• How did I do with last year’s predictions?

    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.

     

11 responses to “Pentecost Dress Code”

  1. manageremeritus Avatar
    manageremeritus

    Does that include red shoes?

    1. kelvin Avatar

      Red shoes may be worn by anyone sitting in the nave. Those at the sharp end know the rules.

      An exemption may be made for serving popes.

    2. Sue Avatar
      Sue

      But they’d match his red dress so nicely…..

  2. kelvin Avatar

    Popes may wear red shoes at the sharp end. Wannabe popes can’t.

    It is really that simple.

  3. Brother David Avatar
    Brother David

    Kelvin, I think that you should wear red cowboy boots in the sharp end! 😉

  4. Rhea Avatar
    Rhea

    I’m trying to think of what the ‘national dress’ of the USA is…I think that if I were there, I’d just wear t-shirt and jeans 🙂

  5. Erp Avatar
    Erp

    So is Kelvin wearing a kilt?

  6. Kelvin Holdsworth Avatar

    Kelvin is not wearing a kilt.

    Kilts, however, may be worn.

  7. Margaret of the Sea of Galilee Avatar
    Margaret of the Sea of Galilee

    Our invitation to The Lord’s Prayer EVERY week is “And you can pray in whatever language or version is most comfortable for you”

  8. PamB Avatar
    PamB

    I’m sure I heard a rendition in Elvish. Perhaps it was Klingon, but it was very loud.

    I did not attempt the Doric.

    1. kelvin Avatar

      Elves, Klingons, Doric speakers.

      All are welcome in this place.

      And to be honest, little would surprise me any more.

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