The Lucas North Portakabin at the University of Milton-Northern.

[SupermassiveLBD]

WARNING

Don't forget your hard hat, hi-viz gear and parachute. We lost a careless vice-principal this way only last year.

::Waves, although somewhat distracted::

That's exactly my problem with BAB, Maud - all they get to do is step on a button to make the 'fluff mahcine' work.

Talk to me about Bin Weevils - MissT wants to do it and she registered with it but when we click on 'load' it took forever and didn't load at all - is that normal? It happens every time we try.

Morning all. We have been footballing today, SB Major scored two goals in his match so very pleased with himself.

I watched Persuasion yesterday afternoon and I don't care what any of you potato haters say, RPJ is very gorgeous in it, I love his hair.

In ny defense I did say that Mr Maris Piper does look rather fine in a cravat, Smallio. I ought to watch Persuasion, it's one I haven't seen yet.

Oh and well done smallboy major!

Well done SB1 - does that mean you have to spend every Sunday morning on the edge of a freezing soccer pitch?

Bin Weevils is my mum's 'thing' with Miss S but have asked her and they've not had any problems. There are some really good problem-solving games on there once you get going.

I started watching Persuasion a few weeks ago but the girl in it really grated on me so I didn't get as far as Mr P-H.

Thank God the Superboys' interest in footie is confined to watching it.

Well done Smallboy Major. Beware of talent scouts hanging round, the next match he plays, Small

So Persuasion is not one to pick up on DVD, Spiro, cravats not withstanding?

Well done to SB Major! I am desperately hoping that TwigBoy doesn't get into football :) MissT isn't interested in it so far, luckily.

Persuasion - Mr Piper (:o @ that) does look very lovely in it but it wasn't my favourite film of that genre. Whatsherface grated on me too, Spiro.
Back to the ebaying...

Well I am still quietly seething following this morning's trip to church.

Was told by our vicar that Miss S was not to wear a on her robe, so said I could understand them not wanting pins through the fabric and I'd tuck it into her hair band instead and he replied:

"I'd rather not - not for political reasons - I just don't think it's appropriate."

WTA*????!!!!

What reasons, other than political ones can a vicar have for not wearing a poppy on Remembrance Sunday?

The service was not a proper RS one either imo. There was mention of it at the beginning, and a short Powerpoint presentation about WW1 after communion followed by silence and last post to remember "Everyone who fought and died in WW1 and WW2 (names of those from parish were read out) and everyone who's been involved in a conflict since." Sermon and hymns completely unrelated.

I had to wait for Miss S to help clear up and get changed at the end and was bloody grateful to not see the vicar as I don't think I'd have been able to bite my tongue. I am actually debating whether to email him and ask him to explain his objection to poppy wearing in more detail I'm so bloody cross.

Not wear a poppy on her robe - and the vicar himself didn't wear one either.

How frustrating, Spiro. I completely understand you wanting to email him, I think I would be very tempted as well.

I'm not sure if I'm overreacting a bit tbh. We had the national anthem which, to be fair, I didn't sing along to (I did stand as a mark of respect to those were were remembering) as I'm not a fan of the monarchy.

I suppose it's no different really...

How odd, Spiro. We have a big remembrance parade, led by a miltary band (although I didn't see it this eyar).

If we are looking for Austen heroes looking dashing in a cravat, this (in my view) is as good as it gets.

Although, in the words of Wellington, it's a damn close run thing.

Maud - still convinced you're related to Royalty somehow? They had a pretty big military band leading the parade this morning in Whitehall!!

Does seem strange Spiro about your vicar but maybe he's v against the Iraq and afghan wars. Many many people are. Not helped by the warped reporting that goes on - you never see/hear the positive stuff that's going on out there just the deaths, wounded and any mistakes made!

Anyway we are back home to discover our neighbour who was dog sitting our hound had her baby this afternoon! I knew looking after him would probably mean it was all going to happen this weekend! Although I should probably claim it was my reflexology session on Friday which started it off yesterday!!

Anyway mum and baby are fine. And so is dog so all in all an exciting weekend for her just turned 3 year old son!

Glad you are safe back home, Vampy. I bet you breathed a sigh of relief, when you got over all the baby excitement, that was..

Funny about the poppies but I know lots are against them, nowadays. It seems a bit odd though to ban them at a Remembrance Sunday service.

Everyone else was wearing them, and, I suspect anticipating a 'proper' Remembrance Service.

If he doesn't want to do that/wear one then fine, but tbh I think he should have explained why to the congregation. Just ignoring something like that isn't on imo.

Confusing for Miss S, too.

Are priests 'allowed' to be political? It seems a bit odd that his personal opinions can influence the service on a day like today.

What denomination is it?

But yes I think they can make their views known. Tis unusual to say the least on RS unless it is Quaker or some other overtly pacifist religion I suppose

But whatever you think of modern day wars, surely the WW's meaning we are a free independent Britain is worth remembering?

Also keep meaning to say to lady D - that beardy look is also growing on me! and I don't just mean that I need a good waxing!!

Is everybody here religious apart from me, if that's not too personal a question?

I'm not especially religious, Twigs. I suppose officially I'm agnostic rather than atheist as I believe in something but I'm put off by formal religion/regular church going by the people. The majority of the most dedicated church attenders in our village are the least christian people I've ever met which rather puts me off.

Shouldn't be too personal a question Twigs. I believe in God, Jesus etc and all 4 of us are baptised into the Anglican faith. Been a bit lapse about actual Church going for last few years. It's hard finding a new one each time that we as a family are happy with yesI know grammar police I'm too tired to rearrange that sentence to replace the preposition!!

I do think I'm finding coping with MIL easier due my belief in God and Heaven.

Feeling a twinge of guilt now as have just had a very nice text from vicar saying to thank Miss S for taking part this morning. I think I will email him and ask him about it tbh. It is confusing for Miss S as I had sat her down last night and given her a bit of a talking to about it being a special service and needing best behaviour etc!

I agree with you to a large extent about formal worship Lady D. I went to Sunday school/church club until I was in my early teens then lapsed until we were planning out wedding 9 years ago when I realised how important it was to me to get married in church. Mr S was much the same so once we'd set a date we started going regularly (it's C of E but quite 'high' church), had Miss S christened there and were confirmed 4 years ago. For the last couple of years I've been feeling a bit at odds with it though, and am thinking of going to few local services to see if they're more my thing.

I would say my outlook is more 'Christian Humanist' which I thought I'd made up but apparently it's a proper philosophy - Wikipedia says so!

I find churches to be very comforting places, Vampy and I like the concept of heaven, which is why I believe in somethingbut I also have a problem reconciling certain events that have happened (BIL dying age 23 is the main one) with the idea of a loving God.