Last Day in Oklahoma

The last few days have been incredibly busy, packing up and getting ready to leave Oklahoma after eight years.   It has been a big job, and it is entirely down to the massive amount of help from son Tim that I'll be in a position to do so.

I have also been very blessed with all the kind friends who have helped and supported me here whom I will miss.

I'll be back with another blog called, probably, 'A Brit Back Home'.  I'll circulate e-mails when it is available.

Much love and all the best,

Thursday

I've been a bit lethargic today.   Lethargy usually afflicts me when I feel overwhelmed at all that I have to do.

Going through all the 'last things I will do" and yesterday was the last Wednesday meal.  I wasn't required to make a dessert as it was team Mexican, who provide their Mexican dessert - a sort of pastry.   

My friend Jack had put aside a non-spicy portion for me - everyone else, even children in their high chairs have the spicy portions.    Kevin said he would come and cut my grass.  I do appreciate all these kind friends I have made here, and will miss them all.

Today, Thursday I went to Communion, and the last Thursday lunch, there was nine of us altogether.   We went to a Mexican restaurant - Mexican restaurants here are as ubiquitous as the Chinese at home.   It was all very pleasant in spite of being a little sad at the fact that it was my last. When I stepped up to pay my bill I found a friend had settled it for me - people are all so generous.

And tomorrow, Friday, I am off to my last chaplaincy round.

Tuesday 26th

The last few days have been mainly, with Phyllis's help, sorting through stuff ready to start packing.

Looking around me now it all looks a bit chaotic, although we have cleared out a massive amount of stuff.    Phyllis helps two families particularly who will benefit from things I have turned out. As well as some other things  I am donating my reclining chair to her, and she is very grateful for that.   

I took a pile of office and stationery supplies to Kate at the Senior Centre, so things are finding good homes.

Although I am sorry to be saying goodbye to good friends I have made here, I am so happy to be coming home and living near Tim and family in Oxford, and Jeremy who is not too far away in Surrey.

Just realized - I hadn't published yesterday's blog, so here it is, it was entitled "I'm 77".

Now I am really pushing 80, and this is no longer a laughing matter.

Been engaged with frustrating banking issues - like not being able to access my Lloyds account.  I hope they are dusting off the welcome mat at the Summertown branch.   The only thing that can be said for banks here  is that they have realistic opening hours - they don't shut at 3.30.

Just did a little shopping.  Needed some milk which over here is all healthy, fat reduced 2%, and I don't do healthy eating.   I am just so looking forward to the full fat, full cream, unhealthy Channel Island milk.  That's going on the shopping list along with the Melton Mowbray pork pie, and Ambrosia creamed rice.

postscript to Thursday

Although I knew it was the Queen's 90th birthday it really rather passed me by until I reflected on the fact that I was a child - well 13 - when she came to the throne, and now she is 90!!!   Remembering her when she was young, dark haired and glamorous, I can't tell you how incredibly OLD that made me feel.   

If it is not too late to ask, could someone please save me a newspaper, I expect there are some souvenir editions with pictures of her.

I read somewhere that she has stopped breeding corgis because she doesn't want to leave any behind.

Thursday

Today I have had both trial and blessing.    The trial has been my desktop pc which I fear has died, instead of having icons on my screen I had blank pages, so I took it yesterday to Staples, went back for it today and the bottom line is that they couldn't fix it.  

They first of all wanted $159 to fix it, which I gave them yesterday (because I have a lot of photos and data I wouldn't like to lose) then today they wanted more money to fix it....and I balked at the more money, so requested a refund of the $159, and left the store with the defunct pc.   The manageress was not happy and flounced off scowling, the young man attending to me did his best and I thanked him.

There is a computer place downtown, I might just ask them to look at it tomorrow  - see how they handle it.

That was the trial - the blessing was my friend Phyllis, who came round, rolled her sleeves up and set to work helping with the turning out and sorting.   There are still things to go through and she said she'd be back on Monday.  

So that has been my day.    Going back to my book which is a biography of Queen Mary (the mother of George V) it is fascinating.

Tuesday

Driving along my road I caught a wing mirror on a wheelie bin (dustbin, but they're taller than ours) and it sheered right off.   So I rang Terry this morning - Tuesday - and he put a new one on, which meant I didn't get to the hospital because I had to wait in for him to get the mirror, then call me to say he was ready to fit it.

It didn't take as long as I thought it would, so I went along to the Gospel Singing at the Senior Centre and was pleased to catch up with my friend Faye there.   Her son Wayne is a member of the Kiwanis group I belonged to for quite a few years, and Faye was telling me the family are excited because her grandson in Britain is getting married in July and Wayne and family are going over for the wedding. 

.........................this is how far I got writing up my blog yesterday, Tuesday, on my desktop pc but when I went back to it I found I had serious problems with the computer, which went from bad to much worse, and has now totally crashed.   I will have to take it to Staples in the morning to be fixed, because even if I leave it behind here I have got photos and data on it I need to retrieve.

There is a message at the top of this page which says....

"The browser we detected is unsupported and may result in unexpected behavior.
Please choose from our list of supported browsers for the best experience".   

I am not sure I know what a supported browser is, but I wanted to send this before I started tinkering with the lap top, looking for supported browsers - whatever they are.

Saturday/Sunday

Was out and about yesterday, Saturday.  I went to the AARP meeting in the morning, it doesn't really interest me, I went because Phyllis and Joe were there.   The speaker was the publisher of the local paper, I took my knitting and just half listened.   I passed up the dreary cafeteria style lunch (the meeting is held in a school hall, imagine what the food is like), Phyllis got me a slice of cheesecake though which was quite nice.

 

In the afternoon Bruce and Rosalyn invited me to a meal at the China Buffet and that was very pleasant, and I was pleased to spend time with them, commenting that our days together are numbered.

 

This morning Sunday, I went to the eight o'clock at Emmanuel.  It was a BIG DAY with the Bishop and baptisms and confirmations, which is why I didn't go to the main service at ten thirty, I'm getting too fidgety for a very long service, and the eight o'clock was actually very good because it was conducted entirely by the Bishop, which was a refreshing change.   For the most part he usually sits in his bishop's chair.    

I went back after the ten thirty for the free meal and more importantly, the chance to sit and have lunch with other people.  The church provided the beef,  pulled pork, drinks and cake, and people took side dishes and dessert.   I think it must be the first time though that there wasn't any red or white wine, the drinks were cold tea and lemonade.   I'll be glad when (or if) I am eating out back home and able to order tea and know (or at least expect) that it will be made with boiling water - oh joy, oh rapture.   I never could get on with the cold tea they drink here.

I took some photographs of the cake etc. and although I have two card readers I can't get either of them to work.  I blame the very tiny film card in the latest camera, I didn't used to have a problem.  I think I might need a trip to Staples tomorrow.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday

The weather is lovely at the moment, so warm and sunny, I thought I should make the most of it - with our northern climate in Britain it might be the only summer I get.   Was sitting out on my front porch this afternoon.

 

I went to the bank and thought that I should add to "things I'll miss" are banks providing tea, coffee, chocolate and hot spiced cider.   And popcorn on Fridays - not that I like popcorn but it adds a welcoming touch to the foyer.

 

This evening I went to the movies downtown and saw "Eddie the Eagle".   Anyone my age and British will remember Eddie the Eagle, the British Olympic ski jumper (the only one) in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.   He was not athletic, and a very unlikely champion but he loved ski jumping and dreamed for years of competing in the Olympic games.   I think it is what they call a "feel good" movie, and I left the auditorium feeling good.   

 

I was somewhat surprised though that there were other people in the auditorium, I am used to having it to myself.

 

 

Tuesday

I went to the hospital this morning without incident, but when I went out again in the afternoon I found I had  another flat tyre.  I thought I have HAD it with cars and driving, I can't wait for my bus pass.

I called Terry and he came out and put a little air in the tyre, enough to get me to his workshop so he could repair it.  Unfortunately though I must have driven over something jagged, he described the nature of the damage to me and said he couldn't repair it, I would need a new tyre.  SIGH.   I hope that $75 is the last I will have to fork out on a car.  

I was surprised at how long it all took, I was practically a couple of hours in his workshop while he went for a new tyre then fitted it, but I passed the time crocheting.

Trump is still falling in the polls, and there is no fury like a Trump scorned.   ha, ha.  He has the emotional maturity of a ten year old.   Someone was commenting on the fact that he is always 'tweeting'.   How Presidential is that.   I wouldn't have thought he had a snowball in hell's chance of being elected, but time will tell.

I haven't got very far finding a shipping company (one that will provide me with a wooden box and knows what I am talking about).  I know that shipping takes weeks, it did when I came over here because I shipped all my books.    I did e-mail a company that advertises its global activities but haven't had a reply.  

So that has been my wildly exciting day. 

Monday

I haven't  done a great deal lately apart from sorting out and getting things together which I want to take home with me.   I e-mailed a shipping company this evening to ask how much a box would cost to ship.   Actually there are two shipping companies in town but they seem to send everything by air, or perhaps I need to get into the 21st century.

Phyllis stopped by unexpectedly today and gave me a hand with a cupboard I was turning out, which was very helpful because I can't reach the top shelves of my wall cupboards, and it was lovely to see her and natter.

The news is all still non stop political campaigning.  I am curious to know what news is on at home where I'm sure they're not covering the US election to the extent that it is covered here.

Hilary Clinton was on television this evening, dismissing the FBI agents investigating her and insisting very firmly that it is a "security review" and all will be well.    I don't know how many Americans buy that because even I have learned that there is no such thing as a security review in the FBI, they investigate crimes.

Donald Trump is falling rather in the polls and is spitting feathers, saying the process is all rigged and it is NOT FAIR.     Heaven only knows what he will be like if he is not elected because he is a terrible loser.    He is also shouting that Kasich should not be allowed to run, it is unfair, he will split the vote.

Kasich - taking the mickey out of him - says with a great deal of pouting that's "it's not fair Trump wants his votes, he (Kasich) wants his votes".    I have a deep down intuitive feeling that it will be Kasich, rather than Trump or Cruz who will be President.   Kasich has been a good governor of Ohio, and Trump doesn't even know how to run a state, never mind the nation.

Saturday

Harking back to Wednesday I didn't remember what I said and time has moved on - what happened to Thursday and Friday I ask myself.

The campaign for President is front and centre of the news.  At one time I couldn't stand Trump but am beginning to warm to him - a bit.  He has a lovely family who obviously think the world of him so he can't be that bad.  I can't imagine what kind of President he would be though because I don't think diplomacy is his strong point, the President of Mexico has been on television and is pretty teed off with him saying Mexicans are all criminals and rapists, and he supposes some of them are alright.  But one would hope that if he were to be President he would surround himself with advisers who would calm him down, if I were American I'd certainly hope so.

I think the FBI have finished investigating Hilary Clinton and her e-mails and server, I'm just waiting, practically with bated breath, so see what is going to happen next.   She merrily laughs off any suggestion that she might be in trouble, might be indicted, says very confidently that is just not going to happen.   If it is revealed that there has been some criminal misdoing - even if it is just negligently handling  classified and top secret information - and she is let off the hook I can foresee a furious uprising.    Bernie Sanders is shouting from his podium that she is not "qualified" to be President.   I think qualified is all that she is.  She's been married to a President, lived in the White House, knows what the job entails, has travelled extensively as Secretary of State meeting world leaders.  How 'qualified' does he think she should be.  How qualified is he.   But I'm not for one moment suggesting that she should be President, she is not 'honest and trustworthy' to use a phrase constantly bandied about.

Changing the subject...............    

Sigh.   This idiot who thinks he is heir to the throne actually has a lawyer who is taking him seriously!!!!  That's what I find unbelievable.   

Maybe he is Charles and Camilla's secret son, but anyone with just a passing acquaintance with English history would know that monarchs and heirs to the throne have sired  illegitimate sons over the years, and they don't, and never had, and never will, stand a chance in the Line of Succession.   His lawyer should have laughed him out of his office. 

Wednesday

Oh, the chagrin!!   I wrote several paragraphs just now, thought I hit publish, but it has all just disappeared into cyberspace.    I will try and remember what I said and send it tomorrow.

Monday

It has been a lovely warm day today – Monday – and pleasant crocheting out on the porch.  The outdoor cat kept me company, and Bubbles sat indoors on the back of the sofa, looking out of the window and keeping an eye on both of us.

Yesterday, Sunday, I went to Emmanuel and in the afternoon saw the movie 'I Saw the Light' about the singer Hank Williams.  It wasn't bad but a bit slow, I'm glad I saw it though.

The world leaders have returned home from their Nuclear Summit and President Hollande – who   doesn’t believe in pussyfooting around terrorists who plant bombs in airports etc – referred to them as ‘Islamic terrorists’, but Obama whose political correctness and naïveté has reached a new level of insanity has decreed that they must not be called that, lest they take offence.  I forgot what he said they have to be called instead because it is too long and convoluted to remember.  

This is the Obama who once called Islam “a religion of peace”.  Yeah. If he just spent five minutes reading the Prophet’s writings on spreading Islam throughout the world, exhorting his followers to kill the unbelieving rest of us, he would realise how fallacious that is.

Of course I appreciate that there are billions of Muslims around the world living decent, law abiding lives but it would be helpful if Muslim leaders spoke out and denounced the terrorists carrying out atrocities in the name of Islam – why don’t they?

Bravo President Hollande!!

 

Saturday

It has been a lovely warm, sunny day, 73 degrees as I drove through town.

 

This morning Fr Bill gave a talk on praying the rosary, which has never been part of my tradition, or churchmanship,  but I am always interested to learn something new so I went along.  I thought it was simply a matter of telling us what is being recited as one is holding the rosary, but apparently there is a lot more to it than that - to the extent that on the first Saturday of every month he is leading a little group in praying the rosary.

 

This afternoon I had planned on going to the movies to see the story of Hank Williams, whom I've always liked, but was progressing with my sorting and crocheting and have put it off until tomorrow.

 

Hilary Clinton became very irate today when someone asked her about the FBI's investigation into her e-mail server.   She very irritably brushed aside the question, said it was just a "security review" and everything was going to be alright (some security review, there have been 147 FBI agents working weeks, if not months, on it)   And interestingly - at least from my perspective - is the fact that the guy who actually set up her e-mail server has just negotiated immunity from prosecution in return for evidence.   So it would seem to me - the puzzled bystander here - that there surely has to be a lot more to it than a "security review", we don't know the half of it.  And I wonder why she is so confident nothing is going to come of it, is she expecting Obama to bail her out rather than see her indicted.  

Thursday

I've been out and about today, I went to Communion this morning then six of us went for lunch.  Afterwards I found another shipping company but they told me to go to Staples and get a cardboard box, I thought I'd be provided with a big wooden one, like I had when I came here, but I picked up something 12 x 12 x 12, which I think will take my needlework stuff.   My precious threads, which have taken a lifetime to collect, I will put in my suitcase.

 

After I got back from lunch I cracked on with the afghan I am making for myself, which  will go on the bed in my new home.    Tomorrow I will tackle the kitchen cupboards and try to figure what I am going to do with my books and CD's.

 

The major news story of the day has been Trump saying that women who have abortions should be punished, and both the pro and anti abortion lobbies immediately pounced on him, so he tried to walk that back, saying he "misspoke".   

 

But he is always misspeaking and Cruz is beginning to catch up with him.  He - Trump - had a meeting today with the chief Republican guy, and no one knows what that was about, but according to Trump it was a very good meeting.    One interviewer was pressing to know who called the meeting, but Trump kept dodging  and evading the question, so obviously it was the boss man who summoned him, and since then Trump has stopped calling Cruz "lying Ted".   We'll see if he stops hurling insults altogether and starts behaving more Presidentially.

Personally, I like Kasich  but if I venture to say so I am dismissed by those not in agreement who say "she watches Fox News" but my opinions of Kasich are formed by what he is saying in interviews, or addressing meetings.  And I don't need Fox News anyway to tell me what to think.

Thursday morning

Hope to be coming back to British rule, or at least the hope of it being restored in the not-too-distant future, I've heard that the general consensus to the Referendum of staying in Europe is that most people want the hell out.

Yesterday morning I went over to Tecumseh to join Donna and her friend Judy, for coffee and lively political chat, and that was very good.  Then when I got home I made some caramel crunch to take to the meal last night at Emmanuel, which has always been an old favourite but this was sticky, I have decided I am never going to make it again.  I have a recipe for chocolate fudge which looks very straight forward.  It was all eaten though, someone even finished off all the fragments I'd put in a dish.     Afterwards I joined the restive teenagers at Fr Bill's confirmation class.

 

Today I am going to hunt out another shipping company, yesterday I went to the only one I know and

was very put off by their rudeness, but someone last night told me of another company, so I will check that out today.

 

In the meantime I had better press on.

 

 

 

Later Tuesday

Two posts in one day and it's not like I have anything momentous to say.

I thought I'd make a really nice parting gift afghan for the Senior Centre and purchased the main colour of this. rather than using some of what I had.  But after a weekend spent over the back of the reclining chair I quite like it, and am not so keen on parting with it.  I'll give the Senior Centre another one.  I have two or three besides the two for my grandchildren.  I'd quite like to bring them back with me - maybe I could put them in one of those bags where I vacuum out the air, and it makes them into smaller, flatter packages.

Hmmpphh.   She's not often moved, she's even been allowed lately to clamber all over the suede sofa, shedding her hairs, but this is where I draw the line, snuggling into my handiwork is something - in the words of the late, great Winston Churchill - up with which I will not put. 

Just came across this photo, it was taken recently at St Crispin's when I was learning about my personality.   At the end of the day the four of us from Emmanuel were relaxing with a glass of wine and playing a game, I think it was called Taboo.

Tuesday morning

Hope you all had a good holiday weekend, which is a bit longer at home - here everyone got back to work yesterday, which was fortunate for me and my car.   I went with Terry to the church car park, he put some air into the tyre, and I followed him back to his workshop where he changed it.   There had been a screw which had embedded itself in it, slowly letting air out.

 

I was thinking how blessed I have been here, always having Terry to turn to in my car crises, he has looked after me so well.   I'd had a good auto mechanic in Seaford too who hugged me when I left, and wished me all the best.

 

I certainly don't expect to make any money on my battered old '96 Honda, but Terry said he would give me something for it, so I am not having to worry about its disposal when I leave.

 

I went to the hospital yesterday to fill in for a chaplain who was away, and had lunch with Bill which was pleasant.   I can't say I got back to my sorting out, I was feeling a little bit lethargic, but I will crack on with it today.

 

As to Hilary Clinton.  The FBI have finished looking at her e-mails, but her problems are far from over, they are about to interview all her friends and family.  I find it hard to believe she is actually a candidate for the Presidency with all this going on.  There are not many people agreeing with me, but I can't see her making it to the White House.  What is it they say about smoke and fires and so on.

Well I will get on with my day, and might be back later.  I certainly will if there is any news on Clinton.

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter all friends and loved ones.

I'm a bit early with this post, it is only 11.00 am, which is what passes for lunchtime in this country.   I went to the 8 o'clock this morning as I was reading, and afterwards hung out with some friends going to the 10.30.

 

When I got out to the car park someone spotted that I had a very flat tyre.  He offered to change it, but I asked him to run me home, and I'll get Terry on to it in the morning - it's not a holiday here.  It has clipped my wings a bit, I was thinking of seeing the movie 'Revenant' down town this afternoon, but perhaps tomorrow.

 

I might be back later if anything dramatic happens, like the FBI have finished with Hilary Clinton, and she's about to indicted.  But I think I am the only one who thinks she might be.

Good Friday

I’ve been dwelling on the Beatitudes (like you do) in particular “Blessed are the Peacemakers…….”.

I LOVE the Peacemakers.    Those whom Jesus calls “the children of God”.

Sometimes we all have an issue with a statement voiced or expressed, but the Peacemakers express their disagreement - not by hurling harsh words and angry rhetoric - but by gently pointing out their perceptions of it, seeking to bring an understanding of another’s view,  and if all else fails, at least agree to disagree.   

Note - at the hospital yesterday I introduced myself as a volunteer chaplain and the patient either didn't hear, or understand, so his son shouted "she's a preacher ,Dad".  So here I am being a preacher.

 

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is a common and popular name for the Thursday before Easter Sunday.   It got its name from the Latin word mandatum, which means "commandment"  and it commemorates Christ's Last Supper, at which He instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood, and gave them the new commandment that "they should love one another".

 

In Britain on Maundy Thursday there is a tradition of giving silver coins to the poor, which is said to have originated with St. Augustine in 597 AD at Canterbury, and has been performed by the monarch since the days of Edward II.

 

Washing of feet is another Maundy Thursday thing, and at one time was carried out by the monarch.     James II is said to be the last British monarch to personally perform this and it was abandoned in the 18th century, which doesn't altogether surprise me, I can't see the Hanoverian kings having much truck with washing the feet of the poor.

Perhaps it is having a revival because I remember it as part of the service at Denton, and we had it tonight at Emmanuel.  I don't usually, at any church, participate in this but at the last moment this evening I decided to do so.   I was somewhat surprised that the water was warm and it was actually quite pleasant.

 

So we are moving through Holy Week, tomorrow as you know is Good Friday.

 

Tenebrae

I went to the Tenebrae Service this evening, it is the day before Maundy Thursday.

Tenebrae is Latin for 'shadows' and I think the Service differs from church to church.   The church is usually in darkness apart from candles, but the overhead lights at Emmanuel were kept on, just dimmed a bit during the service. 

There are as many candles on the altar as there are readings, plus a white Christ candle, in our case this evening there were 15 candles and readings, and I did one of them.

The readers go up one at a time, read their assigned selections, and extinguish one of the candles, until only the Christ candle remains. Then Fr Bill read the first part of Psalm 22, which Jesus quoted on the Cross, and the Christ candle was put out, leaving the congregation in near total darkness, and at this point, the service ends with a very loud bang symbolising the closing of the Tomb..

There is no benediction and the people leave in silence. (The lights are turned up but remain dim so that people can see their way out.)

Changing the subject...........

I suppose you could say I have an indoor and an outdoor cat.   The indoor cat, Bubbles, certainly has the most  comfortable billet - this is a cushion with a fleecy cover when she feels like a change from her sofa in the living room.

I don't know if this cat wants to be taken in, but I look at it and say "you've got no chance".

Tuesday in Holy Week (posted Wed am)

The service this evening was a candlelit Evening Service, it was short, only 20 minutes, but lovely.  The church was entirely candlelit, and there was a mass of candles on the altar.   Back home I think the Health and Safety crew would be kicking in.

 

Here I am wrestling with the problem of Bubbles when I leave, I will have to have her put down.  There is no way she would want to go to anyone else, I know she'd rather die.   I went to an Animal Hospital in town, explained the situation and the fact that she is 17.  They were very kind and said they'd do it, and I could hold her while they did, I told them I didn't want to just drop her off.   There was much shedding of tears and passing of tissues.   Then I went to the Senior Centre and cried on Kate and Mary's shoulders.   Of course there are going to be sad moments like this, I've been here a long time, but am so looking forward - you can't imagine - to being back among my family and precious grandchildren.

 

Well it is actually Wednesday morning, I had better get on with my day.

Monday in Holy Week

Phyllis came this morning and gave me a hand turning out my pantry, I was grateful for the help and it was good to spend time together.   She said she might go home for a visit next year, her brother wants to throw a party for her 80th birthday.   She is pushing 80 even harder than I am, and does twice as much - or more - helping out in the community.   And she is another one asking me what I am going "to do" when I get home.   The short answer is that it will be a change to open my eyes in the morning and not think about any responsibilities for the day - chaplaincy visits and making desserts for Wednesday's meal.

 

The walls of the Senior Centre are crammed full of photos of veterans, and I had two or three photos in a frame I took at a Remembrance Day service in 2010, the main photo being of Cecil Johnson, who was a well known veteran locally, and I thought I would take it along to the Senior Centre to add to the other veterans there.  Kate seemed very pleased to have it.  And she gave me something "that I could use to take on the aircraft"  ...

 

I am not sure about the "taking on the aircraft".   It looks as if I'm bragging, like, "look how special I am".  And I'm probably bragging telling you about it.   When I grew up people who did voluntary work were regarded - disparagingly by those who didn't - as "do gooders";  it wasn't until I came here and saw how much people did for others that I came to think that maybe doing good, contributing in one's community, wasn't such a BAD thing after all.

 

In the news...........As you probably know the Obamas are visiting Cuba, and a big deal is being made of the fact that Raoul Castro  wasn't at the airport to meet them.  SHOCK, HORROR, OUTRAGE. Trump said that he should have turned his plane around and come straight back.   How Presidential is that??

 

Trump is so supremely confident that he is going to win the Election (and I am beginning to think he might) he has assembled all his foreign policy advisers.  The phrase about counting, chickens, and hatching comes to mind.

 

The field has narrowed from 17 to 3 and the front runners, Trump and Cruz, are urging Kasich to opt out because he hasn't got a mathematical chance of winning, and he will split the vote if he stays in.  Ha, ha.   I think I'd vote for Kasich, if I had a vote.   As far as I am concerned it is all about likeability, never mind the politics, and Kasich is likeable.



 

 There is a service at Emmanuel every evening this week.   This evening's service was focused on healing.  I didn't go up for anointing with oil, it is not something I am used to.

Sunday,

I don't know why, maybe I woke up rather late and groggy, I'd taken a sleeping pill last night, not really a very good idea, and didn't make it to church.

My only trip out was to pick up something for lunch, and have spent the day going through stuff and sorting, sorting, sorting.

I didn't have the television on much, have had enough of Donald Trump ranting and raving, hurling insults at the other two candidates in the race.   Very presidential.   In spite of him saying that he will be the most presidential president since Abe Lincoln.   Yeah.

Saturday

The weather seems to have turned cold suddenly after being up in the 70s and 80s.   It was 44 when I first went out and was going through town;  later it got to 65 but felt colder than that, probably due to the strong breeze.   It was very bright and sunny though.

 

I went to the monthly AARP meeting this morning.  It is not really terribly interesting but I go to catch up with Phyllis who was there with her husband, Joe, and that was good.  It is held in the cafeteria of a Baptist church school, and the lunch is always typically "school" food.  In fact it is the same meal every month.

 

Apart from that everything else has been run-of-the-mill.    I watched television while I crocheted, but for practically all the afternoon I became increasingly irritated by the local barking dogs.  I wondered why Americans have dogs, they're not treated as pets - no, I shouldn't make such sweeping generalisations, I am sure there are millions of Americans who love and cherish their animals - just not round here.   The people opposite were out and their dog was tied up in the front yard - on what I considered to be too short a leash - and barked all the afternoon.   The Animal Welfare place is closed on Saturdays, I did pick up the phone to complain to the police, then put it down again.   Reminded myself that my days of having to listen to barking dogs are numbered - hooray!!!!

 

So not wildly exciting, but that has been my day.

St Patrick's Day

And everyone on television was dressed in green, which coming from New York (the programme that is) didn't surprise me.  But I was surprised when I ventured out into town, and found everyone there in green - not just in the population, but also in the Senior Centre, and  there isn't even any Irish population in Shawnee  

 

Me, not thinking of it, pulled on one of Larry's Orange OSU tee shirts when I got dressed.   Later I realised I was the only one walking around Shawnee in orange (not that there is any significance here) and  reflected on the fact that my great grandfather was an Orange man, took part in those marches they're so fond of in Belfast (or were, I don't know if they still do).   Perhaps that's why I'm so Protestant, must be in my DNA.  And I even went on You Tube to listen to the  late, great, Jimmy Ferguson singing the 'Orange and the Green' 

                            

                            Oh it was the greatest mix up you have ever seen,

                            Me father he was Orange, and me mother, she was Green. 

 

In the afternoon I went to the Senior Centre to listen to the singing.   I was telling them at the desk on the way out that we don't have anything like that in England,  I'd have to go to the Welsh Valleys to hear anything like that live.

 

As you might imagine there is an enormous amount of sorting out and throwing away to do here, mostly throwing away, so perhaps I had better get on with it.

One thing though before I go - The FBI seem to be taking a long time investigating Hilary Clinton, and in a supermarket tabloid I was looking at today it said two of the things that they are looking at are large donations from foreign governments for the Clinton Foundation.   And she helped a Swiss bank block an Internal Revenue probe into $18 billion hidden away in accounts by Americans.   Even if I get to hear the outcome of this in Britain I doubt that I'll see her in an orange jump suit, and ankle bracelets.



 

 

Tuesday

The weather has been lovely, warm and sunny and bright, and 72 when I drove through town, and I have needed to be about.

 

I went to Walmart and was gazing at what passes in this country for smoked salmon, and thought happily of the smoked salmon lined up for me when I get home.  And what is going to be on my first shopping trip to Waitrose, Sainsbury, or wherever, will be Melton Mowbray pork pie, and Ambrosia creamed rice.

 

Of course there will be many things - apart from wonderful friends - that I will miss when I am back in the homeland.  This is cattle country, and I'll never find better steaks.  And the wonderful skies in Oklahoma.   I will miss Wednesday nights at Emmanuel, but the church I will be joining in Oxford looks very active and promising.  If anyone is interested it's website is http://www.standrewsoxford.org.   

 

I thought too of how accommodating people are here.  This afternoon I needed a prescription, I'd had my last refill, and my doctor is away for Spring Break but my pharmacy gave me it to me anyway.

 

Everyone has started cutting their grass and Kevin came today to do mine.  I told him I was going home, and after looking and sounding suitably sorrowful - and very taken aback - he asked what I was going to "do".    Do??   Do??   I asked.   He pointed out that I am busy here, I have a hospital chaplaincy round  for example.  I told him I was going to retire.

 

I hope David Cameron is not about to call a General Election.  I have had it with elections and politics.   My tv remote is stuck on Fox News and doesn't know its way anywhere else - although on another channel, I think about 1am or some other unsuitably late (or early) hour, there is a programme about the Real Secret Service in Britain, I have made a note to watch.

 

Well, I have a living room to tidy up a bit, the contents of two cupboards are strewn all over the place.

Sunday

Well, the clocks went forward last night, but somehow I missed it.  There are usually lots of reminders on television, perhaps I turned it off too soon.  

 

So I was an hour late for church, just got there in time for the Communion part of the service, and  spent the day cracking on finishing off  an afghan I think I will keep for myself and bring home, if there is room in the suitcase as I've done a couple for my grand children.  Tomorrow I am going to get seriously down to sorting and throwing out.

I took this in one of the hospital's waiting rooms to show you how big chairs have to be in this country to accommodate the seriously obese here.

 

I'm Coming Home

and I don't mean Heaven, which is the usual connotation here.

Son Tim is arranging for me to move back to the UK to live near him and his family in north Oxford, in the area they call Summertown.

It will be at least a month hence, so I have time to sort through eight years of accumulated possessions and make lists.   And say a long goodbye to Bubbles.

I can't begin to tell you how much I will miss all the kind, wonderful friends I have made at Emmanuel, and in the wider Shawnee community, but I am ready for this next stage of life.

There isn't much more to say at this point, but will keep you informed.

Wednesday

Had a pleasant morning visiting my friend Donna, on the other side of Tecumseh, there were three of us altogether - another friend who is native American contributed an interesting perspective -  and we chatted about a wide range of topics and politics.

 

When I got home - via the hospital where I chatted with Bill for a while - I knocked up some shortbread,  which I took to Emmanuel with the cakes I'd bought to support the bake sale.  I said I wouldn't be back for the meal this evening though, I just wanted to get home.   Crash out.

Monday

All I can say about today is that it was uneventful, I was recovering from all the excitement of yesterday.

Tomorrow I will be at the hospital, there is great excitement there, a new wing is opening, so I plan to be there.

4th in Lent - Mother's Day.

But not over here, it's not part of the church calendar here.  Americans didn't have lots of servants who wanted one Sunday a year off to visit their mothers, so the notion of Mother's Day has been taken over by the greeting card industry, I think it is in May, but don't know why.   Anyway, loved ones sent me electronic greeting cards and messages and that made my day.

 

I thought of all the children in churches at home this morning presenting their mothers with little posies made up by the women of the church, and usually there were enough to give one to other elderly ladies present as well.

Last evening Bruce and Rosalyn kindly invited me to see the film 'Spotlight', and Donna came as well.   Briefly, its synopsis is that a Boston Globe reporter uncovered a ring of paedophilic monks.  SHOCK, HORROR.  I don't even walk round the grounds of St Gregory's without casting suspicious looks at any I might pass.  A bishop back home - a monk I liked and highly respected for many years - is now cleaning out the loos in Lewes Prison after a conviction for paedophilia. 

In every nation there are monks with paedophilic tendencies.  I was in Ireland when news of their local paedophilic monks broke.  It was actually quite heart wrenching, the entire community was devastated, in total shock.  Elderly farmers who had grown up in,  and loved the Catholic church, were walking round looking dazed and vowing they would never go to Mass again.

Afterwards Bruce and Rosalyn invited us in for tea and blueberry biscuits, then I made my way home.  I'd left some bacon in a frying pan - and I know this probably sounds revolting - but I decided to crisp it up and snack on it, so I turned on the stove and wandered off.   Next thing I knew the pan was on fire, and the smoke alarm was screaming so loudly it could be heard from one end of the street to the other.  I've never heard it before, I had no idea it was so LOUD - I had a smoke alarm in Seaford, but nothing on the scale of this -  I threw the pan out, opened both front and back doors and a neighbour from across the road rushed in and turned them off (it's the law that there has to be one in every bedroom).   Dale across the road is away on a holiday, or she would have come in as well.

So today I have just been recovering from all this excitement.  In the afternoon I went to Walmart for a new frying pan.


 

Wednesday March 2nd

It has been a bit chilly today, but the last few days have been lovely.  Just like summer in England - in the 70s, deep blue sky, and warm.  Yesterday I debated where to go to sit outside - there are a lot of parks in Shawnee, but I settled for my front porch.

 

This evening I went to Emmanuel, I didn't need to do a dessert, it was team Mexican who do their own.   Fr Bill wasn't there so there wasn't a class afterwards and I left after the meal.

 

The news is still all about the campaign for the Presidency, I just wonder what I am missing in the rest of the world.  David Cameron might have died for all I know.   

 

Hilary Clinton is still smiling and gracious, shaking hands with would-be voters, not seeming to have a care in the world apart from the Election.     The latest news about her is that the Department of Justice has offered immunity to a key witness, a former staffer who set up her e-mail server.   So she is not about to be let off the hook anytime soon.   The only person who keeps reminding the world that she is under investigation is Donald Trump, who has vowed to "get to the bottom of it" when he becomes President.

 

There is another debate, I think tonight, but Ben Carson is not attending.  He hasn't said he is dropping out, but he probably thinks there is not much point in being there.   The back and forth has always been between Trump, Rubio, and Cruz.

Sunday

I was away Friday, and came back yesterday, Saturday, in the late afternoon.  I went to St Crispin's to an Episcopal Church Women's Retreat on the subject of  "Personality and Spirituality: Their Relationship in our Lives",  looking at the Myers Briggs Personality Inventory which was created to help people gain insight into their personalities.   It was led by a lady priest from Tahlequah, Mother Deborah, on the other side of the state, I have been to her Retreats before and like her very much.

 

I thought it might be a bit over my head because I am not terribly good at grasping things like this, and I am not quite sure I have entirely grasped this, I need to go into it a bit more.   And if any of you know anything about it, I am personality type ISTJ.

 

If any of you are interested you can find the inventory online at http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp£top (the £ sign is a hash tag, which I don't have on my computer, so I am wondering how I managed to print it off).

 

Mother Deborah (we don't have this in England, we call women priests by their Christian names)  anyway, she also talked about spiritual journaling, where we spill out our souls in our journals, and I am not sure about that either.  I wouldn't mind if it would self destruct, but I don't think I would want anyone reading the deepest secrets of my soul after I am gone.

 

And although this might all sound a bit negative,  I did actually enjoy the weekend.  I went with 3 other people from Emmanuel.   Mother Deborah  also put on a movie 'Calendar Girls' which was very good - about a group of middle aged women who posed nude (or nearly nude) for a calendar to raise funds for their WI.   It all took place in Yorkshire so I loved the scenery, not just the dales but the fields and hedgerows which they don't have over here.  You may know that some of our hedgerows are nearly 900 years old, so maybe it is not surprising.   There was some discussion about issues raised in the film, afterwards.

 

It never occurred to me but the other three from Emmanuel brought bottles of wine - they're quite close friends so had obviously discussed it - so we partied on Friday evening.  I took some photos, but unfortunately the film card in the latest camera is very tiny, and I couldn't get it into either of my card readers.  I will go to Staples tomorrow, and will display the photos when I am able.

 

There was also another group, quite a big one, from Emmanuel holding an event of their own, but we mingled after the sessions.

 

It was a lovely, warm sunny day yesterday and the other three from Emmanuel were keen to hike along the trails at St Crispin's,  when it was over.  I played the old lady card and sat in a comfortable patio chair reading.

 

I have spent today getting over it all, as it were.

Tuesday

Woke up this morning to high winds and very very, heavy drenching rain which continued all day.  I was out at the hospital at usual on a Tuesday, and had lunch there.

 

I also went to Walmart and got very wet indeed, normally I make a mental note of where I am parked but for some reason didn't do so today, so I was walking up and  down all the rows of cars looking for mine.  Just when I thought someone must have stolen it, I spotted it.   I won't do that again, not take note of where I'm parked.

 

The Presidential candidates have moved on from South Carolina to Nevada for another of those caucus things.   I thought they'd have a rest, they have been hard at it for days, holding meetings, making promises, hurling insults - the main insult hurler being Donald Trump.   I have a sneaking feeling that he is going to win the Election, be the next President.   I can't imagine why anyone would vote for Hilary Clinton.  It is not just her e-mails the FBI are interested in, it was mentioned today that they suspect some shenanigans involving the Clinton Foundation.

 

Bernie Sanders would be a good candidate but he is too socialist for the US, I don't think they are ready for it, maybe by the next election.  

 

I remember in my childhood people who were very right wing, devoted followers of Margaret Thatcher for example, thought that socialism was akin to communism.  Something VERY BAD, to be condemned, and I am hearing that over here by those on the Right.

 

I think the next wave of caucuses takes place next week, on what they are calling "Super Tuesday" and I think Oklahoma will be in that. 

 

Sunday 2nd in Lent

I was awake early this morning so went to the 8 o'clock at Emmanuel, then to Fr Bill's confirmation class - although I am not a confirmation candidate his classes are always very interesting.  I said I wish I could be confirmed again, I was only 12 at the time and  I've practically forgotten it.   He said I could 'recommit' myself.   I might think about it if I could stay in the Church of England, I don't want to be an Episcopalian, even if they are in the Anglican Communion.

 

I spent the rest of the day finishing the afghan I made for the Senior Centre.    I'll press it tomorrow and drop it in.

 

The television programming is still all politics.   Trump is fuming and outraged because the Pope said  he wasn't a Christian, he should be talking about building bridges, not walls.  Trump's response was something along the lines of how dare a religious leader judge someone on their faith.  Who does he think should judge his faith - a plumber?   And since when has the Papacy taken upon itself to interfere in a nation's politics - I thought they gave that up in the Middle Ages.

 

Hilary Clinton is still campaigning hard, looking radiant and serene.   Appearing totally unconcerned that 150 FBI agents are still combing through her thousands of e-mails.   It is all going to get really interesting if they recommend indicting her, Obama would have to sign off on it and if he didn't I think the populace would be taking to the barricades.

 

Bernie Sanders, the Social Democrat, seems to be doing quite well.  He is particularly popular apparently with younger voters, who seem to be embracing socialism, which is all  very new over here.

 

I was thinking today that it is like watching my own national history repeating and unfolding itself before me.  I was a child when socialism took off in Britain with the introduction of the National Health Service - which I understand is collapsing - I wonder how long it will take to collapse over here.

 

 

 

Quick Update - Sunday morning

Now there are 5.   Jeb Bush has just dropped out of Presidential race.  I made a mistake I think the other day, when I said Dr Carson had dropped out, but he is still in.

Who I want to win is based on who I can stand to see on television every day for the next four years. And Donald Trump doesn't make it.   I think I favour Kasich - or has he dropped out?

Saturday

Woke up this morning to the news that we are having a Referendum on leaving the European Union.  Am I too late to apply for an absent vote????   I voted against us joining in the first place, they should have listened to me then, saved themselves this trouble.

 

After digesting this I settled down to watch the Funeral Mass of Justice Scalia.  I am not usually appreciative of High Catholic services, but this was WONDERFUL,  it was BEAUTIFUL, conducted by his son, a Catholic priest.

 

I reflected on the fact that it could certainly be said that Justice Scalia's was a life well lived, right up to the very end; he spent the day quail hunting, then  went to bed that night and stepped into an alternate reality.  Wouldn't we all like to go like that.

 

I know that because of his stance on controversial issues like abortion he  had critics, enemies even, but "Judgement is Mine, Saith the Lord".

 

This evening's television is all politics, heavy politics, over my head, about primaries and caucuses, whatever they are.

 

It is very warm here at the moment, I went out earlier in the day and it was 80 degrees.  Warmer than an average summer's day in England.

 

 

Wednesday 17th February

In a recent post I ventured an observation on the late Justice Scalia, mentioning tributes to him. BIG MISTAKE. I got some heat from liberals because – it was put to me in essence – that he was in fact a member of the evil rich (those who grind the faces of the poor into the dust) and a Supreme Court Justice   It must be all of 60 years since I last saw this class warfare battlefield.

This evening I did surf the internet to try and find something about him to which liberals might object, but all I can see is that he was obviously a brilliant jurist and a much loved Supreme Court Justice (at least among his peers).  I did pick up on the fact that he is pro-life which doesn’t accord with liberal thinking – but I am so totally pro-life myself  I’ve got no axes to grind over that.

 

 

Changing the subject - FINALLY, FINALLY, a US politician who has a grip, and an understanding of Islam.  Carson said he disagrees with former President George W. Bush's assessment that Islam is a "religion of peace." (and I have heard Obama say that too)   Carson said "If you accept all the components of Islam, including Sharia, then it is not a religion of peace, it is a religion of domination. You are so right Dr Carson and it is a shame you have dropped out of the Presidential race.   I think I have quoted this before but perhaps it bears repeating – “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war”. (Koran 9-5).
 

I just went out this evening to the Wednesday meal at Emmanuel, and the discussion group afterwards, which was interesting, so I've not done a lot.  Working on an afghan for the Senior Centre.  I leave it to Kate to decide what she wants to do with it.

 

President's Day

A holiday weekend, celebrating Washington's Birthday which was February 22nd, and Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12th.   I think of it of course as a bank holiday, but they call it a Federal Holiday meaning all Federal offices are closed, but apparently - and somewhat to my surprise - some banks are open.   I don't think mine in Shawnee was though.

 

The last entry I did yesterday vanished into cyberspace before I could hit ‘publish’, to my chagrin.  I was all over the place thinking I must be able to retrieve it somehow.      Anyway, I went to the 10.30 service at Emmanuel and read the prayers.   When I got home Mark and his lad Daniel had just finished laying the new water line, and were packing up.

Mark gave me $300 to pay the water bill, which was $200 - I asked if the extra $100 was for my 'trouble', but he thinks the next bill might also be a bit more than usual, so I thought that was generous of him.

The big news story here has been the sudden death of a much loved, very popular Supreme Court Justice, a conservative Republican, so there are obviously going to be considerable ramifications. There were 4 liberal and 5 conservative justices.   Now Obama will have to nominate a replacement, who more than likely will be a liberal, and the Senate will have to confirm - or not - his nomination, and therein lies a great deal of  potential unrest.  Republicans are demanding that the next President should make the appointment, but from Obama's tone I don't think that is going to happen.

What I don't get.   They are very proud here of their separation of Church and State.   I think myself it would be more to the point to have separation of Judiciary and State.   How do 9 unelected Supreme Court Justices get to wield so much influence, I ask myself.   One could criticise our unelected House of Lords, but somehow because there are so many of them it doesn't seem quite as undemocratic as 9 Supreme Court Justices holding so much influence.

I have spent the day mostly reading.  I started a Bill Bryson book, a favourite author.  He is an American travel writer who spent 20 years in Britain but has now come back to the US so his children could experience American life.

Friday 12th

I thought I'd already posted this, but found it in the draft folders.

Yesterday my lovely neighbour, Dale from across the road dropped in for a little chat, she is going away for 2 - 3 weeks in March.

 

She mentioned that the pit bull across the road had left home, and I told her that a little while ago I pulled out of my drive and it had broken free, it was running down the road alongside my car.  And I kid you not - it looked JOYFUL, it was barking and we were smiling at each other all the way down the road.  When we got to the corner and I turned, it stopped and looked round, I thought it would turn back, but obviously not.    I just hope it has found a good home.

 

I did explain to Dale that pit bulls are illegal in Britain because they are classified as a dangerous dog, so there was no way I was going to get out of the car to do anything with it.  But she looked a little strait faced, I think she thought I should have done.   But actually, I really hope it has got a good home.  I used to look at it, tied up on a too short leash, and sometimes thought of ringing Animal Welfare because I didn't think the leash met the minimum length requirement.  So I really hope it is in a happier place, and I am not talking doggie heaven.

 

 

Thursday

Where to start?   Thursday is a day of no responsibility, no chaplaincy round.   I thought I would get myself into a nice little Lenten routine - I tend to leave reading until bedtime, but think the morning when I am casting about like this, would be better.   I'll start tomorrow.

 

This morning I took myself along to Fr Bill's session, which was a video of a rabbi talking about Maimonides - and you will have to take my word for it that it was a lot more interesting than it sounds, he was an absolutely excellent speaker, and I have got the 'credentials' to find it interesting, viz. a degree in theology.   Musing for a moment - you never know what life is going to throw at you, so take a degree, it doesn't have to be theology, then when you are pushing 80 you will find Maimonides - or whatever - interesting.

 

On Thursdays in Lent the local churches get together, taking turns to host a service, followed by an ecumenical lunch.  So far so good, but I was the only one from Emmanuel, so I didn't bother with the lunch, and hope that the ensuing weeks will be better attended.   I missed Pattisue, she would have gone to that.

 

Not long after that I took my crocheting along to the Senior Centre, feeling all of pushing 80, to listen to the country and western group.   I came to the conclusion that it must be a lifetime spent in the Baptist churches here that gives them all such wonderful singing voices.  

 

There were quite a few octogenarians hop, skipping and jumping on the dance floor.   Bless.   We are all 19 inside.   I even vaguely entertained the notion of putting my crocheting down and embarking on a lively little dance routine of my own (I can see your raised eyebrows, loved ones)  But decided that before making such a major fool of myself I had better decide if I wanted to go there again.

 

Then it was time to take myself home and see how much of the front garden Mark has dug up looking for the water leak.  He informed me that the pipes are 60 years old, so there is no point in repairing one leak, it would be better to replace it all, which is what he is going to do.   So far there are just two holes dug in the ground, I think something more dramatic might happen tomorrow.

 

I am feeling just a little uneasy that he is looking so happy and cheerful about it, bearing in mind that he wants me out of the house, and until a little while ago he was quite uptight about it.

 

So that has been my exciting day.........................

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ash Wednesday

I hope you all, dear friends and loved ones, enjoyed your pancakes yesterday.  Ours made by the youth of the church were very good.  Pancakes here are much thicker than ours, more like big drop scones rather than a thin crepe, but I think I've come to prefer them - there's more substance to them.

 

This morning I went to my friend Donna's little coffee morning on the other side of Tecumseh which was very good, she had two other women friends there, and there was a lot of chat and laughter.

 

I've got a problem with a water leak which I have passed on to Mark to deal with.  My monthly bill is always just under $60 (£41) but the last was $200, which somewhat freaked me out.   Putting it right seems a much bigger deal than I would have thought it was.  I was under the impression one just had to find a pipe that had a hole in it and patch it up.  But Mark had to get the electricity and internet/phone company to come out and mark with little flags where their service lines are.    Then tomorrow I believe he is having to bring a rotavator to dig up the front garden to find the offending leak.    Do we ever get leaks in our pipes?   I can't ever remember anything like this. 

 

The television has been wall to wall coverage of the Presidential campaign - the Election isn't even until November - and so far they seem to have only covered two states, and are just moving on to the third.   And there's another 50 odd to go!!!!

Shrove Tuesday

On the political landscape (is there any other in this country I ask myself) voters are turning out in New Hampshire to this caucus thing, which looks like an election, but isn't - or at least I don't think so - but people seem to be casting votes.  Whatever it is, I can't get my head round it.

 

Personally, I am waiting for something interesting to happen.  Like Hilary Clinton being indicted, but apparently lying doesn't count, and if she is indicted for allowing the Chinese and Russians to hack into her unsecured server, placing the nation's national security in jeopardy (which the FBI have said she did) she warned - very loudly and forcefully from a dais - that there are others involved and they had better be indicted too.    I don't get that.   Either she is innocent, and has nothing to worry about, or she is guilty and so are others, and they had better get their just desserts as well.   I am still trying to figure that.

 

Anyway, back from the political scene to Shrove Tuesday.  I went to Emmanuel this evening where the Youth of the church were making and serving pancakes in aid of their summer camp.   I'd mentioned to Beth the other day that in England our supermarkets would be piled up with lemons and sugar, because that is how we eat them (and I put a lemon in my pocket) but when I walked into the hall Beth led me over to the table and showed me a plate of cut up lemons "just for me".   Wasn't that kind?    There was also lots of different fruits, and maple syrup, and sausages and bacon.  

 

 

 

Friday

Goodness, I have been getting behind with my posts, I need to get out more, get a life so I have something to blog about.  But you must pretty well know my routines by now, and I am sure you don't want keep hearing the same things over and over.    Like I went to the hospital this morning but didn't see anyone from the chaplaincy, Bill is in Florida taking a turn at looking after his mother who is recovering from a bad fall.

 

I didn't stop for lunch there, I picked something up and came home to the Presidential Campaign which is all that is on the news at the moment;  even the weather and the places where there is heavy snow have taken second place.

 

Trump came second in the Republican debates in Iowa, and he was a gracious loser for all of five minutes before saying Cruz had stolen the victory and he - Trump - wants a 'do over'.   However, absolutely no one was countenancing a do over.   

 

What I just can't fathom about Trump - and I have never heard anyone else even challenging him on this - is that he repeats over and over again, every single time he is on a podium, that "he is going to bring jobs back to America, back from China and Mexico, they are ripping us off" and he is going to put a stop to it.   It really doesn't need much grasp of economics to understand that goods from China and Mexico are very much cheaper because labour is so much cheaper, and if Americans were producing these goods in the US no one would be able to afford them.   And as I say, I just don't know why SOMEONE doesn't point this out to him.

 

Tomorrow the candidates and their followers are moving on to New Hampshire.   I guess all this politicking is going to carry on until the Election is November, which seems ever such a long time off.

 

I feel like saying they should be like us and do it all in six weeks.     But then there is more area to cover here.

Saturday/Sunday

Yesterday Saturday, Bruce and Rosalyn invited me to lunch and we went to the China Buffet, a restaurant I used to frequent with Pattisue.   It is very nice there, with a big buffet choice, and I appreciated them inviting me.

 

Today, Sunday, I went to Emmanuel, first of all to Fr Bill's adult Sunday School.  It is extraordinary because I am not all that riveted by his sermons but his classes are absolutely excellent, and practically with standing room only.

 

It was the Annual Parish Meeting with lunch after the 10.30 Service,  the church provided the brisket and the pulled pork, and people took side dishes and dessert.   I knocked up a pear and chocolate trifle.

 

The rest of the weekend I spent watching television and knitting.  The whole weekend's television has been about a caucus - whatever that is - and all broadcast from Iowa.  I can't quite figure it out.  It's not an Election, but the Presidential candidates are all fired up, and  the talk is about the winners and losers.  I think they are trying to pick the Republican candidate for the next election in November, and this is the first stage in the process.

 

Donald Trump, and other candidates, are all talking about "Making America Great Again".   But ever since I've been here - for the last eight years - almost every day, somebody on tv has said how great, how wonderful, how generous, how this is the best country on the planet;  so I am confused and wondering just when it stopped being great, so that it now needs the likes of Donald Trump to make it great again.   

 

I've noticed too that religion plays a big part in politics here, something else which confuses me.  Do we even know - or care - what religion our MP is???   But here it is all important.   Ted Cruz is said to be going after the 'Evangelical' vote.  

 

I think most of the candidates have pretty sound religious credentials, but Donald Trump - not to be outdone - has been showing everybody the Bible his mother gave him, with his name and address she'd carefully written in the front.    How ridiculous is that.

Friday 29th January

I haven’t been up to much lately, the weather has been cold although bright and sunny, but has turned quite warm today.

I’ve been told – although it is not new – that I shouldn’t be watching Fox News.  It is EVIL but no one ever actually tells me what is wrong with it (apart from being right wing, if that counts) or gives me any fact based accounts of where they have misled the public.  The journalists reporting the news seem to me to give a pretty unbiased account of events, and when there is something contentious being reported or discussed, there is always a representative from both sides putting forward their respective viewpoints.   What else can one ask for?

Of course they don’t like Hilary Clinton getting a bad press, but it is nothing she hasn’t brought upon herself, like deliberately lying about Benghazi to the families of the four Americans killed there.  She knew from the outset that the Embassy had been attacked by terrorists, but had tried to put out a story that it was a ‘protest’ over a video, a story which has now been blown apart. 

I heard tonight that there are 18 e-mails between herself and Obama that are so top, top, top, secret they cannot EVER see the light of day.  One’s imagination runs riot  wondering what on earth is in them, like the CIA was planning to assassinate Putin (that’s the most way out scenario I could come up with).  

And Chris Christie, the NJ governor and Presidential candidate, who is also a Federal Prosecutor, was saying tonight he was going to prosecute HC when the time comes.  He looked as though he was almost relishing the prospect.

There’s a rumour that the lovely governor of South Carolina, Nicky Haley, might be Vice President in a Republican win for the Presidency.   She won my admiration after a crazy individual, a young white supremacist, shot nine people in an African American church, and she dealt with the situation very well.  She ordered the removal of all Confederate flags from Federal buildings in her state.  I always thought the Confederacy and its paraphernalia belonged in history, but they have become very real symbols of hate and division.

Since we buried the hatchets in our Civil War at the Restoration, I sometimes find it hard to get my head round the fact that over here they are still fighting theirs, 200 odd years down the line.

 

Tuesday

The weather here is so bright and sunny, looking out of the window it could be summer, but outside it is really, cold.    I had to run the car for a while to get the ice off before I could go out.    I didn't go far though, just to the hospital.    There seemed to be a lot of elderly patients in with pneumonia, which always somewhat surprises me, I don't think we admit patients to hospital with pneumonia, or do we?

 

Television coverage has moved from the weather back to the Presidential campaign, and the breaking news this evening is that Donald Trump is not attending the Debate on Thursday.   Back in August at the first debate, he objected to a question the moderator, Megan Kelly of Fox News, asked him, I think she questioned him about past comments denigrating women, and he doesn't like being put in a bad light.   He thinks he is wonderful and everyone loves him - he is always saying so - so he doesn't take kindly to any suggestion that anyone might find him less than wonderful.

 

Fox News is responsible for the debate on Thursday, Megan Kelly is again one of the moderators and Trump demanded that she be removed.   But the boss of Fox News is not going to be told what to do by Donald Trump.   So he has pulled out saying "let's see how much money Fox is going to make on the debate without me".    I just hope the sponsors don't pull their advertising, otherwise he will be crowing.   And Megan Kelly is one of the best, most professional journalists on Fox News, I am a big fan.

 

The debate is on the Fox Business channel which I don't get.   Sigh.   But they do replay the highlights.