Wednesday 29 June 2011

Variety.

 Big juicy Scottish strawberries for ante-breakfast!  Wide awake before five o'clock so what else would you do than take some photographs.  The dawning light is interesting and, while maybe doesn't have the sparkle of a few hours later, it compensates in softness.  This first picture was my 365Project offering ... the fine mist spray used again to create the freshly washed look. 
 By the "rule of thirds" the second picture should be a better one - more pleasing to the eye.  I'm not convinced.  Maybe fresh fruit requires the whole frame?  Of course, the very first picture was the strawberry before it was sliced ... and maybe that's the one that I should have selected.  The green of the chopping board became rather washed out in it ... 
 ... though I do think that the skin with the seeds turned out better.  As always, appreciation of such things is to a large extent in the eye of the beholder ... 
A very busy morning followed that early start and, before I'd realised it, the one o'clock Holy Communion service was upon us.  Singing before and after it has been made possible because of Paul and that's made a big impact.  "How great thou art ..." was the opening choice today and a most fitting introduction to the celebration.
Then a somewhat lengthy and busy staff meeting followed ... though the surroundings in The Coffee Club made that more comfortable than we'd have been in the office!  
One of the places that every visitor to the city must see is The Crown Bar ... so, drinking only fizzy water, we had the obligatory experience!
 The place was comfortably buzzing but not so busy that it was crowded.  A booth just happened to be empty and we must have spent all of five minutes, or maybe six, having a glass of water!  The things you do!  Taking pictures all the time is part of the event ... and Paul is a willing subject!  I hope you like his new "Belfast glasses"!
 Asda do a vegan sausage mix which we sampled tonight.  I did them square so perhaps they should be named "squarsages".  Not bad.  A bit dry and bland.  Next time I'd add chopped apple and prune with some cayenne and garlic!  Tabasco splashed over them made some difference but the problem was really on the inside and a little 'cosmetic' dressing wasn't going to deal with the heart of the matter.  Now there's another sermon topic for you to mull over!  A fundamental change at the core is required.
 The squarsages are resting on a bed of fried rice (to which one too many jalapeño peppers had been added by me) and it was all topped off with crispy onions!  
One of the great things about having a musician in the house is the music that fills the place ... penny whistle, piano and now trumpet!  This instrument has a lovely sound and I could listen to it all evening.  I'm not sure what my neighbour would think so we impose a curfew just in case!  I can't imagine any objections to the sound of good music ... but maybe not if it were too late in the evening or too early in the morning!  I wonder will the young folk next door soon begin to learn instruments ... that will be interesting!  Time will tell ... and maybe I'll get back to playing the piano or learning the trumpet if they do!
So ends Saint Peter's Day.  A long but good one.

Almighty God, 
who inspired your apostle Saint Peter 
to confess Jesus as Christ and Son of the living God: 
Build up your Church upon this rock, 
that in unity and peace it may proclaim one truth 
and follow one Lord, your Son our Saviour Christ, 
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever.  Amen. 



Book of Common Prayer
Saint Peter

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