It happens to the best of them. . .

Charlotte Green is an iconic voice on the BBC's Radio Four. Listen to what happens in the middle of this obituary. You can't always be on top of your game.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/audio/2008/mar/28/charlotte.green

This pooch chose to become a practising Buddhist because it is non- DOGmatic.

Granddaughter Rory at 3 months!

The Surge

I normally don't get too political on this blog because its primary purpose is to let friends and family know what is going on in our lives. But, I did think this video clip from my broadsheet of choice, The Guardian, is worth viewing. http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/rongarner/clippings Take seven minutes out of your life and ponder what this means for our future. When you get to my clippings page just click on 80,000 Angry Men. When the appropriate page comes up you might need to scroll down a bit.

Before After

I'd be angry too!

Heather Mills McCartney threw a glass of water over the head of Sir Paul's attorney yesterday during the discussion of the final settlement in their much publicised divorce. She had every right to be angry with the settlement. She only received a paltry £24.3 million ($50 million USD) from the former Beatle's estate. To add insult to injury, one day later the judge refused to keep details of the settlement private. I hope Paul's lawyer can afford a trip to the beautician.

Great Satire!

Painting of the Bathtub Bistro -right across from Central URC

Happy Birthday, Maurene!

Today is Maurene's birthday. She went out for breakfast tea with a friend, we had lunch together at the Bathtub Bistro a quintessential Bath eating establishment. She has had telephone calls from Thailand, Minnesota and California and it is only the middle of the afternoon.

I've lost 4 umbrellas to high winds since moving to England.
Waves in nearby Cornwall

Not the best spectator spot.

Gales again!

Well, last night the British Isles were hit with some significant gales. Coastal areas have had major flooding because the 80 mph winds hit at the same time as high tide. Fortunately, we survived without any major damage, just some turned over garden pots and some rearranged lawn furniture. We are glad we live in a stone house at the foot of a large hill. More wind is predicted for tonight and early tomorrow morning but only winds of about 40 mph. My last gale blog was 17 January 2007.

My new favourite commercial

Write a caption for this photograph

1) The "before" picture in a Hair Club for Men ad.

2) Which of these four gentlemen is not a former NFL player?

3) Don't golf clubs in Florida have a dress code?

4) The first foursome to tee off at the Tripp Isenhour RSPCA Charity Golf Tournament.

A few photographs of Pyle and Kenfig

Back to the links. . .

Since moving to Bath two years ago, I have been a member of The Park Golf Club just a few miles outside of town. I have enjoyed the course and the proximity to home. But, I have certainly missed playing 'links golf.' Well, it is the time of year when I must renew my membership. I have decided to become a 'country member' of the Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club on the Bristol Channel in Wales.

Country membership is offered to anyone that lives 60 miles or more from the club. The membership is inexpensive and offers full playing privileges except for entering club competitions (which I wouldn't do anyway). I had a similar membership at Prince's Golf Club in Sandwich when I lived in London and it was just over 100 miles.

The other benefit is that when I go to play I'll make a day of it. I have found that the closeness of the course has seriously deterred me from taking a full day off. I am excited as P and K is considered one of the best links courses in the British Isles and is a neighbour to the more famous Royal Porthcawl.

The downside is that I will have to pay a toll to cross the Severn Bridge into Wales. Welsh folks always laugh that it costs an Englishman £5 to enter Wales but they can leave for free! I did pay a toll when I ventured to Prince's at the Dartford Crossing but it was only £1 each way. But, I'll save a couple of gallons of petrol so it works out fine.

Ok. . .Harry's there, where are the Bush twins?

The Head of State of the United Kingdom's grandson is now on the frontline of the'war on terror.' When is Dubya going to allow his daughter's to enter the fray?

Earthquake!

It woke Maurene up. But we didn't have any damage at our house or in Bath!

Spring is coming! Honest, it is!

Since arriving back in Bath we have heard from family, friends and the news how brutal the midwestern winter continues to be. In fact, when we were home last month we were stranded for two days in Madison, Wisconsin when Interstate 94 was iced over.

Take heart! I took this picture at Parade Gardens today as I returned to the church after lunch with a colleague. The daffodils are in full glorious bloom. Don't let the picture deceive you though, we had the coldest night in Bath in five years just two nights ago when the temperature hit a rather frigid 22 degrees farenheit.

Yeeeeooowwww!

Focus, Rory, focus!

Rory & Company

Just a few photographs of Rory and her many admirers from our visit to Evanston during the last weekend in January

I wanted to steal the Bonekickers board, but somehow that didn't seem advisable.

Two of the actors chilling between scenes.

I don't know what this set was all about. I think it must have been someone's office. Apparently the 'green screen' is what weatherpeople stand in front of when doing the weather and then a background is added.

So this is why our television licence is so exorbitant. Look at all of these folks sitting around doing nothing.

The Beeb comes to Central URC

Central URC is a very historic building that was constructed in 1789. This past Wednesday the BBC used our building to film a portion of a new series entitled 'Bonekickers'. What was strange is that they didn't use our historic sanctuary or even our rather impressive vaults that lie beneath the building. Instead they used two rather non-descript halls and our rather modern stairway.

I wasn't allowed to photograph the actual action, but I was permitted to photograph one of the sets. The Director also let me watch the action on a monitor, but without any sound because he didn't want the plot line to be given away. I guess he didn't trust me.

Here is what I do know from hearing some ensuing conversations and what I could ascertain from the monitor. Our hall was an Islamic Study Centre and four students came in to study. Two Knights Templar or wanabee Knights Templar (at least I think that is who they were) had gained access to the centre and threatened the students with a sword.

What the stairway and the downstairs hall was used for remains a mystery. Anyway, I look forward to the screening in April. My only concern is that if Christians killed Muslims in the episode I really don't want a thank you to roll up in the credits.

One final note, our Church Treasurer is quite happy!

UK Living standards set to overtake US

The UK's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to rise to £23,500 per person during 2008, £250 more than the £23,250 GDP per head predicted for Americans, according to Oxford Economics.
Britons are also expected to enjoy higher living standards than both the Germans and the French, with GDP per head in the UK around 8% higher than in both of these countries, where it is expected to be £21,665 and £21,700 respectively. (from AOL)

There is only one problem with this. . .Petrol $8 per gallon; Heating bill per year $2400 without electricity; Hamburger, Fries and a Coke (not McDonald's) $11.00; Movie for 2 with popcorn and a shared drink-$26; Jar of Skippy Peanut Butter -$3; small packet of Peanut M&Ms -$1.10

And one very big plus. . .Universal Health Care -Priceless!

Fireworks display welcomes in 2008 at the London Eye.

Happy New Year!

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.