WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

A FEW INTERESTING STATEMENTS FOR YOU TO PONDER OVER AS WE APPROACH THE NEW YEAR WITH FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY. FACT OR FICTION? YOU DECIDE. WITH GRATITUDE TO AN AMERICAN FRIEND OF MINE.

In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have "the rule of thumb"
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Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
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The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
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Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S . Treasury.
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Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
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Coca-Cola was originally green.
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It is impossible to lick your elbow.
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The US State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:
Alaska!
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The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)
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The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
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The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400
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The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour:
61,000
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Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
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The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
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The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
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Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
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111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
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If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
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Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
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Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace
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Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?
A. Obsession
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Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
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Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All were invented by women.
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Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
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Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father's Day
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In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... "goodnight, sleep tight."
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It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
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In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."
It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
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Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
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At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!
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Don't ignore the next item just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it:
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
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A LETTER FROM THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Dear Loved Ones,

As you well know, we are getting closer to My birthday. Every year there is a celebration in My honour and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that My birthday is getting closer and closer.
It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of Me. As you know, the celebration of My birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.
I remember that last year there was a great feast in My honour.The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries,fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But,do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honour and they didn't remember to send Me an invitation. The party was for Me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in My face...and I wanted to be with them and share their table.
In truth, that didn't surprise Me because in the last few years many close their doors to Me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. Then this large man dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room with a loud Ho Ho Ho! The children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus,Santa Claus". as if the party was in his honour! Why did they all know this man, but had no idea who I was?
At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended My arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share lavish gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for Me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.
Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers Me. I would like this Christmas that you allow Me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two
thousand years ago I came to this world to give My life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.
I want to share something with you. Though many didn't invite Me to their party, I am planning My own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am
sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and if you do, I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in My great guestbook. Only those who respond will be admitted to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation...or answer no, will
be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready, you will be part of My great party. It will be ready before you know it.

I Love you,
Jesus

PS: Please share this message with your loved ones before Christmas.

MONTANA STATE TROOPER WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR!

A humourous parable - No offence intended ! Author Unknown

An interesting parable with an element of truth about it!

I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and filled it with seed. What a beauty of a bird feeder it is, as I filled it lovingly with seed. Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.

But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue.

Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table ... everywhere! Then some of the birds turned mean. They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket.

And other birds were boisterous and loud. They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food.

After a while, I couldn't even sit on my own back porch anymore.

So I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone. I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio.

Soon, the back yard was like it used to be .. quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.

Now let's see .... Our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, and free education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen.

Then the illegals came by the tens of thousands. Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families; you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor; your child's 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn't speak English.

Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to 'press one' to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than the 'Union Jack' are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.

Just my opinion, but maybe it's time for the government to take down the bird feeder. If you agree, pass it on; if not, continue cleaning up the poop!

Author: Unknown.

T'was the night before Christmas

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE,

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
HE LIVED ALL ALONE
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE
NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS NOT EVEN A TREE
NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AWARDS OF ALL KINDS
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT IT WAS DARK AND DREARY
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING SILENT ALONE
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER
NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE BRITISH SOLDIER
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED

I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT
SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE
'SANTA, DON'T CRY THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM I DON'T ASK FOR MORE
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY MY CORPS'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT I CONTINUED TO WEEP

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR SO WILLING TO FIGHT

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE
WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE'
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT'

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A BRITISH PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER SERVING OVERSEAS

CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND MUCH CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, BOTH PRESENT AND PAST, WHO ENABLE US TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES IN FREEDOM AND LIBERTY.

POLICE DOG LEARNS NEW TACTIC!

We know police dogs can be trained to sniff out drugs, explosives and even dead bodies but I bet you didn't know they could be trained to use their own 'poop- scoop'!

My thanks to my friend Dean Eddy for this amusing picture.

CHAIN OF COMMAND

Am I alone in feeling sorely disappointed at the clamour for the resignation of Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, over the Stockwell Tube Station fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes following the terrorist attacks upon our capital city on that dreadful 7/7 day? There was utter chaos and confusion around the whole of Central London in the immediate aftermath of those vicious attacks. Within minutes the emergency services were dealing with, not one, but several catastrophic major incidents. I am not at all surprised there was confusion and errors of judgement in that kind of mayhem. Everyone involved did their level best to prevent further explosions and shepherd the general public to places of safety. Remember the utter confusion in New York and Washington following the events of 9/11?

Naturally, I was as shocked as everyone else when it subsequently transpired that an innocent man had been shot dead by the anti-terrorist police. That is to be deeply regretted and the Commissioner promptly apologised for that dreadful mistake once the true facts became clear. Of course, it is right and proper that an in-depth examination should be pursued to learn from the catalogue of faults identified by the recent trial of the Met on Public Health & Safety issues, particularly in relation to the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels in the chain of command practices and procedures. I am reminded of that old saying that "experience is the finest schoolmaster but his fees are high". London had not experienced a disaster on this scale in decades. Hindsight is a wonderful gift! As an operational officer I was often called upon to make instantaneous decisions, frequently in the dead of night, when the hindsight brigade were safely tucked up in their warm beds. It frustrated me beyond belief when the 9am command wonders appeared and questioned my judgement on this or that decision!

As a lifelong and staunch Conservative I never thought I would have cause to criticise a member of the Shadow Cabinet but I have been dismayed by the comments of David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, in respect of his stance that Sir Ian Blair's position is no longer tenable. Could he himself have done any better? I very much doubt it. This was an act of war declared on our country and in such times we must all stand shoulder to shoulder with the security services in defence of our nation. This policy has stood us well in times past and is equally true in these so called enlightened days. As a Conservative I take no comfort in criticising my party but I take great pleasure in expressing my deep gratitude to "Red Ken" Livingstone, the Mayor of London, and to Ms Jacqui Smith, the Labour Government's Home Secretary, both of whom have steadfastly and publicly supported Sir Ian Blair and refused to join the clamour for his resignation. Yes, we all agree that lessons must be learned and who better to identify and implement them than the man at the helm at the actual time of crisis, Sir Ian himself. If I was serving in the Met right now I would be giving him my full support in the sure knowledge that he is a man of high integrity and great honour who will give 100% backing to his officers if he is satisfied they acted in good faith with total honesty and genuine professionalism. He must stay in command and I am certain the lessons of 7/7 have already been inwardly digested and methodology to deal with them adjusted accordingly.

SCRIPTURAL FORTIFIERS

'HE IS ABLE TO HELP US WHEN WE ARE BEING TEMPTED.' HEBREWS 2:18

If you're facing temptation today, here are 7 Scriptural fortifiers - use them! a) 'The temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure' (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT) b) 'I give unto you power...over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you' (Luke 10:19) c) 'The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet...the grace [strength and enablement] of our Lord Jesus be with you' (Romans 16:20 NLT) d) 'Use every piece of God's armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil; so that after the battle you will still be standing firm' (Ephesians 6:13 NLT) e) 'Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand' (Isaiah 41:10 NLT) f) 'This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it' (Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT) g) 'The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials' (2 Peter 2:9 NLT).

Sheep are wise; when the wolf comes they just move closer to the shepherd. The same goes for you!

http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

PC David Copperfield

As a regular reader of The Policeman's Blog I would like to take this opportunity to wish Stuart Davidson, aka PC David Copperfield, every success in his new career with the Canadian Police at Edmonton. It is one of life's major decisions to uproot your family and move overseas to start afresh. I admire his courage and tenacity in facing up to such a challenge. By now he is probably unpacking his cases and hopefully his computer too! He has done a great service in facilitating The Policeman's Blog and I am heartened to learn that he will resume posting once he has settled into his new home and police career in Canada. In the meantime, special praise and many thanks are due to PC Bill Sykes for filling the temporary void caused by Stuart's absence. Your postings are brilliant Bill so I am hoping that you will be able to continue contributing together with Stu so that we can get a factual and well balanced picture of life in today's British and Canadian Police Service, as opposed to the politically correct official pronouncements we read in the press and see on television. Congratulations to both of you. A link to The Policeman's Blog is provided at the foot of this page.

The unorthodox but effective saving of a Skunk in distress

Cop Uses BB Gun to Save 'Jarhead' Skunk
By Associated Press
Fri Oct 5th.2007

CARROLLTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. - These are the salad days for one lucky skunk. Officer James Kellett said a skunk whose head was stuck in an empty salad dressing jar wandered into the police station's parking lot Thursday in Carrollton Township, near Saginaw and about 80 miles north of Detroit.

Kellett wanted to serve and protect the white-striped weasel, but wasn't interested in any resistance _ spray or otherwise. So he grabbed a BB gun used in hunters' safety courses and shot at the jar from about 40 feet.

The shots cracked and shattered the jar, leaving a glass collar around the skunk's neck. With its head free, the skunk ran off.

"I didn't want to use deadly force, and it is a residential area," Kellett told The Saginaw News. "The way he was when he took off, he was able to eat, breathe and spray _ and do anything else skunks like to do."

Kellett didn't get much in the way of gratitude, but he's grateful the skunk didn't spray. And the makers of T. Marzetti's salad dressing are sending the officer coupons good for free dressing as a reward.

A Bridge Over Troubled Water!

A friend of mine in USA has sent me these amazing pictures and story. I couldn't resist sharing it with all of my friends in bloggosphere:
News article in local paper Oct. 5th, 2007
A brown bear under a bridge on Highway 80 near Donner Lake, California - he went to sleep on a ledge and then authorities put a net under him and shot him with a tranquilizer dart and he fell into the net. They then took him off the bridge and released him.

Survey on a point of law

I have received the following message from a former London Metropolitan police officer who is seeking the assistance of both serving and retired police officers as follows;

I am an ex Met officer, now in my 3rd year of a full-time law degree. I have a research project underway and I really need the views of serving officers on one specific question (regarding s139 CJA 1988). I have created a small and very basic website which poses the question and allows officers to vote yes/no to the answer.

The site is http://anorhack.com (no’www’ – that’s important)

I’d be hugely grateful if you could pop a link to it on yr blog. For statistical purposes, the more replies I get, the better!

Thanks

Phil Bowles

Petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

In the UK any citizen has the right to create an online petition to the Prime Minister on a subject of importance to the petition creator and anyone else who may feel moved to support the aims and objectives of the said petition. A deadline for signatories is set and upon reaching that deadline the Prime Minister has undertaken to reply by e-mail to everyone who signed the petition. The one that has prompted me to post these details on my blog has been submitted by Nick Aldworth and concerns the interference by this Government in the provision of police pay, conditions of service and pensions. Whilst this primarily affects new recruits it can, and should be, perceived as the thin end of the wedge. How long will it be before our pensions are modified or diminished?

This is the actual wording of the petition;

Since 1979, the police have had an effective and fair means of negotiating their pay through the Edmund-Davies formula. This recognised the unique status of police officers and their inability to take industrial action to secure fair pay deals. The Home Office are now seeking to undermine this agreement and create disturbance and unrest in the police service.

The petition calls upon the Prime Minister to stop the Home Office from interfering in the negotiation of police pay. As of today there are 26,798 signatories and it is growing rapidly. The deadline for signatures is 3rd February 2008. I believe, most sincerely, that we retired officers owe it to our serving brothers and sisters to support them in their campaign to stop any further erosion of their pay and conditions of service. If you share my views I invite you to add your name to the list of signatories by clicking on the link below or copying and pasting this link into your browser. It requires a UK postcode, however if you're an expatriate, you're in an overseas territory, a Crown dependency or in the Armed Forces without a postcode, you can still vote by selecting from a list of appropriate options;

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Fair-Police-Pay

The Word For Today. God's still in charge!

'Are you not Ruler over all...of the Nations.' 2 Chronicles 20:6 NAS

This country we call 'home,' exists only by God's permission and power. 'He made from one man every nation...having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation' (Acts 17:26 NAS). In the final analysis summit conferences don't shape the geography of countries, God does. Leaders don't determine the future of countries, God determines the hearts of leaders. 'The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes' (Proverbs 21:1 NKJ). The stubborn will of the most powerful politician can be directed by God as easily as a farmer reroutes a shallow canal on his farm.

Remember the account of Cyrus, King of Persia? When God wanted the Jews to return to Jerusalem He simply prodded him to make an 'official announcement' (Ezra 1:1 TM). God not only set the Israelites free from 400 years of slavery in Egypt, He caused their captors to equip them with supplies.'[They will] load you down with gifts...so...you will [not leave] empty-handed' (Exodus 3:21 TLB). That would be like post-civil war plantation owners signing their cotton fields over to the slaves.

If we enjoy a great economy, personal freedom and a high tide of justice, we don't limit our thanks to politicians. No, we thank God: 'He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them' (Job 12:23 NIV). Tally this up. God sets national boundaries. He determines leaders. He dispenses blessings. And we are the privileged recipients of each and every one of His blessings. Can we afford to forget this? Only at a terrible risk!

http://www.ucb.co.uk/word_for_today

Diana, Princess of Wales 1961 - 1997

With acknowledgement and much gratitude to the eminent royal photographer, Tim Graham, for this stunning picture of Diana taken by him on her last official engagement in Britain in July, 1997.

Friday 31st August, 2007, will mark the 10th anniversary of the death, in a car crash in Paris, of our much loved Diana, Princess of Wales, affectionately known as England's rose. She has gone but she is certainly not forgotten. First and foremost she has given us two wonderful Princes in William and Harry. She would be so proud of them and their achievements. Talking of achievements, I believe she achieved a lasting place in our history books by helping to modernise the Monarchy without sacrificing all of our traditions, thereby securing its future for the 21st century. A miracle in itself. She was a person full of Heavenly compassion. Her charitable work on behalf of Aids patients, her care for terminally ill children, her tireless efforts to rid the world of landmines and hundreds of other causes benefited from her care and love.

As Sir Elton John sang in his Candle in the Wind tribute at her funeral service in Westminster Abbey, "We have lost our nation's golden child. Your candle burned out long before your legend ever will. Goodbye England's rose. We will miss your compassion more than you will ever know" How right he was! I will be thinking of her on Friday 31st. August and remembering her in my prayers. I invite you to do the same. She truly was The People's Princess. We miss her so much.
Forever in our memories. Rest in peace Diana.

Forest fires in the Canary Islands

With reference to my earlier postings concerning the recent forest fires in the Canary Islands. Thanks to the kindness of a personal friend of mine in Gran Canaria who has sent me an article from the island's RTN newspaper I can describe the latest information available to me. It is reported to be the worst ever ecological disaster to hit the islands. 4,200 people on Tenerife and 5,200 on Gran Canaria were forced to evacuate their homes. More than 500 people were fighting the flames on the ground with dozens of fire-fighters airlifted in from throughout the Canary Islands. Ten special fire fighting helicopters joined the efforts to stem the blaze. The flames have now affected 10,000 hectares of land in four separate municipalities on Gran Canaria. An area of more than 13,000 hectares has been zoned off on Tenerife. Temperatures have reached a sizzling 122 degrees Fahrenheit and strong winds aggravated the problem.

A forest guard who has admitted setting light to the fire, and also gave the warning to the authorities, when his contract was due to run out, has been remanded to prison without bail.

The blaze was, at its height, travelling at a speed of 13 metres per second!

Sadly, fire-fighters had to abandon their attempts to save Palmitos Park and the nearby hotel. Unconfirmed reports indicate that around 60 per cent of the animals perished in the fire, despite initial reports that they had all been rescued.

This is certainly a disaster that will live in the minds of Canary Islanders and thousands of loyal regular visitors for many years to come and my thoughts and prayers are with them every day.

Funding for historic places of worship

I recently signed an online petition to our Prime Minister calling upon the government to increase funding to help preserve our ancient churches. The petition read as follows:-

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to arrange for the cost of repairs to C of E church buildings to be reimbursed to help preserve our archeological & historic heritage for the future."

Details of Petition:

"Churches are a valuable part of our heritage and a major tourist attraction, yet the funding of repairs is left to the parish in which the building is situated. Thus the cost of maintaining a national asset is left to the minority. This is grossly unfair and should be rectified."

The Prime Minister has now responded to the petition and here is his response:-

The Government is committed to the preservation of our historic churches and faith buildings, in view of their contribution to the heritage of this country and the vital community services often undertaken by those associated with churches and faith groups. There is a substantial package of support, both directly, and through sponsored bodies and Lottery schemes which averages around £60 million each year.

Over 8,500 faith buildings have benefited under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which has made grants totalling over £54 million since 2001. The scheme was extended in the 2006 Budget to cover further elements of expenditure on church repairs, including professional fees and repairs to some fixtures and fittings. One thousand buildings have benefited from grants made under the joint English Heritage/Heritage Lottery Fund repair scheme, which has this year paid out nearly £25 million. The Churches Conservation Trust also cares for 340 churches that are no longer required for worship, and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport funds the Trust with £3 million each year.

Any decisions on the level and nature of future Government funding for church buildings will need to be taken as part of the ongoing Comprehensive Spending Review, and Government spending plans for the 2008 to 2011 period will be made public later in the year.

Thousands flee fires on Canary Islands

More than 11,000 people were evacuated from homes and holiday resorts in the Canary Islands as soaring temperatures and high winds fanned a number of fires.

Firefighters are struggling to extinguish fires on two of the archipelago's popular tourist islands.

About 6,000 people were evacuated from homes in Tenerife, where 11,000 acres of forest on the western part of the island have burned since Monday, said Paulino Rivero, the president of the Canary Islands regional government.

He described the situation as "dramatic."

Tenerife authorities said they were fighting fires on four fronts, only one of which was under control. Many roads in the area were closed.

Authorities said winds of 40 miles per hour and temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) were spreading the flames across the tree tops.

In Gran Canaria island, a four-day-old fire has charred 25,000 acres of woodland in the south-west Mogan region.

About 5,200 people, including some tourists, were evacuated from the area as dozens of homes were engulfed by the flames, said a spokesman for the emergency service of the regional government in Gran Canaria.

The fire has burned 65 percent of the Palmitos bird sanctuary park and it was feared some toucans and other exotic birds may have died, the national news agency Efe reported.

Please see the previous two postings concerning my recent holiday visit to Palmitos Park. This news is devastating. I am deeply shocked and greatly saddened by this tragic turn of events. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this catastrophe.

Army troops, along with eight firefighting aircraft, were trying to smother the blaze.

Photographs of my recent vacation to Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.

<>Here is a selection of photographs taken by me on my holiday in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, in June 2007. They show scenes from my excursions to Puerto Mogan and Palmitos Park in the south of the island. For more detailed information please see my previous posting

Palmitos Park, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

In June, I had the good fortune to pay yet another visit to my favourite holiday island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. Unlike my native England the weather was superb throughout and I was able to enjoy many delightful walks and read a couple of really good novels. The highlight of my vacation this time was a return trip, after several years, to Palmitos Park.

Situated high up in the hills above Maspalomas in the south of the island it is a zoological and botanical park located in a very natural setting. Animal and vegetal species from all over the world can be viewed anywhere across its 200,000 metre expanse. This subtropical oasis, set in a location of stunning natural beauty, is unique for the careful balance and harmony between the park's facilities and nature.

Back in 1978, Palmitos Park was launched as an ornithological and botanical shelter, later opened to the public. Today it is one of the most popular theme parks in Spain and her Territories.

They have gathered in their zoological collection a large number of endangered species, many of which are included in European Breeding Programmes. On a walk through the park I visited the Orchid House, the Butterfly House where hundreds of butterflies flutter in an enclosure that recreates their original tropical habitat, and then enjoy the sight of impressive reptiles such as caimans. Also, the aquarium was a pure delight with a reproduction of a riverbed and its tropical salt-water fish, plus a large interactive enclosure that gave me the chance to get a close look at flamingos, ibises and other birds.

My most enjoyable experience was the birds of prey open air flight show against a backdrop of spectacular views of the gully. I was able to observe how some of the most striking birds of prey fly, hunt and behave. This was followed by an open air exotic bird show which included marabous, ibises, the amusing kookaburras and a flight of macaws.

However, my most abiding memory will be of the three magnificent Orangutans residing in an open air, spacious and most natural island habitat. They are from Borneo and Sumatra and form part of the endangered species breeding programme. With two amusing white-handed Gibbon primates to keep them company they all looked very happy and contented.

I cannot wait to return to Palmitos Park someday soon and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone visiting the beautiful island of Gran Canaria. Their website can be found at http://www.palmitospark.es/

Medieval Law but a Modern Problem

The Anglican Church of

St. Mary the Blessed Virgin
Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
Dedicated 1311.AD.

Chancel Repair Liability

This posting will be of most interest to bloggers residing in England and Wales. Recently, an acquaintance of mine, put his house in the Plympton district of Plymouth up for sale. A purchaser was found and conveyancing procedures were implemented. To his astonishment he received a letter from the purchaser's solicitors stating that search results revealed that the plot of land upon which his property stands is situated within a parish which continues to have a potential chancel repair liability. The solicitor's letter stated the property is located in a parish where there is a medieval church (Plympton St. Maurice) and legal opinion considered the liability to be very real in this regard. He was thus required to purchase a chancel liability indemnity policy of insurance at his own expense of £162.70 before the sale could proceed. This relates to the adjoining parish to my own at Plympton St. Mary.

The gentleman concerned made local enquiries and established that this was 'no wind up' and that others had experienced similar claims. There is anecdotal evidence that a lady in Market Road, Plympton, claimed she had been held responsible under medieval tithe laws for the repair liabilities of the west door of my local church at St. Mary's, Plympton, and a farmer living on the edge of Dartmoor National Park had, allegedly, discovered he was liable for repairs to the roof of nearby Yelverton Parish Church , Devon!

I was fascinated by this story and researched it on the internet and sure enough I found that chancel repair liability hit the headlines in 2000 with the High Court decision in the case of Aston Cantlow v Wallbank where Mr. & Mrs. Wallbank were ordered to pay more than £95,000 towards the repairs of the chancel of the local church. They appealed and it was allowed. However, the House of Lords overturned the Appeal Court's decision in 2003, finding that chancel repair liability was indeed enforceable. The repair costs escalated in the interim and the final blow came on 5th February this year when the High Court assessed the claim at a final figure of more than £200,000. In addition, Mr. & Mrs. Wallbank are facing legal costs of more than £100,000.

It seems that much of this problem has come to light as a result of legislation which has resulted in the computerisation of land registry records of title deeds in England and Wales which has identified ancient tithes dating back to the dissolution of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII. Chancel repair liability can affect land within any parish with a church dating from before the Reformation, so it affects both rural and urban areas. Under the Chancel Repairs Act 1932, it is the parochial church council (PCC) which has the right to enforce chancel repair liability. The liability runs with the land and the landowner is liable whether it knows about the liability or not. It only affects freehold land.

The Law Commission recommended in 1985 that it was not appropriate in our modern society and, further, it should be abolished after 10 years but to date no government has brought forward draft legislation to deal with this. However, The Land Registration Act 2002 (Transitional Provisions) (No.2) Order 2003 preserves the status of chancel repair liability as an overriding interest for a period of ten years beginning on 13th October 2003 (The date when the Act came into force).

I am grateful to Frances Richards, a professional development lawyer who, writing in the Property Law Journal, claims the liability will continue to bind existing owners but after the end of the ten year period of liability will only bind new owners of registered land if it is protected by an entry in the register. This will put chancel repair liability on broadly the same footing as comparable rights, such as payments in lieu of tithe, Crown rights and manorial rights.

In response to the land registration developments, the Church of England is claimed to be actively seeking to register chancel repair liability before the 2013 deadline. As trustees, PCCs have a duty to protect their assets and diocesan authorities are apparently supporting them in considering registration where appropriate. So buyers and sellers beware! Is there an ancient chancel repair liability attached to your little piece of freehold land? Check your title deeds now or else the PCC may present you with a nasty surprise one day soon! The insurance companies are selling 25 year indemnity policies at very high premiums but the churches are receiving none of the proceeds.

Pressure for the abolition of chancel repair liability is mounting. In October 2006 the Law Society made a submission to the government calling for the abolition of liability accompanied by appropriate financial contributions to historic churches, and in December it launched a campaign asking individual members to endorse its proposals. It remains to be seen whether, and if so when, this campaign will bear fruit, but in the meantime chancel repair liability is a problem which property lawyers and their clients cannot afford to ignore.

A service called ChancelCheck provided by Chancel Liability Services Ltd now offers a low-cost screening report to identify if your plot of land is within historic parish boundaries where liability may still exist. Their website can be found at http://www.clsl.co.uk/

USS NEW YORK

Here she is USS New York! It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center. It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there." Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back." The ship's motto? "Never Forget"
Dare I say that this wonderful example of stoicism you inherited in part from the British sense of determination and survival no matter what the odds against us. From the destruction and despair of two world wars we refused to concede to the enemy and you are doing likewise. Congratulations and may God bless America.

RESURGAM: Latin for I shall rise again. Like a Phoenix from the Ashes

A Grateful Whale

I was sent this allegedly true story by a friend of mine and it so restored my faith in nature and mankind, following on so soon after the tragic events of Virginia Tech and Greensburg, Kansas, that I thought I would share it with you in the hope that you will find it as uplifting as I did. I could not find a picture of a whale so this flavour of the wonders of the sea will have to do.

A Grateful Whale

If you read the front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so badly off that the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her ... a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed gently around-she thanked them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving, and receiving gratitude. I pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit.

The Virginia Tech Massacre

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre. Suitable words are difficult to summon in such tragic circumstances. However, may it comfort all Americans to know that there are those of us overseas who are remembering you in our prayers at this very sad time. I have no intention of joining in the current internet debate about the politics of your gun culture or about the apparent short comings of the authorities in not taking earlier pre-emptive action. That is a matter for your own internal debate at some later date. For now it is a period of deep mourning for those who have lost their lives in such a needless and pointless act of barbarity, at yet another seat of learning where peace and tranquillity should always reign supreme. With the daily carnage being reported in Iraq and elsewhere in the world we can well do without this form of homegrown terrorism. May God bless America and spare Her any more catastrophic events of this terrible nature.

Flavours of Miami and the eastern Caribbean

Christmas lights on a church in the centre of old San Juan,

Puerto Rico.

The Bacardi Distillery, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The free samples were out of this world!

David, June and Bob enjoying yet another glass of cabernet sauvignon following a formal dinner.

Many thanks to Dean & Arlene for this fantastic picture of a typical Caribbean sunset.

Once a plod, always a plod! Miami Beach patrol.

A panoramic view of St. Thomas from a cable car at Paradise Point. M/S Carnival Triumph in the foreground.

School children forming an orderly queue; to use the public restrooms! St. Maartens Island.

A calypso steel youth band playing at the entrance to the port. St. Maartens Island.

Our wonderful fun ship the Carnival Triumph

Our attentive and highly efficient waiters from India on duty in the Paris Restaurant. Special thanks to Mario and his team.

Enjoying a Caribbean cocktail on a white sandy beach on St. Maartens with the turquoise sea and a light breeze to keep me cool!

Caribbean Cruise January 2007

Having just returned from a fabulous holiday in Miami and a cruise of the eastern Caribbean it is time to get back to normal and start posting on my blog once more. The cruise ship was the Carnival Triumph. She is 101,100 tonnes with 2, 750 passengers and 1100 crew. There are numerous bars, restaurants and swimming pools aboard with something for everyone, including Las Vegas style shows and a huge casino. We set sail from Miami and spent the following day at sea. Our first port of call was San Juan on Puerto Rico and I was thrilled to visit the distillery and home of one of my favourite drinks; Bacardi. Needless to say I enjoyed the free samples!

The next day we awakened in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and could not resist some fantastic duty free shopping in the top branded jewellery stores. We also took a cable car ride to Paradise Point for superb views of St. Thomas. Our American shipmates found it strange that they drive on the wrong (lefthand) side of the road on St. Thomas. However, for us it was the right side of the road because we drive on the left in the United Kingdom and St. Thomas was originally a British island until we sold it to USA, hence the driving on the left. It would have proved far too expensive to change all the junctions and markings to suit right hand driving and so it remains to this day!

We then sailed overnight to St. Maartens and enjoyed an air-conditioned coach tour of the Island. It is a unique place in that it is divided into two halves. One half is Dutch and the other half is French ! The islanders need two cell phones each, one registered in each half of the island, in order to avoid paying international charges when calling someone on the other side of the island! How quaint! We spent time on the beach and marvelled at the turquoise coloured sea whilst enjoying a few Caribbean cocktails before rejoining the ship a little light headed to say the least. There followed two wonderful days at sea as we sailed back to Miami. Sunbathing on our private veranda we did not want it to end, but end it must. Back in Miami the weather was still perfect and we enjoyed more hospitality on Ocean Drive and watched the annual Dachshunds Festival which was delightful. The art deco of South Beach was also a sight to behold.

Upon return to London Heathrow the weather was typically English winter and freezing cold! From sunbathing in Miami on Saturday to switching on the central heating at home on Sunday! All good things come to an end but planning starts immediately for another escape to warmer climes in the not too distant future.

Many sincere thanks to all the officers and crew on board the Carnival Triumph for such wonderful service delivered with courtesy and constant smiles despite all the pressures. Well done!

NB. For those of you concerned about green issues and CO2 emissions in particular, may I say I share your concerns too! In order to make recompense for my frequent use of air travel I donate 10% of my air fare to The Woodland Trust, a charitable organisation which works tirelessly to create, maintain and sustain our woodlands. This in turn absorbs much of the CO2 emissions caused by my frequent flying habits and thus compensates or offsets, to some extent, my personal carbon footprint. I invite you to follow my example. Please visit their website at: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk but please return here afterwards for my latest postings. As a matter of additional interest all the waste on a Carnival cruise ship is recycled or incinerated. Nothing is discarded into the sea.

Waves kill two on US submarine

The following article by Caroline Davies appeared in The Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom, on Saturday, 30th. December, 2006 and is reproduced below with copyright acknowledgement. The submarine's officers and crew had spent a friendly and most convivial Christmas visit to the City of Plymouth here in Devon, southwest England as guests of the British Royal Navy and local families. We extend our deepest sympathy to their fellow colleagues and especially to their family and friends back home.

Two American sailors died and two more were injured yesterday (29th. December) when they were swept from their nuclear submarine in rough weather in Plymouth Sound.

The four were performing routine operations on the Minneapolis-St. Paul when a freak wave sent them overboard about 1pm.

Though attached to the submarine by ropes, Force 10 gusts and huge waves prevented them getting back on board. They were buffeted against the vessel as crew members tried to reach them.

Two of the sailors were pronounced dead at Derriford Hospital after being given emergency resuscitation as they were brought ashore.

The two survivors were later moved from the hospital to the sick bay at the shore establishment, H.M.S. Drake.

Immediately after the four were washed overboard, a helicopter was scrambled from RNAS Culdrose as the Plymouth Lifeboat and MoD police launches sped to the scene.

A spokesman for Devon & Cornwall Police said: "The vessel, a Los Angeles class submarine, was leaving the harbour in Plymouth and near the breakwater at the entrance to the port. Weather conditions were poor.

"Rescue vessels manned by the Ministry of Defence police attended and the sailors were brought ashore, where they were met by ambulance personnel."

A spokesman for Brixham Coastguards said: " The situation was very dangerous because they were still attached to their vessel and when we arrived were being tossed around a good deal. The conditions were terrible, with strong winds and poor visibility.

"It is common for submariners to perform general maintenance on the the outside of their shell, but in weather like this it unexpectedly became dangerous."

He said passers-by who stopped to watch the dramatic rescue had also put themselves in danger.

"People who were gathering on the front to watch the incident were also putting themselves at risk of being washed into the sea.

"One young girl was nearly swept out when a wave hit the side and splashed over."