This mornings breakfast consisted of:-

Bacon Rinds - i'm sure they were Kosher!
A little out of date (he means moldy) white sliced
followed by Angel Layer Cake (best before date 01 JAN 2006), well one of the rugrats had a slice the other evening - no side effects, so it must be okay for the birdies.

The stupid Pigeons (do you get the impression, that they are not my favourite birdies) push their beaks into the cake, seem to lift it up, shake it so it lands all over the place, and then eat whats in their mouths. Whereas the Sparrows and Blackbirs are far more 'refined diners'

Lets have some examples of WHY? presents.

This Christmas I received a very nice present, now bare in mind, that my speach is not great, slurred and sometimes the words just don't come out in the write order ..... so..... I get a Book of How to give After Dinner Speaches

Dear Friends (23)

The Patio doors are a little dirty from the rain, and mud encrusted snowballs which were thrown at it, but that is not enough to muddy my vision through them. The garden lays beyond in readiness and waiting, preparing itself for Spring, in fact there are a few buds starting to appear already, silly weather and even the pigeons are starting to get “fruity” with each other.

The last few mornings the Patio has been packed full of Sparrows, Tits, Blackbirds and Pigeons, all waiting expectantly for the arrival of the stale bread and muffins. They almost seem to be telling me off for not having their breakfast already prepared for them and out on time. (You just can’t get the staff these days)

In the corner, protected from the frost we have an oak sapling, which one of the children planted many years ago. The poor thing held onto it’s leaves until the very last moment, almost as if it were taking care of it’s children until the last. I started to ponder whether I was preventing it from growing and developing to it’s full potential, bound in it‘s small pot, surely, “from little acorns, great oaks grow” well - was I preventing it from becoming that great oak? It all seemed to have a double meaning, for our family crest is an arm outstretched from a coronet, holding an branch of oak, so, if I am the gardener looking after those saplings, as my children, surely I should not hold them back, I should plant them out with good strong solid roots, so they are prepared for the strongest of gales!

Well Christmas seems to be a long way off and once again, I wonder how long before the Children get the Argos catalogue out again, they seem to be good at preparation, Thomas has already announced where we are going on holiday this year, funny, it was news to Mum and Dad!

I am preparing myself for what I hope will be the last set of visits to a new doctor in Birmingham, he specialises in movement disorders, whereas all the others, so I’ve found out, where general neurologists and hopefully we will be able to put this whole episode to bed or start to manage it in the right way.

But, (yes I know you should never start a sentence with but) without the journey my family and I been through over the last couple of years, I would not be where I am now, spiritual preparing myself, physically - well not all there yet, but better for the journey passed and the journey to follow.

I suppose, upon reflection this all started to grow and grow with Kate Mier’s sermon series about “One more step along the road”. These journeys seem to take a lot of preparation. During the last couple of years, I seem to have been making my sandwiches, getting numerous flasks of tea ready, picked and packed the best apples and I’m constantly checking my map and making sure the vehicle is in tip top condition. I’m sure I am now ready for the next part of the journey.

As I set myself out on the next part of the journey, I’m going to need the love and support of my family and friends, but as I hop onto that “Route master bus”, I’m going to need a friendly conductor and a wise driver, to guide me through the tricky parts of the journey.

Today, 24th January will be set in my mind for ever, as the following email which I sent to a dear friend explains:-

Hi There,

I just had to get this down on paper before some of the detail started to slip, not that I think it will.

On Sunday I had decided that I must find some way of getting over to Coventry Cathedral on Tuesday (today), I wanted to spend a lot of time in prayer and Bible reading, I suppose in preparation for Tim's visit tomorrow.

Well after about two hours on my knees, I felt refreshed so started to leave, when there was an announcement to join in a small act of worship for Reconciliation. I turned back round and sat down and after left the Cathedral.

It took me a while but I found myself at the bus stop by Holy Trinity, I had got a 30 minute wait for the next bus.

Suddenly, there appeared at the side of me a guy of my sort of age, of African origin, and he said "How are you today" I replied that I was not too good but how was he, he replied that he was very good. He very lightly placed his left hand on my shoulder and started to "mutter" under his breath. For some reason, I did not feel put out by his actions, I felt somewhat comforted, he must have kept his hand there for 15 minutes or so, but I then heard him say "Don't be frightened, don't worry" I could not tell him I felt far from either of those.

He said "excuse me, but what is wrong with you" I told him and he then once again placed his hand very lightly on my right hand which was holding my stick, his "mutterings" became slightly louder, I could tell he was praying, but it was not in a language I understood, perhaps it was French, but I certainly recognised it when he said Jesus Christ.

The bus started to appear at the stop, I needed to catch the bus, but somehow did not want to, I asked his name, which I afraid I could not understand, I held his hand and thanked him, with tears in my eyes, I said I would pray for him, and he said he would pray for me.

I have never felt so ..... I can't even think of the word to describe the experience, but I sat on the bus in disbelief, I had a feeling that I wanted to shout it out to the whole bus.

Just imagine if I had not stopped for the Litany of Reconciliation, I would have left the Cathedral and might have missed him, or was he meant to be there.

I do hope I remember today..... WOW What a God-incidence, here’s to the next one!!!!!

Paul
Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breath into me Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I always may be holy.

A little joke to end with:-

WIFE:
What would you do if I died? Would you get married again?
HUSBAND:
Definitely not!
WIFE:
Why not - don't you like being married?
HUSBAND:
Of course I do.
WIFE:
Then why wouldn't you remarry?
HUSBAND:
Okay, I'd get married again.
WIFE:
You would? (with a hurtful look on her face).
HUSBAND:
(makes audible groan).
WIFE:
Would you live in our house?
HUSBAND:
Sure, it's a great house.
WIFE:
Would you sleep with her in our bed?
HUSBAND:
Where else would we sleep?
WIFE:
Would you let her drive my car?
HUSBAND:
Probably, it is almost new.
WIFE:
Would you replace my pictures with hers?
HUSBAND:
That would seem like the proper thing to do..
WIFE:
Would she use my golf clubs?

HUSBAND:
No, she's left-handed.

WIFE:
- - silence - -

HUSBAND:
Whooooooooooooooooooops....

I don’t think he was prepared for that!

God Bless and Shalom
Paul

Planet Rock
Classic FM
Radio Four
Primetime
Radio 2
Radio 7
Capital Life
World Service
empty - trying to get Jazz FM
empty

Yes I have been caught with my head against the window in the train, as a passenger in a car whilst I was meant to be navigating. I have even been known catch some zzzzzzzzz on the bus. Who could not forget my party piece, which is falling asleep in the cinema. I have even fallen asleep at a piano recital given by a Vladimar Ashkinizsi (Yes I did not know who he was either, and I probally can't spell his name either)

Also thought I would change the name, sure alot of the postings I make are my "Letters from the Patio Doors" but there are more ad hoc postings as well, to understand the new name you will have to read the posting about "Rowing without Oars" I think it was August 2005.