Wednesday 9th July

Well I went to the Volunteers "Banquet" last night and I take back what I said about the food not being that bad.   It was that bad.   I'm glad I didn't take anyone else.

 

I've cracked the difference between "dinner" and "banquet".   We have 'dinner' at Emmanuel when there is a celebration, and the food is wonderful, better than anything in a local restaurant, with a glass of red or white wine; silver cutlery and linen tablecloths and napkins BUT we have to line up and help ourselves, so that is 'dinner'.

 

At a 'banquet' however, the food can be awful and it was.  Fried chicken  I couldn't eat with the plastic cutlery, mashed potatoes with gravy - pause here for my loved ones, who know my revulsion to gravy, to smile - and nasty tinned green beans.   With a glass of water, or cold tea, in a Styrofoam cup.   But as we were sitting at a table and waited upon, it was a 'banquet'.

 

There was, in addition to speeches and awards for the number of volunteer hours, a musical entertainment.   It wasn't my taste, but the family doing it came from Montana for the big Rodeo here in town at the momrnt, and stayed on to do it.

 

This is the father and 4 year old daughter, I've no idea what she was singing, she seemed to just be making it up.

And the son and teenage daughter.    The mother sang as well.

 

This is Bill, thanking his chaplains.

 

And when we left we were given a present, like they do at chidrens' parties.

 

In the news............

We all know, don't we, how litigious Americans are, and this guy who fell asleep at a baseball game is suing the photographer, and every television company which broadcast the picture, for $10million for the emotional trauma he suffered at being laughed at.   He doesn't look that bad, just tired, I would look a lot more stupid than that because my mouth would be open, and I would be drooling.   In fact, I briefly contemplated taking a couple of sleeping tablets and going to a game.  I don't mind the nation seeing me look stupid for $10million.

 

The last serious news I heard was that Israel was bombarding Hammas in Gaza.   It occurred to me that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better.   The Israelis, under pressure from Palestinian leadership some time ago, withdrew to the borders of Gaza and Hammas took over, and by all accounts Gaza descended into hell.   Hopefully, if Hammas are defeated, wiped out, and they should be because the IDF are the most efficient army in the world, life will hopefully get better for the Palestinians who live there.