
The outlaws have a pond and have donated a jar of tadpoles to the Richards’ menagerie.
It’s a simple thing but still quite amazing if you take the time to look…

The outlaws have a pond and have donated a jar of tadpoles to the Richards’ menagerie.
It’s a simple thing but still quite amazing if you take the time to look…
OK we’re not skipping up Kilimanjaro or back-stroking the Amazon but spending 3 days with a bunch of Methodists is a feat worth support surely!
We aim to be rolling 165 miles over a three daze at the end of May…
It’s a cycling Pilgrimage from Leicester to the Epworth Old Rectory
Syston Methodist Church is working, alongside others, for transformed lives & community in Syston. This Pilgrimage is to raise money to turn part of the buildings into a Community Hub, the first goal for the Community Hub is to be used as a Youth Cafe. SMC have some grants and are looking for more. However, they are still short of quite a few thousand pounds. Every donation will take it closer to their goal of providing a fantastic new resource for our community. 50% of all the money raised on this Pilgrimage will be given to Epworth Old Rectory to support their exciting Welcome Home Development Project. The need in Syston for youth facilities is huge as there is a complete lack of places for young people in the evenings.
Can you spare a £1? or 2?
Remember to gift aid it if u can cos that’s another 25% on top!
Methodism and the Cornish Tin Miner
For those with an interested in Cornwall and Methodism check this post: a-method-in-the-madness
A pamphlet produced in 1960 details how at a certain point in history, the church and its activities had a great effect… (?)
Even if you have no spiritual life/faith, Christian ideas have always given practical advice about how to handle failure, dejection and loss… etc.
It may be no accident that the huge increase in the incidence of common mental health issues seems to coincide with the decline of religion in the West and the loss of a whole tradition experienced in dealing with, if not answering, life’s unanswerable questions. There might be extreme misdirection but there might be also valuable insights offered by Christian teaching if you can fend off the theological language and hoopla in which it’s dressed.
“Calm down, and learn that I am God!” That’s how the Americans’ Contemporary English Version of the Bible puts it. Psalm 46:10
Although “Be still…” is the most popular translation, it’s interesting to note a few others:

Be at peace in the knowledge…
That’s enough! Now know…
Desist, and learn…
Be still and see…
Let go of your concerns!
Then you will know…
Stop your fighting, and know…
Cease striving and know…
Be quiet and know…
Be silent, and know…
Be in awe and know…
Return and know that…
Stop your striving and recognise…
…I am God.

For a moment ‘desert’ the often distracting established trappings of organised religion…
Even if you cannot comprehend a God outside of our logic…
You might admit that when all constructs fail, as they will, there can be ‘still’ a big peaceful, quiet, awesome presence that breaths.
It’s St. Piran’s Day on Wednesday, as well as the start of a period of reflection for many people before the festival of Easter and various celebrations of Spring.
I recently found myself transfixed by some birdsong, which caused me to recall this Cornish ditty from my childhood. I can’t place from specifically where I remember this – I guess music is like that, it’s absorbed…
Sweet Nightingale:
Coincidentally, I proposed to my wife on St Piran’s Day in 2003 at Low Bar near Porthleven (my father’s home-town).
We recorded the birdsong on this track in May 2013 at Cribbs Meadow in Rutland
Here are some more Cornish dittys: https://julesprichards.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/camborne-hill/
Happy St Piran’s day to all Cousin Jacks!
As a youngster I heard this song sung many times in many places. As a teenager I lived on, nay on and at the top of, Camborne ‘ill.
Camborne man Richard Trevithick built the world’s first full-scale working railway steam locomotive. On 21 February 1804 Trevithick’s invention was part of the first steam locomotive-hauled railway journey along the tramway of the Penydarren Ironworks, in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
OK the song’s an old chestnut, but here ’tis (in a fashion) for posterity:
And a few more, I am no musician but the sentiment’s there I hope:
“Shining down on Sennen” Song written by Mike O’Connor
“Cornish lads” Song written by Roger Bryant
#alwayscornish
Before a spring springs…
I had an interesting experience attempting to ruminate and reflect during a twenty day period of ‘Advent’ last year.
I am not ‘religious’ in the common sense but do believe that a certain re-consideration of structures, routines and discipline to our habits and attitudes might be illuminating.
A certain method in our madness can be constructive.
Some people use a 40-day period prior to spring… called ‘lent’ to re-consider ‘stuff’.
The word ‘lent’ initially simply meant spring, as in the German language lenz and Dutch lente.
This year I hope to attempt to use a period prior to spring to, as Brian put it, “think about letting go… facing into a wilderness…”
I know not what i do but, before a spring springs… stuff happens.

You might want to join in?
#earworm
If paradise is half as nice as heaven that you take me to… Who needs paradise I’d rather have you.
Amen Corner – If Paradise Is Half As Nice
It’s pretty much agreed that it benefits one to have a certain structure, routine and discipline to our habits and attitudes. Even creatively, a certain method in your madness can be constructive. In the past this might have taken the form of a religious practice. Indeed ‘religiously’ also means: extremely scrupulously, conscientiously, exactly, faithfully.
A appreciate and acknowledge that results can often be greater than the sum of the individual parts. I thank the various forms of faithful disciples that routinely put others first. I rejoice that one plus one can often make three.
However I do struggle with the tradition and language of established religious institutions:
From the Methodist’s Prayer Handbook
O Lord of the waters of creation
we are awed by the power and majesty
of the oceans, seas and rivers.
We give thanks to you for the water we have to drink;
for the skills we have been given by you
to channel the power of the wind and the waves.
We remember before you those affected by flood, cyclone and hurricane.
We ask you to remind us, as we drink, of what we can do
for those for whom water is less friendly.
AMEN
My flawed adaptation:
Think of the wonder of the waters of creation
we are often awed by the power and majesty
of the oceans, seas and rivers.
We are thankful for the water we have to drink;
for the skills we have been given
to channel the power of the wind and the waves.
We humbly remember those affected by flood, cyclone and hurricane.
We pause and consider, as we drink, of what we can do
for those for whom water is less friendly.
May we learn from reconsideration.
OK, it’s still a maudlin meditation but it’s good to reflect occasionally – however action needs to follow Images Assumptions and Motives.
Only looking to improve.
#earworm
If paradise is half as nice as heaven that you take me to… Who needs paradise I’d rather have you.
Lucio Battisti – Il paradiso della vita.
Alas I gave in… to the Jones’…
Last July I moved from the a stock straight Specialized handlebars, to a too cheap not to try £12.50 (delivered) XLC City + Trekking handlebar. They enabled a more upright sitting position that i was looking for.
As said before, my riding style over the last few years, has changed from:
i. Trying to co-exist with traffic, riding a bike with a similar driverly attitude and outlook.
to,
ii. Aiming to being more aware of place and adopting a more contented, mindful way…
I have always eyed the Jones H Loop Bar – it’s got a unique classic design, for more comfort, that allows the rider to sit up more. The price was always a restriction, but now the same style comes at a lower price without the ‘loop’.



The are giving me another 2 inches back and out! Nice!
Thanks to the Bikemonger. Just what I was after!
Today’s ride home was wind-assisted* with a rare west-sou-westerly coming up from the homeland pushing me home.
Feeling the wind carry me along today was edifying – I was assisted onwards by natural forces… the same natural forces that are wreaking havoc elsewhere in the country.
When outside forces are against us, we often feel it; we feel the pressure, the agitation, the discontent. We struggle to move forward, we bemoan the conditions, we blame the others, ourselves, the past… yadda yadda…
When we’re assisted by outside forces we rarely celebrate the achievements, the ease, the enlightenment, the freedom, the power, the glory… it’s often not so noticeable.
Then again, was the natural force moving me onward a blessing? Was it wanted? …it pushed me on, increased my speed, my usual jaunt home became braced and different from the norm… who knows?
Nature is a raw wild thing. Nature can be magnificently unforgiving, hard and cruel, as well as gloriously healthy and healing.
How ‘natural’ are we, I wonder?
As you know, I stopped tracking my rides with Endmondo back in July last year.
I have of course still been getting to and from work by cycle (75miles a week). Bowing to peer pressure I started tracking my rides with Strava. Not sure why I’m tracking again, ‘cos I’m not really interested in the competition, but the record is good to have.
http://www.strava.com/activities/112854712
*at least I think I was wind-assisted – however it could have been the mother-in-laws’ leeks-in-cheese-sauce. And very nice it was too!
This week I went back to primary school.
A few dozen members from the choirs Global Harmony and Woven Chords, along with our MD Liz, were privileged to be invited to the Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy in Leicester. The aim was to share songs from around the world and share the experience of singing expressively and in multiple parts.
What an experience and a privilege. I tweeted during the day “What a FANTASTIC buzz!” I found the 400 children’s response to the choir’s performance in the morning assembly astonishing. Rarely do adults show such truthful wonder and enjoyment. Our organised, expressive, layered compositions were possibly usurped by the honest enthusiastic pleasure that the children expressed in return – what a BUZZ!
I joined Tina and Frances to share with a class of 5 year-olds. The experience of ‘showing’ young children forms of singing and making noises with the voice was enlightening. Such enthusiasm and willingness to create, priceless moments.
At one point I tweeted “Energy needs application, discipline and observation…”. For me personally; I was reminded at one point that expression and communication needs form, structure and discipline if it is to have a place in a organised community. Tweet “Hence community is important… Easier said than done?”
Tweet “What an experience, singing with a Leicester primary school #talkaboutenergy!”
I think the day was thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated by many! It’s hard to put a finger a single thing to take from the day because it was rich in emotion, ideas, and honesty.
Some raw recordings (from a phone in my pocket)…
Chaotic kids pre-muster: gathered in the hall…
Many thanks to fellow choir members Tina and Frances for their enthusiastic planning and support!
A classroom rehearsal: “One Morning Soon / Angels” a traditional American gospel song
A classroom rehearsal #toocute “Oo a lay lay” This is a traditional echo song from Polynesia
A final performance: “One Morning Soon / Angels” a traditional American gospel song
Check some other classes’ songs here:
https://soundcloud.com/julesperkins/sets/global-harmony-and-sacred
Great day!