Gail and I will have fun chatting to our family in Norfolk, England at 6 a.m. before once again going to church to worship at Morning Prayer, cooking breakfast and sharing table fellowship with members and friends, including some of our homeless neighbors.

Gail will then be at her own stove to cook (another) Christmas dinner for our North Carolinian family.

Who said Christmas is a relaxing time? It certainly wasn't in that small town 2000-odd years ago.

It's get that gift time

2010-11-21T08:10:00.006-05:00

Gifts, whether they be for a birthday, anniversary or Christmas, usually mean much more to the giver than to the receiver.

As the retailers tell us that time is running out to purchase our gifts, you know their ploy, "it's so-and-so many shopping days to Christmas" (aren't ALL days shopping days now?), together with the constant advertising in the media, I guess the usual panic of, "what are we going to get Uncle Jim", or "can you remember what Aunt Mable got us last year?"

I always enjoy the surprises I received from our family in Norfolk, England. Sarah always plans early and enjoys choosing original gifts, quite a few of which have travelled with us to North Carolina, via Spain! In fact already today I have used two gifts received from them in previous years.

Stuart, a typical man, leaves everything to Leslie. She is okay with that(?) as she, too enjoys surprises and takes immense pleasure in choosing gifts. I am, I suppose, a big let down for her expertise in this area as I am a simple man who enjoys simple things, and am happy for them to buy me magazine subscriptions. By this I have a surprise gift every month when our mail-man (oops!, I mean letter-carrier) delivers a copy of a favorite magazine.

Have we done our gift shopping yet? Oh, yes, gift-wrapped, packaged and shipped. Well, almost. Gail, together with a team from our church, will shortly be shopping for Christmas "boxes" for some of our homeless friends and my goodness, is she excited about that? You bet!

Social networking

2010-11-11T17:45:00.007-05:00

I wish to offend no one. If this post does that I apologize in advance. You have been warned.

What is the point of "social networking"? Last evening a friend and I were enjoying real social networking - that is talking to each over the phone. Not texting, twittering or facebooking, but actually talking and enjoying our real conversation.

To be fair, I know millions enjoy making their innermost thoughts known to the world and his/her dog, and good for them. I have tried it, thinking it would be a tool for keeping in touch with family and friends worldwide. When I first announced that I was to deactivate my account because of the time spent reading how others (not all) were using theirs, several said how sorry they were to lose me. Lose me? Hello? I'm not a complete dinosaur. I use e-mail, can actually still write with a pen, punch numbers on a phone and I have to assume, they can too?

If, because I deactivate one of these accounts, I am losing "friends", I feel there is something sadly wrong with the human race.

Am I being hypocritical? Of course. After all I do post to this, and enjoy reading a few of the many accessible blogs, so I have related personal views on others.

You do your social networking in your laptop, iPad or iPhone and I'll do mine by sharing a meal with friends, having them come over, enjoying an event with them and if distance makes that impossible, by calling them, wherever they are located, and actually talking with them. Of course that works two ways and I would love to share a hug and a meal with those of my family who live thousands of miles away.

Okay, I'm now donning the flak-jacket!

Episcopal lists

2010-11-06T14:05:00.013-04:00

A dear friend sent me this list of which Episcopalians will be familiar with most, if not all, reasons.

A Dozen Reasons for Becoming an Episcopalian, or At Least for Checking Us Out

1. It's one of the few denominations that allow alcoholic beverages to be served on the grounds.

2. The options: Rite One or Rite Two; back-to-congregation or facing congregation; traditional or contemporary music; all are allowed and welcome!

3. We used cool words like 'verger', 'thurifer', 'amice', 'warden', 'aumbry' and 'columarium'.

4. Otherwise, I'd be unchurched.

5. I ask too many annoying questions.

6. One is expected to ask all irritating questions and to use their brain.

7. It has a beautiful Liturgy.

8. I do not have to understand; I only have to believe.

9. Here laughter and fun are appropriate.

10. The 'fashion police' don't come to our church; the Holy Spirit does.

11. The clergy are not only smart, gifted and spiritual - they are fun!

12. Episcopalians spend less time beating on the Bible and more time actually reading it.

All of it true, and there's more. I have a tee shirt with the following on the back:

Top 10 Reasons for Being an Episcopalian (according to Robin Williams, that is)

10. No snake handling.

9. You can believe in dinosaurs.

8. Male and female, God created them; male and female we ordain them.

7. You don't have to check your brains at the door.

6. Pew aerobics.

5. Church year is color coded.

4. Free wine on Sunday.

3. All of the pageantry, none of the guilt.

2. You don't have to know how to swim to get baptized.

1. No matter what you believe, there's bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.

You just cannot argue with that.

Oh, and just how many Episcopalians does it take to change a light bulb

Two answers to this (well, there would be, right? ) . . . . .

1. Change?

2. Three - one to change the bulb, two to mix the cocktails.

I am an Episcopalian (as if you hadn't guessed).

A Taste of Autumn

2010-10-05T07:52:00.015-04:00

A friend of over forty years emailed me yesterday to "check all was well". Nothing strange there, that's what friends do. John was concerned that he had not heard from me for a while and that this blog had not been updated lately. My apologies to John and my apologies to you. I admit I've been a little lazy with my "correspondence" lately. I have excuses of course, but not really valid ones. In this age of lightening communication, there can be no excuses. We still have to make the effort - technology, as wonderful as it is, cannot do it for us (yet).

A couple of weeks ago I received a letter from the trustees of my pension fund. Basically, they wanted to know if I was still alive! At first I felt rather indignant, but on reflection realized that they had every right to inquire. After all, I hadn't lived in England for nearly ten years let alone seen any of them. The staff at my doctor's office found it amusing when signing the form - "you look alive to us!"

A few days later I attended the funeral of a dear friend. At 91 he had lived a very active life to the last.

I guess my point is that I'm reminded of that old proverb "never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." If it was good enough for Thomas Jefferson, it is certainly good enough for me.

Mind you, Mark Twain said "Never put off until tomorrow what you do the day after tomorrow."

As much as I admire Mark Twain, I think Jefferson got it right!

Retail gimmicks?

2010-08-11T11:30:00.008-04:00

Last weekend was the annual "Sales Tax Holiday" here in North Carolina. Not on everything you understand, but on "back to school" supplies and clothes. This does, however, include all clothes and footwear and on computers and peripherals up to the value of $3,500.

Here, unlike England, where there is no equivalent tax (V.A.T.) on children's clothes, sales tax is charged at the standard rate (currently 7.75%). So fitting your kids out for school can be made easier if you are prepared to shop during this three-day "holiday".

We make a point of shopping for clothes (no, you don't have to be of school age) during this time. In fact, as long as we make a list of "needs" rather than "wants", and of course stick to it, we do save.

The "gimmicks"? Retailers use every trick in the book to help ease those bills out of our wallets. I can never remember paying the "ticket price" for any clothes or shoes since we moved here. Trick number one then - print an artificially high price on the ticket.

We tend to shop for clothes at a local outlet mall, so there are the displays saying - 50% off, but wait, by their sides are other displays saying take an extra 10 or 15% off. This is where it starts to get complicated.

We choose our purchases, take them to the register and produced our 10% off coupon received through the mail. Exciting this! We then show our "Rewards" card - off comes another 10%! "Are you a AAA member sir?", asks the associate. I produce my AAA membership card. "Well, as you purchase is over $50, you are entitles to 10% discount".

Finally, there is the fact that there is no added sales tax.

"Good grief", I feel like saying (but don't), "How much do you OWE ME?"

Sales tax holiday or not, why cannot retailers be up front with their prices? My point is, I really don't know if I'm saving money or not, do I? But there, that's all part of the "kidology", like making every price end in .99.

Fiesta for Iniesta

2010-07-11T18:13:00.003-04:00

As much as I wanted to use "Viva España" for this title, I couldn't resist the above.

A hard-fought, bad-tempered, nail-biting game it certainly was, but Spain deserved to be World Champions for the first time (as I predicted before the competition got underway).

I also forecast before the game that The Netherlands would finish the game with ten men (it could easily been nine).

My favorite moment was the shot of Queen Sofia's reaction when Spain scored - did she really stand on her seat?

My friends in Málaga certainly won't get any sleep tonight!

Still on track (2)

2010-07-08T11:47:00.005-04:00

I can just imagine what it was like yesterday evening and, no doubt, well into the early hours, in Spain generally and in the area where we lived in particular, following yesterday's emphatic win over Germany. . . .

LOUD!

Phew! What a scorcher

2010-07-05T11:00:00.008-04:00

This title has a tradition of being the headline of popular English newspapers if the summer temperature reaches 70°F! To be fair, dear old England have been having a share of eighties weather in recent weeks. Even Wimbledon escaped any rain-off's - that must be something of a record.

In March I was complaining (what me? complaining, never!) that we had had the coldest winter since leaving England (Weather and Critters). To quote:

"Whilst I usually enjoy the four seasons, temperatures here have generally been considerably lower than normal, and I'm now ready for warmer days. We have forecasts of a warm-up next week - 65 on Thursday. Bring it on! Bring on the 80s too! And when we are sitting on the porch during the 90s, yes, you've guessed it - I'll be moaning about the heat!"

Last month was, here in The Triangle, the hottest June on record - 22 days of 90°F-plus temperatures. We have had a cool down for a few days (mid 80s), but now we are hitting the high-90s again - in fact triple-digit temperatures are forecast for later this week - even in New York!

Am I moaning? No - just wilting!

Yesterday, July 4th, Independence Day. A cook-out and fireworks at Kate and Monty's. What a wonderful celebration, what wonderful food, what wonderful company.

Still on track

2010-07-03T20:41:00.006-04:00

I was tempted to title this post "Viva España", but thought that might be tempting fate.

Paraguay were a tough nut to crack, but with "saved" penalties, and the one that wasn't (correctly disallowed), a disallowed (offside) goal by Paraguay that could have been game changing, it certainly was full of drama.

Regulars will know I tipped Spain from the start and an so pleased they are progressing. However, I suspect my friends living in Fuengirola will have another sleepless night. Andalusians know how to celebrate, believe me!

Oh, oh, oh, oh, what a referee!

2010-06-27T19:24:00.011-04:00

You could be forgiven for thinking that this post is another part of my music series (the heading was also the title of a popular song in England in the 1950s), but I refer of course, to the World Cup.

I will not comment on England's performance(?), but even though the disallowed "goal" would probably have made no difference, the decision was a disgrace. One of many appalling decisions made during this competition in front of probably the biggest sporting audience ever. Yes, the referee did admit he had got it wrong, but his assistant was the prime suspect in my opinion. I don't blame them - they have an extremely hard job, have to make split decisions and are under tremendous pressure.

But, for the good of the sport, wake up FIFA - use the technology!

Looks like Argentina are living up to expectations, and all credit to them, but wasn't there some controversy in their win over Mexico? Isn't this is where we came in?

One more thought - I'll be shouting for Spain - just refer to my original post.

Eggs by the dozen?

2010-06-26T20:30:00.010-04:00

Headlines from UK daily newspaper:

EU to ban selling eggs by the dozen: Shopkeepers' fury as they are told all food must be weighed and sold by the kilo.

And to think I imagined that England was governed from the Palace of Westminster.

It has a sense of April 1st about it. Unfortunately, it's June 26th.

Exit USA

2010-06-26T19:33:00.006-04:00

The ball, the referee, bad luck? No, none of these reasons. Today, the US were outplayed after letting themselves down with conceding yet another early goal.

I'm still impressed by their spirit, their determination, their passion and indeed, their skill, but Ghana deserved the win.

Okay, I sincerely hope England win tomorrow against arch rivals of many World Cups, Germany. How can I not hope that?

I'm still tipping Spain to lift the title, but England's other arch rivals, Argentina, look good to me.

World Cup - why the surprises?

2010-06-21T08:51:00.007-04:00

New Zealand draw with the mighty Italy. Switzerland beat Spain. England look second rate in their first two games and now there is talk of mutiny in the camp. The French team arguing and performing badly. Why the surprises?

A simple man I may be, but it seems quite obvious to me that these "super football powers" are dominated by prima-donna's, whose egotistical belief that they have a right to play (and I use that term loosely) for their country, is the cause of the "poor results", or more correctly, the lack of.

Let's take nothing away from those "small" countries (in football terms) who have performed well. Apart from their obvious basic footballing skills, such as being able to control a ball, passing it to their own team mates and not to their opponents, they have passion and a desire to do their best for their country.

This is already becoming a memorable World Cup (one which I am watching with the sound turned off) for all of the above reasons and for some appalling refereeing decisions.

Having said that, how I wish players would get on with the game, stop blaming their coaches, the ball, the crowd, stop play acting, stop trying to get opponents booked by dubious falls (oh referee, he hurt me) and yes, stop cheating. When that whistle blows it is their responsibility. Not one player in the history of the game, from whatever team, from whatever country, has ever learnt this simple fact - that a Referee's decision, however good or bad, is almost never likely to be overturned.

Get on with, enjoy it, and follow the example of the likes of Slovenia, the USA, Algeria - play with some pride and passion!

And yes, I still think the USA can qualify from the group stage (and I really hope that England at least will recover some of their pride) and I still have high hopes of Spain being in the final.

More on food

2010-06-20T07:55:00.019-04:00

I first wrote about food comparison between England and North Carolina last August (Food, Glorious(?), Food), but feel I must share my love of food once more.

What has prompted me? Stuart and Leslie buy me a wonderful birthday gift each year - a annual subscription to the excellent Our State magazine. A feature in this month's edition is entitled 100 Foods You Must Eat in North Carolina's 100 Counties.

But first some geographical comparisons:

	England	North Carolina
Area	50,346 square miles	53,865 square miles
Population	51.45 million	9.38 million
Density	1,023 per square mile	165 per square mile
Counties	48	100

Getting back to the food. The delights of the Old North State include such wonders as Appalachian Chicken, from the delightfully named Vance Toe River Lodge Restaurant, in the even more delightfully named Alleghany County; Nutty Blue Chick (Avery County); and wait for it - Chocolate-Stuffed Sourdough French Toast with Pecans and Maple Syrup (Anson County) and that's just some from the six counties beginning with A!

How about Lightly Salted Southern Blister-Fried Peanuts from Bakers Southern Traditions Peanuts, Roxobel in Bertie County; Conch Fritters and Honor-system Beer, provided at the Yacht Basin Provision Co., Southport in Brunswick County; or Moon Pie Ice Cream from the Cabarrus Creamery, Concord in Cabarrus County (if you haven;t had Moon Pie, you haven't lived)!

I could go on (and on), for example Aunt Ruby's Raw Shelled Peanuts, Twice-baked Grits Souffle with Wild-and-Exotic-Mushroom Ragout, Aged Sherry-Mushroom Emulsion and Shaved Confit Foie Gras, Muscadine Grape Hull Pie, Zucchini Marmalade, Corned Herring, Vinegar Pie, Foot-Long Pork Barrel Sausage on a Lobby Bun, Crispy Cornbread Crab Cakes, etc., etc. But this is making feel quite peckish and I've only just had breakfast!

I did notice that many of the 100 "Don't Miss" treats are desserts. To a Southerner a "pie" is usually a dessert, invariably loaded with sugar. That's why this English ex-pat misses "pork" pies, "steak and kidney" pies, etc. Have I mentioned this before?

Self serve, self destruction

2010-06-17T20:03:00.006-04:00

Self serve has been with us for some time I know, but it now seems to be manifesting in many areas. I refuse to use the term "self service" as to me, this seems an oxymoron. It's "do-it-yourself" - service doesn't come into it.

I've gradually got used to the self-scan registers in grocery stores. Even when I have a cart full, I can manage these without the help of the one associate who is given the task of supervising eight or so self-scan units.

The latest use of this technology is at our local library where self-check out is the order of the day. It's very easy to use and so much quicker so Durham County Library get a vote of thanks from me.

I had reason to drive down Highway 55 this afternoon. A 50 mph limit seems adequate, but I wish drivers who decide to pull onto the highway from various outlets would be better judges of speed of approaching traffic. Infuriating when there is no following traffic and that driver (very often with a cell phone glued to his/her ear) decides that they suddenly have a calling to become a kamikaze. Why do drivers risk their lives and the lives of others to gain a few seconds?

Stuart, who drives this road daily, says it's always like this. The miracle is that there are not more wrecks.

Sad Day

2010-06-13T20:01:00.005-04:00

An eventful morning at church today.

Our wonderful Vicar's last Sunday with us. There were, of course, a few tears, but mostly we treated this as a celebration of her three and half years serving St. Joe's.

She has been a tremendous influence on many people's lives, certainly on mine, and I wish her well.

A new chapter opens for her, a new chapter starts for us. Bless you dear Rhonda.

World Cup Fever? - 2

2010-06-13T07:13:00.005-04:00

Okay, perhaps not fever, more of slight cold. A 1-1 draw was a fair result in my opinion. As one of the commentators said here, "It was a game of two goalkeepers".

Just minutes before Robert Green's Under-9s-style blunder, I happened to say to Gail, "I'm so pleased that Green (ex Norwich City) has been given a chance - I saw him play against Great Yarmouth Town Youth in the mid-nineties and was very impressed even then!" Well, that will teach me to keep my mouth shut - although I doubt it.

One glaringly obvious point about the game was that the USA did play like a team, whereas England played like a load of prima-donas. That will need sorting out before the next game if the banana skin is not slipped on.

I read where in England, ITV audiences actually missed "the" goal whilst commercials were shown. How ironic, that here in the US, where generally, commercials rule, both halves of the game were commerical free. Excellent coverage by ESPN, although I wasn't too impressed with the "Brits versus Yanks" phrase which was repeatedly trotted out. I must remind those here that the "Brits" (Oh, how I hate that term) haven't got a soccer team - there were no Scots, Welsh or Irish playing - it's ENGLAND! And what's more, it's like a red rag to a bull for a Southerner to be called a Yank.

World Cup Fever?

2010-06-12T09:25:00.004-04:00

Not quite. I will however later today be watching the match between England and the USA.

Who will I be cheering on? This may surprise a few, but I will be wanting my adopted nation to win. Strange? Well I don't think so. I will have mixed emotions no doubt, but have always considered the country where our home was, to be our home. When we lived in Spain, we considered Spain home. When I was asked there, "Do you go home much?", my stock answer was, "Yes, every evening". We feel the same now we live here in NC.

Do I see the US team winning the Cup? No, although I would love that. Do I see England winning it? No, although I would be pleased if they did. Who then do I think will?

Well, Spain, of course!

A busy retirement

2010-05-27T21:07:00.011-04:00

After nearly two blog-less months, I have at last the time, energy and motivation to post. How can a retired person not have time to post a few lines? You may well ask.

For me the secret of a fulfilling retirement is to balance an easier lifestyle with a variety of activities. After over forty years of working 50+ hour weeks, I had the opportunity to retire early. Believe me, it wasn't how I choose to, but a mild heart attack provided the wake-up call I needed to change my life-style.

A five-year "vacation" in southern Spain helped Gail and I realize that retirement is not all "sun, sand and sangria", hence our decision to move not only countries but continents. I have drooled over the quality of living we experience here in the magnificent state of North Carolina before, so will skip back the my point.

Although dear Leslie encouraged us to make the move, she did confess that "we might not find so many things to do with our time here as on the Costa del Sol." Leslie is usually right in her observations - she's not a respected life coach for nothing - but how wrong she was on this one.

A full schedule of daily activities keeps us both mentally, spiritually and sometimes physically challenged (and I still usually find time for a nap). Gail often teases me for my addiction to "my computer". It is not so. The addiction, if there is one, is to the wonderful world of communication, learning and keeping abreast with all of my many interests, not the computer itself. Gail has so many interests (none of which require a laptop to enjoy) that it's hard to keep up with them all.

However, we do use a proportion of our time away from the computer, the knitting, the reading, the crafts, in the pursuit of happiness, not necessarily of ourselves, but by helping others. Now we have time to smell the roses. It's a wonderful life, for which we are grateful on a daily basis.

Even our cats have retired!

Thoughts of Easter

2010-04-04T19:12:00.013-04:00

Is it me, or did Lent seem like more than six weeks this year? Surely it was well over that time when we celebrated Shrove Tuesday at our Pancake Supper, cooked for us by our friends from the Episcopal Center at Duke? Was it that we were celebrating the Daily Office by using the not so familiar Rite I? Perhaps it was due to the fact that I felt more penitent?

Whatever the reason, the coming of Palm Sunday and Holy Week did come and was welcomed.

We have at our church, what I think is a pretty unique family. I’ve talked before about our wonderful Fellowship, but it goes much further than sharing a meal with like-minded committed Christians.

Our Table Fellowship that follows each weekday Morning Prayer gives an opportunity to talk, laugh and yes, sometimes cry with a wide variety of people, some homeless, some not, but nevertheless needing more than that plate of breakfast casserole, eggs, cereals, toast and coffee. Loving thy neighbor is not always easy believe me. I struggle daily with doing just that. There are challenges to our faith on a daily basis, but I know that with God’s help we can overcome them.

Returning to the Easter theme, the eve of Palm Sunday saw seven of us weaving palm crosses. Sharing conversation, experiences, humor and of course food. I’ll be the first to admit that my crosses were not as artistic as A’s, who hails from the Lebanon and was teaching us beginners with wonderful patience. But what a gratifying experience it was – nothing technical, nothing sophisticated, but enjoying the four thousand year art (or attempted art in my case) with, as A. proudly says, “Our nearest neighbor to the Biblical lands”.

Holy Week was busy for us. Jokes were made about “our car is on auto-pilot”, or “perhaps we should bring our beds to church,” but seven liturgies marking Christ’s death and celebrating his resurrection between Wednesday evening through Easter Sunday have to be the highlight of the year.

After our short, but moving, Holy Saturday morning service, I was seconded to help our wonderful Altar Guild. I didn’t have much choice (only joking) as I am married to one of their members. But after an hour or so of cleaning and polishing, especially the church brasses, I realized what another important example of fellowship this was.

After six flowerless weeks and veiled crosses, our sanctuary became alive again. A resurrection no less. As later in the day we commenced the Great Vigil, being led into a darkened church by the Paschal Candle, we knew, all of us, that hope, with the light, would soon spring from Christ’s Resurrection. After renewing our Baptismal Vows it was my task to turn on the lights. Never has Alleluia been shouted with such gusto (well, not since last Easter at least) and a wonderful feeling of joy and yes, relief, swept over the congregation who knew that Christ Had Risen, Indeed.

Easter Sunday, without doubt, my favorite day of the year, saw a packed church enjoy and praise the Resurrection of Our Savior. I was on acolyte duty and admit that together with the relief and joy I could feel tears of emotion – tears of joy especially at what was something new for me. T, a regular at Daily Office and a professional choreographer and dancer, enriched our celebration with his liturgical dancing. Thank you T. Indeed thank you to our music director, choir and musicians. And a big thank you for Altar Guilds everywhere, but especially to ours at St. Joseph’s, who tirelessly work to prepare God’s church for worship and the Lord’s Table for us to share in the Resurrection throughout the year.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

English eccentricity? - Update

2010-03-26T12:21:00.007-04:00

Video clips from this year's Durham Savoyard's wonderful performance of The Mikado can be found by clicking here.

Thanks and acknowledgement to Darryl and Mary Freedman for recording this for prosperity.

English eccentricity in North Carolina?

2010-03-20T09:36:00.017-04:00

English eccentricity? Definitely not (well maybe). I refer to those ingenious Victorian gentlemen William Schwenck Gilbert and Arthur Seymour Sullivan.

After living in North Carolina for four years and gradually becoming more "American" in many of my habits and, indeed outlooks, even though clinging to my "Englishness", I was reminded, with a (very pleasant) jolt that I still retained it. On Thursday evening, our son Stuart (English born, American citizen) invited me to the preview performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado at the wonderful Carolina Theater.

I had heard of The Durham Savoyards, as a neighbor and his wife are very involved. The Savoyards have for 47 years been performing the dynamic duo's works. Stuart had been before so knew what to expect. I was ready to enjoy myself, especially as The Mikado is probably the best known of the fourteen operas created by G&S. I looked forward to hearing the familiar music and clever lyrics with keen anticipation.

What I wasn't ready for was the amazing appeal of Gilbert & Sullivan to an audience of enormous cultural diversity. Imagine my surprise when, immediately after the orchestral conductor was introduced, a familiar drum roll saw everyone standing for the British national anthem! A spotlight was directed on "The Royal Box" and shone on none other than "Her Majesty Queen Victoria" (accompanied, I noticed, by John Brown).

125 years after the first performance of The Mikado, sub-titled The Town of Titipu, this performance was as fresh as ever (no, I wasn't at that first performance). To say I enjoyed the evening would be an under-statment. The send-up of Victorial England's social customs disguised in a Japanese setting, gives us such characters as Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum, Pooh-Bah, Pish-Tish. The appeal I can understand, as nearly 48 hours later I am still singing the songs.

The Durham Savoyards deserve praise and support for this wonderful production and yes, I have already pencilled in my diary the dates of next year's performances of Princess Ida.

Weather and critters

2010-03-05T09:58:00.006-05:00

The English, they say (and who "they" are, I've never known) are a nation of moaners. Our Australian friends don't call us "whinging Poms" for nothing.

As Stuart says, "the English have a God-given right to complain". Hmm, I sort of agree with him and certainly "The Weather" is one subject that we do comment and usually complain about. It's too wet, it's too cold, it's too hot, it's too windy, etc.

One of the many considerations we gave to moving to Andalusia was that following retirement and spending time out of an office/factory environment, it struck me just how grey (gray) and overcast most days seemed. Even during the summer and the temperatures were obviously warmer, clear, "wall-to-wall" sun days seemed rare.

Of course, Andalusia has a share of them too, and the Costa del Sol is known for it's windy days. The climate - lack of wind (generally) and the Carolina blue skies and plenty of sun, even during the winter, attracted us to the Old North State.

The English are not alone in making "The Weather" a frequent topic of conversation. It happens here too folks. There is an excellent forecasting service throughout the media - one of our local TV news channels has detailed forecasts every ten minutes.

What's all this got to do with "moaning"? Okay, I'm ready for Spring and warmer weather. This has been, without doubt, the coldest winter we've spent since leaving England. Whilst I usually enjoy the four seasons, temperatures here have generally been considerably lower than normal, and I'm now ready for warmer days. We have forecasts of a warm-up next week - 65 on Thursday. Bring it on! Bring on the 80s too! And when we are sitting on the porch during the 90s, yes, you've guessed it - I'll be moaning about the heat!

The critters? We have a yard full of wildlife with many species of birds. They give us so much pleasure throughout the year that we repay them by making sure that they are well fed and watered during the winter. We have managed to keep most of our feeders "squirrel-free" - except for one. It's a clear plastic one which fixes via suction cups to a window. We have tried fixing it to different windows, but however successful we think we are, dear little "Squirrel Nutkins" manages to find a way to reach it, knock it off the hooks thus spilling the food for him and his bushy-tailed friends to feed at leisure on the ground.

I can't help admire his ingenuity, but I'm sure this cheeky little critter would try the patience of Saint Francis himself!

The battle continues.

Friday Fellowship

2010-02-13T19:30:00.006-05:00

Following Evening Prayer on Fridays, Fred, Gail and I started going for supper and enjoying some end-of-the-working-week fellowship (although all three of us are retired).

The numbers gradually grew and even some who originally declined our invitations started to attend. It might mean a “cheap-and-cheerful” meal at a local cafeteria, an all-day breakfast at a diner, or a more substantial meal, but the common denominator is that it suits everyone and that it most often includes going back home for yet more fellowship.

Last evening was typical. It happened to be CP’s birthday and he had invited some friends to Evening Prayer thinking that afterwards perhaps we could go to IHOP for celebratory pancakes. Meanwhile CM had called me to suggest a pot-luck at their home. Long-story short – a quick change of plan and fifteen of us (that includes CM’s dog Sammie) enjoyed a great evening which included a hilarious ping-pong (mis)match between Gail and CP, heaps of laughter, loads of love, and great food.

Fellowship and hospitality are essentials of Christianity. I thank God I’m a Christian.

A Busy Breakfast

2010-01-26T19:34:00.004-05:00

A busy breakfast fellowship followed Morning Prayer this morning after we had celebrated the life of Timothy and Titus, faithful followers of Saint Paul. Just as I was locking up the church, M came over and explained he needed to get back to Raleigh after receiving some medical treatment. He was obviously anxious and declined breakfast, but was grateful for the help we gave him to get home.

Courtney, Dave and Gail had breakfast well under way by the time I got back into the parish house. B, a regular, who now has his own accommodation, brought M for breakfast. M who has been staying with B, was obviously so grateful and was busy organizing his and B’s grocery list - another case of “the poor helping the poor” - certainly a reminder to us all. Will, who had attended Morning Prayer, popped in to say hello and drink his daily OJ, whilst big S was cheerful as usual and managed to put a smile on everyone’s face – a wonderful gift of his.

The every faithful Dave and Tony were as usual, deep in conversation, while Jodi was organizing her two-year old’s breakfast of Cheerios.

Tuesday breakfast is always fun and could never be dull, especially with Courtney and Gail in form. At the 194^th Annual Convention of the NC Diocese last weekend, Bishop Michael Curry continued and expanded his “All Are Welcome” theme from last year. I thought of his words as I buttered my toast, drank my coffee and enjoyed the fellowship of our brothers and sisters. I felt welcomed by all those present. Praise God.

The scent of nostalgia

2010-01-19T15:21:00.016-05:00

Some time ago a friend of mine told me he had been asked what attracted him to our church. He replied, "Among other things of course, it had the smell of a real church. Like a church should". To my mind, he's absolutely right - candle wax, a lingering scent of incense and furniture polish.

The scent of smell does play a large part in bringing back memories, for me anyway. My inspiration for this post comes from me sitting in front of my laptop and realizing that the steak and vegetable stew I put in the slow cooker is well on its way to becoming my supper later this evening. It's one of my favorite aroma's, together with freshly baked bread (thank heaven for the bread maker), freshly ground coffee, newly mown grass and that distinctive smell of a summer shower after a hot spell.

I can smell with my mind's nose (well, if you can see with your mind's eye!), my earliest days at school. Again, furniture polish and for some reason Lifebuoy soap are prominent here, plus the strong smell of Jeyes Fluid, used in the outside lavatories. Yes, you did read correctly - outside. We didn't linger there long during the cold Norfolk winters, believe me!

Although I only lived a few hundred yards from my school, I always stayed for school dinner. Boiled cabbage - I can remember that strong smell with somewhat disgust.

Other schoolboy smells (the mind boggles at that phrase) I can still envisage are: dubbin (when rubbing on my football boots); hot tar (as the road-men repaired the streets); burnt methanol at speedway meetings (I still love that smell); and one not so pleasant, but nonetheless one that brings back vivid and emotional memories - the smell of Dad's clothing after he had spent many hours working in the dairy and delivering milk.

Some smells puzzled me, such as why certain stores had the same aroma whatever the branch or town. Examples I remember most were "Woolie's" (F. W. Woolworth) and "Marks" (Marks & Spencer). It was probably the corporate design and the use of fittings that gave them that unique aroma. Without wishing to offend vegetarians, I loved the smell of a butcher's shop, "blood and sawdust", and how I loved the smell of a shoe shop - that's when shoes were made with leather, naturally.

Nowadays our noses are bombarded with artificial smells -perfume, air-fresheners, scented candles, but those natural favorites I mentioned to begin with are still tops for me.

What is my very favorite? After forty years in the book printing industry, it has got be the smell of a brand new book. They don't call me a crazy Englishman for nothing!

Decisions, decisions - part 4

2010-01-09T17:46:00.011-05:00

Decisions are made virtually every second of our lives. Even when we sleep, decisions are made which effect our lives.

My first life-changing decisions were previously posted separately. This post combines three major ones within five years.

In the summer of 2000 we were to take our three (at that time) wonderful granddaughters on individual vacations of their choice. We always tried to have quality one-on-one time with them individually. So a great time was had with with 9 year-old Josie in historic Northumbria. A couple of weeks later, an equally great time with 7 year-old Asha in East Sussex exploring "Pooh Bear" country. On return, and before we had a chance to take dear Caitlin, then 5, anywhere, I suffered a mild, but nevertheless frightening, heart attack. Don't jump to any conclusions here - it was nothing to do with our girls - if anything, they helped me relax from the stresses of my work.

On recovering, thankfully fairly quickly, I was fortunate to be given the chance to take early retirement. An easy decision? I now think it was, but I'm not so sure I felt so then. After all, nine years early? With the support and encouragement, as always of Gail and our son and daughter, decision number 1 was made.

Before this, on various vacations, we had fallen in love with the southern Iberian Peninsular, and had talked about retiring there, either the Algarve or to neighboring Spain's Costa's. We now had an opportunity to do so, but would we take the plunge? It may have been brave, it may have been foolhardy, but finding on retirement that during my previously working hours the sun really didn't come out all that much, and that perhaps our finances could go stretch a little further in Andalusia, I started the research. There, decision number 2 made. Following our visit to North Carolina for our son's wedding, we did for a short time consider the possibility of moving to the US. However we stuck to our original plan, put our home on the market, sold most of our belongings and took a flight to Spain to check out the property in and around Málaga. UK property sold, Spanish property purchased, legal work completed and decision 2 carried through.

A good decision? Yes, although after four years and having visited North Carolina for an extended stay (Leslie, our daughter-in-law deserves sainthood for putting up with us), we realized we could never have made Spain our permanent home, even though we managed to have the quality time with each of our girls in turn, . . . so, let's start preparing for the big one - Decision Number Three!

This really was a big one. We really liked NC and after spending time here in the summer and winter months, checking out property (and the locals, and liking both), I still wasn't convinced. It took Gail quite a bit of persuasive argument to win me over. There was a great deal of agonizing, but eventually Gail's logic was spot on.

I have not regretted any of these decisions. Yes, we miss our family in England terribly, how could we not? But which one of our granddaughters spent nearly a month with us this past summer? If you are a regular reader you know the answer . . . . Caitlin had her quality time with Nan and Granddad after all.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T20:31:00.006-05:00

As I look toward 2010 I hope and pray that it will be a healthy and peaceful one for everyone.

Before I start to look forward to 2010 I'm reflecting on some of many personal highlights of the past 365 days. In no particular order here goes:

Celebrating 40 years of marriage to my best friend.
Spending a month with Caitlin, our granddaughter from England, showing her the delights of North Carolina and DC - that was such fun.
Becoming Senior Warden of our church.
Having the honor of integrating with the homeless in our community and learning so much from them.

I feel blessed that there were many more, believe me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's a Christmas Miracle!

2009-12-26T18:55:00.006-05:00

Well, not quite. It reflects the exclamation that our daughter-in-law shouted when, on Christmas Day, I unveiled to her the doll house that I had just completed.

I must explain that I bought the doll house kit three years ago and have made several attempts to get started but my initial enthusiasm waned. I will say that Gail has been very patient (as always), but Leslie is a true Libra and has given me a lot of deserved grief to get me to get on with it.

However, Gail finally motivated me when a couple of months ago she declared, "If you are not going to build it, I will!" Woa! - that did it. It gave me the kick in the butt I needed and the project was completed two days before Christmas.

We still have to furnish our "new home"

Now for my next project. More of that later.

The true Christmas Miracle, was of course over 2,000 years ago. Now that is worth celebrating.

A Happy New Year to all, may it bring you peace, joy and good health.

Winter begins and Christmas is upon us

2009-12-21T07:14:00.010-05:00

It's been a busy December for me so far and I cannot see that changing. We seem to have been at our church every day for one reason or another and we both have projects we are wanting to clear before Christmas Day.

The weekend's dusting of snow wasn't as bad as we had expected, but still enough to bring out the worst in drivers here. After speaking to family in Norfolk, England, it seems as if that county has been experiencing the same weather conditions as North Carolina - if anything Norfolk has been slightly colder.

We have seen an increase in those needing extra blankets and clothing during the past couple of weeks and I was overwhelmed at the response to an appeal for such. I know how much these are appreciated.

Our wonderful Deacon, the Rev. Maggie Silton, who spends much of her time at Urban Ministries in Durham, was our preacher on Sunday. I think her inspiring sermon needs to be shared with more than the congregation of St. Joseph's, so with her permission I reproduce it here:

Here we are again. Even though it comes around every year, the Fourth Sunday of Advent always seems to sneak up on us. It’s a busy time. There’s such a lot to do and seemingly not enough time in which to do it. I’m feeling a sense of urgency, and I suspect you are too.

There’s certainly a sense of urgency among our neighbors over at Urban Ministries. What’s even more noticeable is the sense of unease that pervades the place. You can almost reach out and touch it. There are more bad moods and arguments in the soup kitchen line than there are at other times. Too many people show up on the food pantry days and we have to turn several away. Earlier in the year this news might not elicit a strong reaction, but now it may result in an angry outburst, pleading, or even tears. This year is particularly difficult given the high rate of unemployment.

Some folks at Urban Ministries have a sudden sense of focus that they didn’t have just a few weeks earlier. James (all the names are changed), who normally seems perpetually distracted, is all of a sudden focused on getting a bus ticket back home to visit his grown children. Annie, who’s normally a fairly laid-back woman, goes into high gear to assemble all the trimmings of Christmas for her children. Alvin, who normally just hangs out on the corner, is suddenly looking for a way to make a little cash. Between my minimal Spanish and Maria’s halting English I learn that she will leave no stone unturned to make sure she has an extra blanket for a visiting relative.

The time leading up to Christmas is stressful for most of us, but even more so for the poor and homeless. In a season that’s so often defined by buying, how hard it is for those with no money for gifts. In a season that glorifies the concept of being home for the holidays, how devastating it is to have no home at all. In a season that celebrates families getting together, how painful it is to have blood ties strained by poverty, addiction, or abuse. In a season known for feasting, how sad it is to have little to put on the table. Even attending a church service this time of year seems daunting for those without even a coin to drop in the collection plate. For the broken in purse and spirit, Christmas is anything but merry. It’s a season of embarrassment, even shame.

This season may be painful even for those who are more prosperous. The dark secret hidden underneath that pile of presents may be a huge credit card debt. Family gatherings may expose the estrangement that lies behind the hearty greetings and forced festiveness. Christmas may well be an emotional and logistical nightmare for those who must tread carefully in the minefield of split families and step-relations. The anxieties and addictions we’ve held in check the rest of the year may get the better of us now. If we’ve lost friends and family members this past year we feel their absence sorely. In this season even those of us who are rich in worldly goods may feel poor on some level. We truly need some good news right now!

Good news is exactly what we get from today’s Gospel. The thing is, it doesn’t look like good news at first. Think about Elizabeth and Mary for a moment. Talk about embarrassment and shame! Elizabeth is pregnant at an age far past the acceptable age for childbearing. Her earlier childlessness was a problem in her world, to be sure, but this latest development could be seen as strange or even ominous. After all, to everything there is a season, and Elizabeth’s season for childbearing should be long past. And what about Mary? What do you think the neighbors were saying about this poor, unmarried teenager who claimed that an angel told her that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit? And if that’s not enough, consider what will happen to Elizabeth’s and Mary’s unborn sons. John the Baptist will be beheaded by Herod, and Jesus will be crucified by the Romans. Does this sound like good news to you?

At this point we may want to pause a moment and reflect. God’s ways are not our ways, and God’s values may not be the same as ours. As we’ve seen time and time again, God works through people and in situations that may appear very unpromising to us. In fact, God does some of God’s best work with powerless people whose lives most of us would consider impossible.

As first century women in Palestine, Mary and Elizabeth were certainly powerless. In their culture women had very little standing. They weren’t just women, but they were poor women as well.

But God saw these women differently than their contemporaries did. Remember that God chose Moses to deliver the Ten Commandments despite Moses’ stutter. Remember that God chose David, a younger brother and a lowly shepherd, to be be God’s anointed. In the case of David, Samuel explains that “The Lord does not see as mortals see, they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” The world’s standards of excellence and prestige don’t matter to God. What matters is what God finds in our hearts.

Luke expects us to make the connection between Mary and God’s work with the lowly. Mary’s song—known as the Magnificat—echoes the song of Hannah in First Samuel. Luke wants us to know that this choice of a low-status person isn’t an isolated incident or a novelty. Luke wants to make sure we understand that this is the way that God works. God judges and selects people not by worldly criteria but by what Martin Luther King called the content of their character.

Our lesson from Hebrews reinforces this idea. God isn’t impressed by our outward and material actions and appearance but by our inward and spiritual condition manifested in obedience to God’s will. Hebrews tells us, “Sacrifices and burn offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me” and “See, I have come to do your will.” What God wants is an obedient and willing heart, not a big show. God isn’t interested in having us bow and scrape to prove our love for God. God would rather we incarnated God’s love for us and show forth God’s praise, as the Prayer Book says, “not only with our lips but in our lives.”

So God’s ways are not our ways, and if you look all over scripture you’ll find plenty of evidence. Isaiah announces God’s reversal of the so-called natural order of things by saying, “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low.” Doesn’t that remind you of Mary’s words in today’s Gospel lesson? She says of God, “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.”

Mary’s next words announce that “God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.” Where else in scripture have we heard words like these? We’ve heard them in the Beatitudes. Every one of the Beatitudes is a reversal of what we think is the usual order of things. We don’t think of the poor in spirit, or those who mourn, or the meek, or those who hunger and thirst for righteousness as blessed, yet Jesus says they are.

But Jesus in the Beatitudes and Luke in our reading today aren’t talking about how things are in their culture or in ours. They’re talking about who is blessed and who is valued in a community that looks forward to the coming of the kingdom. Here is real Gospel, good news about what the kingdom is like and good news about what and whom the kingdom values.

Jesus never said, blessed are the rich and powerful. God didn’t choose the daughter of the chief rabbi or the temple high priest to be the mother of Jesus. Instead, God chose Mary, a poor young girl from Nazareth. Jesus wasn’t born on a soft bed in a palace but on straw in a stable among the barnyard animals. The shepherds are the first to learn of Jesus’ birth in Luke’s Gospel. Remember, shepherds occupied the lowest rung of the social ladder.

Do you see the picture here? Jesus never said it was fun or lucky or enjoyable to be poor, but he said it was blessed. God is with the poor. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never run into Jesus at a country club or at the mall. I never even ran into him at Duke Divinity School. But I think I’ve met him in a soup kitchen a time or two, and I’m willing to believe he stays in the shelter from time to time.

God is with the poor, and poverty is only partly about money. There isn’t anyone among us who isn’t poor in some way. Many of us are poor in purse and many others of us are poor in health or poor in spirit. There is not a person on this planet who isn’t broken in some way or another. We all have our wounds, inside and out. This season, as we prepare to welcome God into our midst in the form of a homeless baby, let us welcome God into our brokenness so that it may be healed. Let us welcome God into our hearts and experience a transformation beyond any we could ever ask for or even imagine. Come Lord Jesus, heal us and save us. Amen.

Amen, indeed.

Have a joyous and blessed Christmas.

Carols and Lessons

2009-12-07T07:27:00.008-05:00

Last evening Gail and I attended the annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols at The Episcopal Center at Duke University. A bit early for carols? Of course, but this regular event is held early as it's the last chance the students get to sing carols and enjoy Christmas fellowship before the festive break.

We have attended this event for the past three years and enjoy it immensely. After the service, we tucked in to wonderful food, hot cider, mulled wine. Sharing food is a crucial part of hospitality and hospitality is a crucial part of Christianity.

After dinner, we settled down, with the huge log fire roaring, to sing carols by request. I'm pleased to say that members from St. Joseph's were there in force and, as usual, were the last to leave. St. Joe's also provided three of the four musicians.

Thank you Karen (interim Chaplain), the vestry and board at ECD for continuing this wonderful tradition.

Time for a Ruby?

2009-11-15T21:17:00.003-05:00

Time for a Ruby? No, not a curry - for my American friends Ruby (that's Ruby Murray) is Cockney rhyming slang for curry - but time for celebrating our Ruby Wedding Anniversary. Forty years is a long time. But to have as your partner on that journey your very best friend, is easy. Ups and downs, peaks and troughs - we've had them for sure, but true friends work things out.

Today, we celebrated this milestone at our church with our friends there. We reaffirmed our vows and, wait for this, actually held hands! We had pizza, cake, flowers and enjoyed a great reception in the company of many friends.

A big thank you to them for contributing and sharing the occasion with us.

The good old days?

2009-11-13T21:42:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I received one of those "pass-this-on" e-mails (which I never do). Nevertheless, it was interesting and gave me much food for thought.

What follows is my adaptation of that e-mail. It's how I remember things when I was a youngster.

Mum cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.

My parents never had a check book, let alone a credit card (credit was what it said it was, debit was debt), even though they both ran a business. All their bills were paid in cash. Their bank accounts were conducted using a pass book and they would never accept a check. I'm sure they never owed anyone, even though plenty of their customers owed them.

My parents never drove me to school (that would have been difficult as we didn't have a car). I walked until I had a bicycle and that was second-hand.

We didn't have a television in our house until I was 13. It was, of course, black and white, and the station went off the air at midnight, after playing the national anthem. There were only two channels and no daytime programs.

Cell phones? You are kidding. We never even had a land-line until I was married. My parents even managed running a business without one.

Pizzas were not delivered to homes, but milk, bread and even soft drinks were. So was the mail, at least twice daily. Post a local letter in the morning, it was delivered in the afternoon. Next day delivery was normal, not a premium service. Mail order? No need, everything you could possibly need was produced or purchased locally.

All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers. I delivered newspapers, morning and evening, six days a week, and had a large Sunday morning round.

Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. We came home from the theater feeling entertained because all movies were responsibly produced for everyone to enjoy viewing, without profanity or violence or most anything offensive.

If you tripped and fell over it was your own fault, not that of someone else. The only counselling you got was "Oh dear, how sad never mind".

People felt, and were, responsible for their own actions. They didn't blame "society", "the government", or anyone else.

"Do-Gooders" actually did just that.

I can also remember . . .

Ignition switches on the dashboard.
Wearing cycle clips when riding my "bike".
Soldering irons you heated on a gas burner.
Using hand signals, even if the car had "semaphore" turn signals.
When there were only two sets of traffic signals in our town and only one traffic circle (roundabout).
When street lights were turned off at midnight.
When women wore hats in church but men did not.
Respecting my school teachers and those in authority (they usually earned our respect).
When we stopped what we doing and took off our caps when a funeral procession passed by.
When Christmas lasted two days, not two months.
Candy cigarettes.
Tiger nuts.
Children playing in the streets from dawn til dusk.
Having never heard of the word "obese".
Home milk delivery in glass bottles.
Cops actually knowing people in their neighborhoods.
Newsreels before the movie.
Conductors on the buses.
TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again the next evening.
Peashooters.
Saturday morning movie matinees (the ABC Minors).
Being able to hear oneself think in a public library.
Never, as a child, even knowing what "being bored" was.
Being satisfied with having what we needed and not craving for something we wanted.

Were these my "good old days"? Of course they were.

The Singer finally sings

2009-11-03T16:44:00.011-05:00

On Saturday, the Singer was tuning up. I had finished the re-assembly of this wonderful piece of American ingenuity. After a final oiling, the treadle belt was fitted and the moment of truth had dawned.

We had carefully move her (I cannot bring myself to call it "it") to "Gail's Room".

On Monday morning Gail was ready to re-learn the skills of her childhood. After some final adjustments and spooling shuttles, she (Gail) was ready. "It's like riding a bike", she said.

The look on Gail's face as she got back into the swing of treadling was worth every minute of the restoration. I like it too, as I can get easily irritated by the sound of modern appliances, including her electric sewing machine (I know, I know!), but the sound of this little beauty is like comparing the sound of a Rolls Royce to a clapped-out "cash-for-clunkers" wreck with a broken muffler.

The Singer is now in full song and at 88 years old is ready to give many more years service.

Now to find a suitable chair to restore. You can tell, no doubt, that I'm really into this. But first I must complete a neglected project, Gail's doll house, otherwise I'm sure I will feel the heat of female wrath.

I must acknowledge the invaluable help from Captain Dick (Dick Wrightman) of the excellent Treadle On.net and to my dear friend, Mike King of London, England, for his advice. Finally sincere thanks to our dear friend, Pauline Nease, who wanted the Singer to have a good home. Rest assured Pauline, it has.

Bright as a button?

2009-10-29T17:23:00.010-04:00

Bright as a button? Not me! I've only just realized that it's just over a year since I started this blog. In that time I've posted 68 times, which at over one a week, is okay I'm thinking.

I started it with the intention of giving my English family and friends, or any anyone else for that matter, an idea of what it was like for this English "traditionalist" to adapt to living in a new country. It was also intended to give my American family and the many wonderful friends we have made here, an idea of the differences between English (East Anglian) and American (Southern) culture, food and language. I've strayed many times from that original idea but, hey! what the heck?

Many of these differences are very pronounced, some not so. As an East Anglian (Norfolk) boy, I'm used to the rest of my homeland calling us "Carrot Crunchers", "Tractor Boys", "Country Bumpkins" and the like (even though I was raised as a townee). A similarity here is that "Southerners" have traditionally been treated the same by those from more "sophisticated" states.

The differences in language are again sometimes not so great. When growing up in Norfolk, it was common to call a respected person "a good ol' boy". Here in the South, the same was and still is true.

In England the true Norfolk and Suffolk culture is being diluted by "invaders" from London and the Home Counties as well as from Europe. The same is happening here, especially in the Triangle of North Carolina, but this time the "invaders" mainly hail from the North-East. In fact a nearby very fast-growing city, Cary, is said to be an acronym for "Collection Area for Retired Yankees" (only joking). So many similarities exist.

One of my favorite blogging themes has been "my catholic musical taste". If anything this has widened and I spend many hours each day listening to various genres (I'm currently listening to Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto No. 5). I have had the immense pleasure of introducing our wonderful Vicar to jazz. She happened to mention that she wanted to learn and listen more, so I have "trickle-fed" her with the likes of The Modern Jazz Quartet, Art Tatum, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and many more. Overhearing her recently telling someone that "Mick is teaching and helping me appreciate jazz", did wonders for my ego. Fancy me becoming a "rabbi" to my priest!

Another thing I realized is that, whilst updating my database of music collected, is that, yes, I am a Romantic! This hit home when I was trying to compile a list of my top ten composers and noted that 70% were of the "Romantic" school - Brahms, Berlioz, Bruch, Chopin, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky and Verdi.

I wonder if Gail thinks of me as a "Romantic"?

The Singer, not the song - 2

2009-10-28T08:56:00.008-04:00

I've had a busy couple of days, but have managed to nearly finish off the table of G8824661.

After completely drying, following the application of the oil soap, I used a liberal application of dark Old English Scratch Remover to do just that. Then, having given it time to soak in and cleaning off the surplus, it was down to using Howard's Restore-a-Finish Golden Oak. This is basically a mild stripper and I needed to repeat this before moving on to wiping any residue off.

Things were looking much better now, so it was time to apply the Howard's Orange Feed and Wax. I did this twice before reassembling the major cabinet parts. I will repeat this several times over the next few months to build up a good and lasting finish.

Following a thorough clean and greasing, the treadle mechanism is in great shape, so I'm now ready to tackle the crucial stage - the machine itself. After ninety years of accumulated grease, grime, lint and fluff to remove, moving parts to clean, re-lubricate and adjust, this will likely be a lengthy and fiddly job. It is the most important though - after all, Gail wanted a working machine, not just a piece of furniture.

You can click on the photographs to enlarge. Okay, I'm now off to the auto parts store. I'll let you know why in the next post.

The Singer, not the song

2009-10-26T17:44:00.014-04:00

As mention in the previous post, I regret not taking a "before" photograph. I shall, from now on, take a few for the records. These photos are after taking the actual machine out of the table and spending some time removing the grime, oil and dust accumulated over many years.

After brushing, I used Murphy's Oil Soap on the table and most of the wood. The drawers (not shown) and their runners looked to have been treated with some type of shellac many years ago. They cleaned up reasonably well so I decided not to strip this off.

The effects of the oil soap with copious amounts of "elbow grease" made a remarkable difference.

Although I'm currently concentrating on the table and the treadle mechanism, I did take some tentative steps on the cleaning and de-greasing of the actual machine. Using Formula 409 I gently cleaned the steel cover plates and then, even more gently, tried the main body taking extra care over the decals. I am pleased that these seem to be in good condition under the layers of grime, although more work on this is required after I finish off the woodwork.

My first research into the date of manufacture was incorrect. I have now discovered that serial number G8824661 was manufactured c1922. Still, it's getting on for 90 years old and is a credit to American manufacturing. After all, the Singer sewing machine was very likely the first " home appliance."

At last, another post

2009-10-22T17:50:00.006-04:00

I've just realized it's over a month since my last post. It's not that nothing has happened worthy of posting, indeed just the opposite.

With colder nights, including some which resulted in early frosts, our thoughts have been with those who have no homes. Gail and I have gradually become more aware of our good fortune in having a roof over our heads and food in the pantry, something which many do not have. This can be for a multitude of reasons, which, to be fair, many of us cannot (or do not want to try) to understand.

I've started a new project. Gail was given a Singer treadle sewing machine, a model similar to the one she learned to sew on by her mother. She has been hankering after one of these for some time, not only as a "piece of furniture" but for a more practical reason - she has never really got on with electric sewing machines. We had looked at previously "restored" models for which the sellers were asking ridiculous prices as well as wrecks which would be beyond my capabilities of restoring. This one, built in 1910, is a little beauty, it's just in need of some TLC. I spent ages on the Internet researching the practicalities of restoring it before coming to the conclusion that, "Hey! I can do that". It will not look like new (I've watched too many "Antiques Roadshows" to fall for that), but will, I hope, look like it has been well used in it's nearly hundred years, but also lovingly cared for. Long story short (that's a first for me) - I'm hooked! I have, however, made a huge mistake - that is I didn't take a "before" photograph. As it is now all in pieces, it's a mistake I regret, but I'm going to have to live with. At least we can remember what it looked like.

I appreciate that blogs can only be of interest if (a) they have something interesting to say; and (b) they are updated regularly. I cannot help it if the former is not to every one's taste, but I'm going to make more effort to make sure that latter happens. There - it's in writing.

And for the record - Gail's Doll House is still "work in progress" (albeit slowly).

Decisions, decisions - part 3

2009-09-19T18:09:00.013-04:00

Decisions are made virtually every second of our lives. Even when we sleep, decisions are made which effect our lives.

Without doubt my biggest and best decision was made in 1968. I spent lots of time at the home of my best friend. My best friend had two sisters, one spoken for, one not. A gradual friendship evolved and on one magical evening I asked the wonderful one for a date.

Those who know Gail also know that subtlety is not one of her strong points. What I'm saying is that she didn't play "hard to get". I cannot speak for her, but I knew, on that first date that I would be spending the rest of my life with her. A cliche? Maybe, but that's how I felt. My family immediately fell in love with her too.

The aforementioned decision was made at The Buck Inn in Flixton, Suffolk, which was owned and run by a famous radio and TV star, Alan Breeze. We talked and just decided to get married, no formal proposal was made. We both knew it was right.

On November 15, 1969 we celebrated Holy Matrimony, at St. Mary's RC Church, Norfolk, England.

Some decisions we make turn out to be the wrong ones. Forty years after this that evening at The Buck, we still both know this one was right.

On November 15, 2009, we will celebrate with friends at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church, in the USA.

An empty feeling

2009-09-11T12:31:00.002-04:00

Uncle Stuart, Caitlin, Granddad and Nan (wearing the beautiful earrings Caitlin made for her)

Caitlin is now home in England. What an emotional day it was yesterday. No sooner had her 767 taken off and we were missing her. Those 26 days flew by nearly as fast as the aircraft taking her home.

She really is a great kid - yes, I know, all grandparents would say the same - but this 14-year-old really impressed everyone she met.

I think she has taken home a touch of The South. On asking what she would miss the most (hoping she was going to say, "why you and Nan of course"), she replied as quick as a flash "Bojangles Chicken Biscuits"! She had asked to have her last lunch here at the aforesaid Bojangles.

Caitlin enjoying her last taste of The South (for the time being)

Come back soon Caitlin (and Asha, Josie, Arwen, Sarah and Billy), we ALL miss you!

DC reflections

2009-09-06T20:21:00.012-04:00

Our weekend in Washington DC was great. It was everything we expected and much, much more. Two things struck me. Firstly was how "walkable" this city is; secondly was my impression that it is, generally, a friendly city.

The front desk staff at our hotel were exceptionally helpful and courteous; our sedan driver was remarkably cheerful at 6:30 a.m., the Union Station security guy who personally showed us where to get breakfast, the Gray Line office guy who talked me through Union Station to find our departure point, and the "Wonderful Wayne" our driver/tour guide with his even more wonderful West Indian accent.

I urge the many Americans who have never visited their nation's capital to do so. If, like me, you have any sense of history, a visit to the Capitol alone is worth the trip. A moving experience indeed.

We will be visiting again for sure. I feel as if I could spend a couple of weeks at the Smithsonian, alone.

After an exhausting schedule, I asked Caitlin, our 14-year old granddaughter what impressed her the most. The Museum of American History? the Capitol building? the White House? No, her answer was the National World War II Memorial. Is it not surprising that an English teenager should, in 2010, find this memorial to Americans who sacrificed their lives for freedom over sixty years ago moving? I think so and am even more proud of her than ever.

The Washington Monument, from the National WWII Memorial

Rosslyn, VA, by night

Gail and Mick at The Capitol

Caitlin, enjoying the view

Lincoln, takes a peak

What a wonderful building

Gail and Mick at the Reflecting Pool. The Lincoln Memorial in the background

Ford's Theater, where Abraham Lincoln was shot

Caitlin and Gail take a look at The White House

The National World War II Memorial

Many (many) more photos on my Shutterfly page: http://norfolkboyinnc.shutterfly.com

Hooked on P.D.

2009-09-03T12:08:00.003-04:00

Anyone who looks to the left of my home page and sees what I'm reading or listening to, cannot help but be aware that I love mysteries.

At the suggestion of a dear friend, I recently read my first novel by P.D. James, Death in Holy Orders, and was instantly hooked. How I had never sampled her work before is beyond me. I have not even seen the Anglia TV adaptations of her novels

Her use of the English language is a delight. One review I read on Goodreads.com complains that she uses words that have to be checked in the dictionary. Good for her, I say. Why should anyone complain of using good English? I'm not learned in my own written (or spoken) tongue, but I do appreciate the language being used correctly.

There, no posts for over a month, and now, two together.

Where did August go?

2009-08-31T08:52:00.008-04:00

Amazing! I cannot believe it's well over a month since I last posted to this blog. Where did August go?

At the time of that posting we were looking forward to the visit of our granddaughter Caitlin from Norfolk, England. She has been here for two weeks and only has ten days before she flies home and back to school.

Gail and Caitlin enjoying Sarah Duke Gardens, Durham NC.

We all enjoyed our trip to the beach - Wrightsville Beach NC.

Wilmington, NC. It's twinned with Gail's birthplace, Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, hence this photograph.

The obligatory photo. The USS North Carolina is awesome.

In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

Dollywood, TN

I am a strong woman Granddad!

I think I'm going to get wet . . . . .

. . . . I did get drenched through, but this was after the "River Battle". Gail and Caitlin just "put me out in the sun to dry"

We have crammed a lot into these first two weeks - visits to the beach, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the thrills and delights of Dollywood and much valued family time.

Gail and Caitlin - on "retail therapy"!

We're off to DC in Friday. Unfortunately, when I booked the hotel and tours I didn't realize that it was Labor Day weekend. Hey-ho, we will still enjoy it I know, and as many have told me, it is ALWAYS busy in DC.

Why?

2009-07-23T09:46:00.008-04:00

As every parent knows, "why?" is a common word among young children. And so it should be as, in order to learn, we have to constantly ask questions. It can of course be frustrating when one has given an answer to the original "why?", to have that puzzled looking face ask, "but why?"

As older people (I have, unfortunately, have to include myself in that category) are sometimes described as going through their second childhood, I realize that I am also asking "why?' quite often nowadays.

Some examples:

1) why do organizations, especially academic ones, spend vast amounts of money on researching subjects which most people know the answer to and not those that can really improve the quality of life. Does it really take a research team at an English University several years and many thousands of pounds to come up with finding that cats can control a human by purring and "creeping" round their owners legs when they want to be fed? or that the reason there is an increase in child obesity is that they are eating too much junk food and sugar, are not exercising enough and spend too long in front of a computer screen?

2) why do normally sensible, caring, intelligent adults, immediately change into crazy, selfish, demons when sitting behind the steering wheel of their car?

3) why do the aforesaid adults, who are normally discreet when sharing confidences with real friends, turn into pseudo gossip columnists when making comments on Facebook, MySpace, blogs, etc., sharing their innermost secrets and desires with their virtual friends and indeed, the world? Oh! wait a minute, I do that too!

4) why is it not possible in this age, without living in the wilderness, the North or South Pole, or sailing around the world single-handed, to have some outer peace and stillness in one's life, even in one's own home? Inner peace is easier in any location I know.

5) why is it that very often, those who give advice are the worst recipients of it?

6) why is it not possible for me to ask these questions, without being accused of being a "grumpy old man"?

I could go on (an on).

Perhaps young children could give me the answers, before they are tainted with adulthood.

Decisions, decisions - part 2

2009-07-10T10:28:00.012-04:00

As mentioned in the previous post, decisions are made virtually every second of our lives. Even when we sleep decisions are made which effect our lives.

Before completing my apprenticeship I had already made a decision to leave my "master" on becoming a journeyman. In fact I had already secured a new position three months before my signing off. I felt I needed more experience and started in August 1965 at the well established book printing company of Page Bros (Norwich) Ltd. I had been promised a job as a Monotype keyboard operator, something I had started at Norwich City School of Art Printing Department.

Joining a much larger company was daunting, but I was welcomed by a brotherhood of printers and made lifetime friends, many of whom still live in Norwich and correspond regularly. As printing technology developed, from letterpress to offset lithography to digital, I and my co-workers developed with it, ever learning new skills.

Taken in 1974 probably during a 12 hour late shift at the MonoPhoto Mk V keyboard. Like the 70s style?

My point is that the decision to join this company, which was founded over 260 years ago and still going strong, was another great one. I retired early in 2000 after enjoying 35 years of working there and 40 years in the printing trade. I can count on one hand, well okay, maybe two, the number of times I woke up and thought "I don't really fancy going into work today", even during some scary winter snow storms, on my 17-mile commute along country roads.

I feel blessed that I was fortunate in making the correct decision for me, and as it turned out, for my family.

The next life-changing choice was made in 1968, but that's another story.

Decisions, decisions - part 1

2009-06-29T10:35:00.011-04:00

Except when we are asleep, we are faced with decisions almost every minute of our life. The vast majority are of a minor nature. Shall I have another cup of coffee? Shall I wear this shirt or that one?, and so on. However, some decisions are of a much more important nature, life-changing in fact.

As I was expanding this thought, my mind wandered back to what, I suppose, was my first life-forming decision. As I was approaching graduation from college in 1960, and contemplating my future career I had arranged interviews with three local companies each involved in completely different industries, all of which I had expressed an interest in. As all would involve me and my father signing indentures for a five-year apprenticeship, Dad had to accompany me.

Dad, from childhood always wanted to be a carpenter, a skill which came natural to him. However, he was under pressure from his father to join the family dairy business, which he loyally did. So Dad was keen for me to "do my own thing", albeit with all the help, guidance and support he could muster. Naturally enough, the first company tour and interview was with a joinery firm. Hmmm, a lot different from the woodworking shop at school, but there was a spark of interest. Next came a noisey, smelly, tour of a local shipwrights foundry. That was a non-starter for me, even though it would have included some woodworking skill in the preparation of moulds.

The third interview, at a small jobbing printing works, clinched my future career. I was struck immediately by a feeling that this "was for me". Within 24 hours, I was offered an apprenticeship and Dad and I signed my Indenture on August 8, 1960. The document is a work of art, the company secretary completed his part in beautiful copperplate script.

I'm reading this wonderful document as I write this and several of the terms stand out. For example, Paragraph 2(e) reads "That the Apprentice shall not gamble with cards or dice or play unlawful games or frequent taverns but that in all things he shall demean and behave himself towards his Employer and others having authority over him during the said term as a good and faithful apprentice ought".

Pictured with my "clicker" and mentor, the great Cliff Cooper, during the first year of my apprenticeship.

Then, exactly five years later on August 8, 1965, the Indenture states "We hereby certify that the hereinbeforenamed has well and faithfully served the full period of his Apprenticeship in accordance with the terms of the before written Deed".

Six years later, as a journeyman compositor at the Monotype keyboard

In 1960 I composed (typeset) by hand, but after keying via Monotype, Monophoto, Then by computer typesetting, by my retirement in 2000 we were ready for "customer-to-plate files".

My first life-forming decision was a great one, which not once did I regret making. To be able to say that in forty years I enjoyed every working day would be an exaggeration, but there were not many days I didn't enjoy, and as family and friends will testify, I still love the smell of a newly printed book!

. . . . . . . to be continued.

Crafty Love

2009-06-25T20:08:00.009-04:00

I wrote some time ago about Gail’s passion for crafting. Mainly knitting, cross-stitching and the like, but recently quilting.

Of late, and especially since living here in the USA, another of her qualities has been increasingly noticeable. I’ve always known it (although probably not always appreciated it), but many of our friends have actually commented on it. What is this quality you are no doubt asking? To put it simply, which is always a difficult task for me, it’s the fact that she is Gail!

She has a wonderful way of always being cheerful; she is usually very tolerant; she is extremely generous with her time and love; she genuinely loves helping people; she isn’t one to open her mouth before giving what she is about to say a lot of thought; she has never shown envy of anybody or anything. The list is endless. Is she a saint? Of course not, (although she ought to be canonized for putting up with me for near on forty years).

The point I’m trying to make is that, although life has not always been kind to her, she has always been kind to life. Whether it’s visiting housebound friends, running to the grocery store for them, taking people to hospital appointments or cooking a meal for the homeless guys who visit our church property, she has always had faith, even when I had lost mine.

Getting back to the crafting. My reason for writing this is that not only did she agree to knit three prayer shawls for a lady she had only briefly met once, but feels that her hands need to deliver them, not via the US Mail or FedEx. On Monday we will be travelling to Georgetown, South Carolina to ensure that her labors are delivered with love. It’s a nine hour return trip.

Am I proud of her? Do I love her dearly? You bet your life I do and I’m not ashamed to tell y’all!

Seven days in the life of . . . .

2009-06-16T07:43:00.004-04:00

Looking back over the past week I am reminded of "the curate's egg" - good in parts.

Ups and downs, peaks and troughs or whatever you want to call them, are part of life. It's how we cope with not only the low points, but even the highs, that can make all the difference to others. Both Gail and I experienced unrelated frustrations towards the end of last week. Talking to friends not only helped both of us get past these difficulties (as minor as they were, in hindsight), but hopefully gave those friends a sense of helping and of being "wanted". It's a reminder that we all not only need, but rely on, one another. Seeking help is not always easy, but is generally rewarding for both the seeker and helper. Thank God for the family of friends we have and love.

Yesterday, Sarah telephoned from Norfolk, England, to tell me that she had successfully booked the flights for Caitlin, one of our wonderful granddaughters, to visit us this summer. To say we are excited is an understatement!

As this wonderful world continues to turn, a dear friend's younger brother died on Saturday and yesterday another friend gave birth to a beautiful girl, Macy. Lows and highs, mourning and rejoicing, they are an integral part of life . . . and death.

As Gail says every morning "Good morning life . . . how can I make a difference today?"

Food, glorious(?), food

2009-06-09T08:15:00.018-04:00

Getting ready for the onslaught

Almost three weeks since my last posting. Gee, doesn't time fly? It's not that I've been lazy (although that's a subject in which I could win an Olympic Gold), it's that our time has been amazingly well utilized.

A more than usual proportion of our energy seems to have been spent on food, either eating out or entertaining. That, inevitably resulted in me gaining a few extra pounds, "oh dear, how sad, never mind" (no prizes for guessing what TV show that quote comes from). We had eaten out so much that Gail needed an orientation course just to get back into the swing of preparing meals in our own kitchen!

The eating marathon concluded on Saturday when we held a cook-out for friends and neighbors. It seemed, from my vantage point slaving over a hot grill, to have been a success by the 39 guests who attended. I thought I would never stop grilling ribs, dogs and burgers and swore that I wouldn't want to see another rib for months. Needless to say, by Monday, I could have died for a rib!

I mentioned above a favorite TV sitcom (It Ain't Half Hot Mum), which is now considered not politically correct, but really is a classic. I have just been informed by Amazon that my order or the complete series of another of my favorites, (thanks to my amazing friends Dawn and Michelle sweetly remembering my birthday) has been shipped. I had pre-ordered it six weeks ago and have eagerly awaited it's release on Region 1. It is "Open All Hours", starring the exceedingly talented Ronnie Barker and David Jason, and is an English classic. I don't think PBN would have shown this here, as I'm not sure that an American audience would be able to grasp the Northern humor (the series was set in Doncaster, Gail's home town).

A friend recently lent us the BBC adaptation of Barchester Chronicles. Some of my favorite actors starred, Donald Pleasance, Nigel Hawthorne, Geraldine McEwan and the wonderful Alan Rickman, who played the creepy Obadiah Slope and the equally wonderful Clive Swift playing Bishop Proudie. What a great adaption of Trollope's masterpeice and just like the books, we didn't want it to end. Thank you Lynn for sharing.

Okay, I think that's enough of the TV theme. Now, what was I going to do? Oh yes, get ready to out for the Ninth Street Neighbors Lunch with some of our friends. And that's where we came in.

A Sad Loss

2009-05-21T13:14:00.009-04:00

Yesterday, we mourned the loss of a dear friend. I refer to an 80ft hickory tree in our yard. Sadly it had died last Fall and although we put off having it felled, it was too near our house to risk leaving nature to do the work for us.

You may wonder why I call a tree a friend? Let me tell you that my native Norfolk, England, has witnessed the disappearance of trees at an alarming rate over the past half century. Few homes, even in the countryside, have the abundance of trees that we are fortunate enough to enjoy here in North Carolina. Modern farming methods dictated the removal of many small woods and copses and just as importantly, hedgerows. This had a devastating effect on wildlife and it is only comparatively recently that the importance of this is being widely recognized. The mighty storms of 1987 contributed to the loss with thousands of established specimens felled by nature's wrath in 24 hours. Add to this the scourge of Dutch Elm disease and a huge percentage of natural woodland was effected.

Our time in near treeless southern Spain made us realize how much we missed trees. So on our first visits to North Carolina we were enthralled at the amount of woodland. My cousin, on her first visit here from England, commented on arrival at RDU that she was amazed at the greenery and trees she saw from the windows of her aircraft on it's approach.

We still have a large number of trees in the yard and I have negotiated with our friendly tree doctor for some of those to receive "surgery" in the Fall to help manage and preserve them.

Our dear old hickory - probably ninety years in the making - was felled and cleared in less than ninety minutes. Yes, I love trees!

TW3 (That Was The Week That Was)

2009-05-09T10:19:00.011-04:00

I haven't posted for some time. I sometimes wake up in the early hours and whilst laying in semi-consciousness I think of excellent topics on which to post. Of course, by the time I get up, have been for our daily pre-breakfast walk, had said breakfast, done chores (okay, the latter doesn't take that long) and switched on the lap-top I've forgotten all the ideas I had for writing.

It was my birthday on Wednesday, a monumental one for me, reaching the age of 65, the normal retiring age in England. I retired from a very stressful job nine years early, following a minor, but nevertheless frightening, heart attack. A sign to ease off on the stress. Praise the Lord I took it seriously and did just that. I still have days (fortunately very few) when my body tells me all is not well. I know the signs and react by "shutting down". This happened on the day before my birthday. I had planned so much for the day, a pot-luck lunch with Ninth Street Neighbors, a one-to-one meeting with our vicar, bible-study in the evening, but after stubbornly going grocery shopping I knew I had to cancel these events and "shut-down". As usual, it worked and by the anniversary of my birth I was all but back to normal.

It wasn't exactly an exciting day, but I did manage some long telephone conversations with family and friends in England, catching up with the latest news from there and Spain (two friends had just returned from seven weeks there).

My former local soccer (football) team, Norwich City, has just been relegated to the third tier of English League Football, the minor league club I supported and helped run for quite a few years, Great Yarmouth Town, just missed out on promotion, whilst the team I follow in Spain, Málaga CF, look as though they will miss out on a UEFA place. Still the soccer season is underway here and I look forward to attending some Carolina RailHawks home games.

And, after some tornado warnings earlier in the week we at last seem to have some signs of summer - just 90F (32C) today so room for higher temperatures yet, hence the pre-breakfast walks and mowing the grass before noon!

Just where the week went to? I have no idea.

I like it . . . or do I?

2009-04-24T12:00:00.017-04:00

Cyberspace seems full of "My Top Five" lists. I refer mainly to those on Facebook. I quite frequently complete them, the most recent being "movies" "TV shows", "beer", etc. It all seems harmless enough and quite a fun thing to waste five or ten minutes on, deciding your favorite (if you didn't already know).

I'm not altogether sure whether I like FB or not. I do enjoy regaining contact with former school chums (that's a good old English phrase), former work colleagues or neighbors, but even though I comment on what I'm doing, just have done or about to do, does anyone really care? Possibly not, but I do think they are interested. Before the likes of FB, MySpace and blogging, many were I suspect, like me when opening a newspaper or magazine, interested in the opinions of other readers and enjoyed the "Letters to the Editor" page.

Whilst I love finding out what my FB friends are doing, I wonder why we don't disclose these thoughts more in person. I frequently email my daughter, who unfortunately lives 4000 miles away, and follow her "exploits" on FB, but there's nothing like chatting to her on the phone, even if much of the chat is of everyday things. Of course, it would be better still to chat to her face to face and give her a real hug rather than a virtual one.

Shortly after starting this blog, my son mentioned that he learned a lot about my earlier life from reading some of my postings - and he lives not 4,000 miles away, but only ten minutes! I wonder how much more I would have learned of my father's earlier life if blogs and FB were available when he was alive.

A personal journal? A lot of blogs are. Whether we agree with the views of members of FB and other social networking sites, forums or blogs, the fact that we take an interest in them must contribute to our realization that (a) we are not alone in our views or (b) not everyone thinks the same way as us. Respecting that is the key to a world of more understanding.

Those who have known me for many years would jump to agree that tolerance has never been my strong point. Tolerance is something I am working on and recognize as being one of the most important aspects of a happy life. Facebook and the like can, I hope, help achieve this.

Oh, and my favorite beers? In no particular order . . . .

Adnams Broadside
Yuengling Premium
Stella Artois
Woodforde's Wherry
Sam Adam's Summer Ale

Sadly Broadside (draught) and Wherry are unavailable here in NC . . . unless you know different!

Crafty business

2009-04-16T09:04:00.011-04:00

Yesterday, after our regular visit to the public library, Gail and I visited one of her favorite craft stores, A.C. Moore. I have to admit that even though I always leave there with a lighter wallet, I do enjoy browsing this great store. I enjoy even more watching Gail's face as she discovers another skein of yarn, a new color of DLC floss, or a new design of scrap booking paper. Talk about a child in a toy store.

We decided to go there just to buy a frame and mat to mount her latest cross-stitch project, a souvenir from last year's visit to Williamsburg, VA. Of course, we didn't get away with just these two items. I should have realized that as she picked up a cart at the entrance! A beautiful artificial flower display, another scented candle and two more Beanie Baby bears to add to her collection soon joined the frame in the cart!

Her dedication to her crafts is a blessing. One evening, not long after we arrived here, we were relaxing in front of the TV. I was very conscious that there was something wrong. It took a few minutes to sink in and then I realized what it was - Gail wasn't knitting! "What's the matter, don't you feel well?" "I haven't any wool left", she replied (we still called yarn wool back then). Of course, we had to remedy that situation the following morning and now she always has an enormous stock of yarn available.

Her prayer shawls have brought comfort to so many people - some we know, many she has never met. However, although knitting countless shawls, it wasn't until she was sick a month back that our dear friend Courtney (who had been a recipient of a shawl) asked me how Gail was feeling. I replied that she was still poorly, getting better, but still wasn't knitting (which was a worry to me) and we both suddenly realized that Gail had no prayer shawl of her own. Courtney had soon bought Gail some yarn, the shawl was knitted within a few days and was blessed by our vicar at church on Easter Sunday. A very moving and touching moment for Gail, Courtney and me. Afterwards, at fellowship hour, she received requests for another three shawls!

Food, glorious food

2009-04-08T12:20:00.007-04:00

Okay, it's Holy Week at last, so my fasting of chocolate, candy and desserts is nearly at an end. I think that I've done okay, as well as finding out who my true friends are (I still love you Lyn)! Part of being tempted by anything is thinking about it and this has given me cause to think of food I miss, food I like and food I dislike.

What food do I miss from England? Not as much as I would have first thought but here is a list:
Meat pies (they are not readily obtainable here, the Americans think of a pie as being mainly dessert), especially Cornish Pasties (the genuine article, not the normal supermarket imitations), pork pies (Melton Mowbray of course), and steak and kidney pies - Mmmmm! On the sweeter side I also miss Battenberg cake (although a friend did bring me some on her return from a visit to London, thanks Hannah). Jacobs custard creams - now there's a real biscuit (not a cookie). McVites digestives you can get here, at a horrendous price though and good old Bird's Custard powder is available too. Cadbury's chocolate is missed terribly. Again, I'm talking about the real stuff, not the poor imitation made under license by Hershey's. Finally, I never thought I would say this, but I do miss the occasional British Banger. I do enjoy American sausage, but wouldn't mind savoring a tasty Cumberland sausage.

What American food do I like? Nearly all Southern foods for sure. Most of it isn't good for me I know, but all things in moderation. I love grits, fried chicken, okra, clam chowder, chicken dumplings and barbecue (the dish, not the grille). I enjoy waffles and/or pancakes for breakfast, biscuits and gravy, glazed donuts and horror of horrors to the average English, iced tea. The latter took some getting used to believe me.

And what don't I like? Hardly anything really, in fact probably the same foods I didn't like in Europe. The one which springs to mind (and I still won't eat) are Brussels sprouts - Ugh?

Can I hear lunch being prepared? Oh yes, I've worked up quite an appetite writing this.

It's a Matter of Time

2009-04-03T11:30:00.004-04:00

A discussion with an American friend regarding our experiences since living here turned to time. No, not the time difference between here and Europe which is not a problem for us, but the different attitude to time.

Let me explain. In England (and please bear in mind, it is nearly nine years since we lived there), the day certainly runs later than here. For example, most non-clerical jobs would have an 8am to 4pm (or 5pm depending on lunch breaks) day, whilst clerical/office jobs would run from 9am to 5 or 5.30pm.

In Spain (in Andalusia at least) they were and presumably still enjoying the siesta with most stores and offices closing between 2 and 5pm and then reopening until 7 or 8pm.

Here the working day for most starts earlier and finishes earlier. I was amazed that in our experience an appointment at the doctor's office can be had at 7am, but usually not after 3pm or at the latest 4pm. In Spain our wonderful doctor took a siesta (good for him) and in England there was almost always an evening surgery.

School hours for kids are very different too, with school buses picking up on our street as early as 6.30am with them returning by 2.30pm in some cases. In addition, "year-round" schools are becoming more popular here in the triangle, although the reason for this is, I think, to utilize school buildings more efficiently.

Perhaps the best example of the changes we made is evening meal time. In England we usually sat down to eat at 7pm, in Spain 9pm, whilst here the norm seems to be 5.30-6pm, although we more often than not sit down at 6.30pm depending on whether we are attending evening events.

Traveler's Rest

2009-03-29T09:01:00.008-04:00

Last evening Gail and I attended our friend David Terry's exhibition of new work. Entitled "Traveler's Rest" it consisted of twenty-five new works.

David is a very talented artist. Traveler's Rest was exhibited on the tenth anniversary of his first show at the Craven Allen Gallery. During that ten years he has had many shows and his work has sold in many countries. He has, I venture to add, an even bigger talent than his art. It is the ability to embrace people into his life and more importantly, his heart.

Thank you David for being who you are. Our lives are enriched by being called "your English friends".

SADD boy

2009-03-29T08:34:00.004-04:00

I haven't posted during the past couple of weeks as I was afraid of being seen (as our Australian cousins would say) as a "whinging Pom". I refer, yet again, to the "English weather" we have experienced here in North Carolina for the past month.

As my very sensible daughter-in-law is in pains to point out to me, "We need the rain, we need the balance". Indeed we do and I suspect that we will be very thankful for the above average rainfall come September. I'm also reminded, that one of my criticisms of our life in southern Spain was the lack of seasons. As I mentioned before, in NC, it seems that sometimes we can experience four season in the same week!

It's not the rain I complain about. I love the rain and appreciate that rain is accompanied by gray days. What I don't like, and this was a contributory fact to us leaving England, are the gray, miserable (to me) days when it doesn't rain. To be fair there are not many of them, but it seems we have had more than our normal share this month. End of subject, I promise.

My Lenten fast of desserts and candy is progressing better than I expected. There have been many temptations, believe me, but I don't think I would have got through these four weeks if not for the feast days. I've surprised many people by explaining that Sundays are feast days (Lent is forty days, not forty-six), but even on a Sunday I usually only indulge minimally.

However, I have to report that I got caught out at, of all places, our weekly Lenten supper at church on Friday. Fred, my dear friend(!), who has been role playing as Satan during my fast (together with our beloved choir director), brought what I thought was a sweet potato casserole. Oh, I'll have some of that I thought - love sweet potatoes, only to find after a couple of mouthfuls, it was actually a dessert. Doh!

. . . . and Fred is a still a dear friend.

More funny old weather

2009-03-14T11:32:00.009-04:00

We were hoodwinked into thinking that spring, ney, summer had arrived at the beginning of this week. Three days with temperatures in the eighties. Gail, with her usual Yorkshire wisdom commented, "We will pay for this". I hate to admit it, but as usual, she was right. Friday brought a dramatic drop in temperature and rain. The 80s were 20 degrees above the normal temps for this time of year. Come Friday, it was 20 below normal.

I was so looking forward to the seasons first soccer game at Cary this evening, but as it will continue raining and temperatures are not set to get over 40, I'm not freezing my butt on aluminum bleaches shivering with a cold beer in my hand (okay, the cold beer is not obligatory I know) - my days of doing that whilst Secretary of Great Yarmouth Town FC are long gone. Call me a fair weather supporter, I don't care.

My daughter-in-law recently commented on her wonderful blog, Through Ellie's Eyes, about the state of local roads. I reported four of these craters (they are long past the definition of a pot-hole), to our city council several weeks back. Two of the four were repaired, eventually, but with such shoddy workmanship that the repairs are now crumbling yet again. What a waste of taxpayers' money. Whatever happened to "if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well"?

Driving through the persistent rainfall yesterday we noted that at least 20% of drivers were (a) either ignorant of State Law (if you use your wipers, you must use headlights); (b) knew of the law but were deliberately flouting it; or (c) are ignorant, period. We were even overtaken by a police cruiser without lights. I wish I had had the nerve to mention it to the officer concerned, politely of course. What makes drivers think that their car is so highly visible in pouring rain and gloomy conditions that they don't need to use their lights?

And to wind up this miscellany I have to report that my dessert-free Lent record is still unblemished. Tough going admittedly, especially when tempted by friends who take a delight in making the point that they have not made this promise. Even last Sunday, not a fast day, I only scoffed two chocolate-chip muffins. Watch this space!

Funny old weather

2009-03-08T17:36:00.008-04:00

"Dew yer know, thas funny old weather". For those who must be wondering what on earth Mick is rambling about, I will explain. It's what a Norfolk (England) native speaker (very rare nowadays) would say about the current weather we are enjoying here in North Carolina.

Translation: "Do you know, it's strange weather". I'm using this bit of squit (Norfolk speak for "trivial information" or "nonsense"), to report on the amazing changes in weather this past week. Exactly a week ago we were having winter storm warnings. Indeed on Monday we woke up to between three and four inches of snow. Schools closed, many workers took "snow days" and kids had a great time playing their own versions of the winter Olympics. With a wind chill factor it was barely 12-14F (minus 10C). Today temperatures are in the mid eighties - 85F (30C) as I write this at 5.45pm and shorts and tees are the order of the day.

I'm convinced that wonderful North Carolina is the only place on God's earth where you can experience all four seasons in one week. The bonus for today is that we have an extra hour of daylight to enjoy it. Daylight saving came into effect at 2am this morning - a few weeks ahead of the change in Europe.

My weekly report on the success(?) of my Lent fasting is: "so far, so good". Being a dessertaholic, it's extremely hard for me (that's the point after all). Today is not a fast day, so I allowed myself just a couple of Annie's tasty muffins at Fellowship this morning. Then no more, so I'm relying on dear Maria to come up with the goods next Sunday to satisfy me for another week.

Another recommended blog

2009-03-03T21:18:00.004-05:00

Biased I definitely am, but this is a blog worth following.

http://streetandaltar.blogspot.com/

It gives us all something to think about.

In like a lion?

2009-03-02T12:13:00.009-05:00

Just a couple of postings back I was rejoicing that Spring looked on it's way. I spoke too soon (as usual). Friday saw a daytime high of 69F. Today, Monday, we woke up to a couple of inches of snow!

One similarity (about the only one) of winters in North Carolina and England, is that authorities of neither seem ready for a snowfall, or for that matter, cope with it well. To be fair, for the frequency and amount that normally falls in both places, the cost of providing enough clearing equipment just to be used for half-a-dozen days a year, if that, would soon have the taxpayers baying for blood. In more northern states of the US they do cope much better as heavy falls are regular.

Still with today's carpet of the white stuff, there are still daffodils, crocuses and the like making a brave effort to bring some cheer. It's the second day of March for goodness sake, so it must be all downhill from here and I'm confident that in a few months time when we are "enjoying" temperatures in the high eighties and nineties, together with high humidity, I will be wishing for a snowfall to cool things down a bit! The old saying regarding March weather of "In like a lion, out like a lamb" bodes well for a joyous spring to look forward to.

Time flies

2009-02-26T17:39:00.010-05:00

It's one week since I lasted posted. Where did that week go? I woke up recently to realize that I'm not just a grandfather of four wonderful girls, but am now a granddad to an adult, as our eldest has just turned eighteen!

It seemed like only yesterday that we visited our daughter and our first grandchild in the maternity ward - come to think of it it doesn't seem that long since I was feeling faint watching the birth of our own daughter!

More concerning is that in a couple of months I will reach the official retiring age (UK). Is it really nearly nine years since I took early retirement? I'm so glad I did.

At church on Sunday our deacon was saying how Lent has arrived seemingly "hot on the heels" of Christmas. I find it amazing that we are now into the "purple patch" (as one friend calls Lent, purple being the color of church vestments for this season). We enjoyed a real treat on Shrove Tuesday, when students from Duke University Episcopal Center cooked our traditional pancake supper. A big thank you to them and their Chaplain Karen.

Ash Wednesday has come and gone and we are now into the 40 days - 46 in fact, but Sundays are not fast days, which is good for me as I've given up desserts and after-dinner snacks - that's going to be a tough one. Watch this space - I will report on my progress.

Signs of Spring

2009-02-19T17:58:00.014-05:00

The ground was maybe a tad squelchy under our feet as we walked through the woods by the banks of the Eno River this morning. It may have be just a little cold and we still have to reach the milestone of more consistently milder days. But I could feel it all around - the awakening.

The weak, but persistent sunlight through the bare trees was encouraging the growing buds at branch tips, birds seemed to be more active. The crocus and daffodils are poking their sleepy heads through to the sunlight. There is definitely a stirring in Nature. Yes, Spring is on it's way.

I don't want to speak too soon, but we in Central North Carolina have had a good winter. Sure, there have been the odd night when it dipped well below freezing. There have been days of what I call "English weather" (dull, damp, miserable), we even had a sprinkling of snow, but overall we have had it good compared with many parts of the nation.

With the daily news menu of gloom and doom, it really does cheer one up to witness this annual awakening. Get out there are enjoy it - it's free!

Recommended blog

2009-02-13T12:48:00.004-05:00

My daughter-in-law writes a wonderful blog. She is, and since we have known her, always has been inspiration and caring person. Despite being a generation younger than I, she had made me think more about subjects I would never have dreamed I would taken an interest in.

Take a look, I know you will enjoy reading her postings . . . . . .

http://throughellieseyes.blogspot.com/

. . . . . I know I do.

Cross Atlantic media

2009-02-13T11:40:00.006-05:00

One of my weekly joys is to read local news from my previous "home" countries. Friday usually sees me checking out the online editions of the Great Yarmouth Mercury, the Eastern Daily Press, both Norfolk, England newspapers and the SUR in English, the weekly Costa del Sol newspaper.

I consider North Carolina my home now, so I'm wondering if it's normal in keeping abreast the news, both good and bad, from where one used to live? Perhaps it is a good way to avoid becoming insular or parochial? England and Spain are experiencing the same devastating economic problems as us here in the US with the resulting rise in unemployment. Sport dominates many pages here and there. People have the same worries over mortgages and other debts.

This weeks SUR has articles on alternate energy sources (southern Spain is an ideal place for solar and wind energy capture), the problems of recycling (the Spanish are having difficulty in determining which items should be placed in which color-coded bins), joy that the reservoirs are full after a extra wet winter and the regular items on the pros and cons of immigration (the Costa is a short hop from north Africa from when hopeful immigrants spend their savings on the often perilous boat ride to the shores of the European Union).

And there are the funnies . . . . my favorite this week (again in Spain) is the story of a Romanian burglar who broke into a house in Benalmádena (my old home town) and got away with several items of jewellery. Unfortunately for him, he left his cell phone at the scene of the crime, which helped the police to track him down and make the arrest. He also left behind his tools with which he forced the entry.

Perhaps we're not so different in the global world as we like to think we are.

Another Post - pun intended

2009-02-09T21:03:00.023-05:00

Okay, here comes another bus (see previous posting). I have today completed a mail-shot for a new publication of our church history. As I opened the door to the office of the United States Postal Service (North Durham Station), I was greeted by a smiling face, a "thank you so much for using the US Postal Service" and the wishing me a good day.

I have a great admiration for the USPS. Up to now, we have never had any item go astray. Letters, greetings cards, packages and parcels all seem to magically wing there way over the nation, indeed in many cases for us, across the Atlantic, for a very reasonable cost and usually within a short time. Letters to England normally arrive within four working days. Of course, it's a two organization operation, and the quality of the United Kingdom's Royal Mail have to be congratulated also.

As I've mentioned before, we lived in Málaga, Spain for five years. The Spanish postal service, the Correos, it has to be said, is a poor, very poor, imitation of the USPS and Royal Mail. We had only ONE delivery per WEEK (and we lived in an urban, not rural environment), mail would go astray on a regular basis, we often received mail intended for an address miles away,the counter service was non existent and it would be normal to be greeted by a sneer rather than a smile. Parcels containing gifts mysteriously disappeared, both on their way to England, or from the US. I have used the past tense as it's over three years since we lived there. To be fair, the situation may have improved. I hope so.

Getting back to the US, we have a great letter carrier, who is thoughtful, friendly and helpful. One service I love here is that we can leave our outgoing mail in our mail box for our cheerful letter carrier to pick up - just a shame we have to add a stamp! Just joking.

England, Oh England!

2009-02-09T17:49:00.016-05:00

I apologize for not posting for a while - I suffered writers' blo(g)ck. Now, it's like buses in London, you wait ages for one and then three or four come together!

I know I extol the virtues of living in the USA, and am very proud to do so. But I am English (at least for the moment). I've always been proud of my heritage, but there are crazy goings on in the "Sceptred Isle" (yes, I do know that technically England's not an island, but even Willy Shakes got that wrong). Did you know that there is no English Parliament? The Irish and the Welsh have their assemblies, the Scottish have their own Parliament, but does England? No, it has to share the Palace of Westminster.

Don't misunderstand me, I have nothing against the Scots, Irish or Welsh. I have friends of all these countries, but I have to agree with the following, from the website of the Queen's Royal Lancers:

Goodbye to my England, So long my old friend
Your days are numbered, being brought to an end
To be Scottish, Irish or Welsh, that's fine
But don't say you're English, that's way out of line.

The French and the Germans may call themselves such
So may Norwegians, the Swedes and the Dutch
You can say you are Russian or maybe a Dane
But don't say you're English ever again.

At Broadcasting House the word is taboo
In Brussels it's scrapped, in Parliament too
Even schools are affected, staff do as they're told
They must not teach children about England of old.

Writers like Shakespeare, Milton and Shaw
The pupils don't learn about them anymore
How about Agincourt, Hastings, Arnhem or Mons?
When England lost hosts of her very brave sons.

We are not Europeans, how can we be?
Europe is miles away over the sea
We're the English from England, let's all be proud
Stand up and be counted - Shout it out loud!

Let's tell our government and Brussels too
We're proud of our heritage and the Red, White and Blue
Fly the flag of Saint George or the Union Jack
Let the world know - WE WANT OUR ENGLAND BACK!

Despite a couple of glaring inaccuracies, I subscribe to the general theme. As we all know (or should do) the Union FLAG (not Jack) is the flag NOT of England but the Union - I have no problem with that. And Shaw English? That proves how low education has sunk. The man was born in Dublin for heaven's sake!

Oh! I do feel better for that - I'm sure my American friends will understand my frustrations.

Likes and Dislikes

2009-01-28T12:38:00.009-05:00

The current edition of Our State magazine, a wonderful publication that celebrates North Carolina, has essays on "Why We Love North Carolina". The editor-in-chief had posed that question to a lot of folks prior to the publication of the February issue. A lot of the responses were exactly my reasons for loving the Old North State. Here a few I can totally agree with:

I love ripples of blue mountain ridges.

A sky of pure cerulean.

Folks who wave to me as they're driving by.

The sounds of words said in a gentle Southern drawl.

The smoky flavor of chopped barbecue, hush puppies warm and golden.

Potluck dinners in a fellowship hall.

Children learning to say "yes, ma'am" or "no, sir."

The sound of lawn mowers on a Saturday afternoon.

Neighbors that bake brownies, stop and chat and give you a hug.

A smiling face of a sales associate, even though they're having a bad day.
Watching hummingbirds feed whilst sitting in a rocker on my front porch.

All very true in my experience. However, the other side of the coin are my dislikes. Few, to be sure, but nevertheless true. Driving habits mainly and to be fair these are probably universal, especially:

Drivers who drive with no lights in rain or overcast conditions (despite State Law which compels lights if you are using windshield wipers).
Public libraries who send repeated notices of unreturned items when you can prove that you have done so, especially when they refuse to apologize for their error.
The many potholes in local roads.
The appalling quality of repairs to such potholes (usually making them worse within a few weeks).
Drivers who inconsiderately share their "music" with everyone else within a quarter mile.

Having got that off my chest, I'm so grateful for the pros, that the cons are really small fry, and I cannot think of anywhere that I would rather live.

Yes, I too, love North Carolina.

All are welcome

2009-01-25T09:25:00.014-05:00

"All Are Welcome". This was the theme of the 193rd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church of North Carolina. I admit that when first asked to represent my church at this two-day event I wasn't too keen. Okay, let's be honest, I didn't relish the idea at all. However after much thought and prayer I decided to step up to the mantel. I'm glad I did.

Yes, there was the business of debating, agreeing or disagreeing various changes to Canon law, election of diocesan officers, etc., but that was fine, if a tad confusing at times. Our Bishop delivered a amazing pastoral address, explaining that he has a hope, a dream, "that when we mark the 200th anniversary in the year 2017, that the face of the Episcopal Church here will reflect the face of the peoples of North Carolina in all of our variety and God-given diversity. And that it will be known of us far and wide that, "All are welcome in this place." "

As important as the resolutions discussed were, two especially caught my attention. The first was a resolution to add to Lesser Feasts and Fasts, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray (1910-1985), American civil rights advocate, feminist, Lawyer, writer and poet and the first African-American woman priest in the US. At age 3, following the death of her mother she lived with her aunt and maternal grandparents in Durham, NC. I'm pleased to say that resolution was passed.

The second was to recognize the very first baptisms in the "Lost Colony", founded by Sir Walter Raleigh on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. Manteo, a Native American of the Algonquian nation, became a liaison between the English and the Native Americans. On August 13, 1587, Manteo was baptized, and by command of "Sir Walt", created Load of Roanoke. Manteo's was both the first recorded baptism of the Church of England on the American shores and the first recorded baptism of a Native American person in the Church of England. On August 18, Governor John White's daughter Eleanor and her husband Ananias Dare celebrated the birth of their first child, Virginia Dare. Virginia was baptized on August 20. She was the first child born to English settlers on the North American continent and only the second recorded baptism in North America in the Church of England. Another resolution passed.

Manteo and Virginia Dare

Inauguration day

2009-01-20T12:30:00.008-05:00

The scene through our front door this morning. Not the 4-6 inches forecast, but enough to paint a wonderful picture of nature's beauty on this, an historic day in the history of the United States.

Like millions nationwide, we are watching the inauguration of the 44th President. A feeling of hope is so evident throughout the nation, indeed throughout the world.

We feel so privileged to be residents of this great nation.

God Bless the United States of America.

In the bleak mid winter

2009-01-17T10:13:00.003-05:00

It's been a busy week - how I ever found time for work I'll never know.

With the temperatures here in The Triangle dropping this week, a major project was to get the heating system repaired at our parish house. Thanks are due to Gary, our wonderful HVAC man, who never gives up on our monster unit. I must explain that the system is quite old, far too big for the job and of a unique design, which the ordinary HVAC guy would have trouble in keeping it running. "Never-say-die" Gary had our system up and running just in time for the monthly lunch of Ninth Street Neighbors. Mind you, we ate that outside anyway!

The bad news is that the temperatures is currently 11F (that's -11.6C to European readers), but with the wind chill, it feels like 8F (-13.3C). The good news is that it is dry, bright and sunny with wonderful blue skies which really makes it bearable. I say this in the comfort of my study - how it can be bearable for our homeless neighbors beggars belief.

Church activities have been a big part of my week, with a wonderful Epiphany Bible Class on Tuesday, studying Psalms. This is being lead by our good friend Father Chris Tessone, with whom I share a passion for catholic liturgy, food, soccer and beer! Wednesday we were at our monthly Healing Eucharist. I love this informal Eucharist which we follow by a simple soup supper - thanks Fred, your soup was delicious!

The superb skill of the US Airways pilot to land his disabled plane on the Hudson River with no loss of life was a truly inspiring event. How wonderful, during a week of tragic views of the bombing and loss of life in Gaza, to see a happy ending to what could have been a tragedy. Let us hope and pray that a permanent cessation of the killing and maiming can occur in Gaza, Israel and the entire region.

My regular visit to the movies with my son Stuart was, for a change, on Friday evening. Clint Eastwood's final acting role (so he says) in Gran Torino was typical Eastwood performance but the ending certainly was not. The movie has it's critics, but I enjoyed it. Unfortunately the evil in me came out when I found myself thinking that every neighborhood could do with a Walt Kowalski. For my money, Christopher Carley, who played Father Janovich, deserves recognition for his superb performance, as does Walt's wonderful dog! Surprisingly, with the exception of one scene, Walt uses non violence to achieve his ends.

This morning, in the extreme cold, we were visited by a family of deer. Although I thought of the already familiar quote from Gran Torino, "Get off of my lawn!", I couldn't wish this on these wonderful creatures. Unfortunately they did run, baby and all, when I went out to feed them some carrots. I hope it's okay to feed deer carrots? The bird feeders need filling on a daily basis and the bird baths need "de-icing" almost half-hourly, but it is really worth the effort to see the array of birds lining up to use the feeders. We even have woodpeckers using the feeders and that's a new one on me.

"Breakfast at Sally's"

2009-01-08T18:05:00.006-05:00

I'm currently reading this wonderful story of "One homeless man's inspirational journey". Richard LeMieux was a successful "man who had everything", who saw his fortune change almost overnight.

His dog (and best friend) "Willow" saved his life, he meets some amazing characters, is treated for depression and is able to persevere. It all goes to make a fascinating insight to how this, the richest country on earth, treat extreme poverty, which exists on all our doorsteps.

It's a "must read" book - it may just help you a little to appreciate what you have - I know it has helped me do just that.