Povey Prattle

Always ready to walk. It was three years ago today that I adopted Penne from the Sarasota County Humane Society.  That was one of the best things I’ve done in retirement. The County Sheriff’s Office licence says that she was then seven years old, and that she is a Labrador Cross.  Another document describes her as Retriever/Terrier. Her previous owner/s stated (on the form they completed when they surrendered Penne to the Humane Society) that: 1. She is afraid of the noise of fireworks. ‘T’ain’t true.They do not bother her one bit, nor does thunder – thank goodness! 2. That she showed aggression in wanting to be dominate over other female dogs.  My experience is that she is very wary of all other dogs. 3. That she is loving and affectionate. You can say that again!  And again! I am totally “nuts” about Penne.   She delights me every day. I like it so much that she: 1. Wants to be near me wherever I am in the house. 2. Wags h...

This is an article about my home City of Bristol, U.K.   Since it was printed in the local rag, the Bristol Evening Post, please take it with a grain of salt. http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-spot-8216-small-city-future-8217/story-15598511-detail/story.html (You will have to cut and paste this link) The article caused me to think about other “Bristols”.  Wikipedia has the following http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_called_Bristol (You will have to cut and paste this link) ========================================================= I was surprised to learn that there is a small area in Peru called Bristol. Bristol, Rhode Island is the prettiest of the American Bristols. (I own a cannon ball which was fired in 1775 by the British Fleet into Bristol R.I. ) The twin cities of Bristol VA and Bristol TN are fascinating.  The state line between Virginia and Tennessee goes right down the middle of the main street.  On one side of the street y...

Great Blue Herons on the ground can look a bit woebegone They are gorgeous when in flight But their call is wretchedly ugly.  It sounds like a score of claw hammers being dragged down a tin roof. There were two Great Blues just outside my lanai yesterday.  They were engaged in some sort of territorial fight. One of them was incredibly aggressive towards the other  (who took refuge on my roof).  The noise was horrid. My dog Penne, and my junior cat Adelaide were entirely fascinated with the fight, and with the noise.  They rushed to the window and followed every move. It was a sort of "reality show" for the benefit of a dog and a cat. (But it left me wondering why some of my friends eschew Church because they "see God in nature".  I saw a very noisy and aggressive show - in which it was hard to discern God!)

There were those open air meetings on Saturdays and Sundays. We would take to the streets, armed with tracts (gospel leaflets), bibles, hymnals (“Sankey’s Sacred Song and Solos anyone?), sometimes a very small and portable harmonium, strong voices and even stronger convictions, Then we would form a circle, and the singing and preaching would begin.  A wee bit away from the circle some brethren would “lurk” to hand out tracts to passers-by. I remember open air meetings at St. George’s Park (a mile or so from Chelsea Gospel Hall), at the new Lawrence Weston Housing estate, and on Abingdon Road, just down the street from Abingdon Gospel Hall. The preachers needed strong voices, or the ability to bellow.  The message would always be the same.  It was the “message of salvation” – “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. The aim was honourable.  For the brethren (in common with most evangelical christians) believe that those who had not accepted...

Also honoured at the Resurrection House dinner last week was the fabulous Graham Allgood   (yes that is his last name).   Like Anno Swain, Graham has been a volunteer at Res. House for 22 years (i.e. since its foundation). Graham arrived very late to the dinner. He almost missed his own award. He told us that his car was at an auto-body shop. The work should have been finished last Thursday in time for him to drive to the dinner.  But that was not the case. So he called a cab.  And he waited, and waited, and waited. He is a very patient and gentle man. In due course he called the cab company again.   “It’s twenty five of six”  (twenty five to six in the UK) he said “and my cab has not yet arrived". The dispatcher responded. “That cannot be the case.  I am looking at the computer, and it’s only 5:35”. Try as he did, Graham could not persuade the dispatcher that “twenty five of six” and “5:35” is the same thing. Graham saw the funn...

Some 22 years ago Bob and Elaine Kilonen were leaving an evening meeting at Sarasota’s Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal). As they walked out of the Church the irrigation sprinklers sprang into use. A woman emerged from the shrubs- soaked to the skin. She was homeless.  The shrubbery around Redeemer was her regular sleeping place. Bob and Elaine arranged for this woman to have a bed for the night in a local motel. That was good for her.  It was even better for Elaine and Bob, for it made them think about the needs of Sarasota’s homeless people, and the challenge of the gospel of Jesus. Thus was born “Resurrection House”, a day shelter for homeless people. I am the honorary chaplain there. At Res House we provide showers, laundry, food, clothing, basic medical care (thanks to two retired physicians), re-habilitated bicycles for those who have found work, and counselling towards employment and/or accommodation. Most of all we offer friendship, a listening ear, a ...