The Tunnel of Terror

Had my first ever MRI scan yesterday. Into the Tunnel of Terror!  Its like being in a mad spaceship.  It talks at you all the time. Sometimes it says "papapapapapapapapapapapapa" in a metallic voice for ages, sometimes it was "mamamamamamamamamama", then "popopopopopopopopop".  And suddenly, aargh, you move further into the tunnel.  It took about half an hour I would say, and they came and injected me halfway through - with a dye and with a medication to stop the involuntary moves of the body.

Every so often the technician talked to me through the headphones which was reassuring as I knew then that the mad contraption had not taken off with me in it.  I had a panic button, but I  knew that if I pressed it I would simply have to start the whole process over again.

I prayed to Jehovah that I wouldn't panic and that I would keep still. And the Technician - a very nice lady - said they had got good photos.  "Will I live?" I asked her. She smiled enigmatically and said that I would find out later.

We had a callout at 3.15 this morning.  The Captain said he would be there for ten, and is in the process of setting off now.  I have made the sandwiches,which used up the last of the chicken.  Julia of Arabia arrives tonight, and this is where he is burdened at the moment. He will have to do the shopping for our supper on the way back, as well as pick up Julia, as I can't.   I will keep it simple and when he rings for his shopping list, I will suggest he simply gets a lasagne from Cooks, along with a tub of ice-cream and, if he can face it, visit the Greengrocers a few doors down and pick up some salad. If not, I probably have enough tomatoes in to make a small tomato salad.

Dreams in the Downland

Last night I dreamt I was hiking through the Downs - and at one point I rolled all the way down this enormous Down, just for the fun of it.  Then - and why do I do this to myself? - anxiety took over, and I realised I was lost and on my own - and after lots of walking through pretty, but nameless, villages, I decided I had better walk home along a motorway I found. It had a pavement.   Then I found a sign telling me I would have to walk for 11 miles and it began to dawn on me that I can barely walk 11 yards with crutches at the moment.

It was a relief to wake up and find myself home in my own bed with Captain Butterfly next to me.

Linda came round last night and caught us up with her trip to Amsterdam with John.  We often used to stay there for a day or two, en route, many years ago. And for a while we had friends there who lived on the Lek Dyke.  I remember swimming off the little beach opposite their house with big tankers sailing past in the deep channel.

Sunny this morning, after a stormy night.

The JW calender for 2013 ended on a lovely note.  It quoted 1 Corinthians 15:28: "The Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him."    And it commented: "When Christ concludes his Millennial Reign, he will have fulfilled God's original purpose.  Jesus will then acknowledge his Father's universal sovereignty by handing the Kingdom over to Him, that "God may be all things to everyone"."

Then, IF we are all there, after a thousand years of increasing happiness, our real lives will begin.

Shepherds Warning

Red sky at night
Shepherds delight
Red sky in the morning
Shepherds warning.

That is an old weather rhyme I remember my mother teaching me when I was a child.  And we have a strange and wonderful red sky this morning.  So what is in store?   Nothing that would delight a shepherd I assume.

It is also a "mackerel sky" - something I remember from the Cornish element of my childhood. When the sky was full of these mackerel clouds, did it mean that the mackerel shoals would be running?  Or was it that they looked like a shoal of mackerel in the sky?  I can't now remember. It was a long long time ago.  Our granny sold her Cornish house when we were very young.

The JW Calender for September and October 2013 started with:   "The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah." - Isaiah 11:9.  And it went on to comment:   "In the new world, your education will reach unprecedented heights. You will continue learning forever about Jehovah, his purpose for us, his amazing creation, and how he wants us to care for the earth. - Revelation 20:12."

And, even as things are now, with us imperfect and dying and all the stresses and distractions, Jehovah makes learning both easy and pleasant.  But we know so little now, and there is so much to know, so much to come.

Jill's Beautiful Table

I thought of Jill's lovely table setting last night, all silver and candlelight, as we entertained Tom and Jackie in the kitchen.  However, we had a good evening together as the storm roared outside.  I did oven-baked chicken with Indian spices, and served it with rice, a hot tomato chutney, a spinach curry, mint raita, and Captain Butterfly's Home Made Date Chutney. We used to make it from freshly picked dates in our Expat days.

We retired to the comfort of the lounge for cheese, ice-cream, coffee and biscuits.  And there is lots left to feed the Captain and me over the weekend.  

The sea is building up again- the tide is coming in very fiercely.

The 2013 JW calendar for July and August had such a comforting reminder for all those of us who have lost loved ones to death.   It quotes Jesus' words at John 11:25: "I am the resurrection and the life".   And it comments:  "In God's new world, Jesus will use "the keys of death and of Hades" to restore life to millions, including many who never had an opportunity to learn about Jehovah.- Revelation 1:18, Acts 24:15"

I hope so much to that my aged parents - my granny, my uncles an aunts, friends - will wake up then.

They will certainly build houses...

A very stormy morning, as forecast - with some flooding in Cornwall according to the Beeb.  There is deep heavy cloud on the horizon, with a brighter sky above, making a wonderful numinous light over the sea and the Green.  The rain has stopped for the moment, but it seems to have rained all night.   Col chauffered me to the meeting yesterday evening, so I was able to pick up my magazines and hand in my hours for the month.

Interesting meeting.  

The chicken has been marinading overnight, as Jackie and Tom are coming for supper. I am trying a new Madhur Jaffrey recipe, so I hope I have got it right.     The horrors of the tax returns loom up...  surely there will be neither money nor tax when Paradise is restored.  I hope the Captain and I are there to find out.

Medical horrors next week - but something nice too, in that Julia of Arabia is on leave and is coming to stay - weather permitting.  

The JW Calendar for May/June 2013 quoted Isaiah 65:21: "They will certainly build houses and have occupancy".  And it comments:  "Under Kingdom rule, mankind "will not toil for nothing" but will benefit fully from their labours. (Isaiah 65:22,23)   And what increasing joy they will find in their work as their minds and bodies progress toward perfection!"

So it will no longer be an earth in which some people have luxury homes on every continent, some of which are never even used, while others live on a square of pavement, or in a cardboard box. The incoming Kingdom of God, which is a heavenly government, ruling from the heavens, will ensure lovely homes for all. Including, of course, for the animal creation.

A Sunny Second

We woke up to sunshine this morning!   Col flew off - with flasks and sandwiches, and his pod (Butterfly Mark).   I am very housebound at the moment and losing my stir-craziness as my second knee collapses ever more. All I want at the moment is not to have to go anywhere.

The 2013 calendar for March and April was so topical as this has been a year of bad health for so many of us.   It starts with Matthew 9:35:   Jesus cured "every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity."

The comment is:  "In the Paradise new world, mankind's flesh will have "become fresher than in youth". (Job 33:25)  Resurrected humans will have returned with sound bodies. Formerly infirm members of the "great crowd" will have experienced miraculous healing. - Revelation 7:9,14

The great crowd are those who come through Armageddon, to form the beginning of "the new earth".

Its mid-afternoon now and no longer sunny. Apparently there are even worse storms on the way. There is a lovely but ominous light on our Green.

The New Calendars and the Old

The January 2014 calendar starts with a masterly shot Captain Butterfly took of the Clouded Yellow. It was a great butterfly summer.   And the JW calendar for Jan and Feb starts with Jeremiah 1:11,12.  When Jeremiah saw an offshoot of the almond tree, it was a reminder that Jehovah is "keeping awake" so as to carry out his word.  And the calendar reminds us that in Israel almond trees in full blossom coloured the winter landscape in pink and white.

The new year here has got off to a stormy start.   Its now mid-morning and the wind and rain coming off the sea are hitting the windows like thunderclaps. The sea is amazing, and if it gets much worse this blog may come to a sudden end in a torrential gurgling sound.

We did not see in the New Year last night, but went to bed quite early.   Nor are we celebrating the New Year - beyond both saying this morning that we are glad and grateful to still be here in 2014 and still together.

It is now a hundred years since the Gentile Times ended and the times of the end began.  So how much longer does this system of things on the earth have before Jehovah brings it to an end?  We don't know. Even Jesus didn't know when he was on the earth.  But I expect he knows now.

When I was taking down the old calendar, I was thinking what an excellent and concise summary of the Bible message it gave, so I thought, over the next six days, I would blog it. Then it has to go into the recyc.

So, for January and February 2013, the calendar quoted Daniel 7:14:   "To him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom."  - and commented:  "During Jesus Christ's 1,000 year reign, he will undo all the harm caused by the Devil.  At the same time, Jesus will ensure that the entire earth is transformed into a paradise home for his human subjects." - Luke 23:43