EASTER PILGRIMAGE
Easter Monday was bright and reasonably warm, with a little dampness here and there under the feet of the walkers taking part in the annual pilgrimage to St Albans Abbey.
The 60th year was commemorated this time, the event originally having a very youthful flavour: one of our pilgrims, having not done the walk for about 40 years or so, noticed that pilgrims are of all ages these days.
The route almost entirely avoided roads as far as possible through lanes and fields. Following departure and an early check on growth at the allotments in Front Street the group went onwards via Pepperstock, where with only a few hundred yards covered, they took a wrong turn! However the correct route was rejoined, then on to Flamstead before taking breath and sustenance at the Cricketers in Redbourn. The final stages were along the Colne Valley walk before the attractive, long approach to the Abbey through Gorhambury and Verulam Park and lakes.
Abbey bells tolled as pilgrims toiled uphill for the last stretch, entering the Abbey church only a few minutes late, where the service struck a joyful Easter note for the foot weary.
Following the service and after a well-earned breather or two, it was back home by cars in the now rather showery weather.
TRANSIT OF VENUS
The shadow of Venus will cross the sun at about 6.30 on 8th June –look out with dark glasses! The last time this happened was in 1882.
Following a suggestion by Halley, astronomers in 1761 used the transit to estimate the distance of the earth from the sun by triangulation. Amazingly over 200 years ago, this involved measuring the difference between two angles of 0.006 degrees at opposite sides of the world – and without a mobile phone! (The angle of one minute on a clock is 6 degrees).
AROUND THE VILLAGE
Well Done, Parish Council!
Following Parish News' scoop revelation last month about the overflowing Bottle Bank in the F & R car park, councillors swiftly saw to it that another container was installed. Well done!
Can we expect some speedy action around Coronation Gardens? Pauline Smith nicely maintains these, but the garden is looking a bit tired and awaits the promised re-vamp. Perhaps PN will be able to report more next month.
There's been much discussion around the village about dog muck, again. We are sure that it is only a very small minority of our dog owners, maybe just one or two, who see fit to leave their animal’s unhealthy mess around the village. I am particularly fed up to see damage done and muck left on our allotments and suggest that dogs are left on the leash until well away from our vegetables.
So please be considerate!
David Kingston
Now here’s something new for a change – a little competition for the children and there will be a small prize for a correct entry (from a child!). Please send your answers with name address and age to me at 83 The Crescent, Caddington. Answers, and the winners name in next month’s edition. If there is more than one winner a draw will be held.
Sue Cowell, Editor
TRIP TO DUBLIN
I was lucky enough to recently visit the fair city of Dublin with a group of friends – some of whom are very well known in Slip End! We had to be up very early as we were catching the 7a.m. flight from Luton Airport but amazingly we all arrived there on time.
After a much-welcomed drink and a snack, we boarded the plane and 50 minutes later, we had arrived!
We soon found two large cabs and were driven to our destination just outside Dublin City. Unfortunately as it was still only 9a.m. the rooms were not ready so we decided to take a walk into town and sample some Irish delights at one of the old coffee houses. We
A quick stop and “what shall we do next?”
were amazed by some of the early flowers that were blooming in the parks in Dublin, much earlier than we get them. After a delicious breakfast washed down by mugs of hot coffee or tea we were all suitably refreshed and ready to explore the city.
Dublin is in the process of having trams installed in the City Centre and they are hoping that they will start May/June time.
We were lucky enough to see some of them practising the route they will travel and I must say they look very impressive. However the taxi drivers seem a bit sceptical and will find it difficult when they begin. There is lots to see and do and places to visit but you do need a pair of comfy shoes and warm clothing!
We carried along through the busy town and then stopped for a quick photo shoot besides Molly Malone’s statue before going on to on to St Patrick’s Cathedral which was well worth a visit and very interesting. Several other impressive buildings later, we arrived back at the hotel to prepare for the evening meal and to discuss activities for the next day.
There is certainly plenty to see and do in Dublin but how to choose was a problem!
The sun was shining, much to our surprise and the motley crew of 12 made their way to join the queue for a tour of the city on an open top double decker bus.
We were lucky enough to have an excellent driver who provided many anecdotes about the fair city. We passed by the smallest pub in Ireland - a tiny terraced building; the huge expanse taken up by the Guiness brewery and storehouse; churches galore; the River Liffey (and the driver pointed out the hotel which is owned by the band U2); the Irish Parliament; and much much more. It certainly was an interesting tour and if you are thinking of going to Ireland don’t miss it.
The following day we bowed to pressure from the men and went on the amazing Guiness journey at the Guiness storehouse. The Guiness Factory covers most of the city and is a massive operation. Guiness has been brewed there for almost 250 years and the Guiness family has bought great wealth to the city and donated lots of money to good causes. When it first opened if you worked for Guiness – you were worth a bob or two and women were deemed extremely lucky if they married a worker from the factory.
Some of the group with souvenirs from the shop
There is plenty to see over the seven floors and the story began with the ingredients – water, barley, hops and yeast which all combine to create the magic of Guiness.
I did get to hold a pint although I have to admit I only took a sip! A bit too bitter for me although all the men seemed to enjoy it.
At the very top of the building is the Gravity bar where you are rewarded with a pint of the ‘black stuff’ and an amazing 360º view of Dublin and beyond.
The following day we carried on with our tour and took a stroll along Merrion Square where all the painters hang out. What a difference in the pictures but if you wanted to pick up a future masterpiece you were able to do so! We saw Oscar Wilde posing seductively in the park and then on to the docks for a wander around.
So much to see and so little time to see it all! I think we will just have to go back and continue our sight-seeing. A memorable 4 days with some lovely friends.
Grateful thanks to Mr Buttery for the pics.
(Did anyone spot past residents of Claydown Way? David & Angela Spurr & Roy & Pauline Todd.)
(if any readers have some interesting holidays please let me know )
EDITORS CHOICE
An Irish Blessing
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again –
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
And here are some lovely insights and inspirations from the Brush dance greeting card collection I thought I would share with you:-
If you think you’re too small to be effective you have never been in bed with a mosquito.
A hug is a perfect gift – one size fits all, and nobody minds if you exchange it.
Real friends are those who when you’ve made a fool of yourself don’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.
I did the thing I feared the most. Excuse me while I cheer. Now here I stand a stronger soul, and all I’ve lost is fear.
Show me the person who never makes a mistake and I’ll show you the person who never makes anything.
The Indispensable Man
Sometime when you’re feeling important
Sometime when your ego’s in bloom
Sometime when you take it for granted
You’re the best qualified in the room
Sometime when you feel that you’re going
Would leave an unfillable hole.
Just follow this simple instruction and
See how it humbled your soul!
Take a bucket and fill it with water
Put your hands in it up to your wrists
Pull them out – and the hole that remains
Is a measure of how you’ll be missed!
You may splash all you please
when you enter
You may stir up the water galore
But stop – and you’ll find in a minute
That it looks just the same as before
The moral of this is quite simple
Do just the best that you can
Be proud of yourself but remember
There is no indispensable man!
Have a safe and happy month. Irish greetings to you all,
Sue Cowell, Editor
REPORT FROM MARY BARKER
6 R of S E.
10 C to V
1 F & 2 P to C
1 H to C !
So what on earth is all this about? The date was Saturday 24th April, and that meant the time of the annual Unlock walk in London, when we visit a number of churches and places of local interest dispersed along the circular route of our walk. It is always an early start as there is plenty of mileage to be covered as we stroll the streets of London. The churches are open from 9-5.30, so we did well to be on the road from the first church-Eldon Rd Baptist (&coffee break!) by 10am.
The next place to visit was Broadwater farm scene of tragedy and riots in 1985. Fortunately the estate has seen many changes with good community activities, and people actually wanting to move onto the estate.
Down the road, and we found the house that Robert the Bruce gave up in order to take up the Scottish throne. The house is now a museum-open Wed to Sun 1-5pm- well worth a visit. Unfortunately, time did not permit us to do anything more than quickly glance at all the exhibits; after all we still had a fair distance to walk!
So onto the next phase of our walk and the busy high street of Tottenham, where we saw and visited numerous churches. We started with a 12th century Anglican Church, visited a cinema now housing “Freedoms Ark” Pentecostal church and walked past the tiny Chapel where a young lad named Barnardo was baptised!
After passing another cinema conversion, and what looked like an old school conversion, (both now housing a church) we arrived at High Cross URC church. The writer of the Unlock walks is currently in charge of this Church. Here we saw a display of what Unlock is all about.
We had been quite encouraged by the number of people on the streets who wanted to know what all the walkers were doing! Even in busy London an extra 1,000 or so folks do obviously make a difference. The “stall holders” inviting people to find out about Christianity were a little stunned when we told them of our part in their mission!
Anyhow, the diversity and frequency of churches continued, with our next stop being another very lively Pentecostal church- and if you think the services at St Andrews too long! Visit this church. 11.30 to 1.30 or 2pm (or later!) AND back again at 6.30 –8pm (or later!) As for the young lass who sorts the sound system, she arrives to set things up at 10am! I will say this, she does a wonderful job, as was evident in the lovely music that was being played while we visited. (Soon to be released on CD too).
Then onto the ornate splendour of a large Catholic church, floor to ceiling mosaics adorned the east end of this magnificent building.
On round the corner was a traditional Anglican church but with numerous high tech additions, not only was there a large overhead computer screen but also at least half a dozen monitor screens elsewhere. So no excuse that you cant see because of the pillars! Not surprisingly, they have rather large bills for running costs. They also support many outreach and community projects. Three large notice boards display information just about the various people who work in or for this church
So having plodded the streets we continued our walk across Finsbury Park.
Through out the walk we had various questions to answer. The one relating to the park asked us to stand on the view point and decide which film came to mind. We considered did we wish to escape London. So was it “The great escape? On the other hand, did the numerous rooftops remind us of “The Fiddler on the Roof”? However, the many railway lines alongside the park did rather suggest “Trainspotting”!
Our route then took us along a disused railway line- (would this be the best use of our own disused line?) home to almost as many different wildflowers as there are different nationalities worshipping in some of these London churches! When I first heard the figure 30 mentioned I thought it referred to a congregation size! (A bit small I felt for some of these churches especially as the RC church boasts 1,600 for Sunday Mass!) That was until I saw the display of 30 flags at our penultimate church run by the Salvation Army.
Meanwhile our route took us back onto the roads before the ascent of Alexandra Park to the grand (if not still incomplete) Alexandra Palace. Questions, When was the first TV broadcast from here? And why is the restaurant-bar so named? Cue a visit to the latter for this answer!
It has to be mentioned that use of a bus service was permitted and so most of the party took advantage of this facility! The party at times also included our dear friends Mary & David Bolster, not forgetting Tom the Dalmatian. David and Tom were two of the party of three to WALK up to the palace. This news may be contrary to other information received but yes, we did walk up, and arrived before the bus passengers even had time to finish their liquid refreshment. (Obtained in the course of the duty requisite to obtain an answer for the Palace questions)
Finally a slightly extended walk onto the starting point of our walk.
To find out more about these London walks why not join us next year,
on Saturday 23rd April (St Georges Day)
Tip from the first time walker who was with us this year –“Do a few shorter practise walks first!” This is a suitable point to remind you all that folks from St Andrews undertake such walks, usually on the second Sunday of the month.
Another warming up session is available on Easter Monday when we make our pilgrimage to St Albans – possibly elsewhere in this magazine is our account of this years trek!
Our thanks to all who have kindly sponsored our walk, we anticipate to have raised about £80.Thank you.
Mary Barker
Thanks Mary – unfortunately I was unable to go on this years walk but I enjoyed reading all about it. Thanks Alan Buttery for the photos – I think you will have to be taken on board as chief photographer!!
It is good to see Mary, David & Tom again all looking very well.
Editor
MOTHERS UNION
On Saturday 1st May, we are visiting Kew Gardens. We leave for Harpenden Station just after 9am, so if you would like to come too, just get in touch before 9am! Phone 738435.
Future Mothers Union events will sometimes take place only every six weeks. We have had to make this change, because we found it very difficult to fit every event into our busy church schedule.
Therefore, the next meeting will be on Thursday 24th June 8pm in the Family Room at St Andrews. Our theme will be “The international Year of the Child.” We hope you will be able to share prayers and poems on this theme.
We are then planning to have a “bring and share supper.” on the 19th July We hope to invite other deanery MU members to this event. Our aim on this occasion will be to make up emergency toiletry bags. These are needed at the women’s’ refuge, to hand out to women who may have had to leave home in such a hurry that they have no time to pack. Please join us and bring along any contributions you may have.
In addition, for the summer months, we will again meet up with the pram service and have a day out, probably on the downs. This will take place on Wednesday 25th August.
All the committee members look forward to welcoming you to each of these events.
LAUGHTER
An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him "How do you expect to get into Heaven?" The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, 'For Heaven's sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!'"
A certain little girl, when asked her name, would reply; "I'm Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter. Her mother told her this was wrong, she must say, "I'm Jane Sugarbrown." The Vicar spoke to her in Sunday School, and said: "Aren't you Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter?" She replied, "I thought I was, but mother says I'm not."
A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later....."Da-ad...." "What?" "I'm thirsty. Can you bring a drink of water?" "No, You had your chance. Lights out." Five minutes later: "Da-aaaad....." "WHAT?" "I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??" I told you NO! If you ! ask again, I'll have to spank you!!" Five minutes later......"Daaaa-aaaad....." "WHAT!" "When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?"
IRISH PHILOSOPHY
There are only two things to worry about
Either you are well or you are sick.
If you are well,
Then there is nothing to worry about.
If you are sick,
There are two things to worry about.
Wither you will get well or you will die.
If you get well,
There is nothing to worry about.
If you die,
There are two things to worry about.
Either you will go to heaven or hell.
If you go to heaven,
there is nothing to worry about.
But if you go to hell,
You’ll be so damn busy shaking hands with your friends.
You wont have time to worry!!
All Along the Way
Remember only what was best when
looking back today
Remember how you have been blessed,
all along the way.
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Answers
to the Unlock question:
6 Residents
of Slip End.
10 Churches
to Visit
1 Farm
and 2 Parks to Cross
1 Hill
to Climb
For Local issues,
drop in to
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Surgery
@
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Caddington
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