When The Going Gets Tough..?

It's about a year since my last post. In that time I've lost three people very dear to me. Whether or not I'm tough enough to get going again remains to  be seen but, I am trying, a little step each day.

Though it has to be said, taking an interest in world affairs doesn't bode well for anyone feeling low;massacres, beheading,slavery. Still, I'm still on track with my exploration of the Orthodox Church and have some more reading lined up and, having become fully aware that a general election is set for May I've started scrutinising some of the Parties gobbledygook for a chink of-well I don't really know yet. Hopefully there's something to restore confidence in politicians but , I'm not holding my breath on that one.

One snippet of news on the equality front caught my attention the other day, something to do with a tug of love over a  gay cake in Northern Ireland;one to follow me thinks.

To any one who has got this far, I hope the rest of your day is the happiest ever and if you're near a loved one give them a hug

Exploring the Orthodox Church

I haven't posted anything lately due to a number of issues keeping me busy and generally using up all my free time. I won't bore you with the mundane, but one of the things taking my attention has been my exploration into the Orthodox church and Orthodoxy generally. It's a fascinating subject, so I'm finding out. I'm seriously considering becoming Orthodox. Never thought this would happen but, there we are.

It is a long journey with lots to consider. I'm not sure where it will lead but the road is interesting, involving as it does a re-examination of my beliefs; And finding, to my surprise, they've been quite Orthodox all along.  I'm also reading up on Christian and Church history, particularly Byzantine and Eastern aspects, from angles we were never encouraged to look from before. I would guess the Roman Church would see the Orthodox Church as a rival, though a very misguided and rebellious one, while the Anglican Church behaves as though it doesn't exist, and has no idea of the major contribution it made to England becoming a Christian country.(though of course it does know these things)

I'm planning to visit an Orthodox Church in the near future. In the meantime, I'll continue with the reading, lots of contemplation, and enjoying the beautiful music only Orthodoxy can produce.

E-Cigs;update. Big Government,Big Pharma butting in.Well that didn't take long did it.

I'd heard murmurings about E-Cigs and the fact they are not licensed or regulated the same way other tobacco replacement products are, such as,patches,gun etc. Then I came across an article, reporting that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency(MHRA),have declared E-Cigs to be medicines.

What this means, as you might expect, is that the cost to the consumer-you and I- will go up. Just when you think you've a good,safe,cheap alternative to real tobacco, someone has to come along, apply all kinds of nonsensical regulations on the product and producer,thus skewing the market, and making it even harder to give up.

Apparently,sales of E-Cigs have increased dramatically since 2010 and have now reached 1.3 million. And they work. Unlike those patches and what not, which cost a packet. Pharmaceutical companies make a fortune out of them and these E-Cigs must be giving them a run for their money. If people actually stop smoking through using E-Cigs they won't need to keep "trying one more time"with the expensive stuff. 

Oh,and surprise surprise,or maybe not,the MHRA gets some of its funding from some pharmaceutical companies. And another surprise,or not,some of the members of the MHRA who produced the report and pushed for the regulations have declared interests in certain pharmaceutical companies.

Does this sound like a stitch up? Read the whole article here from the Free Society Site

Summer Solstice-celebrate!-rejoice!

                                                   Oh Great Sun God,
                                    Put ye to flight the powers of darkness,
                                                 Bring fertility to the land,
                                  Rejoice we in the full flood of abundance,
                                                     Oh great Sun God,
                                           The apogee of light and warmth

No More Summers for Drummer Lee Rigby

I had planned to follow up my last post which celebrated the beginning of summer, with some photos of  the Devon countryside where I have just spent a week. I heard the news, and witnessed those shocking videos of his brutal murder just as we were preparing to leave. Ever since,I've been unable to focus on anything else for very long.

We've had attacks before;shootings,bombs. This felt different somehow.The barbarity of it reminded me of scenes from places like Mogadishu and Rwanda. We're now bombarded with information on an almost hourly basis; almost all of it speculation and,some of it irrelevant: 'it was an impulse attack' (they just happened to have a couple of meat cleavers and a pistol with them-as you do-). 'They're British (so what)
'They want to divide us'( whom do they want to divide and into what?)

So, the great and the good, who supposedly manage and protect this country from enemies are clueless. This though, hasn't stopped them from throwing around solutions like confetti; close down hate filled websites, collect data on everyone who so much as looks at at a computer by reviving the Communications Bill, monitor speeches by Imams.

None of it will work. We've heard it all before. Most of the videos Islamists watch are made out side the U.K.  However the authorities have made a start. No one will be offended by 85 year old pensioners who shout at Muslims. Oh yes, get her locked up, that'l show every one we mean business! And I hope they've taken her computer away to check for more hate speech-you know the kind of thing-'that woman across the road never washes her bloody curtains'; blah blah blah. Well it has to stop!

Drummer Lee Rigby will enjoy no more summers. Unless of course there is a God,in which case may he spend eternity strolling through an English meadow.

May Day

 It's that time of year again when the days get longer,the sun is stronger and buds begin to open.

                                                          ' Summer is a cummin'

                               

  

                             Happy May Day

23rd April-must be St.George's Day

                                      Happy Saint George's Day

             The weather looks fine today so, if you are planning any festivities let's hope it stays that way.

Day of Faith and Hope

What is the essential message of Christianity.? This is a question I often ask myself. I studied theology for a while and found it fascinating. However, I also found that many people, especially academics,make it far more convoluted than it needs to be. Maybe it makes them feel superior,or justifies the remittances they receive from universities. 

My own take on Christianity is summed up in the words Hope and Faith, and nothing expresses this more than Ascension Day.The promise has been made to believers.

 Hope, that by faith there will be a renewal, a chance to redeem sins and begin life again, a life lived as it should be and not as it was in the past.

                                     No need to wait for the future. It can be done now.

                                             If you are religious I simply hope your faith is renewed.

The Battle Has Begun

The Future ?

 I  bought one of those new fangled e-cigarettes today. I'd been musing over the purchase for some time. It really is time to stop the tobacco smoking but,I do enjoy it. So, the e-ciggy is the best compromise I could come up with.

These electronic replacements contain nicotine of varying strengths but no tar or any of the other chemicals which really do the damage. Nicotine can be addictive but that's it;but so can anything I suppose if you like it enough. But there's nothing harmful in it:except of course to the anti-brigade, who would ban everything they don't like the idea of.

But they don't count. It's still a free country-so far. And anyway, I'll need to save my money in case the government wants to raid my piggy bank to pay the banks for screwing us into the ground, as they've just done to the Cypriots. Dont'cha just love the E.U.

It cost £20 for the whole kit;nice fruity oil;charger, and the inhaler thingy. Replacement oil costs about £5 and, by all accounts one should last about a week. So that's £5 per week for smokes instead of £6 per day.There really was no choice.


But can I do it? I still have some cigarettes. I've told myself it's the last packet I will need to buy. I started using the e-cig this afternoon and already I've noticed a difference-I actually prefer the taste of mixed fruit to tobacco-so maybe I'm in with a chance.

Wish me luck

2013!!

 Happy

 New Year

     To All

Yule Greetings

Today is the shortest day of the year, a time to look forward to the coming spring. Difficult I know, as we're just approaching Christmas and it's cold, and we might get snow and, according to the news,the heavy rain could cause more flooding.

All the more reason to remember Yuletide. The days will now begin to get longer. So celebrate with food,warmth,a little wine and lots of friends.  may you never thirst.

If you're a Christian, remember Christ was born at the darkest and coldest time of year for a reason. By spring time,which used to be the beginning of the year, He produced a new warmth and a new light through the crucifixion.

Blessings for Samhain

Samhain-(pronounced-s-ow-in-) occurs on 31 St October. A pre-Christian festival and ritual, which sees out the last of summer and acknowledges the coming winter. As with all of the old religions it has a strong spiritual dimension. At this time of Samhain the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest. It is hoped that the spirits of our ancestors may return to renew the ties with the living. However, it is not only good spirits who are able to break through the veil. All manner of mischievous ones come out to deceive, play tricks and frighten all the good people;hence the multitude of mini-rituals designed to ward them off.

This old festival forms the basis for the Christian festival of All Hallows Eve (Halloween) with the first day of November becoming All Hallows (all saints day) Both of them are concerned with the soul of those who have died.

Whether you participate in the Christian or the Pagan festival it is clear both are concerned with life, death and the possibility and, for some, the certainty of an afterlife. It is a time for spiritual reflection as well celebration. To think about those who have died in this context is to think of the physical body as just that, a shell. The person who inhabited that now discarded shell still lives on. How, why and where, provide much 'soul' searching and not a few discussions round the bonfires. It is clear then that both festivals have a serious dimension and purpose.

However, there is another type of Halloween festival which has been developing over a couple of decades in The UK at least. As people lose religion and any notion of spirituality they once had, I have noticed a steady rise in  blatant commercialisation of  the festivals. Clearly people without religion seem still to need some meaning in life.There is a gap where religion used to be, one which is being filled by the corporate money-grabbers. At a trip to the supermarket  last week promotion of Halloween was already under-way. Shelves stacked high with toys and costumes directed mostly at children of course. On Halloween itself I have seen hoards of children being led, snake like by their parents around the streets. The only concern of the children, because it is the only thing they have been taught to think about- is how much can I get in my goody bag. So,what bothers me about it is, they probably don't know anything about the festivals. They're just dressed up, taken round the streets and encouraged to get as much free stuff as they can.

Some people might say it's just a bit of silliness, or it's a free country and all that. Yes, that may be. However, I can't help but think this corporate rather than spiritual Halloween, is just further evidence of the  society we are bequeathing to our offspring; shallow, greedy and empty.


                               I wonder how the ancestors feel.

                                           

Something different- Who says romance is dead

I was presented with these lovely flowers today by my partner. It's three years since we met.

I think it's hard these days for men to know if they should give flowers for fear of being called misogynistic.

 No such problem for me,flowers always welcome.

Commission on a Bill of Rights (or rules)

The second consultation is under way into whether we need or want a U.K. Bill of Rights. The consultation paper,released by the Department for Justice contains some of the responses gathered from its first round of discussions and responses to it from the public. From a quick perusal of the responses it might be difficult to form any kind of consensus. Many people felt there was ample protection through the Equality and Human Rights Commission (E.H.R.C.), while others felt we should go back to relying on English Common Law. Something which had served us for centuries. The Commission also discusses potential problems of a U.K. wide Bill given that Scotland is moving toward independence and Wales has a devolved administration.

I'm not really sure what to make of the whole exercise. Will it be a futile but costly one.? There's hardly anything about it mentioned in the media. Maybe journalists now already what many of us think. Or, maybe it's low-key in order to keep the consultation and thereby,keep the outcome in the hands of the elite.It doesn't matter what rules or laws we have, governments will always get round them, ignore them, or simply get rid of them.

Cynicism? well yes,but can you blame me.For the past twenty years or so, rights have been top of the agenda. From would be politicians, to rights based campaigning groups, all declaring their love for fellow man and woman, wanting to protect us from the baddies and nurture the country into a more equal  and happy place.Yet the erosion of our civil liberties has escalated during this time.The curbs on trial by jury, the extension of surveillance, extended detention without trial and, in some cases without being told what evidence is against you; people being arrested for so called hate crimes, which might be something as minor as upsetting someone's sensitivities.

I really don't think we need more rules;because let's be clear, this is what rights have come to mean; it means more rules,more interference.

Still, it could be worth following the Commission's path and maybe even making a contribution. May be you disagree. May be you think it is a good thing to have a Bill of Rights.  Let us know what you think. If you are from outside the U.K. and you have a Bill of Rights do you feel it protects you? and would we benefit from one of our own?

Diamond Jubilee;some wittering from me

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations are starting to wind down a little.We've had marches, picnics, concerts, street parties, tacky souvenirs, t.v.docs about,well, just about everything connected to monarchy and the current Queen Elizabeth. I expect Republicans headed off to the hills at the first opportunity.

Her Majesty's persona as a good family woman has been pushed endlessly;a particularly interesting programme was that of Prince Charles rummaging through boxes of old cine film. Here was Charles and his siblings growing up in a very loving family.

There has been very little mention though of the Queen's position of Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith. Nor has there been any discussion of the constitutional aspect of the monarchy and it's role in our political and democratic structure.

Should we be surprised by this.?Perhaps not. To raise these issues would show in sharp relief the contradiction between the projected idea of Britain as an equal, multicultural meritocracy and the actuality of the hereditary bloc at the heart of the British establishment.

I'm not against the monarchy; I'm no republican. But let's stop pretending. Let us have a debate on the monarchy. Does it still have a constitutional role to play;does it still exercise influence in our legal and political life. How is it responding to the campaign for an independent Scotland for instance.?How about the campaign for same sex marriage and the potential dilemma for the church and Christianity. Is the present monarch allowed any involvement or to express her views.Or is she there merely to be wheeled out at appropriate times to suit the agenda of politicians; rally the masses,get the flags waving and have a BBQ? Let's pretend we're all in it together and forget; the incestuous relationship between politicians and the media, the banking crisis our money is being used to bail out,our non-referendum on the E.U. treaty, our creeping security state with secret trials, trial without jury, extended detention without charge. The list is endless.

 Centuries ago monarchs were expected to abstain from these practices on pain of being strung up.The rights of the ordinary person were to be protected. Now our democracy can do as much damage to us as the old absolutist monarchies.

So, where do we go from here. I don't know but it would be good to get a debate going. If it sounds a bit too heavy, too ponderous, too serious, then just go and wave a flag.

Merry Beltane to All

It's May Day today,a day to welcome the (hopefully) beginning of  a good summer, good crops, and lots of babies. A pre-Christian  fertility rite no less. It has nothing to do with banks, International Labour Day,Communism,Socialism or any other ism. (except Paganism) These organisations have simply co-opted our traditional day for their own ends. Ignore them. Let them find their own day for their anti-religious, atheist communitarian  politics.

If there is anything going on in your area then I hope the day remains dry at least. If not, enjoy the pics.

23rd of April-must be-St George's Day!!!!

It's St George's day today, England's patron Saint. You would hardly know it though from the lack of attention paid to it by our media. you know-that media which is supposed to represent the whole of Britain, it's people's, history and traditions.Oh well,

                                          We know what day it is. 

                            HAPPY SAINT GEORGE'S DAY

                               HAPPY SAINT GEORGE'S DAY

Freedom of Speech-not if a politician thinks your views are intolerant

Freedom of speech and expression is supposed to form the bedrock of a liberal, tolerant and democratic society. And here in the U.K. we strongly believe we are a liberal democracy. After all didn't this country produce the likes of John Stuart Mill with his famous treatise, On Liberty. Written in the nineteenth century, it still reads like a breath of fresh air in a dungeon, reminding us of part our heritage, and those before us who struggled to be free from 'truths' imposed by so called betters; church, state, school.

However, the latest clampdown on people's right to free expression could see Mill's words eventually becoming to be seen as subversive which, God forbid, some one, or some group may at some future time try to ban.

The case in question is the intervention of London Mayor Boris Johnson,(Con) in a campaign by the Christian group Core Issues Trust to advertise their views about homosexuality on the side of  London buses.  This form of advertising is a common enough thing to do; you pay, you get your avert on the bus and any one in London can read it, ignore it or follow through to find out more.

The advert in question was in response to Stonewall's (campaigners for gay rights) campaign a while ago, which also used London buses.Their slogan ' some people are gay-get over it' was plastered all over the place.

The Core Issues Group, using a similar design poster to Stonewall wanted to say something on the lines of-'Ex-gay,post-gay and proud-Get over it'

Following complaints that some people were offended by the message, Boris Johnson has stopped the campaign from using London buses claiming that London 'is a tolerant city and will not put up with intolerance'

So there we have it, offence is not a matter of personal feeling but a question of fact, to be decided on by Boris, with the power to ban opinions.

Now, I don't have any interest in the debate between Stonewall and the Core Issues Trust on the nature or otherwise of what makes someone gay. I simply don't care. I do however, care very strongly about the right to express opinions and beliefs, and the freedom to try and persuade others to a particular point of view. How else would gay people have been able to end their persecution. To shut down debate says to the rest of us- or to me at least- whatever I don't agree with, you must not hear, you cannot decide for yourselves the merit of someone's argument. If you disagree you might go out and commit violence, so I'm protecting you. On the other hand, if you agree, you will join the other side and I will lose power over you.

That is not a free country. I think we need some reminding of Mill's words. Here are a few quotes. If any one has time or the inclination, read his works.

From; On Liberty- Of Thought and Discussion-


' They have no authority to decide the question for all mankind and exclude every other person from the means of judging'


'All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility'


'To call any proposition certain, while there is any one who would deny its certainty if permitted, but who is not permitted, is to assume that we ourselves and those who agree with us, are the judges of certainty, and judges without hearing the other side'


'Strange it is that men should admit the validity of the arguments for free discussion, but object to their being pushed to an extreme, not seeing that unless the reasons are good for an extreme case, they are not good for any case'

Abortion Rights-as long as they're politically correct ones

There's been a lot of hoo ha recently about women being given abortions on the ground of the sex of  the child. Apparently sex selection is illegal in the U.K. as a ground for abortion. The practice was uncovered by the Daily Telegraph which secretly filmed conversations between women and doctors at a private clinic.The patients made it clear during consultation the ground for abortion was the sex of the child. The doctors agreed to carry out the termination and did some 'artistic' paper work to cover up.
Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary, calling the practice not only illegal but morally wrong, has promised an investigation. The Society for The protection of The unborn child (s.p.u.c.)  said it was "the reality of eugenics in modern British medicine"

Now, I don't like abortion, especially since in the U.K. at least, we have had free contraception for decades. However, there's no going back to pre-1967 days;that horse has well and truly bolted. But the response of the establishment reeks of double standards and shows that no matter what they say about freedom of choice they always get very upset when that choice is the wrong one.


If abortion is to be allowed on social grounds i.e. a disabled child that the parents feel they simply cannot cope with, they are not ready to be parents, they have to finish university, they have too many already and society says it is the woman's right to choose we can hardly get upset if some choose sex as a reason. If the prospect of having a child when young is allowed-which could be called a cultural reason, then why not allow for cultural preferences for males over females. We cannot have it both ways. I suspect though, that no matter the law on this issue the establishment must, unless they are dimwits, know that sex selection exists. They just don't admit it and expect every one else to keep quiet about it.

The most common ground for abortion on legal terms is - continuing with the pregnancy poses a greater risk to the woman's life, physical or mental than if she had a termination.Or, continuing with the pregnancy would pose more of a risk to her existing children than if she had a termination. Those two grounds could in my opinion, cover any reason a woman could possibly come up with. So we have abortion on demand, if not in theory then in practice.The woman only has to convince two doctors of how she feels. As far as I can make out nothing has to be proven, no impartial evidence, there isn't time. An abortion has to be carried out within a time limit of 22 weeks. How many have had abortions because of the sex of the child but have played the mental health card about the pregnancy Per Se.

The statement by S.PU.C. was very apt.We do have eugenics. In 2010/11 there were 189,574 terminations in England and Wales, a rise of 8% on the previous year.If the Telegraph had uncovered some Government practice of eugenics which had got rid of the same amount of people on the ground of their supposed uselessness to society, I'm sure we'd all be screaming Nazi scum at them. But what is the difference. We have merely devolved decision making to the individual, who makes the choice on the usefulness or convenience of the potential child, to her own immediate situation.

Those pro-choice supporters who are upset about gender based abortions really cannot have it both ways. If a woman has the right to choose she has to have the right to her own reasons -otherwise she doesn't really have a right to choose.

Campaign for Democratic control

I DEFY ANYONE TO COME UP WITH THREE GOOD REASONS TO VOTE FOR ANY OF THE THREE MAIN PARTIES----I TRIED IT-I FAILED MISERABLY!




I DID THOUGH, FIND LOTS OF REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR THEM. HERE'S JUST A FEW;

1. No Referendum on the E.U.
2. Abolishing Double Jeopardy
3. Giving our money to failed and immoral financial practices.

Can you add to the list?