The Weir and Georgian architecture on River Avon

Two swans swimming near the Pulteney Bridge

TRIVIA THAT WILL MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE AN ANGLOPHILE: PART I

All of the swans in the United Kingdom are the sole property of HRH Queen Elizabeth.

Southwark Cathedral Jo after the big event

Maurene and Jo

Way to go, Jo!

Yesterday, whilst I slaved over the weekly sermon, Maurene journeyed to London to attend the graduation ceremony of our friend Jo Drummond. Jo received a postgraduate diploma in Contemporary Health and Social Policy.

The graduation was held in the magnificent Southwark Cathedral (pronounced suth erk). And, as you might have guessed, the Cathedral is on the south side of the River Thames.

My reward for staying home: Krispy Kreme donuts that you can pick up at Paddington Station just before you head back to Bath.

The decline and fall of the American Empire

A sign of British intelligence and refinement

Stereotypical thinking

After moving to Britain one of the first stereotypes that we were cured of was the thought that British people felt themselves intellectually and culturally superior to Americans. But two news items from today have given me pause to rethink my change of mind.

British people for the 15th year in a row have chosen the Labrador Retriever as their favourite dog. Obviously a sign of intellectual prowess and cultural refinement.

At the same time, this article appeared in today's Sun:

David and Victoria Beckham received an early welcome to the United States when their wax doubles went on display, draped with the stars and stripes.
Madame Tussauds in New York unveiled the celebrity couple to the strains of Neil Diamond's America last night, in honour of their upcoming move to Los Angeles, where David has signed a five-year contract with LA Galaxy.
Decked out in American flags, the Beckhams are joined by a wax figure of President Bush holding a sign reading: "Welcome to America.''

A washed-up, has been footballer and his pampered wife are getting $250 million for five years and have already achieved celebrity status. Maybe the stereotype isn't that far off.

A bit of an overstatement, dont you think. . .

"This is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me in my life, better than birth," said Jonathon Cox, 21, Indianapolis

(excerpt from the Monday, 22 January 2007 edition of the Indianapolis Star)

In my 6 January blog I spoke of my lack of enthusiasm for the American Football Playoffs after the Bengals failed this season. I even found myself more excited when Thierry Henry scored a last minute goal in real football to lead Arsenal past Manchester United on Sunday afternoon by a score of 2-1. But, I must admit that I watched the final quarter of the Colts/Patriots game which didn't end here in Bath until 3.20 am. Now the Colts go up against the loathsome Bears -and I'm already fearing the outcome.

SCIENCE AND RELIGION

I have just added my endorsement to the Clergy Letter Project. Over 10,000 clergy from the United States and some of us who are serving in foreign countries have signed this letter. I will also be preaching on 11 February 2007 (Evolution Sunday) on this topic. You can learn more about the project at www.evolutionsunday.org. The letter follows:

Within the community of Christian believers there are areas of dispute and disagreement, including the proper way to interpret Holy Scripture. While virtually all Christians take the Bible seriously and hold it to be authoritative in matters of faith and practice, the overwhelming majority do not read the Bible literally, as they would a science textbook. Many of the beloved stories found in the Bible – the Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark – convey timeless truths about God, human beings, and the proper relationship between Creator and creation expressed in the only form capable of transmitting these truths from generation to generation. Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts.
We the undersigned, Christian clergy from many different traditions, believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as “one theory among others” is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit such ignorance to our children. We believe that among God’s good gifts are human minds capable of critical thought and that the failure to fully employ this gift is a rejection of the will of our Creator. To argue that God’s loving plan of salvation for humanity precludes the full employment of the God-given faculty of reason is to attempt to limit God, an act of hubris. We urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge. We ask that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth.

HELP! We need somebody! HELP! Not just anybody!

Since arriving in Bath in March of last year, Maurene and I have anticipated that our three churches would receive a third minister to help us with some of our workload. But, because of the shortage of ministers in the URC, and bleak prospects for anymore in the future, we had just about given up. So, we were quite pleased when we had a meeting with our Synod Moderator and he offered us someone for the position.

Although we can't put her name on the blog because someone might discover it in some obscure Google search we feel she will be a welcome addition. In URC terms she is a non-stipendiary minister, which means that she is either retired and works as a minister for no pay, or she has another profession and fills a ministry slot out of a desire to serve the church. In our case, our candidate is a Physicist working for the National Health Service. Who said that religion and science can't find common ground? She will take a couple of services per month which will give us some relief worship wise.

So, there have been some smiles around the manse these past few days. Who knows, maybe one of us will get to spend a Christmas back in the USA? No, that's too much to hope for.

THE GALES ARE HERE!

The weather predictions were spot on! The winds hit in the middle of the night, I guess our strongest gusts have been around 70 mph -but the sustained winds are around 40 mph. Fifteen miles west, on the Bristol Channel the gusts have been up to 90 mph. The photos clockwise from top left: snow in Scotland, a collapsed roof on a town high street, a fallen tree in the centre of London, waves smashing into the coast at Blackpool. Several roads are closed because lorries (semis) have overturned. It is quite warm here, almost shirt sleeve weather, but snowy in northern England and Scotland.

Click on map for a better view

THE GALES ARE COMING!

This is the time of year when gales blow in off the North Atlantic. Tonight and tomorrow we are supposed to get another set of these storms with sustained inland winds of around 70 mph. Fortunately, the manse is located just below Penn Lea Hill and so we are spared the most severe buffeting. Since all of the homes in Bath are made of stone, and the roofing is either slate or terra cotta, damage from such storms is usually minimal.

The reason we get hit so hard is because of our position near the Bristol Channel (see map). That body of water which runs between Devon and Cornwall to the south, and Wales to the north acts as a funnel for the winds and drives them straight across Bath and points east. The Bristol Channel, as it narrows, becomes the River Severn. Two bridges provide access to Wales but they are often closed or the number of lanes reduced when winds become as high as they are predicted. If the bridges are closed it adds nearly 80 miles to a trip into Wales.

McVities Digestives -a British standard

Girl Scout Cookies -an American tradition

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES -SOMETHING I MISS

We're often asked what we miss by living in the UK. Today I got an email from my daughter asking me if I'd like to order some Girl Scout Cookies. That's something they don't have on this side of the Atlantic; and if they did I suppose they would be called Girl Scout Biscuits. I love Samoas, Thin Mints, and the Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter dealies (I don't remember their proper name). The closest thing that is a replacement in the UK are McVities Digestives. Don't ask me why they are called by that particular name. Hard to describe these chocolate covered wonders, but I can consume an entire package in just a couple of days. Hence, they are normally absent from our grocery list. So, Abby -2 boxes of each of those I mentioned. I'll pick them up the next time I'm in America. I doubt if they'll even make it into my luggage for the return trip!

Whilst staying in Bath. . .

We often pass this hotel when we are walking to the church. I've always wanted to get a photograph to send to Aunt Jean and Uncle Glen. The Kennard Hotel is one of the many townhouse hotels that are located in Bath and are especially prevalent in the city centre.

We had our first day of chaplaincy at Bath University today, so I took the camera and had Maurene snap a photo of me sitting on the pavement side bench. Some interior shots are available at their website at http://www.kennard.co.uk/index.html . Seems reasonably priced as far as Bath hotels go.

Bloggone

I have pulled my second blog from the internet. I have decided to restrict my ramblings to journal style writing instead of the more philosophical/theological. This notice is for the thousands (perhaps millions) who have been searching in vain for my latest entry in The Good Soil.

The organ prior to refurbishment.

Pipes stored sardine style, waiting to be refinished.

I don't have a clue what any of this stuff might be.

"THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THAT ANYMORE!"

Yesterday, the BBC ran a news story on the I-phone that was introduced at the Las Vegas Technology Exhibition. The reporters and talking heads were absolutely raving about this latest advance in the world of electronics.

On Monday two organ builders arrived at Central URC to begin a restoration project on our pipe organ. It will take between 8 and 11 weeks and will cost approximately £20,000 ($40,000 USD). Yes, I realise that is quite expensive, and yes the money could probably have been used in much more compassionate ways, but I'm sure if I would have suggested it Maurene and I would now be heading back across the Atlantic seeking relatives who would take us in until we found jobs.

But, as I talked to the organ builder I began to understand some of the congregation's great love for this magnificent instrument. The original builder, William Sweetland, installed the organ in 1888, or 110 years after the founding of Argyle Chapel (now Central URC). That means that it has been in continuous service to worshippers (except for periods of maintenance and refurbishment) for 119 years. As the builder showed me around the interior of the pipe organ (something I had never seen before) he positively glowed when he talked about the exquisite workmanship and attention to detail that made the organ easy to maintain even after all this time.

We are blessed with gifted organists at Central URC. And, after refurbishment we anticipate having a concert that not only showcases our organists but our newly refurbished organ. The proceeds from the concert will go to charity -maybe to assuage any residual guilt feelings I might have.

It has me wondering, how many I-phones will still be around in 119 years?

Six album cover stamps with the ever present profile of the Queen

Four first class stamps -delineated by the perforations and Her Majesty's head

BEATLES POSTAGE STAMPS

I stood in the queue yesterday at the local Royal Mail Office to get the new 'Beatles stamps'. They consist of 6 different first class and 2 different 64p and 72p stamps. They came in a nice presentation pack with all sorts of trivial bits of information. Pretty nifty.

Not our tree

UNCLE ELMER AND CHRISTMAS TREES

Epiphany was last Saturday, so today we finally got around to the yearly ritual of taking down the Christmas tree. In the past couple of years I have tried to make the process as painless as possible. Instead of packing the branches back in their original box (I suppose you've figured out we have an artificial tree) I place them in a systematic order in large plastic garbage bags. That way, I will not have to spend inordinate amounts of time next December reshaping the tree to give it that nice full look.

But, perhaps because of my age, I found myself wishing that I could resort to the Uncle Elmer solution. He covered their fully decorated tree with plastic and carried up to the attic. Then, next year, he carried it down, removed the plastic, and with a few minor adjustments of ornaments the tree was ready. Voile'!

Sadly, the entry to our loft is too narrow to accept a tree, and since we do not have stairs I can't figure out how I would climb a step ladder while embracing a fully decorated tree anyway. Such is life.

Jane and the family outside of their Bath home.

FAMOUS BATH RESIDENTS: PART I

Bath is a city with many famous residents -perhaps none more familiar to Americans than, Jane Seymour aka Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. In Sunday's Times , a feature article chronicled her £3 million ($6 million USD) makeover of her St. Catherines estate which is located just outside of Bath.

I have included a photograph from the article of Jane and her family on the front stoop (so to speak). As might be expected, a beautiful woman like Jane Seymour would have an equally handsome husband.

Remains of a grocery list, a crown from a Christmas cracker, and a recent sermon.

THE JOYS OF SHREDDING PAPER

Since Bath and Northeast Somerset has a rather advanced recycling programme, Maurene and I decided that we needed to get a paper shredder as a preventive step against 'identity theft.' Although, I still can't figure out why anyone would want to lay claim to my identity.

I travelled to the local PC World and purchased an inexpensive home paper shredder. The designated purpose of this piece of technology was to cut documents containing personal information into tiny strips. So, I got home, unpacked the shredder, plugged it in, and gave it a test run. I ran a few bank statements and old utility bills through the working end of the shredder and was delighted to see a nifty little pile of indecipherable confetti resting in the basket below.

I suddenly realised that shredding paper is as addictive as popping the pockets of air in bubble wrap. I was soon racing about the house finding any scrap of unused or unessential paper that happened to be laying around. Bulletin boards were emptied, Christmas cards were mangled, and to insure that the machine would operate as the manufacturer said it would a few stapled documents met their demise in this wonderful new toy. I felt like an accountant at Enron or an aide in the Nixon White House. I now find myself looking at table and desk tops in a new way. I now find myself regretting the inevitable move toward the paperless office. Deleting files from a disk will never be as satisfying as running paper through a shredder.

BRITISH FOOTBALL or AMERICAN

FOOTBALL?

This is a strange weekend for American expatriates living in the United Kingdom. In the United States the NFL playoffs are beginning. In England we are in the third round of the FA Cup, which is roughly the equivalent. I will probably catch the first American football game which is offered at 9.30 pm tonight on Sky Sports. But since tomorrow is a workday, I'll have to pass on the second. I don't know who is playing in either game. Shows how disconnected I have become.

The fascinating thing about British Football is that The FA Cup is open to all of the teams throughout the UK. For instance, even though the initial two rounds are over, there are still some small teams left in the mix. For instance, today Tamworth is playing Norwich City. Tamworth is five leagues down from the Premiership, Norwich City is in the Champions League, which is one below the Premiership. So, today's match would be roughly equivalent (in US terms) to the Indianapolis Indians playing one of those old semi-pro teams. In fact, Tamworth's players all have day jobs and only play on the football team as a second income (and a rather scrawny one, at that.)

I think a better comparison would be the old Indiana High School Basketball tournament -where every team played in the same tournament to determine an ultimate champion. Tamworth is a few steps below Milan (or Hickory if you are a fan of the film, Hoosiers.)

But, Tamworth has home field advantage, an amazingly their pitch is slanted six feet end to end. In other words, half of the match you are going to be running uphill. I like the David vs. Goliath aspect of the FA cup. They also only have a capacity of 4000 in their 'stadium'. And much of that is only reserved for standing.

As the weeks continue I'll become more and more interested in American football and will probably be willing to stay up most of the night to watch the Super Bowl. The FA Cup has significant breaks between rounds, and so, it won't be concluded until the spring when the final game is played in Cardiff before returning to the new Wembley Stadium in 2008.

As I write this, Tamworth is down 4-1 in the second half.

Since the Bengals didn't make the American Football playoffs, I have no real favourite, although I guess if I had to choose it would be the Colts. But, by in large my attitude is ABTB (Anyone but the Bears.)

Hole 6 was renamed Hogan's alley in 2003, the fiftieth anniversary of Hogan's Open victory.

Hole 6 -Hogan's Alley is up the left side of the fairway bunkers.

THE OPEN 2007

I learned shortly after arriving in Great Britain that what I had always called the 'British Open' is only called 'The Open' by citizens of these islands. This year's Open will be very special for me. The first time I took my clubs out of the garage on this side of the Atlantic was to travel with Maurene to Carnoustie in April of 2001 and spend three days playing the links courses of Carnoustie, a small village on the east coast of Scotland. This year, the Open returns to Carnoustie.

Playing a course in the Open rota was something I had dreamed of since I watched my first Open on television shortly after I took up the sport of golf. I have now played three. Playing a true links course has spoiled me for parkland golf, and I have certainly missed the links course at Sandwich since moving to Bath.

After arriving in Carnoustie, I went to the starter's house to arrange my playing schedule for the time we would be there. I was expecting some long convoluted process, a thorough check of my credentials and verification of my handicap. Instead, she looked at her notebook and then said, 'How would you like to play the Championship Course in a half-hour?' I was shocked. I raced back to the hotel room (overlooking the 18th green) grabbed my clubs and was soon standing on the first tee.

Those three and one-half hours flew by. To describe links golf is nearly impossible. The run of the fairways, the thickness of the rough, the depth of the bunkers, and the true and fast roll of the greens is something that has to be experienced. My most apt description is best left to my reaction when I returned to the room. Maurene could see the glow on my face and asked me how I had enjoyed my round of golf. I sat on the bed and wept! The joy I felt that day was something that can only be described as a mystical experience.

Highlight of the round was driving the ball up Hogan's alley. I drove to the left of the bunkers just as he had done in all four rounds of his Open championship. Yes, for me it was a mistake, but a very prudential one.

The reason I am sharing my feelings about Carnoustie is that I am now debating whether to attend this year's Open. I didn't attend last year (Sarah's wedding) but had attended three previous Opens and even got to share the joy of the 2004 Open at St. Andrews with Sarah. I have been visiting the R&A site, and am trying to make up my mind. Carnoustie is calling. . . anyone want to come over and go with me?