Monday, March 31, 2008
The Shrine Of Our Lady Of Penrhys
I have been on pilgrimage here in the past, and it was a profound experience. A nice little documentary film is here.....
Where Shakespeare Worshipped......
The site of the long-demolished London church of St Leonard's in Shoreditch, where Shakespeare and his contemporary actors worshipped, has at last been found. Much of its ground floor and crypt may still be intact, including the tombs of many of Shakespeare's contemporaries.
I love things like this; if successfully excavated, I will be going to see it in due course :-)
I love things like this; if successfully excavated, I will be going to see it in due course :-)
Gossipping
I was particularly interested to read, a few days ago, about the Jewish concept of gossipping, or Loshon Hara. Spellings of this phrase vary, BTW, if you choose to Google it :-)
Apparently there are very few observant strict Orthodox Jewish bloggers because of the Biblical prohibition against Loshon Hara, the idle repeating of negativity -even if true- about others. It does not preclude the necessary reporting to authorities of witnessed wrong-doing, however.
Jewish tradition teaches that gossipping damages and ultimately hurts no less than three people:-
1/
The person speaking, because he/she gradually becomes used to looking past the image of God in each human being and focusing on faults instead, and also because gossipping will raise doubts in his/her listeners' minds as to what that person may also be saying about them behind their back. It is also a misuse of the God-given gift of speech.
2/
The person being spoken about, whose reputation and character is being assassinated comprehensively and possibly permanently, as words, once spoken, cannoy easily be retracted, whether the topic turns out to be true or false. Once Pandora's box is open, the contents cannot be caught and squeezed back in as though the event had never happened ! The person's marriage, family life, job, position in society can be destroyed in one fell swoop by a few idle words.
3/
The person being spoken to. In Jewish Law, this person is actually **most** at fault. All that person did was LISTEN - yet this person had the power to stop the conversation, turn it to a different and more profitable path, or simply refuse to listen to the gossip, yet chose to do nothing, and therefore allow someone's character to be defamed.
I bow my head in shame at this point.
I am guilty of this.
My husband is not guilty of Loshon Hara. He is always the first to try to put the best possible interpretation on someone's behaviour, and he does not gossip and will turn a conversation aside if it descends to gossip, and I honour him greatly for that.
Apparently there are very few observant strict Orthodox Jewish bloggers because of the Biblical prohibition against Loshon Hara, the idle repeating of negativity -even if true- about others. It does not preclude the necessary reporting to authorities of witnessed wrong-doing, however.
Jewish tradition teaches that gossipping damages and ultimately hurts no less than three people:-
1/
The person speaking, because he/she gradually becomes used to looking past the image of God in each human being and focusing on faults instead, and also because gossipping will raise doubts in his/her listeners' minds as to what that person may also be saying about them behind their back. It is also a misuse of the God-given gift of speech.
2/
The person being spoken about, whose reputation and character is being assassinated comprehensively and possibly permanently, as words, once spoken, cannoy easily be retracted, whether the topic turns out to be true or false. Once Pandora's box is open, the contents cannot be caught and squeezed back in as though the event had never happened ! The person's marriage, family life, job, position in society can be destroyed in one fell swoop by a few idle words.
3/
The person being spoken to. In Jewish Law, this person is actually **most** at fault. All that person did was LISTEN - yet this person had the power to stop the conversation, turn it to a different and more profitable path, or simply refuse to listen to the gossip, yet chose to do nothing, and therefore allow someone's character to be defamed.
I bow my head in shame at this point.
I am guilty of this.
My husband is not guilty of Loshon Hara. He is always the first to try to put the best possible interpretation on someone's behaviour, and he does not gossip and will turn a conversation aside if it descends to gossip, and I honour him greatly for that.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Mid-Way
Halfway through great Lent, and apart from the first week, it has been a shambles chez moi, as far as the food fast goes. I hope to do better !
I found this on the blogosphere; they are the forty spiritual maxims of Fr Thomas Hopko as discussed by the ladies' group at Holy Cross Parish, Linthicum, Maryland.
Well worth a visit.
I found this on the blogosphere; they are the forty spiritual maxims of Fr Thomas Hopko as discussed by the ladies' group at Holy Cross Parish, Linthicum, Maryland.
Well worth a visit.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Birthdays .....
Friday, March 28, 2008
Mum Is Home
Mum is now safely at home :-)
She is able to negotiate the stairs slowly but safely, and is enjoying gently pottering around her home. We did her shopping for her today, so she has plenty of food at home, and she is already planning menus !
It is so good to see her home and happy.
Thanks to you all for your prayers, which have helped her and sustained me :-)
She is able to negotiate the stairs slowly but safely, and is enjoying gently pottering around her home. We did her shopping for her today, so she has plenty of food at home, and she is already planning menus !
It is so good to see her home and happy.
Thanks to you all for your prayers, which have helped her and sustained me :-)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
For Mothers
For Mothers everywhere, who may be feeling down.......
go read this
It will cheer you up and possibly make you teary.....but it is well worth a read.
go read this
It will cheer you up and possibly make you teary.....but it is well worth a read.
Family Update
Cousin Scott is very much improved and now has been told he doesn't need to go to the Specialist Spinal Unit, which is nothing short of a miracle. He still has a long and painful road to recovery, but it looks much more hopeful for him now.
Mum is .....amazing ! She has paced herself carefully, and as a result she is now the proud possessor of her very own Zimmer frame and is zooming all over her ward.
She has been assessed by the physiotherapist and occupational helath workers; she has been able to go up and down a flight of stairs, albeit very slowly and carefully, and they are happy she can manage safely at home. She just needs the go-ahead from the medics, but we are hoping she will be home on the weekend, God willing.
Mum is .....amazing ! She has paced herself carefully, and as a result she is now the proud possessor of her very own Zimmer frame and is zooming all over her ward.
She has been assessed by the physiotherapist and occupational helath workers; she has been able to go up and down a flight of stairs, albeit very slowly and carefully, and they are happy she can manage safely at home. She just needs the go-ahead from the medics, but we are hoping she will be home on the weekend, God willing.
Annunciation Woes
I hope you all had a blessed Feast.
We did something so dumb that I am hesitant to write it even now.
Last week, DH decided to book the dog of doom in for his vaccinations, which are about due now. The appointment was duly made. I did not process the date, just the day of the week we needed to take him.......
I checked the Church service schedule a few days later, and found to our joint delight that there was an 8am Liturgy in the Chapel on the Feast. DH is on holiday this week, so we could all go. I alerted my beloved godmother, and we were all systems go. Till I realised that the date DH had booked the dog in for his shots was......9.30 am **on the Feast**.
And of course, because it was Weaster, the vet's was shut all over the weekend and Monday, so I couldn't call to cancel the appointment, and we could not hope to get back in time from Liturgy.
And Liturgy would be completely over and everyone gone home before we could get there, if we went after taking Basil to the vet.
I phoned Father , very shamefaced, and he understood.
I was mortified at my foolishness. And disappointed. And CROSS !
I wish I lived in an Orthodox country where Western Easter would not complicate my life so much :-)
The dog got his shots , BTW, and it cost us £60. Gulp.
We did something so dumb that I am hesitant to write it even now.
Last week, DH decided to book the dog of doom in for his vaccinations, which are about due now. The appointment was duly made. I did not process the date, just the day of the week we needed to take him.......
I checked the Church service schedule a few days later, and found to our joint delight that there was an 8am Liturgy in the Chapel on the Feast. DH is on holiday this week, so we could all go. I alerted my beloved godmother, and we were all systems go. Till I realised that the date DH had booked the dog in for his shots was......9.30 am **on the Feast**.
And of course, because it was Weaster, the vet's was shut all over the weekend and Monday, so I couldn't call to cancel the appointment, and we could not hope to get back in time from Liturgy.
And Liturgy would be completely over and everyone gone home before we could get there, if we went after taking Basil to the vet.
I phoned Father , very shamefaced, and he understood.
I was mortified at my foolishness. And disappointed. And CROSS !
I wish I lived in an Orthodox country where Western Easter would not complicate my life so much :-)
The dog got his shots , BTW, and it cost us £60. Gulp.
I'm Eeyore !
H/T to Philippa for alerting about this quiz.
I am Eeyore, which i have suspected for quite some time now :-)
I am Eeyore, which i have suspected for quite some time now :-)
Your Score: Eeyore
You scored 14 Ego, 17 Anxiety, and 12 Agency!
"Do you know what A means, little Piglet?"
"No, Eeyore, I don't."
"It means Learning, it means Education, it means all the things that you and Pooh haven't got. That's what A means."
"Oh," said Piglet again. "I mean, does it?" he explained quickly.
"I'm telling you. People come and go in this Forest, and they say, 'It's only Eeyore, so it doesn't count.' They walk to and fro saying 'Ha ha!' But do they know anything about A? They don't. It's just three sticks to them. But to the Educated--mark this, little Piglet--to the Educated, not meaning Poohs and Piglets, it's a great and glorious A.
You scored as Eeyore!
ABOUT EEYORE: Eeyore lives in his own thistley corner of the forest and wonders why people don't come to visit him more often. He is master of the Guilt Trip, and is always gently forgiving his visitors for neglecting him. Eeyore considers himself to be smarter than the other inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood, and is often exasperated by their habit of having adventures and general merriment.
WHAT THIS SAYS ABOUT YOU: You are an anxious person, and you tend to expect the worst. Your friends find you somewhat cynical at times, because you have found that it is best to expect disappointment. You often feel unappreciated by the people you work with, but you rarely actually try and do anything to change that fact.
Your close friends admire you more than you think they do. They wish that you would learn to stop worrying so much and actually start trying to fix what is bothering you. If something is making you unhappy... change it!
| Link: The Deep and Meaningful Winnie-The-Pooh Character Test written by wolfcaroling on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test View My Profile(wolfcaroling) |
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Comments About The British Museum
Philippa,
the Holy Thorn of John , Duc du Berry, is believed to be a relic from Christ's Crown of Thorns.
Sol,
The British Museum is indeed 100% free except for the special exhibitions such as the First Emperor's terracotta army. The next big "pay to visit" exhibition is "Hadrian: Empire and Conflict" which I quite fancy seeing.
the Holy Thorn of John , Duc du Berry, is believed to be a relic from Christ's Crown of Thorns.
Sol,
The British Museum is indeed 100% free except for the special exhibitions such as the First Emperor's terracotta army. The next big "pay to visit" exhibition is "Hadrian: Empire and Conflict" which I quite fancy seeing.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Our Weekend
Mum has not had such good days over the weekend; she has not been able to walk but has been able to sit out in a chair for a few hours each day.
It really is a case of two steps forward and one step back.
The girls had a ridiculous number of Easter eggs from various non-Orthodox relatives celebrating "Weaster" (as Western Easter is affectionately known in the family) so they were rationed to one each yesterday :-)
The weather has been unreal; a small town near us had snow, as did many parts of the UK, though we escaped with rain and sleet and bitter cold.
It was surreal seeing TV footage of London in the snow, when we were there on Tuesday and it was warm :-)
It really is a case of two steps forward and one step back.
The girls had a ridiculous number of Easter eggs from various non-Orthodox relatives celebrating "Weaster" (as Western Easter is affectionately known in the family) so they were rationed to one each yesterday :-)
The weather has been unreal; a small town near us had snow, as did many parts of the UK, though we escaped with rain and sleet and bitter cold.
It was surreal seeing TV footage of London in the snow, when we were there on Tuesday and it was warm :-)
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Egyptian Frescoes
The Purpose Of The Visit !
Things We Saw At The British Museum
Friday, March 21, 2008
Happy Dance !
I am doing the Happy Dance; Mum is so very much better !
She is still in hospital and is likely to be there most of next week too, but today she was able to get out of bed for the first time in a week. She has managed four steps using a Zimmer walking frame, which they are very pleased about at this stage in her recovery.
The doctors have tweaked all her medication and done various vile things involving joints and very large needles (gulp), but she is on the mend. Her oxygen has finally been discontinued.
The Rheumatologist said he had never seen such a bad attack of gout (simultaneously affecting both feet, both knees, one hand ) in his 25+ years as a doctor, and she has been used as a teaching case to a visiting group of new medics , which amused her no end.
Cousin Scott is stable and has been transferred to the nearest Specialist Spinal Injury Unit.
DH's aunt has breast cancer and now needs to decide whether to opt for a lumpectomy + chemo or a mastectomy with no chemo.
I did go - at Mum's insistence- with the children to see the Terracotta Army and it was wonderful:-)
She is still in hospital and is likely to be there most of next week too, but today she was able to get out of bed for the first time in a week. She has managed four steps using a Zimmer walking frame, which they are very pleased about at this stage in her recovery.
The doctors have tweaked all her medication and done various vile things involving joints and very large needles (gulp), but she is on the mend. Her oxygen has finally been discontinued.
The Rheumatologist said he had never seen such a bad attack of gout (simultaneously affecting both feet, both knees, one hand ) in his 25+ years as a doctor, and she has been used as a teaching case to a visiting group of new medics , which amused her no end.
Cousin Scott is stable and has been transferred to the nearest Specialist Spinal Injury Unit.
DH's aunt has breast cancer and now needs to decide whether to opt for a lumpectomy + chemo or a mastectomy with no chemo.
I did go - at Mum's insistence- with the children to see the Terracotta Army and it was wonderful:-)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thank You !
Unrest
There is unrest in the East End of London.
Christian priests are being targeted by Asian gangs and physically assulted for being Christians.
"A clergyman is in hospital after he was beaten up in his churchyard by three Asian youths, in an incident which police are treating as a "faith-hate" attack.
Canon Michael Ainsworth, 57, asked the gang to keep their noise down but they turned on him, taunting him about his faith and hitting him in the face and body.
He was found slumped in the churchyard of St George-in-the-East in Stepney, east London. Police said the gang made "remarks insulting his occupation" before fleeing.
A parishioner said: "There was blood everywhere. All the church members are in shock. Our canon is such a nice man who has done so much for the parish."
Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack on March 5. No arrests have been made. Mr Ainsworth was initially treated in hospital and given the all-clear, but has since returned for further treatment after feeling unwell.
The canon, a former member of the Church of England's General Synod, moved to the area from Manchester last year. Colleagues said that his appointment was designed to improve the parish, which has a large Bangladeshi Muslim population and high levels of unemployment.
The Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, Bishop of Hulme, who used to work with Mr Ainsworth, said: "I would want to see a condemnation of this cowardly behaviour by senior Muslims in the community and really hope there isn't an over-reaction from the white community."
A survey of London clergy by National Churchwatch, which provides personal safety advice, found that nearly half said they had been attacked in the previous 12 months. The organisation suggested that vicars should consider taking off their dog collars when they are on their own." (borrowed from the Daily Telegraph website.)
I would also point you to a blog I read regularly, by the priest of St Peter's, London Docks, where he describes his own experiences of being attacked by gangs of Asian youths, who seem to hate Jews and Christian equally.
It is rapidly becoming dangerous to be a Christian in this country.
Christian priests are being targeted by Asian gangs and physically assulted for being Christians.
"A clergyman is in hospital after he was beaten up in his churchyard by three Asian youths, in an incident which police are treating as a "faith-hate" attack.
Canon Michael Ainsworth, 57, asked the gang to keep their noise down but they turned on him, taunting him about his faith and hitting him in the face and body.
He was found slumped in the churchyard of St George-in-the-East in Stepney, east London. Police said the gang made "remarks insulting his occupation" before fleeing.
A parishioner said: "There was blood everywhere. All the church members are in shock. Our canon is such a nice man who has done so much for the parish."
Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack on March 5. No arrests have been made. Mr Ainsworth was initially treated in hospital and given the all-clear, but has since returned for further treatment after feeling unwell.
The canon, a former member of the Church of England's General Synod, moved to the area from Manchester last year. Colleagues said that his appointment was designed to improve the parish, which has a large Bangladeshi Muslim population and high levels of unemployment.
The Rt Rev Stephen Lowe, Bishop of Hulme, who used to work with Mr Ainsworth, said: "I would want to see a condemnation of this cowardly behaviour by senior Muslims in the community and really hope there isn't an over-reaction from the white community."
A survey of London clergy by National Churchwatch, which provides personal safety advice, found that nearly half said they had been attacked in the previous 12 months. The organisation suggested that vicars should consider taking off their dog collars when they are on their own." (borrowed from the Daily Telegraph website.)
I would also point you to a blog I read regularly, by the priest of St Peter's, London Docks, where he describes his own experiences of being attacked by gangs of Asian youths, who seem to hate Jews and Christian equally.
It is rapidly becoming dangerous to be a Christian in this country.
Decisions...
When I visited Mum last night, she was **much** brighter in herself, and has been able to eat and drink a little more. She is still completely bedbound.
Her pain is still troublesome, and the inflammation and swelling has affected other joints, so the steroids have not made any difference so far, but it is early days.
She is dependant upon oxygen via facemask to maintain normal blood oxygen saturation levels, which is worrying, as they can't figure out why she is having that particular problem either.
She will most likely be in hospital all this week.
We are still waiting for the Rheumatologist to make an appearance; he was supposed to see her lunchtime Monday, but had not turned up when I left at 8pm last night.
The nursing staff are absolutely wonderful to Mum, and the delightful doctor who admitted her into A&E made a point of coming up to see her on the ward on Monday too, to see how she was :-)
Mum has posed me with a dilemma; several months ago, she booked for herself, myself and DD3 to go to see the Terracotta Army exhibition at the British Museum in London. Because she was feeling under the weather, she decided a few weeks ago that she wouldn't go, but for me to take DD3+4 .
We are supposed to be going Wednesday; last night she was absolutely adamant that I must take them, as they have been really looking forward to it and it is unlikely that the Exhibition will come to Britain again for at least another generation, and we are even more unlikely ever to make it to China to see them "in situ".
I told her I would decide what I was doing when I see how she is when I am visting her on Tuesday afternoon. If Mum is any worse than she was Monday, DH can take the girls instead of me, if needed.
No news about Scott yet; he was going to surgery yesterday afternoon/evening.
DH's relative has been found to have a potentially major health problem, so we are waiting on test results due Thursday.
And I am turning into a rampant insomniac. I was awake at 3am this morning and came downstairs instead. I have been like this since Wednesday last week, managing about 4-5 hours sleep per day.
Her pain is still troublesome, and the inflammation and swelling has affected other joints, so the steroids have not made any difference so far, but it is early days.
She is dependant upon oxygen via facemask to maintain normal blood oxygen saturation levels, which is worrying, as they can't figure out why she is having that particular problem either.
She will most likely be in hospital all this week.
We are still waiting for the Rheumatologist to make an appearance; he was supposed to see her lunchtime Monday, but had not turned up when I left at 8pm last night.
The nursing staff are absolutely wonderful to Mum, and the delightful doctor who admitted her into A&E made a point of coming up to see her on the ward on Monday too, to see how she was :-)
Mum has posed me with a dilemma; several months ago, she booked for herself, myself and DD3 to go to see the Terracotta Army exhibition at the British Museum in London. Because she was feeling under the weather, she decided a few weeks ago that she wouldn't go, but for me to take DD3+4 .
We are supposed to be going Wednesday; last night she was absolutely adamant that I must take them, as they have been really looking forward to it and it is unlikely that the Exhibition will come to Britain again for at least another generation, and we are even more unlikely ever to make it to China to see them "in situ".
I told her I would decide what I was doing when I see how she is when I am visting her on Tuesday afternoon. If Mum is any worse than she was Monday, DH can take the girls instead of me, if needed.
No news about Scott yet; he was going to surgery yesterday afternoon/evening.
DH's relative has been found to have a potentially major health problem, so we are waiting on test results due Thursday.
And I am turning into a rampant insomniac. I was awake at 3am this morning and came downstairs instead. I have been like this since Wednesday last week, managing about 4-5 hours sleep per day.
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