Petrol -£5 per gallon

Today, petrol (gasoline) will probably hit an all-time high of £1.09 per litre in the United Kingdom. That will take the price to £5 per gallon or $9.95 in US dollars.

Matt Stevens - a proud resident of Penn Lea Road

Bath 36 -Sale Sharks 14

Bath won the semi-final round of the European Challenge Cup today at the Recreation Ground in the centre of Bath. They will now play Worcester on May 25th for the European Championship. Matt Stevens, who lives across the street from us, was 'man of the match'. The European Challenge Cup is kind of like the Super Bowl in American Football. Go Bath!

Mock Cherry Tree blossoms

Tulips in our front garden

Fairfield House -If I would have written the headline for the Bath Chronicle when he returned in later years I would have entitled it, 'Selassie, come home' Haile -the Lion of Judah

Famous neighbour

One of my recent tasks has been to start reading a history Bath. I have got much information in a piecemeal fashion but decided to read a book that would present the details in a more ordered way. I had heard that Haile Selassie had spent his exile from Ethiopia in Bath but never figured out just where he might have lived.

After a bit of reading, I realised his house is a two minute walk from the manse. So on this lovely day I decided I'd walk over and take a couple of photos. I also have included a few of the blossoms that are in full bloom as spring has finally arrived!

Fairfield House was given to the city of Bath by Selassie after he left to return to his homeland. He gave it with the condition that it become an 'old persons' home. It is now a day-centre for the elderly and is a pilgrimage site for Rastafarians from around the world.

In case you are unaware of the beliefs of Rastafarians I have included a brief comparative religion view based on a popular phrase.

Taoism: Shit happens.
Confucianism: Confucius say, "Shit happens."
Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn't really shit.
Zen Buddhism: What is the sound of shit happening?
Islam: If shit happens, it is the will of Allah.
Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserve it.
Presbyterian: This shit was bound to happen.
Episcopalian: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it.
Methodist: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it.
Lutheran: If shit happens, don't talk about it.
Fundamentalism: If shit happens, you will go to hell, unless you are born again. (Amen!)
Judaism: Why does this shit always happen to us?
Calvinism: Shit happens because you don't work.
Seventh Day Adventism: No shit shall happen on Saturday.
Creationism: God made all shit.
Secular Humanism: Shit evolves.
Quakers: Let us not fight over this shit.
Capitalism: That's MY shit.
Communism: It's everybody's shit.
Feminism: Men are shit.
Chauvinism: We may be shit, but you can't live without us...
Existentialism: Shit doesn't happen; shit IS.
Scientology: If shit happens, see "Dianetics", p.157.
Jehovah's Witnesses: >Knock< >Knock<>
Hare Krishna: Shit happens, rama rama.
Satanism: SNEPPAH TIHS.
Nihilism: No shit.

Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit!

From the Sunday 'London' Times

Will the Pennsylvania primary bring this 'bloodbath' to an end?

God

If God were not a spiritual presence this is what s/he would look like!

At the Abbey Road studios

Andy Capp lives! This photo was taken in Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre. I played on the Machrihanish links course just a mile or so out of town.

A marvelous Cartier-Bresson style photo from their farm in Scotland

I wonder what kind of tobacco Paul is using?

Linda McCartney Photographs

When the William's clan comes to these shores at the end of May we might just stop by the Hyman Gallery in London to see the photos of Linda McCartney. In this week's Sunday Times, Sir Paul wrote an article and included 11 photos from the upcoming exhibition. In his article that accompanied the photographs he spoke adoringly of his late wife. Wonder if the timing wasn't a bit of a dig at the recent ex-wife Heather Mills McCartney?

A case of art imitating art. . .

Don't try this at home

Oh, %"*$

Timmy Murphy congratulated for his victory on Comply or Die

The Grand National

Every April the world's most bet upon and watched (600 million viewers) horse race takes place at Aintree in Liverpool. The Grand National is a 40 horse demolition derby with over half of the horses falling or unseating their riders. This year, only 14 riders finished the demanding 30 jump race. Sadly, one horse had to be humanely put down. I watched and regretted not placing a bet (flutter) on my pick which won at 7 -1 odds. Comply or Die comes from a farm here in Somerset.