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The pack of papers for the General Synod have arrived and I have spent a couple of hours reading them all through and trying to work out what the motions are all about. I had thought that we were going to get a light year at the synod, however there are already 54 substantive motions…

It seems to be European day here in the Rectory. There are two Ascension day services to do (major holiday in some parts of Europe) and I also have Elspeth Attwooll MEP visiting today. She is being photographed here in Bridge of Allan sitting next to a computer and a European flag. Then she is…

There is an excellent picture of me winning a sack race o­n the church website – www.saint-saviour.org Take a look. 

Lord High CommissionerThe Lord High Commissioner is the reigning monach's observer at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland when she herself cannot be present. He or she is effectively treated as the Sovereign for the week and ranks above everyone in Scotland except the Queen herself and the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip)…

Crave       1   verb               to beg, to desire eg “Don't you just crave strawberries in May?”2   noun (rare)   the fundamental intent of a Petition or Overture in Scottish Presbyterianism eg “If the crave of the petition be granted, the General Assembly if so advised shall instruct the Presbytery to take the candidate o­n trials for licence.”

I remember about 10 years ago visiting someone in a university department who was working o­n virtual reality computing. Then it involved putting o­n goggles and walking about in a virtual world which, if I remember, was based o­n Egypt. (Pyramids were easy to do in those days). Now there is the Church of Fools…

The parties contesting the European election o­n 11 June have just announced their candidates. In Scotland, people can choose from 10 parties. There are the usual suspects, plus the UK Independence Party, the British National Party, Operation Christian Vote and Scottish Wind Watch. Operation Christian Vote is a new o­ne just formed. O­ne of their…

WiFi blogging – oh yes. This blog is being written from the sofa using the laptop. Can now presumably blog from bed and bath too. Not that setting up the laptop wireless network was easy. This was principally because of the many attempts to use the University network when I am in the chaplaincy. Once…

Well, the cross examination yesterday at the Public Inquiry was a good deal crosser than I was expecting. It had been intimated to a number of us that the cross questioning of third party witnesses would not amount to much, so I was surprised at the rather aggressive tone of the lawyer for the opposition.…