Syria, a country in crisis

Syria is a country in crisis.  The protests are getting larger and more vociferous, but the killings by security forces and murderous thugs continue.  These armed bully boys are brutalizing the common people. There have been waves upon waves of angry demonstrations against the Assad regime.  Rebellion is in the air, but the repression is fuelling the resentment and bitterness. Bashar the Basher cannot pretend to be mister nice guy who wants to bring reform and renewal, when he allows the madmen to roam the streets and shot to kill at random.  Brutality by the bullet is completely unacceptable.  The people realize this so they are calling for Basher al Assad to go.  They do not accept his contention that the troubles are caused by saboteurs and terrorists.  His armed thugs and vicious secret policemen are the terrorists, committing crimes on the Syrian streets.

Amnesty International is doing sterling work to stop the bloodshed.  May God help them in their important mission.  They have evidence of torture and murder by the current repressive regime.  Blood is on the hands of the President of Syria and his associates.  Decent dissenters and determined dissidents are dying.

In love with Oxford, city of dreaming spires

I admit it. I love Oxford. Sometimes it's hard to go home, and there's no place like home.  To study at Oxford is a great privilege. It is a great university city with a wonderful library, alpha plus architecture, lovely lawns and gardens, two rivers, fine restaurants, a covered market, quaint buildings, historic monuments, terrific bookshops, fascinating people, a small cathedral, magnificent museums and many more delights that take time to discover.

Regent's Park College, Main Quad, Trinity term

It was the university of John Wycliffe, John Owen, John Flavel and John Wesley, and many other influential theologians. It is now popular through its association with CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Lewis Carroll's Alice, Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey, Colin Dexter's Inspectors Morse and Lewis, and I could go on and on mentioning the literary links.  Harry Potter fans like to visit Christchurch's Great Hall.

Last Thursday I attended an event arranged by the highly regarded Faculty of Theology, which has attained a standard of  excellence (even by Oxford standards).  It was held at the University Church in the High Street.

Lord Bragg, formerly of the People's Republic of Wadham, and Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, eminent church historian and Fellow of St Cross College, were the speakers on the 1611 King James' Authorized Version of the Bible.

Well done Derek Jeter, a baseball legend in the New York Yankees #2 shirt

Derek Sanderson Jeter has achieved greatness in baseball with over 3,000 hits.  His career began in 1995 and since then DSJ has a batting average of .313; DSJ celebrated the great milestone of joining the 3,000 hit club on 9 July with a home run at Yankee Stadium.  It is a remarkable success. Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle all scored over two thousand hits but DSJ broke the three thousand barrier, the first NY Yankee to do so.  It has been reached only 27 times before in the history of Major League Baseball.  The record number of hits is held by Pete Rose (4,256).

Derek Jeter has been a great servant of the New York Yankees in the American League.  He is impressive when fielding at shortstop, using his reach (he stands 6' 3"), speed and skill in catching and throwing accurately.

I have been a fan of the New York Yankees since 1964, when I watched the World Series on television in Canada.  Sadly the New York Yankees lost to the St Louis Cardinals, and Yogi Berra was sacked as manager.  Many people wear the classic New York Yankees baseball cap, but few in the UK have ever seen them play or know about Derek Jeter.  When he retires his famous number 2 shirt will also be retired.

Another visit to The Kilns, CS Lewis' home in Risinghurst, near Oxford

On Friday 8 July I joined a guided tour of CS Lewis' home, The Kilns, in Risinghurst.
It is now in the care of the CS Lewis Foundation, which has lovingly restored through much effort and enterprise the famous home where Lewis lived, loved, wrote and died.

Kim Gilnett, CS Lewis foundation tour guide

The Music Room, where CS Lewis died in 1963

I also visited the CS Lewis Nature Reserve, which is on land once owned by CS Lewis and his brother Warnie purchased from the proceeds of their property in Northern Ireland.

Wonderful long weekend at High Leigh, which looks better than ever.

This past weekend I spent many happy hours at High Leigh, near Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.  I have been going there to various church events since the 1980s, and it is better than it has ever been.  The grounds are beautiful.

We had perfect weather and it was a joy to get up early to walk in the gardens, on the lawns and in the quiet places by the ponds.

I have selected some photographs taken at different times of day and I enjoyed the changes in the light and conditions.  Memorable, happy days in early July.

My younger son fell in this pond when he was two years old.

My older son loved playing in the bushes on the left and started a Bush Club in the 1980s.

The Oak Room at High Leigh

Taken very early on Saturday morning 2/7/11