For all the Saints…

(this has got to be one of the mighty hymns for me, least we never forget those who’ve gone before, whether family, friends, giants in the faith or indeed those who were martyred for their faith).

I post to-day with the hope that you will take the time to read Pastor Alan Dunn’s reflections on the deaths of Arif and Kathy Khan in Pakistan, one year ago.  Truly a sobering but Christ honouring post.

 

 

……who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Now you’re scaring me…..

I hope this is not a bad omen because of the picture I used in my last post, I mean JP did mention that we needed a new bookcase but I’ve just found this in ‘myebay’.

Drying out.

So the only damage we were left with was a wet garage floor.  For that we are truly thankful.  A few days and it will be dried out.  Thankfully we had enough time to lift things off the floor that held any value.

Others in the area weren’t so fortunate, those who had damage in their garages included people whose heating boilers, freezers and washing machines were in their garages, it makes for an expensive nights rain.

Some folks closer to dad had to be evacuated from their homes where the downstairs saw too much water.

If you check out the photos at this link the 3rd  is taken in the housing estate dad lives in.

This Youtube video  shows you our village, I’m not sure what stage this was taken at, I just thought some might be interested to see it!  Looking at this it is unbelievable that the next morning there was no water!  BTW this isn’t my video.

 

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Here, the humming bird as she has been called is counting the hours until she returns to the states.  We’ve had a great time with her, if the weather dries up we may head to  Omagh tomorrow.

 

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I’ll be sorting out the Reading Roundabout books over the next few days and will post the final list here asap.

all for now….

Flooding up-date

Folks the rain has ceased and it really is an answer to prayer.  I was not only praying that the rain would stop but that I had remembered to pay the house insurance, (yes it really was that bad).

Many of our neighbours had baracades and sand bags etc which unfortunately was diverting more of the water in our direction - we’re at the end - as it continued to flow through to the back garden it was fine as it disappeared into the housing estate behind us.  

When the rain stopped the waters dried up fairly well and right now we can see the stones outside the back of the house again.  Two hours ago I didn’t think I would see them again

We had a power cut there which only lasted for about an hour.

I had a chance to walk down to dads, things are worse at his house the water is definitely in below the floor but didn’t get in the doors, just the vents.  The river between his house and ours (he is lower than us) is overflowing and the worst of it is coming in dads back garden and out the front.  

I have never saw a sight like this in my life before.

I may be able to post some pics. 

Thanks for your prayers.

Elaine

NI needs your prayers……

Folks some of us over here need some prayer that the rain would cease.

 

 

the bottom of the pic is our front door step - since taking this we can barely see the grass now.

this pic is taken from the back door.  JP has tried to stop the water from getting to the back door, the door you see is the garage door and the water is already in the garage via the main door at the front.  

The pictures aren’t good you can’t tell that the water is actually flowing.

I’m sure there are loads of people a lot worse off than us.

Romans 8:28.

 

Elaine

More on the holiday - Thursday 17th

Instead of taking the bus back into Edinburgh we decided to jump in the car and head off to Falkirk to visit the Falkirk Wheel.  This attraction was recommended to us by friends.

Can I first of all say that although hubby worked in the building industry for quite a number of years I have absolutely no interested in Civil Engineering.  :lol:

That being said I thought the Falkirk Wheel was amazing.   Really.

Truly worth a visit if you are in the Edinburgh/Glasgow area.

Their web-site is really good too. Do check it out.  This link takes you straight to the history of the wheel.

Basically the Scottish Waterway needed a means of connecting the Union canal with the Forth & Clyde Canal and this is what the engineers came up with.

The boats enter the wheel one at the top, one at the bottom and when all is ready the wheel rotates so that they have changed positions.

Genius.

The visitors centre, viewing, children’s (excellent) play area, surrounding walks are all free.  You only have to pay if you actually want to go on the boat trip which incorporates being rotated on the wheel.

This makes for another excellent day out for free admission.

It is also possible to walk the path up the side of the wheel and follow the boats on through a tunnel - if you do visit be sure to keep following that boat round as just round the corner is a  lock.  I could watch this process all day.

I could so do a canal holiday.

As I said….

I really do have a lot to tell about the holidays, the weather was great and the company wasn’t too  bad either

When we got off the boat in Stranraer Scotland we had a couple of hours drive to Edinburgh, the campsite was Morton Hall, we stayed at this site last year and were glad to return.  Pitch number one was dry which was a big improvment on last year - (we got a drenching).

 

No 1 son likes to take the odd shot now, so he must have taken this one unawares while we pitched the tent.  JP sporting his recently received “9marks” T-Shirt.

 

The next day (Wednesday 16th) we went into Edinburgh visited the Royal Botanic Gardens.  (Free Admission)

 

 

The Museum of Childhood.  Free Admission

 

Train Spotted at Waverley Station.

and had a quick nip into the toy department of Jenners

We were all exhausted. 

The two youngest slept on the bus on the way back to the campsite.

Thankfully not every day of the holiday was as full as this one.

….to be continued.

We’re Home!

and we’ve had a great time - lots of catching up to do with everyone, have vowed not to look at the Google Reader to-night.

Let me know how things are with you.

Have loads to tell…….

Back soon,

Elaine

Have you packed your kilt?

We’re heading for the early Ferry to Scotland in the morning.  JP’s planning to take the laptop this year as the forecast isn’t so good and at least we can watch DVD’s on it.  

That can be read as if we have an internet connection in our tent we will be in contact, I’m sure it will be plain and clear if we have no connection too, or are much to busy enjoying our holiday and each others company to blog.

It’s been a long day of packing so if you are looking for details we are basically heading to the same area as last year, go search in the archives…….

That can be read as - I’m way too tired for this.….

Blessings………

 

Elaine

24 hour Salad…

The Vegetable patch has started production, granted it’s mostly lettuce, spring onions and the odd strawberry at this stage.

I’m a little concerned that the blackcurrant bushes are going to be ripe for the picking during  the time period of our holiday so I’m dithering whether to go ahead and start picking now.  I’m hoping to use the advice I found online, “for jam just freeze them in a bag, it won’t matter that they turn into a big lump“!

I also want to freeze some whole “free flowing like a bag of peas” as it said on one site.  I’m hoping to pick each bunch, freeze on a tray as a bunch for an hour and then pick each individual currant off and bag and freeze.  Seemingly they are easier to pick this way!

In the meantime I spied this recipe for 24 hour salad in my friends charity recipe book.  I was glad of something a little different to help use up my lettuce.  

1 Medium lettuce - (I just used a big bunch of mixed leaves from the garden).

1 cup chopped celery.

4 hard boiled eggs - they aren’t in the picture as they were boiling at the time!

1 cup of diced pepper.  (I just used frozen mixed pepper as our fresh ones are getting as dear as the fuel)

10ozs peas

1 diced onion or 4-5 scallions

2 cups mayo

4oz grated cheese

2 tablespoons sugar.

8 slices bacon, cooked & chopped (optional)  

 

Layer in order.  If using bacon, layer after the onion.  Add sugar to the mayonnaise.  Cover and refridgerate for 8-48 hours.

 

I used bacon and scallions and this ended up being a great salad, ideal for when you are feeding more than normal and need a few extra side dishes.

What do you do to use up a glut of lettuce leaves?