Riverside Walks

I hope the weekend has treated you well? We've had some lovely weather here with seasonal showers now and then during this summer of long overdue fine weather.

I've done two walks recently with my friend Linda in order to keep the fitness up, both near enough two miles, which in the scheme of things isn't far, but we're building up.

You've read many times of the Humber in my blogs, one of the countries busiest and most dangerous rivers and it tends to be pretty muddy water due to the clay nature of the land, but the land provides beautiful walks alongside it and vistas to make your mouth water.

Two recent walks were in total contrast, yet only a few yards apart, one pleasant and one not so bright. Let me explain.

Our first walk - highly recommended - Google Maps

The first walk took place from the Corporation Pier in Hull walking eastward. We did both these walks on warm balmy evenings with a view to seeing nice sunsets. This walk starts in one of the oldest places in Hull where ferries used to sail to New Holland in Lincolnshire, in latter years, paddle steamers. Now, nothing sails from the pier because the Humber bridge makes commercial passenger traffic by boat across the Humber superfluous. I have thought however that pleasure trips would make a bit of money to be honest.  

Disused Yorkshire Dry Dock (the Tidal Barrier across the River Hull in the background)

We cross the river Hull by a new footbridge next to the disused dry dock which someone wants to turn into an amphitheatre and round the Deep, a nationally recognised sea life centre. The walk then takes us along the Humber bank along a purpose built wide footway with the Victoria Dock estate on one side and the river separated by a barrier on the other side. This is frequented by residents and dog walkers, kids on bikes and families and is a lovely safe walk.

Walk alongside and round the Deep at a place locally known as Sammy's Point

The path then takes us across the old lock gate, now all concreted up which used to lead to the old timber dock. This dock is now just full of water and fish and three fountains with playing water, very attractive it is too. Houses and blocks of nice looking flats overlook the river and the old dock here and it has been lovingly restored and maintained making this a lovely atmosphere. 

The walk finishes at the end of the Victoria Dock estate when it is time to walk back and as we timed it right, you walk back westwards and see the sun setting across the river vista. 

At the far end of our first walk, we see the Pride of Rotterdam (mainly cars and passengers) leaving port for her overnight North Sea crossing

This is gentle, steady, plenty of seats although no loos, but its a mile one way and a mile back. Take a camera and  a flask and see lots of wildlife activity in the river and in the riverside flora as well as shipping which passes pretty close to the shore at this point. The Ferries to the European continent can be seen leaving on the evening tide every day (using deep channels.)

The skeletal remains of the front end of an old wooden barge, left abandoned donkey's years ago can be seen at the end of this walk on the waters edge.

There are regular signs too along this walk explaining the history of the area and modern day context.

A small flotilla of speed boats come in together making their way to Humber Dock for the night

Several speedboats were coming in to the Humber dock just as we finished our walk.

The last few yards of the walk near the Deep looking west, the lights twinkling as dusk sets in

The second walk, taken on another evening was just a continuation of the first route, but as the Victoria Dock estate finishes, as you continue to walk eastward, there are industrial units to the left and the open river with no barriers to separate you from the river on the other side. This is all so very different and isolated and less pleasant. The path is solid and wide enough but not recommended for children or dogs who like to roam. 

Our second walk, not really recommended unless in a party - Google Maps

No seats on this one and nothing to see of interest in the commercial premises on the land side of the path.

The walk takes you across a working lock gate which I think is always a twitchy experience, just flimsy looking chains separate you from the big drop into the lock or to the river and the footway is iron gridded, so it's like walking on air. I'm sure it's safe, but it feels not so much so. Having said that, there are ramps either side, so if you are in a wheel chair, you can get across.

The Amanda from Willemstad waiting patiently for the Pride of Hull to leave the dock entrance before coming into dock itself

There are some fascinating empty ruined riverside sheds and wooden piles in the Humber itself which once held wharves and railway lines still in evidence, memories for some older generations of long lost and almost forgotten dock side activity. Birds are the only occupants these days.  

Long abandoned wharf sheds, although difficult to see in the picture, there are old railway lines just this side of the shed used by trains to take away the good offloaded from ships

Eventually, the outward walk finally finishes at the King George Dock where the modern days ferries are berthed and which houses a very busy shipping dock (the walk is a dead end, you can't get onto the dock). 

The passenger and cargo ferry (60,000 tonnes), The Pride of Hull leaving port; the old wharf supports can be seen in the foreground

The walk back has nothing to commend it much other than the setting sun and river views.   We got stopped by the lock gates which opened to let a tug and a towed vessel into the dock which was interesting to watch, but completely isolated and trapped us on the path to the east. 

The Hull tug Beamer towing smaller tug Lashette toward the dock gate

 There were some wading birds on the mud flats and cormorants on riverside structures arising out of the water.

Water birds waiting for higher tides for their feeding

Don't do this one alone, watch for exceptionally high tides which face no barriers to the footpath and take a mobile phone.

Two entirely contrasting walks separated by a car park in the middle, but good exercise nonetheless.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Chat soon

Ta-ra.

Scarborough in the Sun

Scarborough's South Bay captured from Oliver's Mount War Memorial overlooking the town

Not having had, nor wanted a holiday in the last couple of years for reasons I won't bore you with, I decided it was time for a break. The opportunity arose for a long weekend away while her indoors was at a religious knees up and so off I toddled to sunny Scarborough in North Yorkshire - and my goodness, was it sunny. 

Whilst not allowed to book into the accommodation until 2 pm., we wasted no time in booking the Sea life Centre and saving 40% on line booking fee for a visit and a game of crazy golf - and crazy it was!

Scarborough I have only sporadically visited in my life and never stayed more than a few hours at a time and don't know it at all well other then the sea front. It's about an hour and twenty minutes drive from where I live on a good day. There is evidence of Stone Age, Bronze Age and Roman occupation on the site which now occupies Scarborough and although little is recorded in the Domesday Book (1085), Royal Charters exist to allow markets on the sands in 1155 and 1163.

A couple of penguins trying to keep cool in the shade

It has a bit of everything for everyone really and during this very hot and lovely weekend, the town was packed. There was  Naval Battle reenactment in the town's park and the opera singer Katherine Jenkins was singing at the outdoor arena.

A recovering rescue seal pops up to say hello

We saw seals, penguins and all sorts of fish and water life at the Sea life centre including two rescued seals. A maddening game of mini-golf followed which I lost (because the winner has to buy the drinks) after which we booked into our accommodation which was beautifully clean and well appointed.

A walk around the park and tea at a local cafe then a wander into the south bay popular tourist area saw the night off for us.

The entrance to the Tramway to take us down to the beach area

Saturday started with a cooked full English breakfast, something I try to avoid but it was lovely and after a bus ride into the town, we walked around the town centre for coffee and travelled down onto the south bay beach via the tramway system which is like an old fashioned cable car on rails.

The Fountain in Peasholm Park

The afternoon found us at the Peasholm Park (opened 1912) and witnessing the famous fictitious naval battle using huge model powered boats operated by people sat inside them. This was good fun using explosions and running commentary and audience participation.

HMS Achilles, one of the model boats used in the model Naval battle (about 21 feet long)

After a lovely tea, we walked from the park area to Scalby on the north side of Scarborough and back again which seemed like a major trek, arriving at dusk tired but hugely satisfied with the effort.

A gentle drift home on Sunday brought to a close a brilliant weekend's break in the UK experiencing some extraordinarily hot summer weather. 

A panorama of Scarborough, (click to enlarge)

My final comment is reserved for the gulls, particularly the very big gulls, the very screechy noisy brazen gulls.  I have never heard so much screeching throughout the night as I heard during that break, waves of screeching noise, one gets set off and they all follow for a minute at regular intervals throughout the entire night. Needless to say, because it was hot weather overnight, the window had to be open, but the noise spoilt it really.

My photo of a Whitby gull, but the same species subject of a culling debate in Scarborough

Coupled with The Scarborough News paper headlines on gulls taking food out of people's hands, I would say they have a real problem. They wander about on the pavements between hordes of holiday makers without batting an eyelid waiting for the opportunity for people to drop food for them.

To cull or not to cull, that is the question, who needs educating, gulls or people? What do you think?

Thanks to Linda Lee for making this a wonderful weekend.

Have a great week ahead.

Chat soon

Ta-ra.

The Scottish Play

For those of a nervous and superstitious disposition, look away now, I went to see a live screening of the National Theatre Live performance of Macbeth at a local Cineworld cinema. Okay, you can look again now, that's the last time I'll mention Macbeth (whoops)*

The National Theatre Live have Macbeth playing at the Manchester International Festival from a unconsecrated church in Manchester itself.

I studied Macbeth for my English literature exam at school and have seen a number of productions on TV and on film and I do like it a lot. This tragic tale of treachery and ambition was a joy to watch with some remarkable performances from Sir Kenneth Brannagh as the eponymous villain, Alex Kingston as Lady Macbeth, Jimmy Yull as Banquo and Ray Fearon as Macduff.

The church floor was covered in mud and the fight scenes at the beginning took place with rain pouring from the rafters. The audience were warned not to wear their Sunday best for fear of getting splashed with mud and fake blood, several did.

This was a real full on version with minimal sets and props relying on the superb performances and that didn't disappoint. The atmosphere was electric and I was moved to tears by two scenes, the first when Macduff is told of the murder of his wife and children at the hands of Macbeth's henchmen and indeed again when the murderous Macbeth is told of the death of his wife Lady Macbeth and he begins his famous soliloquy masterfully and movingly delivered by Brannagh:

She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

I love the idea of bringing the spectacle of the play to a bigger audience, the Manchester Festival play being sold out since February within 9 minutes of tickets going on sale so it was the only chance to go and see it, via the big screen.

Criticisms are few from me. The witches were beautifully and scarily made up but the lines were delivered in a screaming fashion with strange accentuation and therefore sadly undecipherable mostly which is a shame because they set the scene of the future upon which Macbeth bases his decisions.   

A privilege to see it with good friends Linda, Helen and Phil; an unforgettable experience.

Chat soon

Ta-ra.

* According to a theatrical superstition, called the Scottish curse, speaking the name Macbeth inside a theatre will cause disaster. A variation of the superstition forbids direct quotation of the play (except during rehearsals) while inside a theatre.

Heatwave

At last the UK seems to be having a summer. Long sunny spells day after day is pleasant and much needed. The flowers are looking very colourful, the grass is getting patchier and the animals are lethargic (as are some of the human beings.)

Smells of barbecues waft through the evening air as does the drifting 'fluff' from the plane trees. It is really good to see the butterflies abroad in the air and so many varieties, small and large.

However, there is always a down side and that's the vulnerable in our society who suffer from the heat. It's not often in the UK we talk about a heatwave. A couple of the tabloid national newspapers are obsessed with the weather and are always reporting extremes of weather that never actually arrive - you know who you are Daily Express (to name but one), but this time heatwave does have the necessary credentials to hit the headlines to protect people.

What is a heatwave? In the UK there are some thresholds for it to be declared a heatwave.  This is what the Met Office produce on their website

Threshold temperatures

Region	Day max (°C)	Night min (°C)
North East England	28	15
North West England	30	15
Yorkshire & Humber	29	15
East Midlands	30	15
West Midlands	30	15
East of England	30	15
South East England	31	16
London	32	18
South West England	30	15
Wales	30	15

These temperatures could have significant effect on health if reached on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night.

Here in Yorkshire and the Humber, we are fluctuating between a green and yellow alert.

A level one alert (green)  means

This is the minimum state of vigilance during the summer. During this time social and health care services will ensure that all awareness and background preparedness work is ongoing.

A level two alert (yellow) means

Triggered as soon as the risk is 60% or above for threshold temperatures being reached in one or more regions on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night. This is an important stage for social and health care services who will be working to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce harm from a potential heatwave.

A level three alert (amber) means

Triggered when the Met Office confirms threshold temperatures for one or more regions have been reached for one day and the following night, and the forecast for the next day is greater than 90% confidence that the day threshold will be met. This stage requires social and health care services to target specific actions at high-risk groups.

A level four alert (red) means

Reached when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups

So take sensible precautions, stay well and if you can, enjoy the warmth

Chat soon

ta-ra

Lavender's Blue, Dilly Dilly

Pink and purple miniature lavender

Congratulations to Andy Murray for his first Wimbledon championship win. Stunning performance. I've been listening to it on the radio with brilliant BBC Radio 5 live coverage whilst enjoying the sun in the garden.

Lavender with a pin hole effect on the camera

Summer and sun has finally arrived here in the north of the UK and today, I have managed to spend the whole day in the garden and I have only just come in to the house for tea. I planted some miniature lavender a month or so ago and they are in glorious full flower now and there a couple of pictures here to show you how these plants are going on. These are the only things I have planted this year.

I've had a busy few days. Yesterday (Saturday) I went to Leeds to the football stadium Elland Road, not to watch football, which is on its summer break but to go to a mind, body and spirit festival at their conference facility with friends, Linda, Helen and Phil which was very good and saw a couple of interesting free lectures and many interesting exhibitors. 

In the boatyard - seen better times

I also continued my exploration of the South Bank of the Humber in North Lincolnshire at a little town called Barton upon Humber. It's not so little now because a quick and cheap journey across the Humber Bridge makes this commuter land for Hull and Lincoln as well as Scunthorpe and Grimsby.

A rusting barge

Just to the east of the town and on the Humber Bank is the Haven area. It has a few ageing boats on it, a boat yard which has seen better days and lots of wildlife reserves including a lovely observation centre, Water's Edge which overlooks the Humber mud flats and open to visitors for bird watching. An ancient cemetery excavation lends evidence that the village was occupied in the late fifth to early sixth century AD however there is a possibility of a late Mesolithic settlement in the Barton area from between 6,000 and 4,000 BC.

Sunset under the Humber Bridge

There are plenty of safe designated walks with footpaths with stunning open views of the Humber. We saw a huge Heron float by and land in the reeds nearby.  I'm afraid my photography wasn't good enough to capture it. An old coastguard station lays empty now, a testament to busier days as a ferry point before it moved further down the river.
 

The late evening sun shining on the Humber mudflats at the entrance to the Haven

Today, the town has a population of just over 9,000 people and we were privileged to hear the church bells ringing in the distance as we were finishing this little walk at dusk, this was a throw back for me as I remember the church bells ringing on a Thursday night in Cottingham as a lad.

Today's blog title by the way comes from a traditional English folk song of the 17th century.

I hope you have a fabulous week.

Chat soon

Ta-ra

Belt Up

 

I'm not an art and crafts person. I love art and I draw and occasionally I'll paint , but I'm just not a craft person, perhaps I lack a bit of creative vision.

I've had a Chakra bracelet for a couple of years now and it has stones which represent the seven main Chakra points in the body. I used to wear this for my healing sessions, but the elastic snapped. Bracelets for men are not wide ranging in choice or variety although some of the tribal bracelets or wristlets are quite good and I have a couple of nice ones.

So today, I got into craft mode and repaired the bracelet having hunted high and low for a needle that is thin enough to pass through the tiny holes drilled in the quite small stones.  The second problem was threading the needle with the quite thick elastic. I did it, and without one of those threading gadgets my mother used to have. It's repaired quite nicely.

I have a brown leather belt made for me by a partner of a good friend, made of real leather - long lasting and utility. It was so good, I got a second one, the problem is that the brown was too tan to wear with formal clothing so I dyed one of them today with black leather dye and it didn't turn out half bad. 

So there we are, a creative day today which is just as well because it's been raining persistently here all day.

Chat soon

Ta-ra

Anyone for Tennis?

This is not a joke. A local hotel in Hull in Yorkshire have advertised their premises for Christmas events! I am not going to give them free advertising, save to say what on earth are they doing at the height of summer, in a recession advertising Christmas. Isn't their enough pressure on people?

I'm not a big tennis fan, I can take it or leave it although I have a mild interest in Mr Murray and his British colleagues doing well for the country. I don't watch it very often at all. However, whilst having tea tonight, I made the mistake of watching the highlights of a women's game at Wimbledon. 

To be honest, Maria Sharapova and Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito have finally put me off watching women's tennis for good. This pair of screaming orgasmic sounding banshees completely ruined my enjoyment of the game with their unnecessary squawking every time they serve or hit the ball. If they put as much energy into playing shots than they do making that God-awful noise, they would surely perform much better.

The weather is a bit grey today and I expected a thunderstorm as it felt quite sticky and plenty of black looking cloud this afternoon. But at least it stayed dry.

I participate in social media, this blog for example, Facebook and Twitter. I don't necessarily agree with the premise that if long lost friends were really friends, they would be in touch regularly either by phone, in person or by letter. Some are friends, some are acquaintances and I guess it depends on what you call 'friends.' 

I do find it useful as a source of information and intelligence on what's happening in the world and with people and news is pretty quick to break on the social media network.  I have fun on it and share lots of things of interest. It's a keep in touch method of communication without any expectations.

Now I know there are privacy issues, but frankly, if you are careful, it should be fine.

Chat soon

Ta-ra

Guilty as Charged

I sort of feel I need forgiveness today. My crime? To destroy a wasps nest. Now I guess in all honesty, they are all God's creatures and they must have a purpose although I am not sure what it is and perhaps there is a more humane way of getting rid of them, but I am terrified of them.

Put me in a strange haunted house in the dark in the middle of the night and it's a welcome challenge - spot a wasp at 300 yards and I'm gone!

So some proprietary wasp powder was purchased and I wore clothes that covered me up and some gloves to handle the powder tube. I set the camera on a tripod running and did the deed and retired post haste (from the 16th century - 'great speed').

Now in truth, for me to go anywhere near the nest as it is is a sort of a triumph and it's helped facing my fear by doing Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT  or tapping and talking) on myself. Anyway we'll see what happens, I might have to put more powder in tonight. Here's a one minute movie on You Tube of the event - thrilling stuff.

I did test myself by looking at the video of the wasps which would have normally set me on edge, but it was okay.

My good deed for the day was to help a friend by babysitting her flat while she was at work so a plumber could come and fix a toilet cistern and a tap that had developed faults. The bonus was that I watched a film while they did their work so that was a cool way to start the day.

As a treat for myself, I went to a local coffee house and treated myself to a cappuccino and a freshly made granola bar. As I was sat there, I put a few observations about the people in there on my Facebook, but thought you might like to read it here too: 

Just a few people observations while having my cappuccino and granola bar: tanned ex pro footballer, serious looking in quiet discussions with important looking older man, is there a deal being struck; younger man, his sandy hair missing tenderness of a comb, 'not at work today' he says to a passing lady; large group of young mums and toddlers bring brightness and pleasant noise with gurgling content offspring, 'giving housework a miss today' one says with a grin; retired couple with teacakes and latte, he trying to make conversation, she stares into the distance perhaps trying to imagine the future. Amazing what you see when you take time to look around.

I do them every now and then as an exercise in observation.

At home, I watched a DVD on EFT and I set about preparing for the psychic development class I run with Linda and did some student's notes on interpreting colour and symbols.

Busy and productive day. Weather dry but cold. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Chat soon

ta-ra.

Path of Least Resistance

The seedhead of the Marsh Marigold from the pond is as beautiful as the bright yellow spring flower that comes before it

Having water pouring through a light fitting hanging from the ceiling should be a deeply upsetting and worrying time. Trouble is, been there and got the t-shirt. It's happened before and we lost a ceiling the last time and had all the clearing up and the remedial work which lasted weeks. This time, the leak is confined to coming down through the light fitting as the water, as it always does finds the least path of resistance.

The nice man from the gas company who we have the insurance with was here within 45 minutes and determined that there isn't a pipe burst, but that the source is most likely the seal on the shower tray that's gone and as one of the lads was having a shower, the seal has leaked water. There's just a drip now every ten seconds as the last of the water soaks away from the void between the floors. Another visit tomorrow will determine the final cause and hopefully it will mean the cost of a tube of silicon sealer rather than hundreds of pounds of work.

The weather here is a little up and down with heavy showers, warm sunny weather, cold spells; we've had most kinds of weather this last week except snow, but perhaps shouldn't speak to soon.

Mr Chu's, our Diversity Master Class venue by night with the Humber to the right

Although I am taking a break from work, we held a Diversity Master Class at work at a popular local venue last week with guest speakers designed to help staff realise their potential, to help understand where we as individuals and the organisation can remove the blockages to our development.

On the evening time, the formal work setting was replaced by inviting many people who represent the diverse community to a meet us at a relaxed event with many varieties of ethnic food and entertainment with a view to breaking down some barriers and open up communications and improve relationships. This was a huge success and very well supported.  There were dancers, musicians and comics to entertain for a few hours.

I reviewed the papers today (Sunday) for the local BBC Radio Humberside on their Sunday Brunch programme hosted by the incomparable consummate professional, senior broadcast journalist Andy Comfort. I get there about an hour before the programme is to start to read the papers and lovely producer, the knowledgeable Steve Redgrave makes superb tea. I try not to pick too many serious stories for a Sunday morning; I try to think of myself at home and what I would want to hear so I take a mix of topics bearing in mind the Sunday papers are quite heavy going. 

Today's stories included the Leveson Enquiry into press standards where only a fraction of the issue of phone hacking was examined leading some to the conclusion it was designed solely to attack the media; the Charles Saatchi domestic violence case which some say puts the cause of combating domestic violence back to the dark ages by giving Saatchi a formal caution (rather than prosecution) for alleged domestic violence perpetration; whistle blowing at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in covering up bad practise and weather forecasting and the detrimental effect on tourism in the UK by forecasting a bad summer. The final light hearted story was about being '...as old as you look or as young as you feel.'    

I answered five questions on the weeks news which I hear for the first time live on the programme and today for the first time ever, I got five out of five right! Whooppee!

Mr Cheesy - pruned, repotted and tied up (Monstera deliciosa)

Finally for today, I've just repotted a rescue plant which had been misbehaving (a long story) from a good friend and it's looking a little better, mind you, the rains have now come and I hope it copes okay.  

I've also learned a little about myself today which is never a bad thing (in this case) about some conditioning from the past which affects me today and which I need to address.

Have a great week ahead

Chat soon

Ta-ra.

Where Does Your Guidance Come From?

I hope the day finds you well?

The air is a little fresher here in sunny East Yorkshire today following some torrential overnight rain. Good for the garden undoubtedly, some of the pots in the garden were very dry.  The good thing is because the season seems a little slow, about a month behind roughly because of the exceptionally long winter, we still have lots of late spring flowers out. 

I read quite a bit when I get the time, but it tends to be in snatches because mainly I don't have time to sit for a quality couple of hours to get a decent amount of a book read in one go, hence why I have about four books on the go at any one time. I have started my part time working hours now so with two days a week extra off, I am hoping to get some good reading done. I guess I can achieve more of a balance between not being seen to be lazy by her indoors yet doing what I want to do and that's to continue my education in a broad range of spiritual and eclectic subjects. My time is also going to be devoted to increasing the amount of healing and psychic and spiritual work. 

One publication I read is 'Two Worlds,' a monthly magazine founded in 1887 and now edited by Tony Ortzen. This is a spiritualists magazine with a nice mix of views, opinions, articles, reviews and revealing interviews. There are a lot of adverts, but then this keeps the cost down.

There is a regular article in which the 'teachings' of a spirit guide called Silver Birch are written. Briefly, Silver Birch appeared and spoke through a trance medium called Maurice Barbanell who died in 1981. Barbanell was an influential commentator on spiritual matters in the mid 20th century and a series of books were published which contains the 'teachings' of this spirit. I put teachings in inverted commas because I guess they are observations and opinions which in most people's eyes could be contrived, made up or provide a basis to make money through publishing books. 

My view is that they are legitimate spiritual teachings. His observations are wise, very interesting and very inspiring; he calls God the Great Spirit. He appeared as a native American Indian (who, as a race were very spiritual and very close to the earth and spirit) during seances but lived on the earth many millenia ago worshipping many gods but realised of course that there is only one true 'Great Spirit.'

The seances were recorded in writing and reproduced and the article of great interest to me this month is about talking to the dead. Now my wife, who is  a Jehovah's Witness believes this is a dreadful thing to do.  Of course like all Jehovah's Witnesses, they can quote relevant passages from the Bible and like many subjects, there are a few quotes that seemingly makes talking to the dead a taboo practice. 

The Old Testament is full of wrath and damnation and there are several quotes about 'mediums' in Leviticus, Deutoronomy and Chronicles  which frankly is not supportive of the practice (to put it mildly). Mediums and mediumship is conspicuous by its absence in the New Testament, it more relying on the teachings of Christ to guide us and listening to the teachings of Christ is of course perfectly right. But He is not the only teacher or provider or observer of divine wisdom. 

Most Biblical commentators and theorists agree that the speaking to dead people is real but is the work of Satan, sent to deceive and give us all false hope. There is a very unhelpful and confusing episode with King Saul and the Witch of Endor, contained in Samuel if you want to read it, where God brought back Samuel in spirit.

Back to the point. Silver Birch makes this very interesting observation about talking to the dead. His first recorded comment is about the Bible itself. He says that the Bible has been subject to the manipulation of man throughout the years, consisting of mis-translations, omissions (lots of them) and today's Bible is a "copy of a copy of a copy." He says there are lots of accounts in the Old Testament of "...deception, villainy, murder and violence that nobody can possibly regard as being a divine revelation." God cannot, he says have possibly acted in such a way like no tyrant on earth would even have acted. 

The Spirit accepts wholly that it is written that we should not communicate with the dead but then comes the conflict, one which I have always recognised but not until now has it really hit me when Silver Birch articulates it like this: 

"Why then in the New Testament does the Nazarene (Jesus) and three of his disciples have a seance on the mountain where there appeared to them Moses and Elias and communicate, although they had been dead for a long time?"

He says that the call came from Moses in the first place that you shall not talk to the dead and yet he was the one to return and talk. 

Of course there is the premise that some believe that the Bible (and many other religious and Holy writs) is definitive and authoritative and yet this man created object (first translated into English in the 7th century), like religions, contains no evidence of a divine authority other than our personal faith. 

This is not and must not be seen as a commentary on any beliefs you may have. If you have faith and part of a religion, good on you, you make a choice to do that using your free will.  Many religious people (and some readers of this blog are committed to their religion) are good people in their heart and do great things for their fellow man.

God is in your heart, is in my heart, is all around us, we don't need buildings to worship or talk to the 'Great Spirit' as Silver Birch refers to him. Use the Bible as a reference for your own exploration of the truth by all means if that's what you want because there is good in it - be that of no doubt. Does it give us good guidance for the 21st century? It gives us a basis, but to be so inflexible and rigid and unforgiving for any deviation from it is madness and takes no account of how man has evolved from the times of ignorance to a more enlightened and complex society than is referred to centuries and millenia ago.

The Bible or any other religious reference work cannot be used as a tool to 'control' mankind, society and communities any more. We should work with it where it helps us move forward and where there is no modern context for its guidance - ignore it.

Just be spiritual - in the broadest sense and that doesn't mean talking to the dead at all. Be good, be a good citizen, be kind, be thoughtful of others, don't accept horrible people and bad manners - smile and do a good deed without being asked.  

Why do I talk to the dead? Because it gives me hope and I have experienced so much unconditional love and compassion and care and positive guidance (with independent evidence) and I have seen it change people's lives for the better - much better - mine included.

I hope this hasn't put you off reading this blog, I don't push this subject in your face on a day to day basis because it is only a small part of the bigger picture of my life and what goes on in the world, but it does drive me passionately about understanding why the world is changing and what we can and should do about changing along side it to protect ourselves from an uncertain future both as individuals and our to protect our fragile environment. If we are to survive, we need to see and feel God in ourselves. If we don't recognise the need to adapt and change, we will fall by the wayside.  

I'm not an academic (as you can clearly tell), and this isn't an academic piece. I just give you my very personal point of view (isn't that the point of a blog), you are very welcome to comment, but don't drive a coach and horses through my arguments, I can do that for myself thanks.

Take a breath, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Chat soon

Ta-ra.