Into darkest Surrey

Over the border and into Surrey yesterday to visit Linda and Catherine.  It was such a lovely day - the perfection of Autumn. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the saturated reds and yellows and golds of Autumn were everywhere.   None of the horrors of the last 6,000 years of being cut off from our Creator have been able to stop us seeing the original Paradise.

Catherine was talking about her travels and the experience of looking up into the night sky from the darkness of the jungle.  She said that it did make her wonder - think that there must be Something or Someone. 

I can only hope she will hold that thought and cling to it and try to find that Someone.  I did.  And I get more grateful that i did every single day.


We walked through the park to Richard's flat, which allowed the Captain to get some photos for his blog.

A nice day out - and great to see Linda and Catherine again.  When the mothers were alive, we (the cousins)  used to meet up regularly and naturally at their houses, but now we all have to make more of an effort.

Felt exhausted by the end of the day though - I have so little energy now.

Jean and I were out on the door to door work this morning - visiting our Not at Homes from last week.  We found a lot at home.  They mainly knew exactly who we were and did not want to talk. But we found one young man who was very nice to us and who talked to us for a bit and took the November magazines.

A letter from Jo was waiting for us when we got back yesterday, enclosing a photo that Paul took of the young Captain and Mrs.Butterfly on their honeymoon, in the Lake District, all those years ago.

I might ask if I can have it on the blog.  Although it is quite melancholy to look at old photos sometimes.

A quiet afternoon and evening now lies ahead I hope, so I can re-charge my batteries for tomorrow.  I have the meeting at the Kingdom Hall in the morning, Col has his metal detecting trip, then we both fly off to the Butterfly AGM after a hasty lunch.

Two landmarks

Two seasonal landmarks today.

Autumnwatch started.  I saw the end of it when I got back from the meeting.  The starlings were lovely, as were the otters, but I wish they didn't feel the need to dumb everything down. It ends up being rather like an irritating and loud children's programme.

The second landmark was that I had to drive to the meeting with my lights on tonight.  Winter feels very close when that happens.

What a wonderful meeting it was though - the teaching gets better and better.  When Jesus was on earth, the crowds were astonished by his way of teaching.  Its the same now.

OCTOBER IN SHEFFIELD

(by me - many years ago - when my parents were alive - they were great bird feeders - and they too loved the beauty and the glory of the world)

Leaves so lately green lie on greener grass

On mossy stones the squirrels pass

To deeper shades of grey and green

Into woods where Winter waits

And breathing nearer shakes the trees

Now we start to feed the birds

The squirrel wears her Winter furs.

Lost dogs

Nute, Pen and I were coming back from our seaside walk last night when we noticed a dog on the green. He was big and black and young and collarless.  It was Nute who noticed the way he was behaving.  He was obviously looking for his person, rushing up full of hope to this person and that, and having his hopes dashed every time.  We were looking round for his owner but couldn't see anyone.
I was beginning to imagine us trying to wrestle a collarless dog back to the flat, getting him some water - and wondering if we had enough cold chicken left to feed him, when we found his owner!  A really nice guy who thanked us for looking out for his dog.
Well I can only hope that if Maurice the Mussel was found wandering disconsolately on the green someone would do the same for him.  ("With some vinegar and a packet of chips, mmm yummy" said Captain Butterfly.)
The siblings left today, we have just taken them to the Station.  Its always melancholy saying goodbye to family, but at least I have plenty to do - all the washing and my studies for a start.  And it was very nice to see them.  We had a good chat about old times and new.   And we took ourselves off for coffee at The Rusty Hulk this morning.
We went swimming yesterday - so hopefully our swim routine is now reinstated.

John Clare on October

Once again, this is from 'The Shepherd's Calendar'.

John Clare notes all the details of October.  For example:
"The mushroom buttons each moist morning brings
 Like spots of snow in the green tawney rings."

And then he goes beautifully to the bigger picture:

"Like to a painted map the landscape lies
And wild above shine the cloud thronged skies
The flying clouds urged on in swiftest pace
Like living things as if they runned a race
The winds that oer each coming tempest broods
Waking like spirits in their startling moods
Fluttering the sear leaves on the blackning lea
That litters under every fading tree."

The leaves are lying underfoot now - littering under every fading tree.  And how lovely they are.

The four of us went to Brighton for 'An evening with Fay Weldon' last night.   She is a remarkable woman with a wonderful smile.  And we went swimming today - first time for ages.

Fish and chips tonight, with a nectarine crumble which I must just go and get out of the oven.

Happiness

Col has a photograph of a dog chasing a seagull on his blog today.  It is a picture of happiness.

I was at the Kingdom Hall while he was on the beach - and our public talk was about how we can perceive God through the wonder, complexity and beauty of his creations.   Yes.

It was the perfect calm beauty of an Autumn sky that made me realise.


Nute arrived last night - Captain B chauffered her from the station. We had a roast chicken dinner.   We meet up with Pen in Brighton this evening.

On the road again

Out with Jean this morning - near our long long road. We got some very definite rejections - people often knew who we were before we even spoke.  But Jean had one good call. And then we had some good return visits.  I found the shaving guy - it has taken me nearly a year to find him at home again!  He said he was just about to get into the shower this time.   Anyway, he and the lady a few doors down were lovely and friendly and both said I could deliver the magazines every month.

There is a wealth of Bible based information in them.

I dropped Jean off and then the rain started.  

Felt very tired and fell asleep.

Can't remember what we did yesterday - which is rather worrying, though I did email Bob and Robert on Biblical matters - and same same for Wit today - which all took a while.  But I probably slept a lot because of the pain from the arthritis.


I tried to Skype Anne on The Cape but could not get through, and Bea phoned. She offered us her and Brian's National Trust publications.

Nute arrives tomorrow.  And Pen the day after.

Maurice and the Seagull

I hope Maurice has remained unSeagulled (unlike my car).  Its raining today and I don't think we will be on the beach.  I am taking Audrey shopping and then we hope to do a call that we didn't manage on Tuesday.  Its very difficult to park at this lady's house - especially for someone like me who can't do things backwards.

Saw my arthritis doctor on Wednesday and I am to remain off my medicine for the moment but am free to make an emergency call to the Arthritis doctor for a steroid injection if necessary.
I was tempted yesterday.

The weather has changed with the Autumn Equinox - and the leaves have noticeably started to turn.  Its very grey and rainy this morning.  There are white horses on the Channel - quite big waves building up, and our balcony flowers are blowing in the wind.

Captain Butterfly is twitching at the thought of the Butterflyless months ahead.

Wonderful wonderful meeting last night.  I must learn to teach better, to reach people better, and to truly cultivate the fruitage of the spirit.  I feel so grateful to the God of Abraham.

Pen is coming to stay next week!

I will shout a 'Good morning' and 'Good evening' to Maurice the Mussel from our balcony to assure him of my continuing goodwill - and then, who knows ?