Ramblings from an English Garden

Praying in 2010

2010-01-01T12:12:00.012Z

Ring Out, Wild Bells

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light;

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more,

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

The faithless coldness of the times;

Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

This poem written by Tennyson so long ago is still appropriate for today, my reason for posting it here.

So Happy New Year to all who visit as we look ahead into 2010

Sitting here at my desk this first morning of the new year I am overwhelmed at the goodness of God through yet another year. I am particularly thankful for the opportunity afforded me to see the new year in, in the way that we do.

We began at 7.0 pm meeting next door with about 30 neighbours who are part of our house church set up. We ate a delicious meal together - either chicken or salmon served with a six vegetable cheese topped crumble,roasted tomatoes and new potatoes, followed by a delicious mix of deserts.

This was followed by a mixture of silly party games. We were divided into teams and given a roll of Christmas wrapping paper, a few decorations and a roll of cellotape with which to make something resembling a Christmas tree! The one seen here was the most elaborate but they did not win as they 'stole' other bits and pieces from around the house to enhance their ensemble. Very good effort though.

Here we see the winner!

Our team did not do well with our tree - our roll of cellotape did not work - you know the type, you just cannot find the end! However we did manage to make a tripod stand with the cardboard inside the roll of paper.

As we moved later into the evening with games over, we moved into a time of waiting on God for new revelation for the new year before a time of praise, worship and prayer. We were so taken up with exhalting our Saviour we were totally unaware that we had moved into 2010 until about 12.10 am. After a time of hugging and greeting each other it was time to go home.

For me the end of a blessed time was to momentarily revisit the old year by phoning my dear blogging friend Sara in California.

The Cards I Like to Make

2009-12-30T12:22:00.006Z

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Ours was good but not quite as planned. Our son was over both Christmas Day and Boxing Day when he and I managed to fit in our traditional game of Scrabble - he won on both days! Janie and family were set to come over for Boxing Day but Oliver and his Dad were sick so Janie drove over with Rebekah for lunch but did not stay the day, wanting to get back to the family. It was unavoidable but such a disappointment not to see Oliver over Christmas, especially as Janie is back to work on the 4th, her maternity leave having ended, which obviously means there is not the opportunity to see the Grandchildren so much.

So what does one do between Christmas and New Year? My intention, yet again, was to do lots of 'house keeping' on both my computer and blog. Have I begun yet - no! Have I had the long walk planned for every day - no! We began on the two days immediately after Boxing Day with two really good walks but the weather deteriorated into constant torrential rain which has cramped our style somewhat as rain and COLD together is not conducive to walking. What I have managed to do apart from getting up late is make some greetings cards.

This one I made for my 90 year old neighbour. I think she must have been celebrating too much as later in the day she was screaming down the phone and laughing and giggling that it was the best card she had ever seen!

This one for a friend who has undergone extremely invasive back surgery over the Christmas period and is at present in constant excruciating pain.

The rest for birthday or anniversary celebrations

Instead of getting distracted with numerous other things I now plan to at least do some housekeeping on my blog - a new blog roll for a start and then maybe get to begin with the sorting and filing of masses of files and photos. I wonder if anyone remembers that this was a task I set myself last January - I am trying to forget that!

Our Golden Wedding Celebrations

2009-12-24T20:35:00.002Z

Just a few non-too invasive photos of our Golden Wedding celebration. Considering so many people over the last couple of weeks had been ill with colds, flu, bugs (I have never known a winter like it)and the treacherous road conditions of snow and ice, all our guests made it to the party - 40 in all.

Our daughter Jane organised and planned everything and she and our son Peter ( with a little help from a couple of friends) prepared everything on the day. Peter and Jane also paid for all of it. We were also blessed to have the on-line food delivery arrive on time as due to the weather there were cancellations.So thank you so much Jane and Peter - you are stars!

Having decorated the house the food preparation began. As guests arrived there were delicious minature finger foods like Brie and Cranberry Filo parcels, Beef Wellingtons, Shepherds Pies and more. The main meal was a delicious buffet followed by minature deserts. Chocolate cups filled with various creams and fresh fruits, Pastry Spoons filled with same, and Cranberry, Almond and Fruit tarts. Later in the evening there was Champagne and Wedding cake.

Oliver who had never stayed up late before thoroughly enjoyed himself being the 'doorman', opening the front door for each guest. As each group of guests arrived he would run to me and say 'Grandma, you have more friends' which eventually turned into 'Grandma, you have lots of friends'. After the speeches there were lots of 'fire cracker poppers' after which Oliver came to me with some concern and said, 'Grandma, the people have made a big mess'. Eleven PM found him with a dustpan and brush having great fun clearing some of it up.

We received some nice presents (not something we had expected)but will mention just two. A number of local friends had collected together and gave us a voucher to stay in our favourite hotel on the beach in Aldeburgh. Looking forward to going sometime in the Spring as at present the whole place is being refurbished so that is an added bonus. We also received a voucher for high tea for two at a very nice Christian restaurant in the countryside. Another fun gift was a 'Golden Wedding' rose bush.

Here we are attempting to cut the cake alongside photos of our original wedding cake and our 40th anniversary cake.

Alan seen here giving his speech

I'm recounting how I first met Alan and how we spent our first year on a ship at sea, to the amusement of everyone

The toast

The card I made for Alan

The following day we had our House Church Christmas party followed by Carol Singing in the neighbourhood (last post) then as the snow began to thaw we had a very heavy overnight frost and we woke to a frozen wonderland seen here in the garden.

I had thought that our time between our anniversary and Christmas was going to be quite quiet and uneventful but that was not so. As the weather deteriorated even further it made everything an effort and there were elderly neighbours to help out. There was so much disruption everywhere. Shopping entailed long queues to get into car parks and then difficulty finding a space followed by slipping and sliding everywhere. Yesterday we had torrential rain which froze immediately it hit the ground so it felt like we were walking on an ice rink. Snow is nice but a mixture of snow, frost and ice and rain is not. The authorities did their best but the weather kept catching up with them. I also found it difficult to get into the Christmas mode having been so taken up with our anniversary. My tree did not go up until last evening, the 23rd.

Frost has a completely different look to the snow

Shrubs outlined in frost

Nearly there. Looking forward to having our son spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day when Jane and family will be joining us too. It's her in-laws turn for Christmas Day this year. I'll take the opportunity to wish all my readers and blogging friends a Very Happy Christmas and a Very Blessed New Year. I'm planning to visit everyone over the holidays.

Santa Came Carol Singing

2009-12-21T20:48:00.009Z

"Snow has fallen snow on snow"! Conditions treacherous with heavy snow, sheets of ice after slight thaw, more snow on top, more ice, snow, freezing fog. Travelling chaos, four London airports closed, with Heathrow cancelling all but long haul. Eurostar cancelled after 5 trains were stranded under the channel for a night (variation in temperatures between below freezing and warm air in the tunnel), normal network trains cancelled or delayed, cars abandoned in places, A & E departments overloaded in some places due to the number of breakages and fractures in people slipping on ice. Chaos at the ferry terminals as people try to catch ferries to Continental Europe instead. All in all, not a good time to be travelling.

Fortunatly we have no reason to travel but are still very aware of the difficulties some people have found themselves in, particularly those travelling with children. Yesterday found us close to home, first at our house church Christmas party where Alan was Santa again. The young children did not seem to mind that his robe was being used by the carol singing Santa and accepted that sometimes he may just turn up in his grey shirt!

After the party it was quick change into thermals and woollens etc to go carol singing in our neighbourhood. The snow here does not look much but it is solid ice.

We do not collect money but hand out gifts of chocolate to all the children that come to their front doors.

All in all people were very appreciative and expressed their joy saying how much they missed hearing carol singers these days. By the time we had finished most people were glad to be invited into the home of one of the carol singing families to enjoy some warmth along with mulled wine.

Golden Wedding post yet to come

One of Those Weeks

2009-12-17T19:40:00.004Z

It began with the installation of this nice white shiny sink. Sixteen years ago when installing a new kitchen we chose a dark brown sink. All the rage at the time. One of the worst things we ever bought. They very quickly have the ability to never look clean, so I was thrilled to at last be able to have this new one installed.

We were also fortunate in being able to have a new 'set top box' installed for the television which gives us lots of programmes in high definition. Like this most of course for the nature and wild life programmes.

I finished making my Christmas cards - every year I say I will start in the Summer but never do, always last minute. (Don't know why the photo looks blotchy because the cards certainly do not)

I have not had a cold in several years but the very week I did not want one, I developed one, and a nasty one at that. I had to miss our Christmas Quiz night, church and the making up of the Christmas hampers that we give out to needy people in the neighbourhood.

I did however manage to get to Pilgrims Hall Christmas meal. We were doing something different this year and putting on a buffet for all the helpers and counselors, along with the team and trustees.

The week will end with our Golden Wedding Saturday, House church Christmas party and carol singing in the neighbourhood on Sunday. We have severe weather forecast with heavy snow which could add to the ambience of the carol singing very much. Alan was asked if he would play his trumpet but he has neglected practicing recently so no trumpet, just guitars. Hope their hands don't freeze in the icy weather and snow.

Next week in the lead up to Christmas should be quite quiet and restful so there should be time to post on events.

Queen Victoria and our Modern Christmas

2009-12-13T17:55:00.002Z

Kate Williams writing in the Mail on Sunday today.

The article was part of a write up on the upcoming Christmas edition of the TV series 'Cranford' written by Elizabeth Gaskell. The Christmas traditions that Gaskell praised were invented in her lifetime. At the time of her birth in 1810, the day was hardly observed and cards and gifts were not exchanged.

After their marriage in 1840, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who came from Germany, began celebrating Christmas in the German style - with a rich meal, a decorated tree and garlands of holly around the house. Their subjects followed suit.By the middle of the century, families had a fir tree in their parlour, adorned with dried fruits, gingerbread and glass ornaments.

In 1843 Sir Henry Cole, weary of greetings letters, decided to create a seasonal card. His idea caught on and in 1880 more than 11 million Christmas cards were sent.

On December 25th, after a church service, Victorian families dined on goose or roast beef. For dessert, they tucked into plum pudding stuffed with silver coins.

In the evening, there were parlour games and carol singing, with roasted chestnuts and perhaps mulled wine for the adults.Until Santa Claus became fashionable in the 1870's, children received gifts from their parents, dolls, clockwork toys and books.

The luckiest children had Christmas crackers, invented by confectioner Tom Smith in 1847, after his crackling fire inspired him to combine wrapped sweets with a popping sound.

Even the poor celebrated, eating a meat pie, building a fire for the evening and exchanging cheap gifts such as hand carved toys or nuts.

By the time Gaskell died in 1865, the Christmas traditions we know today had become firmly entrenched in British culture.

On The Ocean

2009-12-10T16:49:00.013Z

In going through 50 years of photographs for a slide show to show at our Golden wedding I came across many that would be fun to post over time. Here I begin with photographs of my first year of married life, at sea with my husband, sailing up and down the Eastern Seaboard of Canada, America and Mexico, sailing to many ports on the way. Just a random few and quality not too great as they have been scanned from old transparencies.

The full ecstasies and agonies of this trip are told in a chapter of 'My Story', found by clicking on same in the right hand sidebar under 'labels'.

Yes I am steering the ship - but not for long!

Sailing past The Bahamas

The Mexican Gulf

Lifeboats were good for sunbathing!

On the beach in Mexico

Dolphins love to dive ahead of the ship

Taking a noon time sight of the sun - for navigation

The Queen Mary passing us on it's way into New York Harbour

The tranquility of Nova Scotia

These are the aunt and uncle of the second mate on the ship who lived in White Plains, New York State. When they heard that there was a lady on the ship they invited us to stay with them every time we docked in New York. No sweat shirts and fleeces in those days - suits and suits only!

Linda on the right was the daughter of the ship's agent and her friend on the left. They travelled from Halifax to spend some time with me.

We swam regularly in a disused quarry in Nova Scotia

Mississippi river boat

Yours truly with the second mate and his aunt

Seaplane gas station on the Mississippi

So much time spent gazing ahead (until the camera showed up!) Beleive me the sea was not always this calm, especially when there were hurricanes around!

Beautiful Fall in Nova Scotia but unfortunately faded in the ancient photo

The husband, Alan who was Chief Engineer on the ship. Alan had always been on large oil tankers but when I met him he was again at college studying for 9 months. In order to earn some money when we got married he took a posting on a small cargo ship.

The ship high and dry in the Bay of Fundi where the tide goes out for 3 miles.

This is a very small cargo ship and it would be hard to describe what it was like being 'hoved to' in the middle of the Atlantic in the worst weather Alan had ever experienced in 9 years. It took us 3 weeks to cross the Atlantic from the East of England, then around the Northern tip of Scotland to Nova Scotia.

Whatever Next?

2009-12-07T10:38:00.004Z

Late Sunday afternoon just after dark the doorbell rang and I could see through the glass that it was a policeman. I knew the children were OK as I had just talked to them on the phone.The things that go through ones mind in those few seconds.

As I opened the door he was halfway down my hall before he had finished asking if he could search my back garden. Apparently a neighbour had reported seeing 2 guys jumping fences between gardens. The Police were taking this seriously as apparently there has been a lot of burglary's in my area (first I had heard)and they were entering properties from the back gardens just after dark and looking for all those extras in houses due to Christmas, particularly jewellery. We will be keeping the back door locked as soon as it gets dark from now on.

Interestingly we had a similar situation some years ago when someone had been stabbed in a fight and the back gardens were used as an escape route. My next door neighbour opened her back door to be confronted by a man covered in blood.We are normally a pretty quiet neighbourhood where the most annoying things are car and house alarms and sometimes late night/early morning parties!

And now I have a confession to make - I have joined Facebook. Always said I would not but not wanting to miss the videos posted by a particular friend in the US I took the plunge. Apart from being amazed at the number of people I know, and may not have seen for decades, there are all my nephews and neices from Australia whom I have never seen, and their children plus other distant relatives. However much this interests me I really do not want my blog to suffer as a result.

So what else is new this December? Saturday 19th we are celebrating our Golden Wedding. When I think of it I have to say that it sounds silly, Golden Wedding - that's 50 years! And yes it is, but where did all those years go. Those years have been very full and interesting, exciting and traumatic and everything in between but looking back they seem to have flown by.

The wonderful part about our celebration is that all we have to do is attend, my daughter Janie is planning it all and both she and our son Peter are paying for it.How fantastic is that!

Audley End House and Gardens

2009-12-01T15:19:00.025Z

Looking back to September which seems ages ago now you are welcome to accompany me on a trip to Audley End House in Essex and just an hours drive from home.

These first two photographs of the Hall and Drawing Room are from the website as it is not possible to take photographs inside the house.

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Audley End takes its name from Sir Thomas Audley, Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor who, after 1538, adapted the extensive buildings of suppressed Walden Abbey as his mansion. His grandson Thomas Howard, first Earl of Suffolk, rebuilt the house on a massive scale between 1603 and 1614. Known as 'the Palace of Audley End', this Jacobean 'prodigy house' was three times its present size, and one of the largest mansions in England. But in 1618 Suffolk fell from favour and into massive debt, and his great house went into decline.

Charles II bought Audley End in 1668 as a base for attending Newmarket races: his Queen Catherine of Braganza held court here that Autumn.

Repairs were carried out by Sir Christopher Wren, but their cost proved ruinous, and in 1701 William III returned Audley End to the Suffolk family.

The witty and accomplished Henrietta Howard lived here, before leaving her 'obstinate, drunken and brutal' husband, the 9th Earl, for a royal lover and her new Thames-side mansion, Marble Hill House.

When the Suffolk line died out in 1745, Audley was bought by the Countess of Portsmouth for her nephew and heir, Sir John Griffin Griffin, later the first Baron Braybrooke. He made extensive changes to the house, adding a suite of neo-Classical rooms designed by Robert Adam and a Gothic chapel. His refurbishments included a rare set of English Soho tapestries, now conserved and displayed in the Tapestry Room: this has also been redecorated to depict the room as it would have appeared when the tapestries were first installed there in 1767. Meanwhile, 'Capability' Brown was employed to remodel the grounds.

Today the house's interior largely represents the taste of the third Baron Braybrooke, who during the 1820s redecorated many of its rooms in the Jacobean style.

Doors and windows

Tea House Bridge

Entrance to the extensive organic kitchen gardens

This is how it would once have been

Audley End is a mansion with a difference and we can tour the newly restored service wing where one can get a 'peep' at a "parallel world" where armies of servants laboured to ensure the smooth running of this great mansion.

I bet the men did not do the washing up in those days!

The Creamery

The Laundry

And finally The Housekeepers office

Hope you enjoyed your visit

The Secret Scripture and More

2009-11-24T11:53:00.010Z

This is a novel that I think worth mentioning. I know that everybody's tastes are different but this book really impacted me. I normally only read novels in bed so it takes me quite some weeks to get through one.During the day my reading is more things like biographies, travel, spiritual, informative etc., etc. However I could not put this book down and read it in less than a week. Alan read it in 3 days and when it comes to reading he is hard to please.

Although a novel it felt real while reading and I got so emotionally involved with Roseanne, and the author's ability to have one see into the mind of an isolated 100 year old that I could feel it physically. She brings out a simlicity of life that is unimaginable these days. Although painful reading at times, it was also a testimony to the power of the human spirit and very uplifting and I did not want it to end. Added to that the story is based in the history of Southern Ireland which makes it all so much more real. The following is the cover promotion.

"The mental hospital where psychiatrist Dr. Greene works is about to shut down, and he sets about investigating the history of his patient Roseanne. She was committed there as a young woman and now - her records long lost - is nearing her hundredth birthday. At the same time, Roseanne is looking back on the tragedies and passions of her life through a secret journal: her turbulent childhood in rural 1930's Ireland, and the subsequent marriage which she believed would finally bring her hapiness. When Dr Greene finally uncovers the circumstances of her arrival at the hospital, it leads to a secret that will shock them both"

Now for a little update on life here. We have for the last week or so been experiencing some severe rain storms with gales and even higher wind gusts. Yesterday afternoon looking out of the window was like sitting in a car wash! Overnight the wind gusts are forecast for 70 m.p.h. Not so pleasant as the dark days necessitate having the lights on indoors all day. However compared with the weather in Cumbria (Lake District), we are very fortunate and have nothing to complain about.

The flooding there is causing great distress among the population whose homes and businesses are wrecked. Ten feet of flood water at its worst and bridges collapsed making everyday travel difficult. Our prayers go out to these people.

For something entirely different exciting things are happening here. Well not exciting in the general scheme of things but I am pleased. During Alan's working life as an Engineer Surveyor he was based at home and used what was originally a small 5th bedroom as an office. About 30 years ago we decided to turn this room into another bathroom and Alan moved his 'office' into our integral garage which had only ever been a store room and 'house overflow'.

At the time he placed a large formica counter on top of a filing cabinet and storage draws to use as a desk with plans to fit it properly and turn it into a long desk the length of the wall.

Did it ever happen? Well yes, a week ago and almost 30 years later! Of course having been retired now for 16 years it has made a nice working and extra storage area. So much easier to clean under too. I wonder if this is a record or do other bloggers have similar stories?

For some reason blogger is not allowing paragraphs here!

Sherborne House,Gloucestershire

2009-11-18T16:05:00.017Z

First Family Owner

Family group, including Mr & Mrs James Lenox Dutton. Their son, James Lenox Dutton, afterwards first Lord Sherborne and their youngest daughter, Jane Dutton who married Thomas Coke, afterwards Earl of Leicester.

This is a post I have been going to do for a long time and all that has stopped me is making the effort to scan these photos into my computer.

It's 1988 and I have driven a missionary friend to speak at a Bible study in Mississippii. Before leaving, the owner of the house and leader of the group told me that he was taking his Bible study group over to England in a few months to stay at his Father's country home there. He asked if Alan and I would like to join them for a holiday. Having consulted with Alan on the telephone we said yes.

A few months later we had the priviledge of having the group at our home for a day while they were in London seeing

Les Miserables. The following day we were meeting up with them again at the country house in The Cotswolds.

Come Monday we were driving West wondering what this house would be like and assuming it was a reasonable size as there were going to be 14 of us. When we arrived we were surprised to say the least. This is what we found.

Sherborne House from the air

The front of the house with it's church to the left ( beautiful acoustics I might add when we sang in there)

Sherborne House holds much history which would be far too complicated to go into here (I have a whole book on it) but suffice to say that this house was built on the site of a monastry and in the original Abbey Grange, Queen Elizabeth I stayed twice - in 1574 and 1592 for six days on both occasions.

Thomas Dutton was the first family owner of Sherborne

(1507-1582). Suffice to say in bringing the tale up to the present time, the last Lord Sherborne died without an heir and the estate was bought privately by 2 wealthy Americans, one of them being the Father of 'my new friend'.

The house had been turned into 19 apartments, some large and some smaller where 'my friend' let's call him John for ease of writing was able to entertain and offer English holidays to his friends and family.We had a wonderful week with our daughter and friend joining us for the last few days.

Alan on the right in the stable courtyard which was now John's Fathers personal holiday retreat.

The back yard, the Rolls Royce on the right was used to take us ladies out to dinner at a private restaurant.

The bikes we used to tour the local Cotswolds

A swim and a sauna before bed was much enjoyed

Meeting in one of the apartments for an evening Bible study

Afternoon tea in the apartment of the other owner (who actually had one wing of the house)

Real English afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches, cakes and biscuits and tea served in a silver teapot.

The owners wife was a concert pianist and here she is playing for us

Another of the apartments with Jane and her friend (Jane on the left). They were actually staying with us in our apartment but visiting with the couple allocated this apartment. As a result of getting to know the couple during the week, Jane spent the following Summer (while on her university break) working as a Nanny for them in Mississippi.

This fireplace was one of the main features of the house and this room was originally a hall with a spiral staircase at the end leading up to another hall above, all now making a lovely and spacious apartment.

The other end of the room

The sitting room of our apartment. When we arrived the maid had been in and stocked the fridge with all sorts of goodies including a cooked chicken and a bottle of wine.

Our dining room

A book on the history of Sherborne given to us by John's Father as a parting gift.

There were empty pages where we all wrote messages to each other before leaving

And now I want to say what a small world it is. All this was 21 years ago and in that time John's parents had to sell the place due to ill health and it is now a very smart and expensive hotel/holiday complex. I was amazed a year ago to find out that one of my regular bloggers Linda had recently stayed here in an apartment that at the time belonged to a friend of hers. Linda is an American living in France who posts on some beautiful places in France, particularly Provence. Certainly a small world.

Where I Hang My Hat is Home

2009-11-14T17:10:00.020Z

Those that have read 'my story' will know that we have always had many guests stay with us in our home, total guest book entries to date almost 600. Next week we are having a guest from Ohio who stayed with us a lot in the 70's and who I have not seen since he drove 5 hours to visit me in Kentucky in 1996. How surprised we were last week to have him call and say that he was engaged to be married to an English lady and would be in the country and would love to come and visit again along with his fiancee.

This got me to thinking of the many homes that I have stayed in over the years here in England, Europe and the USA. As it happens I am at present going through my old photo albums in order to compile a slideshow to present at our upcoming 50th wedding anniversary, so thought it would make a fun post to show some of the homes of friends that I have stayed in in America.

How I would love to show you inside some of these beautiful homes but would not dream of invading the owners privacy.

Connecticut

Massachusetts

North Carolina

New Jersey

Tennessee

Missisippi

Kentucky

Maryland

North Carolina

Tennessee

This was not truly a home but a mountain chalet in Gatlinburg

North Carolina

Texas

Kentucky

The Shack - Review

2009-11-11T17:16:00.010Z

About 2 years ago I first read this book "The Shack" and although because of the circumstances, the first part of the book was not easy to read, I was absolutely delighted with the spiritual truths written therein. I'm sure that people who have read the book, (and there are millions world wide) know that the author did not write it for publication but as a story for his children.

I know that it has been posted on many blogs over the months but I want to share here a review by Brian, a friend of mine from Kentucky. I personally think this is the best review I have read so find no need to add to it further. I hope that someone finds it helpful as this book is so steeped in controversy.

Review of The Shack
by Brian Coatney

Last year I noticed that occasionally a friend would ask me, “Have you read The Shack?” Acknowledging that I hadn’t, the next response was, “ I’m eager to hear what you think of it when you do. " My reasons for not picking it up sooner have to do with the fact that I watch old movies instead of read fiction. Just now still recovering from two glaucoma surgeries and limited in my usual reading, my wife, Tandy, began reading the book aloud, a chapter or two a day. Knowing absolutely nothing about the book, not even the central story line, I might as well have been living on a desert island, for which I’m thankful since the storm of controversy surrounding the book has just begun to filter into my awareness now that I’ve read the book.

From the beginning, both the story and the bursts of literary delight drew me in, and a cord of tension settled in that only got wound more tightly, with ever increasing intensity. I began to think, “I want to put this book down and run as far away from it as I can. ” Why? The reasons are no different from what life is: life is a series of losses and the grief we feel over them, which only mount as we awaken to the desperation everywhere around us. The book, then, though a work of fiction, does not provide the hoped for respite from life that movies and fiction can thankfully give us at times. However, to shrink back from the dire aspects of The Shack also cuts one off from its divine ecstasies. As usual, the very nerves in our makeup that register pain also register pleasure, “and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore ” (Psa. 16:11).

The book’s approach is unconventional to say the least for a Christian work of art. The presentation of the Godhead is so unexpectedly wild and outrageous that it forces the reader to decide if such a presentation is an attack against the scripture or a creative opening up of scripture’s innermost purity and desire by God to speak to us where we are. Nothing in the book seemed to me anything more than a simple bubbling fountain of God’s very heart, so I jumped in and went with the characters.

When a reader does this, all kinds of theological warning flags might get overlooked; longstanding doctrines might even seem challenged, and I say seem. Careful inspection might turn up all kinds of knotty difficulties for debate: “ Why did the author say this?” or “ Why didn’t the author say that, or make such and such clear or clearer? ” Pretty soon, we’d have a demand for a comprehensive, doctrinal work.

This is not a slam on doctrine; doctrine is essential, and correct doctrine at that. But when experiencing The Shack, I picked up a more important consideration, that of an overwhelming beauty and truth that offers itself in such a way that the only ones who find it are those who see past what my old Bible teacher, Norman Grubb, called warts or the appearance of flesh level manifestations. Readers of the book who see through and let the suffering and the ecstasy of this book envelop them will not let it be reduced to its weaknesses or errors, either real or perceived. I’m just mischievous enough not to go into that further.

The overwhelming aspect of the book is God’s love, His forgiveness through the cross, His desire to live in us and relate to us in union with Him, and the lengths to which He will go to open up our hearts and minds to His nature and patient processes with us. These are not new themes, and the author wouldn’t even claim such. The presentation in The Shack is unique and riveting, full of rapture and poetry to recue our deepest sadness and alienation from a God who invites us into the radical outward boundaries of His limitless freedom.

Thanks to William P. Young and his fellow writers for a monumental contribution to our generation. Many vivid pictures of sublime truth have made a home in my mind and imagination forever.

Cressing Temple

2009-11-05T18:17:00.014Z

Again here is something a little different if you would like to join me for the afternoon looking at another bit of history in my area.

We are visiting Cressing Temple, the Medieval Manor and Barns of the Knights Templar. Those that have read the book
The Da Vinci Code will remember that the Templars were featured throughout the book.

Cressing Temple was granted to the Knights Templar - the mysterious warrior monks - by Queen Matilda in 1137.Cressing was the Knights' first grant of rural land in England and they farmed its 2000 acres until 1312, when their lands passed to the Knights Hospitaller.

The Granary dates from 1623

To establish the settlement in the 12th century, the Knights built a stone-lined well, perfectly preserved to this day.

The two vast barns , built in the early 1200s, are masterpieces of carpentry. Vast timbers give the barns an awe-inspiring cathedral-like quality.

An exhibition in the Wheat barn explains the incredible skills required to build the barns, which are amongst the best preserved examples of their age.

The Templar Knight stands outside a chapel where a man is being received into the Order. The man is interrogated about his past life, and then kneeling and holding the Bible takes a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience. Rumours about the rites performed at Templar initiation ceremonies figured amongst the charges against the Templars at the time of their supress in 1312.

The usual herb garden and carp pond

October Goes Out With A Bang

2009-10-29T18:01:00.013Z

How October has flown and the last two weeks just vanished before I could blink! Cousins of Alan's came to stay with just a couple of days notice, they did not ask, but I would never have seen them staying in a hotel somewhere when we had not seen them for 8 years. They were passing by on their way to Canterbury.

That same day I underwent some difficult dental treatment,
5 impressions, removal of old crown (which took 30 minutes - large back tooth), cutting away of gum around the tooth in order to get deep into the root canal before filling and temporary crown. Ninety minutes in chair! Guests arrived
10 minutes after arriving home.

Oliver had a minor op.for the fittings of gromits in his ears so over to Janie's followed by offering hospitality to two French guests for 5 nights.

The following day Janie and grandchildren over for day so lots of fun with them including stalking in the long grass of a local wild flower meadow with Oliver. Next week both Alan and I will have added another year to our lives and that is something I just cannot believe.

The colours have been changing in the garden but trees in general are a little late in changing colour this year, due I imagine, to the mild temperatures of the Indian summer we have been experiencing. Back to reality this week though as the temperatures are set to plummet.

The tired end of summer lawn is covered in mushrooms but I do not know enough about them to know if they are edible so best left alone.

We are on our way to Janie's and the forest has not 'turned' yet

A little more 'turning' in her road

And a beautiful display from the Maple in her garden

Tilbury Fort

2009-10-27T19:38:00.014Z

Something a little different. A few weeks ago we decided on a visit to Tilbury Fort one afternoon. As I got out of the car I realised that I had left my camera at home. I hate to go anywhere that affords a photo opportunity without my camera so,turn around and home we go. Fortunately it is not much more than 30 minutes away from home but Alan was adamant that he was not going to go back again that day. I don't blame him! So, instead I quickly made out a shopping list and we did the weekly shop instead, deciding to return to Tilbury the next morning.

As we see here, Tilbury Fort has been protecting London for over 500 years. It is situated alongside the River Thames with views out to the estuary and is only a museum now.

We go inside and explore England's finest example of a 17th century bastioned artillery fort that remained active into the 20th century.

Officers houses built in 1600 - front

and back

a bedroom

Alan playing his part for the photo

The amnunition had to be stored underground in case of explosion

One could not pass this point without changing outer clothes and shoes so as to not take in any dust or grit which could spark an explosion

Here we have the Gunpowder store with reinforced walls

And lastly a peep at The Thames before making our way home

An Award Free Blog

2009-10-27T18:24:00.001Z

I have decided to make my blog an award free blog. To date I have received 59 awards and I do sincerely appreciate all those who have honoured me in this way, but my real joy comes from receiving your comments and E-mails, getting to know people and building friendships. Likewise tags, in the many tags that I have done, I don't not think there is anything left to say about myself.

So these last 3 that I received during the summer, and to date have not commented on, will be the last 3. So thank you to Bernideen for the "Makes My heart Smile" award, Teresa for the "Exalting Christ" award and Karinann for the "Golden Heart" award.

East Bergholt Church & Bellcage

2009-10-21T19:37:00.000Z

When driving past East Bergholt Parish Church late summer I saw another post opportunity, so once again park the car and out comes the camera.

We see part functional church and part ruins

The building of a new tower at East Bergholt was started about 1525 but not completed due to shortage of funds so nowhere to hang the bells.

The answer was to have a bellcage and so it was erected as a temporary measure in 1531and houses the heaviest five bell peel in the country.

They are rung on Sunday mornings and on special occasions to this day

To hear the bells being rung, click on the following link.

http://www.eastbergholt-bells.org.uk/

Then click bellcage

Then click 'see and hear them'

and choose whichever download you wish

Bells ring for joy and eke for sadness

Or in the marriage peel of gladness

Do thou like them

Fitly employ the voice

The scripture precept keep

Rejoice with them that do rejoice

And weep with them that weep

Inscription in St. Mary's Bellcage , 1530

Wendens Ambo in Watercolour

2009-10-17T16:21:00.003Z

Something I had planned to do for a very long time.I painted this watercolour of Wendens Ambo about 12 years ago. I copied it from a photograph belonging to my then art teacher. I had always wanted to find the village and take my own photograph but just never got around to it.

On the day we drove through Newport (last post) I did just that. Wendens Ambro is about 2 miles away and a 5 minute detour off the road.

The trees are in fuller leaf

And the cottages have been repainted

And there are a couple of cars - but apart from that I think I have a good reproduction

I have been playing around with the new 'updated editor' here but it won't do what I want it to do!

Newport Village,Essex

2009-10-15T15:27:00.015Z

It takes longer to get home when one is a blogger!! We were driving through the village of Newport in our County of Essex on our way home from a day out recently when it struck me how interesting the houses were. Before I became a blogger I would just drive through these places without a second thought, but not now. Everything becomes posting material.

Poor Alan! Here you see him in the first picture finding something to read while sitting waiting in the car while I wander down the High Street taking pictures.

Built 1692

A lovely cottage but the railway line is almost overhead

The White Horse Pub

A few shops

Quite a window feature The Toll House for an ancient toll bridge

Basildon Park

2009-10-13T17:01:00.005Z

Here we have a peep at Basildon Park. It is the Palladian mansion featured in the recent film adaption of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It was built in 1776-83 by John Carr for francis Sykes who made his fortune in India. The interior is notable for it's original delicate plaster work and elegant staircase, as well as for the unusual Octagon room. The house fell on hard times early in the last century, but was rescued by Lord and Lady Lliffe who filled it with fine pictures and furniture. I thought it worthwhile stopping for lunch there as we were in the area.

Photograph from the house during filming

Sunshine in October

2009-10-08T10:41:00.011Z

What does one do when the sun shines in October! Well if you are 78 in a few weeks like Alan, you are up a ladder painting the house.

If you are my son Peter, you are taking a trip up the Amazon at Manaus in Brazil

If you are Oliver you are learning French when not charging around on your scooter

If you are Becca then you are growing fast

As for 'yours truly', I am eating,roasting,cooking, chopping and freezing tomatoes (amongst other things you understand) as we have had such a good crop this year and with a sunny and mellow Autumn just now I may be doing this for a while yet.

Luke 10:22

2009-10-06T17:40:00.005Z

All things are delivered unto me of my Father – Luke 10:22

Lets have a break in our travels for some spiritual inspiration. Everyone of us has times when life is hard and questions, and maybe even doubts creep in. I know that I have to remind myself at times that God has my best interests at heart and take a faith stand against any condemnation that might rear it's ugly head as I struggle with one issue or another. In browsing through my files I came upon this word written by a Pastor in Florida who was speaking at a conference that I was attending back in the mid-nineties.

Ask the crucified One who authored His death, and He will reply, “My Father.”
If crucified by the will of God, as horrifying as the experience was, it must end in triumph. That which comes to us by the hand of God must end in triumph!
“The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything!”

Seen rightly, even pain and suffering are agents of God’s steadfast love, escorting us into glory. He will expose our inadequacies, but only to reveal Himself as our adequacy. He will identify our weaknesses, so His strength might become ours by experience.

When we begin to see life with God at the centre, we have ears to hear Him say,

“I dug your pits of fear, in order to intimately fill you with my perfect love. I dashed your house of dreams, to personally build your house of life on unshakeable reality. I meant your hellish despair, it drove you into my heavenly hope. I caused you to experience that haunting hollowness of heart….so you might be filled, intimately and personally filled, with My Life.”

Taken from, “One in Christ” newsletter by Steve Pettit

Malmesbury,Wiltshire Pt.14

2009-10-05T11:19:00.014Z

Malmesbury is one of the oldest continually inhabited sites in the country, dating back to the 7th Century. The Abbey and town sit on the top of a hill and it was interesting as we climbed the steps below the abbey, each step had a plaque depicting some historical relevance to the town and abbey. I photographed these two as we climbed the steps.

941 Athelstan,King of England dies at Gloucester and is buried in Malmesbury Abbey having given King's Heath to the men of Malmesbury forever

1539 Henry the eighth sells the abbey to William Stumpe, an "exceding rich Clothiar"

The abbey ruins surround the part of the building that is still in use as a parish church today

The Inn right next door would have been used as a stopping place for pilgrims

The tomb of King Athelstan

The abbey's position in the centre of town

Abbey House Gard*ens,Wiltshire Pt.13

2009-09-29T11:19:00.041Z

This 5 acre garden is located in the heart of Malmesbury's historic town centre. There are over 10,000 different species of trees and plants in this beautiful setting beside the unique and dramatic backdrop of the world famous Malmesbury Abbey. This site has 1300 years of recorded history and is set on the top of an ancient hilltop. The Abbot's house was once part of the Benedictine Monastry and the resting place of Athelstan, the first King of all England.

This is a private garden belonging to Ian and Barbara Poll*ard who bought the manor and garden just 12 years ago and turned it from a wilderness to the amazing and beautiful place it is today in 10 years. Alan Titchmarsh, one of our well known TV gardening personalities says, "The Wow! factor is here in abundance".

For myself, I have visited some of the most beautiful gardens in the country, but it was the diversity of this garden, developed within just 5 acres with so many different areas and styles, and developed in such a short time.. The top gardens are all in a formal layout with the river gardens adorning the slopes down to the river and its surrounding areas.

A little history
The site once belonged to the Benedictine Monastery founded in the 7th century.
The monastery, in its prime, was the third most important religious centre in England, after Canterbury and Winchester.

William of Malmesbury, considered by some to be one of 'the Fathers of English history, alongside the Venerable Bede, was instrumental in building up a library for Malmesbury Abbey, which became famous across Europe.

Willian of Coherne (1260-1296) enlarged the built complex. He constructed a new Abbot's lodging for himself (later used as the foundation for the 16th century house), a lady chapel and an herbarium on this site alone.

A timber spine (taller than Salisbury Cathedral's tower now) once rose above the tower of The Great Cresssing (1st photo). It collapsed around the end of the 15th century.

The Yew hedging planted on the upper level of the garden deliniates part of the lady chapel plan.

It's now time to come with me and just enjoy the garden. I'll take you to The Abbey and town in the next post.

Yes, Alan stopped and made a few moves!

All monasteries had their Carp ponds for fresh fish and this one was restored alongside the tearoom

We have now left the formal gardens and are making our way down the paths to the river gardens

The gardens, sheltered by the hillside and abbey, has it's own micro-climate so that exotic plants can be grown here

We are now back up the hill and on our way out, for the second time today. We came back after wandering around the town and Abbey.

And pass this statue on leaving

Ramblings from an English Garden

Praying in 2010

The Cards I Like to Make

Our Golden Wedding Celebrations

Santa Came Carol Singing

One of Those Weeks

Queen Victoria and our Modern Christmas

On The Ocean

Whatever Next?

Audley End House and Gardens

The Secret Scripture and More

Sherborne House,Gloucestershire

Where I Hang My Hat is Home

The Shack - Review

Cressing Temple

October Goes Out With A Bang

Tilbury Fort

An Award Free Blog

East Bergholt Church & Bellcage

Wendens Ambo in Watercolour

Newport Village,Essex

Basildon Park

Sunshine in October

Luke 10:22

Malmesbury,Wiltshire Pt.14

Abb*ey Hou*se Gard*ens,Wiltshire Pt.13

Abbey House Gard*ens,Wiltshire Pt.13