What is in Kelvin's Head?

Dear St George – here’s 3 dragons I’d like slaying

23/04/2015

Today is St George’s Day. Cue articles about how we know almost nothing about St George and bewilderment as to how he became patron saint of England.

Instead of that, here’s a few dragons that I like to see expertly slayed in our own day.

1 – Foodbanks in the UK.

When I went to the USA a few years ago on sabbatical I was filled with both admiration and horror at the amount of food that the churches were giving away in foodbank operations. Wonder at the sheer commitment and horror at the need. I proudly said that this kind of thing would never become a reality in the UK as we had a good social security system in place and if anyone ever tried to change that then the population would rise up against whoever was being so foolish. Sadly I was wrong – I came back to foodbank Britain not the Britain I’d left some months before. It isn’t nationalism or unionism that will stop foodbanks either. To kill this dragon we need a St George to rise up in the political world and bring an end to benefit sanctions and and ensure the timely processing of benefit claims.

2 – Xenophobia, anglophobia, islamophobia, anti-Semitism etc

The dragon of racism is stalking us again. Oh for a St George who could kill it once and for all instead of merely maiming it. People are just people.

It is difficult to believe that we are now having to tackle a real threat from the political right to the progress that we had made in freeing Europe from the tyranny of war. It is equally hard to believe that Jewish communities in the UK complain about insecurity. It grieves me greatly that my Muslim neighbours are often presumed to be complicit in terror.

3 – Same-sex marriage

This was a baby dragon that we adopted as a pet but the truth is, it has now grown up and become a little frightening. Whereas once same-sex marriage was a rallying cry for the cause, now the very words are being used against those who want equality, particularly in the church. We don’t want same-sex marriage in church, we want marriage to be open to straight couples and same-sex couples alike. One institution, one blessing, one God, one sacrament. It is time for same-sex marriage to die.

8 responses to “Remedy du jour”

Stewart

04/10/2007

I have had Garlic Mash three times in the past week, and Garlic and Horseradish on a steak last night.

I do not have a cold, so maybe it will work for you – or at least act as a preventative when am next at St Mary’s.

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Fiona

04/10/2007

Kelvin, have you tried mulled wine?

Sachets with the mulling spices in them shouldn’t be too hard to get hold of (try Peckhams). They look like little teabags. Add a dash of orange juice, maybe float a slice on top as well. : )

It might not do much for your cold, but at least it’ll help you sleep, which is what you need right now — rest and fluids.

Also worth trying is a Hot Toddy.

Hope you feel better soon.

~Fiona.

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Roddy

05/10/2007

Garlic’s not a bad idea. I’ve always found if I have a hot, garlic soaked, curry when I’ve got the lurgy I feel better.

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asphodeline

05/10/2007

What you need is a hot curry followed by a hot bath!

This man cold of yours is lingering on a bit or are you “milking” this illness??!!

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Andrew

05/10/2007

What is a man cold? Don’t women get them too?

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kelvin

05/10/2007

It seems to be a widely held view amongst women that men make much of their sufferings when they get a cold.

There is an urban dictionary definition here.

There are some who say that the female equivalent of a mancold is the flu, but I could not possibly comment.

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kelvin

05/10/2007

If Ms Asphodeline is fed up of hearing about my poor state of health, presumably it will be quite a while before we hear anything about her own on livejournal.

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asphodeline

07/10/2007

Haha, you know I’ll probably get the office lurgy now?!

I hope you feel better soon. There’s nothing worse than a man ~~with a~~ cold

x

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