The Morning After

And finally back home. Still struck by last night and the enormity of the occasion. But also struck by the sheer amount of help and support I got from my parents. My father in giving me guidance and helping make sure I had organised everything I was supposed to do. My mother for spending so much time sourcing flowers and fruit, and getting everything arranged to make the Festive Board look so good and the tables look so impressive. Unfortunately I failed to take the camera so can't show you, but I was very proud.

The Big Night

The morning is spent starting to worry about the practicalities of the day. Will the blue glasses that I have had engraved for the Lodge look good on the tables? Will my reply to the toast be suitable? How will we get the fruit and flowers to the Lodge? Have I printed enough place cards, and spelt names correctly? In some ways this is good because it keeps my mind off the enormity of the day.

After lunch I start thinking more about the actual event itself. The Lodge is going to install me as their Master for the next 12 months. They trust me enough to put the direction of the Lodge under my hand. This is really quite big. In fact, very big. I get more and more nervous. The meeting should start at 1630 hrs but we get delayed and we don't start until 1700 hrs. That was an incredibly long half hour.

Then the evening builds up, I have to step down as Senior Warden, in front of the Lodge I make some vows. Next all those who have not been in the Chair of a Lodge have to leave. The ensuing part is awe-inspiring (and I am not going to tell you about it apart from to say that what made it even more emotional was that my father conducted this part of the ceremony) before everyone comes back in and I am recognised as the Master. Then, after I close the Lodge, we all go upstairs for the meal.

I had chosen the same meal as my father had at his installation. It seemed a nice touch. Surrounded by friends a happy evening of conversation, toasts and replies, a bit of singing (the Masters Song) then followed. We finished late, very late. One of the latest evenings I have known but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, I didn't see surreptitious glances at watches. Some friends travelled a long way, Bristol and Daventry, and that made it even more special. I never wanted the evening to end.

Practice Makes Perfect

Down to Cardiff for a rehearsal before a very important evening for me tomorrow. The rest of the team have been attending the Lodges of Instruction and know their parts well. I come in, as usual, at the last minute and they have to hope I have learnt my lines and that I can quickly pick up where I am suppose to be at different times during the ceremony. This is the problem of living in Northampton and going to a Lodge in Cardiff, I just can't attend the rehearsals often enough. We have a pleasant meal beforehand then go into the temple. It all goes fairly well, at least the bits I am allowed to see. For about half of it I, and some others, are thrown out because we are not privy to what happens. This changes tomorrow for me.

Cry Havoc

A day at Warwick Castle. And I have to say that every penny there is well spent. The place is so well organised with something going on all the time and plenty to keep the children amused. "A" had a great time. Hard to say what was her favourite but I think she enjoyed the mini knights. This was an opportunity for the children to learn a bit about fighting in the 100 years war. The children got to choose roles from archers, billmen, knights and trebuchet operators ("A" was an archer). Then the daddies (well, some of us, considering how many children were involved either a lot of daddies were spoil sports or some of us had been VERY busy boys) played the role of the french. We charged the english lines but were repelled, first by the archers then the billmen. A trebuchet missile almost killed our king before we were massacred by the english knights. A lot of calls of "vive la france" and "sacre bleu" along with misbehaved horses and squeaky helmets lead to a lot of laughs, as much from the mothers as from the children.

The highlight for me was to see the working trebuchet. This monster of a siege weapon is the largest in existence weighing in at 22 tonnes and 18 metres high. We were very lucky today as there was no wind so they decided to fling a fireball. A big rock wrapped in hesian soaked in fuel and lit. The ball soared to an unbelievable height and an incredible distance before hitting the ground in an explosion of fire. Impressive.

One

A world around us
Moving, buzzing
Full of activity
Believing us
To be a part

When really
Deep down
This silence
And all we feel
Is apart

Bath Time

So my cats don't know a lot about the ways of the world. That's fair enough. No reason why they should. They are still fascinated by everything and like exploring. Also fair enough. So "A" gets in the bath this evening but it is a bit cold (parents-in-law around, cooked sunday lunch, lot of washing up, no water left). She complains so we let her get out and have a shower instead. Scooby comes in and decides to explore the bath. When it still has water in it. Have you ever seen surprise on a cats face? And indignation because we were laughing so much at him. He tried to maintain some dignity as he walked off but failed to carry it off as each step involved shaking a paw five times to get the water off before he would put it back down.

World Cup Cricket

For those that don't like cricket I will keep this short and sweet. England lost.

World Cup Cricket

I will risk some more "zzzz"s from Sal, and report on a result other than an England one. For Bangladesh have just beaten South Africa. Beaten them conclusively. An incredible upset and one that deserves recognition. Rather than being overawed the Bangladeshis gave it their all. I think the phrase is "respect".

Petting Zoo

Thank you for the following link 1iz. My favourite is the bat, mainly because of feeding time (hint: clik on "more")

adopt your own virtual pet!

adopt your own virtual pet!

adopt your own virtual pet!

More Ouch

So neither the painkillers or the wine have kicked in. Not a happy bunny. Now, I have to admit that I am fairly used to back pain. When I was a meer whippersnapper (or young student anyway) I was out in the car with a vet one day when he decided to overtake a tractor. Unfortunately the tractor turned right and we hit the back wheel and bounced back off across the road. Now, to be fair to the vet, it wasn't his fault, the tractor driver had not fixed up the electrics on his trailor (which he tried to surreptitiously do before the police arrived). None the less, this didn't do my back much good. Then I followed the exaple of many a young vet when I qualified and had a number of my own accidents. Including one where I put my Astra under a lorry, turned the Astra into a rather sporty looking drop-nose model, and my dog slept through the whole thing. So I live with a certain amount of discomfort day to day anyway. But this is different, it isn't ususally lower back and hips. No matter how bad things get I have been able to touch my toes. But not today. Today my toes seem an extra 5 feet away from me and the idea of touching them impossible. I feel very old. Please make me borg.

Ouch

This travelling is absolutely killing my back. Even with regular trips to the osteo I just can't keep up. Last year I bought a rucksac to carry the laptop rather than the normal bag so that it would distribute the weight better. I think the problem is all the security you need to go through. The rucksac is on and off my back so often, then at times being carried by hand, it can't help. Today my lower back and hips feel as though they have hot needles in them and can't bend down. Not good. Here's hoping some wine helps before I have to become borg like the man in the picture.

World Cup Cricket

As I was away last night I missed posting about the cricket. I was quite distressed because the hotel didn't have Sky Sports but I did manage to watch the highlights. And, compared to many recent England games, this really did have highlights. The England bowlers did well and kept the Sri Lankans down to a good possible target. I think at the end f the Sri Lankan batting it would be best to describe the match as honours even. Then England came out. The beginning was predictable, the openning batsmen struggling to get off the mark and two wickets lost for only 11 runs. So, so predictable. But then Bell and Pietersen got stuck in and for the next 15 overs or so things were turned around, England had the upper hand and the thought that we could win sneaked in. But once Pietersen lost his wicket for 58, with a very respectable strike rate, things faltered again. The men we should rely on failed and it started to look poor only for Bopara and Nixon to stage a recovery. From a very unlikely run rate they moved things forward and it came down to the very last over. 11 needed off 6 balls. And still they came. Finally 3 needed off the last ball. How tense can it get, 50 overs each and it still hangs on the last ball. Unfortunately rather than a heroes four, Bopara was bowled by Fernando and that was that. Close but no cigar.

Splash Down

I am generally not a great one for cute but 1iz has posted a youtube video of otters that is worth seeing. You will have to go to her site to view it as I haven't yet worked out how to insert videos into my blog (1iz being really clever can do it in comments as well). Otters are up there with my favourite animals, along with wolves (which I believe should be released back into the UK) and orcas (which should not be released into the UK, for one they wouldn't survive on land). One of my highest prized memories is unzipping my tent in the early hours when I was camping on Arran (being before I realised I had pitched my tent on an old burial ground around the corner from Lochranza, well obviously I knew it was around the corner from Lochranza, it was the burial ground bit ....anyway I digress) to see sea otters playing in the bay in front of me. I lost track of time watching them.

Tick Tock

Homes in Plymouth were evacuated last night because an old bomb was found. This was reported on Radio 4 where they said that "the bomb disposal squad have made the bomb safe and taken it out to sea". I love this image, where they have given it a comfy jacket and some pillows to rest on and are now taking it out on a pleasure cruiser for a sightseeing trip of Plymouth Sound.

Sweet Jesus

This is sad. Outraged catholics have demanded the removal of a 6 foot statue of Jesus made out of chocolate. They say the timing of the exhibit, coming up to Easter, is especially designed to provoke anger. I think it is a pity that they can't see the irony in the statue. A time when we should be thinking of his crucifixion, instead is a time when people think about sweets. Bringing the two together presents that juxtaposition and should make people ponder on what the real meaning of Easter is.

Every Breath You Take

I heard today that the Conservatives are calling for a complete reform of the Police. Why, I ask, they only just got back together.

Bring It On

OK, option one is to go to bed despondent. I don't like that option so I will have to go for option two. Option two is to say today is over and, importantly, as it is over nothing can be done to change it, therefore there is no point worrying about it. Tomorrow is an opportunity to reset the system. Take the challenges as ways to learn and to move forward. I need to be positive and I can be positive. Tonight I will look in the mirror and recognise I believe in myself. Tomorrow morning I will look in the mirror and say I am ready for it all.

Swing Low

Some days are just tough. A combination of frustration and things not seeming "right". And one thing leads to another so nothing seems to get done. It just adds up to a bad day, one which feels incredibly low. I have to remain positive at work and positive at home without anyone to really talk to. And, at times, that just seems too much.

Hands Up

I admit it. Sarah was right, very sharp.

AF

I suppose now would be a good time to tell people what my plans are. I have had to keep this secret but this is the right time. I have been in discussion with the Alaskan Fisheries (AF) for a job that they have for a vet. There have been concerns recently about diminishing numbers of orcas (killer whales) and the AF need to look into this in more detail. We have a number of theories including a migration of polar bears to the east because of global warming so that there is less food for the orcas or an orca that escaped from captivity disurpting pods so that they are not managing to breed. We have had to keep it quiet but the necessary documentation has come through and they have found accommodation for me. It is all going to be a bit of a rush and I am moving out there after Easter.