Hello all. Sorry for the lateness here. we mogged off to Falmouth for a few days. We've lived here for a couple of years shy of 20 years and the only places we have visited in Cornwall are...
1. St Ives (Compulsory)
2. Saltash (Visit friends)
3. Callington (To collect cute puppy)
4. Random unknown specialist dog training farm (See point 3)
It's not that we don't like Cornwall. It's obviously breathtaking. It's a bit odd sometimes. Some of the festivals have a solid "Wicker Man" vibe about them. But that's Cornwall. I think it's more that we like Devon and think it's underrated. Cornwall seems to have a more glamorous image - probably due to the calibre of second homeowners. Anyway, Falmouth is lovely. We were (accidentally) there for the Falmouth Festival but ran into very little of it, to be frank. We missed The Wurzels (I don't think they missed us - I don't think we are their target audience) and there didn't seem to be much else on. Still, we had a lovely time. Saw a couple of castles. Can't see enough castles personally and we walked and ate a lot so it was all good. Also, it was very sunny as you well know and I am pushing all thoughts of the planet bursting into flames to the back of my mind this week because I am on my holidays.
So we have come home to lots of "News" - all of it horrible. The energy crisis is looming over everyone (well everyone with a normal, uninflated income) and can we find anyone in the government with even a passing interest? No. Boris Whoever has just stopped now. The possible candidates for Prime Minister are only saying what they think will get them elected with a very small group of Conservatives and the rest of us can boil our heads. I'm not the marching sort. I did do March for Jesus in the Eighties but that was very different because we weren't angry and people were very nice to us and gave us cake and pop. Also, you got an hour or so to have a chat with people you hadn't seen for ages while you were pretending to be singing Shine Jesus Shine. However, I think the time for marching may be coming and we may need to show our colours, even if the idea of doing something so public is horrific.
On the first night in Falmouth, we were on our balcony and watched something called The Pink Wig Parade. Hundreds of frankly terrifying ladies dressed as gladiators and wearing bright pink wigs marched into the centre of Falmouth. They were marching to raise money for Breast Cancer Care - more details about them here. Now, as you probably know only too well, when something like this happens, there are always plenty of women ready to have a few shandies, pull on the strappy gladiator sandals and sally forth. However, not everyone is like that (i.e. me) but I saw several quietly determined ladies - some on scooters - with their wigs on who wanted to support this because it was something they felt strongly about.
Someone with the brain of a rocking horse once said to me "Well Jesus says that we will always have the poor with us so other things are more important." they were referring to the story where Jesus is anointed with expensive perfume and people complain because the money could be used for the poor. And Jesus does indeed reply
You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me.
A few thoughts if you don't mind M'Lud
1. The main complaint was from Judas who probably surprised everyone with the sudden development of a social conscience. He had not been happy with any of the work Jesus had done so far unless it was pointing towards revolution and pointy swords.
2. This is a quote from Deuteronomy
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” —Deuteronomy 15:11
This is not an instruction to not be bothered - it is an acceptance of how people are and that we are not to be the same.
3. It's about the timing - Judas was a centimetre away from betraying Jesus. This evening was about other things than long-term poverty - which Jesus very much leaves with us to do something about.
Thank you.
Anyway, before I go back to the sun and the seagulls, just a book review if you don't mind. Braver by Deborah Jenkins is an excellent read. I have seen it described as gentle and it is true that it isn't full of Ninja Assasins but there are some real issues dealt with here in a lyrical and readable way. Anyway, "gentle" fiction is very difficult to do well but this is done very well. The book centres around three people - Harry, the schoolboy, Hazel, a lady dealing with self-esteem problems which impact on her everyday life and Virginia, a local minister with problems of her own. Their three stories weave in and out of each other skillfully and you do care what happens to all of them. I think perhaps that one day there is a book to be written about how someone comes into the church and doesn't find such a warm welcome rather than - "everyone was so friendly and accepting" etc. etc. It's not everyone's experience. But that is very much my own personal bugbear and this is a cracking book and a lovely read. Certainly recommended.
Have a good week. What's left of it. Sorry.
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