Category: allotments

To my informal service in the old Methodist Church in Radstock. There were about 16 of us and we met for the service, hearing a talk about how Saul converted into being Paul. The Pharisees of which Saul was one felt that they were doing right thing in persecuting Christians and it took the ‘Damascus moment’ when the Spirit of Jesus said Saul Saul why are you persecuting me? Saul did 180 degree turn and worked enthusiastically for Jesus and eventually died for him.

I enjoy meeting in small groups and we had a  sub-group of 5 of Us. Even shy people can start to speak their mind in a small group even though they can take time to get going.

I came away from the meeting enlightened and invigorated. The essence of spiritual power is Joy and freedom of mind even though the circumstances around us do not give us much scope for optimism.

At lunch time we went to visit a new initiative run by the local council where a two course lunch is offered to members of the public who may or may not be able to afford to eat. It was done on a trial basis of once a month and may be advertised as say the first Sunday of the month or the last Sunday of the month. There was music in the background. All tables had been decorated with spring flowers, at the food was simple and straightforward. As it was the first occasion I would always make allowances but in future there needs to be more coordination of staff. At one point the chef had to came out to take our order.

There should ideally have been an actual waiter but meanwhile a young boy who must have been about 10 years of age did his best to run around and serve everybody. We sat at a table with a young lady who worked as a bar in a local public house joined by her mother at a later time

The atmosphere was very good and I took the opportunity of speaking to one of the town councillors about new ventures and that we should not expect perfection the first time but if you have the same spirit then the events will take on a power of its own and it will grow of its own accord.

We spent a lovely afternoon on the allotment. I did a session of mowing, the first of the year, up and down the borders of the plots and Francoise dug up some leaks and we put up a trellis. Although it was only a few degrees centigrade the work soon made us warm and I took off my outer garments because I was sweating.

I was depressed to read that a hotel called the hotel Beresford in Newquay had been overtaken by refugees. It was a Shearings Travel company hotel and we had hoped to go there for a bit of rest and Recreation but now it looks as if it is not possible.

How many thousands of refugees or so-called refuge do we have to take before the country explodes in Anger?

We are due to be about 38 degrees today Tuesday 19th July. Such temperatures are more normal in Australia where you can have such events lasting for 6 weeks and no one thinks twice about it. We are strange in the UK in that we cannot cope with temperature fluctuations. It is not the end of the world, it is not indicative of climate change (climate changes all the time in case you did not know), it has nothing do with ‘Zero Carbon’. The zealots do not know what life would be like without carbon dioxide. We would all be dead. ‘Nature’s fertilizer’ as David Bellamy said.

So, a day to catch up on my diary writing. As I write at 10 am the heat is creeping in and making me slightly breathless.

I had an unpleasant job yesterday. I had to give someone notice on the allotments that I run. Annoyance turned to frustration to anger on my part. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when I realized that the person concerned had no interest in the welfare of anyone else but himself. I was told a long time ago that I will bend but I will never break. How true.  I am waiting for a blast of objections, or perhaps denial. I had to deliver the news to them – he and his wife. I wrote a 6-7 page judgement and put it through the door yesterday.  I wish people would consider the results of what they do. Some people have to learn the hard way.

Great article about organ transplants. In a nutshell, consciousness is transferred.

Another case is an 18-year-old girl who received a heart from an 18-yearold male musician who played the guitar and died in a car accident. She could never play music before, but now all she wanted in life was to learn to play the guitar. “I felt it in my heart,” she said. “My heart had to play.”

You can read the whole article here.

 

There is something about fire, any fire except when life is in danger, that intrigues and fascinates me.  Yesterday was the great fire of our allotments.  I am  having trouble finding software that will allow me to stitch the videos together to make a coherent picture so until that time, you will have to make do with looking at stills.

As I may have said before, the main thing is to get a good heat and then put on green material no matter how damp on top. We have had a lot of rain recently so a lot of smouldering was needed. However, the fire burnt so well that when I went along today, Sunday, I found that the bulk had been reduced by about 50% . I paid attention to the remainder by using my air blower and I hope that when I go along tomorrow, Monday, it will have burned down to almost nothing…. but then these things go at their own pace.

We had a good sprinkling of helpers, thanks very much everyone, and we could have done with some mulled wine and BBQ sausages but with the current covid paranoia the mood was not quite conducive.

I am electing to rest, today Sunday so this diary is not as complete as I would like. It is after all the seventh day. Tomorrow, Boris will be coming out with yet another restrictive announcement about a virus that does not exist being measured by a test that does not work.