Today brought an 'extra' edition of Praxis (the joint Baptist/Methodist/URC public issues team publication) urging action on two live and important issues.  I know readers of this blog will have diverse views on each of these, and especially the second (it impacts the employment of some of my friends whichever way it goes) but it seemed right to bring them to your notice.

Firstly, the minimum pricing of alcohol measure for measure campaign where we are invited to write to our MPs urging action.  Several nights a week our premises are used by support groups for people with addictions, one of which is Alcoholics Anonymous.  Walk in any town or city on a Saturday night and the results of cheap booze are self-evident.  I'm not saying everyone should be like me and be TT, but if people are unwilling or unable to be responsible in their drinking habits, then action is needed - and ending cheap booze has to be a first step to moving away from a culture that promotes drunkenness.

Secondly, the replacement (or not) of Trident on which BUGB Assembly passed a resolution two years ago (I was there, I recall it!).  If the resolution is to move from rhetoric to reality, then people need to get off their metaphorical rear-ends and do something... again, writing to MPs is suggested.

You can find out who your (Westminster) MP is here

Then a reminder of the Beyond 400 bloggy thing to which I have a link in the left sidebar.  Some interesting conversations, though the level of active/public participation is small, if measured by comments left.  It does seem to be, so far, very much the 'usual suspects' and even the writers I don't know seem to be part of a similar mindset.  It really needs more people to join in - agreeing or disagreeing - so why not visit it if you haven't done so (or haven't for a while).  Anyone of any persuasion can comment, it's a public blog!

Fifty years ago to the date, my parents married in a register office ceremony in London, attended only by them and a few close friends.  I know, because she told me, that my Mum hand stitched a green dress for the occasion.  There were no photos, no grand reception, no presents and, so far as I am aware, no honeymoon, though they did spend some time in Scotland during that first year.  Today would have been their goldden wedding day, had my Dad still been with us; in fact it is now almost 22 years since he died, meaning that my mum has been a widow almost as long as she was married... a sobering thought.

I am under no illusions that my parents' marriage was idyllic, they faced many challenges along the way including chronic illness, loss of a child in infancy, poverty and unemployment.  They had some real humdingers of arguments at various times too.  But I am also convinced that they loved and cherished their children, living sacrifically to give us opportunities they had been denied.

I'm not a great one for sentimentality, my parents brought me up to be practical rather than romantic, but today, on what would have been their Golden Wedding, it seems right to pause for a moment in gratitude and respect.

[and yes, gentle reader, it also means I have a golden birthday in ten month's time]

Yesterday afternoon I placed an order for some items I wanted for our Maundy Thursday Seder... some paper 'Seder plates' and matching napkins and, more specifically, a proper Seder plate, something I have long wanted to own but never felt justified in buying.  So, ordered something like 3p.m. Tuesday... landed on my doormat 7:30 a.m. Wednesday... impressive!

I had a lovely time opening the parcel and removing the layers of Hebrew newspaper from the various items.  I love my Seder plate, which is now sitting next to my pottery communion set on a bookcase in my living room.

I am looking forward to the Seder... lots of work to prepare for it, especially as I want to do it 'properly' with a meal at its heart, not just a token bit of charoset and broken matzot.  Just wondering now if I should buy a proper menorah and a CD of Seder music too!

I've long wanted to climb Ben Nevis... and just about anyone I asked had already done this and had no urge to do so again.  I also wanted to find a way of marking the second anniversary of my cancer diagnosis that would raise money for one of the charities that I have been grateful for.  So, today I signed up for the Breast Cancer Care Ben Nevis Challenge which takes place in September (see widget thingy on the right sidebar).

BCC is a dedicated support charity whose leaflets are used extensively, and almost exclusively, by NHS GGC who undertook my treatment.  BCC provide many courses and events as well as opertaing a well-used online forum where people can give and receive support and encouragement or simply let off steam.  I used a lot of the leaflets and through the forums have 'met' and met-for-real many wonderful people.

So, the walk up Ben Nevis will be fun and a suitable challenge for second anniversary... much nicer to be facing a real moutain to climb this September than the metaphorical one two years ago.

One of the more entertaining aspects of PAYG is discovering the saints days, holy days and other special days that are marked.  Today is the RC festival of two Thessalonican brothers from the 9th century who undertook missions among the Slavic peoples in what is now known as Bulgaria.  No martyrdom so far as I can ascertain, Cyril is credited with the alphabet used in eastern European countries to this day and it seems the brothers were advocates of liturgy in the vernacular.

I don't think anyone has developed a card for this festival!  I presume it won't result in hikes in the prices of flowers or chocolates or strawberries, but the ability to read scripture in the vernacular, to pray in our native tongues and to hear of God's love in words we understand seems worth celebrating.  I think today I will take a moment to recall the work of the Bible Societies worldwide who still strive to bring these life-giving words to people of all languages.