At present we are enjoying - if that is the right word - some really warm weather, even here on our mountain top. It is sweltering in the Rhine valley round Wiesbaden and promises to get warmer by the weekend.
Barbeques out in the evening, supper in the Gazebo. Just how much better can life get?
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Discussing our faith
Had a visit from our new Vikar last night. Fr Klaus is a very nice man and a super priest. Our discussion was fairly wide ranging, including why we want to join his congregation of "Old Catholics" as opposed to the Episcopalian Congregation or the Roman Catholics. Essentially it boils down to our having found a welcome in his church and congregation that was overwhelmingly the Holy Spirit at work in them and us. In the process we learned that he had left the Roman Church himself, as a priest, in order to marry and have a family.
As Rome cannot admit a married priesthood - ironic, since the unmarried priesthood is fairly recent, as in 14th Century, imposition - he faced a choice. Give up his future wife or his ministry. The Old Catholic Church does not make that distinction, so he was welcomed into their ministry and offices and is now happily married, with a wonderful wife and children. And his services are truly spiritually inspiring.
Our discussion explored a number of things both in doctrine and practice. There is almost no difference in fact between the stance of the Anglican Church (My tradition) and the Old Catholics on almost everything. And where there are differences, they don't matter. My Licence as a "Reader" has stirred a lot of interest, since they do not have this type of Ministry, but it has culminated in my being asked if I would like to explore a ministry in the Old Catholics. Naturally I have said yes, though probably not until my German is a great deal better than it is now.
Seems, the Lord may work in some interesting ways to keep one in his service...
As Rome cannot admit a married priesthood - ironic, since the unmarried priesthood is fairly recent, as in 14th Century, imposition - he faced a choice. Give up his future wife or his ministry. The Old Catholic Church does not make that distinction, so he was welcomed into their ministry and offices and is now happily married, with a wonderful wife and children. And his services are truly spiritually inspiring.
Our discussion explored a number of things both in doctrine and practice. There is almost no difference in fact between the stance of the Anglican Church (My tradition) and the Old Catholics on almost everything. And where there are differences, they don't matter. My Licence as a "Reader" has stirred a lot of interest, since they do not have this type of Ministry, but it has culminated in my being asked if I would like to explore a ministry in the Old Catholics. Naturally I have said yes, though probably not until my German is a great deal better than it is now.
Seems, the Lord may work in some interesting ways to keep one in his service...
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Gardening and other pleasures...
Getting a garden under control when you have an infestation of field mice, rabbits and probably other critters, can be entertaining. Madam Paddy Cat has detected the mice, but so far has done little more than investigate their hiding places. We are hoping that her presence will deter further incursions and colonies.
There has been an explosion of the mice population this year, thought to be the result of people's efforts to feed the bird population during the very harsh winter. Naturally what the birds scattered and spilled, the mice shared and thrived.
One amusing tale from this week, is the fact that Mausi's staff had to use a company car to go to court in Limburg. The car started, got a short distance and then all the warning lights started to light up. A careful return to the HQ and a check by the Mechanic on site revealed that the car had been visited by a Martin. These cuddly "minor bears" are family of Badgers, Bears, Racoons and so on. At this time of the year, for some inexplicable reason, they get under the bonnets of cars and eath the wiring, the lubricating hoses and coolant pipes. No one knows why, because the rest of the year, they ignore them completely...
Ce la vie, with the rabbits having eaten a couple f plants, some of our creepers not having survived the winter, and the Bind Weed that tries to strangle everything as soon as you turn your back, its been a challenge, but we're winning. The awn is recovered, the shrubs have recovered and the flowering plants are getting into their stride. Still a lot to do though!
There has been an explosion of the mice population this year, thought to be the result of people's efforts to feed the bird population during the very harsh winter. Naturally what the birds scattered and spilled, the mice shared and thrived.
One amusing tale from this week, is the fact that Mausi's staff had to use a company car to go to court in Limburg. The car started, got a short distance and then all the warning lights started to light up. A careful return to the HQ and a check by the Mechanic on site revealed that the car had been visited by a Martin. These cuddly "minor bears" are family of Badgers, Bears, Racoons and so on. At this time of the year, for some inexplicable reason, they get under the bonnets of cars and eath the wiring, the lubricating hoses and coolant pipes. No one knows why, because the rest of the year, they ignore them completely...
Ce la vie, with the rabbits having eaten a couple f plants, some of our creepers not having survived the winter, and the Bind Weed that tries to strangle everything as soon as you turn your back, its been a challenge, but we're winning. The awn is recovered, the shrubs have recovered and the flowering plants are getting into their stride. Still a lot to do though!
Friday, 25 June 2010
Waitting anxiously
I'm waiting anxiously for a response from two publishers currently considering my books. Both are mainstream, both are, I hope, seriously considering them, though one is looking at the "Harry Heron" series and the other is looking at my life of St Patrick.
These things take time, which, for someone as impatient as I am, isn't good.
I feel a bit like Hancock as he waited for the news to arrive on a boring afternoon...
Of the two, I'm most anxious to have the St Patrick Book accepted. This is a specialist publisher and the book is a special one to me. Hopefully my writing and their catalogue will coincide at some point along the way.
These things take time, which, for someone as impatient as I am, isn't good.
I feel a bit like Hancock as he waited for the news to arrive on a boring afternoon...
Of the two, I'm most anxious to have the St Patrick Book accepted. This is a specialist publisher and the book is a special one to me. Hopefully my writing and their catalogue will coincide at some point along the way.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Now this is Comedy.
I lifted this from One Happy Dog Speaks....
Some of us may remember the old Jewish Catskill comics of Vaudeville days, they even appeared on Radio Shows in SA when I was young..:
Shecky Greene, Red Buttons, Totie Fields, Joey Bishop, Milton Berle, Jan Murray, Danny Kaye, Henny Youngman, Buddy Hackett, Sid Caesar, Groucho Marx, Jackie Mason, Victor Borge, Woody Allen, Joan Rivers, Lenny Bruce, George Burns, Allan Sherman, Jerry Lewis, Peter Sellers, Carl Reiner, Shelley Berman, Gene Wilder, George Jessel, Alan King, Mel Brooks, Phil Silvers, Jack Carter, Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles, Jack Benny and so many others.
And there was not one single swear word in their comedy. Here are a few examples:
* I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport.
* I’ve been in love with the same woman for 49 years! If my wife ever finds out, she’ll kill me!
* What are three words a woman never wants to hear when she’s making love? “Honey, I’m home!”
* Someone stole all my credit cards but I won’t be reporting it. The thief spends less than my wife did.
* We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
* My wife and I went back to the hotel where we spent our wedding night; only this time I stayed in the bathroom and cried.
* My wife and I went to a hotel where we got a waterbed. My wife called it the Dead Sea .
* She was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
* I was just in London ; there is a 6-hour time difference. I’m still confused. When I go to dinner, I feel sexy. When I go to bed, I feel hungry
* The Doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn’t pay his bill so the doctor gave him another six months.
* The Doctor called Mrs. Cohen saying, “Mrs. Cohen, your check came back. ” Mrs. Cohen answered, “So did my arthritis!”
* Doctor: “You’ll live to be 60!” Patient: “I am 60!” Doctor: “See! What did I tell you?”
* A doctor held a stethoscope up to a man’s chest. The man asks, “Doc, how do I stand? ” The doctor says, “That’s what puzzles me!”
* Patient: “I have a ringing in my ears.” Doctor: “Don’t answer!”
* A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says, “You’ve been brought here for drinking.” The drunk says “Okay, let’s get started.”
* Why do Jewish divorces cost so much? They’re worth it.
*Why do Jewish men die before their wives?
They want to.
*The Harvard School of Medicine did a study of why Jewish women like Chinese food so much. The study revealed that this is due to the fact that Won Ton spelled backward is Not Now.
*There is a big controversy on the Jewish view of when life begins. In Jewish tradition, the fetus is not considered viable until it graduates from medical school..
Q: Why don’t Jewish mothers drink?
A: Alcohol interferes with their suffering.
Q: Have you seen the newest Jewish-American-Princess horror movie?
A: It’s called, ‘Debbie Does Dishes’.
Q: Why do Jewish mothers make great parole officers?
A: They never let anyone finish a sentence!
Q: What’s a Jewish American Princess’s favorite position?
A: Facing Bloomingdale’s.
*A man called his mother in Florida , “Mom, how are you?” ”
Not too good,” said the mother. “I’ve been very weak.” The son said, “Why are you so weak?” She said, “Because I haven’t eaten in 38 days.”
The son said, “That’s terrible. Why haven’t you eaten in 38 days?” The mother answered, “Because I didn’t want my mouth to be filled with food if you should call.”
A Jewish boy comes home from school and tells his mother he has a part in the play. She asks, “What part is it?” The boy says, “I play the part of the Jewish husband.” “The mother scowls and says, “Go back and tell the teacher you want a speaking part.”
Q: Where does a Jewish husband hide money from his wife?
A: Under the vacuum cleaner.
Q: How many Jewish mothers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: (Sigh) “Don’t bother. I’ll sit in the dark. I don’t want to be a nuisance to anybody.”
Short summary of every Jewish holiday:
They tried to kill us. We won.. Let’s eat.
Did you hear about the bum who walked up to a Jewish mother on the street and said, “Lady, I haven’t eaten in three days.”
“Force yourself,” she replied.
Q: What’s the difference between a Rottweiler and a Jewish mother?
A: Eventually, the Rottweiler lets go.
Q: Why are Jewish men circumcised?
A: Because Jewish women don’t like anything that Isn’t 20% off.
You know, the funny thing is that it is still funny. It isn't PC and it isn't smutty, it is barbed, but its also clean. And the Jewish folk I know still tell jokes like this...
Maybe we should learn something from them?
Some of us may remember the old Jewish Catskill comics of Vaudeville days, they even appeared on Radio Shows in SA when I was young..:
Shecky Greene, Red Buttons, Totie Fields, Joey Bishop, Milton Berle, Jan Murray, Danny Kaye, Henny Youngman, Buddy Hackett, Sid Caesar, Groucho Marx, Jackie Mason, Victor Borge, Woody Allen, Joan Rivers, Lenny Bruce, George Burns, Allan Sherman, Jerry Lewis, Peter Sellers, Carl Reiner, Shelley Berman, Gene Wilder, George Jessel, Alan King, Mel Brooks, Phil Silvers, Jack Carter, Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles, Jack Benny and so many others.
And there was not one single swear word in their comedy. Here are a few examples:
* I just got back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport.
* I’ve been in love with the same woman for 49 years! If my wife ever finds out, she’ll kill me!
* What are three words a woman never wants to hear when she’s making love? “Honey, I’m home!”
* Someone stole all my credit cards but I won’t be reporting it. The thief spends less than my wife did.
* We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
* My wife and I went back to the hotel where we spent our wedding night; only this time I stayed in the bathroom and cried.
* My wife and I went to a hotel where we got a waterbed. My wife called it the Dead Sea .
* She was at the beauty shop for two hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
* I was just in London ; there is a 6-hour time difference. I’m still confused. When I go to dinner, I feel sexy. When I go to bed, I feel hungry
* The Doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn’t pay his bill so the doctor gave him another six months.
* The Doctor called Mrs. Cohen saying, “Mrs. Cohen, your check came back. ” Mrs. Cohen answered, “So did my arthritis!”
* Doctor: “You’ll live to be 60!” Patient: “I am 60!” Doctor: “See! What did I tell you?”
* A doctor held a stethoscope up to a man’s chest. The man asks, “Doc, how do I stand? ” The doctor says, “That’s what puzzles me!”
* Patient: “I have a ringing in my ears.” Doctor: “Don’t answer!”
* A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says, “You’ve been brought here for drinking.” The drunk says “Okay, let’s get started.”
* Why do Jewish divorces cost so much? They’re worth it.
*Why do Jewish men die before their wives?
They want to.
*The Harvard School of Medicine did a study of why Jewish women like Chinese food so much. The study revealed that this is due to the fact that Won Ton spelled backward is Not Now.
*There is a big controversy on the Jewish view of when life begins. In Jewish tradition, the fetus is not considered viable until it graduates from medical school..
Q: Why don’t Jewish mothers drink?
A: Alcohol interferes with their suffering.
Q: Have you seen the newest Jewish-American-Princess horror movie?
A: It’s called, ‘Debbie Does Dishes’.
Q: Why do Jewish mothers make great parole officers?
A: They never let anyone finish a sentence!
Q: What’s a Jewish American Princess’s favorite position?
A: Facing Bloomingdale’s.
*A man called his mother in Florida , “Mom, how are you?” ”
Not too good,” said the mother. “I’ve been very weak.” The son said, “Why are you so weak?” She said, “Because I haven’t eaten in 38 days.”
The son said, “That’s terrible. Why haven’t you eaten in 38 days?” The mother answered, “Because I didn’t want my mouth to be filled with food if you should call.”
A Jewish boy comes home from school and tells his mother he has a part in the play. She asks, “What part is it?” The boy says, “I play the part of the Jewish husband.” “The mother scowls and says, “Go back and tell the teacher you want a speaking part.”
Q: Where does a Jewish husband hide money from his wife?
A: Under the vacuum cleaner.
Q: How many Jewish mothers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: (Sigh) “Don’t bother. I’ll sit in the dark. I don’t want to be a nuisance to anybody.”
Short summary of every Jewish holiday:
They tried to kill us. We won.. Let’s eat.
Did you hear about the bum who walked up to a Jewish mother on the street and said, “Lady, I haven’t eaten in three days.”
“Force yourself,” she replied.
Q: What’s the difference between a Rottweiler and a Jewish mother?
A: Eventually, the Rottweiler lets go.
Q: Why are Jewish men circumcised?
A: Because Jewish women don’t like anything that Isn’t 20% off.
You know, the funny thing is that it is still funny. It isn't PC and it isn't smutty, it is barbed, but its also clean. And the Jewish folk I know still tell jokes like this...
Maybe we should learn something from them?
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Goofing off - again...
Just been watching a large Red Kite, one of several nesting around here, soaring and skimming over the fields next to the house. It appeared to be carrying grass, leaves and twigs in its beak though it was flying a hunting pattern. The local sparrows, black birds and other small stuff went absolutely beserk, setting up a terrific row, but starngely, the magpies that have been watching a particular nest decided to decamp fairly smartish and so did the several large woodpigeons or doves who usually inhabit the area.
Watching the Kite was fascinating, it seemed to make no effort at all as it circled and slid through the air, only the feathers at its wing tips making any movement as it banked and soared in the updrafts. I suspect the field mice, cats and other small animals were all in hiding.
Watching the Kite was fascinating, it seemed to make no effort at all as it circled and slid through the air, only the feathers at its wing tips making any movement as it banked and soared in the updrafts. I suspect the field mice, cats and other small animals were all in hiding.
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Taunus Views...
Living in the Taunus does give access to some stunning countryside, like the view above from the top of the highest mountain in the Taunus. It is crowned by radio and telephone masts and a small hunting lodge. There is also a Birds of Prey collection with some stunning birds, all of them raised in captivity and some of them very attached to the owner. The picture above gives an idea of the veiew towards Frankfurt am Main.
The two year old Eagle Owl in this picture was hatched in the Aviary, the adolescent chick of a pair who are now nearly forty years of age. He has formed a strong attachment to the owner as can be seen from the posture adopted by the bird. Probably all the more remarkable for the fact that he can crush bone with his beak. The most remarkable thing however, is the silence of his flight.
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