Remembering Ben – March 2024

Kathy and probably me, Josh and Sam are walking or swimming to remember Ben on his birthday again this year 2024. This time to raise funds for Southampton Veterans Trust. If you want to donate go to Just Giving.

Also be great if you want to join us at Portland 5pm Wednesday 20th March to toast Ben at his headstone at the Naval Cemetery.

Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of  fire. 

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Remembering Ben

Kathy and Josh are both walking to remember Ben on his birthday and to raise funds for Woody’s Lodge. If you want to donate go to Just Giving

Woody’s Lodge is a communications and social hub for veterans, emergency services, reservists and their families.
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Book Review 001: The Seagull by Ann Cleeves – Vera Stanhope Investigates

The Seagull (Vera Stanhope #8)The Seagull by Ann Cleeves
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My first Ann Cleeves  book. I don’t read many books anyway. More an audible listener but even then mostly non-fiction. I came to this because I am in a newish book club and it was my turn to choose a book. The other four we had read were all connected with the person choosing by way of the location. The other books were “serious” reading of a sort not really in such a defined genre as crime fiction. “A Man Called Ove”, “The Long Petal of the Sea”, “A Month in the Country” and “That They May See the Rising Sun”. So I was determined to find a hefty tome that was about my birthplace Northumberland and especially Whitley Bay) with history and depth. I couldn’t find one! No doubt they are there but when I say history I meant more recent than Roman Britain. But it seems the NE lends itself to ancient history historical novels and crime.

Anyway on to my review.

What I did like were the descriptions of location. I was born (1958) and bred in Whitley Bay and she gets so much right though I have to I left in 1984 so the times described were after my time there. My Whitley Bay was a bustling seaside town with grimy pubs and the odd hotel disco dance floor not a night club paradise for people from the Toon. The Spanish City still had its rickety wooden framed Roller Coaster and Tunnel of Love was a ride only, the Dire Straits song arrived around 1980 when I was in my PGCE year at uni. The description of the cemetery road, dual carriageway and track to St Mary’s lighthouse were iconic to anyone who knows the area. One wonders why Whitley had that dual carriageway section.

I also admire the courage of having a main character like Vera Stanhope. I wonder if in reality anyone like her would get to her station these days as she’s not politically correct enough and her dress code would surely be complained about by those above. She’s obviously brilliant at her job of solving murders and team loyalty is strong but do people rise up only due to competence these days? Her private life history is well developed and no doubt is a theme building momentum across all the Vera novels.

Her team who I imagine are in all the Vera novels were interesting in their own right and I would like to find out more about them by reading the other novels. They all seem a bit naive except for Charlie. Now I have to admit that I know more about them because I’ve been working my way through the first 4 Vera TV drama series. Joe Ashworth is my favourite character and excellently acted. I’m sad to see he will leave soon. I was surprised to see Holly was black on TV. I wonder if she is in the novels? I missed it if it’s in The Seagull. I’m glad I read the book before watching the TV series as it’s fun to compare ones visualisation with that of the casting director.

The other characters who would likely only be in this novel were well described and not at all 2D. I think my mind provides pictures easily and Ann’s descriptions and dialogue formed easy pictures in my mind of both male and female characters. The couple who have lost their daughter were particularly well drawn but perhaps that is because I have some experience in that area too. I felt for them. The mother of Robbie Marshall in her house is also a well described person and setting. I could small and feel the place.

Most characters overall are sympathetic though all the CID team are a little bit too “good”.

(spoilers)
Overall I liked the book but have downgraded it as and I wasn’t so hooked that I read it non-stop so to speak and I was a disappointed in the ending It seemed quick and weak. I sort of felt Ann was winding up the story quickly because she was bored with writing. But I guess this may be simply the typical genre ending. The “Prof” wasn’t developed enough as a character for me and his sudden demise just seemed too convenient. Also once Mary-Frances Lascuola who fascinates from the beginning once discovered alive was demanding more fleshing out. I thought the “gardener” would have been more charismatic to Joe if the description of Mary was true. Mary’s relationship with John Brace is a little bit unbelievable but emotionally tugged at me.

Certainly a good read from my perspective but not great.

View all my reviews

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My Latest Art

These are some of my latest artworks. To see more and possibly buy one go to our sister blog at ArtByColin

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BritStops Weekender

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We are on a BritStops weekender in our motorhome. We have stayed at the lovely Melbury Vale Winery with Jo and Claire who were great hosts. The free wine tasting and potted histories were a delight, as were the facilities and bottle of Elegance wine. Please consider a visit but approach the place from the west not the east if in a campervan. Sitting here we are in the carpark of the Old Inn in Holt with a lovely view of trees and fields. I came across a rather negative post about BritStops on Twitter so I had to redress the balance. This is what I replied.

In response to Ed James’ post on Motohomes Mayhem

Hi
Interesting article and viewpoint. You missed out that it costs to get the book and sticker too. Although we got ours free this year as we put Britstops in contact with a pub in Ireland that joined the scheme. However, as a member let me say we have never yet been pressurised to buy anything though sometimes we are asked. We are not approaching this as a free campsite. We see it as convenience with there being places to stop over for a night in locations where there are no campsites or if there are they may be full. Also for example in Ireland the campsites in October were mostly shut (we had nearly 30 days Indian Summer weather BTW). Some of the locations are stunning. The low number of pitches means you’re also not blotting the landscape too much. White Motorhomes are a blot no two ways about it. I hated them before I got one and I am still sympathetic to those that groan when we arrive. And what about if you want to get the meal, wine, curry, beer etc. Basically I see it as £10-£25 off the price of the commodity. Yes there is the lack of facilities and less security but the convenience of finding a stopover in many towns and many villages is great. We plan where we go and we consider the options of buying the offerings. Part of the Britstops code is too be prepared to support the business. Many pubs are failing these days especially village pubs. If me attending goes part way to helping a pub survive then great. At a recent stopover at a winery we were given a free wine tasting before purchasing a bottle of English wine for a tenner. Not a bad deal at all. We had a good hour chat with the owners too. Their stopover included really modern 24hr toilets and shower all freely available with no tokens. I for one will happily promote Britstops, not as a free lunch but as a great way of supporting part of this nations economy and making Motorhomes less of a pox on the landscape as one smaller campervan driver told us. We are considering painting Boudicca (our humble reg 2000 Swift Lifestyle) sap green to blend in 🙂
So it’s not quite how you see it. We all see through a glass darkly my friend. But I do value your viewpoint. Happy camping.

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Nicholaston House – The end of June

The Month of June is nearly over and we will soon be into our final 3 weeks of volunteering

Chalk Stacks looking west from Old Harry

Chalk Stacks looking west from Old Harry

at Nicholaston House. The last two weeks have flown by. Two weekend ago we had the privilege of being hospitable to a group of 30 or so Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees displaced from their home because of the troubles in those countries. The house was awash with the sound of laughter as several of the group were under 10. Swansea and Cardiff are well known as cities of sanctuary for refugees. I had time to speak with a few of the adults. Many of these are professional people who are struggling to get jobs matching their education but in humility they are accepting any roles to support their families. Some of their singing though rhythmic ,as you’d expect for Africans, sounded sad and solemn.
More recently we have hosted a week called ‘Discovering Your God Given Song’ with Cath & Dai Woolridge plus the ‘Sound Of Wales’. These talented and passionate people filled the house with worship music spoken word dramatic sets and encouraged the participants to deepen their understanding of the love of God towards them using music and song to create an atmosphere that moved from one of awe to beauty and spirit filled. The team leading the week and the visitors greatly appreciated the lovely setting and hospitality for this musical pursuing of God. On the Thursday there was a concert attended by over 70 visitors.

We’ve also had visitors from King’s or should I say Pakistan and Burundi. Jean Brand who is on furlough, staying at our house in Lordswood, from teaching counselling skills in Ralwapindi and Rachel Carpenter on furlough from all the tensions in Bujumbura. I trust they found the house restful and helpful.

Simon is a strong 187 but seriously that perspective is a joke!

Simon is a strong 187 but seriously that perspective is a joke!

This last weekend I left Kathy behind suffering from a bad cough as I travelled back to Southampton to go to the King’s Men’s Weekend at the Greenhouse Christian Centre (formerly Green Pastures). My journey home was one of the best times ever with God as I played tracks and sang along to One Hundred Hours, Matt Redman and Keith Green. God did some serious work in me on that journey which followed on from Prayer Ministry I’d received at the hands of my beautiful wife. Several ideas and words for the weekend came through too. We had a great time of fellowship, walking, talking, worship, swimming, listening to talks, Holy Spirit prayer times and of course a couple of pub visits. The walk to Old Harry and his wife at Studland was a breath of fresh air with sunshine between a couple of showers. We had some photos taken by a very obliging American lady.

Some of the guys parting the way to see Old Harry

Some of the guys parting the way to see Old Harry

Though down on numbers from the last two years I believe the depth of fellowship and fun factors increased. Simon Orton our pastor led the talks on ‘Fight the Good Fight’ using Job, Daniel and Revelation. The content was superb and the question time and prayer sessions that followed were thought-provoking and encouraging. Also the meal time activity of guys sharing 3 stories about themselves only one of which had to be totally true was revealing, relationship building and quite hilarious at times. I came away for the first time feeling like I had developed my love for the guys as well deepened my love for God. The fact I’d been harbouring the same bug as Kathy all weekend didn’t matter.
However, the bug is still with me and Kathy and on returning to Nicholaston House I have found out that dear Anne and lovely Becky had both succumbed to the bug. Becky so badly she lost her voice. And what a voice to lose! She sings so beautifully. Hopefully we are all now on the mend and Pam, she of the lyrical Welsh voice, is thankfully back after 10 days leave. This place isn’t the same without Pam.

Dave and I supping Old Speckled Hen at Branscombe Chine

Dave and I supping Old Speckled Hen at Branscombe Chine

I ought to mention Europe I guess. Both the EU referendum and the football Euros 2016. I’d also voted back in Southampton. I had three votes as I was proxy for Ben and Kathy. Personally I voted out as I believe God wants the UK to be a sovereign nation again not tied into political and economic union with the EU which is a self-proclaimed godless institution. I also don’t like the fact that Europe passes laws we have little if any say in. I believe in democracy as the best way for the world to function if you are not looking to God and the EU is not democratic. Yes we will lose out on some freedoms and may suffer some hardship but we can, as individuals and churches, have more say in the way our country is run. What we need now is to pray Christian believers into parliament. Regarding the Euros, I have really enjoyed supporting Hungary (have I said we have 2 passionate Hungarian staff here in Anita and Gary?) and the smaller home nations but don’t want to say anything about England. It’s just too embarrassing. All I can say now is “C’mon Wales!”

The weather has been mixed. Several rainstorms and the odd thunderstorm. We have just had a very windy day but as the sun sets the calm arrives and I can see salmon pink tinted clouds lined up along the sky as I look across the now calm Bristol Channel. What a beautiful place this is.

We are now into a Prayer ministry week where the house has three people who have come to receive from God through sessions where they can talk and be listened to sensitively and then prayed for by a pair of prayer ministers. Kathy and I have joined that team. Again it was a privilege to be used by God to serve others. And He does provide. I can say without hesitation that the times in my life when I have received extended times of prayer ministry have been some of the most important times of my Christian walk. God does speak and heal our souls. He is in the business of making us whole, redeeming us and restoring us to be closer to who we were meant to be. Praise God that Jesus has broken the power of sin and death. That our past does not have to define our present not our future. Hope is found through faith in the love of Christ who is in us, the hope of glory!

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Nicholaston House – Week 3

Well it appears that over 3 weeks have gone by. Time is really passing quickly. We went to our first church service last Sunday. Liberty Church part of Cornerstone meets in the Welsh Bible College at Blackpill between the Gower and Swansea. They meet in an indistinguishable long hut like building with an angle roof so the projection screen is at 60 degrees. We arrived as the singing started squeezing into the last two seats on the side and the worship was simply joyous. There were faces from several continents and ages from babies to octogenarian yet most were loud and bouncing. How some kept up their joyful bouncing for so long I don’t know. As I (Colin) joined in I scanned the room and several times choked up as I saw true worshippers so immersed in praising God yet others were aware of the need of those to be handed tissues as God touched them.
It was an unusual service and didn’t follow the plan we were told later. Impromptu sharing and moving testimonies led the way no doubt because the Holy Spirit wanted to have things His way.

We heard from a volunteer serving on a YWAM ship moored off Lesbos in Greece catering for the thousands of refugees now incarcerated in the camp. Men rioting for food and trouble between cultures ing to the fear and hopelessness of the abandoned women and children whose stories break your heart. Will BREXIT hinder this work as the love and gospel of Christ moves among these people groups many who have been told by their religious leaders to stay away from the Christians tales of ʿĪsā ibn Maryām. When a hurting, fearful and hopeless Muslim hears the truth the joy is tangible so I am told.

We also listened to a visitor from Nazareth. A deeply voiced lady who has worked to bring Arab and Jewish believing leaders together in the city where Jesus was not accepted in his day. The Arab Christians were convicted of their previous rejection of the Jewish believers and washed their feet.

All in all an amazing service.

Kathy and I visited Caswell Bay and did some walking towards Langland on a concreted path around the cliff tops. The views are lovely being able to see across the channel. Kathy managed to get some body surfing in as well. I recalled that the last time I was on that beach I was a student in Swansea and we helped with a young child who went into a fit when hit be a cricket ball his dad had struck. I recalled the exact spot as we walked past it.

Beauty walks out the waves!

Beauty walks out the waves!

God does seem to be drawing out several threads from my past and I am getting more and more reassurance I am in the place he wants me to be at this time, despite some struggles with me being not quite sure where I fit in the work here. Kathy, on the other hand, as is her norm has struck up strong relationships already and God has used her to help others in many varied situations. I was thinking there would be more opportunity for discussions on faith and encouragements regarding bible study but the dominant work of service can be quite exhausting. I do manage to get some time reading but little time in brother to brother discussion and prayer. The workers here have churches and home groups where I guess they get much of their inspiration and recharging. As a couple we do encourage one another and actually Kathy has really helped me reflect on things and look to apply what God is teaching me. Thank you God for a believing and caring wife.

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Nicholaston House Week 2

Panorama of Cefn Bryn

Panorama of Cefn Bryn

Well we’ve been here for over a week and a half. Time is flying. Colin has spent days in the office answering a myriad of phone calls emails and answer phone messages. This place is fairly busy but it’s the variety of events and retreats on offer that cause most of the work in the office. And that’s ignoring the general overheads maintenance. Kathy continues to bounce (in the nicest way) between prayer ministry, weeding the garden, waitressing and washing up.

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Penrice Castle grounds

It’s been a fairly aerobic week too. On Saturday I did a 20 mile cycle around the south of Gower. Starting from the House I cycled past the Penrice Castle grounds including stopping off at the King Arthur pub in Renoyldston and the Kings Head in Llangennith. There are some exceptional real ales brewed on and around the Gower. I ended up pushing my bicycle over the dunes onto Rhosilli Beach and then cycling along this wonderfully flat long sandy shore. Pushing the bike up the path at the end was a bit of a chore though.

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Rhosilli Beach

After Rhosilli I cycled past but not down to Port Eynon, Oxwich and Horton then made a disastrous decision to go through Penrice. Quaint though it was I should have been warned by the exciting fast downhill to a stream. The road up was hard! 

The final cycle back to Nicholaston house was dodgy on the roads as the traffic was thick and fast though I must admit drivers were very careful when passing by. Thank you drivers n the Gower.

Tonight I have just walked out the back along Cefn Bryn on the Gower Way. I intended to just pray and take some photos but the vista was so amazing. You can see Burry Estuary, Oxwich Bay, Swansea, across the Bristol Channel to Exmoor and the East to the Brecon Beacons.  

You can view Brecon from the Gower

You can view Brecon from the Gower

I kept walking to higher ground and in the end decided to go all the way to Renyoldston village to have a pint of Gower Gold at The King Arthur pub.

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The Gower Inn


They have Excalibur on the wall they say. Hmmmm! Cleverly I decided to text Kathy asking her to come and join me for a drink. As I sat there downing my pint and a naughty bag of crisps and dry roasted nuts (I WILL be self-controlled with snacks, I WILL be self-controlled with snacks) people who were dining outside started streaming in as swarms of midges descended as the sun was setting. Apparently it was really unusual but be warned. The menu by the way looks excellent as does the food itself. And the prices were very fair I thought.
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Is this really Excalibur …


The guys in American Werewolf in London leave the Slaughtered Lamb for the moors as dusk descends

The guys in American Werewolf in London leave the Slaughtered Lamb for the moors as dusk descends


Anyway to cut a long story short Kathy didn’t reply to the texts and so at 9:45pm I had to strike back out on the Gower Way. As I hit the path I was reminded of that scene in American Werewolf in London as the guys leave the Slaughtered Lamb and cross the moors. Just as I thought that I heard a wolf (dog) howl. I began to wish I’d brought Excalibur with me. Anyway the headphones went on and I started singing along at the top of my voice to Noel Richards ‘There is power in the name of Jesus’ and ‘He is our Fortress.’ As darkness descended the sight of me with an iPhone torch on my own singing loudly was probably enough to scare off all but the hardiest demons! (and werewolves). Exhausted I got back to the camper-van at close to 11pm and a dozing Kathy who was suitably chagrined as she’d ignored my texts. Needless to say I slept well. In fact I slept in so was late to help the wonderful Anita and Pam with breakfast. They were very forgiving. They do what it says on the tin 😉

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Nicholaston House Day 3

Well actually it’s mostly a trip to London! Our first cooked breakfast as we were largely on our first day off. I will have to stay away from these if that weights going to come off but the odd one is OK isn’t it? Kathy spent the morning in prayer ministry with a guest which bore fruit. This place is such a place of peace and tranquillity but with the Lord acting through our prayers and love for the guests little would be achieved. We shot off at 12:30 to get to London to see the Royal Marines Beating the Retreat for Prince Philip at Horseguard Parade. A 3 hour journey out of Wales to Hounslow West tube station on the Picadilly Line (I decided my confusion expecting the map to show it as yellow was due to me thinking of it as the Picallili Line) and an hour journey to Westminster via the District Line. We picked up our tickets then met up with Sam to watch the parade as part of the Royal Guard. A powerful display of precision and music with the band of the Royal Marines. Hard to spot Ben but we now know as we met him after that he was three from the back in the first group. My favourite bits were the Dreadnought and Lord of the Rings music plus of course the Marines showing off their skills in marching and handling their guns. There were poignant visual and music commemorating the Battle of Jutland. So sad and so dreadful war at sea.

Afterwards we had the best Steak and Ale pie ever at The Red Lion on Parliament Street. Then another 4 hour journey back to Nicholaston House arriving at 1:30. Kathy had to be up at 7 to serve breakfast but I was only needed at 9 to go in the office 🙂

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Nicholaston House Day 2

We had a lovely walk last night down from the house past the farm onto the beach at one end of Oxwich Bay. Watched the sun set as we strolled back across the cliffs with a wander over to Three Cliffs Bay one of the most wonderful bays you will see in Wales. We woke up with the dawn chorus to another beautiful blue sky day. We were Up early as Kathy was serving breakfast with Anita the amazing Hungarian housekeeper and I was cooking breakfast with Gary one of the chefs also from Hungary. Seems I will be expected to do breakfast on my own later. Again trying to lose weight will be a problem. It’s so hard to resist a full English breakfast when you’ve actually cooked it! Learning also about checks and recording for food health and safety. There are so many fridges and freezers in this place.

Once the guests finished breakfast and we’d cleaned up Kathy then joined the prayer ministry team to serve some of the guests as this is a prayer ministry week. By all accounts this was very encouraging.

I went into the tiny reception office with Ian an ex-serviceman who met Frank Collins to learn about the admin system for bookings. They are in the process of moving from a manual and largely paper based system to a new bespoke online CRM system. Mind-boggling complications for running the bookings for this place and that is despite there only being 14 rooms and restrictions on what length of room bookings they take. Must admit I had a rather naïve  view on what running a smaller retreat like this would be like.

After a lunch of roasted butternut and coconut soup with garlic bread, I then spent most of my time sorting out the CCLI song recordings. That was fun as I had over 50 prompts to sing worship songs to myself as I got on and entered records of them being displayed by projection via the CCLI website. I was a bit rusty on taking phone calls but managed to work on my polite greeting rather than my usual “Yes what?” That you may get from me at home.

So now Kathy and I have the late afternoon off. We can discard our black trousers and white shirts (we looked like brother and sister stood next to each other) and relax on the beach or up the Bryn behind the house. I believe Kathy has gone off surfing!!

The view towards Three Cliffs Bay

The view towards Three Cliffs Bay

The Celtic Chapel

The Celtic Chapel

Our home for the next two months

Our home for the next two months

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