GLAD TO BE IN DORSET

Had a bit of a bloggage blockage the past couple of weeks - low on creative energy. Also, I felt concerned about putting fingers to keyboard as there have been so many things irritating me I thought I might say something I would later regret! But a bit of a rant might be in order...

Speakers election tomorrow; terribly important this one. But our pitiful MPs haven't the courage or decency to let through the kind of maveric MP who might really be able to sort things out (why no Frank Field? Kate Hooey? David Davies?). The best hope is Ann Widecombe - but will the saps have the guts to elect her, or will we end up with the lamentable Bercow? Why is Brown going to put a quango in charge of MPs pay and conditions? Who is going to appoint the quango? Why will they have more authority than Parliament? The whole point is that we are meant to elect MPs who exercise power on our behalf, and who we can sack if they prove useless. Why was Hazel Blears ever appointed as a Minister if she is so naive not to realize that slagging off her boss in public would be undermining? Why have we got the unelected Peter Mandelson running the country? Why have we got Alan Sugar - Alan Sugar?!? - appointed to a senior Government position (unelected)? What was Gordon doing making phone calls to check on the health of Susan Boyle?

I've been feeling frustrated by our political masters... while still grateful to Jesus that we live in a democracy, whatever its current failings: Got to be better than Iran.

But I was down on Poole Quay yesterday for the Harry Paye day, and left feeling a bit more inspired.

Paye was a pirate who in 1407 captured 120 French and Spanish ships as retribution for the perfidious latins plundering Poole two years earlier, and seems to have set the pattern for a certain flavor of anarchic, independent-minded Dorsetness. (The mayor of Finnestere was in attendance to demonstrate there are no hard feelings.) I particularly enjoyed "Imagine there's no Devon" by Dorset patriots Who's Afear'd (named after the motto of the county)...



"If we close our eyes and pray, we can get rid of a county, that's just getting in the way" - now that, is a line of genius.

"Who's afear'd" Good motto for a county that.


Anyway, I felt it helped me to understand something more of Dorset culture, and has got me thinking more about how we - as the Church of Jesus Christ - can connect with that culture. (Cider and pasties for communion?)

I also enjoyed being able to get close to the Bloodhound, the most beautiful boat I have ever seen. I've often looked at her from a distance over the past 18 months, but yesterday the dock was open to the public so we were able to get up close. If I had a million quid I'd buy her.


So all in all I'm feeling pretty good today about living in Dorset.

A group of us from church went to the beach this afternoon, after another really encouraging meeting at Gateway - such a pleasure to be able to do that. Good friends, great church, fascinating county.

Happy Fathers Day!