Author: Carol Purves

I am so fortunate as I’ve spent a week in Northern Cyprus staying with a friend, right on the North-western tip of the island. So sad that it is a divided country but there are two sides to the story and both sides need to be studied before judgments are made.

It was hot walking in the sun, but better in the shade and I was told that it was warm for October. Fruits which we usually see packed in supermarkets were growing on the trees (or they had been at the height of the season) – Oranges, olives, mulberries, lemons and many others all being sold in local markets.

The kindness of the people was unforgettable. With two friends we were wondering through a small village when  man plucked three pomegranates from a tree and gave them to us. Note that it was siesta time when the few shops were closed, so we couldn’t spend any money in the village to say thankyou. That is something I will not forget.

Carol, in love with Northern Cyprus.

Have I got a strange sense of occasion? I sat on a Turkish plane between a Christian lady and a Muslim Pakistani lady going to Istanbul, reading a book on Cyprus and watching a film about Burma. Delayed at Istanbul airport my friend sold an English sock puppet to an Iranian woman.

How wonderful it would be if all nations were able to work together.

Carol

I was privileged yesterday to attend the monthly prayer meeting for the Keswick convention. Although the convention takes place during three weeks in July, the work with the whole organisation goes on throughout the year. This year is even busier with the Derwent Project which is plans for future expansion.

As well as praying we had a small talk based on the Keswick motto ‘All One Christ.’ The home-made scones and beautiful drive over the fells, made it a great day.

Carol, at Keswick

I rushed out to water my hanging baskets this morning, I saw a red admiral butterfly alight on the flowers I was hoping to water. I stood for about ten minutes with watering can in hand just watching him. He went diligently from flower to flower extracting the nectar.

While I was standing there two hover flies and one bee came along. Until the time came when they all moved away. I was transfixed, it had been so interesting and uplifting.  Instead of feeling rushed, for the rest of the day the sight had made me feel calm and relaxed.

Carol, the insect lover

Because my neighbour was having some noisy building work done, I managed to escape for the day.

I drove to the Eden Valley and visited small hamlets like Gamblesby and Renwick. The contrast was so marked. I saw hardly any cars on the road, only rabbits and pheasants. Instead of constant drilling the only sound was birdsong. From the top of hills I could see for miles.

I realised once again how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful world.

Come and see the works of the Lord.

Carol, the peace-seaker

Just read in the paper that parents are not reading bedtime stories to their children as much as they used to. What a pity.This is affecting literacy standards. Also read that reading is not a high priority in Spain at all. Again what a pity.

As well as missing out on Cinderella and the Gruffalo, children will also miss out on bible stories and all that can mean to them. Yet again , what a pity.

Carol, the reader.

Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you.

I realised afresh this morning that every care I give to God, He can give me a blessing.  On some days I think I have a lot of worries, so this means that as I give each one to God, He can give me a blessing in its place. Wow, I’ve got a lot of blessings coming my way.

Carol, the worry free.

I enjoy it when I read encouraging things, when people compliment me and when everything is pleasurable and light.

But I realised again this morning that the scriptures are not to be taken lightly. In 2 Timothy 3:16 I read that the scriptures  ‘are useful for teaching, rebuking, correct and training.’ That sounds like heavy stuff.  God will not be patting me on the back, He will be treating me seriously and sorting me out. I’d better get down to listening to what He has to say.

Carol, the rebuked and corrected.

Many of you who live in Britain will know about the world’s largest coffee mornings. In order to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Research various people hold coffee mornings in various places. As you might have guessed I held one such event in my house last Saturday.

It was a chance to have a chat with neighbours and friends as well as giving money to a good cause. Being a cancer survivor myself I am extra grateful for this research (I’ve now got my house back to order and given away any surplus food)

Carol, a cancer survivor.

I’ve discovered it can be exciting to go on holiday and not know where you are going. I have had just such a holiday, three days and two nights away.

Although two of the days were good weather, on the first day it rained very hard. This meant with the rain streaming down the coach windows and misting up the panes, it was impossibility to read the road signs. I suppose it all added to the mystery.

The puzzle was partly solved as we drove into Lincoln. There was just time to climb up the very steep hill to the cathedral. (The road was called Steep Hill, which gives you a clue.) It is a lovely city with a lovely cathedral.

The two nights were spent in Grantham, not so exciting, but then the quaint towns of Melton Mobray (think pork pies) and Stamford were visited.

The final day was spent at York, great cathedral, the Shambles, walls and fascinating small streets.

Carol, the mystery solver