Lovejoy locations

Right now as I am writing this blog entry, today's episode of Lovejoy (on the Drama channel) features the magnificent Ingatestone Hall and its lovely grounds, and even the famous priest hole is shown. For those who miss this broadcast, the title of the episode is 'They Call Me Midas', and it is available on a DVD set. Ingatestone Hall, Essex, is well worth a visit but do check the opening times carefully.

Love does not rejoice in wrong and in tragedy

Love is at the heart of the Gospel, the good news of salvation in Christ. God is love. The love of Christ constrains us. Without love our faith is vain. Faith work through love.

Sadly we have manifestations of faith, religion, philosophies and politics without much love, ways of life lacking grace and kindness. Evidence of true faith is loving kindness, grace at work in everyday life.

Some religious people rejoice in hatred and disaster. When people are murdered they celebrate. They persecute the innocent and harm the righteous. This shows that they are based on false traditions and the doctrines made up by unspiritual folk who did not know God. They did not receive truth through revelation. They invented what they teach, pretending that is from God.


It was the religious establishment that arranged the crucifixion of Christ. Religious leaders rejoiced in his death. In the world today leaders are still harming his disciples. Christians are suffering outrageous persecution at the hands of religious fanatics convinced that they are serving God.

Bad news from Russia

It seems that when I read about Russia or listen to the news, I feel really sorry for the Russian people who have been badly let down by their leaders and corrupt government officials. Doping scandals, state sponsored cheating, involvement in dodgy trade deals, backing Basher (sic) al Assad, and proposed laws restricting freedom and evangelism (good news), these are testimonies to a miserable and troubled society.

Pembrokeshire Coastal Path: a paradise and path of outstanding natural beauty

I love to walk the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. It is a paradise, a place of delight and precious sights.
It is, indeed, a joy to look across the bays, the beaches and the beautiful islands from the paths by the sea. I have recently returned from a few days around the St David's Head area. The weather was magnificent last Thursday, but misty and miserable yesterday. I hope that you enjoy my photographs.

Will Tony Blair be remembered for deceit and lying above all else?

I admit that I was taken in by Tony Blair. I believed that he was honest and sincere, a devout man of faith. I voted for him and felt the elation of a Labour victory when he first became Prime Minister. I have admired his good Catholic wife, Cherie, for her childhood and teenage struggles in an unhappy home life with a selfish, womanizing, drunken father, going on to achieve success as an outstanding barrister.

When people began to call him Bliar, I hesitated and wondered if he was really dishonest and told lies. I recall that he claimed to be a Christian, and I understand that his faith is important to him. Truth is at the heart of the Christian message. "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Did he really follow the Way, the Life and the Truth, incarnate and revealed in Christ, who promised that the Spirit of Truth would come to guide us into all truth. (See John 14;6 and 16:13.)

Sometimes half truths and truth mixed with falsehood are more dangerous than complete error.  Poison can be sugar coated, sweet on the tongue, but deadly to the body, absolutely lethal.

I am now convinced that Tony Blair lied and deceived us. His critics claim that there are many examples of Tony Blair and his team misrepresenting the facts in the pre-Iraq war period.

I now contend that in the Chilcot Report, there is evidence of lying. Dame Manningham-Buller, then director of MI5, had warned that an invasion of Iraq would result in an increased danger of terrorist attacks in Britain. On 7/7/2005 there were those dreadful terrorist attacks in London when 52 people died. Tony Blair told Parliament shortly afterwards that there was no link between events in Iraq and these acts of terrorism. Our Foreign Secretary at the time, Jack Straw, backed up Tony Blair's position. Our Intelligence Services gave a completely different view, and they asked for a substantial increase in funding to cope with the extra terror threats. It was patently obvious that our streets were far more dangerous as a result of Tony Blair's middle east policy, and Islamic jihadists and extremists were far more willing to bring terror and death to the UK. The testimonies of extremist fighters and suicide bombers have made the clear link between Iraq (with Afghanistan) and terrorist activity.

Saddam Hussein and his armies were no direct threat to the UK, yet we were fed the lie that we were in danger from weapons of mass destruction, which did not exist when our soldiers invaded Iraq.
Threats came to our troops from angry jihadists who wanted to settle old scores and engage in a war, terrorism and battles against foreign invaders and infidels.

I pray for Tony Blair. I pray that he will send a lot of his wealth, some would say ill gotten gain, to the widows, orphans and the injured as a result of his actions and decisions.

The Chilcot Blues

In Iraq, what did we gain?
Did our soldiers die in vain?

We know now that Blair lied,
while people suffered, many died.

Take those smiles from his face,
Blair and Bush are in disgrace.

Hang your heads now in shame,
All of you who were to blame. 

Tony Blair, do you care?

Tony Blair, do you really care?
Then pay for the blood you have shed
Fund the orphans and widows of the dead.

Tony Blair, do you really care
when others have such grief to bear?

Do you deserve your financial gain
when widows and orphans feel such pain?

Blood has flowed in foreign lands
while you have much upon your hands.

You had power, wealth and fame,
And your excuses are so lame,
For you and others share the shame
So pay up! Pay up! You're to blame!

But there is beauty and cultural heritage in Tilbury. Go to the Fort!

Just by Tilbury town, a really crap one by my standards, you can find beauty and cultural heritage, historical building and lovely views.

Go to the Tilbury Fort and see for yourself. I nearly gave up on it. It was not an easy drive, and bike riding secondary school truants (it was between two and three in the afternoon) by paths near the World's End pub made me feel uneasy as I drove down the lane to the Fort's car park.

As I walked around the grounds of Tilbury Fort I saw beauty in many places. Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder, and I beheld some beautiful sights and views at Tilbury Fort, for sure.

And let's not forget good Queen Bess and her famous Tilbury speech

Crap town: Tilbury town is in the top division

Tilbury town looks so down, so depressed and so deprived. It has been left to decline and decay.

The pub and the dental practice are closed and shuttered.

The Anchor has not held in the storms of economic decline, but perhaps the Christian fellowship, Fruitful Land, which seems to be using the premises, can provide hope and a better future.

This poor local lad's future was brutally cut short and his murderer is still at large.

The litter problems show neglect and despondency.

Discarded beer cans, cigarette packets, and snack bags are carelessly strewn in the gutters and in alleys. There is clearly little love for the environment. What a dump!

Abject neglect and urban ugliness are plain to see. What a very sad state of affairs!

The broken window and shuttered windows are a sad testimony to the dismal decline.

Some things have clearly had better days and they are left to decay.