When the Moon Hits the Sky...

Honeycomb Moray with Cleaner Shrimp

Here is a bit of a song that appeared on my facebook today:

When you're diving at night, and your feet feel the bite,
that's a moray
When your hand's in the cave, suddenly you'll need save,
that's a moray.

I hope Captain Butterfly doesn't see it, as it will bring back some painful memories of when he was bitten by a moray when diving.  Not only couldn't he dive anymore that trip, but he was on antibiotics, so couldn't drink either!

It reminded me of hearing the song "That's Amore".  Dean Martin wasn't it?  Loved it. And was it late Fifties, early Sixties?  Can't remember now, but it is from the Pre-Pizza era up North, as I heard it as;  "When the moon hits the sky like a big piece of pie, that's amore"

Whereas it is of course "like a big pizza pie".     But I had never heard of pizza back then. Maybe there were some sophisticates who had, but I was not among them.

It also reminded me that I wrote a poem - well more of a verse really - about a moray eel ages ago. It was before Captain Butterfly hatched out in the butterfly version.  He was an underwater photographer back then, and we were expats in the Middle East.  The verse was, if I remember, about a photo of his hand stroking a fearsome looking moray eel that was looming above me as I typed. And it must have been a long time ago if we had a typewriter!  We must still have the picture somewhere, but now, in our flat, we have run out of wall space.

The Moray and the Hand  (by me)

A distracting hand 

in front of the typewriter

Is stroking a moray eel

Large mouth and teeth

Look at me

It’s as if the hand is urging

“There she is.  Go get her, boy!

 A hundred codfish for your fee.”

Is it your pale hand,

O Sheik of Araby?

I managed to get out on the work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - only for an hour at a time though, as my back hurts badly after an hour. There are still loads of people I haven't managed to find at home again.   Carol and I had a lovely time yesterday, even though we got confused and called on a Do Not Call.  But we got a warm welcome and can return!   

What the Wild Waves are Saying

They are not saying much today as the Channel is calm, so far.  But I was thinking about what they ought to tell us, because I am busy dawdling through the Simon Callow book on Dickens and I came across this - something Dickens wrote when he saw the Niagara Falls.

"It would be hard for a man to stand nearer God than he does there.  There was a bright rainbow at my feet; and from that I looked up to - great heaven!  To what a fall of bright green water!  The broad, deep, mighty stream seems to die in the act of falling and from its unfathomable grave, arises that tremendous ghost of spray and mist which is ever laid, and has been haunting this place with the same dread solemnity - perhaps from the creation of the world."

Dickens is awed by the power of the falls - by the power of their Creator, Jehovah.

So the creation is telling us all the time of its Grand Creator.   Dickens felt that as he stood by the Falls.   And walking by the sea, especially when the waves are wild, is a comforting reassurance of the power and the love that lies behind everything.

I think it was a quiet weekend for us.   A lovely meeting on Sunday of course, and I am trying to think what I did yesterday, but all that comes to mind is a shopping trip, some studying, and some basic housework. (And a lot of lying on the sofa, reading my book.)  Kathy and I were out on the doors this morning, but it was very cold.  Not that I feel it much - too well insulated. But Kathy felt it, especially after a long conversation on one cold doorstep with an elderly and rather reclusive hippie.

He has exactly the right question:   If there is a God who is Almighty and Good, why is the world so full of cruelty and injustice?  We are hoping he will let us show him how perfectly the Inspired Scriptures answer that question and what a wonderful hope they hold out.

He said he enjoyed his talk with us, so will hope so, and must pray so.   At that point Kathy was turning blue, so we were rescued by a sister, taken home with her and revived with hot coffee and some wonderful malt loaf she had made.   Came home to find El Capitano was home for lunch - but the soup was already made, so no problem.  Its steak, chips and mushrooms tonight.

Still behind with my return visits...  I hope I can catch up - as much as one ever does - by the end of the month.

Talk about Politics

Spent Wednesday morning with a friend in a residential home.   We talked a lot about the resurrection. She was married in her teens and is now in her eighties, and cannot wait to see her husband again.   Its such a contrast to the view of marriage as a very temporary arrangement promoted  by "the world".

It was another lovely Autumn day, even though it was grey and a bit rainy. The greens were very green and everything bright with berries.  Its supposed to be the sign of a hard winter come, but we shall see.  I don't think its an infallible sign.

Though we could do with a hard Winter.  We really need all the seasons, clear and distinct. Its just that, as you get older, ice is such a "terror in the way".

I finally made it to the Thursday field service group - first time in a month I think. And I am glad I did.   We had a good morning - and a couple of interesting calls. One to an elderly gentleman, in his eighties, living on his own, but with children and grandchildren all within walking distance.  He was saying that he has just about given up hope in God or any meaning to things, the state of the world being what it is.  Or any hope of a rescue.   The question in the October Awake magazine is just for him - or rather the answer is. So we left it with him.  He assures us he has a Bible and will read the article and look up all the Scriptures. We want him to see how the Inspired Scriptures answer his questions.
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201510/questions-to-ask-god/

We drew his attention to the first question.

I also placed a magazine with a young lad who answered the door wearing only a small bathtowel, a smile, and a mobile phone.   Not sure if he took the magazines because of a deep spiritual interest or because he wanted to get rid of me and get back to his shower and/or telephone conversation. Probably the latter, but I hope to call back and find out.

Do they make waterproof mobile phones?

All this talk about politics, in the wake of Jeremy Corbyn being elected to lead the Labour Party has put me in mind of Hilaire Belloc's verse on the results of a general election.

The accursed power which stands on Privilege 
(And goes with Women, and Champagne and Bridge) 
Broke — and Democracy resumed her reign: 
(Which goes with Bridge, and Women and Champagne).

Carnivores

Yesterday was a butterfly paperwork day - and this morning we posted the Membership packages.  It was a stormy day - the remnant of Hurricane Joaquin finally reached us.   My field service partner rang up to say she had had a really bad night, as I did.  Neither of us is young, or in particularly good health. So we cancelled.

I did get out this afternoon, but only for half an hour as it suddenlybegan to pour with rain.  I drove back along the coast, and the sea was wild and wonderful.  

It was a good half hour though.  Both of the Care Homes took more magazines and I can deliver next month. And I found two of my magazine route calls at home.  I hadn't managed to find them in for months.  One is a lovely, but very young and exhausted, mother of two. She says she does read some of the articles in the magazines, and I said a little about the 3 important questions in October's Awake - important to see how the Bible answers them.
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201510/questions-to-ask-god/

The other is a busy Philippino nurse who works shifts. She was at home, but on the phone to her fiance, so I only managed to say a couple of words. But she seemed happy enough to get the magazines.


Captain Butterfly has decided we need red meat - we are both very tired - so we had a steak for supper. He had most of it, but I managed to get a small bit down with a lot of mustard and fried onions.  I really don't like red meat much. Except for when Jackie cooks us a roast lamb dinner. Then its brilliant, and I can eat loads. She says she will cook us one the next time we come for supper.

Its Not Whether you Win or Lose, its How you Play the Game...

... and apparently the England Team played it (Rugby) very badly last night and were trounced by Australia.   Even I could see they were not playing well - and its all still a bit of a mystery to me.  All I can say if I was on that pitch, any rugby pitch, and that ball came anywhere near me, I would run very fast in the opposite direction.

Well, I say very fast...   as fast as my zimmering could take me.  And, according to the Captain they might just as well have had me in the team.  I suppose, to be fair, I could have lost the match as effectively as anyone.

This blog could have been headed: "Bread and Circuses" as with all the horrors and disasters currently going on, rugby is probably the last thing we should be worrying about.  But there is nothing I can do about the other things either - except this one powerful thing, to try to get the truth to people. And I must try harder and get out on the doors more.

Christianity is called "the way of the truth".   And Jehovah's inspired word has power to reach hearts and minds.  It also assures us that a rescue is on the way. We, the children of Adam, can not get ourselves out of the sticky trap we are caught in. And the more we struggle, it seems, the worse we make it.


Jackie came round for supper - chicken and ham pie (courtesy of our new Pie Shop), mash, cauliflower cheese (by moi, from Delia Smith), carrots (Duchy organic, no peeling required), and custard cream with raspberries for after (courtesy of Lidl and Scotland). We also had a cheeseboard and some After Eight Mints.  The Captain nobly did the shopping while Jean and I were out on the Field Service.

We then sat down to watch England lose to Australia...  "I'm coming home with you!" I said, clutching Jackie's coat as the Captain foamed and raged behind us. She tiptoed out just before they lost (sensible girl).

That reminds me of a verse in the Bible I discovered during my initial study of it.  It stopped me in my tracks at the time.

(Zechariah 8:23) “This is what Jehovah of armies says, ‘In those days ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold, yes, they will take firm hold of the robe of a Jew, saying: “We want to go with you, for we have heard that God is with you people.”’”

I was surprised that, centuries and centuries ago, someone had stated exactly what I felt, and feel, about the Jehovah's Witnesses.  And, of course, it was the faithful Jewish remnant in the first century who came through, in the face of intense persecution. to recognise Jesus as the Messiah and to found the Christian congregation.  

I have clung to them ever since.

The Great Spice Rack Disaster and a Beautiful Plume

Beautiful Plume, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla

"I cleaned your spice rack", said Captain Butterfly, when I got back from the shops. "You will need to put your spices back in order."

Ah, I thought, how nice to have the Captain up and running again, as we share housewifely duties, apart from the cooking, which I do, and the vacuuming, which he does.   And yes, I reminded myself, I must remember to put them back in alphabetical order.  If I don't, I end up with 6 packets of one spice, and none of various others.

Of course, I forgot.    And when making the marmalade muffins yesterday, I reached absent-mindedly for the ginger, which is always in the bottom right hand corner of spice rack, and found I had added garlic flakes to my mixture.   I had to start again.

I have now sorted my spice rack.

Chris and Star - old school friend of the Captain, plus wife - came round yesterday morning for coffee and cake - and it was the meeting at the Kingdom Hall in the evening.   We watched this wonderful little video about Jehovah's name - the importance of it.  It is well worth a watch - takes about 5 minutes.

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-from-god/who-is-god/video-gods-name/

Col has just been out photographing a Plume Moth that is living on our balcony. We have found out why. Apparently its lava feed on our geranium leaves!

Well, the end of the season is on the way, and if we can help the plume moth population we must.

Red Moons and Green Peppers

Chilli pepper, Capsicum annuum

Our balcony crop - thanks to George and Lilac Tree Farm.  We had our usual veggie soup made with a home-grown pepper for the first time.

bloodmoon

I was out on the work with my siblings on Tuesday and did my last two magazine route calls for September on the way home.   Not an outstanding morning, but at least I was out there.  Then the Captain and I went to the talk on the Okavango Delta at the Wildlife Trust.

Yesterday I visited Maggie and did some return visits on the way back.  Met a very nice girl who wants me to bring the magazines to her every month.  An old school friend of the Captain's is visiting this morning, so, yet again, I won't be going to the Thursday group.  I am trying to re-establish it as part of my regular weekly pattern, but so far everything seems to be happening on Thursday mornings - mainly medical thingummies it seems. And I am at home all morning tomorrow, awaiting the next delivery of my fearsome medication - waiting for The Man in the Chem Suit (well, not quite, but it has to be delivered personally, and go straight to the fridge).