SOME DEVON SCENERY

(from our recent visit there. Click on any picture to enlarge it)

Cliffs at Burgh Island

Slapton Sands

Beesands

Now this is supposed to look like a great cliff in the Nile Valley. In fact it is only about 2 metres high.

Go to church and pray if you want to be happy.
I read this article in today' newspaper, which corroborates what I have always instinctively believed, though it does raise as many questions as it answers. I have added at the bottom a thoughtful comment from one internet reader


Faith makes you happy, say scientists
Those with religious beliefs are likely to be happier than atheists or agnostics.
Research suggests religion can act as an "insurance policy" against the adversities of life.
Regular churchgoers also appear to cope better with events such as divorce or unemployment and may even be happier.
The study, presented yesterday at the Royal Economic Society's annual conference in Coventry, used data from across Europe to investigate the effect of being religious on life satisfaction, as well as attitudes towards government policies.
Although the idea of religious belief as a "fortress" was not new, "this issue of insurance has surprisingly received only limited attention", the report's authors said.
The study concluded that the "stress-buffering" effect varies according to the life event and religious denomination, but "churchgoing and prayer are also associated with greater satisfaction".
Authors Professor Andrew Clark and Dr Orsolya Lelkes also found strong faith led to different political attitudes. The religious were less supportive of unemployment benefits. Religion could even influence the evolution of social and economic institutions, they said.

A reader's comment:
I would assume that one would need true faith in order for this to be true. If that is the case then it's not simply a lifestyle choice but something far deeper. What about those of us whose intellect does not allow for religious faith? Are we all doomed to unhappiness then?

The canal at Bath

I took this picture on the Kennet and Avon Canal where it passes through Sydney Gardens in Bath. The picture is enhanced by the smoke from a garden bonfire. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

With Anton and Erin

Aficionados of ‘Strictly come Dancing’ will appreciate this picture of us with celebrity dancers Erin Boag and Anton du Beke at a dinner-dance at Westonbirt recently.

Babbacombe

A day out at Babbacombe Model Village near Torquay, with our daughter Jan and grandchildren Grace, Eva and Jacob

At Work

On Fridays I work at the Corsham Debt Advice Centre

Another milestone

We were privileged to host a party for Wendy's older sister Shirley and her husband George, when they celebrated their Ruby Wedding.

Rosie meets Sindbad

Another doting grandparent entry . . . . .

Sindbad the parrot lives in a house in Devonport, and we just happened to meet him as we walked by. Apparently Sindbad gets seasick, so he would be useless on the shoulder of Long John Silver!

Rosie on safer territory at home with Debs

UPLYME - family weekend away

Waves breaking over the Cobb at Lyme Regis

Sitting in fresh air and wind

David and Lubin

Sean and Andy focussing all their substantial intelligence on a Playstation game

Debs and Rosie

Wendy reading to her disciples.

FROST

A comment for our viewers from abroad: global warming seems to have prevented us from having any snow yet this winter, but we have had some frosts. The upper picture was taken in Wadswick Lane, near our home, and the lower one on our drive. Click on the picture to enlarge it and see the delicate frost-patterns on the car roof.

Isaac and Lubin: Christmas 2007

Isaac has Leila's snake Frankie round his neck.

FIRST BIRTHDAYS
We went down to Plymouth for a joint celebration of the first birthdays of Rosie (Andrew and Deb's daughter)and Lubin (David and Frances' second son)

CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Two pictures taken in early November when we visited the Lox Lane retreat Centre near Shaftesbury, and two pictures taken at the dedication of Miriam Ovens and the twins Matthew and Benjamin Everett.

A touch of Autumn

We have been able to take advantage of recent good weather to get out into the countryside and enjoy the autumn leaves.

Karen

A new friend of ours, Karen Smith, was baptised at our church (Priory Street Baptist Church, Corsham) last week. Karen became a committed Christian quite recently, and she wanted to make this bold statement of her faith at this time, becase the day afterwards she had to be hospitalised for intensive chemotherapy in the hope of extending her life.

Cousin Eve Lockett had her 50th birthday celebration at the end of September. (Click on pictures to enlarge). The cake was designed to look like a medieval book.....

Martin and Cathy

Our friends Martin and Cathy Donovan were married in Uganda in January, and had their marriage blessed in our church in September.

North Cornwall

The well-known 'Harbour Light' shop by the river in Boscastle was completely destroyed in the floods in August 2004. When we went on a short break to Cornwall recently we were delighted to see how well it has been rebuilt. It is now a cafe, and 'Harbour Light' has moved to a shop on the other side of the river.

The Camel estuary near Rock.

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Isaac and Lubin

Isaac, not to be outdone by Leila having snakes, has his own snake, which appears to have given birth to several spaghetti babies!

Wendy with Lubin

Leila
Leila has passed her exams and is now a qualified electrician! She passed on 13th September, which happened to be her 28th birthday. Here she is relaxing with Charlie the pheasant earlier in the year.

A mini-break

Cousin Mary Thurlow lent us the use of her flat in Southsea whilst she was away. Much appreciated! Apart from our visit to Chichester (see previous blog entry), we went to Osborne House (above) on the Isle of Wight - this was once owned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; and to Portchester Castle (below). The walls in the distance date back to Roman times. This picture is taken from the top of the keep. Click on pictures to enlarge them.

Ebenezer Prior Ltd

We visited Chichester recently to do some research on the family business of "Ebenezer Prior Ltd, Woolstaplers and Fellmongers" which used to have its headquarters in Tower Street. Chichester Museum has a small display dedicated to the firm and in it we were pleased to see the following quotation:

 "No better firm could be found than Messrs Ebenezer Prior Ltd at Chichester. Their offices in Bradford give the manufacturers of the North access to supplies that are the best that can be bought in England." (British Industries Review, March 1924)

The premises have long since been demolished, but on the site are these two reminders of what was once there...

A thought for the day

(for my Christian readers). A phrase from the Lord’s prayer says “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” I have often thought of this as a prayer for God’s Kingdom to come at some stage in the future, and this is partly true. However, as we Christians are citizens of the Kingdom of God, whenever we bring peace to the anxious, grace to the needy, company to the lonely or love to others, we act as agents of the Kingdom here and now. This is first and foremost the most likely way in which people will see the love of God at work in this world, and some may be impressed enough to follow suit and believe in God too. Thus our own actions can help to make this prayer self-fulfilling.

Grandchildren and grandsnakes, August 2007

Jacob enjoying his food

Above: Grace, Frankie the big grandsnake, Wendy and Eva

Below: Zippy, a new baby grandsnake. There is another one called George too.