Tobar Fold, Cullybackey, on December 27
Cullybackey is an unlikely venue for the Senior Winter Olympics, but it seems as though the local authorities, by their inaction, are trying to prepare a skating rink or an ice dance arena for those in the older age group.
By refusing to salt the footpaths and driveway outside Tobar Fold, they have created a facility which the residents of the Fold could use to prepare for winter sports, but only at the risk of serious injury. A quick poll of residents revealed that none of them had in fact aspirations for the 2012 Winter Olympics, even if it is re-arranged to Cullybackey.
Seriously, the situation can only be described as ridiculous. Access to and from the Fold is dangerous for residents and visitors alike, and someone needs to take responsibility for removing the hazardous conditions by applying some salt. Maybe some influential person will read this and take some action.
In the meantime, my elderly relative who lives in the Fold is trying to see the brighter side. “If you seen them gettin’ and in and oot o’ cars, it’s a quare bit o’ oxtercogging.” I’m not sure if oxtercogging will ever make it as an Olympic sport, but there’s plenty of opportunity to practice around Kilmakevit.
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The Clerk of the Iveagh Presbytery, Rev Ivan Patterson, makes it to the top
I think the purpose was team-building, or maybe it was just relaxation and fellowship, but some ministerial members of the Iveagh Presbytery spent an enjoyable morning at the Tollymore Mountain Centre near Bryansford, Co Down climbing the Hotrock Wall. It was a great activity in which almost all took part. I am tempted to “name and shame” the non-participants, but they know who they are!
Rev Andrew Watson makes it to the top by the most challenging route
Ministers often use climbing imagery to describe the Christian life and to explain how that it requires concentration, perseverance and commitment. They came away from this experience with a new appreciation of the skills needed to scale a wall, and undoubtedly some illustrative material for children’s talks and sermons.
Rev Jim Hagan is content to watch and enjoy his coffee
Revs Philip Thompson, Ray McKibbin and Samuel Newell are the trustworthy rope-holders
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I fulfilled a boyhood ambition yesterday when I attended the final Test match of this current Ashes series between England and Australia at the Kennington Oval in London, now known as the Brit Oval. (It’s important to be precise because I mentioned to a friend that I was looking forward to going to the Oval on Saturday and they said, “I didn’t know that you were a Glens supporter”!) It was a very special day out for me, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, thanks to my good friend, George, who made it all possible.
The rivalry between England and Australia for the Ashes is well-documented as two teams battle it out for what is simultaneously the biggest prize in cricket and the smallest trophy. It all goes back to 1882 when the Ashes urn had its origins. In that year, England lost to Australia by seven runs and the result enveloped the nation in such gloom that a mock obituary of English cricket was published in the Sporting Times. It was the birth of the Ashes.
Peter Siddle does "the teapot" at fine leg
Everyone has their favourite Ashes moment. The Ashes series was in 1981 is a favourite of mine when Ian Botham’s batting and bowling were more Australian than the Australians. It was also unforgettable because it was the summer my first daughter was born. Many will remember Shane Warne’s first ball which bowled Mike Gatting in 1993 or Kevin Pietersens’s century at the Oval in 2005 to clinch the draw for England. It has always been a great encounter.
What I loved about yesterday was not only England’s domination of the Australian bowling and Jonathan Trott’s century as a debutante, but the fact that it all took place in the most pleasant temperature and with long sunny spells. It was idyllic. The banter from the crowd was good-humoured, especially when an Australian fielder came down to our section of the boundary rope. It was a great day out.
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These two programmes on the problems in British society are among the best television documentaries I have seen in a long time. Am I the only one who suspects that one of reasons why the BBC put these programmes on at such a late hour was because their conclusions were so non-PC? Particularly, what Judge Coleridge had to say was refreshingly straight-forward.
The conclusions reached by John Ware are a challenge to the government, both national and local, as well as to the church. If he is right, then those of us in leadership in the church should be addressing the causes of our problems more directly. But we know that we cannot impose an “outside in” solution. It has to be “inside out”. In other words, legislation will not solve the problem totally. Hearts and affections need to be re-oriented. But maybe we should be doing more in showing people that God’s design and pattern for marriage and family is the answer.
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Maude Rankin, a member of Ballyblack congregation, with her new minister, Rev Simon Henning and myself
It has been a great privilege to visit a number of women recently who have all reached their 100th birthday. What has amazed me is how well they all are keeping, how alert they are to everything around them, and what fun there has been at their birthday celebration.
I arrived to visit Maud Nicholl at Woodgreen, near Kells. A woman met me at the door and ushered me in, and only when I walked into an empty living room did I realise that the person who greeted me was Maud herself. She did not look like a 100 year old.
Maud Nicholl, member of Wellington congregation, Ballymena
Some younger people might say, “Oh, I wouldn’t like to live to be 100.” Maybe it’s time to revise some of our categories. If 80 is the new 60, then 100 could be the new 80! Using that scale, I’m not even 40 yet!
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