Music of the Night

Further to my posting of the 17th. July concerning my attendance at the Music of the Night performance at the Royal Citadel in Plymouth. I have managed to acquire a short video clip of various numbers featured in the show and have embedded it at the bottom of my posting. I also provide it here for speed of reference. A short video clip cannot possibly do justice to such a magnificent show but it certainly gives an excellent flavour of what the audience were privileged to see and hear. Make sure your speakers are turned on!

A new prayer to add to your list

Dear Lord, every single evening as I'm lying here in bed, this tiny little prayer keeps running through my head: God bless all my family wherever they may be, keep them warm and safe from harm for they're so close to me. And God, there is one more thing I wish that you could do; hope you don't mind me asking, please bless my computer too. Now I know that it's unusual to bless a motherboard, but listen just a second while I explain it to you, Lord. You see, that little metal box holds more than odds and ends; inside those small compartments rest so many of my friends. I know so much about them by the kindness that they give, and this little scrap of metal takes me in to where they live. By faith is how I know them much the same as you. We share in what life brings us and from that our friendships grew. Please take an extra minute from your duties up above, to bless those in my address book that's filled with so much love. Wherever else this prayer may reach to each and every friend, bless each blog and e-mail inbox and each person who hits "Publish" or "Send". When you update your Heavenly list on your own Great CD-ROM, bless everyone who says this prayer sent up to GOD.com

Amen

Music of the Night

From reading recent reports in the national and local media one could be forgiven for thinking that modern youth is epitomised as knife wielding, drunken, drug-crazed, foul-mouthed lawless citizens. However, I have just returned from attending a glorious open air performance of Music of the Night at the Royal Citadel in Plymouth and my faith in the young people of this City has been completely restored. From a cast of 300 of whom over half must have been teenagers I witnessed total dedication and commitment of the highest order. Weeks of rehearsals and preparations culminated in a professional presentation of which this City can be justly proud and all in the name of raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charitable and humanitarian causes. It clearly demonstrated that the vast majority of our young people are first class citizens and undeserving of the negative publicity attracted by the minority of badly behaved teens in our midst. As for the organiser, Angela Collins, I think it is high time she received formal recognition in the Honours list for her magnificent contribution to this biennial event. In relation to the minority of whining residents of Plymouth Hoe who complain about the "out of tune warblers" and loud bangs from the Royal Artillery during the 1812 Overture I say "Get a life". Yes, I can understand that pets may be frightened by the noise for a few minutes each night during the week but compared to the period around Guy Fawkes Night when the firework bangers continue throughout all hours it is a small inconvenience compared to the enormous success of the event and, judging from the prolonged acclamation of thousands of people in the audience, I am not alone in my views. A huge debt of gratitude is due to all the performers and back stage hands who contributed to this great extravaganza of local talent at its very best. Congratulations and well done to all concerned.

A Puppy Bouquet to brighten up your day!

I have no idea of the identity of this very skilful and talented flower arranger but I was sent these wonderful pictures over the internet and believe they deserve a wider audience assuming they are not copyright protected. If I establish they are subject of copyright I will of course immediately remove them from this blog. I hope you agree they are delightful pictures and appreciate them as much as I do.

"May you always have Love to Share, Health to Spare and Friends that Care..."

St. Thomas of Canterbury Dodbrooke Parish Church, Kingsbridge, Devon.

On Tuesday 1st. July I attended a special Guild Office and Benediction of my Chapter of the Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary held at St. Thomas of Canterbury Parish Church, Dodbrooke, Kingsbridge, Devon. Our Chaplain, Fr.Brian Lay officiated and the Rector, Prebendary Tony Kyriakides-Yeldham, gave an inspiring homilly. There are several fine specimens of stained glass windows in this lovely medieval church but as a Freemason I was intrigued to find one known as The Mason's Window. At the top it has God's all-seeing eye. Below that the celestial and terrestial globes. The middle of the left panel depicts the mason's working tools. The bottom of the centre panel depicts the craftman's square and compasses and the centre of the right hand panel depicts the Volume of the Sacred Law and the Triangle. All highly significant to any Freemason and the established basis of our Fraternity and Order. A beautiful church and I can but recommend a visit if ever you holiday in the South Hams area of Devon.

May They Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory

I am posting this tribute to honour four of our fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the British Crown in Afghanistan on Tuesday, 17th. June when an IED (improvised explosive device) was detonated and destroyed their vehicle and claimed their lives. The funerals are about to take place of Sean Reeve, nephew of my friend Annette, and also of Corporal Sarah Bryant, Lance Corporal Richard Larkin and Corporal Paul Stout. I am reminded of those immortal words written on tombstones in almost every war graves cemetery;

When you go home tell them of us. For your tomorrow, we gave our today

And now a reading from Holy Scripture;

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going"

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him."

John 14: 1-4, 6-7 (NIV)

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we WILL remember them!

NB. A link to Annette's blog can be located in My List of Favourite Blogs to the left of this posting.