7 Late Takes (Saturday edition)

1.)
If you are interested in reading a fiery polemical exchange between a Catholic priest and an anti Catholic or two, go here. Part two here.
Many of the points raised are ones that I have heard many times.  Purgatory is an unscriptural myth, "Church" does not mean "Church" but it does mean "Ekklesia" ( which is a bit like saying "house" does not mean "house" but it does mean "maison" or "haus") The upside down Papal cross is a sign of the anti christ,etc.
Fr Joe does a good job of answering the questions and gives the challenger a pretty good run for his money.
Which of course makes him "horrible, unloving and hateful".

2.)
In the wake of the recent rampages, we have seen a very noticeably increased police presence on the streets.
There were lots of vested up riot police In Tesco express on the Uxbridge Rd at about 6pm on Tuesday. They were stocking up on snacks and looked well beefy in their robo cop elbow pads and stab vests.
There were about 20-25 queuing up with their bars of chocolate and tortilla wraps.
The store was so thick with testosterone I came over all giggly and coquettish.

They were there again on Wednesday.
After Monday nights ructions,  25 riot police in a boarded up Tesco store are a swoonworthy sight for sore eyes.
I wanted to run up to each one of them and gasp " Thank you! Thank you for your service to our country!"
in the way that Americans are wont to do with their troops.
But something about 25 police officers in riot gear makes a girl a little bashful. So I summoned up a jaunty little "be careful out there" as I weaved through  them with my  toilet paper and milk..


3.) 
Two nurses have won the right not to work in an abortion clinic

I am astounded that this ever became an issue.
As far as I was aware, it was widely understood that medical staff could conscientiously object to work in this area.
I was a bit disappointed that it was hailed as a victory for "Christians" however. Putting it like that confirms the idea that it is only Christians that are opposed to abortion.
As far as I am aware, anyone who works in health care can and should invoke the conscience clause and refuse to participate in abortion if they are conscientiously opposed to it.

4.)
We went for a walk along the South Bank of theThames on my birthday.
Brendan, who works around the corner, met us just outside the Tower of London for lunch.
It's a little strange to find myself hurtling through the years like this, but it was wonderful to spend at least part of the day with all my chooks together, being reminded of what I have been doing while the time has been whizzing by.
It's been a great journey, and for all the challenges and frustrations, so incredibly satisfying and worthwhile.
I think this makes it much easier to grow older, although I do sometimes sigh for my youth which has all but slipped away.

Sadly I forgot to get a photo of us all before Brendan had to go back to work. Here's me with the rest of my chicken's:

Well it's hard to get a shot in which they all look cheerful at once.

The children loved these little fountains:

5.)
 This is a photo of Pat with the children standing in front of Tower bridge.

Apparently, back in the '60's, an American  billionaire bought London Bridge, thinking that he was getting Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge:

London Bridge ( reassembled in Arizona):

It was only after he had got it out of the box and put it together that he thought "This doesn't look quite right". Which is a feeling that anyone who has shopped in IKEA can relate to.

6.)
Dominic returned from a rugby tour in Australia ( the lucky pup) with a  strange injury to his elbow . I don't think it's anything too serious, probably ligamentous, but he went for an x ray yesterday, just to exclude bony injury. He can't straighten his arm, but it doesn't stop him throwing the baby in the air and scaring the wits out of me.

7.)
Lastly, very sad news about the man who was beaten unconscious on Monday in Ealing. He died when his life support was switched off. 
Utterly tragic.
May his soul rest in peace.

For more quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary.