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A PRAYER TO SENILITY
Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones that I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference. Now that I'm older (but refuse to grow up) here's what I've discovered....
ONE - I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it. TWO - My wild oats have turned into prunes and All Bran. THREE - I finally got my head together now my body is falling apart. FOUR - Funny, I don't remember being absent minded. FIVE - All reports are in, life is now officially unfair. SIX - If all is not lost, where is it? SEVEN - It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser. EIGHT - Some days you are the statue some days you're the pigeon. NINE - I wish the buck stopped here, I sure could use a few. TEN - Kids in the back seat cause accidents. ELEVEN - Accidents in the back seat cause kids. TWELVE - It's hard to make a come back when you haven't been anywhere. THIRTEEN - The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the bathroom. FOURTEEN - If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees. FIFTEEN - When I'm finally holding all the cards, why does everyone decide to play chess? SIXTEEN - It's not hard to meet expenses...they're everywhere. SEVENTEEN - The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. EIGHTEEN - These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter...I go somewhere to get something and then wonder what I'm here after. NINETEEN - Send same e-mail twice. Send blank e-mail. Send to email wrong person. Send email back to person who sent it to you. Forget to attach the attachment. Hit "SEND" before you've finished the email
Thought from the ramparts
I am reminded that this 'Bank Holiday Monday'[National Holiday] coincides with Whitweek. I remember all the schools were closed for a whole week and unlike at easter when it usually snowed, this week was usually warm and sunny. This meant an escape from the dingy back to back houses that was home and bicycle rides along the quiet Cheshire lanes. Maybe a trip to Alderley Edge or Dunham Park. Or up to Buxton for the really fit !! Coming back was all downhill Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ! It also brings me back to my theme in December: Following his resurrection Mithras and his initiates sit around and shared a sacred meal this was imitated by the followers of Mithras where PATAR represented Mithras. After the meal Mithras gets into the horse drawn chariot and heads to the sky to fulfil his role as the comsic ruler. This is said to have occurred in 208 B.C., 64 years after his birth. Parthian coins and documents bear a double date with this 64 year interval. Mithras was 'The Great King' highly revered by the nobility and monarchs, who looked upon him as their special protector. This adds to my earlier suspicions that virtually every pagan religious practice and festivity that couldn't be suppressed [ and being described as "satanic transversty of the holiest rites of their religion"], has been incorporated into the rites of Christianity as it spread across Europe and throughout the world. However this is Pentecost [from a Greek word which means 'fiftieth']. The festival falls this Sunday. Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the disciples. Ten days after ascension the spirit came. It was the time, I recall, that PETER spoke in many tongues to a crowd - the Spirit had entered him! We always found this amusing as most of the adults would retire to the local pub after the service,partraking of the spirit.. From the late middle ages this was a popular time for confirmation and baptism. People were dressed in white when baptised 'White Sunday' became Whitsunday. Christians in many towns and cities in the north west had traditionally taken part in Whit Walks, a "Procession of Witness" The fellowship of the church was reflected in the fact that in Manchester, Protestants and catholics marched on separate days! Now alas no longer the tradition they were - in case the growing immigrant population take offence I surmise.Whitsun was the time for walks and processions. Below appears to be the only picture on the web of a Whitwalk. Ty Bury. Note the well dressed children! Probably one of the few times they were 'dressed up.' I remember it was also the time when we children were bought a new pair of shoes and socks. It was a painful exercice walking the mile or two into the centre of Manchester for an open air service, wearing new shoes !.
This processional hymn was a favourite until the words began to have a more sinister meaning in my developing mind during the 'Cold War'
Refrain Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee; Refrain Like a mighty army moves the church of God; Refrain What the saints established that I hold for true. Refrain Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, Refrain Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, Refrain
Wednesday Wobbles. . . .I almost missed an unusual 100th birthday. In 1907 Bakerlite was invented.A Belgian scientist named Dr. Leo Baekeland was responsible for the invention of Bakelite. The first synthetic plastic. I can remember when my parents got rid of the old accumulator wireless and bought a brand all English Bush Radio. In its bakerlite housing.Within 15 years it had taken the world by storm. You could find everything from electrical plugs to ornate jewelry made from Bakelite. It was even used on the dashboard face of the Mercedes Benz car.
An astute investor would have made a pretty penny investing in the new technology. Today it is difficult to spot these bargins. Myself? Well I am a 'no risk' investor. I have nt the money to lose so invest in reliable stock. But the warning signals are flying - sooner rather than later a 'Market adjustment ' will take place. The market has been on the up for 4 years - all very good for our pension funds but . . . .what goes up. .
China's runaway economy is, sooner or later, going to hit the buffers. GDP is expanding by around 10% a year when it does fly off the rails the impact is going to be huge. The Chinese government has been furiously blowing its whistle to warn of the dangers, but many of the passengers are enjoying this so far profitable ride too much to want to get off.The derailment, almost certainly, will come from the stock market.The Chinese and American economies are so interlinked that when the dominoes collapse we will feel the draught. Having soared by 300% in the last two years, Chinese shares have almost nowhere else to go but down. With four million new accounts opened each month, the value of stocks traded in Shanghai and Shenzhen is now higher than all the rest of Asia combined, including Japan. And we can remember the effect the japanese share index crash had on the rest of the world in the 1990's. February's uncertain markets showed that China can already move world markets, and when the meltdown comes we can expect falling metals and oil prices and currency market turmoil. Time to get the piggy bank out methinks !
Monday Blues........Well that was the weekend that was. So full of expectation and ending in unmitigated disaster.Saturday started well with a shower,leisurely breakfast and walk along the quiet streets to the local supermarket for the weekend vegetables. I think I have managed to thwart the latest snail attack on my garden plants. I am not sure that the saucer of red wine out for them helped -[No way am I wasting beer on them!] .The salt seems to work. Long term problem could be me needing to plant seaside plants as my soil will have lots and lots of salt in it!! A phone call at 11 reminded me that I was due to meet a couple of friends in my new local. When I say new - it is new to me. . . not the 'spit and sawdust' and decaying smoke stained wallpaper of the Bear but the light and airy Angel.I realised I could watch the Cup Final there also. To those of you who do not understand the tribal allegiance that some of us have to their soccer team - skip a paragraph!
My love affair with Manchester United began at the age of 5. My Dad took me to watch them. My teenage years were all about playing at school through the various age groups until, one day I would trot out onto the hallowed turf that is Old Trafford. Well the nearest I came to setting foot on the pitch was in 1952 when we ran onto the turf in celebration of a league win. The Busby Babes were born. In February 1958 that team perished on a snowswept runway in far off Munich. This was the first time I had felt the cold hand of death. Ok two elderly relatives had recently died - but that is what old folk do - die. Half a soccer team of players some no more than 2 or 3 years older than yourself did nt deserve to die - they were young in the prime of there lives.Since that day I have had a fear of flying - and a fanatical love of my team. Winning is an expectation losing does nt enter the formula. Of course they will lose - when the opponents deserve victory we will be the first to applaud them.Whoever said that taking part in an event was more important than winning must have been a geek who never donned a team shirt and pitted his wits against a determined foe.
So last Saturday I sat slowly imbibing in the golden nectar whilst watching the first Cup Final at the new Wembley. United were nt playing with the finesse and panache expected. Was it that the opposition nullified there exhuberance? We had the ball over the line but it was disallowed. DISALLOWED for what? A foul? This is the team that lost a final when the goalkeeper, Harry Gregg was charged into the back of the net by Nat Lofthouse in 1958 Final - that was given why not Giggs effort on Saturday? With only minutes away from a penalty shootout, my own player of the premiership,Drogba, scored the only goal of the game. My head fell into my hands - total dispair . . . . . I did nt watch the medal presentation - I walked home totally deflated.
I stopped at my Chinese takeaway and bought a chicken and mushroom curry with boiled rice.I had a glass of wine with the food but did nt really enjoy it.
Today, Monday I had breakfast at Cafe B in the beer capital of England, Jodie the manager is leaving next month, pity, she has a pleasant personalty so much so that you don't object to paying £1.50 for a mug of coffee !!!!! Whilst there a car, parked illegally on double yellow lines was 'booked' by a [Rare] passing copcar. Someone in the cafe commented about the police having nothing better to do than persecute the 'poor' motorist. I tactfully reminded the speaker that if car owners did nt park on yellow lines or speed irresponsibly around the streets of the town, then the police would have more time to hunt down thieves and wrongdoers. It would appear in England that if you are working class and neglect your children they are taken into care by the local authority -If you are a middle class professional you can leave 3 children in a hotel room,unattended, and the whole world sympathises when one of them disappears. What a crazy world - or is it just me? THE COFFEE'S ARE ON ME !THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL [SOCCER] PREMIERSHIP
2006 - 2007
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON
Remembrance
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive, and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me. There was a padlock and chain upon the gate. I called in my dream to the lodge keeper, and had no answer, and peering closer through the rusted spokes of the gate I saw that the lodge was uninhabited." The opening lines to one of the greatest books in the English language - how could I have missed 'Rebecca (1938)' from my list of favourites? The BBC is broadcasting several play and stories to mark the centenary of the birth of Daphne Du Maurier on May 13.
Daphne Du Maurier, English novelist and short story writer, author of Jamaica Inn (1936) ,Frenchman's Creek (1941) My Cousin Rachel (1951) and other novels, was born in London. Born into a family with a rich artistic and historical background her grandfather, George, was a writer and Punch cartoonist, friends with the likes of William Morris and Henry James. Her father, Sir Gerald, was a star of the theatre. Their Hampstead home, Cannon Hall, was always packed with visitors, including “Uncle Jim” (J M Barrie). She was indulged as a child and grew up enjoying enormous freedom from financial and parental restraint. She spent her youth sailing boats, travelling on the Continent with friends, and writing stories. She loved Cornwall and spent time at Ferryside whenever she could, it was there that she wrote her first novel The Loving Spirit. It was this book that was to introduce Daphne to her future husband. Major Tommy ('Boy') Browning was so affected by the book that he sailed to Fowey to meet the author. They fell in love and in July 1932 were married at Lanteglos Church. During the first ten years of their marriage Daphne only spent holidays in Cornwall but in 1943 while her husband was at war she rented a house in Fowey called Readymoney and lived their with her three children Dame Daphne du Maurier died on the 19th April 1989. Throughout her lifetime she wrote several novels and volumes of short stories, five biographies and her own autobiography. The place Cornwall held in her heart and the inspiration it provided was captured in many of her books. For more info see http://www.dumaurier.org/index.html POEM FOR THE THOUGHTFUL
HENRY BOARDMAN
Leigh is one of Lancashire's historic small towns with a long and proud history. The parish of Leigh was formed in the 12th century and comprised the six townships of Bedford, Pennington, Westleigh, Astley, Atherton and Tyldesley-with-Shakerley. Leigh was the scene of a skirmish in the Civil War, the district sided with the Parliamentarians against King Charles. December 10th 1745...Eyewitness's give account of the retreat of Bonnie Prince Charlie's forces to the north of Four Lane Ends in Hulton. The 12th century parish church, dedicated to St Mary and according to a directory dated 1793, had impressive tower of eight bells, which by tradition were donated by Queen Elizabeth. In 1777 a new organ was built by one Samuel Green at a cost of £330 bourne by all parishioners, whether rich or in poverty. A north and south gallery were built to accomodate the increasing flock. The Eighteenth century Leigh had a thriving domestic textile industry, most workers weaving in their own homes, but with one or two factories for hand-loom weavers. Tradition has it that a local man, Thomas Highs, was the inventor of a spinning jenny and the water-frame in the 1760s, the latter invention being pirated by Richard Arkwright, who subsequently made a fortune from the royalties. Hand loom silk weaving was brought to Leigh replacing the traditional fustian cloth manufacture, financed by Bolton entrepreneurs. Silk rather than cotton appears the chosen material. Communications with surrounding towns improved, 1747 saw the road to Bolton via Atherton was widened and improved and in 1776 the Bridgewater Canal reached the town. During the next century industrialisation took place on a grand scale, and silk and cotton mills flourished. We however are looking at the winters day of 26th February 1797. The place? It is here where HENRY BOARDMAN was married to SARAH HEATON by the vicar, Daniel Birkett. One can imagine the newly married couple walking from the church, through the laying snow across the road to celebrate in one of the local inns that stood on the opposite side of the square. Houses once stood where now the benches are. Back Church Street was where William, youngest son of the couple, lived in the 1851 census. But what of Henry and Sarah? I have a note that Sarah was the eldest child of John and Ann Heaton of Bolton. She was baptised at the Parish Church in Bolton on 21st February 1773. It is now over 10 years since I first 'met' my Great Great Great Grandparents. Sarah's line awaits investigation. I stand at the invisible wall of discovery through which I am unable to find the door to enter Henry's past. What DO I know about him? He was a [Silk?] weaver, and by 1841 both he and Sarah had died. Three of his children lived in Trafalgar Street, built by the owners of the nearby mill. It would be reasonable to assume that Henry lived here, minutes from work and the Roman Catholic church of St. Joseph's where all the children were baptised. Eight in all. Mary, John, Ann, Elizabeth, Peter, James, Robert and William. From records available, Henry was not a native of Leigh. He lived for certain on 26th February 1797. Neither baptism nor burial dates have been discovered. The search for the life between continues . . . . .
ONE FOR THE COLONIES !
In 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of Virginia's James River. They were sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, whose stockholders hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The community suffered terrible hardships in its early years, but managed to endure, earning the distinction of being America's first permanent English colony.
Guess who is coming to town? Queen Elizabeth 2nd [The person not the ship], is popping over to Virginia later this week.
The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will visit Virginia to mark the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement. Other highlights include an arrival ceremony at the White House and a visit to the Kentucky Derby.
Full programme for the visit 4 May 2007: Williamsburg Her Majesty and His Royal Highness arrive at the Jamestown archaeological site. The Queen visits the museum whilst The Duke of Edinburgh visits the vault (conservation facility).
The Royal couple view part of the original well before a tour of the dig and site. They present a gift to people of Virginia.
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