Norman in Concert

We went to Norman and the Band's concert on Saturday night - just a walk across the Green - and we went down to the sea in the interval.

They played both Tuxedo Junction and In The Mood.   And a piece called "Amelia" that Norman had written for his granddaughter.  It was beautiful.  I hope it might become a regular part of their concerts.

IF I get to be in the earthly Paradise, with life "to time indefinite" stretching before me, will I be able to play a musical instrument?  Will I be able to sing?

It seems likely, as if I am there, I will be perfect. So my ears will be perfectly tuned and my vocal cords will work perfectly.

It was the meeting at the Kingdom Hall on Sunday morning and afterwards Jean and I did a couple of return visits.  Captain Butterfly was marshalling in Brighton - people, not butterflies.

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How did Helicopters Evolve?

Its Armed Forces Day and we have been watching a Royal Navy helicopter on the green outside our flat.  Us - and every small boy in town.  It was impressive - especially when it came some feet off the ground and just stayed there.

It then set off down the coast - without strafing us - and came back and did some appalling things over the sea.  It seemed to fly straight down into the sea, then roared straight up again - just in time.  Brilliant flying.

What an amazing machine it was - a marvel of engineering and design.

And yet when we see a dragonfly - infinitely more beautiful and complex - we are told to believe that it just evolved.

Jean and I talked about the complexity and the beauty of the creation this morning to a gentleman we met on the doors.  He did take a Creation brochure and assured us he would read it, although he said he did not want us to call back.

I lost my field service group this morning!  Or rather I couldn't find them.  We were meeting at a different house and I couldn't find it.  So I decided to do some return visits and for some strange reason turned down a road I usually avoid - too many parked cars - and found my group.    They were working that road, so I joined up with Jean and off we went.

We went up to London on Thursday to meet Bob and Judy - friends from our University days - and we lunched at The Royal Albert Hall.  A first.  Nice that you can go on having firsts, even when you are retired.

It was a lovely summer day - blue sky, scudding white clouds, big trees in their full green, girls in their summer dresses.  And of course yet another generation of young girls to be waitresses in London's various coffee bars and cafes.   I waited myself in my time.

Jackie came round for supper yesterday.  I cooked that reliable chile beef recipe that I learnt many years ago in a Tex Mex Cookery class in Expatland.   And we had it with small small things (yoghurt, grated cheese, corn salad).  I ought to start making cornbread again.   And of course strawberrries and cream for afters.

Its the Concert tonight.

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Dorothy's Detective Agency

Audrey and I did an hour on the door to door work this morning, then I dropped her off, and went back to the lady who is worried about her cousin in Christchurch.  I asked Dorothy to help and within a day she had found the family and the news about them - some good, some bad.  So I was able to take the information round this morning.  The lady and her husband were really pleased and I came away with a punnet of fresh garden picked raspberries as a thank you.

Not one of them was hurt in the earthquakes that have struck S.Island though.

I also placed two magazines at The Vicarage.  Which was a nice surprise.

I can't think I did anything much yesterday, beyond a big shop, some cooking and some studying.

Except that I did read Jan Karski's "Secret State".  It is completely harrowing, but I promised Jean I would read it so I did.  Its pretty unputdownable though.

What that generation went through!  And how stoical they were about it all.

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The Long and Winding Road

Jane and I worked on a long and winding country road this morning - long drives - much green space.  But we found most people at home and had one or two good calls.   One gate we came to had a fierce netting of wire with a serious looking BEWARE OF THE DOG sign on it.   We shook the gate a bit and as no dog appeared or barked we tiptoed in and up the drive.  "You're brave, coming in here" said the owner.  Although, as I said, we did check first.  We saw the Hound of the Baskervilles through the hall window and certainly would not have gone in had it been loose in the garden.  He (the householder, not the hound) most definitely wasn't interested, but we had a pleasant chat, and he assured us he wouldn't loose the dog till we made it to the gate.

Jane left me at the shops so I was able to get some strawberries for our tea and walk back.

Audrey and I went out yesterday morning - then Linda came for lunch - and we went to Jackie's for supper.

Spoke to Maggie - the op is done and she is back home.  It was more painful than last time, but seems to have been a success, and she said she slept very well last night.

Its strange for me at meetings without Maggie as we always sit together.  It used to be Don, Maggie and me, but Don died the year after we got back.

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A busy week

The Marbled White (see above) is one of my favourite butterflies.  Photo courtesy of Captain Butterfly himself.

Dentist yesterday morning - all OK till next check up - though I had to have some painful scrapings.  Then I cooked the chicken for Linda's lunch today -  Captain B has since eaten quite a lot of it.   Field service with Louise in the afternoon - off into the wilds of East Preston to find the flat where we were all meeting - found flat! - Louise's directions worked - she had even explained where to park.  Went out.  And not only did we find quite a lot in from the Not At Homes, but I finally found the lady I had spoken to nearly 3 years ago!

We had quite a good chat about what we are praying for when we ask for God's Kingdom to come, and I left her with "What Does the Bible Really Teach?"

I now have to try and find her at home again.

Was so amazed by that that I forgot to add another Bible Teach book to my witnessing bag.

I picked up Audrey this morning and we managed 45 minutes doing return visits.  I now have a commission from a lady at the door to try to find out what has happened to a specific street in Christchurch.  There have just been more earthquakes - terrible damage apparently - and she can't contact her relatives there.  So I have to call back there to let her know if I have found out anything.

Earthquakes, in one place after the other.   Everything is being shaken now, including the current system of things.

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The Circuit Overseer and the Clouded Yellow

The C.O. visit started last night.   His first talk to us had, as he said, the longest title yet:

"Help People Become Reconciled to God, Zealously Persevere in your Efforts."

The speaker started by referring us to Revelation 7:1 to 10 with its vivid image of the four angels holding back "the winds of destruction" until the 144,000 annointed ones have been sealed, and "the great crowd" has been gathered in.   The great crowd "keep on" witnessing - persevering to the end.

And that is the point. We mustn't let anything rob us of our joy or make us lose our zeal for trying to reach everyone with the Kingdom good news.

Audrey and I got out on the doors yesterday morning - with Maggie and a very young sister who is still in the middle of her school exams. So I had an extra precious cargo in my car and prayed a lot to Jehovah to protect my driving.   And thanks to that I got everyone there and back safely.

We - El Capitano and myself - went to David's this morning to see his butterfly collection.  He has an amazing collection of Clouded Yellows.    The beauty and variety of the creation seems endless.   Although I am sad to note that people do still kill and pin butterflies.  

I know there is a science side to this - and that they do have to be classified and examined.  And David's collection is exact and labelled and beautifully done - better probably than most museums manage.

And that we do eat meat and fish sometimes.  And that loads of insects die on the windscreen of our car.

But each one is a precious and exquisite little life.

Well, Paradise is not restored yet.   Nature is still "red in tooth and claw with ravine".  But the Bible assures us that it was not created that way, and that it will not stay that way.

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At Cissbury Ring

It was a perfect summer day today - blue skies, scudding clouds, - and we spent the afternoon on Cissbury Ring.   We met up with Neil - also out hunting for the...?  see the Captain's Log for the name of the creature.

Maggie and I were out all morning doing our magazine routes.   Its great spending time together in the preaching work.  And we found quite a few at home.   I had an appointment with the Lung Lady after lunch - all seems OK - and if my tests continue to be so, she will only need to see me every year from now on.

I still wonder at ending up here, in the chalky downlands, flint shining everywhere, stepping over the "close bit thyme" of the Kipling poem, "Sussex".

I think I will quote a line or two now:

We have no waters to delight
Our broad and brookless vales--
Only the dewpond on the height
Unfed, that never fails--
Whereby no tattered herbage tells
Which way the season flies--
Only our close-bit thyme that smells
Like dawn in Paradise.


 Like dawn in Paradise

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