All posts by Keith

I’m a controversialist and catalyst, quietly enabling others to develop by providing different ideas and views of the world. Born in London in the early 1950s and initially trained as a research chemist I retired as a senior project manager after 35 years in the IT industry. Retirement is about community give-back and finding some equilibrium. Founder and Honorary Secretary of the Anthony Powell Society. Chairman of my GP's patient group.
ramblings

Dreary Weekend

I don’t understand.

Why is it that Easter is always such a miserable weekend?

No, I don’t mean the weather. OK, so far today is dull and damp, but that isn’t always so.

Nor do I mean the fact that it isn’t the most joyous of Christian festivals. As a non-believer this weighs with me not at all, but I don’t dislike Easter on principle.

I’ve noticed, though, over many years, that Easter is somehow always a miserable, dull, boring, depressed and joyless weekend.

OK so as a culture (religious or secular) we’re not indulging in the festivities of Christmas. But Easter took over the old pagan Spring festival, when everything was growing again and there was more daylight than darkness. Even leaving the chocolate aside, there are flowers and cute Easter bunnies (which should really be hares anyway!). Despite the fact that I don’t do cute, that still ought to make Easter weekend joyful.

But it isn’t.

Why?

I don’t understand.

beliefs, ramblings

Cross Spotters

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Oh dear! The Christians are fluttering in their olive trees again. Various clerics, most notably Cardinal O’Brien, Roman Orthodox Archbishop of all Scotland, are telling their flocks to wear a cross to signify their faith.

Why? Why do they have to be told? Are they sheep? [No, don’t answer that!]

And why do they need to do this? I don’t give a flying wombat what fictions you believe. I’m glad to say that’s your problem, not mine.

And yet most true believers already wear their faith on their sleeves and — very rudely — make sure we’re not allowed to forget it. But sure, if they want to wear an emblem, why shouldn’t they?** Who is to stop them going around adorned with badges and looking like a bus spotter? Moreover I’m sure the monasteries could find enough spare saints’ fingers for them all to have a few poking out of a breast pocket to complete the bus spotter look. The same applies to believers in any other faith, or no faith.

Most of us don’t need to advertise our beliefs on our lapels. But if others are sufficiently insecure in their faith that they have to remind everyone, including themselves, what harm? None really if they stick to just wearing a badge. But I bet they don’t. The harm is if, as so often, it becomes another nauseating means of proselytising beliefs. That’s something the rest of us have no need to do; indeed don’t believe in doing. We’re secure enough in our beliefs; beliefs which are personal and not to be imposed on others. We don’t need lots of other like-minded fools around us to convince us we’re right.

Yes, OK, fine if you want to wear a discrete cross, pentacle, Star of David, swastika or whatever on a chain round your neck. But is it just me who finds badges, bumper stickers, prayer beads hanging from driving mirrors etc. somewhat nauseating? And I don’t draw the line at religious symbolism. Badges for the Rotary Club, football club, train spotters guild are just as annoying. Why do we need to advertise our allegiances in this way? If we can’t spread our faith (whatever that is) by shining example then pretty poor show. Good works and humility, not faith alone.

Who are we to deny such poor benighted souls their comforts? Although can you imagine the outcry if they were forced to wear some identification, as were the Jews in Nazi Germany? They’d be up in arms quicker than a ferret down a drain-pipe.

Maybe I should have a supply of “There is no god” badges made? Or should we all have 42 forceably tattooed on our foreheads?

** There will always be employers who, rightly, ban jewellery for safety reasons. But that is really a side issue.

quotes

Quotes : On People

He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.
[Sir Winston Churchill]

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
[Benjamin Franklin, 1759]

Whatever you are, be a good one.
[Abraham Lincoln]

A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.
[Mark Twain]

When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy.
[Sigmund Freud]

photography

Buggered Britain 5

Another in my occasional series documenting some of the underbelly of Britain. Britain which we wouldn’t like visitors to see and which we wish wasn’t there. The trash, abused, decaying, destitute and otherwise buggered parts of our environment. Those parts which symbolise the current economic malaise; parts which, were the country flourishing, wouldn’t be there, would be better cared for, or made less inconvenient.

Buggered Britain 5

This is the Greenwood pub in Northolt, about a mile from where I live. It’s no surprise it closed as a pub because although often used for filming it also had a reputation (how justified I don’t know) for regular drugs raids. It has been in this state for a couple of years. I’m told that there is (or was) a potential buyer interested in rejuvenating it as a restaurant, although what business they’ll find at this location is an open question. What makes things more interesting is that the building is Grade II listed by English Heritage, so the exterior, and reading the listing maybe also the interior, are protected and so can’t have too much done to them. Such a shame because it is a good building which ought to be able to be reused and could look quite stunning. Let’s just hope McDonald’s don’t get their hands on it!

personal

Camouflage

For all cat lovers … this is Sally trying to blend into the carpet while doing her Miss Cute act last evening!

Camouflage

Considering she’s a fairly lazy pudding of a cat who could do with losing a pound or two of kibble (who couldn’t?!) she’s doing well for 13+. You’d not know she’s had her thyroids removed. She’s still a pretty (not so) small cat with semi-long hair (nice light fluffy striped fur that floats everywhere) an apricot evening gown and black gloves. And yes, she still does cute all too well.

photography

The Gallery : At Peace

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This week’s theme over at The Gallery is At Peace.

Now this can be interpreted, as Tara did when announcing the theme, as personal peace and quiet (“a quiet corner with a book, or sitting in the bath by candlelight”) or in the sense of beyond the grave. I’ve chosen the latter interpretation.

David Masey Grave
Click the image for a larger version

This is the grave in churchyard of St Nicholas, New Romney, Kent of David Masey (10 October to 28 July 1882) who was my great-great-grandfather and his wife Mary. Also commemorated are a number of their family members (none in my direct line). We know from the census returns that David Masey was a fisherman, but I’ve been told that he was also variously a greengrocer, fishmonger, boatman and a lifeboatman at Littlestone.

St Nicholas, New Romney is an interesting church in a small country town and has the usual peaceful and rather idyllic churchyard. When I searched there last I was unable to find any other Masey graves, although sadly very many of the headstones are so weathered as to be unreadable.

natural history, personal

Reasons to be Grateful: 20

Experiment, week 20. Yes, we’re now a third of the way through the 60 week experiment! So here are this week’s five things which have made me happy or for which I’m grateful.

    Silver Birch Catkins

  1. Photographing Parakeets. As you will have seen from my post earlier in the week I spent a nice sunny afternoon sitting in the garden photographing the local Ring-Necked Parakeets.
  2. Birch Catkins and Pine Cones. The garden today has been a real delight. It’s been a bit cooler than a few days ago but still wall-to-wall sunshine. The catkins on the silver birches are just out (note to get out the hayfever tablets!) and our Christmas trees (now around 20 feet high) have enormous crops of cones, and are spreading seeds everywhere.
  3. Butterflies. The warm weather has also brought out the first butterflies, as well as the early bumblebees and queen wasps. The first butterfly I saw, a couple of days ago, was a Holly Blue. Shortly followed by a Small White. And today sitting in the sun there was a brand spanking newly hatched Comma — and I’ve not seen one of those here for a few years either.
  4. Goldcrest. While in the garden this afternoon, Noreen looked up into the smaller Christmas tree and said “What’s this bird over my head?” I went to look. And there just 5 or 6 feet above us, and completely oblivious to our presence, was the tiniest Goldcrest. It is our smallest native bird, much smaller even than a Blue Tit, and although not hugely rare it is uncommon and seldom seen because it prefers living deep in (preferably conifer) woodland. This is the second one I’ve seen here in a week; and they’re the only ones in the last 10 years! One can hope they’ll stay, but I doubt we have enough nearby trees, especially conifers. I couldn’t get a good photo of it as I was shooting against the bright sky but here’s an image from the web.

  5. Cold Roast Pork Sandwiches. Finally on a foodie theme … At the end of last week when we were in Norwich visiting my mother we picked up a large, but incredibly cheap, joint of pork shoulder for roasting in Roy’s, the local supermarket chain. It was magnificent; it was so tender that you could cut the cooked meat with a spoon. And it made some delicious cold roast pork sandwiches! I love cold roast pork!
amusements, sexuality

Bird Watching : The Tits

Spring is sprung. The birdies are singing. Once again the British birdwatcher can enjoy their pleasure without having their nuts frozen off. So we are starting a new occasional series to introduce those unfamiliar with British birds to species identification in the field. First …

The Tit Family
There are seven (or maybe eight) species of tits seen in Britain (most commonly seen first).

Blue (or Tiny) Tit
 Great Tit
Coal Tit
 Long-Tailed Tit
Marsh or Willow Tit
May be two separate species but impossible to tell apart except hand. Named after the weeping willow tree.
 Crested Tit
Bearded Tit