February '10

I hope that, by now, you are enjoying the new year, even if it means no more to you than writing "2010" on our cheques - although we write them much less than we used to. Perhaps you're priding yourself on keepimg a resolution you made last month - but should have done some time ago!

For this month's 'Musings' I've chosen a variety of subjects, although doing this risks being overtaken by events - I hope this next thought will be..I was horrified to see the appeals for a new treasurer in the magazine & the notice sheets: I felt ashamed that a town of our size didn't have a waiting list of people ready to take over the post when needed! After all, there is plenty of help available & the practical experience would seem ideal for one of the many dealing with figures (& even more so for someone studying), especially with some computer use.

That leads me to repeating an anxiety I've written about before, echoing feelings expressed at an APCM by the late Janet Blackburn. In most organisations, there's an urgent need for an influx of younger members - hopefully, to boost the committee & prevent the demise of the group. Mention of Janet reminds me of her universal popularity; I was particularly fond of her (she came to see me in hospital more than once) & I like to think that she & her Mum sensed this.

Thank you to all those who've said that they like reading these articles, Unfortunately, an illness over Christmas put the kibosh on my plan to  reach my desktop computer by the end of 1999 - the good news is that I can access a laptop to my new email address ( mike-ireland@live.com ) but NOT the Freeserve one. Well, not yet, anyway!               Keep on keeping on.

"One should oblige everyone to the extent of one's ability."

 - Jean de La Fontaine

"Keep right on to the end of the road."                                - Harry Lauder


"Let us do or die."                                                               -  Robert Burns


"To like the same things is true friendship."                                  -  Sallust

January '10

Now is the time of the year when many (chiefly males; mostly younger but many young at heart despite years) especially in the times before mini computers, played with model railway sets acquired at Christmas. I can't recall whether my own 0 gauge tank loco set was a present then, or for a birthday, but I can remember an excited snall boy being up before 7 (unheard of, then!) and playing alone in his bedroom with a circular track layout. Any future worries as to the choice of my presents after then were answered and I soon had additional track and rolling stock to create an enlarged layout running out of my bedroom and along the landing or even sometimes in the lounge. This sometimes caused great consternation on my part when the enclosed layout just failed to meet; this problem was solved by the subsequent discovery that a friend nearby would freely lend his mini track part which often readily filled the gap and saved many a frustration. Whn, in later days, I thought of resurrecting the system for my young son, I was horrified to find that a broken spring couldn't be replaced where I tried - the entire set was banished to an outside store!

A former school colleague came round one evening just after I bought some  railway accessories for my son’s Lego and we adults spent many happy hours constructing and running track with trains . That, perhaps, started an interest in the hobby which developed in both sons through model layouts and their future jobs as train guard/ticket sellers (although with different companies). The obligatory shift work meant that my elder son had to give up attending meetings of the local Model Railway Society.

Can anyone enlighten me as to the connection, if any, between model railways and members of the clergy? I have come across several examples with more than a passing interest throughout the country; as well as quite a few in Thorpe, ranging from curates to canons - and that doesn’t include the Reverend Audry who wrote the famous Thomas the Tank Engine stories! Don't mention sexism!

During my early banking tine, I had a spell as relief clerk at the Wymondham office; on days when there was no suitable ‘bus, I accompanied the relief manager on the train. When I introduced her as “my manager” to a friend in the seat in front, he burst out laughing and said that I sounded like a pop star!

Many of us suffered sad experiences which made 2009 truly an annus horribilis. May we all enjoy a Very Happy New Year!                                                                          Best Wishes,

December '09

When considering a theme for this month, I thought of Father Christmas & his snowy beard - did you know that the study of beards is called pogonology? I’ve never excelled on a pogo stick & I definitely won’t now! Beards used to be viewed as signs of maturity or distinction & were rarely seen but now, with changing fashion, they are more prevalent. They merely indicate the ability to grow them! I first grew mine during a spell of ill health when I wasn’t shaving. A venture as producer & director followed so I have always told enquirers that I grew it for a play. They are quite impressed by this!

I soon found that beard pulling is an attractive proposition for youngsters especially grandchildren (unless they suffer from pogonophobia -an irrational fear of beards). A former submariner friend told me that he had grown a beard whilst at sea & wrote to warn his wife, quoting that a girl hasn‘t lived until she‘s been kissed by a man with a beard. No comment!!

There are two major misconceptions about facial whiskers - one being that their wearer has a second chance of tasting food. The other considers that their growth produces considerable saving in time & money - forgetting those used in trimming the beard & moustache & shaving the beardless parts of the face & chin. These were very restricted during my hospitalisation when my appearance soon resembled Saddam Hussein. May I wish you all a Happy Christmas. All the best.

Let’s see what some others have said:-

“There are two kinds of people in this world that go around beardless - boys & women - & I am neither.”             -  Greek saying        
           
“Tradition wears a snowy beardi; romance is always young.”

- John Whittear

“He that hath a beard is more than a youth & he that hath no beard is less than a man.”

- William Shakespeare

“An old Spanish saying is that a kiss without a moustache is like an egg without salt."                         Madison Wein                  

“Kissing a man with a beard is a bit like going on a picnic - you don’t mind going through a little bush to get there.”                  - Minnie Pearl

November '09

In this country, November is the traditional month for Bonfire Night (take care & protect your pets!). People often say (especially at election time) that Guy Fawkes had the right idea in planning to blow up Parliament. In my younger days, this was always on the 5th but tempus fugit & now the occasion is usually moved to the nearest Saturday, especially for public celebrations. Other changes include such things as an earlier appearance for sale of fireworks, Christmas & Easter items - all subjects for much debate.

An old proverb is that There’s no smoke without fire so I’ll include a few thoughts about smoking. I remember being the sole occupant of a railway compartment on a journey back to Norwich from an introductory short works course when I had pre-purchased a small packet of cigarettes. My dislike of the one I tried led me to say later that I gave up smoking when I left school! Although I cannot remember ever seeing my dad smoke, he favoured a pipe in his younger days. This was borne out in family conversations & photographs. At one time my mum smoked heavily, following the example of her mother, until the death of the latter from cancer. Mum stopped smoking abruptly but a replacement addiction to sweets caused a sudden weight gain until their intake was controlled.

On the subject of addicts, I recall seeing a small device in which cigarette papers & tobacco were placed, turned & sealed to ‘roll your own’ to save on the cost of the commercial product. The money saved by giving up is not available to the non-smoker! A colleague at my first job used to light up & smoke automatically when answering a phone call. A fellow inmate at the rehabilitation centre would go & smoke where he felt he would not be seen by the staff! In the interim period before the complete ban, the former NALGO branch treasurer passed over the books to me one lunch time in the room designated for smoking. What an aroma!

I hope to get to the Autumn Fair - see you there!

All the best.

“Please to remember the 5th of November.”                                  - Anon.

“Parliament is the longest running farce in the West End."

-  Cyrli Smith

“Cigarettes are killers that travel in packs.”                            - Unknown

“Much smoking kills live men and cures dead swine.”

- George Prentice

“Every form of addiction is bad.”                                                    - Carl Juno

October 09

October sees another year added to my age - I can remember Norwich City Football Club playing in Division III(S); was it really that long ago? I still recall often hearing at school that tempus was fuggitting very quickly. This misquotation becomes increasingly true as one gets older. It is with growing sadness that I learn of the passing of former colleagues.

Age & a recent disability have prompted my resignation from several Church organisations (e.g. PCC); I shall miss attending the meetings with the relevant discussion & access to information. I had been cheered by the ensuing messages of thanks & good luck.

This year is passing quite speedily;  I hope you have been able to enjoy a holiday, whether abroad or in this country. If you normally spend much of your time at work, a few days’ respite can be very beneficial.

I’m writing this as I lay on my bed resting after three consecutive weeks of hospital visits - at least, the verdicts at each were encouraging, which reminds me that when asked (usually on the phone) if I am allright, my answer is normally “Half right, all left!”.

“Age only matters when one is aged.”                                - Pablo Picasso

"Time flies like lightning. Fruit flies like bananas.”                      -  Anon
.
“Time is slipping underneath our feet.”               -  Edward Fitzgerald

“Age is just a number.”                                                                         -  Anon.

“All work & no play makes Jack a dull boy.”                          - Proverb

All the best

September 09

I believe that I may have expressed some of these thoughts earlier, either in previous Musings or elsewhere. Consequently, I apologise for any duplications.

As those who have seen my computer room know, I used to be able to manoeuvre myself (surprisingly successfully) through the piles of miscellaneous material deposited (seemingly aimlessly) on the floor. Now, however, I must achieve a lot of clearing to enable me to move about therein in a wheelchair. The main purpose of this tidying is to allow access to my computer - illness & hospitalisation combined to cause much delay in my computing. The District Nurse whose visits used to prompt my exit from my study for treatment said that things would have to change to prevent my going into decline - she knew I was very happy indoors working at my computer.

Nowadays, most people can contact others via the web - I myself have exchanged emails with over half of those listed in our latest annual report as PCC members. I was cheered when Jackie told me on a hospital visit of a phone call she had from one of the Radio Norfolk presenters - some of them had wondered about the lack of emails from me & asked if I was still OK. He was very concerned to learn of my condition & sent a Get Well message over the air. One of the nurses said: You won’t find Radio One doing that!

When in the N&NUH, I had several visits (some with communion) from members of the chaplaincy. I was particularly pleased when one of them took over the weekly communion service at Pine Cottage following the retirement of the chaplain there. After she had spoken about cures in one of her services, I told her how I remembered one of our past rectors preaching on a similar theme. He had said that learning to live with an illness or disability is the nearest thing to a complete cure. How true! I have heard talk of abolishing chaplaincies as part of hospital economies - may this never happen.

While confined indoors pending construction of a ramp to enable access outdooors, I was able to do my bit for the environment. Not a lot but it made me feel good & it would help considerably if many more people did it. Separating the plastic windows & gummed parts of envelopes soon reduces the amount going to landfill. If necessary, scissors may easily be resharpened by cutting silver paper.

Luckily, I recalled the existence & location of a book of sayings which Jackie was able to reach for me so I am able to finish with some quotes:

“Constant repetition will finally succeed in imprinting an idea.”

 -  Adolph .Hitler

“What can’t be cured must be endured.”                                         - Proverb


“Waste not, want not.”                                                                     - Proverb


“Conversation has a kind of charm about it.”                             - Seneca