The big question by November 2008 was whether Group 35 could sensibly travel
at all during the 2009 pilgrimage. Two of our long established helpers had
married and their good news of a first baby due around Easter meant
that they could not come to Lourdes then though all 3 expect to
pilgrimage with the Group in 2010. Many other helpers simply
could not afford the swingeing fares' hikes, which coupled with the devaluation of
the £ sterling against the Euro, means that cost became a far
bigger issue than normal.
I put on hold, the recruiting of child pilgrims but with Paul the
Deputy leader, deferred taking the decision about whether to travel until
December to provide time for prayers and research.
Happily a school half way down
the A3 trunk road from Wimbledon almost immediately answered our request for volunteers
just in time for the Regional Preparation day so HCPT Group 35 is up and running.
We have just finished the Group pre-pilgrimage get to gether, where the enthusiasm
and atmosphere were so positive that 2009 is surely going to be
every bit as fulfilling for Child and Helper pilgrims alike
as all other past years have been.
Very pleased that the recession did not cause the Group to
stand down for 2009.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
On The Waterfront
Attending the matinee preformance of the Steven Berkoff directed
On The Waterfront at Theatre Royal Haymarket yesterday was especially
enjoyable as we were joined by mr and mrs headmaster for the afternoon.
The enjoyment was enhanced by theTheatre upgrading our Gallery
tickets to four really well placed seats in the Royal Circle.
The play's action is set in the New York Docks of the 1950s
when the Catholic Church or at least one of two
good priests made a huge difference to the lives of many
Irish dockworkers whose pay was being drained away by
corrupt gang masters. The special effects were largely
created by the cast themselves. Thus a fantastic scene took
place in a pigeon loft where the cooing and wing flapping
atmosphere of the pigeons was cleverly created by
the human cast.
Another almost menacing piece of theatre was created by two
impeccably besuited memebers of the cast at the edge of the stage
commencing a slow walk in perfect time with each other
then picking up others as they moved around.
A motor car engine idling
atmosphere was likewise created by the cast humming and drumming
and picking up speed with the car acceleration climaxing
with its death crash at speed.
Good Church politics featured too, based on the tensions
between the priests who like to stay in their Church with
their brother priests' view that that "the Church" is
everywhere where the people are - sort of John Boscoe-like.
Afterwards London's much criticised but nonetheless
normally very efficient public transport system whisked
us all back to Wimbledon and supper...
On The Waterfront at Theatre Royal Haymarket yesterday was especially
enjoyable as we were joined by mr and mrs headmaster for the afternoon.
The enjoyment was enhanced by theTheatre upgrading our Gallery
tickets to four really well placed seats in the Royal Circle.
The play's action is set in the New York Docks of the 1950s
when the Catholic Church or at least one of two
good priests made a huge difference to the lives of many
Irish dockworkers whose pay was being drained away by
corrupt gang masters. The special effects were largely
created by the cast themselves. Thus a fantastic scene took
place in a pigeon loft where the cooing and wing flapping
atmosphere of the pigeons was cleverly created by
the human cast.
Another almost menacing piece of theatre was created by two
impeccably besuited memebers of the cast at the edge of the stage
commencing a slow walk in perfect time with each other
then picking up others as they moved around.
A motor car engine idling
atmosphere was likewise created by the cast humming and drumming
and picking up speed with the car acceleration climaxing
with its death crash at speed.
Good Church politics featured too, based on the tensions
between the priests who like to stay in their Church with
their brother priests' view that that "the Church" is
everywhere where the people are - sort of John Boscoe-like.
Afterwards London's much criticised but nonetheless
normally very efficient public transport system whisked
us all back to Wimbledon and supper...
Wimbledon 10k Road Race 22nd March 2009
Brilliant sunshine at 08:30 hours this morning I assumed would
mean that there would be a larger than usual crowd turning out for
the Wimbledon 10k this year. That assumption was soon confirmed
when the 57 bus sailed by the stop at the end of our home street in SW20
too full even for one more runner. Subsequently on being given a lift
to the Wimbledon Rugby Club start by mrs maytrees, the organisers
announced that the line up was full and that no more could join.
I had previously registered online but younger brother was fortunate enough to
to be able to join on the morning just before the list closed.
The course was slightly different this year with more of the early
section being run through the rugby pitches compared with
last years mass start on local roads. The glorious weather made
running conditions almost ideal but also different from 2008 was
the impatience of motorists. Sitting behind a driving wheel
in a car with engine idling aching to accelerate I suppose
brings out road rage tendencies in some but the larger the car
the louder the car horns and the smaller the driver's consideration
for other appeared to be.
Just as I was running past the foot of Edge Hill mrs maytrees
with sister-in-law on their way to Sunday Mass gave me an encouraging
cheer.
Up Wimbledon Hill - "what hill?" mr headmaster used to say at that point
which had the desired psychological effect.
Running through Wimbledon Village at about 09:50 and seeing the
Mothering Sunday coffee and breakfast takers already enjoying the
morning sunshine reminded me how simply
being alive in SW19 and SW20 on such a morning, is a privilege.
Another improvement on the course route was to turn right
over the Common towards Cannizaro House before the left turn back
for Raynes Park and Durham Road. My time then benefitted from
taking the pace of a younger runnner who told me that
this was her first race before she edged ahead. Then in the
final strait between the rugby posts, younger
brother caught me up. Although I crossed the line ahead
of him his Chip time was I'd guess some 20 seconds better
than mine.
Breakfast at the Windmill made for a great end to the morning's
race.
A BIG THANK YOU to all sponsors who enabled me to raise over £1600 for
the Sacred Heart Wimbledon Catholic Parish Appeal.
mean that there would be a larger than usual crowd turning out for
the Wimbledon 10k this year. That assumption was soon confirmed
when the 57 bus sailed by the stop at the end of our home street in SW20
too full even for one more runner. Subsequently on being given a lift
to the Wimbledon Rugby Club start by mrs maytrees, the organisers
announced that the line up was full and that no more could join.
I had previously registered online but younger brother was fortunate enough to
to be able to join on the morning just before the list closed.
The course was slightly different this year with more of the early
section being run through the rugby pitches compared with
last years mass start on local roads. The glorious weather made
running conditions almost ideal but also different from 2008 was
the impatience of motorists. Sitting behind a driving wheel
in a car with engine idling aching to accelerate I suppose
brings out road rage tendencies in some but the larger the car
the louder the car horns and the smaller the driver's consideration
for other appeared to be.
Just as I was running past the foot of Edge Hill mrs maytrees
with sister-in-law on their way to Sunday Mass gave me an encouraging
cheer.
Up Wimbledon Hill - "what hill?" mr headmaster used to say at that point
which had the desired psychological effect.
Running through Wimbledon Village at about 09:50 and seeing the
Mothering Sunday coffee and breakfast takers already enjoying the
morning sunshine reminded me how simply
being alive in SW19 and SW20 on such a morning, is a privilege.
Another improvement on the course route was to turn right
over the Common towards Cannizaro House before the left turn back
for Raynes Park and Durham Road. My time then benefitted from
taking the pace of a younger runnner who told me that
this was her first race before she edged ahead. Then in the
final strait between the rugby posts, younger
brother caught me up. Although I crossed the line ahead
of him his Chip time was I'd guess some 20 seconds better
than mine.
Breakfast at the Windmill made for a great end to the morning's
race.
A BIG THANK YOU to all sponsors who enabled me to raise over £1600 for
the Sacred Heart Wimbledon Catholic Parish Appeal.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
All Paths Arrive at the Same Destination - Even Red Nosed Ones
The above can be used , to convey the idea that although our
earthly routes towards being fulfilled by God's 100% love are all different,
everyone will get to that same point of fulfillment in the end; or being in
a reflective mood at present, at the end of the begining.
But I was thinking more of the extraordinary popularity and success
of the UK's Red Nose Day which seems to last for days but I think
was officially on Friday 13th March 2009.
The BBC reports a record £57m raised for charities and worthy causes in 2009.
Unfortunately the red nosed path
completely passes me by although raising money for charity
of course does not. Much of what many people seem to regard as funny or
entertaining I find unfunny or even boring. Certainly Red Nose
Day stuff does not inspire me to give to worthy causes.
On the other hand doing something painful in order to raise
money for charity does appeal. For example Sarah Outen plans to row across the Indian Ocean soon in memory of her father who died in 2006 - amazing and
inspiring but probably not a little mad too. Or the mass appeal
of the London Marathon. All those blisters, pain and health risks even
to the extent of passing out yet 32,000 people have a go
annually and raised c. £32m between them in 2002 so the total
in 2009 might be similar to the Red Nosers.
The rowers and runners appeal to me but not the Red Nosers
yet their aims are similar. At the end of the day a family
say in Darfur, fed with charity money, is not going to be
bothered about whether the money came from sponsoring
a London Marathon Runner or a BBC Red Nose show.
Both paths lead to the same end of putting food in
the mouths of the hugely needy.
earthly routes towards being fulfilled by God's 100% love are all different,
everyone will get to that same point of fulfillment in the end; or being in
a reflective mood at present, at the end of the begining.
But I was thinking more of the extraordinary popularity and success
of the UK's Red Nose Day which seems to last for days but I think
was officially on Friday 13th March 2009.
The BBC reports a record £57m raised for charities and worthy causes in 2009.
Unfortunately the red nosed path
completely passes me by although raising money for charity
of course does not. Much of what many people seem to regard as funny or
entertaining I find unfunny or even boring. Certainly Red Nose
Day stuff does not inspire me to give to worthy causes.
On the other hand doing something painful in order to raise
money for charity does appeal. For example Sarah Outen plans to row across the Indian Ocean soon in memory of her father who died in 2006 - amazing and
inspiring but probably not a little mad too. Or the mass appeal
of the London Marathon. All those blisters, pain and health risks even
to the extent of passing out yet 32,000 people have a go
annually and raised c. £32m between them in 2002 so the total
in 2009 might be similar to the Red Nosers.
The rowers and runners appeal to me but not the Red Nosers
yet their aims are similar. At the end of the day a family
say in Darfur, fed with charity money, is not going to be
bothered about whether the money came from sponsoring
a London Marathon Runner or a BBC Red Nose show.
Both paths lead to the same end of putting food in
the mouths of the hugely needy.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Faith Hope and Credit Crunch
Straitened financial times continue worldwide and the sombre mood
is perhaps coincidentally, reflected in the current Christian season
of lent.
Lent of course contains within its depth the huge spark of hope
and expectation of the celebration of the Spirit to come. The consequences
of the economic recessionary climate however can seem so dire - loss of
income; collapse of personal savings and pension funds and home repossessions
to name but a few - that it's hard for many to feel any optimism.
Yet a good thing about Lent is that when taking time out from
all that secular striving, to visit Church, the
atmosphere of reflection and optimisism that prevails there
seems then to spread out to all that busy-ness outside, lessening the burdens
the latter somehow.
Worries about the immediacy of the world's and personal tribulations
are eased by letting in the bigger picture.
Lent for me is all about hope and the bigger picture
is perhaps coincidentally, reflected in the current Christian season
of lent.
Lent of course contains within its depth the huge spark of hope
and expectation of the celebration of the Spirit to come. The consequences
of the economic recessionary climate however can seem so dire - loss of
income; collapse of personal savings and pension funds and home repossessions
to name but a few - that it's hard for many to feel any optimism.
Yet a good thing about Lent is that when taking time out from
all that secular striving, to visit Church, the
atmosphere of reflection and optimisism that prevails there
seems then to spread out to all that busy-ness outside, lessening the burdens
the latter somehow.
Worries about the immediacy of the world's and personal tribulations
are eased by letting in the bigger picture.
Lent for me is all about hope and the bigger picture
Sunday, March 01, 2009
St Pancras International to Brussels Midi 28/02/2009
Our 2008 Christmas gift of a day return trip to Brussels via Eurostar
was taken yesterday. St Pancras is a great station with its only
drawback being the slightly longer journey than to the old
Waterloo Eurostar terminal.
The travel was hassle free and very fast - two hours and ten minutes from the
British terminal to the Belgian one. Surprisingly Brussels Midi station
seemed dingy and dirty by comparison with both London Waterloo and St Prancas
stations. However the Eurostar train tickets are valid for onward travel
within Belgium but not in the UK.
With only an afternoon to spare we headed for La Grand Place, the wonderful world
heritage square in the heart of Brussels where we were also lucky enough
to come across the unpretentious L'Estaminet restuarant. There we enjoyed
some moules et frites and a couple of really
delicious local bieres blanc.
The devaluation of the £ made the cost horrendously
expensive - ok for a day but any summer holiday this year will have to
be UK based.
A crowded carnival with clowns etc was passing by outside
as we wandered round the old
Bourse. I chuckled inwardly at the thought that in London the clowns
often appear to be inside the stock exchange.
A quick tourist whirl around
old Churches like St Nicholas, the Mannikin Pis,
the chocolate museum and the afternoon was soon gone.
A great awayday but London is wonderful to return to.
was taken yesterday. St Pancras is a great station with its only
drawback being the slightly longer journey than to the old
Waterloo Eurostar terminal.
The travel was hassle free and very fast - two hours and ten minutes from the
British terminal to the Belgian one. Surprisingly Brussels Midi station
seemed dingy and dirty by comparison with both London Waterloo and St Prancas
stations. However the Eurostar train tickets are valid for onward travel
within Belgium but not in the UK.
With only an afternoon to spare we headed for La Grand Place, the wonderful world
heritage square in the heart of Brussels where we were also lucky enough
to come across the unpretentious L'Estaminet restuarant. There we enjoyed
some moules et frites and a couple of really
delicious local bieres blanc.
The devaluation of the £ made the cost horrendously
expensive - ok for a day but any summer holiday this year will have to
be UK based.
A crowded carnival with clowns etc was passing by outside
as we wandered round the old
Bourse. I chuckled inwardly at the thought that in London the clowns
often appear to be inside the stock exchange.
A quick tourist whirl around
old Churches like St Nicholas, the Mannikin Pis,
the chocolate museum and the afternoon was soon gone.
A great awayday but London is wonderful to return to.
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