I've just found out that Basildon in Essex has a heritage trail. So what, you may be thinking. But Basildon is only 60 years old! I think my understanding of the meaning of "heritage" must differ from theirs!
But, as we will be moving near to Basildon, we have decided we'll do it. It's all in the leaflet. We will see, among many other sights, Basildon Bus Station (opened in 1961), the Kingswood Medical Centre, the Westgate Shopping Centre and not forgetting the Eastgate Shopping Centre.
And we mustn't miss two water features, a fountain and a sundial.
However, there is a school which was built in 1877 and a church built around 1254. In fact they are the first and second items on the trail. Maybe you could call it a day there ...
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Saving time ...
I pulled in to the Tesco filling station and there was only one available pump. It turned out to be a "pay at pump" one. I'm not greatly fond of those, but never mind, I thought.
I was surprised to see the "strap line" for the service is "save two minutes". Yes, folks it's two minutes quicker to pay at the pump! Have we really got to the point that two minutes is so important? If so, I think something has gone seriously wrong with the pace of society.
Oh, by the way, the pay at pump service wasn't working, so I had to traipse ten yards to pay the cashier. Oh, just to think of all the things I could have done in those two minutes!
I was surprised to see the "strap line" for the service is "save two minutes". Yes, folks it's two minutes quicker to pay at the pump! Have we really got to the point that two minutes is so important? If so, I think something has gone seriously wrong with the pace of society.
Oh, by the way, the pay at pump service wasn't working, so I had to traipse ten yards to pay the cashier. Oh, just to think of all the things I could have done in those two minutes!
Tuesday 23 June 2009
The Joys of Essex
As we live in Essex we recently received Essex Works, a magazine produced by Essex County Council. In a 'feature' article it extolled the virtues of "Thinking local, buying local". It included the joys of holidaying in Essex and thus your spending stays within the county and supports the local community.
To support this, there were some pictures. One, uncaptioned, shows a bit of the Thames estuary. It is in fact a picture of part of Canvey Island, taken from somewhere near Hadleigh castle (for those of you who know the area). What they don't mention is just to the right but out of the picture is the oil refinery...
Then there's a picture captioned "Southend pier", except that it's not Southend pier, it's Clacton pier! I assume the editor doesn't himself holiday in Essex.
To support this, there were some pictures. One, uncaptioned, shows a bit of the Thames estuary. It is in fact a picture of part of Canvey Island, taken from somewhere near Hadleigh castle (for those of you who know the area). What they don't mention is just to the right but out of the picture is the oil refinery...
Then there's a picture captioned "Southend pier", except that it's not Southend pier, it's Clacton pier! I assume the editor doesn't himself holiday in Essex.
Monday 22 June 2009
Why is it?
Why is it that when someone wakes up from a nightmare in a film, they always sit bolt upright? No-one ever does in reality, do they? Least of all if the nightmare is about a dodgy broadband connection!
And why is it that in a TV crime drama, when the title role policeman turns up at the murder scene, the pathologist has beaten him there by quite some time and is able to give a verbal report immediately? I mean, the policeman was on duty and the pathologist was only on call ...
Why is it that after I sweep and then wash the floor, half an hour later I see more dirt sitting on the floor? Where does it come from?
And now a "Why was it?" We travelled down Ongar Road on Friday morning to find ourselves held up by temporary traffic lights due to road works. However, the road works were almost complete and when we went down the road later in the day, as I thought, the road was completely open. HOWEVER, the traffic lights were still there and working! So traffic was dutifully stopping for oncoming traffic, even though the whole road was clear! How bizarre was that??
And why is it that in a TV crime drama, when the title role policeman turns up at the murder scene, the pathologist has beaten him there by quite some time and is able to give a verbal report immediately? I mean, the policeman was on duty and the pathologist was only on call ...
Why is it that after I sweep and then wash the floor, half an hour later I see more dirt sitting on the floor? Where does it come from?
And now a "Why was it?" We travelled down Ongar Road on Friday morning to find ourselves held up by temporary traffic lights due to road works. However, the road works were almost complete and when we went down the road later in the day, as I thought, the road was completely open. HOWEVER, the traffic lights were still there and working! So traffic was dutifully stopping for oncoming traffic, even though the whole road was clear! How bizarre was that??
Starting soon!
Just to keep you up to date, my post as pastor at Laindon Baptist Church begins on 1 July. My induction service is Saturday 4 July and if any of you reading this who know me would like to come, please get in touch with me for more details.
Thank you to all who have been praying for us over the last nine months or so, it's all been very much appreciated.
Sunday 7 June 2009
A Good Day Out!
At a church I know quite well there is to be an outing this week for the senior citizens' Friendship Hour. Helpfully the coach can take wheelchairs and has a lift.
The outing includes a two course carvery lunch, a demonstration at "The Chocolate Lady" (luxury chocolates can be purchased), followed by a cream tea.
I suspect the lift will get increasing use as the day goes by!
The outing includes a two course carvery lunch, a demonstration at "The Chocolate Lady" (luxury chocolates can be purchased), followed by a cream tea.
I suspect the lift will get increasing use as the day goes by!
Tuesday 2 June 2009
Pentecost
Last Sunday was Pentecost, used to be known as Whitsun. It's when we Christians remember the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the believers just after Christ's ascension.
At the weekend there was a Pentecost Festival in Central London. On the Saturday we went up to London and had a great day. The good weather helped a lot, of course! There were load of free attractions. My wife attended a Christian fashion show and a make-up demonstration whilst I went to a more serious lecture about God and Darwin (fewer people at that than at the fashion show, it has to be said!).
We listened to music on a boat moored on the Thames (and ate our lunch). There was more open air music at the bandstand in Embankment Gardens and on the open air stage at Leicester Square. We also went to a small cafe in Soho where Viz-a-Viz theatre company were performing. There was loads more happening. Incidentally, we had a cup of tea outside the National theatre on the South Bank where there's a giant three piece suite, table and lamp stand! See picture below. I'm not sure why they are there, but at least you don't have to tell the kids to stop climbing on the furniture!
There were also ticketed events and we went to hear Adrian Plass in the evening. A good way to round off a very enjoyable day. Well done to the organisers of it, and it must have needed a great deal of organisation! It was, apparently a dream of Rob Frost to have such a festival, and I look forward to next year - as long as the weather is as good!
At the weekend there was a Pentecost Festival in Central London. On the Saturday we went up to London and had a great day. The good weather helped a lot, of course! There were load of free attractions. My wife attended a Christian fashion show and a make-up demonstration whilst I went to a more serious lecture about God and Darwin (fewer people at that than at the fashion show, it has to be said!).
We listened to music on a boat moored on the Thames (and ate our lunch). There was more open air music at the bandstand in Embankment Gardens and on the open air stage at Leicester Square. We also went to a small cafe in Soho where Viz-a-Viz theatre company were performing. There was loads more happening. Incidentally, we had a cup of tea outside the National theatre on the South Bank where there's a giant three piece suite, table and lamp stand! See picture below. I'm not sure why they are there, but at least you don't have to tell the kids to stop climbing on the furniture!
There were also ticketed events and we went to hear Adrian Plass in the evening. A good way to round off a very enjoyable day. Well done to the organisers of it, and it must have needed a great deal of organisation! It was, apparently a dream of Rob Frost to have such a festival, and I look forward to next year - as long as the weather is as good!
To Gft Aid, or maybe not ...
You know I'm not one to moan, but ...
Well, you know when you give money to a charity, you'll normally be asked to Gift Aid it. Now all our regular giving in this way is Gift Aided. But for a one-off gift, I have to remember the amount given as I have to include it on my tax form.
What happens is we're in a meeting and the 'offering' comes round and we're invited to put it in an envelope so it can be gift aided. But the organisation isn't going to write to me with a written record - so I have to remember to make a note. That may not seem too onerous, but when they come every evening for the duration of the Baptist Assembly, it's not as easy!
So we tend not to gift aid one-off gifts as it's not as simple as the charity would like us to believe! I've never heard them remind us to keep a note of what we give for tax purposes...
And then there's the bit we have to fill in on the envelope. I would have had to sign to say, "My tax bill this year will be more than the tax reclaim on this gift." As that envelope was given out in the first month of the new tax year, how can I be sure that statement will be true? And it seems to assume this is the only money I will gift aid this year, because in fact my tax bill has to be greater than ALL the gifts I gift aid.
Well, I'm happier now I have that off my chest! And I KNOW the Lord loves a cheerful giver, so let me just say we give cheerfully enough, it's just that gift aid bit ...
Well, you know when you give money to a charity, you'll normally be asked to Gift Aid it. Now all our regular giving in this way is Gift Aided. But for a one-off gift, I have to remember the amount given as I have to include it on my tax form.
What happens is we're in a meeting and the 'offering' comes round and we're invited to put it in an envelope so it can be gift aided. But the organisation isn't going to write to me with a written record - so I have to remember to make a note. That may not seem too onerous, but when they come every evening for the duration of the Baptist Assembly, it's not as easy!
So we tend not to gift aid one-off gifts as it's not as simple as the charity would like us to believe! I've never heard them remind us to keep a note of what we give for tax purposes...
And then there's the bit we have to fill in on the envelope. I would have had to sign to say, "My tax bill this year will be more than the tax reclaim on this gift." As that envelope was given out in the first month of the new tax year, how can I be sure that statement will be true? And it seems to assume this is the only money I will gift aid this year, because in fact my tax bill has to be greater than ALL the gifts I gift aid.
Well, I'm happier now I have that off my chest! And I KNOW the Lord loves a cheerful giver, so let me just say we give cheerfully enough, it's just that gift aid bit ...
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