18th May 2018 - Fan Videos and Purple People Eaters

Thought for the day:"Why do fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing?"

Yesterday Ginga Bynt decided that it was time for her to change her hair style - or rather it's colour. Of course when I met her and she started working in the Crimson Moon she was quite decidedly Ginger - and thus she gained her wench name - but of course Vollsanger was never observant enough to work out that the hair was died...  so the name was there and the name stuck..

However - yesterday there is no way that her hair could be mistaken for natural...

And so it was only right that Vollsanger should mark the occasion with a song....

Purple People Eater - Vollsanger Style

and that was fun - but as I woke this morning - it was to find that I had also received a tribute video song written by my good friend and fellow Bard - Bob Edwards...
Now Bob is normally to be seen dressed in his pirate gear at the Botanical Gardens of Wales where he enacts the role of the Alchemist and sings some ditties....

However - imagine my surprise to find the following little film-ette on Facebook - and duly transferred it to Youtube..

Fame at Last I suppose 


Seems fair !
Cheers

17th May 2018 - Pete's Pictures - CP 1

Thought for the day:"Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it"

Some photos from Pete Scott from the first event have come out now. Sadly did not get my own camera out at all during the weekend - though I did take it to the bar..  So this is the best record of the weekend...

 

All pictures on High Resolution at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmfVjaiW


Looked like fun !!!
Cheers

16th May 2018 - Pictures and Politics

Thought for the day:"If a tortoise loses its shell is it naked or homeless?"

Decided to annoy everyone that I know with a picture... It attacks every nerd I know ...

But while we are the subject of things not being as they seem - I found this interesting picture and if you look closely they are right - the two blocks are exactly the same colour... 

But we are heading for the weekend - and the conversation in the kitchen was :
Me: "Oh dear - the Royal Wedding is on this Saturday - Sadly I shall miss it..."
Sue: "Oh?? Where are you going?"
Me: "I haven't decided yet.."

Meanwhile - The move of the American Embassy to Jerusalem is causing riots and death among Palestinians - 60 shot yesterday apparently - I do not follow the news so much these days - it just sits int he background repeating Brexit every three minutes - but some news coverage is accurate ..

Cheers !

15th May 2018 - Retirement of Dr JB Lloyd

Thought of the day:"Dog ran off  last night and I spent all night looking - wife says I should look harder.. Shaved my head and got some tattoos but still can't find him "

Announcement today that Dr John Lloyd is to retire as Deputy Grand Master in the Order of Athelstan. Which of course explains the visit to Llanelli by the Grand Team, an opportunity to pay tribute to his work over the years ..

Some nice words being said - which I will repeat here as a good place to record some of the things that he has done...

The Grand Master writes:

At my installation as Grand Master on 28 th May 2013 I had the foresight to appoint R W Bro Dr John B Lloyd, OStJ, Certificate of Merit, GCh, GCSM, as Deputy Grand Master.

Since his appointment as Deputy Grand Master R W Bro John has served both me and the Order with flair, tact, diplomacy and dedication. During the last five years our Order has witnessed changes to the Ritual; the Statutes; the Administration; changes to the boundaries of our Provinces; the Constitution of new Provinces; the highly successful 10-90 Appeal; and numerous other initiatives. Throughout all these changes and initiatives R W Bro John has been both at my side and in the forefront. His sound advice, wisdom and leadership skills have been of immense benefit to the Order, to me personally and to our Brethren. No Grand Master can had a more loyal and conscientious Deputy. It is therefore with a very heavy heart that I have accepted the retirement of my very dear friend and Deputy from the Office which he has filled with distinction at the annual meeting of Grand Court in October. Whilst he will be greatly missed as a Deputy Grand Master, he will still be a most valued advisor to me and the Order.

To know, and have worked with, a Freemason of such wonderful qualities is a privilege.

I know that my sentiments will be unanimously met by members of our Order.

The pages are being filled with further tributes:

Iain Sewell Dr John has been an inspiration to all of us throughout Wales, as our Provincial Grand Master in the Mark Degree, Provincial Grand Master in the Craft and Grand Superintendent in Holy Royal Arch .....In this Order as member of St Elli Court No 12 and our Provincial Grand Master he took Magansætan to the first Province with a full compliment of 10 Courts. Our Pride at seeing him appointed Deputy Grand Master was immense. He has been an unstinting supporter and an inspiration for anyone who aspires to providing excellent ritual... We wish him well in his retirement ....

Malcolm Lane I have the upmost respect for Dr John Lloyd
A most experience and dedicated freemason .I first got to know him when he was PGM in the Royal Order and then when I became PGM in the Craft and MEGS Monmouthshire I got to know him much better and grew to appreciate his wonderful contribution to all his Masonic activities 
I wish him well and every blessing in his retirement 
Fr Malcolm Lane 
Past PGM Superintendent Monmouthshire

Haydn Morgan I count it a privilege to know such a wonderful man

Alun Littlejohns Dr John Benjamin Lloyd is the essence of a Freemason. 
Honest Good and True. He has and will remain an inspiration to me personally. I am no longer a member of the order of Athelstan. However Dr John deserves our utmost respect. May he enjoy his retirement in peace and good health. It’s richly deserved.

Ian Scott In my capacity as a Grand Visitor my first visit was to Aberystwyth and attended both the SC and OSM meetings. John was the DC in both of them and the ritual was so good it gave me a benchmark to set against my other visits. John has been superb in all the Orders he is a member of and has always been friendly and approachable. I wish him well

Martin Marks Dr John B Lloyd epitomizes what Freemasonry is all about, we wish him good health in his retirement as our Deputy Grand Master.

Nnamdi Ezike Congratulations

Dr John with the Grand Master and Provincial Grand Master

and with those few thoughts I lift a glass of Chateau 41 to a long and healthy retirement..

Cheers

14th May 2018 - Barton and a Little family History

Thought for the day: "They've arrested the world tongue-twister champion - I hear they're gonna give him a really tough sentence."

#Family History

It seems that I have a happy wife. The 1939 survey has come out - the one where they decided to list where everyone was at the outbreak of the war. I did not even know such a thing existed, but it seems to be a very useful tool.

In particular, she found that listed in the pages were her family in Barnswood Road Burnt Oak - except her father was not listed. Her Grandmother and Grandfather and her Uncle Bert were all listed but no Victor Edward Payne - who would have been eleven years old at that time.

And then it became clear - it was at the age eleven that he had appendicitis - and was taken to hospital....  His recollection was that he had the bad pains and as they started down the road a neighbour found a small push chair to put him in - and they started off towards the Old Age home with a view top trying top get to the hospital. At the Old People's home they stopped them and called an ambulance and he was whisked of to the Great Ormand Street Hospital. They refused to allow his father to travel with them.  The next thing he recalls was that he woke up in the hospital bed and his parents were there - either through tube or bus - we will never find out.

So the next problem was where did he got to convalesce???   A search of the records finds him in Hearne Bay in the St Anne's Convalescent Home for Children - his only real recollection is that he was not allowed to play with the other boys !!! 

Another Sunny day in Barton - the dog seems to approve of the large lawn and is lying in the sun.

I am on my second cup of tea and have no ritual to learn.....

Happy Days  

Cheers !

at least he doesn't whine !!

13th May 2018 - A day to recover

Thought for the day :"Our dog only responds to commands in Spanish, he’s Espanyol"

A day for recovery after a long and heavy day yesterday ....  a few photos 

Down on the South Coast - bottle of wine and a healthy Burger ....

Cheers ! 

12th May 2018 - St Elli - Instruction

Thought for the day:"I buy all my guns from a gun-runner called T Rex - he is a small arms dealer"

A busy day in Llanelli - Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Assistant Grand Master, Provincial Grand Master - Deputy Provincial Grand Master and the Master of the Court ..   It will be a rare moment that we will see this grouping again in an ordinary Court meeting  .... 
A lot of work and a busy few days all done now - mostly successfully - only a single prompt ...
though I could not hear the prompt and therefore stalled - which was a pity - but overall I think that the Court did well and the "brass" were mainly satisfied...

There may have been some alcohol involved afterwards....
Cheers !