Flowers in the Storm

1930s Art Deco bridge, Mewsbrook Park

Wonderful waves on the Channel the last 3 days as there is a storm going on.  The Captain and I were out in the storm this morning photographing fungi - and the odd flower that bravely blossomed in the face of it.  It was lovely in the tiny woodland - we could hear the storm roaring but were quite sheltered. Col also took some pictures of the Art Deco shelters in the Park.

Periwinkle

Yesterday... think think... it was the Meeting in the morning - a lovely talk about forgiveness, and the Watchtower study... then I went to Waitrose and shopped for both Jacks and us.     Then came back, made a big lamb casserole.  Then I collapsed and did nothing at all.  Apart from a bit of paperwork.

I now have to sit down and tackle my dive thriller. Reading it again, after a year or so, I see a lot of cutting is needed, and I am wondering if I am going to shrink it to a short story. I hope not, but it could happen.

Jane and I were out on the door to door work on Saturday morning and finished our territory with the help of some of our siblings.I think all I did for the rest of the day, apart from get our lunch and tea, was to get some paperwork done and sorted.  I sent a copy of "Old Playgrounds" to Jean, along with a get well card.  And I also packaged up some copies of "Till they Dropped" to send to friends who have requested one.  I am enclosing a little leaflet about the Kingdom of God with the books, as I am explaining that, when i wrote it, I did not know Jehovah's promise that he will "bring to ruin those ruining the earth".

Maggie messaged me this morning asking for a copy so I have one packaged up and ready to post to Bangkok.

TILL THEY DROPPED

The old-fashioned, horse-drawn, paper copies of "Till They Dropped" arrived this week. Very exciting!   Although I am alarmed at just how short a book it is.  It still seems to me more of a long short story than a very short novel, but I must defer to my young publisher here.

He has given it a lovely cover.  Just right.  Its (I hope): My earliest childhood meets the 21st century - with some rather old-fashioned terminology, as I wrote it years ago.  However, I can say that it is even more relevant now than it was when I wrote it.

paperback and Kindle versions are available here: http://amzn.to/1jnZskR

Also, when I wrote it, I don't think I knew of the promise from Jehovah, the God of Abraham, that he will "bring to ruin those ruining the earth".

I hope I have a quiet day today before a busy weekend.  Its almost frightening how tired I am.  I got to the meeting last night - and how lovely it was.   If only I could action all this wonderful teaching better.

Brothers

It was so difficult to get myself to the Field Service Group this morning - but I am so glad I did. As Barbara and I set off to my car we passed a gang of scaffolders working away on a local pub.

"Are you our sisters?"  they asked.   It turned out they are all Jehovah's Witnesses.  They were telling us how they set up their own firm to give themselves more time to do the preaching work, but were now becoming almost too busy!

It made a lovely start to our day.  We had both had a struggle with ourselves this morning and we talked about how the batteries run down as you get old.  Barbara came with me to some of my outstanding return visits, and that has helped me so much.  I feel if I can only get out a bit at the weekend and do a few more I will feel as if I am starting to get back on top of things.

The News is sending chills down my spine, and underlines the urgency of the Kingdom preaching work.  

Yesterday I spent the morning with Maggie - and shopped for Jackie on the way back. then went home and collapsed.  And I enjoyed a quiet night in in front of Masterchef and The Apprentice.

Barbara and I were talking about what we were most looking forward to during the Thousand Years. Obviously, most of all the resurrection, and to see our parents again.   And also to be able to care properly for the animals.    I was watching Monkey Business the other night- and Monkey World does a wonderful job, and I hope Jehovah will bless them for it - but the sadness of what some of those animals have been through, often in experimental laboratories, is almost unbearable.

Nothing like that will ever happen again when God's Kingdom rules.

Here is a lovely little poem by Stevie Smith:

IT FILLED MY HEART WITH LOVE

In his fur the animal rode, and in his fur he strove
And oh it filled my heart my heart, it filled my heart with love.

The Body on the Beach

That sounds like an Agatha Christie mystery, but, when I was out with my siblings on the door to door preaching work this morning, a passer-by told us there was a body on the beach!  And we could see that something was going on down there. The emergency services were out.

However, there is nothing about it on the local news, so hopefully, it was a false alarm.  Perhaps somebody was rescued from the sea?   But it seems clear there was no body.

Which then reminded me of the Beachcomber take on Agatha Christie - in his detective story the whole village plus local police forced are deeply shocked when they find that there is no body in the library. And they begin to investigate as to why nobody has been murdered.

Anyway, I did some door to door work, and a couple of calls. So moved things on a tiny tiny bit.   I spoke to Jacks on the phone and have a shopping list from her for tomorrow. I will call in after my visit to Maggie.  Captain Butterfly has been called away on a Search and Rescue, and hurtled out laden with torches and whistles and yellow jackets and suchlike.

Jackie wants some more soup.  She says the soup I gave her is "the best she ever tasted".  Which is lovely to hear - but... worrying I can't possibly re-create it.   I simply threw every veggie I had at the time into the Morphy Richards Soupmaker (which has to take the credit anyway), so I won't be able to make that exact blend again. I am considering making her a leek and potato tomorrow.  With which earth-shattering piece of news I think I will sign off.   Except  I won't be able to sleep as the Captain isn't here.

He's back!  Thank God.  And wanting a cup of tea.  And, sadly I end this blog where I began it, as while they did not find the missing person, he fears it is now a body search.

A Soupathon

Arundel tulips - cover for 2016 calendar

Jean and I set off Saturday morning  - a cold and windy morning - I was driving through sunshine and kind of sleety rain - but the sky in the Downland distance was a steely grey snow sky. It made for a wonderful numinous light.  We both talked about what an amazingly lovely earth Jehovah has made for us.

Unfortunately we managed to arrive at the wrong door.  We are in a Field Service Group that meets at different houses, and clearly you need to be a bit more wick than us to work it out right every time. Anyway, rather than blunder about like a pair of confused and elderly moths beating our wings against the wrong doors all morning, Jean asked if we could do some calls instead. Did I have any outstanding calls?

Did I have any outstanding calls?    Does Gladys Knight have Pips?  Is the Pope a Catholic?    So I gratefully accepted her offer, and we moved along my magazine route, plus a couple of return visits of mine and one of hers.   We only found two people in, but had a nice chat at each door.  A quick chat though - it was cold, and the wind was so strong.  It rocked my little car at one point!

Anyway, I am very grateful to have got some more done - feel a lot better now.  After I had taken Jean home, I got back to find Captain Butterfly had flown off into the cold and storm, and was out there, somewhere in the Downland, photographing things.

His 2016 calendar is lovely.  It is his year in Photographs.   You will find it if you follow The Captain's Log link: http://colinknight.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/uk-wildlife-calendar-2016.html

After I had had some lunch - toast and a choc ice - I am sure my book "The Toast and Choc Ice Diet" will be a brilliant success if I ever get it written - I went out and got a paper and took it round to Jacks. She was looking a bit better, at last.  And when I asked if she would like some home-made veggie soup, she gave a definite Yes.   So I made two batches, crammed with every veggie in the house, one for Jackie and one for us.  And now, Sunday afternoon, the Captain is delivering it in person. He will then have a short walk to the beach - brrrr.  I am planning to stay in and stay warm. I got to the meeting at the Hall this morning, but am still struggling to get rid of this cold. Got very little sleep last night as I was so uncomfortable.

In the Early Hours

Up in the early hours of Saturday morning. Bad cold. Worrying about going out on the field service today. And I had a bad dream. Very rare for me these days.  I am angry with myself that I didn't ask Jehovah for help during my dream. The last time I had one, years ago, that is what I did, and the whole thing fell away instantly.

In that dream a cupboard door was opening and something terrible was about to come out. I managed, in my dream state, to ask Jehovah for help, and straight away I saw that all that was in the cupboard was a little old lady, a sweet lady, with a present for me.

Appropriately enough yesterday was a medical day.  My routine visit to my arthritis specialist  - he and his lovely nurse are both very kind and friendly.   It looks like I will be able to stay on this medication - and all seems as well as it can be.   And we also shopped for Jackie - still sick, still housebound.

Our rescue is so close at hand though. So close.  The news... what can I say?  Its sending chills down my spine.   We have been telling people for decades that Bible prophecy says that the political powers turn on the world's religions.  The U.N. will spearhead the attack. I have no idea if we are seeing the beginnings of this at the moment, but what is happening does underline the urgency of the Christian preaching work.

Spectacular Seas

Spectacular seas this afternoon, with a wonderful background of roaring waves. The day started off sunny, though windy - as I drove to visit Maggie.  Her daughter was there and we sorted out the matter of the calendars. Then after I got back and made lunch - leek and potato soup - the 2016 calendars arrived. They look lovely and I hope everyone will like them.

I feel so tired - and fell asleep after lunch and had some strange and vivid dreams.

Yesterday was very busy. I was out with my siblings all morning on the preaching work - had two nice calls.  But I must must must get on with my route calls and returns. Being ill last month did not help. One of the items in the Ministry School tomorrow night is about following up on interest found, and I know I am going to be sitting there feeling very guilty.

Then yesterday afternoon was spent making up all the Membership Packages.  The paperwork arrived on Monday, and I spent Monday doing it.  Butterfly HQ has had another membership drive - wonderful for all, except the poor beleaguered Membership Secretaries.

Anyway, Captain Butterfly nobly took them all the Post Office in a wheelie suitcase while I was with Maggie, so its done and dusted.

Got the first of the Christmas letters this morning - from an old friend from Uni days. She and her husband really seem to be enjoying their retirement.

The world situation...  people on both sides of the Christendom/Islam divide adding fuel to the fire...   yet the advice in Psalm 37 is perfect.   It tells us how "the world" is going to make us feel, it tells us how to react in the face of it all - howto stay on the "the narrow road" that leads to life, to keep calm and try to do good to all - and, above all, it assures us that a rescue is on the way - so close at hand now.

(Psalm 37:7-11) "Keep silent before Jehovah And wait expectantly for him. Do not be upset by the man who succeeds in carrying out his schemes.   Let go of anger and abandon rage; Do not become upset and turn to doing evil.   For evil men will be done away with, But those hoping in Jehovah will possess the earth.  Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there.  But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace."

Autumn and Paris and the Butterfly AGM

Common Beech, Fagus sylvatica

Strange driving through the rain on Saturday to the Butterfly AGM.  It was a grey and rainy day, and we were surrounded by the woods of Autumn - golden leaves thick on the wet ground.    We were listening to the news of the Paris massacres on the radio.  All those lives ended suddenly.  And so many bereaved families.

In spite of the sadness, with the weather being in harmony with the News, it was a very good day. The Butterfly Conservers turned out in force - the venue, the Chobham Hilton was excellent - and the talks were up to the usual high standard.   And somehow Michael Blencowe managed to make a dry subject -"Engaging People in Recording" - the most entertaining of the day.  He had us laughing from beginning to end, and we learnt a lot while doing so.

We got back late and tired - the poor Captain has finally caught the fluey-cold that laid me low and put Jacks in hospital.  So now its my turn to look after them.  I took Jackie in a load of shopping after the meeting yesterday, and am keeping up a regular supply of lemsips, hot drinks and fruit to the wounded Captain. All he seems to want to eat is soup, so I will be providing that too.

The Meeting at the Hall yesterday was excellent - Public Talk and Watchtower study harmonising beautifully - but I was in such pain from my arthritic wrist that it was a bit hard to concentrate.

The post-sixty years would be the best ever, if it weren't for the health issues.   I was thinking of how much I have learned in nearly 70 years - so, IF I am in the restored earthly Paradise, how much will I learn in the next 70?

Especially as Revelation tells us there will be more inspired writings - new scrolls - after Armageddon.   What will we learn next?

I am guessing (and please note that it is just a guess) that one thing we will be told is who is going to be resurrected and when.  IF I am there, I will be looking anxiously for the names of my aged parents.  Obviously I hope all those killed in the latest atrocities will be remembered at that time, and woken from the dreamless sleep of death into an earth truly at peace.

SPIDER!

A horror story from the Oz branch of the famiy, via facebook:

"It started with an innocuous-sounding request on a typical wet and stormy Sydney evening: "Dad, I'm trying to get to sleep but there's a huntsman in my room. Can you catch it?". "Sure" I replied, confidently walking into the room with my usual spider-catching kit: a plastic cup and a small piece of card. Moments later, I backed out, feeling slightly less confident. "Gulp... I think I'm going to need a bigger cup. Hand me the plastic salad bowl - no, the big one".

The plan seemed simple enough: catch the brute in the bowl and put it out in the garden. Unfortunately, it had seen the weather outside and had other ideas. I had to call for back up.

The next ten minutes saw me and Jeanne in a frantic chase / arm-wrestle around the room against a determined foe (and arm wrestling is no joke when your opponent has eight of them). It was basically the scene from Alien when Ripley and Newt get locked in the med-lab with the face-hugger, re-imagined by the Keystone Kops. Finally we cornered it when it jumped onto one of those giant exercise ball things, and Jeanne bravely picked it up.

The spider made a dash for freedom along the equator of the small moon on which it now found itself, heading straight for Jeanne's face, while she frantically spun the ball backwards to keep the spider on the "Dark Side of the Moon" so to speak. So the three of us ran through the house like this, Jeanne yelling "Open the door! Open the door!" and spinning the ball; the spider running for dear life; and me crashing into things, tripping over things, fumbling with the front door lock, fumbling with the catch on the screen door, until finally I got the door open and we flung the whole caboodle out into space, err, I mean, the front yard.

Phew! Until next time..."

I have met those Huntsmen Spiders on my visits, and the average one would make me hide behind the nearest Alien.  I don't like to think about this one.

We - my siblings and me - were out on the doors yesterday.  I set off feeling tired and depressed, but we had a good time together and then on my way back I called in on a lovely gentleman on my magazine route and got such a warm welcome, that I arrived home feeling much happier,

The Importance of Names

Back to the field service yesterday morning with Cathy. We had a couple of good calls, and we got a warm welcome from one lady who thanked me for posting the magazines, said how much she enjoyed reading them, and that the advice in them - the Biblical advice - is helping her tackle a serious problem.

We both felt very encouraged by that - as we want people to realise that the Bible will help them right here and now, as well as showing them the way to a wonderful future - life forever in the restored earthly Paradise.

Jackie is out of hospital - rather frail and shaky - the fluey thing hit her so hard.   We popped round and took her some flowers yesterday afternoon  - and I took her shopping round at lunchtime today after my visit to Maggie.  We will do her shopping until she feels OK to drive again.

My bro in law is back in hospital.  It does not look good.

The book "Imitate their Faith" which we are using in our Thursday night Bible study is wonderful.   Tomorrow we are looking at the faith of Noah who lived, as we do, in a world full of violence.

And I was amazed how much we learnt about Cain and Abel last week - even though Genesis does not say a lot about them.  For example, the reason for the deadly rivalry that Cain felt towards his brother may be explained by the names they were given.

I quote from the book:

  "Exiled to life outside the garden, Adam and Eve found their existence hard. Yet, when their first child was born, they named him Cain, or "Something Produced," and Eve proclaimed:"I have produced a man with the aid of Jehovah."  Her words suggest that she may have had in mind the promise Jehovah made in the garden, foretelling that a certain woman would produce a "seed" or offspring, who would one day destroy the wicked one who had led Adam and Eve astray. (Gen.3:15; 4:1)  Did Eve imagine she was the woman in the prophecy and that Cain was the promised "seed"?

  If so, she was sadly mistaken.  What is more, if she and Adam fed Cain such ideas as he grew up, they surely did his imperfect human pride no good.  In time, Eve bore a second son, but we find no such high-flown statements about him.  They named him Abel, which may mean "Exhalation", or "Vanity." (Gen.4:2)  Did that choice of name reflect lower expectations, as if they put less hope in Abel than in Cain?  We can only guess.

  Parents today can learn much from those first parents.  By your words and actions, will you feed your children's pride, ambition, and selfish tendencies?  Or will you teach them to love Jehovah God and seek friendship with him?"

"In Pursuit of Butterflies" by Matthew Oates

Butterfly David drove us through the pouring rain to the AGM yesterday - my first outing for over two weeks, except for when I went to Waitrose with the Captain to help with a shop for Jackie.

It all went very well - an even bigger turn out than last year -  with two excellent speakers. Michael gave his usual witty summary of the butterfly year in Sussex, and Matthew Oates talked about his new book, a sort of butterfly autobiography, and read us some extracts.  He hadn't brought many copies with him, but the Captain managed to get us one. And I am very much looking forward to reading it.

I was so happy when, during his talk, Matthew said that Paradise is here on the earth.  Yes.  Yes and yes.  Col had to throw a blanket over my cage at that point so I wouldn't spring up and say YES.  Then we were early in the queue and managed to get a copy of the book.

As there was a queue, all I said to Matthew Oates was that I was now tempted to auction his book to the disappointed queue, which he thought was funny. And I said that I loved it when he said the earth was Paradise.   I left it there, but plan to write to him when I have read the book.

I am very very tired now.  But it was my first real outing for a while. And it was a good day.  My fruit cake disappeared to the last crumb - even though we had loads of lovely home made cakes this year. And the raffle prize we bought - a framed copy of a print of the Captain's photo of the Swallowtail also went quickly. So we felt we had made a contribution.

However, I know that no matter how hard so many good-hearted people are trying, we cannot save the butterfly population, or restore the Paradise.   Only Jehovah can do that.  And He will. Which is what i am hoping to be able to tell Matthew Oates when I write to him.  Only he said sadly to me when I told him I loved him saying the earth is Paradise, that, yes, but it is being ruined.

So I hope to be able to show him the promise in Revelation, that Jehovah "will bring to ruin those ruining the earth".

The Caterpillar that Wanted to Fly

Mullein moth caterpillar, Shargacucullia verbasci

On The Apprentice on Wednesday night, the contestants had to write, publish, and sell a children's book - for 3 to 5 year olds.  For some strange TV reason, the wrong book won. But it really got me going and I spent quite a bit of bedtime thinking about the book.   My subconscious must have worked away while I was asleep because I woke up to:

THE CATERPILLAR THAT WANTED TO FLY

As their books were in rhyme, I have tried to do the same with mine.

Carl the Caterpillar goes off to Caterpillar school   (to learn the caterpillar rules?)   Anyway, they are there to learn to eat and fly, but he is impatient and wants to try (see my rhyme?) to fly.  He ripples off up to the roof and tries to fly off it. At which point I need a rhyme for Kersplat.   He then decides he needs a parachute, and makes one out of a nasturtium leaf, and tries again.  He floats down under nasturtium power until,  half way down, hunger pangs strike and he eats his parachute leaf.   There will be a rhyme there with "and so he comes to grief".

It ends happily when he goes back to school and learns how to enter into the magic chrysalis room; from there he soars up to the sky, something something something high, a brand-newly minted butterfly!

I am quite pleased with it. And Lord Sugar, if you are listening in, can I have my quarter million pounds now?

I had to listen in to the Meeting last night - but hope to be back to the Hall on Sunday.  I am coughing a lot less.  And I hope I will get to the AGM tomorrow.   I did make two batches of marmalade cupcakes this morning, so hopefully my cakes will go even if I don't. And I am up to date with my studying.

Ken is out of hospital today, after a harrowing time. We are all getting so old...
.

The Cakeathon

Its the local Butterfly AGM this Saturday - and, as Membership Secretary I ought to be there to help with teas.  But will I be?  Still down with this dreadful fluey-cold, coughing and coughing and coughing.

I have at least made a fruit cake, so that can go, whether I do or not. And I think on Friday I must make a couple of batches of marmalade muffins. We were a bit short of cake last year as I remember it, and it is not only a fundraiser for Butterflies, but also its nice for people to have a break with a cup of tea and a slice of home-made cake.

The sad thing is though that either way I will miss the Broadcast at the Hall on Saturday afternoon, I can listen to it by myself at home, which is great, but its not the same as listening with my brothers and sisters, in our home (as it were).

Then next Saturday it is the National AGM - a full day out, with butterfly talks and a lunch.   It is a lovely occasion - you could live many lifetimes and not know half of what there is to know about butterflies and moths it seems.  But its also sad, in that, at the Kingdom Hall, we talk and learn a lot about the creation - its beauty and its complexity. But we always always give the credit to its Creator, Jehovah the God of Abraham.    Whereas on the Butterfly Conservation occasions, though we hear of and see many wonderful and beautiful creations, no-one even mentions the Creator, let alone by name.

Kenton Cool - and the Circuit Overseer

The Circuit Overseer referenced Kenton Cool and his 11 successful ascents of Everest to illustrate the Public Talk he gave at the Kingdom Hall today.  Once again I was listening in on the phone link, not daring to go anywhere near Maggie, who is so frail at the moment, as I was coughing and coughing.

My ribs hurt.  I have had enough really.

As you may, or may not, know, I am a great armchair mountaineer and me and my sofa have been up Everest even more times than Kenton Cool. (brag brag)  There is hardly an expedition that hasn't towed me up there.   When I write my mountaineering autobiography it will be called: "Everest, the Comfy Way."

Anyway, the point the Speaker was making was about the need for a reliable guide.  Kenton climbs with Sherpa guides, as they are the ones who know the mountain, who know which routes to take.

The subject of the talk was:  Are God's ways truly Beneficial?

And of course they are a safe guide, the only safe guide.   Which is what we are trying to tell you when we come to your door.   That we are all lost, sheep without a shepherd, and we need to find our Creator and get safely to him.  And "the fine shepherd" - Jesus Christ, the head of the Christian congregation - is the safe and reliable guide, who will get us there.

Perhaps the keynote Scripture was Psalm 37:34: " Hope in Jehovah and follow his way, And he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. When the wicked are done away with, you will see it."

His second talk, after the abbreviated Watchtower study was:  "What is Jehovah requiring of you?"

A powerful reminder for each one of us.   We all need to work together in harmony, following Jehovah's instructions.   And I was thinking as I was listening, yes, we can see the results. The preaching work is a mighty engine,  A miracle in itself, it goes on round the world, pretty much 24/7, getting stronger and strong all the time.  And we can choose to be part of it, if we wish. While there will be plenty of teaching to do during the Thousand Years, this current preaching work will never come again.  Why not play a part?

The bonfire is still smoking on the Green.  I meant to look out last night and see if it was still glowing, but I forgot.   Captain Butterfly has just left, off on Long-tailed Blue business - he has taken his sandwich lunch. He is dropping a paper and some shopping in to Jackie, who is still ill and housebound.    And I have the leftovers of the lamb and veggie stew I made yesterday which will just need heating up for supper.  Its tempting to go back to bed.  But I  must at least get on with some studying and housework.  I hope hope hope to be back out on the preaching work tomorrow.