Protests in Arab Countries, Referendum, Shopping

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

‘My Window on the World’ of 4^th Feb 2011 seems to be spot on. The protests in the Middle East have spread to many more countries and I don’t think the growth has ended yet. Two countries have managed to get rid of the top man but others are not finding it so easy. Libya for one has a leader who does not care one jot for his people and is shooting and killing them to try to stop the protests. Last night I listened live to a doctor telling his story with a background of machine gun and other fire rattling away just around the corner. He was there to try to give first aid to the wounded and reported 20 dead that day and over 40 injured that he had seen. He himself risked being shot as the troops or police had no compunction as to who they would shoot.

What frightens me is that the protestants are mostly young because the average age in the Moslem and Arab world is young. These are the very people who will not have the experience to resist the fundamentalists who will seize the chance to convert the masses to their distorted way of Islamic thinking. So we will have country after country learning to hate the western way of life – although they will grab what they want to have of it like technology and weaponry – and we, we will have a real war on our hands, not just a war on terrorism.

Far fetched. No, we of the West are in for a rough ride for if it is not the Islamic fraction then look to China. They are out to conquer us by ‘Trade’. We did it to them once. What goes around comes around as they say. Only you in 2525 will know the answer as to who survives either creeping threat. This is my opinion and as I am just an observer with only the radio, computer and TV to get my information – I may be wrong but I am an old observer and have studied history a bit.

In this country we are heading for a Referendum on the method of voting i.e. first past the post or alternative voting, I don’t think it makes much difference, the people attracted to politics will still be the same sort of people.

The cuts are beginning to bite and this week the government has to climb down on one of them. They wanted to sell of all our publicly owned forests and there was such an outcry they did a U turn and we keep our forests, thanks be. We won’t win so easily on the other cuts because there is just not the money in the kitty to pay for them.

Personal. I am getting back to health in some ways. I have started to loose weight again and have also begun to exercise each day using my tread mill and exercise mat.

I had an interesting outing last week. A friend, who is some 30 years younger than me and has two young teen girls, took me shopping in the local Tescos supermarket. We had a coffee in the Coasta Lot coffee shop and then, wheeling the giant basket around, we set off around the store. Now when I shop I know what I need or don’t need. Often I look down aisles and say to myself ‘there’s nothing I need down there’. So my shop, when I don’t order on the internet and have it delivered, is done in about half to three quarters of an hour. But my friend went down every aisle and I followed fascinated to see the things she chose, so different to my shopping. I mean two aisles I never visit for instance are the fizzy drinks and crisp shelves. I didn’t know there were so many to choose from. Now I mean no criticism of my friend but I can understand why their shopping costs so much. Well, by the end of the shop, some hour to hour and a half, I realised I was an old lady and was exhausted. Thank goodness for the internet and delivery.

                     

Thanks to http://www.freephotos.com/

                      

There are definite signs of Spring being around the corner, daffodils and crocuses out and buds on the trees. Today they say the government want to start putting the clocks forward two hours in summertime rather than one. I remember that as a child in World War II.

We booked the dates for our summer holiday today, Roll on.

Michael Evans - Funerals in 2011

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

　
As I mentioned in the last blog, my good friend Michael Evans passed on and last week. I went to his funeral and wake. Michael Evans was a prominent person in Exeter, a teacher, and I belive a head master, and a Justice of the Peace. Interested in people and the environment Michael was a renowned Spiritualist and leader at his church. He corresponded with people all over the world about his ideas into his nineties. He treated everybody as if they were his true friend and I noticed that everyone had the feeling they were the one who received his special attention – including me. He never failed to listen to troubles or happenings with rapped attention and an exclamation of ‘No – really, how interesting – or sad’ as the case may be. Yet one never heard him complain about anything except to say he was ‘so busy’. I understand he just slipped away quietly sitting in a chair, which is as I would expect for Michael. His belief in a another world waiting beyond was unshakeable and he helped many who were grieving and bereft after a death. I wish him a wonderful time in his new life and look forward to seeing him there sometime to renew our friendship.

                                 
　
I thought I would take this opportunity to write about death and funerals in 2011. I am of an age when attending funerals are more likely than invitations to wedding. Friends particularly seem to be leaving with monotonous regularity. Three have gone within the year, two of whose funerals I have attended.

There is a peculiar sanitation of death and funerals today. When I was young it was all about ‘respects’ being paid and sombre faces and clothes. It was a panic, if you were poor, to find black clothes. People were hushed and only came back to life when plied with a sherry or beer at the wake, which in itself is a name that is now not used. You are invited back either to the home or a hotel, as was the case this week, for something to eat. I guess that goes back to the time when travelling to a funeral meant a long cold journey and it was polite to offer food before returning. We English have never had the lively wakes of the Celts in recent times.

Most funerals are at crematoria these days and even if the service is in a church the body is still taken to be cremated rather than buried. Indeed I have only ever been to one interment. So one congregates outside a chapel at one door while the people at the last funeral are shown out by another door on the other side. Most crematoria these day are so busy each funeral is given scant time for the service. The service itself can be of any religion or none that is wanted or asked for by the deceased. I have been at everything from Jerhove Witness to Michael’s which was Spiritualist. The mourners enter and sit down and then the coffin is brought in by the funeral directors black coated men either carrying the deceased or as with Michael, pushed on a foldable trolley.

As an aside, the funeral directors are the last people in the country one sees in Victorian style ‘frock coats’ and top hats. The bearers are possibly in modern suits but they are very severe and a bit old fashion in cut. In winter they wear black overcoats.

Followed by the relations, the coffin is taken down the aisle and placed on a platform of some kind. The service begins and usually consists of two hymns, prayers and eulogies by friends and relations or a resume of the deceased life by the spoken by the priest, parson, or leader of a church. This is where I often find out things about the person I never knew.

Finally some kind of farewell is spoken and the coffin is taken from view. In crematoria I have seen them disappear downwards, forward though opening doors, slide sideways or have curtains drawn round them. In a church they will be taken back down the aisle by the black coated men and everyone goes to the interment if there is one or the body is taken to the local crematoria. In the chapels everyone leaves by the other door to give way to the next funeral, gives a donation if that is what has been requested, Michael asked for it to go to ‘Wateraid’ which I was quite happy to do, or one looks at the floral tributes which are placed outside. After a word with the family its off to have a sandwich and a cup of tea of coffee. Michael did us proud at a lovely hotel and it was lovely to have a chat with everyone.

So ends each life these days and one has to return quickly to one’s ordinary life. Very little chance is given to feel grief or sadness and one is expected to ‘get on with it’. Often the near family is rather left to on their own as people are not sure how to deal with them. Other parts of the world seem to have ways of dealing with this time but here we are not good at it. We leave it to priests and parsons and societies that specialise in it and train counsellors. Families rarely live near any more and the bereaved are forgotten. Very sad. We don’t do it well at all.

Memory for Michael Evans - Mitts for a friend

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

　
Tomorrow is going to be a sad day for me as I have to go to the funeral of a very dear, old friend of mine. He was the kindest, most generous man I ever met and although not rich, came to the rescue of myself and other friends not once but several times. He always offered his help before one asked, Over Ninety, he was much into computers in his latter years and often turned to me for help when he was learning. As I went up in computers specs so he bought my older, unwanted computer which helped to finance my new ones. I will miss his bright ‘Hello Julie’ when he answered the phone and his warm interest in my happenings. Yes, I will miss Michael very much.

Still a very quiet life for me. The weather has been windy, chilly, grey and damp. I have not felt like walking out so have been very lazy although I have knitted a pair of mitts for my friend who suffers the cold in her hands with arthritis. Not a good picture but gives an idea.

                               
I went to ‘fat club’ tonight and managed to lose half a pound, not much but at least it is something. I have been really good and kept a diary of everything I ate. I am better when I get my exercise and usually lose more, so must try harder next week.

The world is still going slowly to hell in a hand cart. Egypt is still protesting but getting nowhere. Our government thinks it has sorted out the banking industry and Nick Clegg got a pasting from a group of students about fees. Food prices are rising precipitously and fuel prices the same. More people are out of work than for a long time. Yet day to day life for me seems to be about the same. I guess it will all hit me personally soon.

Egypt Protests & Deaths - Home life

PLEASE NOTE that this is not a diary but an attempt to leave writings intended for future social historians in 2525 and beyond. The 2525 is taken from the song by Zager and Evans,,,,

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…..

My last blog was talking about Tunisia but now Egypt is far more serious. The Egyptians have come out on the streets with a vengeance. They wanted to get rid of their President of 30 years who it appears is a despot of the worst kind, but kept in power by the money from USA and the backing of many world wide governments. I suppose the trouble is its proximity to Israel and Palestine. I called it a powder keg last time and that it surely is for it might fall into the hands of extremists and spreads in a crescent of countries round the Mediterranean coast of Africa, Just look at the map and then notice the line of countries that lie below them. Not a secure or happy area.

                   

The Egyptians have suffered many deaths and injuries during the protests and still they have not got what they wanted. If they do I am not sure the President, who has offered to stand down at the next election, is right when he says standing down right away will cause a vacuum that will be filled with the wrong sort. I can understand the popular idea that they want him out and things will be OK, too simplistic I fear.

Well David is watching the England Vs Wales Rugby match downstairs and I have come up to my bedroom to write this and watch something else, if there is anything worth watching. I stayed for the best bit – the Welsh singing. Life has gone on much the same except I have not felt too well, nothing I can put my finger on just not right. So have rested and, yes, knitted. I did go to my ‘Fat Club’ but had not lost an ounce. Think something has change since having my gallbladder out, can’t seem to lose even on the plan which usually works very well. Did a bit of research and found some others had the same problem. Must look into it a bit more. I did go out for a walk with the dog today but the wind was awful.

I experienced an allergic reaction to some mascara eye make-up which was most uncomfortable and my eyes are still red. Luckily it was bought from Avon at the door and they take back anything and refund, I have used Avon since the 1960s, sold it myself twice, and never had a bad reaction to anything of theirs. It was a water proof mascara so perhaps it had something different in it. I ask for it to be reported.

Made up a new recipe tonight. I used Turkey mince, which is cheap and low fat, three bits of bacon, egg yoke, herbs and pepper. I cooked and chopped the bacon up into small  bits, mixed it all together. I made thin burgers of the mix, rolled them in home made bread crumbs and fried in sprayed oil, Don’t forget I am trying to loose weight. Anyway they tasted very good and I shall make them again sometime.

A pop up has just said my son is on line but I shan’t bother him tonight.