The efforts of our hastily assembled choir raised £229 for Christian Aid on the Saturday before Christmas.

Joan Long, our 88 year-old Father Christmas.

Jessica takes a photograph that may well be used in next year's publicity materials. Was it planned or just a happy accident.

The choir is in full voice as Maurene stands in the middle. She is not a chorister.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Maurene and I wish all of my loyal readers a very Merry Christmas. As I write this we are preparing to head out for our Christmas Eve midnight services. Photos are from the activities of the last few hectic days. Jessica was the photographer for the Central URC Service of Lessons and Carols.

Say it ain't so, Barry!

However controversial it may have been, Barry Bond's 765th home run was a benchmark in sports history. Bonds hit a 435-yard bomber out of AT&T Park - off the pitcher whose father had stopped Hank Aaron from hitting that mark in 1976. Now the ball is headed to the Hall of Fame with an asterisk, and the Mitchell Report has cast doubt on more home runs than just Bonds'.

This report was contained in the 21 December Guardian in a review of top American sports stories of 2007. If Barry Bonds hit a 435 yard home run then it removes any doubt about him being 'juiced' on steroids!

Rory Grace Malia

Born December 18, 2007

Self-explanatory

Alexis Bledel plays Rory on the 'Gilmore Girls'. I didn't know this until Jessica informed me.

Rory Calhoun -star of stage and screen

Rory Grace Malia

I am delighted to announce the birth of my granddaughter -Rory Grace Malia. Mom, Dad and baby are doing great! My only regret is that I won't get to see my first grandchild until the middle of January. The most helpful comment I have received thus far came from my nephew Kyle: "Now being bald and graying will finally work out in your new role as Grandpa!" Since I haven't any pictures as of yet, I thought I would attach photos of some other famous folks named Rory.

THE STORY OF CLIFFORD WHOSE HOME WAS A CHURCH PORCH

I met Clifford in 2003. He started sleeping on the porch of one of my churches in London. Maurene and I befriended him, as much as Clifford would allow, and gave him a sleeping bag, various items of clothing, and provided him with meals throughout his time on our church porch. This article appeared in this month's Trinity Lamp -the Newsletter of Trinity United Reformed Church, Mill Hill, London.

Clifford came up to London from South Wales about five years ago. He was among those who find the stresses of life too much to bear. He took to the road and became homeless. He found shelter first in a Totteridge church but was not able to stay there for long, so he boarded a No. 251 bus and, coming into Mill Hill, noticed a church with a side porch, bearing a name which was already known to him. In the autumn of 2003, he settled in this porch, and his bearded figure soon became a familiar sight to those going in and out of the Harwood Hall, beside Union Church. He worried no one and made himself scarce on Sundays. Winter winds soon began to blow and he was still there at Christmas. Our Minister, Revd. Ronald Garner took interest in him, brought him a Christmas dinner and gave dispensation to Peter Gibbins to give him the shelter of Harwood Hall in the worst weather. The organisation 'Street Rescue' was contacted and did its best to help him and during the following year of 2004 found him a hostel place in Brixton; but for Cliff, that life could not last for long and, after a gap he returned to his former shelter in the side porch of Union Church, opposite the Corner Lamp.

The Church congregation moved to Watling in May 2005, and by Christmas of that year, help had been found for him with Shelter in Canary Wharf. Sometime last year he collapsed and Street Rescue again came to his aid. This story ends with the news that Cliff died in September. London Street Rescue has written to say that Cliff had been grateful for the help and understanding shown to him. May he rest in peace.

"I was a stranger, and you took me in."

article by Thomas John Wright

Street musicians compete for the best spots in the city centre.

Just look at the happy faces on these shoppers!

Weary shoppers stream in to the Abbey for the hourly 'Shoppers Carol Service'. Twenty minutes of Christmas favourites and each shopper gets a free gospel of Matthew. Now that's putting the 'E' in evangelism!

Brits queue up at the Bollywood Christmas stall and remember the good old days when they were still an empire .

Santa riding Ganesh

Our Indian ornaments

Christmas Market 2007

The weather has been horrendous all week in Bath. Which I thought would make things difficult for the traders who participated in the Bath Christmas Market. But, in between showers I decided to check out the market on Saturday afternoon. To my surprise you could barely move down the high street let alone through the market stalls themselves. My other purpose was to go to the Bollywood Christmas stall to purchase some baubles for our tree. Double click on photographs for full effect.

Lost in Translation

From today's London Times:

Tony Henry, the opera singer tasked with singing the national anthems before England’s game with Croatia earlier this week, has become an unlikely hero of the Croatian game after appearing to make a somewhat risque slip of the tongue while belting out the nation’s tune.
The singer, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, should have sung “Mila kuda si planina”, which translates roughly as “You know my dear how we love your mountains”. Instead, he appears to have sung “Mila kura si planina”, which, although moderately nonsensical, can be interpreted as “My dear, my penis is a mountain”.

A potent reminder that you don't grow turkeys in the garden. The UK tea mug is a gift from friends who attended yesterday's ceremony.

Yiiiiiiiikkes!

What do you do the day after you become British citizens? Why you celebrate American Thanksgiving of course. We picked up our turkey yesterday afternoon but only discovered this morning that this farmer includes the head with his produce. Almost makes you want to become a vegetarian! Almost, but not quite.

Ron signs the visitor's book.

Maurene signs the visitor's book. Great clock!

Hein and his friend

Hein -checking out the herbs

Becoming British: The Final Step -Part II

After the ceremony we moved from the Council Chambers to the Reception Room for the quintessential 'tea and biscuits.' We were also asked to sign the visitors book which was once signed by Queen Elizabeth. People from six nations took part in our ceremony. Fifteen new 'subjects' in all.

We met an interesting gentleman from South Africa who was also becoming a citizen. Hein van Vorstenbosch is the Executive Chef for St. Catherine's Court which is the palatial home of actress Jane Seymour. Hein and his friend had forgotten to bring a camera and so he asked me to take some photos and send them to him. He offered us a tour of the estate as an exchange for my photographic skills! If you'd like a peak at St. Catherine's Court go to: www.stcath.com

Mary Ede, our Church Historian and Archivist presents us with gifts

Ron and the Vice Chairman of the Council

Maurene receives her Certificate of Naturalisation

Ron, Maurene and the Queen

Becoming British: The Final Step

Today was the big day! Maurene and I travelled to the Guildhall, just a block from Central United Reformed Church to become British citizens. The festivities actually kicked off the night before when we attended our monthly Church Meeting and were presented with a lovely teapot and an American/English English/American dictionary.

The actual ceremony lasted about one-half hour. It began with the Registrar welcoming us and then introducing the Vice Chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council who gave us the 'official ' welcome. We then took the oath and the pledge (see below) and were presented with our Certificates of Naturalisation. The Registrar then congratulated us and the Vice Chairman added her congratulations and said that this was a special week to be naturalised since it was the week of Her Majesty's Diamond Wedding Anniversary.

Oath of allegiance: I (name) swear by Almighty God that on becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her Heirs and Successors, according to law.

I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its democratic values. I will observe its laws faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as a British citizen.

Tony Benn

Loyal followers of this blog will know I'm a big fan of former Labour MP Tony Benn. Today, he spoke and did a book signing at St. Michael's Without Church. I went along to hear him speak for the second time since we arrived in Bath. He was mesmerising! It is so refreshing to hear someone who simply speaks his mind without spin, without vitriol, and with a great sense of humour. It helps that he is an old lefty. His latest book is a diary of his life since leaving the House of Commons. It is quite political yet interspersed with insights into his family life and his struggles with aging.

I took along my copy for him to sign. We had a brief but friendly chat. I told him that I had lived in Cincinnati (his late wife was from Cincinnati), I told him I was a Congregational Minister (his mother was a Congregational Minister), I told him that Maurene and I were becoming citizens of the United Kingdom on Wednesday. He asked where we lived in Cincy. Talked about Congregationalism and the direct line we have to the Almighty. He didn't say anything about the Citizenship Ceremony although in his book he is quite critical of swearing allegiance to the Queen. He is not a monarchist and describes the oath of allegiance as revolting. He does admit to repeating it when he joined Parliament. He says his oath is the same as American Patriot Thomas Paine: "My country is the world. My religion is to do good." He has written an authoritative book on Paine.

My favourite quote of the day. "The Labour party is not a socialist party. But their are a few of us socialists in the Labour Party. Just like their are a few Christians in churches." Bingo!

For a video sample go to: http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/tony_benn/2007/10/the_struggle_goes_on.html

Sahara, the sun-worshipper

Spain or Iceland? One smart seal!

An Arctic hooded seal rescued off the coast of Africa last year and taken to Britain to be nursed back to health has paddled in the wrong direction again, turning up off the Spanish coast.

The story of Sahara began last year when he was only a few months old and was washed up on the shore of Morocco, far from the normal migratory zone of a loner animal that mates near Iceland and Greenland.Sahara was weak and had lost his fur when he was found, said Tamara Cooper of the National Seal Sanctuary in Cornwall. "We think he left a breeding area in Iceland and got completely lost and followed the shelf down to Morocco," she said.

In April, he was sent from Spain to the sanctuary in Cornwall so he could learn to socialise with other animals and gain weight. After six months, the sanctuary attached a satellite tag to Sahara, and released him near the Orkney Isles on October 10.The seal first headed towards Iceland, but then changed course and went south again, towards Spain. He was found on Sunday in the bay of Ondarroa, 45 miles from Bilbao. From Ondarroa, Sahara was taken to a rescue facility in San Sebastián, where his health is now being checked, Cooper said. "We're disappointed that he headed south and not back up north," she said. "But we're relieved that he's safe and well."

Sahara's urge to go south is a mystery. Other hooded seals have been observed to be heading south from the Arctic over the last 10 years, said Cooper, but the reason is not known. They may be following ocean currents or fish movements. Sahara's future has not yet been decided. "We hope he gets one more chance to remain free, instead of being protected here," Cooper said.

Kevin Brown:

This event celebrates the first acoustic blues evening at the United Reformed Church, Argyle Street in Bath - what promises to be an outstanding acoustic venue.Who better to herald this occasion than Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler's favourite blues man, our very own Kevin Brown, together with European blues master Homesick Mac and Phillip Henry, another of our home grown slide experts.This triple bill acoustic blues blow-out brings the very best of entertainment to the heart of Bath in this exciting newly refurbished venue.Doors open at 7.30pm.To book tickets, costing £10, and for more information telephone 0777 1907167 or visit http://www.thekevinbrown/. com.

From this week's Bath Chronicle, the emphasis is mine.

Maurene tries to hide her disappointment at the early blooming with a half smile.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . .

I don't know if it is the far north latitude where we live, but Maurene's Christmas Cactus blooms too early every year. Quite lovely this year, just 47 days to early.

Sound as the dollar??????????????

The current monetary situation is great for our pending trip to the USA, not so great for people coming this way. From today's Guardian:

The pound climbed to $2.10 for the first time since 1981 this morning, boosted by speculation that China was preparing to shift its foreign reserves out of dollars.
By 10.30am, one pound was worth $2.1053. The dollar, which has been weakening for several weeks, also hit a new all-time low against the euro of $1.4703.
Analysts said today's falls had been sparked by comments made by Cheng Siwei, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress. He told a Beijing conference on Tuesday that China would "favour stronger currencies over weaker ones, and readjust accordingly".
A vice director of China's central bank, Xu Jian, was also quoted as telling the conference that the dollar was "losing its status as the world currency".
Thanks to China's booming exports, the country now holds the largest reserves of foreign currency in the world. The People's Bank of China reported last month that at the end of September, China's foreign reserves were worth $1.434 trillion.
Adam Cole of RBC Capital Markets said this morning that the comments from the two Chinese officials had "clearly been the catalyst" for the latest dollar weakness.
"However, it is more due to negative dollar sentiment generally," Mr Cole said.
The slowdown in the American economy, the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the ongoing credit crunch have all combined to weaken the US economy. Back in January, one pound was worth around $1.96.

This year's official photo. He doesn't look like a trouble maker.

Glorious. . . Not so glorious. . .

There goes the neighbourhood. . .

One of the few perks that ministers get in England is that the manse is quite often located in a 'desirable' part of town. With home prices in Bath some of the most expensive in the entire United Kingdom we live in a house far above our means -very far! The church purchased the house in the late 1800s when it was still reasonably priced for the frugal Congregationalists.

We've been noticing a house down the street going through some major renovations. Renovations in this neighbourhood, because of its historic value, are through the roof themselves; since everything has to be renovated to conservation standards. Remember my stone wall repair (see 20 October 2006 entry.)

Well today I found out that the house has been purchased by Olly Barkley. That name probably doesn't ring a bell with most of you. But he is a world class Rugby player and is one of the stars of Bath Premiership Rugby Team. In American Football terms, he isn't a Peyton Manning but he is at least an Eli Manning. He has also had a run in with the the law after a bar room scuffle earlier this year. Our Neighbourhood Watch will have to keep an eye on him. I attach a photo of a moment of glory and a moment he rued.

My favourite British politician. You might have seen him in Michael Moore's, Sicko.

Another reason to remain in Britain. . .

(This report is from the BBC website)

Veteran left-winger Tony Benn is planning to stand for Parliament again, he has said.
The 82-year-old, a Labour MP until 2001, wants to be the party's candidate for Kensington in west London.
Mr Benn said: "There's a general election on the way and Kensington is looking for a candidate. I've written to them to see if I can stand."
Mr Benn's son Hilary is in the Cabinet and his granddaughter Emily is already a Labour candidate in East Worthing.
'Age no problem'
Mr Benn, who was an MP for almost 50 years before retiring, said: "If they would like me to stand, I would like to be there.
"I'm not sure if I would be selected but I'd like to do it. I don't think my age would be a problem. "I believe in saying the same thing inside and outside Parliament.
"I believe in peace, not taxing students with enormous loans and securing a referendum on the EU."
Mr Benn is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq.
The Kensington constituency, submerged into Kensington and Chelsea in 1997 boundary changes, has been revived in the latest seats shake-up.
This will come into effect at the next general election.
Currently represented by Tory former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, it is one of the safest Conservative seats.
But the party's margin is expected to be much smaller in the revived Kensington, which retains poor areas of Notting Hill in the north but loses some of the rich south.
Mr Benn's son Hilary is currently the environment secretary, while 18-year-old granddaughter Emily is the Labour candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham for the next general election.

HM Queen Elizabeth II

Becoming British: Step 7

Our Citizenship Ceremony is scheduled for the 21st of November. It will take place in the Guildhall here in Bath. Maurene and I wish members of our family and friends who live 'across the pond' could attend. We will have a photographer on hand and will post some photos on the blog.

From the instruction letter:

The ceremony will include taking an oath (or affirmation) of allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom. The only thing I've ever pledged allegiance to was the flag. Is Queen Elizabeth going to be mounted on the wall?

I'm a lumberjack
This performance was at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the memorial concert for George Harrison. Note Tom Hanks on the right side of the front row of the Mounties.

Our book signed, we were suprised to see that the queue still extended into the street as we left.

MP looks at the number of people in the queue and smiles as he realises how much his little jaunt to Bath has added to his bank account.

"In all of the book signings I have done, I have never seen Maurene spelled that way."

Michael Palin

I have always love the work of Monty Python and especially John Cleese and Michael Palin. Years have passed, and Michael Palin is now most noted for his BBC travelogues. He was in Bath today at a book signing and Maurene and I decided to go. Maurene had seen Michael on the street in Hampstead when we still lived in London.

He was quite talkative and friendly, even at a book signing, which in typical British fashion was run to precision. He was fascinated with the spelling of Maurene's name and when she told him we were envious of all of his travel adventures he commented that it was never too late to start. I wanted to tell him that I'd be happy to travel all of those places if the Beeb would pick up the tab.

The one photo is a bit blurred. The bookshop prohibited flash photography. I will also include Michael's famous rendition of 'I'm a lumberjack' in the next post.

Can you guess our arrival station?

Obviously, a Scottish artisan. . .

In a couple of hours high tide will obliterate all of this hard work.

If you step on a crack, you'll. . .

Yes, it certainly looks like a crack in the floor!

Our day trip to London: Part 2. . .(click on photos)

The Tate Modern Gallery always has a thought-provoking display in the massive turbine hall. Right now, they are displaying the work of Doris Salcedo, entitled, Shibboleth. It is actually a crack that begins very small in the concrete floor at one end of the turbine hall, but by the other end (167 metres) it is large enough to swallow a large house cat or small dog. Parents are urged to watch their small children carefully. I think I was more fascinated with the people's reactions to the work of art than I was with the work itself. And perhaps that is what it is all about. Anyway, I have included a couple of photographs of her work and compared them with a street artist who was taking advantage of low tide and make rather impressive sand sculptures. Tourists, please throw money!

Is it art? Hundreds of people view Doris Salcedo's 167 metre long crack in the floor of the Tate Modern Gallery. More on this later.

St. Paul's from the South Bank

For some strange reason, First Class tickets were cheaper on this particular day than standard class. So, Maurene tries to look quite pretentious as we are served free tea and get a free newspaper.

On our way. . .I always sleep with a contented smile

Day trip to London. . .

Yesterday, Maurene and I journeyed to London to hear John Spong lecture at an Anglican Church just across from Waterloo Station. It is easy to forget how London teems with energy, hustle and bustle. We enjoyed our day but were glad to get home! Must be getting old.

This picture truly is worth a thousand words. . .

South Africa 15 England 6

St. Alfred: Patron Saint of Preachers

Things you sometimes notice in church. . .

Our church in central Bath was built in 1789. Consequently, it is filled with brass plaques in memory of different individuals. These plaques are normally attached to a piece of furniture, a stained glass window or some other gift that was left in memory of the deceased saint. Central has a 'high pulpit' which is quite prevalent in Congregational churches. During the hymn prior to the reading of the gospel I climb the steps and sit with my birdseye's view of the congregation. As the gospel was being read this morning, I glanced around the pulpit and noticed a plaque that had not caught my attention in 20 months since we arrived. The pulpit was given in honour of Alfred Hitchcock. Could it be? No, although Hitchcock was born in London I seriously doubt that he was an Elder at Central or the Church Secretary. But, it added a bit of comic relief. I'm sure I'll have an opportunity to use it in the future. Remember, most folks never go up in to the pulpit. It is considered 'sacred' ground. So, I doubt if many folks are aware that the plaque even exists.

Jonny Wilkinson drop kicks England into the finals
Two minutes into the match England scores the only 'try' of the evening
Rugby isn't for wimps

Give that man a faceguard

66 to 1

Just two weeks ago England's Rugby Team were 66 to 1 underdogs to win the World Cup. After last week's defeat of Australia England faced even stiffer competition on Saturday evening in Paris. But now they have reached the finals after humiliating France on their own home turf.

England 14 Les Bleu 9!