The Front Door to my Sunday "Crib"

To All

Happy Ascension day

Shalom & God Bless

Paul

Following on from (Skip2468) posting about 'first chore of the day', thought I would let you know that the two chores I've got to do today are:-

Whilst ironing - Listening to the radio, I find it really annoying when the 'DJ' talks over the intro to a favourite piece of music or they don't time it right, and the music is cut short just before the news, on the hour

This morning saw, an assortment of plain and cinnamon Bagels on the lawn, cut into quarters, within minutes, Mummy or Daddy starlings were there feeding their children, with in twenty minutes the lot was gone.

I tried so hard to stay awake during this film, but I have to confess that I did, I only tended to come too when there was french being spoken.

What film/s send you to sleep?

With apologies to those bloggers who are just started their Winter's, here is a little reminder of what Spring looks like, sorry can't give an outside temperature, it got broken during the Winter.

This reminds me of the song from Fiddler on the Roof....

My young secretarial assistant (see previous blogs) was caught taking her lunch break the other day. She decided to get something to go, but they had run out of Dandelion Bagels!

I don't allow myself too many trips to the Chip shop these days, but when I get there I like, Spring roll and chips. I'm still looking for Deep fried Mars Bars, perhaps it's just a Glasgow thing!

What do you like?

Dear Friends (28)

Can I apologise in advance for any spelling or Grandma mistooks. I have read and re-read through this letter, but for some reason, my mind still hears a words in my head, but when it comes time to put it on the screen a totally different word comes out. It can make for some funny reading.

Second thing before we start, get a mug of tea or coffee ready, oh and don’t drink any when you get to the jokes. There funny, well that’s what are jokes meant to be, but you might end up xxxxxxxxx whilst you drink. Sorry the xxxxxx’s are a word which is in my head, but I can’t even thing what letter it begins with, and I’ve just noticed ten words back that thing should in fact be ‘think’.

D

I have been helping a family friend compile a history of the Akerman family, and as the old spoken history died some years ago, we have had to start over again.

My latest instalment from Ivor, shows a James Ackerman (see how we like to change the spelling of our name over the years), who was born in Sherbourne in Gloucestershire on the 29 June 1800. He and his wife Ann married in Burford, Oxfordshire in 1828. In the 1851 census it was reported that he is now a widower and in the Curbridge Workhouse in Burford with 3 of his seven children.

It’s surprising what can happen to you in your life, what twists and turns can suddenly happen, was he to know that life would find himself in a workhouse, with three of his children, why didn‘t he go and live with one of his other children, namely my Great Great Great Grandfather?

You can end up asking more questions than you first started out with, when you start a project like this.

I have just heard from another member of the family, (relation by marriage) that he can track his line back to the 1600’s.

All this work on the family tree has had me reflecting a lot this week about family in general; what does it actually mean to be part of a family. We live so much in the here and now, that I had not stopped before, to think about all my ancestors, what was, and what did family mean to them. They were perhaps more ’God fearing folk’ than we are today. My family were perhaps unaware of the broader church with all its differing traditions.

I really felt for the Father and his three children who ended up in the workhouse. I have always had a great love of social history, why did this family migrate to the other side of the Severn estuary, a long way from Witney, in the 17 and 1800’s families, I thought were a lot more nuclear, so what happened?

It’s only when you start to record each member of the family on a tree, that you realise that everyone has a place in it, without the branches of the family, and the roots, which are the ancestors, the tree would not be thriving and living today.

I suppose that, the growing and living tree, which offers protection to so many is not unlike the church. The church which has it’s own traditions, it’s own ancestors and without all it’s small branches can not exist as a truly whole and loving family. If a member of our family tree suddenly dies or breaks away, we miss them, but their departure is not only missed by the branch we are on, but the whole tree seems off balance and prone to the wind up rooting it.

So, as a very wide and diverse church, should we not learn to put aside our differences, on particular subjects and get along with all the other members of our family, for if that lightening bolt hits and splits our family, we would no longer be unique and whole in God’s eye.

From the Patio Doors

Well I have now discovered the real reason for acquiring ‘Socks’ (the rabbit), it was to make the garden, look so much more “Springtymish”. She will make a bolt for the end of the garden, and then perform skips and hops as she goes. When we first acquired her she took to lying behind a clump of daffodils, shading herself from the sun.

Well, the new base for the garage was finally laid today, and I have spent the afternoon, reminding the children about the wet concrete. Did it work? No, one of Ashley friends walked straight over it ….. Thanks Harry.

Behind the Patio Doors

I have embraced technology today, taken it by the horns you might say, what is so exciting? I can hear you asking …… I have an EFax number ……. “What is it Paul, what is it”, okay, because you asked so nicely I will let you know…… the number is …. Wait for it…… 0870 912 8933, so this means if you have a vital facsimile you need to send me, send it on that number and it will appear on my computer, cleaver stuff! Just to think that the personal computer has caught up with the facsimile machine (I understand that fax technology is over a hundred years old)

Sat at the computer this evening, I received my weekly devotional from www.aish.com, and I just wanted to share with you the TEN STEPS TO GREATNESS by Rabbi Miller.

STEP ONE: Spend at least 30 seconds each day thinking about the WORLD TO COME - Olam Haba - and that we are in this world only as a preparation for the World to Come. This is the purpose of life.
STEP TWO: Spend a few seconds each day in a private place and say to the Almighty, "I love you, God." You will be fulfilling a positive commandment from the Torah. This will kindle a fire in your heart and will have a powerful effect on your character. Your exteriority bestirs your interiority. The Almighty is listening. He loves you much more than you love Him.
STEP THREE: Every day do one act of kindness that no one knows about, in secrecy. Have intention beforehand that you are doing this in order to fulfill your program to greatness.
The practice of doing acts of kindliness - Gemilut Hasadim - is one of the three most important functions in the world.
Examples: If your wife is not in the kitchen, clean a few dishes or straighten up for her without her knowing. If you should see something potentially dangerous on the sidewalk, clear it off to the side so no one will get hurt.
STEP FOUR: Encourage someone every day. "The Almighty encourages the humble." Have in mind you are doing it because of the program. Anonymous letters of kindness can do a great deal of good to encourage people.
STEP FIVE: Spend one minute a day thinking about what happened yesterday. "Let us search out our ways and investigate." Everyone should have his mind on what he is doing - by reviewing yesterday's actions daily.
STEP SIX: Make all your actions for the purpose of Heaven. Say it once a day.
Example: "I am doing this in order to be more aware of the Almighty."
STEP SEVEN: Be aware of the principle - "Man was created in the image of God." Every human face is a reflection of the Almighty. Your face is like a screen and your soul like a projector which projects on your face the glory of the human soul which has in it the greatness of the Almighty. Once a day pick a face and think "I am seeing the image of God." You will begin to understand the endless nobility of a face.
STEP EIGHT: Once a day give a person a full smile. Just as the Almighty shines on us, we should smile on others. Smile because the Almighty wants you to, even though you really don't want to.
When you smile have intentions that you are doing it for the purpose of coming closer to the Almighty through the Ten Steps To Greatness.
STEP NINE: "The Almighty clothes the naked." Clothing is a testament to the nobility of man. Man is unique - has free will, has a soul, made in the image of the Almighty. Even Angels are beneath man in greatness. To demonstrate the superiority of mankind, we must be clothed. Spend 30 seconds in the morning thinking about our garments: what a gift they are from the Almighty.
STEP TEN: Spend time each day thinking about the olden Jerusalem during the time of the Temple. Every day sit on the floor (before going to sleep), spend one second on the floor and mourn for the destruction of Jerusalem. Think "If I should forget you Jerusalem, let my right arm forget how to function" (Psalms 137:5).

A Quote ‘what’ I found

Don't I destroy my enemies
when I make them my friends?
-- Abraham Lincoln

A strange thing happened on the way to the Bus stop

Nothing seems to have struck me as being strange in these past few weeks, which is a shame as I look forward to those strange moments of the week, never mind.

Medical

I have found a new medicine or therapy whatever you want to call it, if I’m feeling particular low or depressed, the rabbit helps out. I go and pick her up out of her hutch and she sits contented in my arms, as I watch her rhythmical breathing, I try to match it. I wont say what I try to do when her nose twitches!

A little joke to end with, sorry there are a couple this time, all thanks to www.awordinyoureye.com

A true story?
A plane was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. The plane stopped in Sacramento along the way and the flight attendant explained, "I’m sorry, folks, but there’s going to be a short delay. If you want to get off the aircraft to stretch their legs, the plane will be re-boarding in 45 minutes."

Everybody got off the plane except one blind man. His guide dog lay quietly in front of him. The pilot approached him and said, "We're going to be in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like help to get off and stretch your legs?" The blind man replied, "No thanks, but my dog would like to stretch his legs."

All the people in the gate area were shocked when they saw the pilot walk off the plane with a guide dog. The pilot was even wearing dark sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!

I could not resist this one…

The package.
Moishe walks into a post office to send a package to his wife.
The postmaster says, "This package is too heavy, you'll need another stamp."
Moishe replies, "And that should make it lighter?"

Or this….

The phone call.
Morris calls his son in New York.
Morris says "Benny, I have something to tell you. However, I don't want to discuss it. I'm merely telling you because you're my oldest child, and I thought you ought to know. I've made up my mind, I'm divorcing your mother."
The son is shocked, and asks his father to tell him what happened.
"I don't want to get into it. My mind is made up."
"But Dad, you just can't decide to divorce Mum just like that after 54 years together. What happened?"
"It's too painful to talk about it. I only called because you're my son, and I thought you should know. I really don't want to get into it anymore than this. You can call your sister and tell her. It will spare me the pain."
"But where's Mum? Can I talk to her?"
"No, I don't want you to say anything to her about it. I haven't told her yet. Believe me it hasn't been easy. I've agonised over it for several days, and I've finally come to a decision. I have an appointment with my Edgware lawyer the day after tomorrow."
"Dad, don't do anything rash. I'm going to take the first flight to London. Promise me that you won't do anything until I get there."
"Well, all right, I promise. Next week is Passover. I'll hold off seeing the lawyer until after the Seder. Call your sister in New Jersey and break the news to her. I just can't bear to talk about it anymore."
A half hour later, Morris receives a call from his daughter who tells him that she and her brother were able to get tickets and that they and the children will be arriving at Heathrow the day after tomorrow.
"Benny told me that you don't want to talk about it on the telephone, but promise me that you won't do anything until we both get there."
Morris promises.
After hanging up from his daughter, Morris turns to his wife and says, "Well, it worked this time, they’re coming for Seder night, but we are going to have to come up with a new idea to get them here Rosh Hashanah."

Shalom and God Bless

Paul

By the way, I’m up to 43205 words now, admittedly they are not all mine, the jokes take up a far chunk.

Just a few

Does anyone know how to change the archive page, so when you first enter your blog, you start with the most recent. I am sure people want to read the most recent first?

Has anyone out there been involoved with raising sizable sums of money (legal money that is!!) I'm involved with a project to build a new community centre, and we have got to find about £400,000.00. Has anyone any good ideas?

With an apology to the American Indian nations. My youngest and I were talking last night about what animal we would be most like. I, apparently am an Owl, and youngest A is a fox. Well this morning we were talking about the American Indian tribes, and we wondered if we could adopt American Indian tribal names; Youngest A has chosen Flying Fox, I've yet to choose and middle A is thinking about one whilst at school.

What about yourselves?

What about those English words which the American's seem to mispronouce?

Just to start you off;

Schedule they say Skedule

not a word, but what is 24/7 all about?

Who has got more

Why can't we have a semi-serious Good news programme, not comedy, but stories which make you feel good about being a human. Is there anything like this in the world already?

Not sure about Saturdays' offering, we seem to have lost a bit of the fear factor. Can't wait for next week to see if the Cybermen have changed at all.

Had a dream the other night that Dr John Pertwee Who came back to help this doctor, well I seem to remember they have done a more than one doctor thing in the past, but I suppose that was when the actor were all alive!!

"Socks" the rabbit keeps an eye on the mouse. She will also untidy the keyboard when asked to do so.