Beans

Acknowledging celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall 'Bang In Some Beans' campaign to address rising diet-related health problems and the environmental impact of food choices.

You are what you eat

You know what I mean

For a balanced diet 

Just bang in some  beans.

Carbs, proteins, fibre, fat, regime,

Vitamins, water, mins, the seven supreme,

Legumes, lentils, peas are green, 

And for good measure, bang in some beans.

Upping our fibre helps your gut, weight, 

Blood-sugar regime,

Fruits, nuts, veg, whole grains, are cool, 

Just remember to bang in some beans.

And not just baked beans but  chickpeas too- they'll keep you regular😉

Black beans, flageolet, haricot, kidney, edamame, butter beans and navy beans too 

They're cheap,  so when you are cooking

Just remember...you know what to do

And whether you're vegan, veggie, flexi, Mediterranean, keto, paleo, Atkins, gluten free, bulletproof, carnivore or, dare I say, a 'normal' foodie

Don't be a has bean, bang in some beans!

Devon Lanes

 

Late April, East Devon. Reads well with pastoral music such as Elgar's Chanson De Matin wafting in the background.

Walk the lanes, take the air, clear the head,stretch those legs, walk them, walk  those ancient ways, familiar yet something new, across Cory Brook, fruity farmyard smells, lush pastures freshly cut silage,  mewing Devon Reds out of winter quarters, bleating lambs with their mothers basking in the morning sun.

Walk the lanes, walk them, walk  those ancient ways, campion, greater stitchwort, herb robert, clouds of cow parsley banks of native blue bell either side waving me on my way in the gentle breeze , squeeze in for a milk tanker then the clip clop of a passing rider on their charge, pleasantries exchanged with a ruddy faced farmer arriving to check on stock, wiggling River Yarty comes into view, myriad hues of illuminated green,may flower,  blossom, hedgerows clipped, darting swallows, skylark, birds song everywhere, cockerel sounding hens rooting in the yard, hamlets, ancient bridges, tumble down outbuildings, and catching the scent of lilac and wisteria dressed cottages

Yes walk the lanes, walk them, walk  those ancient ways, turn at Crandons Cross and head towards Bedlam Lane but then take a footpath along the Yarty, quiet, few if any people, an elusive woodpecker knocking, rest awhile, peacock butterfly  settles and then is away, sun catching the rivulets in mini cascades,  blankets of yellow buttercups descending to the river, rejoin the lane, high banks rising up like a tunnel to Westwater, highpoint, a vista, open skies,  the town below, Minster standing  sentinel.

And so to home refreshed, renewed, I will  walk those  lanes again, walk them, walk  those ancient ways.

Inspiration

 Finnish composer Jean Sibelius's Fifth Symphony Eb Major  1914-15

And so he sat and wrote "Today I saw 16 swans. God, what beauty! They circled over me for a long time. Disappeared into the solar haze like a silver ribbon'.

Inspiration ignites the creative flame and so captured by one of the great experiences of his life,  he began the grand theme, finale to a symphony sublime.

Strings fluttering, confused, unsettled, answering back, lifting  in palindromic rotations,  increasing intensity, spiral circles, climbing higher and higher, 'until finally like the sun parting the clouds, the brass arrive to put things on an even keel'¹.

 Orchestral ecstasy, a conductor's dream,ending in dramatic defiance,a statement of beauty defying conflict-pow! pow! pow! pow! ... pu-pow! 

¹Conductor Leonard Bernstein description

Anything New?-A Poet's Quest

 I want to write something special

Something that will stand the test of time 

Something that cuts through the everyday

That future generations say

Wow, that's a cool sweet rhyme!

But hasnt it all been said, written, sung 

And is it true there's nothing new under the sun

I cannot rest, here we go an idea, 

Way in, spark, has just begun.

So what is it that makes us want to write, create

We don't want to rely on AI to replicate

Is it not in our DNA for as our maker says 

'See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it'

 I look and listen, I believe it.

And though I'm no poet laurete and sure won't make the nations favourite lines

'If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, and blaming it on you' would be a great one, but it's Kipling's not mine.

I take my hat off to the Shakespeares, Wordsworths, Betjemans of this world 

and  keep plugging away,

Yeah, make the most of  what I'm given, be thankful 

And simply pen what comes my way.

What Would They Say

What Would They Say

 In loving memory of John Barrass Fox 3.2.1937-15.1.2026.   Acts 10. v42

My much loved Uncle John died the other day,

Died in his bed overnight, full of years, suddenly slipped away.

He'd been caring for his wife my Auntie Anne,

But didn't appear that day,

Time went by, the alarm was raised, and they found him as I say.

He was a lovely man, quite eccentric,

With a beard in which you could nest in

And wore shorts, even on Christmas Day.

I wrote a card to the family ,so many memories,  

There'll be a service on the way.

Of course moments like this make me think again about my life, and what would they say?

Of our own mortality, and to make the most of each and every day.

I hope they'd say, he was a good man too, even wore shorts like his  Uncle John and remember him on Christmas Day.

But mark this and mark it well, at the ending of our days

The  only one who counts for you and I is what the Lord Jesus has to say.

What Can I Say

 What Can I Say

A song that sums up Psalm 139

V1

What can I say, What can I do, 

Where can I go from your  loving presence    rpt

Chorus

You know it all, you planned it all

Almighty God

You know it all, and I give my all

To the Holy One

V2

Every thought, Every plan

Each day that lies before me    rpt

Chorus 

Mid 8

In the highs, and in the lows     BM C

In the joy and  tears.    Bm C

You're changing me day by day,    Bm C

Into the likeness of your son    Am F

To be a part of your church and what's to come. Am F

To see your glory shine D

Chorus and rpt

Crime Drama

Crime Drama

It seems we like a crime drama, arm chair detectives many are we.

My wife prides herself in sussing it out and is usually far ahead of me.

There's  always a new one on the tele to feed  that  desire within- good against evil, justice, getting the baddie-  it could be a Thin Blue Line comedy, something gritty, violent behind the sofa time, real fly on the wall docu- what have The Met done now, a Scandi dark one, heist, courtroom, who dunnit Morse,  or a cosy Marple,  Midsomer Murder- who'd live in that village,  and then there's  the one who got away, remember The Shawshank Redemption, that twist reveal, I remember it to this day.

Don't know about you but I grew up with Kojak- 'who loves you baby' (suck lollipop if you have one), Starsky and Hutch, Ironside, seems like nothings changed, as we watch the latest at our firesides.

Could go on and talk about crime novels such as Dostoevsky's Crime & Punishment and then the real life criminals- The Wests, Sutcliffe, Shiphams of this world. 

But theres one crime in history that stands out to me; The one where we all had a hand in the death, and it's not Agatha's Murder On the Orient Express in case you're thinking, no, it was  the innocent one, who carried the can, that you and I may go free.

I Told You

I Told You- the joys of getting older 

What are you doing this afternoon? 

Going to town to pick it up, I told you

You didn't tell me it was ready

I did

You didn't 

I'm worried that I told you and you didn't remember

I'm more worried that you think you told me when you clearly didn't. 

I know, let's  just forget it then and not worry about it

So you ARE going into town then?

Yes darling, if you say so.....

Witness

Acts 1. 6-9 Ascension Day 2025

Witness

From Colmer's Hill, Dorset, looking to the Jurassic Coast.

I am witness of your life

A witness to your love

For I have seen you in creation 

I have heard of your fame

I have smelt your fragrance 

I have touched  your Kingdom presence

I have tasted and you are good

My conscience confirms it, and by your power I will be and I will tell of the Truth, wherever and to whom you send all the days that you have given me

For I am witness of your life

A witness to your love 

Teddy Bear

There have been many famous  bears in history

Paddington, Fozzie, and Baloo,

We could also say Yogi, Smokey, Rupert of course

and Pooh Bear, also known as Winnie the Pooh.

They've been loved and lost, tattered and treasured,

Inspired a love of marmalade too.

Now  dear Amelia on your  first birthday

We have a new one, it doesn't growl, 

a gift thats just for you 

It's a special teddy and wants to get to know you 

and spend it's life with you 

It will need lots of love and care

and a name of course, 

you'll  no doubt want to choose

So Happy Birthday little one 

With our love and bear hugs too,

Cause everyone needs a teddy bear

to help them see life through.

VE Day80

 

I shook the hand of Hans the boy who rejoiced at chocolate dropped by parachute during the Dutch Famine.

I talked with Fred, wounded tank crew in Monty's mighty Army.

I kissed the cheek of my mother who kissed Otto a German POW, and welcomed the Americans billeted in the village.

I stood on the spot where my father described St Andrews full of flame in the Bath Blitz.

I watched 'The Darkest Hour', reflecting on the burden Churchill and others carried.

I listened to a son describe the moments before his Nazi father was hung at Nuremberg.

I think about the brave who fought on in the east and the veterans now so few.

I visit the care home for an afternoon tea celebration, where the wartime generation live, flags flying, Vera singing,stories telling,  balloon and poppy  held in equal measure.

I touched this special generation that saw such trauma, their courage, resilience, sacrifice, and the awful price of peace. 

And I listen afresh to birdsong, smell afresh the sweet scent of an early rose, thanking God for them, longing for the day when all wars will cease.

Late Easter

A late Easter and He has now  appeared on the road to Emmaus and I'm sitting with my love on the deck overlooking the bay bathed in sun and blue.

Lingering after breakfast, a good book in hand to the sound of birdsong, waves breaking on the shore,  soaking up the rays like an osteo opening it's petals, like a cat before it gets too hot and has to cool in shade, or a cormorant drying its wings on a rock in the gentle breeze.  Later that morning a snakelet will slither across the warm stone and away into undergrowth.

Meanwhile a boat trawls, people working, children schooling, peace talks happening over wars, family tensions; all seem far away, yet close at heart, with thoughts for today and plans for the future.

Times And Places

For Rev'd Emma King, Easter 2025

Times And Places

Special times and places mark our history. 

Births, anniversaries and deaths 

All part of life's long tapestry.

9/11, Diana and Covid easily come to mind

Wars, Hiroshima, D Day and the Berlin Wall,

Events which draw a line.

And further back, ancient history special moments That have been,

An erupting Vesuvius, Roman invasion or Ice Age, They all feature in the scenes.

But there are events which stand out embroidered in the finest thread,

And at the centre a virgin birth, Golgotha cross and empty tomb, in deepest gold and red.

This Is Why

 Easter 2025

                               This Is Why

This is why you went to the cross, to carry the can for us all, to deal with the devil, all the anguish all the pain and separation, all the fears and tears, all the hatred, unforgiveness, brokeness, death and destruction, division, and all the hurt, sin and shame. 

This is why, this is why you went, the perfect sacrifice, that love might win, the light of life dashing the darkness, making a way of forgiveness, restoration, relationship, peace and joy, and everlasting life for all, a reason to live, power and hope for today.

This is why, and a sure tomorrow.

Time For Tea

Time For Tea

This is my day with a cuppa, and thank you to Gillards of Bath,  tea merchants in the Guildhall Market founded in 1888, for their advice. Loose leaf where possible please, tea bags, whilst appreciating their convenience, especially for mass catering and a quick brew on the go,  could be just fannings or sweepings, depending on their quality. Did you know loose leaf tea is very forgiving,  just keep it dry and out of direct sunlight and it will last 2 years or more,  as long as you haven't drunk it in the meantime! 

I go for two mugfuls of water first thing in the morning without fail to get hydrated, and then plenty through the day depending on activity and temperature- yes that does mean the odd loo stop!

For breakfast my current preference is English Breakfast, a traditional blend of the finest of Darjeeling and Ceylon estate teas. They say best served with milk, but I like pretty much all my teas without and on the weaker side, thank you.  I find Ceylon orange pekoe, or failing that broken pekoe a good alternative. By the way did you know black tea contains antioxidants which can help to reduce free radicals in the body, promote cellular health and ward off degenerative diseases like cancer. And why is it called Orange Pekoe you might ask? Well the Dutch royal family belonged to the House of Orange. The Dutch East India Company brought teas to Europe from the early 17th Century, setting aside the best black teas for the royals. The story goes that when this tea became accessible to the public, people nicknamed it the 'orange' pekoe for its association with the royal family.Orange pekoe means highest grade tea leaf and must be composed purely of the new flushes, it contains a moderate amount of caffine as well as a compound known as I-theanine, which can help to reduce anxiety and relieve stress.  Anyway I digress. 

In ordinary time around eleven, freshly prepared root ginger and slice of lemon in hot water, or fresh verbena leaves in season,  goes down well  with a plain digestive biscuit,chocolates ones feel a little excessive and could lead one down a slippery slope.

On holiday I'll look for freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast followed by a decent coffee then or at elevenses with croissant or pastry.

Earl Grey at lunchtime or in the afternoon with or without a slice of lemon, and especially with a cream tea is parfait.  One of the key ingredients, bergamot, has become recognized as having many health benefits, so while it adds that delicious citrusy flavor, apparently it also has antibacterial properties that give your immune system a boost. Okay if I was out with friends, or on a good walk to refresh, I might have a beer as a treat, but look to finish with an Earl Grey.

Late afternoon I invariably turn to the 'champagne of teas', Darjeeling broken orange pekoe. Hailing from the foothills of the Himalayas, this is a prized tea for its delicate flavours and the broken pekoe allows for a quicker infusion time.  Rooibos South African red bush is a great low tannin option and especially for anyone who pops in and wants a caffine free alternative; I gather its particularly good iced in hot weather. 

By the way, I am  ever mindful who's making, with my time in the police teaching me it's  use in calming situations and building relationships. Some close friends love strong Yorkshire tea so that's a separate pot, and once a student staying took an hour to make a cuppa- she was Japanese and wanted to introduce us to the ceremony!

In the Winter as we draw the curtains and put the heating on,  in our case hug the aga, maybe its time for a Lapsang Souchong. This is a unique and bold black tea renowned for its distinctive smoky flavour. It traces its origins to the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province, China. Legend has it this tea was born out of necessity during the Qing Dynasty. The story goes soldiers camped in a tea factory using freshly picked leaves as bedding. To salvage the tea, farmers quickly dried the leaves over pinewood fires, resulting in a smoky flavour that captivated taste buds and become a beloved tradition. Russian Caravan is a gentler less smoky alternative, and as the tea merchant contrasts the two, you are standing by the fire, instead of in it! There we go, digressing again, but interesting to know if you have time over a cuppa.

After supper a special Gillards Digestive mix of peppermint, Egyptian mint (Wintergreen) and Rosehip, goes down just right with a square of high percentage dark chocolate. And speaking of which,  a hot chocolate would go down well anytime at elevenses onwards on a cold day or out in the evening with friends as an alternative to alcohol- you just have to be your own person!

Finally, you'll be glad to hear, if one is suffering, then it might  be a hot toddie and to bed. However,  at the end of the day, come rain or shine, in the happiest or saddest of times,  I don't think you can really beat a nice cup of tea.

The Secret

The Secret

In response to Fergal Keane's moving article searching for happiness      https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ye6d43rqwo   

What is the secret, and where to search,

Which is the key to happiness that will take away my hurt? 

What gives me peace and contentment, well being, joy, 

Satisfaction and fulfillment,  oh what to employ?

To deal with the grey, bleak moments and dark nights, 

Addictions, loneliness, what do I bring to the fight?

Is the beauty of nature, advances in medicine, positivity, counsel, reaching out enough?

What is the answer that will free me to live, to love?

'Come to me, said the man, come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, take my yoke for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest,  you will find rest for your souls'.Adapted from Matthew 11.28 

Advent Solstice

  

Advent Solstice

21st December, 2024.

On the Advent Solstice, peering out at dawn across skeletal trees and evergreens, grey canopy hiding the shortest sun, mild, calm before wind and rain, robin and wren tweeting, house lights lantern like here and there.

Home bedecked scenting Norway spruce rooted with presents, twinkling lights,  cards and candles, mistletoe, yew and holly decorate,  celebrating the season, enriching, anticipating Coming, heralding the approaching day.

Bedrooms, games and carols made ready, fridge and freezer growing, busy hands cooking but for now loved one asleeping, whilst aga loving cat sat warming, and ticking clock conducting song of quietness. 

Now, stilled  to worship, drawing close, listening, welcoming the Saviour to my stable once again.

Jenny's Seat

Jenny's Seat

The times I have passed you, say hello, high on Hooken amongst the peregrines, all winds and weathers.

Sometimes  I stop, sit with you, looking over  Lyme Bay and  down the Jurassic Coast, echoing your memorial  'Sharing her favourite spot with the  world'

Everyone has a story, everyone a gift,  I googled you Jenny, oh, the Holocaust and your ceramic shoes.

And how might I  be remembered, who will sit with me?

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/sep/13/jenny-stolzenberg-obituary

Time For The Martins

 The collective noun for House Martins is 'richness'. We  learn  from nature, and as the writer of Ecclesiasties says 'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens'.

Time For The Martins

Early one  September morning I walked up to the high point overlooking Hooken Stack and out on the blue expanse of Lyme Bay.  Dew still on the ground, the sun had risen and was already well over Golden Cap, and Portland in the distance clear as a bell.

It was quiet, peaceful, typically Autumn, but having just passed the Lookout I came upon an aerial display, a flock of House Martins in all their 'richness', jerkily soaring and swooping around the cliff edge in their blue-black and white livery. Immediately taken up with this, I watched as the Martins continued their aerobatic masterclass topping up with insects on the wing.

Three bird watchers approached armed with binoculars fresh from spotting peregrines and I remarked on how the Martins were gathering, one replied, 'Yes, they will go when the weather's nice'.

I lingered, captured by this special moment before descending the Undercliff.

The next morning, another beautiful one, I returned to this spot, half expecting to see them again, but they were gone.

I pondered as I looked out across the rippling expanse, fishing boats at hand, container ships on the far horizon, Brittany beyond. 

The time had been right,  they had gone,  the wonder of it,  each the weight of a double A battery, headed to their winter home under African skies.

A Good Waltz

Life is bit of a waltz

A Good Waltz

Ladies and gentlemen please take your partner for the waltz

Slow quick quick, slow quick quick

Slow to speak

Quick to listen

Quick to forgive

Slow quick quick, slow quick quick

Slow to anger

Quick to settle a debt

Quick to make amends

Slow quick quick........

The Appeal

 

The Appeal

Why reject the one who created the universe the sky land and sea,

The sun and moon, sunflower, swallow, all things beautiful in their time and made you and me.

What is it that keeps you from the one who holds the world in his hands,  who is pure love and sent his only son  that you might forever stand.

Will you reject him all your days and say in your final breath, 

'I did it my way, that's it I did my best'

For  there will be a judgement and no liberty,

unless you're defended by Jesus the son of God who paid a great price to set you free.

For freedom, call out to him today and make your salvation sure,

Let him in for he is knocking, you can know him, knocking  at your door.

The Baby and the Bath Water

 With acknowledgement to Scott Peck's classic ''The Road Less Traveled'

The Baby and the Bath Water

So much dirty bath water surrounding the reality of God-

Holy Wars, inquisitions, animal and human sacrifice, superstition, stultification, dogmatism, ignorance, hypocrisy, self righteousness, rigidity, abuse, cruelty, book burning, witch burning, inhibition, fear, conformity, morbid guilt, insanity.......

That's better, got rid of the bath water, now where's the baby?

I'm Alex

 With acknowledgement to Scott Peck's classic 'The Road Less Traveled'.

I'm Alex

Hi I'm Alex and I'm a keen scientist, I focus well on what is in front of me, some might say it's tunnel vision but I do get to the bottom and discover things. You know we scientists have made great strides in understanding the universe. Why is difficult but How is where we really come in.

Like many bods I  love to experiment, make accurate observation and verify by measuring so that it is repeatable by others. That's how we make progress.

I love measuring, and  what we cannot measure, we cannot know. There is no point in worrying about what we cannot know, therefore what cannot be measured is unimportant and unworthy of our observation.

Sorry,  did you say what about miracles?

Are There Any Trees Left In Gaza- A Lament

 

Are There Any Trees Left In Gaza- A Lament

Are there any trees left in Gaza

Any joy any hope to be found

Bombs falling tears falling, falling

Down the cheeks onto the blood soaked ground.

The land, the Holy Land where Jesus Prince of Peace once walked 

Now an open prison of heart ache and despair,

Cannot a way be found for Israel Palestine that is just that is fair.

Lord have mercy on these people

May peacemakers on the ground prevail, 

And times be understood with angelic battles

Within the heavenly veil

For you are the way-make a way where there seems no way, of forgiveness, 

And let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! ¹

You are the truth- bring down the lie,  which sets itself up against you, 

Exposed and triumphed over at the cross, that your kingdom may fully come.

You are the life-  may you be seen in the rubble and tears, through helping hands, 

And may many turn to you for eternal life.

Are there any trees left in Gaza any joy any hope.... 

Yes in the God of all hope they are truly to be found. 

¹ Amos 5.24

Who Is This?

 Who Is This?

Song inspired from Luke 8:25. 1994. No one comes remotely close in my view, but then again we don't have to be if He is in us.

Who is this that calls the wind and the waves

To be still at his spoken word

And walks upon the water

As it were the dry land

Who is this that changed the water to wine

And fed the thousands too

And said cast your nets upon the other side

The fish are there for you

(Chorus)

Jesus Lord you are the one who’s turned the world around

Displaying the mighty power of God right throughout the land,

And now the Spirit’s in our hearts and we have faith too

In the name of Jesus those mountains move.

Who is this that cast out evil spirits

And heals the sick and lame

Who restores the broken hearted

And raise the dead from their graves

Who is this that we should stand in awe

As he taught with authority

Words bringing life

The truth to set us free

Chorus

Who is this that sweat those precious drops of blood

In Gethsemane

And on the cross a pierced loving heart

Dying for you and me

Who is this that death could not hold

The royal battle won

And now we have faith to believe for the kingdom of the son

And now we have faith to believe for the kingdom of the son.

The Holy Of Holies

 Chatting with a friend, a former manager of M&S, he amusingly referred to a certain food retailer as 'The Holy of Holies'. Well food  perhaps being one of the new religions, here are the top 10 UK supermarkets  with their advertising slogans featured in italics.

The Holy of Holies

And so, armed with my shopping list and  eco jute  bag, i approached the Outer Court,  past street vendors,  nearly being knocked down by an Ocado vehicle,  with its driver shouting out the window, 'Going the last mile'.

Iceland, the frozen food experts-food you can trust were by the door and as I entered the Outer Court I was met by a wide assortment of customers  busy in the middle aisle and rummaging through crates labelled 'Big on quality, Lidl on price'. Someone at the Aldi check out nearby sweating and smiling with a laden trolley simply said, 'Spend a little, live a lot'.

I decided to press through to the slightly quieter Inner Court to be told in no uncertain terms 'It's what we do-Co-op'  and 'Get the Asda price feeling'. Whilst I was searching for the feeling I was   distracted by a tanoy announcement 'More reasons to shop at Morrisons. All department managers for a huddle in ten'.

Well, maybe I'll discover the 'reasons' next time and continued up the 12 Steps towards the Holy Place. There were staff on hand from Sainsburys taste the difference team on one side where good food costs less, not sure about that, less than what, and saying they were helping people eat better. Meanwhile rival  Tesco's Finest on the other  were confident 'Every little helps'. Well i am sure it does, however, this was all too much, even with the app, and I thought I would  check out the Holy Place.

 As I entered the atmosphere changed, and it wasn't the efficient air-con. I became self-conscious, adjusted my appearance in the window, combed my hair and made doubly sure i had the means to pay. Well the Holy place was anything but ordinary,  well heeled, black shirted staff  meeting my gaze in the food hall with, 'This is not just food-this is M&S food'. I was impressed,  it was nice to be welcomed, until the bill, and i still felt  slightly unfulfilled knowing there was more, yes....the Holy of Holies.

I summoned up the courage to enter this special place, yes that's right, the Holy of Holies, not reserved for just the CEO yearly like a high priest, no but for  one and all and daily too, as though the curtain had been torn in two giving unlimited access. Before me was the finest of fare, every comestible and comfort, a pleasurable experience to behold.

A smartly turned out assistant was immediately to hand and in a politely spoken manner proudly announced the words memorised from the manual, 'We are more than employees we're  owners, partners. I presume you have your members card,  do join me in a complimentary cup of coffee and magazine, I'll tell you more of what this heaven on earth is like.  After all its food to feel good about, quality food, honestly priced. Everyone deserves quality food. Everyone deserves Waitrose'.

Three Men In A Car: Maroc Espana

Flew out to Marrakech and drove back to Bath with friends Tom, and Rev Patrick in his Peugeot 207. Across Morocco and Spain taking in Casablanca, Fes, Tangier (Cueta), ferry Straits of Gibraltar, Algeciras, Granada (Alhambra), Albarcin, Zaragoza, Pamplona, Santander, ferry to Plymouth. Some reflections on a great trip.  May 2023.

Maroc Espana

Land of medinas and souks

The chaotic and exotic

Monkeys wearing dresses, cobras charmed for their supper, all the fun of the fair in the square Marrakech!

Towering mosques,  'Salaam Alaikum Allahu Akbar' -'Wa Alaikum Salaam'.

The dirham's king,  the tourist an opportunity 'my friend, come with me'

Ancient and modern sit together with artisans working thuya, pottery,  mosaics,  leather, weavers at the loom,  centres of study with the world's 1st university, fields worked the old fashioned way, fruit and veg for the foreign table, big plans for harnessing the wind and sun.

The high Atlas an inviting backdrop, Sahara to the south with coastlines, a King, palaces, riads,  kaspars the feral and fez, 

Mules,  horses,  camels, motorbikes all lively options, feel the heat join the beat, 'play it again Sam' at Casablanca's Rick's Cafe.

Parle vous Francais? Enjoy a mint tea and tagine, listen to a Berber's story, be still at a fountain pool an oasis jardin for an hour or two,

Maroc is growing with a bienvenue.

Across the Strait, past the Rock olla buenos dias senor senora, home to tapas,  citrus,  flamenco and the running bull.

Smart roads connecting fortified medieval gems in the quiet scrubby interior, city plazas stylishly combining old and new, where rich and mellow the  guitar sweetly sings. 

Catholic baroque and gothic watch over the mighty Ebro, the influence of The Moors  treasured, regions steeped in history like Aragon and o sweet Catherine a sad end with a humble grave in England.

 Goya,  Picasso exhibit once again-si si Espana has much to celebrate-a cultural superpower where the world wants to visit,  a colonising language, a serious EU player, banking acumen in Santander and Aviva, solar and wind powerhouse,  muy buena health care, The Veulta,  a Nadal or Real,  a land of beaches, ex pats, goats herds, ham, olives, fish, and catch crops for Europe.

Espana,  a country on the camino way, deep wounds healed of civil war, the Catalan quest, challenge of jobs for the young- ever moving towards Santiago Compostela-  muchas grasias senor senora, hasto luego!

 

Ring For The King

 

Fri 5th May 2023, St Winifreds Church Branscombe, eve of Coronation of King Charles 111

Ring For The King

In a sleepy Devon village

On the eve of a crowning

Three generations sound

A coronation peel

Look to trebles going

The Queen has passed

Trebles gone.

Ring the changes 1, 2

Ring the changes 3, 4

Sally forth o King , sally forth!

What Is The Point?

 Catherine’s Retirement & Resurrection Lunch. Easter, 2023- there was fizz😄

What Is The Point?

What is the point of a
Birthday without the candles
Celebration without the fizz
Retirement without a send off
Life without a purpose
Actor without a stage

What's the point of
Christmas without a virgin birth
Easter without a resurrection
Mountain without a summit
Tunnel with no ending
Ship with no rudder
A problem with no solution

And as for
Effort but no power
Sowing without reaping
Plant without water
Bud but no flower
Blossom but no fruit
Forgiven without forgiving
Shown mercy without being merciful

Oh and
Justice without mercy
Giving without receiving
Loved without loving
Sheep with no shepherd
Served but not willing to serve

And even
Of a longing not fulfilled
An absence of war but no peace
A Saviour but not being saved
End of life without eternity
Eternity without a heaven
What IS the point?

A Short Poultry Story- Life On The Plot

 Loved keeping hens over the years, you can wile away the hours just watching them

Life On The Plot

 A paltry poultry story by Paul Bright. Dec 2010

We were glad to get away from the farm i can tell you- no not that farm at Langley CIA HQ silly; I mean Paxcroft Farm the other side of Trowbridge!  1500 of us cooped up in that barn, so getting selected was pretty smart, don’t you think?  We just got grabbed by the legs and stuffed in a box actually, not the correct way to handle a bird! Cor can remember that day like yesterday, it was so hot in that box coming across to Bath in the car, I tried to tell the little girl, Molly’s her name I think, to give us some more air but she didn’t want to know, I think she was a bit scared of us initially with our big feet, flappy wings and sharp beaks. You know crammed in like that with my new buddies I had to keep my beak open just to breathe.

Well, we soon arrived on ‘the plot’ as we now call it, a small secluded allotment site surrounded by houses, nevertheless, with the greenery etc we don’t feel overlooked as we need our privacy when performing our ‘daily miracle’, yea we like it there and feel well settled. Took a few days to sus out the place, however, bearing in mind that big barn we came from and don’t forget we’re only youngsters, POL- point of lay dummy,  and learning the ropes. Anyway we were put in this ark and run on ‘the plot’ under the plum tree, and didn’t know we had to go down the ladder to get out, so we were stuck up there until the people took us down. Same when it was time for bed we just thought we would be carried up like kids but no, had to do it ourselves- got it sorted now, bit of independence like.

I am glad we were given names by the people because it means we won’t be eaten, least we hope not- we did hear one of the people say they would put us in the pot after the first year and it doesn’t pay to keep hens after their second laying season- we’ll take our chance, 4-5 years would be a good life. We’ve got our private names of course but to you I’m Eeny, the dark one and top of the pecking order and my buddies are Meeny, Miny and Moe, something about a rhyme, or something.

You probably want to know what breed we are- Highline one of the coolest layers going, none of our fancy cousins like Buff Orpington who strut around the place, look pretty but don’t produce the goods. It would be nice to have a bit of male company such as a Leghorn  cockerel to keep us in order, we do like to misbehave, and have a few kids running about the place- can’t believe the number of people who don’t know how chickens are made. But we know it would upset the neighbours and it’s against the allotment regs anyway- ‘cattle, dogs and poultry shall not be kept in such places or in such a manner as to be a nuisance or annoyance to the inhabitants’- sounding off at 3am on a summer’s morning wouldn’t do would it?

Now we soon got a daily routine established- up with the sun, come down, bit of a pooh, drink and feed, house cleaning, back up for the ‘miracle’- now that can be a pressure because only two of us can get in the nesting box at one time and if you can’t wait your have to lay it carefully on the landing! Once the egg has been discharged you can take it easy and have a preen, that’s a personal clean, fluffy bottoms and all that- we go mad after wet weather when there is a bit of sun coming through. We need to preen the old feathers with the waxy stuff using the gland at the base of our vent at the top of the tail, to waterproof the feathers again. We like a bit of grit too to help the digestion, you see grit in the gizzard acts like teeth for us-‘like hen’s teeth’ get it? We haven’t got any! The people tend to come up in the afternoon and are pretty good on cleaning us out, getting the goods of course and letting us have a run around and stretch our legs. A balanced layers meal is just the ticket for us, ok like cats the same every day, and we prefer the organic type. Greens-yep more the merrier and even a bit of pasta or rice- eh some wise crack said we could be chicken tikka masala, sure!!! 

Blue the black cat with the bent ear is a bit of a pain and stalks us; we tolerate him and show whose boss by making noises and flapping our wings at him. Monty the other one is much more sensible and just watches us from a distance.

We like to grub around, especially when the ground has been freshly dug, but have to be careful though, and not get in the way of the spade or fork- it’s not nice on the foot you know! We like to wander and ended once up over the fence in the next door garden.  The people haven’t clipped our wings so we like to fly low and whizz around like a harrier. We do like a good dust bath especially in the poly tunnel alongside the tomatoes where the soil is warm and fine- keeps our plumage healthy, cool in hot weather and those nasty insect pests at bay. We’re not too keen on the wind and rain that’s why we really appreciate the people putting us in the poly tunnel over winter, smart move. Even then the water has frozen over on occasions and its tough breaking it through.

They usually coax us in with some corn –fall for it nearly every time but occasionally give them the run round. Might have a final drink before bed, and then at dusk it’s time to go up the ladder and into the house for  TV, knitting, watch a film like Chicken Run etc before wing over the head and settle down for the night on the bar.

Now i gotta explain a bit more about the ‘daily miracle’. The people say it is  ‘a miracle’ every time we lay one- they’re right of course- a miracle as you know is  ‘An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God: One that excites admiring awe’. Our eggs are beautifully packaged and one can recycle the shell in all sorts of ways. Eggs last a long time, you don’t have to keep them in the fridge by the way, and as for value for money, I cost £7, well there is the cost of the feed but think how many I lay- for instance 1 a day, hardly miss,  that’s hundreds in a year, thousand or so in a life time!

Listen a few facts about  eggs, you need to follow this closely, it’s a bit technical- eggs develop one by one in us and become detached and slip into the oviduct- along a twisted tube ending in the vent or anus through which our droppings and eggs pass on leaving the body. You see the oviduct is in two parts. In the first portion the white or albumen is deposited around the yolk of the egg- takes 3-5hrs and in the second part of the oviduct the shell is made which is another 15hrs, got to get the packaging right for the customer otherwise it’s a mess, oh and there’s no date on it, you have to do that yourself- so you see we’ve always got one on the go. Sometimes we do a double yoker just for a laugh. Recently Meeny laid a 100g egg a real whopper. (3.5oz) 

As yet we haven’t had any hassle from the fox and keep pretty well thanks. We only start to moult after 12months beginning early autumn and haven’t been tempted or tested with getting broody, feather eating, egg eating, egg binding, prolapses, common colds, roup, cramp, liver disease, fowl cholera, crop bound, or Newcastle disease whatever that is!  On Guy Fawkes Night our owners had made a bonfire and we overheard someone say to them you could have roast chicken- not funny!

What  do we contribute?-  fresh manure for sure, the very best you can get- per bird per day is over 90g (4oz)- in fact if you had 100 birds you would make nearly four tons a year, think about that...deep pooh! Our eggs are freeish range- £1.20 half doz to you, normally £1.76 check out the colour of the yoke, oh and let’s not forget creating amusement, pleasure- we’ve quite a repertoire of sounds, don’t mind being picked up and stroked, we keep the bugs down, make the new neighbours feel welcome and grub over their freshly dug ground.

Well, time to wind up, why don’t you come up and see us sometime, we’ll show you around the plot and if you have time then join us for a meal. On the menu this week is a smoked salmon soufflé starter, Lancashire Tart main course, accompanied by  fresh veg from the plot, and for pud a choice of chocolate roulade, crème caramel or pavlova- all with fresh eggs of course! Yeah come on up, we’re always in!

PS. Post meal entertainment: The World's Longest List of Chicken Sayings...! http://www.chickenvideo.com/sayings.html