Povey Prattle

It was with pleasure that I read last year’s Christmas letter from my friends Les and Jeni Harman. I have known them since 1976 at which time Les and I were classmates at St. John’s Theological College, Nottingham, U.K. Jeni and Les have three children, Daniel, Thomas and Jane. I try to visit the Harmans when I am in England, and one year, Jeni, Les and Jane spent a week with me in Pittsfield, MA Both Les and I were raised in the Plymouth Brethren, he in Liverpool and I in Bristol. Les has served congregations in London, Surrey, Devon and Hertfordshire. He is at present the vicar of St. John the Baptist Church in Royston, Herts. He is one of those un-flashy, un-pretentious, intelligent and hard working priests who are admired by all. He has done a terrific job of being a husband a father, and a parish priest - in that order. Last year the Bishop of St. Albans named Les as one of the Honorary Canons of the Cathedral. This is a splendid recognition of the faithfulness and ...

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Her name is Marlene. We first met about three years ago, in a supermarket. It’s one of those upscale places with over-priced organic produce, dairy products and meats, but also with an amazingly good selection of cheeses. I was the customer. She is a check out cashier. Marlene’s accent sounded vaguely English, but as we began to chat she told me that she is from Malta. Marlene is the only Maltese person I’ve ever met. She lives in SRQ with her husband. Her presence radiates with happiness. She has a ready smile which she is always glad to share. I’ll wait in line at her till even if other lines are empty, this for the sheer pleasure of seeing her. There was a period when I thought that she had left the store. It turns out that she had tried her hand in the store’s kitchen. It was to my immense relief that she decided that the kitchen was no place for her, and she returned to the check-out. I saw Marlene today, and waited in her line despite the “shipping order” which wa...

I understand that “blue moon” is what we call the second full moon in a calendar month. So tomorrow’s full moon will be a “blue” moon, and it will be on New Year’s Eve. What fun: “once in a blue moon” on December 31st 2009. The “almost blue moon” was spectacular tonight as I walked with my dog. It was twilight. The air was crisp. Sister moon shone so brightly in the eastern sky. Looking west, the sky was golden yellow, with a string of off-white clouds. The trees were in silhouette. The mallards were already resting at pond-edge. Eight restless muscovy ducks waddled towards us with all due speed, hoping for handouts from the human and canine walkers: - ducks doomed for disappointment. “G-d’s” creation was indeed beautiful, leaving me to “give thanks to him – the Giver good”. And yet - I could not but forget that “G-d” is an artist who does not finish her work. So much of the beauty that I enjoyed was the work of human hands:- the human made pond, the silhouetted roof t...

“On Point” is a rather good radio programme which emanates from station WBUR in Boston. I often listen to the programme from  my car radio. The topic today was a new biography of Dr. Samuel Johnson, by Jeffrey Meyers.  The programme may be accessed at: http://www.onpointradio.org/ It put me in mind of some of the pithy and wise “sayings” of Samuel Johnson.  Here are some of them.  (The final one is my favourite).  ====================== One of the disadvantages of wine is that is makes a man mistake words for thoughts. None but a fool worries about things he cannot influence. The future is purchased by the present. I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man for fear of alarming him; you have no business with consequences, you are to tell the truth. It is unjust to claim the privileges of age and retain the playthings of childhood. It is better to live rich than to die rich Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought. O...

Doritos -   oh how I want some Doritos! I have forsaken my favourite unhealthy snack for more than six weeks, in favour of some weight loss. I am munching celery, and grapes.   oh how I want some Doritos!

I am either blessed or cursed with the ability to remember the slightest details – details of events/incidents/conversations which reach back for at least 60 years. Such memories are often triggered when some song or other surfaces in my mind, and then in my voice. As I was walking Penne today, a song from the pen of an iconoclast, William S Gilbert (he of Gilbert and Sullivan fame) came to mind. It’s from the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta “The Sorcerer” (1877). In that operetta the song is assigned to the ageing clergyman Dr. Daly, who reflects on his days as a young Curate. The lyrics are reproduced below. As you read them, do remember that W.S. Gilbert was poking fun at the Clergy. The song is known as “A pale young curate” . The memory of the song took me back to the time when I was a theological college student in England. Soon after Christmas (1973 or 1974) I was selected, together with other students from St. John’s College, Nottingham U.K. to attend a conference at ...