HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

 Fiona and I gave the hour from 8am to Radio Four. I had failed to gel with the Archbishop's Easter service a week ago in the same timeslot. It is my experience that the last year has been a groundhog day on steroids. Now, another week has passed, but it has seen something of a seismic shift: the Duke of Edinburgh has died. This time, for me anyway, The Very Revd Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster Abbey had it just right. The absolute driver was service and Easter, whether that be the service of Christ, Him to us and us to Him or the same service informing the life of Prince Phillip. The Anglican Worship was beautiful. Some small niggle in myself was ruefully thinking that this was what made the British Empire so successful and even now makes many around the World appreciate being in our Commonwealth. On offer is a velvet gloved totalitarianism in which the concept of Service can be used to persuade people to do extra-ordinary things (remembering that we live on a piece of space rock I wonder how much that should surprise us).. It is a sort of golden deal for the powerful, one which enabled Indian Maharajas or Pacific Island leaders to see a very appealing progressive contexualisation. Where appropriate it got you a Rolls Royce. As many folk are explaining (Robert Wise), at a different plane, the life experience of the majority might diverge. As the service ended the BBC announced that in a change to the schedule Rebecca Stott would give A Point of View on Kenwood Mixers. This was inspired editing. It cut very close to my grain. She landed us in the mid 1970s and utter family chaos in which a strong woman did incredible things. MEN! Prince Phillip was let down by his father! Staggeringly so. My experience of an army officer, a parachutist was quite challenging. A person who could lead, who could see what he wanted doing but was not about always being polite nor see that there could be family divergences. Between 1974-1976 I was a teenager very keen not to be part of the British Public School system. It was a conflict finally only resolved by becoming a Christian and realising Love was the key to becoming part of a much larger context than the individual. It is clear to me Prince Phillip understood that expression of Love in bucketloads, the Queen likewise. And also millions of everyday folk. That is why Rebecca Stott's remembrances of a crowded fatherless house in Hove are so important. Despite the pain, joy was found. I am no left wing feminist who thinks men should be seen and not heard as payback for what went before. I do think that to resolve the age old tension men and women experience, their relationships should be as persons laid before Christ.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000v82x and https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000n6rp

Petrol bombs in Carrickfergus

 

It is so sad to read this. Petrol bombs in Carrickfergus. This is where my Grandfather was born. This is where the Forsythe family really got into money making, in the 19th century. The Forsythe's have ever been pragmaticists and traders, not ideologues. They have also been internationalists. Family members, close family members live in Spain, Canada and Chile. Despite being born in Norfolk, my love blossomed in Dumbarton. Since 1986 my life has been led in crossing constantly (until March 2020) a Border that should be of no consequence. Many warned on this account (so John Batts) constantly of the perils posed to peace by Brexit. Because I am not an ideologue I recognise problems with the EU. And yes it would appear Leave more so than Remain has a stronger suite over the vaccine. But to take either of those options is ridiculous because what is at stake is the precious unity of the British Isles. Those who don't see that because Westminster is unimpressive the best solution is to rat on it and on the English leave me cold. Everyone in these islands are one British kith and kin. It is called geography and it is nuts to try and escape it just as it is nuts to try and escape Europe as our most significant trading partner. In the EU we had a deal better than Germany's but the ideologues and purveyors of division could not see it. So whether you are a Scottish Nationalist or an English one you both are one of a kind. Violence is no solution and compromise and renewal in faith in hope are the only ways forward.

BBC.CO.UK

Police attacked during fresh night of NI violence

Petrol bombs are thrown at officers in Carrickfergus and a car is set alight in Londonderry.

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One year of the lockdown.

 

Today the nation is marking one year since the start of lockdown and remembering the 126,000 Covid victims. We are in a better place just now. I think 17 people died of it in the UK yesterday. But it has been an appalling roller coaster. It has not been Britain's finest hour although the vaccines do now offer real hope. Make sure you get yours! About the linked photo, my father 1916-2004 and mother 1923-2005 in their heyday. Three cars before their demise. Working backwards they had a Polo, a Golf, this BMW in 1971 and in the years before that back through to 1959 when I was born, two Rover P4s. The major impacting moment of their lives was World War Two. Now as it happens 16 and 17 years ago today and tomorrow we buried them. March is really tinged for me and Fiona's mum was a March death and burial too in 2018. I think the death rate in this Pandemic against one year of the war is broadly comparable. My mother was big on stories about parties at USAF airbases. They did not meet until after the war. In a sense they both had "good wars". But the chaos of the war certainly left scars which would impact their lives and those of their children for many decades. At least in the war, the front line forces were found leave. You could not be on duty all the time. Travel around Britain remained just about practical. I believe in this crisis for NHS staff a very difficult challenge has been getting away from the extra-ordinary PTSD level scenes they have had to deal with. We have simply not had enough troops! I am so glad neither my father or mother saw this pandemic. They would not have been impressed.  I can confirm that photo was taken in 1984 at Lymington by their friend John Brice.