News today from the CofS Powers that Be that it looks like we might be able to open church buildings for prayer and small weddings from June 18th (stage 2) and possibly for group worship from July 9th (stage3). But there will be assessments to complete first, and that depends on the unlockdown happening pretty much as fast as possible. Just when I am getting the hang of the online services.... I find I am not keen.
We're looking at an August start for services, and even then expecting that many of our members will be shielding or otherwise unable to attend services. At present the minister is recording short 20-25 minute services that go on a service that members can phone in (on a local rate number) to listen to - we have very few members with enough internet skill (or even internet at all) to negotiate Zoom or video recorded services. That will continue indefinitely, even after lockdown is lifted completely we will still have several members who will make use of that due to difficulties with getting out regardless of the extra problems of coronavirus. We will need to look at how to record the sermon and other selected parts of the service when we have a visiting preacher so that everyone gets the same sermon.
I think we are gearing up for opening for private prayer with a one-way system - down one aisle, across, back up the other aisle, with "prayer stations" set up at the corners. We've done something like this before, during the Brexit debacle, with prayer stations on the theme of "what unites us is greater than what divides us." The same set up with the addition of a few one-way arrows would be do-able.
Group worship would be far harder, unless we had an upper number and asked people to book in advance. The snag there, I think, is that those most able to book in advance would be those who are already watching sermons online etc. We have a weekly 30-minute message on Facebook from our minister, plus a service which is shared by several churches. I've been watching the message live, but the services later, as that way I can fast-forward past any hymns I don't like
We've been having weekly Zoom Bible Studies which I have enjoyed.
I am so not up for re-opening! And @Alan Cresswell mid August is what I have been expecting, rather than mid-July.
Meanwhile, however, I have sent the Moderator's Pentecost sermon to the elders to read, mark, inwardly digest, come up with a seven word response to and then contact me to arrange a garden conversation to talk about how re-opening can be going forward, not going back.
I like your idea of a one way system @North East Quine but what about cleaning between visitors? Or are you going to issue masks and gloves at the door to be discarded on the way out? Or maybe I am getting paranoid about this - I was talking to a colleague yesterday and he really is paranoid about deep cleaning after every person.
Meanwhile I need to film myself doing an online communion..... Life is a bit weird!
We had a Zoom Session meeting, but I thought it was unwieldy. One thing I really like, though, about it is the timing. Most of our church meetings assume that you are retired and can have an early tea, then mosey along to church in a leisurely fashion.
Online means that I could enjoy my dinner AND, simultaneously, attend Session!
We had a Zoom Session meeting, but I thought it was unwieldy. One thing I really like, though, about it is the timing. Most of our church meetings assume that you are retired and can have an early tea, then mosey along to church in a leisurely fashion.
Online means that I could enjoy my dinner AND, simultaneously, attend Session!
All our session meetings assume you have to finish croft work while it's still light so start late and run later.
It doesn't get properly dark in June in Orkney; David used to recount a story of when his parents were up on holiday, and they'd gone out to Sanday for a concert one evening. He couldn't go with them, but went down to the harbour to pick them up at about 11 o'clock. They were late (their boat had engine trouble and they were rescued by a passing male-voice choir*); he just sat in the car, reading his book (with no lights) until they arrived at about 1 in the morning. He said he watched as the sun went not quite down to the horizon, rolled along a bit and started up again.
* There was a gospel choir called the Men of Orkney which had members in Kirkwall and in Westray, and they used to meet occasionally to rehearse together; they happened to be on their way back and their boat towed the one my in-laws were on.
Has anyone else been watching Scotland's Home of the Year? S. and I have been quite rivetted - and the Georgian townhouse in central Edinburgh last night was just beyond beautiful and out the other side. The judges all gave it 10/10 - I'd have wanted to give it 20! I can only imagine what it must be worth ...
A suitable Palace for the President, perhaps, when The Time comes?
(I haven't seen the programme - any chance of a link to some photos? I like Georgian houses, although I've never been fortunate enough to own - or live in - one).
Here is the link to the BBC I-Player of the show. The house in question is the one pictured with the stairwell immediately to the right of the picture of the show's presenters.
Lots of care homes have had no cases. Like the one three doors down from my home, where the staff have not only kept the residents safe, but have taken on all the activities which used to be done by outsiders, and have upped the posting on Facebook so that families can see their parents etc being active, engaged and interested every day. (Painting, music, provided by some of the residents, keep fit, gardening.) In the lockdown period there has been one death, and that was from the effects of being nearly 102! We never hear about the good news stories.
Not in Scotland, but the home where David's mum lives in Essex locked itself down before the general order was given, and the staff moved into accommodation on-site so that they couldn't go home, and AFAIK they've had no cases either.
Three people have been 'stabbed to death'. The police officer who was stabbed is not one of those three, it seems. A 'suspect' has, however, been shot dead by police.
Lord, have mercy. As if the Bloody Plague wasn't enough to contend with...
The hotel where this happened houses asylum seekers. And, only last week a short ways down the street a march calling for improved support for asylum seekers was attacked by far-right activists. I don't know if there's any connection between these events.
Private Eye classified ads are advertising a property "secluded in an Aberdeenshire village" which is 30 mins from Aberdeen airport, 1 hour from Inverness, 20 mins from Royal Deeside and convenient for Speyside.
I need to figure out which Aberdeenshire village this is! Currently, google maps estimate the driving time from Aberdeen airport to Inverness going the most direct route, the A96, at 2 hours 7 mins, which seems optimistic to me. I don't think I've ever driven it in under 2 hours 20 mins.
If I could figure out which Aberdeenshire village the advertised property is in, I could drive there and then be in Inverness an hour later, shaving at least 30 mins off my driving time!!
Any guesses as to which village is simultaneously 30 mins from the airport and 1 hour from Inverness?
I couldn't think of anywhere that would meet that description of travel times from different places that didn't require magical transport. Either that or the driving skills of Colin McRae.
I was hoping the Private Eye advertisers had found some magical place which breaks the usual constraints of time, thus enabling me to me whizz through to Inverness.
Now I’ve started looking at it that way, it shows the shortest journey between Aberdeen Airport and Inverness as being 2 hours and 10 minutes (which is basically what NEQ has already said), so there’s no way anywhere can fit the description- caveat emptor
I find it hard to believe that anyone is (?) taking seriously an advert in Private Eye...
Or does my own Irony-O-Meter possibly need recalibrating? I'll have to look further into the small ads - doubtless there's a service available cheaply enough, at around £99.99 per hour, or thereabouts...
My new bid is for Alford. I have decided that anyone who thinks that being 20 mins from Deeside can also be convenient for Speyside has not driven these roads....
Of course if they have not driven the roads, just looked on a nice flat map, it could even be Tomintoul!
Scotland the What had a skit about someone buying a rural property with a south-facing back door. I'm envisaging this property as similar.
I have ...drum roll... just finished the Duolingo Gaelic course! I seem to recall that there were others doing it. How is it going for you?
I don't think I could attempt even a basic conversation. Back in the day I got a B in Higher French and a B in O Grade German, without ever being able to speak either language, so I have no expectation of being able to speak Gaelic. My aim is to be able to read it, and Duolingo felt like a good first step. I intend to work my way through the online Learn Gaelic beginners course next.
Well done. I gave up. Ran out of time and energy. My sister, who is retired, is working her way through it, though. Like you I don’t think a course which doesn’t require you to speak can teach you to do more than read and maybe listen a little.
I didn't do Duolingo, but while the children were here they were in Gàidhlig stream and the teacher arranged some lessons for parents so we had some hope of helping our children with school work. One of the recommendations was to simply listen to Gàidhlig, even without fully understanding - BBC Alba and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
... a rural property with a south-facing back door ...
The house we had in Belfast was advertised as having "a lovely southerly aspect to the rear". Which it did.
If estate agents had written the book of Genesis, it would have gone something like this:
And God created the earth: that which was south-facing he called South-facing; that which was east-facing he called Mainly South-facing. That which was west-facing called he Chiefly South-facing; and that which was north-facing the Lord our God called Enjoying Delightful Prospects All Around.
... a rural property with a south-facing back door ...
The house we had in Belfast was advertised as having "a lovely southerly aspect to the rear". Which it did.
If estate agents had written the book of Genesis, it would have gone something like this:
And God created the earth: that which was south-facing he called South-facing; that which was east-facing he called Mainly South-facing. That which was west-facing called he Chiefly South-facing; and that which was north-facing the Lord our God called Enjoying Delightful Prospects All Around.
Here endeth the lesson.
I kind of want to check and see how they market back-to-backs.
... a rural property with a south-facing back door ...
The house we had in Belfast was advertised as having "a lovely southerly aspect to the rear". Which it did.
If estate agents had written the book of Genesis, it would have gone something like this:
And God created the earth: that which was south-facing he called South-facing; that which was east-facing he called Mainly South-facing. That which was west-facing called he Chiefly South-facing; and that which was north-facing the Lord our God called Enjoying Delightful Prospects All Around.
Here endeth the lesson.
I kind of want to check and see how they market back-to-backs.
"Bijou Victorian cottage with many period features"? (I am not an estate agent myself, I hasten to add)
Comments
Group worship would be far harder, unless we had an upper number and asked people to book in advance. The snag there, I think, is that those most able to book in advance would be those who are already watching sermons online etc. We have a weekly 30-minute message on Facebook from our minister, plus a service which is shared by several churches. I've been watching the message live, but the services later, as that way I can fast-forward past any hymns I don't like
We've been having weekly Zoom Bible Studies which I have enjoyed.
Meanwhile, however, I have sent the Moderator's Pentecost sermon to the elders to read, mark, inwardly digest, come up with a seven word response to and then contact me to arrange a garden conversation to talk about how re-opening can be going forward, not going back.
I like your idea of a one way system @North East Quine but what about cleaning between visitors? Or are you going to issue masks and gloves at the door to be discarded on the way out? Or maybe I am getting paranoid about this - I was talking to a colleague yesterday and he really is paranoid about deep cleaning after every person.
Meanwhile I need to film myself doing an online communion..... Life is a bit weird!
Online means that I could enjoy my dinner AND, simultaneously, attend Session!
All our session meetings assume you have to finish croft work while it's still light so start late and run later.
And presumably, it doesn't really get dark until about 10pm this time of year where you are...
I was in North Harris over the June equinox last year, and I'm not convinced it was truly dark even in the middle of the night up there.
* There was a gospel choir called the Men of Orkney which had members in Kirkwall and in Westray, and they used to meet occasionally to rehearse together; they happened to be on their way back and their boat towed the one my in-laws were on.
I love the image of the sun not going quite down, rolling along a bit, and then starting up again!
Fair point. Though we tend to have fewer meetings in summer anyway.
(I haven't seen the programme - any chance of a link to some photos? I like Georgian houses, although I've never been fortunate enough to own - or live in - one).
Even the stairwell looks spectacular (though the angle of the camera lens probably helps!).
https://theguardian.com/society/2020/jun/11/we-locked-down-a-week-early-the-scottish-care-home-with-no-coronavirus-cases
Full marks!
Well done them.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7111259/glasgow-scotland-incident/?fbclid=IwAR1LG2Rb6fUPOBrKMOR0uVdhvOpPbHOFpNRfkL-8IN0CHLqDNgMc4sXKdY4
ETA: Police officer stabbed.
Lord, have mercy. As if the Bloody Plague wasn't enough to contend with...
I need to figure out which Aberdeenshire village this is! Currently, google maps estimate the driving time from Aberdeen airport to Inverness going the most direct route, the A96, at 2 hours 7 mins, which seems optimistic to me. I don't think I've ever driven it in under 2 hours 20 mins.
If I could figure out which Aberdeenshire village the advertised property is in, I could drive there and then be in Inverness an hour later, shaving at least 30 mins off my driving time!!
Any guesses as to which village is simultaneously 30 mins from the airport and 1 hour from Inverness?
Admittedly, the advert didn't say "1 hour from Inverness by road" It might mean 1 hour using chimneys and Floo powder.
We don't have a chimney, nor can I source Floo powder, so that wouldn't work for me.
Or does my own Irony-O-Meter possibly need recalibrating? I'll have to look further into the small ads - doubtless there's a service available cheaply enough, at around £99.99 per hour, or thereabouts...
Of course if they have not driven the roads, just looked on a nice flat map, it could even be Tomintoul!
I have ...drum roll... just finished the Duolingo Gaelic course! I seem to recall that there were others doing it. How is it going for you?
I don't think I could attempt even a basic conversation. Back in the day I got a B in Higher French and a B in O Grade German, without ever being able to speak either language, so I have no expectation of being able to speak Gaelic. My aim is to be able to read it, and Duolingo felt like a good first step. I intend to work my way through the online Learn Gaelic beginners course next.
If estate agents had written the book of Genesis, it would have gone something like this:
Here endeth the lesson.
I kind of want to check and see how they market back-to-backs.
"Bijou Victorian cottage with many period features"? (I am not an estate agent myself, I hasten to add)