Povey Prattle

Why do we people in churches seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the Absolute? -Annie Dillard   via Bruce Lomas on Facebook

"You put your real name in / they take your real name out / you put your info in / And they shake it all about. / You do the Michael Pokey and you turn yourself around. / That's what it's all about."

Oh dear. Mary Gilligan -  NO Paul G-dhino - NO But it will not stop. Now according to a Unique Air invoice  I am Michael Pokey. Love, Mary-Paul Pokey

Yesterday morning I got a voice mail from Sarasota's "Doctors Hospital", reminding me that I had an appointment today. I did not have an appointment and I have never used Doctors Hospital, so I ignored the call. I figured that someone at the hospital has misdialed the 'phone number. Later in the day, someone from Doctors Hospital called again. The message identified me as Paul, and again reminded me of the appointment. I called right back, and spoke to a live person saying:  "hey there, I am not Paul, you are calling the wrong number". That staff member promised to rectify the hospital records. Doctors Hospital called me a third time -  this morning at 4:30 a.m.  "Hello, this message is for Paul G-dhino. We are wondering why you are not here for your procedure".  So much for rectifying the hospital records. Bon chance Paul G-dhino who ever you are.  But you ain't me.

 My colleague from Cambridge MA days the Revd Bruce Lomas (Rector at Trinity Church, Melrose, MA) and his wife Jane are on sabbatical leave. They have visited Dublin, Ireland, and Manchester, UK (near to where Bruce visited his Great-Grandmother's grave). Today they have been in Chester U.K.  -  a great City, which is not on the too well trodden tourist map. Their visit reminded me of when I went to Chester.  'Twas probably in about 1971 when I owned a car, and when I worked for the National Westminster Bank at the Heythrop Park Training Centre, (now a "resort" see http://www.heythroppark.co.uk/  ) I remember that I took myself to Wales, there to take the train to the peak of a "mountain" in Snowdonia  (see http://www.snowdonrailway.co.uk/  ),  and to visit the Castles at Carmarthen and Conway. My twin sister was then living in Sale (near Manchester) and she came down to Llandudno for the day.  We walked on the promena...

"There and Back Again Lane" is a named street in Bristol, U.K.  It is a dead end.         I have just been "there and back again" to Hendersonville, N.C. where I visited with my SRQ winter neighbours Ed Green and Eddie Palmer.   see http://www.historichendersonville.org/   I flew using the niche "point to point carrier" Air Allegiant, (Punta Gorda FL -Asheville NC- Punta Gorda FL)  for a bargain fare of $200 (round trip).  (I could not have driven "there and back again" for much less).   Both flights took off on time and arrived on time. (There is something to be said for Air Allegiant's practice of flying in and out of under-utilised airports).    (On the way home one of my favourite St. Boniface, Sarasota FL parishioners was in the seat behind me!).   Ed and Eddie are good guys.  They knew that I did not need to be entertained be...