Yet another one based on a song by The Specials.  Again this song to me summed the time when it was written in the 1980's, but is also apt now.  Reference is made about living life without meaning, of talking without thinking, of walking the same old streets, and doing the same old stuff, over and over again. 

This is an all to easy a trap to fall into, just existing without living.  Why should I try to change my circumstances, when I do not feel there is a way out?  Why should I try to stand up for injustice, when who will listen to my voice?  Why should I try to do the best I can, when no one notices me at all?

We should all show more respect to those around us, and maybe become less self centred at the same time.  If we believe that by doing the best we can in all that we do, and by standing up for injustice, we are honouring God, then it starts to make sense.  It can be easier said than done at times, as circumstances can be trying, but by clinging onto the truth that it is God in control in the end, should make it easier to do.  There should not really be the option to Do Nothing...

Do Nothing

Lynval Golding

Each Day I walk along this lonely street
Trying to find, find a future
New pair of shoes are on my feet
Cos' fashion is my only culture

Nothing ever change, oh no
Nothing ever change

People say to me just be yourself
It makes no sense to follow fashion
How could I be anybody else
I don't try, I've got no reason

Nothing ever change, oh no
Nothing ever change

I'm just living in a life without meaning
I walk and walk, do nothing
I'm just living in a life without feeling
I talk and talk, say nothing

Nothing ever change, oh no
Nothing ever change

I walk along this same old lonely street
Still trying to find, find a reason
Policeman comes and smacks me in the teeth
I don't complain, it's not my function

Nothing ever change, oh no
Nothing ever change

They're just living in a life without meaning
I walk and walk, do nothing
They're just playing in a life without thinking
They talk and talk, say nothing
I'm just living in a life without feeling
I walk and walk, I'm dreaming
I'm just living in a life without feeling
I talk and talk, say nothing
I'm just living in a life without meaning
I walk and walk, do nothing

This one is based on a song by The Specials, who are an excellent band in my opinion.  Their lyrics and haunting music helped to define a generation and time in the 1980's.  I was lucky enough to see them last month on their current tour, when they played Cheltenham.

Typing this on 11/11/11 makes me read into this probably far more than was originally intended.  I am not sure at what the lyrics were aimed, but you can read in both bullying and racism.  Both of these are intolerable and we should stand against them.  I think they can also be seen as a rage against the repeated troubles, of all kinds, in the world.  The world keeps on changing, but the problems appear to remain the same.  There are still race relations issues now, as there were when the song came out, and there has been forever.  There are still bullies that will put you down for no reason, as there has been for thousands of years.  Opinions will always differ from person to person, respect is what is needed not hatred.

In my opinion there is only one person that can make it alright, that being God.  It will not necessarily happen in this life, but most definitely will in the next.  That is the only hope I can cling to at times.

Enjoy the song...

Doesn't Make It Alright

D Goldberg / Jerry Dammers

Just because you're nobody
It doesn't mean that you're no good
Just because there's a reason
It doesn't mean it's understood

It doesn't make it alright
It doesn't make it alright
It's the worst excuse in the world
And it, it doesn't make it alright

Some people think they're really clever
To smash your head against the wall
Then they say "you got it my way"
They really think they know it all

It doesn't make it alright
It doesn't make it alright
It's the worst excuse in the world
And it, it doesn't make it alright

Just because you're a black boy
Just because you're a white
It doesn't mean you've got to hate him
It doesn't mean you've got to fight

It doesn't make it alright
It doesn't make it alright
It's the worst excuse in the world
And it, it doesn't make it alright

In Memorium

We Will Remember Them

Just come accross this post from 2008, still valid today, so a re-post for this significant date.

In this day and age it is not "cool" to observe Remembrance Day. To me, that way of thinking is a load of cobblers. By remembering the sacrifice of those who have given their lives for our freedom, we are not celebrating war and death themselves. To me the act of remembrance is something that I have observed for as long as I can remember. The church I attended as a child, held the town's official service, and now as an adult, I still try to have a time of reflection at 11am on 11th November. It is not just remembering history, but the ongoing situations around the world. I am fortunate, in that I have not lost anyone directly to war, but I am still grateful for those who have defended the liberty of this country.

In my opinion, a greater sacrifice was that made by God, the giving of his only son, Jesus, for the freedom of all mankind. The shame is that not everyone has accepted this gift.

Years ago I bought the book Up the line to death, which is a collection of war poems from 1914-1918. The one that always gets me is by E.A.Mackintosh, who was killed in action in 1916. It is called In Memoriam, and is dedicated to Private David Sutherland, who was killed in action on May 16th 1916, and others who died.

In Memoriam

So you were David's father,
And he was your only son,
And the new-cut peats are rotting
And the work is left undone,
Because of an old man weeping,
Just an old man in pain,
For David, his son David,
That will not come again.

Oh, the letters he wrote you,
And I can see them still,
Not a word of the fighting
But just the sheep on the hill
And how you should get the crops in
Ere the year get stormier,
And the Bosches have got his body,
And I was his officer.

You were only David's father,
But I had fifty sons
When we went up in the evening
Under the arch of the guns,
And we came back at twilight -
O God! I heard them call
To me for help and pity
That could not help at all.

Oh, never will I forget you,
My men that trusted me,
More my sons than your fathers',
For they could only see
The little helpless babies
And the young men in their pride,
They could not see you dying,
And hold you while you died.

Happy and young and gallant,
They saw their first-born go,
But not he strong limbs broken
And the beautiful men bought low,
The piteous writhing bodies,
They screamed "Don't leave me, Sir,"
For they were only your fathers
But I was your officer.


I for one, will continue to remember them for the rest of my life.

CORNWALL 2011 (3)

A lot of driving on the penultimate day, starting of at Wheal Peevor.  This is a site of an old mine, which could be seen from the guest house across the hills.  It is a few miles south of Redruth.  Most of the buildings are semi derelict as you would expect.  It is not a pay attraction, though there are very good information panels around the site.  The site also gives the impression of being a nature reserve as well.

From there we then drove to just outside Newquay to visit Trerice House.  This Elizabethan house is set within some amazing countryside.  The house itself is National Trust run, and as you would expect is well looked after.  The boys were able to dress up in soldiers garb of the period.  The gardens too were good to look at, and included a lawn version of the Cornish version of skittles.

A drive back down, past Wheal Peevor to Godrevey was my choice, the others wanted to go back to Fistral Beach.  They let me off, when we spotted that the seals were on their secluded beach there.  There must have been over 20 adults and at least 3 pups.  A truly amazing sight.

The last day saw a long drive home, including yet another visit to the Eden Project on the way. We also stopped in a totally forgettable village on the Devon border, to try to find a beach.  Tide was in, but pleasant enough. Can not remember where this was though, and would not hurry back, so it's probably just as well.

In case anyone is interested, the places we chose to eat in the evenings were:

Hayle - Pizza Patio x3
Redruth - Inn For All Seasons x2
Hayle - Dan's Plaice x1
Redruth - Morrish Fish & Chip Restaurant

CORNWALL 2011 (2)

The Saturday morning saw us heading off to different places.  We dropped my lovely wife off at The Lost Gardens of Helligan, which she explored, and then picked her up again some hours later.  Apparently a good garden to visit.

I took the boys into Mevagissey.  We went mainly to visit the World of Model Railways, but to be hones we found this very disappointing.  It was a pay attraction, but the two other places we saw were both free, and we would have willingly paid at both.  The Aquarium is sited within the old lifeboat house.  It displays fish which would be found off the Cornish coast.  The small town museum was also a fascinating visit.

The day was rounded off with a return visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay.

Sunday saw us driving down to Falmouth to visit the excellent Pendennis Castle.  This castle has been in the forefront of defending the Cornish coast from the days of Henry VIII through to World War 2.  There is lots to see here, and the history is laid out in an easily understood way.

The day ended with yet another trip to Fistral Beach.

Monday was spent in the other direction completely.  About 10 miles north of Lands End you will find Geevor Tin Mine.  It was one of the three most famous mines in the Cornish tin mining industry.  Part of the site has been preserved as it was when nearly shut in 1986.  This is a poignant part of the visit for me, as the mine manager's office is very similar to my father's office from the same period, when he died.  There is the chance to go on an underground tour too.

The beach this day involved a return visit to Godrevey.

CORNWALL 2011 (1)

Earlier this month we had yet another great family holiday for a week in Cornwall. We stayed in a small village called Wheal Rose just outside Redruth. The Goonearl Cottage Guest House was an ideal place for a base. Amazing breakfasts, with most of the produce from the immediate locality. The family suite was the best we have encountered, with two large rooms and spacious bathroom.

On the way down we stopped off at the Eden Project again.  This place never ceases to amaze all of us, as each time you visit something is different.  The only slight downside, was the new viewing platform being closed due to high temperatures and humidity.

Our first full day there was spent up in Newquay, about 20 miles north of where we stayed.  The afternoon was spent on the vast expanse of Fistral Beach, enjoying the sand, safe bathing, and rock pools.  The morning was spent looking round Newquay Zoo.  This is yet another good example of a small zoo which clearly looks after their animals.  There is no cramping of space, with all creatures having plenty of space and enrichment.  My personal favourites here were the Eurasian Lynx and the Fossa.

The second day was spent west of base, in fact the morning was as far west as we could go, Lands End.  We ignored the tourist themed areas, and after finding the memorial stone to the four boys from Stoke Poges who drowned there in 1985, one of whom was known to me, we went on a walk.  We walked down to Sennen Cove and back.  For a while the lifeboat at Sennen Cove was named The Lost Boys and was partly funded by a sponsored walk from Stoke Poges to Lands End.

The afternoon was spent at Godreavy beach just east of Hayle.  The point is one end of St.Ives Bay which includes three miles of sandy beaches.  The north side of the point has rocky coves a long way down, which are home to seals.  Again hours of fun playing on the beach and rock pooling.

City Of Hope

Following on from the Vigilante post, this is another offering for uncertain times. I have no idea whatsoever as to whether the author of these words is a Christian or not, but to me the lyrics convey a lot of what many people are thinking or hoping for at the moment. 
I too am praying that God will shine His light into our world a bit brighter at present, and give people reason to re-believe, both in Him and in hope for their cities.

The song is performed by the band Journey.

People waiting for some kind of sign from above,
Lost in the shadows of doubt, need a message of love,
Nothing is certain in uncertain times,
Hard to see beyond the greed and the crime,
Oh, the faithful refuse to give up,
Homeless and hungry survive just enough,
Learn to smile through it all,
They are blessed from above

Never stop believin,
Change will come

There's a city of hope beyond our fears,
Where miracles happen,
Where truth can be heard,
Don't you wanna go to the city of hope

On the edge of the world, across oceans of blue,
It's a place where a dream has a chance to come true,
Don't be fooled by illusions, or falling from grace,
Make your own destiny
Find your own place,
Where the streets beat the last things of trouble over own play

Never stop believ'n,
Change will come

There's a city of hope beyond our fears,
Where miracles happen,
Where truth can be heard,
Don't you wanna go to the city of hope

Founded on faith,
Connecting us all,
A network of love to answer the call,
Yeah, that's where I am from
The city of hope

I hear them whisper, "Sendin a prayer,"
A cry to the spirit where they no longer wonder

Never stop believin,
Change will come

There's a city of hope beyond our fears,
Where miracles happen,
Where truth can be heard,
Don't you wanna go to the city of hope