Col has been watching a match of some kind, between England and France, and is alternating between being sick as a parrot and over the moon, depending on how many goals England scores. They are well ahead at the moment, so the moon is predominating.
He spent his day in the wilds of the Sussex coastlands photographing birds, which should appear on his blog in due time. I picked up Jean this morning and we went to the group. We only managed about three-quarters of an hour before rain stopped play. But we did have some interesting talks on the doors.
Its now Monday- I was struck down in mid-sentence by a violent arthritis attack - right hand - so painful - wish they would give us some effective painkillers.
Monday, 16 February 2015
Friday, 13 February 2015
Broadcasting
We were out on the field service yesterday morning - I worked with Charles and Barbara. Mostly no-one at home, but we did find a few in, and placed some lovely Bible tracts. There is one gentleman I think I might try to call back on... and Charles reminded me about Jehovah's Witness broadcasting, to which I will provide a link.
http://tv.jw.org/#home
We have a worrying visit to the hospital today.
The Captain and I are both troublingly near our sell-by dates, and... what will happen next?
Barbara and I were talking about this yesterday, as we went from door to door. She is not young either. How would we cope with what is happening to us, if we did not understand why, and that a rescue is on the way?
So we long to tell others. If and when they will let us.
http://tv.jw.org/#home
We have a worrying visit to the hospital today.
The Captain and I are both troublingly near our sell-by dates, and... what will happen next?
Barbara and I were talking about this yesterday, as we went from door to door. She is not young either. How would we cope with what is happening to us, if we did not understand why, and that a rescue is on the way?
So we long to tell others. If and when they will let us.
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Mount Butterfly
On Monday I made up the membership packages for our newly-hatched members, and they winged their way to the Post Office in the afternoon. There are a tiresome lot of queries this time, as the new system of reporting hits the iceberg of us wanting the old system back, and... but at this point I have run out of metaphor, as we haven't sunk and are still on course.
Jacks was round last night- the usual lovely evening - lots of laughs. I made stir fry chicken and mushrooms, which we had with rice and spring rolls. It was followed by ice-cream, vanilla, I made up the mix, but the Captain flew the ice-cream maker.
We will all be getting together again this week for the Barbara Dixon concert.
World events... what can I say? beyond please please find out what Revelation is telling us is going to happen next. We must stand clear. I did (foolishly) venture onto facebook about it, as people on both sides are busy throwing fuel on the fire. I was just trying to say, tactfully, don't throw any more fuel, Jehovah has everything in hand. We simply need to do our best to be peaceable with everyone and keep warning them. Help them to get to the Refuge.
I did not succeed. But I hope that I can do better when I am out with Kathy this morning.
Jacks was round last night- the usual lovely evening - lots of laughs. I made stir fry chicken and mushrooms, which we had with rice and spring rolls. It was followed by ice-cream, vanilla, I made up the mix, but the Captain flew the ice-cream maker.
We will all be getting together again this week for the Barbara Dixon concert.
World events... what can I say? beyond please please find out what Revelation is telling us is going to happen next. We must stand clear. I did (foolishly) venture onto facebook about it, as people on both sides are busy throwing fuel on the fire. I was just trying to say, tactfully, don't throw any more fuel, Jehovah has everything in hand. We simply need to do our best to be peaceable with everyone and keep warning them. Help them to get to the Refuge.
I did not succeed. But I hope that I can do better when I am out with Kathy this morning.
Sunday, 8 February 2015
The Heath Tiger Beetle
The Heath Tiger Beetle has been re-introduced to Iping Common!
Does this mean that, from now on, we will be hearing tales of disappearing hikers, of sheep horribly mauled, of a mysterious (and luminous) Beast that haunts the Iping Mire?
Probably not, as its only a tiny beetle. And a very happy conservation story.
It featured in the last talk at yesterday's Recorders Conference at Hassocks. We had some great speakers. We heard about wildlife conservation on the Rathfinny Wine Estate, and not only do we want to go and do the wildflower walk there, but now want to get some of their wine too.
We - or I - learnt that Fungi do not come under the heading "Flora and Fauna" but are a separate entity. So the classification really is: "Flora, Fauna, and Fungi".. We learnt about Grassland fungi and how endangered they are. Apparently the new craze for not mowing is damaging the CHEG fungi, and also a lot of wildflowers. They thrive with constant mowing, which re-creates the grazing that should be going on. And we learnt some more about Dragonfly conservation, and about the most up to date methods of Recording.
Surely we will be doing this in the Paradise earth, as, under the perfect,loving guidance of the Kingdom of God, the heavenly government for whose coming Jesus taught us to pray, the earth is restored to the perfect harmony that prevailed in Eden.
It is a fascinating task even now - but a deeply frustrating and heartbreaking one sometimes, as the current world system is set up so wrongly, and we ourselves cannot put it right.
They also gave us an excellent buffet lunch.
A flight of Butterfly Paperwork has arrived, and I hope to set off up Butterfly Paper Mountain this afternoon. Nigel was at the Conference and we had a talk about the changes in the way they report the new members.
Does this mean that, from now on, we will be hearing tales of disappearing hikers, of sheep horribly mauled, of a mysterious (and luminous) Beast that haunts the Iping Mire?
Probably not, as its only a tiny beetle. And a very happy conservation story.
It featured in the last talk at yesterday's Recorders Conference at Hassocks. We had some great speakers. We heard about wildlife conservation on the Rathfinny Wine Estate, and not only do we want to go and do the wildflower walk there, but now want to get some of their wine too.
We - or I - learnt that Fungi do not come under the heading "Flora and Fauna" but are a separate entity. So the classification really is: "Flora, Fauna, and Fungi".. We learnt about Grassland fungi and how endangered they are. Apparently the new craze for not mowing is damaging the CHEG fungi, and also a lot of wildflowers. They thrive with constant mowing, which re-creates the grazing that should be going on. And we learnt some more about Dragonfly conservation, and about the most up to date methods of Recording.
Surely we will be doing this in the Paradise earth, as, under the perfect,loving guidance of the Kingdom of God, the heavenly government for whose coming Jesus taught us to pray, the earth is restored to the perfect harmony that prevailed in Eden.
It is a fascinating task even now - but a deeply frustrating and heartbreaking one sometimes, as the current world system is set up so wrongly, and we ourselves cannot put it right.
They also gave us an excellent buffet lunch.
A flight of Butterfly Paperwork has arrived, and I hope to set off up Butterfly Paper Mountain this afternoon. Nigel was at the Conference and we had a talk about the changes in the way they report the new members.
Friday, 6 February 2015
A Thank You to Waitrose
And no, they are not paying me for this, nor am I getting free groceries or anything. I just went out for a quick shop yesterday after lunch - at Waitrose of course - and must say a thanks to the guy in their carpark who helps us with our trollies. He saw I was just about to trudge off to the Post Office with Kathryn's letter, and not only took my trolley but took the letter too and posted it for me.
That was so kind. It was freezing cold, there was a bit of ice round the edges, and I was scared of slipping. So three cheers for the staff at Waitrose!
There were snow flurries yesterday, but nothing stayed.
Col's blog - the Captain's Log - is very "nature red in tooth and claw" at the moment, as he has been at Iping Common, photographing the Butcher Bird. Great photos - but what a horror the animal creation has to live with, because of our disobedience. And they carry on so valiantly, in the face of everything.
When Paradise is restored, the snipe will no longer need to be called the Butcher Bird.
I am off to Maggie's today for coffee, which is another step on the ladder of recovery, as I don't think I have driven myself round to hers for about two years. It was she and Don who sort of adopted me when I first use to attend meetings at the congregation as a visitor from Saudi Arabia.
That was so kind. It was freezing cold, there was a bit of ice round the edges, and I was scared of slipping. So three cheers for the staff at Waitrose!
There were snow flurries yesterday, but nothing stayed.
Col's blog - the Captain's Log - is very "nature red in tooth and claw" at the moment, as he has been at Iping Common, photographing the Butcher Bird. Great photos - but what a horror the animal creation has to live with, because of our disobedience. And they carry on so valiantly, in the face of everything.
When Paradise is restored, the snipe will no longer need to be called the Butcher Bird.
I am off to Maggie's today for coffee, which is another step on the ladder of recovery, as I don't think I have driven myself round to hers for about two years. It was she and Don who sort of adopted me when I first use to attend meetings at the congregation as a visitor from Saudi Arabia.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
At Pulborough Brooks
We lunched at Pulborough Brooks with Linda on Monday. Lasagne and salad for her, steak and kidney with mash and veggies for the Captain, and broccoli & potato cheese bake (with salad) for me. We had a walk, and then sat and watched the birdfeeders.
We saw the Woodpecker - twice. And a raptor once, very very briefly, as it landed and took off. We think it was a Peregrine Falcon. At least the Captain thinks so. I am sure it was a bird, but am not prepared to venture any further. It was big, startling and quick, and its appearance caused the disappearance of the other feeding birds, including the flight of white doves.
We had coffee at Linda's afterwards, and met her new cat, Garfield, who sat on my lap and kneaded me in a flattering and painful manner.
This morning we were at Jackie's helping her clear out her garage. We need a good clear out and Spring clean here - perhaps this will inspire us. I have a load of stuff that needs to go to the Charity shops. And this afternoon, I restocked the freezer with cakes for the Captain's lunches. Marmalade muffins this time.
I did go out in the afternoon, and delivered the last of the magazines for January. I have never been so late. But we couldn't get to Mike's door for all the scaffolding when we called last week. He seemed pleased to see me and assured me he will read the articles and think about it...
Terrible terrible news today - incredible cruelty - the world's religions have a lot to answer for. We are trying to get to every door to warn people what is going to happen next.
We saw the Woodpecker - twice. And a raptor once, very very briefly, as it landed and took off. We think it was a Peregrine Falcon. At least the Captain thinks so. I am sure it was a bird, but am not prepared to venture any further. It was big, startling and quick, and its appearance caused the disappearance of the other feeding birds, including the flight of white doves.
We had coffee at Linda's afterwards, and met her new cat, Garfield, who sat on my lap and kneaded me in a flattering and painful manner.
This morning we were at Jackie's helping her clear out her garage. We need a good clear out and Spring clean here - perhaps this will inspire us. I have a load of stuff that needs to go to the Charity shops. And this afternoon, I restocked the freezer with cakes for the Captain's lunches. Marmalade muffins this time.
I did go out in the afternoon, and delivered the last of the magazines for January. I have never been so late. But we couldn't get to Mike's door for all the scaffolding when we called last week. He seemed pleased to see me and assured me he will read the articles and think about it...
Terrible terrible news today - incredible cruelty - the world's religions have a lot to answer for. We are trying to get to every door to warn people what is going to happen next.
Monday, 2 February 2015
The Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Memorialising WW2
In this week when we are remembering some of the horrors of WW2, I would like to note a lovely and productive alliance between Germany and Russia.
Two young ornithologists - one Russian and one German - noticed that a charming little wading bird called the Spoon-billed Sandpiper is on the verge of extinction. And they alerted the world. They kept on shouting until someone listened. The S-bS lives and breeds in a remote, unpopulated part of Russia and its migration pattern includes both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
What seems to have happened is two-fold.
Firstly, it is the food of the poor, and probably always has been. But when the new nylon nets arrived, it was trapped on an unprecedented scale. Secondly, the problem is the tragically usual one - loss of habitat. There are now cheap and quick methods of reclaiming the sort of wetland and deltas that wading birds need.
A serious attempt is under way to save this little bird - one that provides poor bird-trappers with another way of eating and earning some money - and one that may save some of the beautiful productive delta land where the local people fish. But whether it can be saved is uncertain. It is now in captive breeding at Slimbridge, just in case. Not ideal for a migrating wader, I know, but I am so glad they are doing it.
It's a real Alice-through-the-Looking-Glass sort of bird. The fluffy little chicks are enchanting. And what have we, the children of Adam, come to, that we are set on destroying them?
As I have said before, when our first parents made that terrible decision to cut themselves off from their Creator, their Source of life, they found they could not keep themselves alive, let alone run this beautiful and complex planet.
I know about the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and its plight because Captain Butterfly and I spent Saturday at the Annual Conference of the Sussex Ornithological Society at Haywards Heath. A very good day out. It was rounded off by supper at Jackie's - which was,er, roast chicken with all the trimmings... which seems so brutally insensitive in this context.
We have got everything in such a horrible mess. The original Serpent is still in the garden - but not for much longer.
Two young ornithologists - one Russian and one German - noticed that a charming little wading bird called the Spoon-billed Sandpiper is on the verge of extinction. And they alerted the world. They kept on shouting until someone listened. The S-bS lives and breeds in a remote, unpopulated part of Russia and its migration pattern includes both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
What seems to have happened is two-fold.
Firstly, it is the food of the poor, and probably always has been. But when the new nylon nets arrived, it was trapped on an unprecedented scale. Secondly, the problem is the tragically usual one - loss of habitat. There are now cheap and quick methods of reclaiming the sort of wetland and deltas that wading birds need.
A serious attempt is under way to save this little bird - one that provides poor bird-trappers with another way of eating and earning some money - and one that may save some of the beautiful productive delta land where the local people fish. But whether it can be saved is uncertain. It is now in captive breeding at Slimbridge, just in case. Not ideal for a migrating wader, I know, but I am so glad they are doing it.
It's a real Alice-through-the-Looking-Glass sort of bird. The fluffy little chicks are enchanting. And what have we, the children of Adam, come to, that we are set on destroying them?
As I have said before, when our first parents made that terrible decision to cut themselves off from their Creator, their Source of life, they found they could not keep themselves alive, let alone run this beautiful and complex planet.
I know about the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and its plight because Captain Butterfly and I spent Saturday at the Annual Conference of the Sussex Ornithological Society at Haywards Heath. A very good day out. It was rounded off by supper at Jackie's - which was,er, roast chicken with all the trimmings... which seems so brutally insensitive in this context.
We have got everything in such a horrible mess. The original Serpent is still in the garden - but not for much longer.
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