Change of plans

This week the weather has been glorious – an extension to the summer we didn’t get in August.  So the plan was to spend time in the garden, sorting out and preparing for the winter.  I should know better than to make plans!

On Monday night, or rather at about 2.30 on Tuesday morning, I awoke feeling the usual necessity to visit the bathroom.  So I got out of bed … … and immediately fell over on my left side.  What is going on?  Where has my left leg gone?  I managed to lift myself back onto the bed and looked in the mirror.  You know the advert, you need to check for – FAST – face, arms, speech, time to phone.  Well my face was ok (not twisted), arms could be raised and held, no problem, so I began talking to myself in the mirror!  Everything seemed to be in order so it appeared not to be a stroke so it wasn’t time to phone for an ambulance.

After a short while, I did feel my leg but I didn’t get much sleep that night.  The following day I went to see my GP who sent me immediately to A & E where they did tests and took blood and referred me to the Consultant of the Stroke Unit who would be in touch.  This morning I got the phone call to ask if I could go this afternoon (yes, that quick! – and on the NHS) I had more tests – ECG, ultrasound scan on my neck and MRI on my head sandwiched by two consultations with the doctor, one before all the scans and one after.

It was apparent that I have had a few TIAs (mini strokes) but not within the past 14 days but because of family history he has put me on medication to counteract any future attacks.  It seems that the problem with my leg is something different and will be dealt with when I go back for future appointments – maybe connected to back pain.  So for the moment I can’t drive and am limited in my digging in the garden.  So much for my plans! 

But I’m so grateful that although my leg problem was not what I thought, the scans revealed things that did need immediate attention that I am now receiving.  And thanks to doctors and nurses in the NHS who are so thorough in their treatment of patients.  

Making a Difference

If you have been following my blog over the past week you will know that I really enjoyed my few days in Latvia with friends Jo and Ian Storie.  They feel that it is the place where God wants them to be.  They are not connected to any particular church denomination, charity or overseas society but are committed to what they are doing.  It’s not being missionaries in the traditional sense of the word but about radical living in order to make a difference where they are.  They made me so welcome in their home and shared their work and hopes with me. 

Jo, myself and Ian having a meal in a nearby hotel where they
have become well known and accepted as friends.



Ian is always on hand to help with his tractor – whether it’s to turn over some land or get someone out of a ditch.  They have also been able to help friends set up a logging business in some new premises – Ian helping to clear the land around so lorries carrying the logs can get through to the storage depots.  Wood is an important part of Latvian life, as I have mentioned in previous blogs, and this new initiative will help to create jobs in forestry, lorry transportation, logging and will hopefully lead to exports.

Ian using the tractor on their own piece of land.



Quite a big problem on the land is the way wild boar churn up the land searching for their favourite food.  They leave big holes that are dangerous for anyone driving a tractor in the fields, apart from destroying some of the crops.  Because of small numbers in the past, they are protected by law but now the numbers have increased so much that they are becoming a pest.



Jo standing in a hole made by a wild boar.  (Photo by Jo)



Jo has just finished a degree in Managing Sustainable Rural Development, doing it online with the University of the Highlands and Islands.  This year she has just started her Masters thesis on Monitoring Pig Damage.  She is currently visiting neighbouring farms to get her facts and figures which she then hopes to report to the relevant authorities who, hopefully will take the necessary steps to at least help if not eradicate the problem that is affecting the livelihood of so many.

(Graph by Jo)

Next year they plan to get some alpacas which they will rear on their land.  They hope that the wool from the alpacas can be used in making warm winter clothing, so necessary for the very cold winters they experience in Latvia.  They have already made contact with people who dye wool, using natural dyes and know people who would be able to knit garments to sell – a whole new industry that will hopefully result from this.



Wool at an exhibition dyed using natural dyes. (Photo by Jo)





It has been a privilege to get a glimpse into their world and see how they are making a real difference in the lives of those around them.  This is the last of my updates on my visit to Latvia but you can follow their story on Jo’s weekly update on her blog at http://www.thejourneytosomewhere.blogspot.com. 

Down on the Farm

We spent a day of my stay in Latvia visiting some friends who own smallholdings.  This is a natural way of life for many but does not mean that they are wealthy, simply ordinary people finding a way to provide for the needs of their family.  The first farm we went to had the most amazing view over a lake – something that would increase the cost of a property in the UK.

 

They were very friendly people showing us around their property.  Inside the huge barn there were rabbits, hens and a goat.  Outside there were a number of turkeys – made me think of Christmas!  They also had a number of goats outside and their milk was used to make goat’s cheese.  The other animals were reared as a way of making some money.  My friends took a melon as a small gift and were in turn given 10 eggs – really free range with not a cage in sight.

They were very welcoming and insisted we stay for something to eat.  The lady made fresh pizza (yes, it has reached Latvia) with a topping of tomatoes, fresh from the greenhouse and various herbs and topped with some goat’s cheese.  Yummy!

Later in the day we visited another family.  The mother had been a vet and so loved her animals.  Their barn housed even more animals – 4 cows, 3 pigs, hens, rabbits, goats and a number of sheep outside in the field.  They get up to 80 litres of milk a day from the cows and sell some milk and also make cheese to sell.  Again the various animals are sold for meat.  In shops the main meat to buy is pork but from the farmers there is quite a variety – turkey, chicken, rabbit, goat. 

While we were there, the mother milked one of the cows and gave the milk to two of the calves.  After the calves had finished what was in the buckets she told us to watch as they then approached each other and each started to lick the other’s face so as not to waste any milk that may have caught in a place that could not be reached by the calf’s own tongue.  It just looked as thought they were kissing each other.  It was quite funny to watch.  She said that they always do that.

The 'kissing' calves

I met some lovely friendly people who were so pleased to see us – people with no airs and graces or expectations – just genuinely good people who made me very welcome.

People of the Land

Continuing my account of my days in Latvia - travelling through the country it became obvious that the Latvians have a different attitude to house and land from those living in the west.  In the UK it seems the ownership of land brings with it a certain status and so many crave for a place in the country with some land.  In Latvia it was noticeable that each home had it’s own land.  Even those living in flats were allotted a strip of land that they cultivated for their own benefit.  They grew flowers (which they love) as well as fruit and vegetables.  Even in the bigger towns people had the opportunity to have their own piece of land.  Apart from that, they all have some fruit trees.

A view from the flat where I stayed.  It shows the various
greenhouses belonging to the different strips of land of the
people living in the flats.



Apart from the pieces of land that go with their flats (they have 2 flats), my friends also work a few acres of land that lie about 3 miles from their home.  As out there they have no connection to running water or electricity, work in daylight hours is a necessity but personal ‘hygiene needs’ are adequately catered for.  In the very large greenhouse they seem to grow everything from tomatoes to grapes, celery to melons and from a variety of peppers to pumpkins.  And you really can’t beat the taste of food straight from the garden that has not been forced or covered in chemicals.

Not quite ready for eating!



They are also in the process of building a larger barn to house the tractors and equipment for working on the land.  Outside of the greenhouse, there are fruit trees and other vegetables as well as a good amount of buckwheat.  And of course there is the necessary small forest that is on part of the land and is a good source of wood for their log fires. 



The nearly finished barn on the left of the greenhouse,
Beyond that is the small forest.
In the foreground are some fruit trees just becoming established.





Everyone seems to have also a separate wood shed with a good stock of wood to see them through the winter.  Much of the heating and cooking is done with wood.  Replenishing the forests is not a problem as there is more wood than the country needs to the point that they export some and many trees are mature in only about 25-30 years, unlike those like the oak that can take hundreds of years.

You can just make out the log shed among the trees
at the back of the photo

A few modern houses owned by the wealthy may have lawns but most people would not think of using valuable land to grow grass.  Land means an opportunity to grow food or keep animals, thus freeing up more of their resources for other needs like electricity and petrol that are expensive.  The people are not motivated by greed or have plans on a great scale but are content to have sufficient to feed their family and a little extra to sell at market.  It is refreshing to see people who are not materialistically minded and craving the latest gadget.  I hope they can keep that attitude as democracy and western influence creep in.



Travelling East

I set out from my home in Yeovil last Monday at 6.30am to arrive at Bristol airport parking facilities for 8am.  In fact I arrived about 10 minutes early so was relaxed knowing I had plenty of time before check-in.

Map of Bristol airpot.  The Silver Link car park for long stay (5 days or more) is at the top right of the map.



I checked the car in at the Silver Link car park and got the shuttle bus to the airport – about 3 minutes journey.  Then came the usual check-in, baggage drop and security checks to go through into the Duty Free and Departure Gates.  I had plenty of time for a coffee and snack.  My destination was Riga, the capital of Latvia, the middle country of the Baltic trio, Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south.



Just under 3 hours after take off I was walking out to the arrivals lounge of Riga airport.  There they were, waiting.  I don’t know if the thoughts going through their minds was on a similar line to my own but I was wondering if these people that I had got to ‘know’ through internet websites matched up to the image that I had built in my mind.  I was immediately put at ease when the expression of ‘will we recognise her?’ changed to big smiles and hugs.  They were as welcoming and friendly as I had imagined them to be.  I was looking forward to the time we would spend together.

My first impression after leaving the airport building was that the car park seemed half empty compared to the one I had left in England.  Maybe it was just the time of day or the fact that it was the short-term car park.  I don’t know but I did wonder if there existed a similar situation in an English airport car park – probably not.  Anyway, it wasn’t important but from my experience, unusual.

We then had another two and a half hour journey (without counting stopping time for something to eat – very important!) eastwards to the town of Ergli.  There seemed to be so much countryside, a lot of fields dotted with forests. 

The main road out of Riga was a regular road but after some distance it became more of a ‘country’ road – that means impacted earth.  It reminded me of some of the roads I had experienced in the north of Argentina where I had lived for some years.  So for me there was a sort of pleasant familiarity about it.

By the time we arrived at the home of my hosts, Jo and Ian, I was already feeling very much at home and looking forward to the next few days.  … … …

to be continued in future blogs.

Money, money, money

There is much talk in the media about the threat of a double dip in the economy.  They say that house prices are on the up again but that more and more businesses are closing their doors, as they can’t keep going any more.

I received an email this week saying of the things that money can and can’t buy.  It reminded me of the Abba song ‘Money, money, money’.

You can buy a house but not a home

You can buy a clock but not time

You can buy a bed but not sleep 

You can buy a book but not knowledge

And I thought of the Beatles’ song that says, ‘You can buy me a diamond ring my friend, if it makes you feel alright, … … can’t buy me love … …’

When we stop to think, I’m sure there are many other examples that we could come up with.  It seems that money can’t buy the things that are more worthwhile in life – the things that are most important to a fulfilling and happy life.  So why is it that humanity is so concerned about making more and more of it – to the detriment of resources, people and the planet in the process?



Freedom

We have been hearing much in the news these past months about revolution and the freedom it has brought many people – freedom from oppression and control of movement and behaviour, even of political bias and indoctrination of thought and attitude.  But it appears that also in the western world there is a kind of ‘brain-washing’ of attitude and activities, be it more subtle and of course without the appalling physical abuse and torture for non-compliance.  Yet those in authority seek to impose their way of thinking on others.

I recently received an email from a friend and cousin that set me on this train of thought.  He commented that he had become aware of the fact that some Christian leaders don’t always have a deep conviction of what they preach and tell others about.  Often once they are retired, they feel free to express their doubts in the things that before they insisted were the right way.  It is difficult for those in a position of authority within the organised church who need to provide for families.  They need to think not only of their own lives but also of the consequences on others in their family if they are seen to ‘rock the boat’.   The pull of the financial security they currently enjoy can be hard to find a way around.  

I remember a humorous incident of someone in a position of authority within their Christian organisation, who every Good Friday insisted on eating fish for dinner. 

When he and his wife retired from their church responsibilities, their son noticed that the following Good Friday they had steak.  When he questioned them about it, his mother replied ‘Well, we are retired now!’

We may smile at such an attitude but I think it reveals a rather deeper but more disturbing truth – the fact that many feel they are restricted in their lives, both in the things they say and do and are in essence controlled in their thinking and beliefs.  Once this control is removed, there is a greater sense of freedom to think, say and do as they really feel and not how they are expected to be.

The American George Barna wrote a book called ‘Revolution’ where he investigates the fact that so many Christians of great spiritual depth are opting out of the organised style of church.  Their desire is to seek God at a deeper, more personal level without having the ‘thought police’ (as another Christian refers to the organised set-up) dictating what they should or shouldn’t question or change their minds about. 

On my journey, I have discovered that many things that I accepted without question as a teenager and young woman, I now look at differently.  Personal experiences and people I have met and situations I have had to deal with have, I hope, made me not quite so dogmatic but more tolerant.  After all God so loved the world that He gave us His Son … and that includes everyone, regardless of culture, geography, or teaching we may have received.  

What a tackle!

Everyone was enjoying the barbeque, chatting away with their friends.  Two of the group were young Spaniards who were visiting, hoping to improve their English.  There had been a lot of laughter and exchange of stories and experiences.

The conversation turned to the events of the weekend before and the activities of the young people, particularly the football match.  It had been quite eventful, apparently with a few fouls, one of the perpetrators being the young Spanish girl who was present.

By all accounts she had been quite tough in her tackles.  Every time anyone shouted to her to ‘tackle, tackle’, she went in with all her strength to gain the ball.  She was explaining that everyone was shouting to her.  The thing is that people were shouting ‘tackle, tackle’ but she misunderstood the word and in her mind she was thinking of the Spanish word ‘taco, taco’ which, apart from being a Mexican type of food actually means ‘heel’ (the part of a shoe). 

The result of course was that when they said ‘tackle’, she went in to attack with her heels, kicking the opponents.  No wonder there were so many shouts of ‘foul’!

In the Flesh

The young man was learning some computer skills that were new to him.  One of the ways that people are now taught new skills is by sitting in front of a computer and going through a tutorial online.

The first read through didn’t seem to make much sense, so he read it again.  He followed, as he thought, the instructions – at least as much as he understood what they were saying.  But to no avail.  It didn’t matter what he did, how he did it or how many times he did it, the result was wrong.  He obviously couldn’t grasp the online tutorial.

After a few attempts he had to go to a real life tutor who then sat with him, going through each step and explaining the process to him.

At last it worked!  Result!!

You can read many books or online instructions on just about any subject but often the actual experience is what helps us to really understand.  We learn not just by being told but also by being shown and by experience. 

Don’t get me wrong.  I love books and value the fact that we can learn much from reading.  But I think that in some cases the book along with a real life explanation from a person helps a great deal in understanding the written word.

           

The words ‘and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us’ come to mind. 

That way we have a clearer understanding of what God is really about.

The bus journey

Oh the joys of having a bus pass!  Today I took the bus and travelled to Wells to meet up with my friend Diane.  It makes a nice change from driving as you don’t need to concentrate so much on the roads and traffic but can enjoy the views.  The journey took about an hour and a quarter – much time to ponder and people watch.  The cattle were out in the fields and the sheep grazing on the hillside.  The fields were a lush green and the sun was shining, a pleasant change from yesterday's torrential downpours.  I noticed in some fields the farmers had already stacked the hay high and covered the haystacks with tarpaulin ready for the winter.  How they watch the seasons and prepare in advance!

The village of Somerton, the one time capital of ancient Wessex



We travelled through villages and country towns, farmland on either side for most of the journey – past Yeovil Marsh and Chilthorne Domer, through Ilchester, calling in at the villages of Kingsdon and Somerton.  Then on through Littleton (blink and you’ve missed it!), Compton Dundon and on to Street, Glastonbury, through Coxley and into Wells.  The bus was an Easy Access one and there were a couple of baby pushchairs and a wheeled walking aid for a person with walking difficulties.  I wondered how these people managed before there were Easy Access buses?  Their time outside of their homes must have been very limited.  Things most of us take for granted, like a bus journey, can be so difficult for many people.

A baby wagon that can carry a number of toddlers.



As we went through Street, I noticed whom I thought were probably two nursery assistants with a pull/push along wagon containing about 8 toddlers who were having a great time being taken out for a ‘walk’ (or rather a ride) in the sunshine.  It made me smile.

Glastonbury



Glastonbury - what a place of spiritual battles!  Right next to the Abbey was a shop called Man, Myth and Magik (spelt with a ‘k’).  Along the main street you could see other buildings with names like Cat and Cauldron, Minerva, The Avalon Club, Inner Beauty Salon, The Goddess and the Green Man and many others.  One that did make me smile was Burns the Bread Shop.  I thought it was rather an unfortunate surname for someone making and selling bread!  One very loud and worse-for-wear man and boy got on the bus, carrying a guitar, appearing to be a remnant from the hippie era.  I couldn’t help thinking that so many people live on the margins of society.  In Glastonbury there are so many people with a desire for something more than just food and drink, a desire for something spiritual and yet have not yet encountered Jesus.  Lord how do we reach them with your truth?  Questions, questions!

The coffee shop in Wells Cathedral



Diane and I had just over 3 hours in Wells before I got my bus back to Yeovil.  It’s so good to share and catch up with friends.  We went to the Cathedral coffee shop for coffee and then walked around for a while, stopped for lunch and then walked again through the town before it was time to go our separate ways.  The journey back was quiet – no toddlers in pushchairs, no loud hippies, just quiet pondering about our conversation and remembering the different people who today had made an impression one way or another.



Family Visits

I haven’t blogged for a couple of weeks as we have had people staying – two visits from different family members.  The first visit was at the beginning of last week for a few days and then my elder son, Martin, came at the weekend and stayed till yesterday.  Fortunately the weather was fine all the time they were here, only a little rain in between times but at least we were able to get out and about and not get wet.

 

Tommy, Raquel, me and Diego at Montacute House, taken by a very helpful lady who works in the grounds there.

Our first visitors were Argentinian cousins Tommy and Raquel Bell.  I had seen Tommy a few years ago when he visited his sister in Portsmouth but it was about 37 years since I had seen Raquel.  Diego was just a baby the last time either of them saw him.  That was before we returned to the UK to live.  So it was a time of much filling in the gaps and catching up.  They now live in England so hopefully it won’t be too long before we can meet again – and not just on Facebook!

Tommy, Diego and Raquel having a little rest during our long walk in the countryside park.

With Tom and Raquel we enjoyed an afternoon at Montacute House, a National Trust property about 3 miles outside of Yeovil.

Martin and Diego in the same countryside park.

We also visited Yeovil Countryside Park with both them and my son Martin.

Enjoying lunch in the country pub.  You might just be able to see the lake at the top centre of the photo.

During Martin’s visit we called in at a country pub for lunch.  It was a place we have often passed but never actually stopped at.  It was a very pleasant place and we were able to sit outside to eat and then walked down to a lake at the far end of the premises where we sat for a while enjoying the wildlife around us.

The sofabed is folded away and the room is now as before

Now the spare room is as it was before the visitors arrived and I’ve caught up with washing, ironing, shopping etc.  It all went too quickly but the lovely memories will stay!