April 12th: Easter Sunday, idiots and another Cat.

Well this isn't the Easter we all imagined it was going to be, but if we get through this current event maybe there's a chance for some sort of local and even global redemption and resurrection of society on many levels.

I struggle with faith.  I don't even know if I have any. I was brought up Church of England and whilst I attended Sunday school, sang in the church choir (I wasn't very good) and undertook confirmation in my teenage years any sense of real religious intent is long lapsed. My wife is from a strong Catholic family background and attends church regularly and I admire, or perhaps unconsciously I am slightly envious of her faith.

I just can't get my head around it.  I do go church with my wife on high days and holidays (Christmas, Easter etc) although once received a rather pointed comment from another regular member of the congregation that I was only there because it "...must be Christmas" (and perhaps that's the sort of attitude that puts me off).  We got married in church. When I eventually pop my clogs I think I'd like some sort of religious service, but I can't on a day to day basis articulate or demonstrate whatever faith it is that's lingering inside me. I'm one of cadre of "I believe in something, but I don't know what and I don't want to be force fed it". Incidentally I had a boss who late in his career became a vicar (as an aside he was also a magistrate, and a school governor as well as holding down his full time job - I've no idea how he managed it all) and we had a few conversations about faith during the time I worked for him, but it never really got me anywhere.

But for those that can and do believe, I fully understand what an important time in the Christian calendar this is, beyond the commercialisation of chocolate eggs (not that that stops a load of chocolate eggs appearing in our house at Easter time) and especially so this year when people cannot get out to attend their local churches. And therefore to everyone, I truly wish you a Happy and Peaceful Easter. Oh, and enjoy the chocolate.

And for no other reason than it brings back nostalgic memories for me and I don't have any other photo to share today, here's a picture of the church I attended in Donington, Lincolnshire during the 70's - St Mary and the Holy Rood. And for those unfamiliar with that part of the country, it's flat. Very flat. The district of the county we lived in was called "South Holland" for good reason. And with these architecturally terrific Norman churches  in most villages, you could stand in fields locally and see anything up to a dozen dotted around the horizon.

Whilst undoubtedly most people are adhering to the #stayathome principle (more or less), it's staggering that some members of the supposedly intelligent human race still can't do this, or think it doesn't apply to them, or assume that on balance that they'll get away with it. Today the BBC reported a story of a family who had driven 200 miles from London to Devon to go fishing!  On Twitter South Wales Police Road Policing Unit (@SWP_Roads) posted about someone who drove from South Wales to Leeds to see their uncle (and back again, and without insurance to boot). What sort of stupid are these people? There is no way on earth that they can not be aware of not only the advice to stay home, but the reports of people flouting that advice, and yet they still choose to do it. I'd name and shame them.

It seems almost terrible now to single out individuals who have passed away given that the the latest daily figures from death with coronavirus (note the with not necessarily from) are over 700, and the total now runs over 10,000.  But today saw sports of three individuals who in their own way were icons and certainly two of the three I closely associated with my childhood and teenage years.

Firstly Sir Stirling Moss, a British motor racing legend who passed away after a long illness, then Tim Brooke-Taylor who died with coronavirus aged 79. One of the brilliant comedy team called The Goodies, the other two being Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden. Interesting fact. My sister who was a nanny in an earlier life worked for Bill Oddie (and a number of other celebrities/pop stars). And then later today we heard that former Chelsea and England goalkeeper Peter Bonetti had died. and finally, with no local cat news to bring you, today's cat link is that Peter Bonetti's nickname was The Cat.

Until tomorrow....

#isolationlife
#stayhomesavelives