What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • One Giant Leap

    News this morning of Neil Armstrong’s death will make anyone who remembers the moon-landings immediately turn back in their minds to that extraordinary event.

    I find myself able (just able) to join them. The landings are the first event that I can date which I have any memory of. I particularly remember my parents waking me up and taking me outside to look at the moon by way of sharing their excitement that there was someone up there.

    My memory of that night means I can remember the 1960s, though only just. I am, part of the space age. I can’t, to my regret remember the Beatles who were still going at that time and I don’t think I can accurately place anything else that happened in the decade of my birth.

    Neil Armstrong’s story is one of incredible bravery and courageous endeavor.

    I remember being particularly moved by the release not long ago of the statement that the American President would have made if they had not been able to get the astronauts home.

    In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.

    In ancient days, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.

    Anyone searching for a last-minute sermon illustration to match this morning’s gospel reading (which is yet another piece from the gospels about the bread of life) might well look towards the story about Armstrong’s colleague taking communion bread and wine to the moon to ensure that the first meal eaten there was the sacrament.

    Rest in Peace, Neil Armstrong. You took one giant leap. Now you take one more.

5 responses to “Mr Provost’s Finest Reindeer Receipt”

  1. Bro David Avatar
    Bro David

    You know that English is not my first language, but I thought that when you buy something that the shop usually gives you a receipt and that the instructions regarding how to cook or bake something was a recipe.

    Reply
    1. kelvin Avatar
      kelvin

      You are right, Bro David in that nowadays when you buy something you get a receipt and when you cook you follow a recipe.

      However, they come from the same word and it used to be that receipt was used for a list of cooking ingredients. See for example, Ladie Elynor Fettiplace’s Receipt Books, which I think Amazon still have in stock.

      So, my use above is an archaic form of English.

      Reply
  2. Susan Sheppard Hedges Avatar
    Susan Sheppard Hedges

    Do you actually cook and eat reindeer? I would think with all the flying they do, the meat would be stringy and tough! 🙂 Seriously, though, can you buy deer at the butcher’s or do you have a friend who hunts?

    Reply
    1. kelvin Avatar
      kelvin

      Yes, reindeer steaks for Christmas meal. Very seasonal. Delicious too.

      Any hunters around here would have to go quite a long way to bag a reindeer on the hills. (Finland?)

      These came from my local supermarket, Lidl who, being a German company often have things that others couldn’t or wouldn’t sell. (Snow chains this week!)

      Reply
      1. Susan Sheppard Hedges Avatar
        Susan Sheppard Hedges

        We have reindeer in the Northern climbs of our continent, Canada and Alaska. They are mostly called Caribou here. People do hunt regular sorts of deer in the US. My mother in her later years, had a neighbor that would bring her a prepared haunch sometimes. She said it was ‘gamey, but not bad’ which one could only expect of wild animals. I love the fact that your supermarket sells snow chains. It’s always nice to have a supplier for the emergencies.

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Atkins

    I am convinced that the Atkins Diet, like Songs of Praise, is a new religious movement.

  • Modern medicine

    Modern medicine is an amazing thing. I went to the doctor this morning and she took my blood pressure and then told me, quite correctly that I have sprained my ankle.The blood pressure was pronounced to be perfect. I considered getting into a debate along the lines of “…well if my blood pressure is perfect,…

  • Argyll

    I spent my day off this week in Argyll, which is abuzz with rumours about who might be o­n the list to be the next bishop of Argyll and the Isles. Well, perhaps “abuzz” is to go too far. It is certainly drizzling with rumours about who might be o­n the list when it comes…

  • Sermon – Candlemas 2004

    The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.Normally, I focus o­n the people in the story and speak about Anna and Simeon waiting for the baby. Or the gentle, holy family lined up waiting with their pigeons with all the other holy families who were waiting to make their offering that day.…