↓
 

For the fainthearted . . .

  • Home
  • Comments Policy
  • Ian Poulton
  • This blog . . .

Monthly Archives: February 2008

Post navigation

← Older posts

Welcome exiles

For the fainthearted . . .

Zimbabwe is amongst the worst countries on Earth.

In a generation Robert Mugabe has reduced his people to destitution. He has destroyed the economy; wiped out the value of savings; and left his people hungry. His corrupt regime have kept themselves in comfort while leaving the population in degrading poverty.

Stories from Zimbabwean exiles are heart rending and those seeking asylum come in the hope of just being able to live ordinary lives.

In a country where generation upon generation of people have gone into exile, becoming economic migrants in …

Moments and memories

For the fainthearted . . .

Special moments are odd.

They are daft moments mostly. We go on holiday in August each year and we have to go through a routine for it all to be right, it includes walking Dun Laoghaire pier the night before and stopping at the Little Chef at Saint Cleer’s in South Wales as we travel eastwards. The Saint Cleer’s stop has been made more surreal in recent years by the Saint Cleer’s waltz – a one person amble around the car park while humming what can be remembered of the …

New money

For the fainthearted . . .

Two shiny black Range Rovers passed each other at the crossroads of our suburban village this morning. A mother on a school run drove one; the other was driven by an earnest looking man in his thirties, white shirt, tie and city suit. 2006 and 2007 registrations, hard times, neither had an 08 plate.

Did either need a Range Rover to navigate the roads of what was once a sleepy community outside of the city? Of course not, it was once commented that “off road” for such drivers meant two …

An unsuitable candidate

For the fainthearted . . .

Reflecting on a church appointment, the question occurred as to whether Jesus would have been appointed to anything.

What would have been on his CV that would have commended him to church leaders – a liturgist, an administrator a fundraiser? Would he have stood in the right spiritual tradition? Would he have views approved by the church leadership? Would he have fitted into the new situation? Would he have had the right experience?

Jesus’ application form would have included odd stuff, stuff that would have been unsettling, would he have …

Talking into a cul de sac

For the fainthearted . . .

In a sudden outburst unlinked to the previous conversation, my dinner companion, a Catholic businessman reflected on the church he held dear. “Did you see the business with Connell and Martin? The cardinal wanting to block the release of files on child abusers and I pick up the Irish Times and the church has protested against a reduction in VAT on condoms. Shielding abusers and then criticizing condoms, is it any wonder no-one’s listening?”

This was a man who had remained a devout, practicing Catholic even through the years he …

Buses and footwear

For the fainthearted . . .

The morning began with assembly at a local secondary school, it is always challenging.

Does anyone remember anything from any of the assemblies they endured?

The only speaker whom I ever remember talked about being in a bus queue in Yugoslavia, and being caught in a huge scrum of people trying to get on the bus. He was suddenly aware of being lifted bodily up the steps and turned to see a huge Yugloslav who smiled at him. I remember it because the speaker came back two years later and …

Post navigation

← Older posts

Recent Comments

  • Anthony Crouch on Wallander’s half-finished heaven
  • Musana Ronald on Sermon for Saint Peter’s Day 2014
  • Beth Siders on An A-Z of Hymnwriters: Thomas Kelly
  • Harvey Davies on Heathercombe Brake School Photographs
  • Paul Pope on Young people have become boring
  • Susan Wilson on An A-Z of Hymnwriters: Katharina von Schlegel
  • TERENCE TURNER on An A-Z of Hymnwriters: Katharina von Schlegel
  • Paul Pope on Heathercombe Brake School Photographs
  • Vince on Not cancelling
  • Robert Andrew on Heathercombe Brake School Photographs

Blogroll

  • A Rambling Rector (Retired) The blog of Dr Stanley Monkhouse
  • A Somerset Lad – my other blog: part memoir, part diary, part whimsy
  • Head Rambles Ireland’s most cantankerous auld fella
  • Joakim's God Talk
  • Mixed Messages
  • Póló

Categories

Archives

©2025 - For the fainthearted . . . - Weaver Xtreme Theme
↑