Today we had lunch in Carlisle (England) Cathedral Cafe, upstairs in the old fratery building. Talk about eating in style!
Little Shubunkin
Born Again Blogger
about
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Wildlife SOS Homepage https://wildlifesos.org/
Donations https://wildlife-sos.danamojo.org
‘Elephant ‘ in Dutch I’ve always loved elephants, right from when I was a kid.
It’s soon my birthday. In lieu of birthday gifts, I’m asking people to kindly support this charity. Thanks! 🙏🏼
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What is your favorite type of weather?
Heatwave, like the one we experienced in 2018 while on holiday in Wales.
Welsh sunset, 2018 -
Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
Jim Entwistle was a lecturer who taught philosophy. He was into Wittgenstein. Through Wittgenstein we learn that language can bewitch the intellect. We should recognise that not all apparent questions are genuine questions. We should pay particular attention to how language is used. And that “what can be said can be said clearly.”
Wittgenstein thought philosophy was like a mental illness, and the analysis of language use can help to effect a cure.
He thought that philosophers were like flies trapped in a bottle, and the trick was to get out of the bottle. Philosophy provides a ladder, but after you’re out of the bottle, you should throw the ladder away.
So, Jim and Wittgenstein were my most influential teachers.
Wittgenstein -
“No one is a prophet in their own land.”
I was born and brought up in the county of Yorkshire, England. And though I love Yorkshire, I have always been drawn to Cumbria, drawn to the beauty of the Lake District and the Eden Valley.
I do feel a bit sentimental about the little coal-mining village where I grew up. But would I go back there? No. That place no longer exists as was, so going back isn’t possible.
I’ve been in Cumbria for just over 30 years. So, Cumbria is my home.
I don’t think I can describe in words how beautiful this county is. So, just as an example, here is a photograph that I took of the bridge over the River Eden. The bridge is between the villages of Lazonby and Kirkoswald. Before the bridge was built, there was a ford, and that road was used to transport coal from pits near Renwick to the town of Penrith.
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What do you wish you could do more every day?
I would love to spend more time visiting churches. It’s a favourite pastime.
Here is a picture I took of St Andrew’s Church in Penrith, England.
St Andrew’s, Penrith And here’s the same church in winter.
Frosty St Andrew’s Church -
“There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.” – John Lennon
I don’t know if you can teach an old dog new tricks, but I suspect you can. I mean, why not? There may be a tendency to become more stubborn and obtuse as you get older. But I believe this doesn’t have to be the case.
And what about old tricks? Well, one trick that this old dog claims to have retained is the ability to change his mind. Do you know that the word ‘repent’ literally means to rethink?
Have you ever come across the Bill of Assertive Rights?
https://www.dhi-online.org.uk/images/Active-Change-S5-H3.pdf
One right in this list is “I have the right to change my mind.”Sometimes, the stories you hear, or the things people tell you can act like Zen Koans since they shock you into thinking differently or even help you to become more enlightened. They may serve to help you change your mind about something.
An example of this recently was when a friend (Hi, Hazel) said she was happy where she was. It made me wonder if I could claim the same thing, and the answer I came to was ‘no’.
For a couple of years, I’ve been thinking about moving to somewhere that has a private garden and a shed. But I have to say, in all other respects, where we live now is perfectly adequate.
The flat has all the facilities we need and is comfortable. The neighbourhood has a nice vibe and there’s a public service bus every 12 minutes. There’s a beautiful park with a pond at the end of our street. And we pay no rent (just a modest service charge).
In lots of ways, we are really blessed. And I think until recently, I haven’t appreciated by how much. So, now I’ve decided to change my mind about where we are and give the place a bit more love.
Originally, it was a blind date, me and the flat. In 2020, I was shielding because I have COPD and asthma. I didn’t view the place before buying but left it to Mrs Shubunkin to do the inspecting. Of course, I must respect her wishes about where we settle. And she’s happy where we are. I’ve decided to follow her lead.
So, there you are, at last I’ve moved in here emotionally. Home at last. “Home at last, Home at last, Thank God almighty we are home at last.” -
What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?
I want a tattoo of a dove, and I would put it on Trump’s bum. 😁
Photo by Stefano F – Creative Commons -
it was very pleasant in town today, and the nice weather did a lot to lift my mood.
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What is one word that describes you?
I can’t answer that. So, here is something I like to meditate on…
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it. John 1:1-5 NIV
The Light of the World
