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Showing posts from January 31, 2016

Brrrrr

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It's been a raw day in this part of SW FL  with persistent rain and temps hovering around 56f/13c. For those of us whose blood has thinned  (if that truly happens) since we moved to the "Sun Coast" it has felt downright chilly, if not cold. It's been the kind of day on which I'd love to have had a snug little den or family room, with a nice wood fire.   (Forced hot air from the ceiling vents doesn't have the same charm!) Photo' via Google Images

The spiritual bankruptcy of some American fundamentalist Christians. The intellectual dishonesty of some American Republicans.

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The spiritual bankruptcy of some American fundamentalist Christians. On 18th January 2016 Donald Trump, "The Great Divider" addressed students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. This liberal arts University was founded by the late Jerry Falwell (he of the Christian Coalition), and is now headed by his son and heir, Jerry Falwell, Jr. It boasts 14,000 resident students and 100,000 on-line students. Liberty University is committed to a Fundamentalist Christian "world view". Donald Trump stands for everything which is opposed to the Christian Gospel.   He worships wealth. He is a master of self-aggrandisement. He has little or no respect for women, for the poor, and for those at the margins of society (immigrants and refugees), He is a consummate boaster, He believes in himself far more, (if at all), than he believes in God, He is reputed to have said that he has never felt the need for forgiveness. He has reduced the solemn Christian ri

I am a talker, but I can be out-talked.

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It was probably some fifteen years ago that I slipped out of Cambridge MA on a Sunday afternoon and drove west,  in order to visit my friends Joe and Dee in Granby, MA.  I sat on the deck alongside Dee and Joe's pool.  We sipped lemonade. After about thirty minutes I said "Oh my goodness, I am quite the talker, I have not shut up in a half an hour" Joe and Dee began to laugh, Dee said: "you have not stopped talking in an hour and three quarters !" Dee was correct.  She had "nailed me". ------------------------------------------------------------- Last evening,  (1st February 2016) at about 5:00 p.m.  I was at the home of my dear friend Ben for some pre-dinner fellowship with Ben, Bob, Gordon, John, Rick and Bill. Bill talked, and talked, and talked. I uttered not a word, After about forty minutes I began to laugh.  I whispered to Rick, who was sitting on my left, and said "I am a talker, but I have been out-talked (and reduced

Musings from my Lanai

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At the back of my home there is a Lana i (in truth it is a screened in porch) which looks out  on a retention pond (an essential feature in lowland Florida, without which we'd all be up to our calves in water). This retention pond has become a sanctuary for fishes, turtles, and birds (no alligators to date!), As I looked out today I  watched as an Osprey flopped into the pond, and then emerged with a fish in his.her talons. She/he took the fish onto the flat roof of my immediate neighbour's home, where he/she enjoyed a good supper. What joy Photo'not mine (taken from Google  Images)

Great Lunch .... Povey/Chrisman Anglo-American Friendship Society.... My beloved Penne.

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1.  Great Lunch  I relaxed and enjoyed a fabulous lunch today at the home of my Sarasosed Anglophile friends Donna and Jack Chrisman. English Bangers,  British "back" bacon, "Heinz" baked beans in  tomato sauce- (so delicious!)  ( a well loved food in the U.K. - and enjoyed by so many U.S. citizens who have "crossed the pond". PLUS   Jack's utterly fabulous  Frittata, and the pleasure of the company of Donna, Jack with Tay and Andy ( their Westies) Tay and Andy.  I romped with them" 2.    Povey/Chrisman Anglo-American Friendship Society We considered our time together to be yet another meeting of  the   Povey/Chrisman Anglo-American Friendship and Mutual Admiration Society Jack and Donna met a fair number of Poveys when their were in England last year for the wedding of their grand-daughter. Bristol Poveys who have visited me in SRQ (including my brother Martyn, his son Sam, My sisters Maureen and Jean, and their respe