What is in Kelvin's Head?

How did I do with last year’s predictions?

31/12/2025
Here’s a run down of how I did at last year’s predictions.
- Good results for Nigel Farage following the English local elections in May. Terrible results for Conservative Party.
Exactly what happened. YES
- No progress towards the marriage of same-sex couples in the Church of England
Exactly what happened. Indeed, I think things may have gone into reverse. YES
- Turbulent year for WordPress, which powers about half of the internet.
The year began with Automattic dramatically cutting its contribution to development leading to stagnation in development and much acrimony. Subsequently restored. Deep divisions remain about Gutenberg. I’m claiming this as a YES.
- 2025 will be the hottest year on record.
Final figures yet to be calibrated but all reports indicate that this, unfortunately is a YES.
- No trade deal for UK with US. Increasing talk of re-aligning economy closer to EU.
Well, there was a trade deal in May called the Economic Prosperity Deal but it doesn’t seem to much and some of the basics have already been reversed. I suppose I have to be honest and say I didn’t get this quite right so it is a NO. But…
- Ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine war but no long term solution.
Hard to assess this one. No long term solution, certainly. There have been a series of ceasefires proposed but none seems really to have been fully implemented. Partial YES.
- “Assisted Dying” aka doctor assisted suicide becomes legal in at least one of the jurisdictions of the British Isles.
I have to put this down as a NO as it completed its parliamentary journey in the Isle of Man but hasn’t received Royal Assent yet, so not technically legal.
- Turbulent year for economy but stock market higher at end of year than beginning. (FTSE currently at 8,173)
Stock market at 9,931 today and there was quite a lot of volatility in the first part of the year. So this one is a YES.
- There will be fewer Commonwealth Realms (ie countries which share the monarchy) by the end of 2025 than there are now.
This one is a NO though there has been significant progress in that direction in Jamaica and moves that way in Grenada.
- Philip Mountstephen.
Well, I was pushing Philip Mounstephen’s name as he appeared to be the only senior bishop in the C of E who actually believed the [absurd] position of the C of E bishops on same-sex relationships. But it is a NO – nothing significant to report.

So – five and a half out of ten this year. Not as good as some years. A couple of near misses.
new year, predictions. 2025

19 responses to “The rules”

Jane Mason

23/04/2014

I am going to need ‘severe’ reprimands about my use of the…. ! …….
The rest of the rules I promise to obey!

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Bro David

23/04/2014

So how is it that you get your entire congregation to wear black shoes to service? 😀

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Kelvin Holdsworth

23/04/2014

The congregation can wear what they like – the black shoe rule applies only to those in the sanctuary. (By which I’m meaning here the part of of the church at the front that is not the nave rather than the whole building).

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1. David Kenvyn
  
  23/04/2014
  
  Except of course the part of the cathedral around the Nave Altar where black shoes are mandatory unless they have been taken off for footwashing. Black socks or stockings as well.
  
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  1. Kelvin
    
    23/04/2014
    
    I was thinking of the crossing as santuary space rather than nave space.
    
    Reply
    1. Bro David
      
      23/04/2014
      
      What part of the building have you lot designated as the Holy of Holies? And whom among you is allowed to enter therein?
      
      Reply
      1. Bro David
        
        23/04/2014
        
        Oh, and do they have to be barefooted?
    2. Kelvin
      
      23/04/2014
      
      The historical, architectural holy of holies is undoubtedly the area around the high altar. However, the building was reordered around a nave altar before I came here.
      
      The high altar is never used now. Sometimes a small altar is put in front of it and used for smaller midweek services.
      
      Those entering that space would normally be those who had business to be there – the bishop (because that’s where is throne is) and clergy and servers at midweek services.
      
      The reality is that the larger space at the crossing is where it is all going on at the main services.
      
      Reply
Mary-Cate

23/04/2014

Frankly whilst I appreciate black ink for important/official documents I would argue that it falls into a similar category as boring worship. And I ALWAYS wear black shoes in the sanctuary

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Kelvin

23/04/2014

You always passed Shoe Inspection with flying colours, Mary-Cate.

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RevRuth

23/04/2014

And why do you think the Provost is any different to the Priest?

Black ink for registers. Purple for prose.

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Alan McManus

23/04/2014

2a. No filming or photography in church without prior warning to and permission from the people in the pews. (People in the sanctuary and people right at the font are fair game).

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1. Bro David
  
  23/04/2014
  
  Have the folks in the Sanctuary and front pews signed some sort of media release?
  
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  1. Kelvin Holdsworth
    
    23/04/2014
    
    We have photo policies in place with regard to the young choristers when they are on duty, yes.
    
    Reply
  2. Alan McManus
    
    23/04/2014
    
    Font, not front. I mean family and friends around a font usually want to be in the photos.
    
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Pamela Lucas

23/04/2014

INK – always believed Registrar’s ink was Blue\Black something to do with its content for being permanent ? Otherwise always Black.. unless you are head of MI6 whom I believe signs their initial in green ink.

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1. Kelvin
  
  23/04/2014
  
  I think you are thinking of Iron-gall ink, Pamela. Wikipedia does mention it in connection with clergy registers, but I must be honest and say I’ve never seen it myself.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_gall_ink
  
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  1. Pamela Lucas
    
    24/04/2014
    
    http://www.registrarsink.co.uk/registrars_ink.html
    
    This is what we used, and when we had our inspection, they checked our ink / registers. its Blue/Black. Our register started in 1571 … think no matter what colour ink when it gets to 2000 they will have more bother with the curate’s hand writing as no one ever taught me to use a fountain pen .. went to a school that did pencil and bic biro pens. something for the TISEC curriculum Calligraphy.
    
    Reply
Gordon

22/05/2014

Fell onto this page looking for info on the rules for wedding schedule signing. Just thought I would say that there is no such thing as a permanent fountain pen ink. If there was it would clog the pen. The myth of permanence was started by Parker, who used to bottle some ink as “washable” and some as “permanent”. The advantage of an iron gall ink is that you can’t wash it all out. I think all Diamine brand inks are iron gall based, not just their registrars ink.

Using fountain pen ink on an envelope means it can be washed out by the rain, but if you rub the address with a candle it waterproofs it.

Meanwhile, does anyone know what the registrar general rules are on ink for marriage schedules? I am assuming black.

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