Picnic and birds...

Wednesday 13th January, 2021

I write this as another member of the household is on a virtual trip to Greenwich Village in New York. Although still not bothering to learn much re iPad use etc such as Facebook, Instagram etc I do plunder bits of it. I am impressed by what can be gotten. For example I have started on a course of study with an American professor of the major pieces of literature in Western Culture. His opening gambit was a diatribe against those who refuse to study certain classics because the writers were homophobic, racist, mysogynistic or some such. He started with Homer's Illiad. I know it only by name and I was much engaged by his talk. Suddenly I saw the positives of the cyber world, although I noted a few invites coming up on screen for somewhat more dubious allurements! But who am I to judge. One can refuse such as a visit to New York!

I started my day with the BBC news page on my iPad. I was thrilled and horrified simultaneously by a short video on Father Flavie Villanueva who is going on trial for sedition in the Philippines. He is accused it seems of disrespect etc for President Duterte. He has criticised and attempted to defend those being attacked, murdered, ruthlessly pursued and hunted down for drug association. Without condoning the drug trade or whatever Father Flavie has emphasised the sanctity of life and has set up various ways of helping the victims and their families and others in need of homes, advice, food etc. I felt so proud of him as a human and as a priest. I was so buoyed up by the story. A brave man of faith and humanity.

I have continued also my reading of Daniel Holmes and again experience the admiration and yet also the horror of his life in prison. There are such inspiring examples out there.

As Ms Sturgeon spoke to the Scots about more strictures and more disarming hopelessness re the virus so I went for a walk. It was not a particularly fine day but at least dry. I took my trusted grabber with me. On my way to post a few letters I passed the village Community Centre. To my surprise they we removing bread and various other nearly out of date goodies. Asking what was going on I was told that normally these victuals were for anyone who needed foodbank help or parcels. But it seems that because of the current blitz of 'stay at home', 'do not good out and protect lives and the NHS' many are too frightened to collect much needed food stuffs from the various centres. So delicious sourdough breads, hummus tubs, Quaker Oats packages and much else were to be dumped. They offered me some. I took three loaves and a large packet of Oats plus some tubs of hummus and gave a donation to the charity.

On I walked and found a very frozen lake where I sat for lunch. A lunch of sourdough bread and hummus. Birds flocked to share my meal so I gave them chunks and crumbs and we munched and squeaked and twittered and coo-ed and flapped together. Just lovely. I then used my litter grabber to clear some detritus nearby and to make a hole in the lake for water. As I left I noted various birds drinking. On I walked and collected just one full bag of rubbish, as well as various comments.

Back home I turned to some letters. One was from a local man, called Joe, offering help and recommending the Jehovah Witness cyber sites as well as his own email if we wanted help. He wished us health and safety while offering insights in to 'Why does God allow suffering? How can we make our family life happy? ' and other such. I shall send him a thanks. Then I plunged in to Dylan Thomas as I had a letter from the friend who ever quotes poetry. So in reply to her letters I chose a poet and explore life today through that poet's verses. It is all about God and His existence and love so I am researching Thomas to that end. I find it very brain teasing and exciting and enlightening.

Now I am going to indulge myself and have a hot bath. A bath and going to bed with a book are two of my top priorities of joy! Yes, you may think I have a dull life but truly both habits are pure gold. To me they are more fun than touring Greenwich Village!

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