Povey Prattle

I was with my friends Bob and Ben on Friday evening June 14 th 2013 and heard them talking about their Sunday plans re “Peridia”. In all seriousness, and not trying to be funny, I said, “I  didn't  realise that there is an Opera in Sarasota this weekend”. They laughed and laughed,  and then reminded me that “Peridia” is the name of a Country Club in Bradenton FL where they were planning to enjoy Sunday Brunch. (There is no Opera named “Peridia” but there should be!) Silly me.

TOILET The plastic lever which is attached to the toilet flushing handle and thereby lifts the flush valve snapped yesterday morning. I investigated and decided that this called for a minor replacement of a small part - which was well within my limited capability. Or so I thought.  But I had not reckoned with the fact that the plastic nut which secures the handle was in reverse.  Hence, when I tried to open the nut I was simply tightening it. Frustration abounded. Our Condominium Association’s handyman came to my rescue; He understood the reverse nut thing. This good man tried to help, and so he bought a replacement part at our local independent hardware store. The first part that he bought was the wrong size, So he trotted off to the store and bought another part  -  which worked. I asked him for a bill. He asked for $12. – to include the price of the new part and his labour. I protested his charges for parts and labour and then wrote him a check/cheq...

Penne continues to delight, and sometimes surprise me. Most often when we leave our home for the first early morning walk we turn left at the end of my short driveway and head east. After some three hundred yards when we get to an intersection we have a choice.  We can turn left again, for a shorter walk.  Or we can turn right for a longer walk. Penne gives me many glances as we approach the intersection. For you see, she loves to take the longer walk. If I begin to move right Penne’s pace picks up, she shows excitement, and she starts to pull me hard. I am not sure that Penne is happy cos it’s a longer walk. I tend to believe that there is something about the section of Circus Boulevard which we take on the long walk which intrigues and delights her. Tropical Storm Andrea passed by last week.  There was no major damage but our streets and grassy areas were littered with broken tree branches, fallen Spanish moss, and dead palm leaves.  Penne was in he...

There is neighbour A, neighbour B, and Neighbour C They live side by side   in a single story triplex condominium unit.  B has had her moments – in which she has variously described A as a “m-f”, or as an  “s-0-b”.  But then again she’s also said this about a fair number of other residents. Earlier this year A and B began to have some simple and civilised chats after not having spoken to each other for close to two years. In more recent months B has had various health problems. At one time she was close to death.  A wishes that he could help B but it ain’t that simple. B returned yesterday from yet another hospital stay.  She chatted for a wee while in the driveway with A and C.   Then  C helped A her into the house.  But A, just out of the hospital, could not get into bed, so in due course A and C had to call the EMT’s .  B refused any treatment, but they did manage to lift her into her bed. The EMT’s were ba...

Story via  http://www.postandcourier.com/ Imagine the scene: The Diocese of South Carolina’s bishop was in his office at St. Philip’s Church in downtown Charleston when one of his own priests stormed in, unhinged by rage. The armed priest was irate about Bishop William Alexander Guerry’s efforts to advance racial equality in the church. The priest shot Guerry. Then he shot and killed himself. Guerry died four days later at Roper Hospital, reportedly uttering Jesus’ words: “Forgive him, Father, he knew not what he did.” The tragic scene took place on June 5, 1928, 85 years ago this past week. To honor Guerry, Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston is celebrating a “feast day” today and is dedicating a chapel in the church to the bishop’s memory. Guerry is not officially on the list of “Holy Women, Holy Men,” a compilation of church saints published by the Episcopal Church. However, Grace members and others are taking early steps to get his story ou...

So, each morning I awake with a song in my mind. That “song du jour” refuses to leave me until mid morning.\ It drives me “nuts”. Three days ago it was the evangelical hymn “Teach me thy way O Lord”.  Then it was “Nellie the Elephant”.    Today it was “My Grandfather’s Clock”. I offer you these tunes for your personal morning botheration.