'Apparently they are looking for a property in Pembrokeshire, on the Welsh border'
No, Pembrokeshire is as far west as you can go - the furthest from the border.
Joe Grundy
JoinedPosts by Joe Grundy
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38
My jw mum threw us out.
by abbasgreta inmy brother (non-jw but became a christian 6 months ago) and i nursed my aged jw mother back to a semblance of strength over the last three weeks.. the elders were happy to pass the buck on to me, her da'd daughter and my bro.. he has been living with her for 3 months and has transformed her ill-kept home and garden and literally nursed her like a professional alone.
before i stepped in to help him care for her.
he repeatedly told her how much he loved her and was so caring, it brought a lump to my throat.. he has been going to church sunday mornings, telling her he 'was meeting up with friends' so as not to cause friction.but she knew where he had been.. we noticed a shift in her demeanour towards us (she knows i'm a church-goer) over the week-end and she started to.
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20
"You can't Disfellowship me ......."
by Phizzy inif i ever get the threat of being df'd i think i will say :.
" the religion i left a few years ago no longer exists, you can't disfellowship me from a religion that i never had fellowship in !"..
i know this will make no difference at all, as would whatever i said if they had made up their minds, but it would point out how very very silly the whole idea would be.. any other ideas to briefly sum up what a stupid thing dfing is ?.
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Joe Grundy
IMHO and IME it is ALWAYS good practice to obtain details of and identify INDIVIDUALS in a disputed situation.
Most jurisdictions allow legal proceedings against individuals and corporations and there is nothing better to concentrate a person's mind than the the fact that he/she is PERSONALLY liable.
This was drummed home to me as a manager numerous times in relation to health & safety/equal opportunities legislation (here in the UK).
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122
Scottish independance in two days what do you think?
by barry inone thing i would like to say is will the union jack be changed because the scottish flag is incorpreted in it.
if the union jack is changed will we change our australian flag because the union jack is in our flag?
even hawawi has the union jack also fiji and many other commonwealth countries.. .
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Joe Grundy
Hi galaxie
1. IME a lot of the Welsh have been quite horrified at what it has cost. Many arguments could arise re (for example) free prescription medicines for all.
2. 16/17 year olds - this is a big problem IMO. It is absolutely verboten for a teacher etc. to have sex with a pupil under 18 (criminal offence). It is also an offence to have an 'indecent image' of an under-18 yo. So if a soldier (for example) is legally married to a 17 yo wife and she texts him a picture of her tits to keep him company on the battlefield, he is a sex offender ('paedophile') and maybe so is she. The law is clear, and it is a sad state of affairs if authorities have to wriggle about. By the same token, a 16 yo can vote but NOT be trusted to buy cigarettes (verboten) or beer in a pub (ditto). Are 16/17 yos children or adults?
3. Ah, regions within countries. How far back should we go? The Cornish have affinity to the Welsh and the Bretons. France and Spain are relatively recent modern 'countries'. As I understand it, the 'Scots' were never really a unified people any more than the Welsh are nowadays.
4. On the same point, is the US now really unified? History would suggest not - the US was formed comparively recently by colonial conquest, purchase, intrigue, etc.
I must confess that I have a wry smile when ANY country seeks to stress its unique heritage. The more we learn about history and pre-history and the movement of peoples, the more we realise that we are all the product of immigration, inter-breeding, and so on.
Just as a recent example - in Wales, some people are hung up on the Welsh 'mining heritage'. They overlook the fact that many immigrants came to Wales for jobs in mining, etc. My own family were, I think, Hugueonauts from Europe but my paternal family were robust, Welsh-speaking, colliers.
The latest news shows not only the presence of Neanderthal in our genes but also the DNA of groups who migrated from Siberia, Africa, Southern Europe, etc. IMHO it's time that the world's people came to recognise that we are all homo sapiens and we'd better start to get on with each other. But that's just me.
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20
"You can't Disfellowship me ......."
by Phizzy inif i ever get the threat of being df'd i think i will say :.
" the religion i left a few years ago no longer exists, you can't disfellowship me from a religion that i never had fellowship in !"..
i know this will make no difference at all, as would whatever i said if they had made up their minds, but it would point out how very very silly the whole idea would be.. any other ideas to briefly sum up what a stupid thing dfing is ?.
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Joe Grundy
"Let him without sin cast the first stone."
At that point, a stone came out of the crowd and killed the adulteress stone dead.
'Mom', said Jesus, 'Sometimes you really tick me off.'
Courtesy of Bart Ehrman video.
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122
Scottish independance in two days what do you think?
by barry inone thing i would like to say is will the union jack be changed because the scottish flag is incorpreted in it.
if the union jack is changed will we change our australian flag because the union jack is in our flag?
even hawawi has the union jack also fiji and many other commonwealth countries.. .
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Joe Grundy
These are just some random thoughts from a Brit (Welsh) who never was a dub.
When we had the referendum on devolution (settled 50.2% in favour, 49.8% against) no details of what the effects would be were available, IIRC. All was to be settled later. I remember a quote 'Few problems are solved by creating more politicians'. We now have an extra layer of bureaucracy with well-paid politicians, civil servants (6,000+), buildings, etc., and the 'Welsh Assembly' is now the 'Welsh Assembly Government'. Some outcomes have been good, some bad (IMO), some mixed.
Many issues (and major ones at that) are 'to be settled later' - by negotation. It seems to me that to be democratic, if there is a 'Yes' vote it must be followed promptly by a General Election in Scotland so that people and parties can put forward what they would wish to negotiate for.
In the UK the age of majority is 18. In this referendum, 16 and 17 year olds have been given the vote. In legal terms these are children, able to consent to sex (for example) but regarded as not able to consent to sex with a person in authority (eg a teacher). Unable to make an informed decision on that but able to make an informed decision (irrevocable?) on independence? Discuss.
On the principle of a democratic right to independence, these thoughts occur:
Some parts of Scotland (Highlands and Islands?) have expressed the view that they feel so far removed from Edinburgh that they would like independence. Allow a referendum?
Some parts of England (eg Cornwall) likewise?
What about Catalonia and the Basques?
How would the US feel if California wanted independence?
And, not wanting to be controversial, wasn't the American Civil War about the wish of some southern states to be independent from the then US?
So many questions, and I haven't even mentioned currency and the EU yet.
My gut feeling, based on no evidence, is that the 'Yes' campaign has been particularly vociferous. With a cool head, and in the privacy of the polling booth, I suspect that the 'No' vote will win.
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Depression and Faith
by Joe Grundy inthis is only jw (should that be jw.org now?
) related in that it is connected with religious faith which dominates a person's life.
but many similarities, i feel.. i never was a dub, was raised in a 'gospel hall' tradition, have been for many years an agnostic/atheist and am a fairly cynical/suspicious individual as befits an ex-30 year detective.
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Joe Grundy
BiL just called to see me.
\his opening words were 'I am a broken man'. No he isn't, he is a strong man, I couldn't have dealt with the stuff he has.
I am calling on all my reserves here in a bid to help my sis and BiL through this without calling thier faith into question.
I can't be the only one doing this, can I?
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5
Depression and Faith
by Joe Grundy inthis is only jw (should that be jw.org now?
) related in that it is connected with religious faith which dominates a person's life.
but many similarities, i feel.. i never was a dub, was raised in a 'gospel hall' tradition, have been for many years an agnostic/atheist and am a fairly cynical/suspicious individual as befits an ex-30 year detective.
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Joe Grundy
This is only JW (should that be JW.Org now?) related in that it is connected with religious faith which dominates a person's life. But many similarities, I feel.
I never was a dub, was raised in a 'Gospel Hall' tradition, have been for many years an agnostic/atheist and am a fairly cynical/suspicious individual as befits an ex-30 year detective. I try not to be judgemental and consider myself as open-minded and very much 'live and let live'. My major life issues at the moment are:
1. Renewing my drivers licence
2. Getting some cosmetic work done on my car
3. Diplomatically and politely extricating myself from a relationship with an older woman
4. Deciding where to move on to next.
So, nothing really substantial.
My younger sister and her husband have retained their fairly fundy xtian faith - and, indeed, probably got together and got married because of it. They are good people - always willing to help anyone of any faith or none. My BiL has co-founded an independent 'free church' church, has spent time helping out in deprived places in Eastern Europe, and (being ex-military) works with SSASRA, a non-denominational organisation which provides pastoral care to the military.
I disagree with their religious views, but I cannot fault their commitment, or the good work they do. BiL and I have many lively discussions about religion but they are rock-solid in their views.
Their faith has seen them through some horrendous times. They had three sons. The eldest has (I suspect) a form of autism. He will never be able to live on his own. The youngest is in the military, has seen some dreadful tours, but is scheduled for redundancy. The middle son, the brightest (and close to my own kids) was killed in a senseless road accident aged 13. I and my kids spent many hours at his bedside whilst he was in a coma.
That sets the scene. My sister and BiL retained their faith through all this - and I would never challenge it because of the comfort it gave them.
Yesterday, out of the blue, my BiL came to call, just 'for a cup of tea' (as we say here in the UK). He is a wreck. He came to see me because he knows that I suffered a 'burn-out' many years ago, have experience of depression and 'got over it'. He was in tears (no problem, been there) and is on medication which I hope will help.
This was not the time for a religious discussion, but a couple of things came up.
I am an unreconstructed atheist and sinner, take my pleasures where and when I can, and gladly accept any hypothetical punishments which the deluded believe is coming to me (my words not his). He is a man who has always lived by his faith, has relied on it to help him through, has done many good works in its name.
I hope that with appropriate medical help he can come through the other side of this. I did. I hope his religious belief helps him. 'Whatever gets you through' as they say.
There is a time for every thing (is that Ecc. something in the OT - I have an earworm of The Byrds) and right now is not the time for discussions of deep religious accuracy.
I can't help but wonder -how many dyed in the wool dubs are in my Bil's position? At least he can share without being branded 'apostate'.
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Contemplating a Major Life Change.
by Joe Grundy innever was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
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Joe Grundy
Just contemplating: my road trip from here in west Wales to Andorra and back (wandering through France) was about 2000 miles. My car (a Jaguar x type 2.0d) did 58 mpg overall, including 130kph on motorways and some of the scariest mountain roads I have ever driven on.
Maybe I am programmed to be a perpetual 'road-tripper'.
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Contemplating a Major Life Change.
by Joe Grundy innever was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
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49
Contemplating a Major Life Change.
by Joe Grundy innever was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
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Joe Grundy
This is, perhaps, my theme tune: