Some good news! Renewable energy projects are rising in number worldwide
According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, more than 1.6 trillion euros is going to fund renewable energy (solar and wind) and electric vehicle projects this year, a 24% jump compared to 2021.
By Adrien Pécout
Published on May 28, 2023, (Paris) le Monde
The bad news is this, unfortunately too much Fossil fuels are still in production!
For more news on the climate lemonde.fr
Cat's - Eye
The shock of a world, caught
In a headlight beam.
A country road by night,
each weed brandishing up towards you fronds spread, as ruthless as beggars,
each branch like a meaning overemphasised,
each particulate thing, crouched round at you, at bay:
the light from the retinal cave
the way the full moon throws it back
one moment when you don't know which, you or the world,
will veer or break and run.
*************
Ref. 'I Spy Pinhole Eye'
Poems Philip Gross, photography Simon Denison
Cinnamon Press
(Saccades: rapid tracking movements of the human eye, unnoticed by the brain, between one fixed image and the next)
Saccadia
The people of Saccadia
are backroom boys.
See them crouched
to their exposures in the darkroom plotting a map, or a plot for an invasion, motionless
as Cortes, at each moment on the brink
Of breakthrough to another world of which their one-frame stories tell
like a whole new dimension.
Oh, to be in - no- to be the movies...
Ref;
I Spy Pinhole Eye- Poems Philip Gross, photography by Simon Denison
Cinnamon Press
This last Year I have:-
• passed languages and cultures- level3▪︎
• I already Passed - level 3 in english language module.
• Passed - level 3 in french language module.
• Read several books in french and understood about 3/4 of it.
• Watched movies in french without the subtitles. Understood about 3/4 of it.
• Was able to speak in french to my french friend over the phone.
• wrote on a french blog
• Taught my english friend basic beginners french.
• Wrote on an english blog
• Wrote essays in french
• Took part on a mixed language forum.
• Joined the Choir
• Played a musical instrument within a small group setting.
• Improved on my computer skills
• Volunteered in the library
° Finally finished knitting a colourful blanket from odd balls of wool.
• Took part in my local village tidy up.
• Managed a few good long country walks
• Befriended a lovely family from another country who are living in my village.
It has been a busy but eventful year!
🌺⚘🌳🌲🍀🐑🫶🐿
❤
Matthew 12:30-32:
God said "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
"Love Thy Neighbour"
Do no harm to your neighbour who dwells beside you in peace.
1 Corrinthians chapter 13 is best understood as a way of life, lived in imitation of Jesus Christ, that is focused not on oneself but on the “other”.
I find this is a difficult commandment to live by as not everyone is lovable! but it is one commandment, that in the end, brings about peace. We need a lot of help from the Holy Spirit to achieve this. It is all about respect and acceptance for others. 🙂
Voici la priére que nous a enseigné notre Seigneur Jesus Christ. The Lords Prayer.
🙏
Our father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory. For ever and ever.
Amen
🙏
En français;
Notre père, qui est au cieux, Que ton nom soit sanctifié, ton royaume vienne, que votre volonté soit faite, sur la terre comme au ciel, donne-nous aujourd'hui notre pain quotidien
et pardonne-nous nos offenses comme nous pardonnons à tous ceux qui nous ont offensés, ne nous soumets pas à la tentation mais délivre-nous du mal, Amen
Car à toi appartient le royaume, la puissance et la gloire. Pour les siecles des siecles. Amen. ✝️
I am all for women studying gaining valuable knowledge, improving their lot in life, and especially working in the field of employment that they really love!
I myself as a woman and student have benefited myself from studying and gaining knowledge of the subjects that are most interesting to me. I have also worked when I was a younger woman. However, are women really valued at home and in the work place
Example - As a child I saw my mother as a young women, working hard at home, doing the daily family tasks, like shopping, washing clothes, cleaning floors, making the dinner for all the family. My working father used to leave the house and also worked hard, doing manual work outside the home. The difference was he was paid but mother was not! I always thought that this was totally unfair.
She received no money for all her hard work and when she needed something a little more, she had to ask my father and explain to him that she needed a new winter coat or pair of shoes.
I thought this was sad after all her hard work looking after the house, keeping the family fed and comfortable that she had to go to ask my father for money.
Fortunately my dad, who was a good man was understanding, and generously gave her what she asked for.
But what if he wasn't then what?
I was always puzzled that my father received a pay packet every month from his works, but my mother received nothing for all her hard efforts in looking after the house and family.
When my father had a serious operation in hospital, it was my mother who took care of him at home, waiting on him hand and foot helping him shave, wash and dress, as well as bringing him his meals.
When she became ill, it was us her children, who had to look after her because dad was working, he dared not take time off, in those days it just didn't happen and besides he could lose his job!
Why is it that a woman's work has less value than a mans work?
Historically stay- at- home mums were underappreciated, but also women in general. it seems that women receive much less money, for doing the same job as a man. Even some professional women or managers sometimes make less money than their male counterparts.
Why does this happen?
Woman like to have a career and if they are strong and lucky they can achieve it. What if they are unable to work for various reasons of poor Education, a disability or other circumstances beyond their control? or what if her child has a disability? Or simply because it is more convenient to be at home, looking after the children? preparing the meals, cleaning and so on, especially if the husband himself works, and likes to return to a hot dinner and a clean house.
The government should pay women who work at home, a reasonable basic allowance to be a stay -at - home mum, to reflect the good work that they do within the family home.
The couple could have more money coming in, if the woman was being paid for what she did at home. They could afford to buy more(spending power) and pay their bills off too.
This would feel more like her work is valued and useful. The couple would feel closer together as a team, a happy marriage to be equal partners. There is so much disatisfaction and divorce these days partly because women feel undermined and undervalued at home.
I think it is good for a woman if she prefers to work, if she has a good career or a job that she is happy with, as long as she receives good wages equal pay to a man! but if she is not so lucky and prefers to be a stay- at- home mum, then she should be able to choose to do that instead.
The country as a whole would benefit from this. Less unemployment, more stability in the home and less poverty in general !
It is all about "Trust" to trust someone is to have confidence in someone, to believe in them.
We know we can trust in God because he keeps his promises.
"Those who know your name trust in you" psalm 9 v10
Even when difficulties come, he is always there with us, he draws us closer to him. We must just have patience and rely on him. He will guide us and show us the way. His son Jesus is like him he is our rock and salvation. He was rejected by men but chosen by God. Jesus trusted in God. So it is all about 'Trust' Can we also be trusted as a Christian to keep our word to others?
The Rose
The lily has a smooth stalk
Will never hurt your hand
But the rose upon her briar
Is lady of the land
When with moss and honey
She tips her bending briar
And half unfolds her glowing heart
There's sweetness in an apple tree
And profit in the corn
But lady of all beauty
Is a rose upon a thorn
When with moss and honey
She tips her bending briar
And half unfolds her glowing heart
She sets the world on fire.
Christina Rossetti.
(from The Rose &The Lily)
Mary the mother of Jesus is often called the Rose.
Ola Gjeilo the Norwegian composer has composed music called 'The Rose'
Which takes inspiration from Christina Rosetti.
Poem.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DPh44oJ7WpGU&ved=2ahUKEwispvy4rZeCAxV9QEEAHQP2DAcQwqsBegQIDBAB&usg=AOvVaw1QzT1EJnsuOdolvRLiHe4d
A Red Rose from my garden.
⚘In Memory of my sister on her birthday.⚘
Photos taken on autumn country walk.
Hurray! I have managed to get onto "view site entries" on the OU blog using my mobile. Good to be back!
Book review - The Bible "Genesis 12:1-7 is the beginning of Abraham's story.
From Abraham- to recent times.
What we are witnessing today with the war between the Jews and the Palestinians, can be traced a long way back ! through to Biblical times and Abraham.
Abraham had two sons named Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was born from the women Hagar and Isaac from the women Sarah.
Sarah had been barren for many years and was unable to conceive a child for Abraham, so being impatient, she persuaded her husband to sleep with Hagar her servant girl, in order for them to have a child that they could bring up as their own child, so that is how Ishmael was born.
Between Sarah and Hagar some rivalry broke out so she begged Abraham to drive Hagar out into the desert.
He did so but God soon saw Hagars distress and sent the angel Gabriel to protect her and help her. God spoke to her through the angel, he said not to be afraid and that he would also make Ishmael a great nation too one day with many descendants.
In the meantime God had finally allowed Sarah to bear Abraham a child, a son who they named Isaac.
Isaac was of Jewish descent (from Sarah) and Ishmael was Arabic descent (from Hagar) They became 2 seperate nations of peoples.
This then was how it all began, and from then thats when the sibling rivalry started between these two brothers(or tribes)
It was also about land and establishing a state of Israel for Jewish people and for Palestinian people.
In more recent times after World War 2 for example, the land
since 1948 has been divided into Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
The land of Israel is also the birth place of the three great world religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It has been ruled over by many kingdoms and powers throighout history,including Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel and Judah, the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great and his successors, the Hasmoneans, the Roman Empire, several Muslim caliphates, and the crusaders.
"The area was ruled over by the Ottoman Empire, then the British Empire.
Going back even further the land was annexed and the area in 63 BCE. Roman Judea was troubled by large-scale Jewish revolts, which Rome answered by destroying Jerusalem and the Second Jewish Temple."
*
"In the 4th century, Palestine became a center of Christianity, attracting pilgrims, monks and scholars. Following the Muslim conquest of the Levant in 636–641, several Muslim ruling dynasties succeeded each other as they wrestled control of Palestine."
*
"In more recent history, relations between Israel and Palestinians have been marked by many conflicts, especially with the Islamist group Hamas, which also rejects the PA. In 2007, Hamas won control of Gaza from the PA, now limited to the West Bank.
In November 2012, the State of Palestine (the name used by the PA) became a non-member observer state in the UN."
*
These clashes of ideology has remained critical ever since and pose very difficult theological issues and unsurmountable debate. Pray for peace for all tne people of Israel and Palestine.🙏
References-
The Bible(Old Testament Genesis)
*Wikipedia*
Listening to some📱🎧 beautiful music this evening on Classic FM.📻 I also found some links on youtube.
Northern lights by Ola Gjeilo
Ola GJEILO:
Norwegian Composer
Other works include;
The Rose
Winter
The universal
Very good music to chill out with after a busy day of work or study!
I am reading about different faiths and cultures at the moment and was interested to read that Muslims believe that Jesus (called “Isa” in Arabic) was a prophet of God and was born to a virgin (Mary). They also believe he will return to Earth before the Day of Judgment to restore justice and defeat al-Masih ad-Dajjal, or “the false messiah” — known as the Antichrist. This is also similar to what christians believe as found in the New Testament.
☪️✝️✡
The book I have just started reading is called;
'The Thirteenth Apostle'
Written by April D DeConick.
Inspired by the National Geographics release of the first English translation in 2006, of the gospel of Judas, a second- century text that was discovered in Egypt in the 1970s.
Her fully revised and updated version edition, includes two new chapters 'Judas the star' and 'The Magic Judas' She brings a new and accurate perspective on the subject of Judas the apostle and friend of Jesus, who becomes the one who finally betrays Jesus.
'The Thirteenth Apostle' has generated fresh debate about this imfamous Biblical figure of Judas.
April D. DeConick
came to Rice University Texas USA as a professor of Biblical studies. She is author of numerous books including - Recovering the Original Gospel of Thomas, A History of the Gospel and it's Growth'
Have you ever opened a packet of food lately and noticed that the portions are much smaller?
The other day I opened my usual brand of kitchen roll and it has become much thinner, so much thinner, that when I tried to mop up a small spill the paper completely fell into pieces!
My deodrant is now in a narrower can, there's less biscuits in the biscuit packet, less in the cereals, smaller portions, it is getting ridiculous, what's going on?
There is shrinkflation everywhere! but apparently it is also happening abroad too. In France 'Carrefour' have been the first supermarket to shout it out. They are now informing the public about this issue and naming and shaming the offenders!
The food manufacturers that are cutting corners, that are chopping bits off soaps, taking crisps out of packets, scrimping on sizes of cans etc. They should be ashamed of themselves treating their loyal customers like this.
The quality and the quantity is falling and the sizes are shrinking!
They do all that but the prices still seem to be going up and not to be coming down!!!
So how is it then that we are getting less from a product and yet we are still having to pay more?
That's the injustice of the capitalist system!
Appreciating Nature.
Walking through some woods
There is nothing better than having a lovely long country walk at the weekend, it is incredibly good for your mental well being as well as your physical health.
Green fields and yellow wheat.
I usually like to plan a walk in advance, so I take a map of the area that I want to walk, and my friend S and I we plan the route ahead that we will take. However, if we know the route pretty well we will just walk it, follow the designated footpaths and occasionally we will discover a new footpath, but mainly it is the old familiar footpaths that we have already travelled upon and have enjoyed in the past.
Today was a sun drenched Saturday, but with some nice fresh cool breezes. We decided today to walk across the sunny fields to the next village through wheat fields, vege fields and green meadows , where cattle were grazing near to the little old chapel. There we stayed and rested indoors a few moments in the cool chapel.
When we left the chapel we crossed over the now quiet main road, to the footpath. Followed the footpath down hill, down past a grassy green field, where there were some lovely horses grazing peacefully, there was a beautiful little biscuit- coloured shetland pony, a piebald horse, a white horse and a Chestnut mare.
Further on we came upon a small wooden foot bridge, over a flowing stream, here we sat down on the wooden bridge to rest, with our legs dangling over the edge. The stream was running quite fast as it had been raining recently
After resting a while we walked again, this time through a lovely ancient cool wood, which contained a variety of tall trees, found a place to sit, a low but strong heavy branch, where we sat and drank a ice cold sweet fruit tea, while looking out across the fields that we had previously been walking through, bathed in sunshine.
It was cool in the woods away from the heat of the day. I closed my eyes and could feel myself breathing in the fresher oxygen from the trees, it was so refreshing and restorative! especially after the heat we had endured, while walking in the hot fields .We both wished that could have stayed for ages in that wood it was so calm, cool, quiet and relaxing. The smell of the wood and damp earth was quite intoxicating!
Eventually we began wending our way back again through wheat fields, that had only been harvested a few days earlier , so they still smelt fresh and sweet and had large circular hay bales standing dotted about in the field. The sun was still shining brightly, but starting to slowly sink quite low now in the sky, as the sun was almost getting ready to set. On reaching the cross roads my friend and I we hugged each other, parted, and went our own seperate ways home. It had been a wonderful walk!
🌳🌲🌲🌄⛪🐎🦄🐴🐄
'I see satan fall like lightning' by René Girard
Rene Girard (1923-2015) A french writer and historian, literary critic, and social philosopher. The author of more than 30 books, he taught for many years at Stanford University, and was inducted into the Academie francaise in 2005.
Girard's pioneering work especially in mimetic theory has influenced many academic disciplines from anthropology and psychology to literary theory and theology.
The title "I Saw Satan Fall Like Lightning " was Jesus' reply to his 70 disciples on their return from preparing towns to receive him, reporting that "even the demons obey us when we use your name" (Luke 10:17-18) Girard persuades the reader that even as our world grows increasingly violent the power of the Christ is so great that the evils of scapegoating and sacrifice are gradually being defeated, and a new community, God's spirtual.
visible and invisible, nonviolent kingdom, is coming about even now.
I recently read "violence and the sacred" and I think this book is similar but has a more contemporary feel.
The first chapter concentrates on the Biblical knowledge then the mimetic cycle The character of satan as the embodiment of evil what his purpose is, his character and how he tries to influence us.
Themes Explored
• Part Two - The enigma of Myth resolved.
• Mythology.
• Sacrifice
• The Founding Murder.
Part three
• The victory of the cross.
•The uniqueness of the Bible.
• The scapegoat
• The Modern concern for victims.
• Conclusion.
"René Girard brings our attention to three facts without which we will never make sense of our lives, our world or our faith............" Gil Bailie author of violence unveiled.
English publication 2001.
Well worth a read if you are interested in Philosophy, History, Human behaviour or Theology.
Tomatoes from my neighbours allotment
Chutney
Our kind neighbours had a bumper harvest of tomatoes on their allotment this year, (see above photo!) as they had too many, they gave us a large tray. We decided to make a spicy tomato chutney. Chutney goes well with cheeses or cold meats, burgers, pies, chips, veggie burgers and so on. It is very easy to make a chutney!
Ingredients
• 1kg tomatoes, chopped
• 750g Braeburn Apples, cored and chopped but keep skin on.
• 375g light muscovado sugar
• 250g onion, chopped
• 250g raisins/ or Sultanas
• 1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
• 1 garlic
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp all spice
• 1/2 tsp Ground cloves
• 350ml cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp salt if liked
Put all the ingredients together into a very large pan. Bring to the boil stirring occasionally then simmer for about - 1hr 1/2 - 2 hours until it sets.
When cooled spoon into clean glass jars,, place wax cover on top of filled jar and seal with lid. Label them with date.
Enjoy your chutney!
🌞
🏡🏘
Aujourdhui Il faisait tres chaud partout, presque 30° degrés.
J'ai lu mon livre en français pendant deux heures.
Je pouvais entendre tous les bruits de mon quartier
Il n'y avait pas de bruits de voitures mais seulement
les voisins qui bavardais dans leur jardin. Les autres voisins, les plus bruyants,ils avait décidés de partir très tôt ce matin!
J'ai rempli la pataugeoire et pagayé les pieds dans l'eau.en même temps de continuer de lire mon livre.
Le soleil brillait et mon mari m'a apporté un verre de vin. Les oiseaux qui chantais, brusquement devinrent silencieux. Le ciel etait sombre avec beaucoup de nuages.
Tout d’un coup, le tonnerre se mit à gronder. Nous avons attendu quelques minutes puis une pluie battante est tombée ! et nous avons du courir à l'intérieur très vite!
Heureusement J'avais bu mon verre de vin!
🌞🌫⚡☔ 🍸
I'm rereading a book I read last year entitled
'Nouvelles' by Salinger in french. I read it last year so I wanted to see if I have made any progress with my french language!
Je suis en train de relire un livre que j'ai lu l'année dernière intitulé (in French)
'Nouvelles' par Salinger
Je voulais voir si j'avais fait des progrès avec ma langue française!
📖 📚
As the planet gets warmer and the polar ice caps melt, scientists say that the Mediterranean coast, is also at risk from the rising sea levels.
Peter tells us that "Love covers a multitude of sins" He echoes the old proverb, "Hatred stirs up strife but love covers all sins"
Christs loving sacrifice for us covered all our sins. Once we realise we can have this wonderful gift from God and embrace it, then in the same way our love for one another and for God covers our sins. Therefore, Love is the fulfillment of the law.
❤ 🌺⚘🌹 ⚘🌺 ❤
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