General Chat

Good morning :-)

Hope everyone is being sensible by keeping people at arm's length or staying at home. Emma, you sound so very happy and cosy in your new home. I hope you will be very happy there for many years to come.

Continuing the Lent Course

Genesis 1.14-19
14 And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

We live by a natural rhythm of day and night, with that rhythm encoded in our DNA, and we know how it feels when that pattern is disrupted.

Ahead of the weekly pattern of rest we find on the seventh day (the sabbath), the fourth day in Genesis 1 sets out a daily cycle of waking and resting. Taking time on waking to dedicate our day to God and to review the day in thanksgiving and prayer before sleep is an ancient Christian tradition.

As we enter the second half of Lent, start and end your day with a prayer. Jesus taught his followers to pray every day. When you wake up, ask God to bless your day. And thank God before you go to sleep.

Cx :-)

Cynthia thank you.
Have been self isolating for three weeks now so I expect
a gold star by the end of the time ;-)

Do look after yourself Cynthia and hope your family are
doing the same <3

Hello all

A very frost this morning which hopefully will help to kill off a few nasty bugs right now.

Thoughts and prayers for all NHS staff and other key workers who are working so hard to keep us safe in these challenging times.

God bless them all.

Last night I watched Russell Crowes film NOAH
It was very good or acted in my opinion.
He was better as Maximus, commander of the armies of the
north in the film GLADIATOR

Good morning :-)

Sterner measures are now in place, but will people heed them? :-S


Gladiator was one of my husband's favourite films David. Russell Crowe was also good in the 2012 version of Robin Hood.


I am doing my best at being good - staying in with just an occasion visit to the shop maybe later in the week. Today I may tackle the garage.


The Lent Course

Genesis 15.1-6
15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ 2 But Abram said, ‘O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ 3 And Abram said, ‘You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.’ 4 But the word of the Lord came to him, ‘This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.’ 5 He brought him outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ 6 And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

To be able to look up on a clear night sky and see the stars can take our breath away. The immensity of space that we see humbles us and enables us to glimpse a little of our immeasurable creator.

Abram (later renamed Abraham) couldn’t count the stars but believed that God’s promise to bless him and give him descendants would come to pass. Gazing at stars – so many we cannot count them – can remind us of God’s care, also beyond measure.

Make time this evening (or on the next clear night) to gaze at the night sky. Pause to reflect on how everything and everyone is bound to one another and to God.


Cx :-)

Cynthia - as usual your words and those of others on here bring back lovely memories.

I had just watched Gladiator and enjoyed it.

Went in to work and took over from my friend who had worked nights. She slipped me a piece of paper and asked me not to let it out of my sight. She wanted me to finish a booking she had started and to call her client at lunchtime as he would be up by then, as he was in New York. I looked at the notes and the piece of paper & realised she had given me Russell Crowe's mobile number. I was also told I could speak to Meg as well.

I finished the work and called him at lunchtime. The phone was answered by Meg who called out Russ, Young lady on the phone for you. He came to the phone and I didn't believe it was the real Russell Crowe as his voice was nothing like Gladiator. After a few ID checks (which proved it was indeed him) I gave him the details he wanted and he wished me a very pleasant day and to keep his number, and if he could help me, just give him a call.

I never did call him again - but the thought was there. My 5 minutes claim to fame, talking to Meg Ryan & Russell Crowe..

My friend and i were the talk of the office for quite a while.

Take care everyone and stay safe.

Tabitha, the actor who played Crowe's adversary in Gladiator has recently

made another film in which he plays Jesus.

Hello all

Tabitha, claim to fame or what lol ??

Long lonely days by myself but needs must.
Thank goodness for facetime with the family.

Heavenly Father
Be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation,
In their loneliness, be their companion
In their anxiety, be their hope
In their darkness, be their light
Amen

Keep safe and stay well everybody X

It was my daughter's birthday today, she and her family are in quarantine in their home in Nova Scotia because they had been in the US when everything really blew up. They got home on Wednesday last week, and entered a 14 day mandatory quarantine. Luckily they had lots of friends who can help them out by bringing groceries, etc.

Anyway we mailed a birthday card, sent a Jacqui Lawson online card, and phoned her a couple of hours ago. She got her birthday gift several weeks ago.

As she put it ....... a birthday never to be forgotten. In quarantine, rain and snow then sun, unable to go further than their garden, and having to work from home!! Birthday dinner will be left overs from a take-in ordered from their favourite restaurant on Sunday

Certainly unforgettable!!! :-D

Good morning :-)

That's a lovely story Tabitha and certainly one to remember!

Glad your daughter is coping Sylvia - lots of memories are going to be made over this time.

Staying as normal as possible ... lol

The Lent Course
Psalm 147.1-11
1 Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the broken-hearted,
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the animals their food,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.








From the earliest times people have looked to the sun and moon and worshipped them. And many people today still look to the stars to predict what will happen, expecting them to reveal their fate.

The psalms remind us that the glory of the heavens has been created by God, who names and cares for everything. Our lives are not determined by the stars – rather we trust in God in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17.28).

Like the stars, so the Church’s year follows set patterns, with links to the seasons. Find out more on the Church of England website about Rogationtide, Lammas Day and Creationtide. How might reclaiming these ancient traditions help today’s churches and communities?

Love to all, stay indoors and stay safe.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia, thank you for the daily Lent Course posting

Sylvia, I hope your daughter's birthday went as well as it could given the unusual circumstances now.

The period of household isolation and hours of being inside are really challenging for us all.

Let's try to take this time to Stop and Be Still
and make this separation from others the best that it can be without becoming too frustrated.

Take care everyone, keep safe and stay well.

Good morning :-)

Spent yesterday morning tidying out the garage - it was such a beautiful morning too. Nearly there, just need to get stuff to the tip and to the charity shop now - whenever that may be.... :-)

Today's Lent Course

Psalm 19.1-6
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.



The movements of the sun, moon and stars punctuate time for us, but we spend much of life trying to diminish the inconvenient aspects of the seasons.

We turn up our central heating rather than putting on a jumper. We buy fruit and vegetables that have been transported from far away because they are not in season. Not being in touch with the natural world can cause us to harm it by using energy and resources needlessly.

With over half of Lent gone, spring is on the way in the UK.

Notice the changing season
What signs of spring do you notice today? Think of things you enjoy about the different seasons and festivals of the year and thank God for them.


Now I'm going to watch Morning Prayer streamed from a local church on Facebook.

Stay safe my friends.

Cx :-)

Very best wishes to all on this thread and good luck for the future, stay well all xx

Cynthia, I will still look in for my daily dose of goodness ;-) xx <3

Good morning... :-)


Rambling.....are you away then? :-(


Yesterday, I tidied our little front garden and then enjoyed a coffee watching the traffic going by - I was almost expecting the women to come out and clean their steps with donkey stone :-D :-D :-D

Lent Course

Psalm 104.1-4, 19-23
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honour and majesty,
2 wrapped in light as with a garment.
You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
3 you set the beams of your chambers on the waters,
you make the clouds your chariot,
you ride on the wings of the wind,
4 you make the winds your messengers,
fire and flame your ministers.


19 You have made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.
21 The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they withdraw
and lie down in their dens.
23 People go out to their work
and to their labour until the evening.

On the fourth day of creation darkness, as well as light, is declared good. Light pollution, however, means that more than one-third of the human population is no longer able to see the Milky Way.

But it is not just about what people cannot see. Frogs and toads are affected by the artificial light, as are migratory birds flying at night. Natural darkness enables humans to appreciate the wonders of the night sky - and many other creatures to flourish.

Are there any outside lights you could switch off or lower at night? If your church has floodlighting, could it be switched off for the rest of Lent?

Find out why darkness is good

God declares both day and night to be good (Genesis 1). Research out online why dark skies are so important to so many animals.


Love to all

Cx :-)

Good morning and best wishes to you all :-D <3

Hello all

Weeding and planting out primula and pansies today.

Cynthia, no donky stoning the steps here, but I do remember my Mum doing that with the neighbours.

Rose, take care of yourself. You will be missed X

I hope you and your wife are coping David.

Stay safe and keep well everyone X

I had to look up donkey stone. It seems to have been mainly used in the North of England. As my mother was often unwell I had to do my share of step cleaning from about the age of 12 and I remember a scrubbing brush, a bar of a very harsh soap, a rinsing cloth and a lot of elbow grease.

I am still trying to put items in a bag for the charity shop. Today's item is a bathmat.

You are right kandj - Rose will be missed and I hope she comes back soon.

Perhaps not the birthday your daughter would have wanted Sylvia but at least she is safe. We were very thankful when our dil got back from Florida on Tuesday after not knowing when and if she would be able to return.

My best wishes to all on the thread and special thoughts for all those struggling with the virus, with caring for others or with isolation.

Thank you once again Cynthia for your postings.

Rose stay safe and look forward to your return :-)

To all on the thread take care x

I remember donkey stoning the front step!

House proud women did it every day, others did it once a week and hoped it didn't look too bad by the next stoning day!

I had to do some of it too, especially after Mum died, until Dad decided we really didn't need to do the very large front step. I think he made that decision after I went back to University after the Easter break during which we buried Mum ....... he had to do it himself then, although the lady next door offered to help with any housework that he needed doing :-0

Heard earlier this week that grandson had Fifth Disease (aka Slap Cheek), incubation time could mean infection at school just before they left for Florida or while he was there.

I'd never heard of it so had to do my research ;-) .

It's called that because it is the 5th viral disease of children, and is apparently very common. Luckily it is usually very mild ..... apparently grandson was showing all the symptoms, no need to visit the doctor, so daughter was just told how to treat him. Otherwise, grandson was very happy and cheerful!

Keep safe everyone xxx

Good morning :-)

Good old donkey stone stories - love them....thank you <3

I remember hearing about Slapped Face thingey - so glad he is okay with it Sylvia. xx

Today's Lent Course - kandj is ahead of us....hahahaha

Acts 2.14-21

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 “In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”


The Bible contains a number of “apocalyptic” predictions – often associated with signs in the sun and moon. For too many people, a belief that this world is going to be destroyed has led them to conclude we need not bother about saving it.

The Bible certainly anticipates a time when God will transform this present reality, bringing in a new heaven and a new earth. But the hope of this glorious future – of Resurrection – is one that inspires us to heal our world and love our neighbours now.

Reflect on these words, attributed to Martin Luther: “If I believed the world were to end tomorrow, I would still plant a tree today.”

Maybe you could plant something this weekend – the seed of an apple or a tomato – something you already have.

Notice how they respond to night and day and the coming of spring in the weeks ahead.

With my love, Cx :-)