Carol Purves

At the end of September C.C.W. met again for their bi-monthly meeting.  The afternoon started with a talk by John concerning the writings which were and were not included in our Bible.  Having a wealth of knowledge I’m sure his talk veered away from his notes as we asked questions and wanted to know more about the subject.  Some of our members had learned Greek which greatly added to their enjoyment.

We then came down to earth as we revealed what we had written for our home assignment.  ‘Overheard’ (something we had overheard) proved to be a thought-provoking subject.  The words ‘I didn’t do it’, resulted in a fun poem from one member, who then asked ‘If he didn’t it, then who did?’  One ‘overheard’ gave us a beautiful picture of heaven, where we all felt we had been transported there ourselves.  Another member confessed that as a child she blurted out ‘My mum says you’ve got a big mouth, so I’m looking at it now’.  Oops.    Another gem, ‘I’d like a train, please.’  Reply ‘We have quite a few madam, which one would you like?’

You can see we have a lot of laughter at our meetings.

Carol, the eavesdropper

A bright but very windy day saw four of us travelling from Carlisle to Ravenglass by train and then on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway to Dalegrath.  The first part of the journey was right alongside the sea with views of the Isle of Man and Scotland.  As I said a very windy day, the white horses on the water were fantastic. (a friend of mine was ferrying to the Isle of Man on this day, and everyone on board was sea-sick!)

The steam part of the journey was lovely, tiny railway stations, sheep, belted Galloway cattle, hills and views.  Facts – There are six steam trains, one 1/3 the size of normal engines, seven requested stops, up to 210 ft above sea-level and was once used to transport ore from the hills.  A little rain earlier had made everything bright and sparkly.   At the top after watching the engine being turned round on the turntable and us having a bite to eat, we just turned round ourselves and came back down.

The occasion of the day was to celebrate my having lived in Cumbria for six years.  There is plenty still for me to see, so I must keep travelling.

PS. L’al means ‘little’

Carol, the steam enthusiast.

I’ve not done anything ‘blogworthy’ lately, so I’ll give you some other peoples words of wisdom.  –

‘My word is my bond.’ – Stock Exchange motto

‘You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

You can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember her and only that she’s gone

Or you can cherish her memory and let  it live on

You can shed tears that she’s gone, or you can smile because she lived.’

                                   said at Queen Mother’s funeral

‘When there is fog in the pulpit, there is mist in the pews.’      Selwyn Hughes

‘Do not regard as valuable anything that can be taken away.’     Seneca, Roman philosopher.

Carol, the lost for words.

OK, here I am back on dry land.  What a fascinating holiday I’ve just had on a 49ft, ten berth yacht, sailing among the Western Isles. Some of you will probably know the places we visited or sailed by.

Starting at Craobh (pronounced Crove) Haven we sailed north past Oban, though we couldn’t actually see it, up the Sound of Mull to Droma Buidhe and then to Mallaig and berthed there one night, under the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, round to Plockton (beautiful gardens as the result of the Gulf Stream). 

We then turned south with the islands of Skye, Mull, Rum, Eigg and Muck on our right.  We stopped at Tobermoray on Mull, one night at Lochaline and then back to Craobh.  200 miles in all with about 150 under sail.  It was a completely new experience to me, I was a bit of a landlubber.

We saw Minkie whales, seals, porpoises, herons and mother and baby dolphins played round the boat.  What a wonderful world we live in.  Once got in the doldrums, once fairly rough (though not bad enough to get sea-sick) and on the last day got very wet.

Carol, the sailor

Another Keswick Convention is over; how the years fly by.  It had been wondered if there would be as many visitors this year as it clashed with the Olympics  (that was 7 years in the planning, the Convention is over 130 years old – going the distance, you might say!)

Three weeks of inspiring music, good preachers and uplifting Bible readings (1 Thessalonians) , evening celebrations (Ecclesiastics – a difficult one that)  Have we memorised Bible passages?  After listening to Bruce Kuhn Storytelling the Scriptures, the answer is no.

The Keswick Convention this year is over and we return to our ordinary lives, going the distance.  We can only hope the varied activities, seminars, meetings, fun and all the rest has helped us to continue ‘running the race’ of life, nearer to what He wants.

Carol, the Conventioner

The Keswick Convention, a Christian Convention held in the Lake District (at Keswick obviously)  commenced this year on the 14th July and will finish Friday 3rd August.  The theme this year is Going the Distance – living in the light of the future (no surprises there). 

This convention has been going for over 130 years, starting as one week, progressing to two weeks and now three.  It is described as a non-denominational but firmly evangelical event with no registration fees.

Meetings include Morning Bible studies, evening celebrations, youth meetings, missionary meetings and so much more with speakers from all over the world.  Have I sold it to you yet?

I shall be in the Admin Office from Saturday 28th July so if you’re around, please pop in and say ‘hi’.

Carol, a small member of the Keswick Convention team.

My literary output has been curtained by eleven/twelve days of food-poisoning.  Such a waste of time and effort.  It meant the cancellation of two writing days, one here in Carlisle and one in Cockermouth.  So my news is minimal but here is some wisdom – not mine; I’m wisdomless at the moment.

Joel Edwards said – ‘Christian discipleship is not an absorbing hobby but a life-impacting truth.’

And some thoughts on aging (of which I’ve done a bit these two weeks!)

‘Youth would be an ideal state if it came later in life.’

Lucille Ball said ‘The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age.’

Doris Day commented – ‘The really frightening thing about middle age is that you know you’ll grow out of it.’

Carol, the returned

The chance of a £17 train fare from Carlisle to John o’ Groats and back was too good a chance to miss.  Having never been to Lands End, I thought it would be good to go to the most northerly part of Great Britain (while we still have a Great Britain!)  One day up, one day there and one day back.  Great train journeys and good B & B.  The only down side was the weather.  I never put my umbrella down.  No wind, just rain and mist.  Got photos to prove it.

The people I met were great; the man diving in the harbour looking for a lost key, the lady on the bus who gave me a verbal tour of Thurso, the youths on the train going to a rock festival at Inverness (no they weren’t so lovely!)

If anyone could guarantee the weather I’d go again; which I suppose that means I won’t be going again.  So, yes I’ve been to J o G and no I haven’t seen J o G.

Carol, the northern traveller

The other Saturday I went to a Gideon meeting.  It was exciting to hear of placements of Bibles and Testaments all round the world. 

I was pleased to be involved in a placement in our local hospital.  The old Bibles were collected up and news one placed by every locker by every bed.  It is when you are ill, lonely and frightened in the middle of a hospital night that comfort can be found in these books.  The guide section at the front suggests a reading for such occasions.  My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.  2 Corinthins 12:9

In our area every senior school (except one) has been visited to give Testaments to Year 11 pupils.  A suggested reading for bullied children is The Lord is my light and my salvation.  Whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid.  Ps 27:1

I’m always pleased to find these little books in hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. If there isn’t one I arrange to have them delivered if the owners are willing.  Hotels can be lonely places.  All the Bibles are paid for my local donations.

Carol, a Gideon friend

Having a Saturday writing conference at Stirling meant an overnight stay in the area with lovely friends at Milngavie (pronounced Mullguy)  No time for sightseeing –  just supper, bed and breakfast but on the car ride back to Glasgow rail station I was able to have landmarks pointed out to me and interesting Scottish facts relayed to me. ( Did you know that no part of Scotland is more than 30 miles from the sea!  I haven’t had time to check the map yet)

At the Scottish Fellowship of Christian Writers conference after the devotions we all had a chance to share our writing successes during the last six months.  Oh dear, mine was only an online meditation and relaunching of my Kindle book.  Must do better!!

Our speaker was John Coutts, poet, performer, author and translator.  Although poetry is not my thing, I was fascinated by what he had to say.  Refreshments and a workshop followed and a decision about the next competition – Jubilee – my mind is buzzing already.

Carol, the non-poet