Diary continued 15th August 2011

The end of June saw a recurrence of the back problem I’ve had on and off since Kimberley days. I’ve had 8 sessions with physiotherapists, the last in a fullsize heated swimming pool at the physio’s rooms in Westdene – a great experience and almost worth the pain! All I have to do now is find the cash to pay for it all.

I was at Universitas last Wednesday (diabetes clinic) and the doc took my back seriously enough that he sent me for a laser bone density scan and a few X-rays. I’m still waiting for the results. Meanwhile, the pain is controllable but I can’t walk far. (Diabetes is still perfectly under control).

I’ve also acquired tinnitus, which is like a head full of Christmass beetles all singing away merrily. Doesn’t really bother me much during the day (?got used to it in Harrismith rectory!) but is a problem at night in the silence of my bed. I took this to Dr Anthony Orrock, who I’d known in Ficksburg. He kindly gave me some sleeping pills and referred me to an audiologist called Geronimo (or something like that) who found my hearing to be perfectly OK. Tinnitus is apparently a total mystery to medical science and they have no idea what causes it or what to do about it. I’ve yet to receive Geronimo’s account.

Mid-July saw a kind visit by Annette and Janet Barret from Ficksburg. It was very good to see them again and get all the skinner from Ficksburg.

I was with the holy Sisters in Lesotho shortly after that and go there again tomorrow for a few days. Like most religious communities they are having to consider seriously their future up the remote mountain. I’m trying to help.

Yesterday (14th August) after church I visited Marje and Piet Steyn in their new home here in Bloemfontein. Bee & Ron Gray pitched up for a visit on their way to the Namaqualand daisies. Again, it was so very good to see old friends again, to reminisce about old times and catch up with new happenings in Harrismith. Piet very kindly gave me a bottle of splendid Harrismith wine made from his grapes in his old home there.

The picture is of Michael.

More Diary

More Diary 23rd June 2011

Went to Ficksburg for Isabel’s 80th birthday. We had a good lunch together, a couple of gin and tonics and a packet of fags. Much like old times. I also saw a bunch of other old friends at Imperani Park OAH. Isabel died 2 weeks later – no connection with my visit. Ever since I’d first met her, she’d made me promise that I would take her funeral. She had also, apparently, said this to her family, so they honoured this and invited me to take the service at Imperani Park, which I did on June 11th. Isabel had never been an Anglican and had no connection with any other church since her dominee husband died many years ago. She had no time for organised church-type religion (with which I could sympathise) and would have hated our Prayer Book service, so I did a hymn-sandwich kind of memorial with a sermon I know she enjoyed (Isabel was very much present at the service). Her 2 children gave great tributes and we all enjoyed a finger-lunch afterwards.

It took 2 hours to drive to Ficksburg via N1, Excelsior and Clocolan (though the road Excelsior to Clocolan is very badly potholed – nothing unusual in the Free State). It took 3 hours 15 mins to get back to Bloem via Ladybrand and the N8!! The many stop/goes & deviations are something to behold.

Saw the Precious Blood Sisters mid May when they were here for hospital visits and were staying at the Cathedral. Their future at Masite is questionable as they get older and more frail. We have a meeting mid-July to discuss this.

Voted just round the corner from my flat on May 18th, which was a pleasant enough experience – though made no difference to the result. Followed by a hair-do, which I always enjoy.

Car service on 23rd May was interesting. A minor fault disappeared when I got the car there so they couldn’t fix it. It recurs occasionally, but never when I’m anywhere near the garage.

On 29th May, I took both services at St Margaret’s – always a very rewarding experience.

Michael, a friend from Ficksburg, came on June 6th for nearly 3 weeks – the only person in the world to choose to spend his annual holiday in Bloemfontein!! It really was a blessing to have him here. He’s just left and I’m missing him terribly.

Trinity Sunday again gave me both services at St Margaret’s and gave me the chance to preach my favourite heresies on the Trinity.

Monday sees my next (and hopefully last) visit to the dentist. As good as my beautiful blond dentist is, it’s always a traumatic experience.

If I manage to upload the picture with this posting, it’s of the Ascension Chapel at Walsingham and shows Jesus ascending through the ceiling with just his feet still in view!.

Diary continued

3rd May More Diary …
Nothing much happened in the first part of April. Agnes is still missing, which means I spend a lot of time doing housework, washing & ironing. Shopping is almost a welcome break. With the onset of Winter, I wonder if I’m living in the right part of the world. Durban would be warmer. I bought a convection/panel heater at Game’s sale. Then had an entertaining time trying to drill holes in my wall to fix it – it won’t stand on the floor. The work wouldn’t win any prizes, but serves the purpose. I miss the anthracite burning stoves I had in Ficksburg and Harrismith.

Went to Harrismith on the 16th April for Palm Sunday, Holy Week & Easter because they have no priest since I was retired and de-licensed by the bishop. Stayed on the Leslie’s farm for Holy Week. Travelling up and down the N3 every day at holiday time is a work of art. I was looked after wonderfully well by Joan & David and their 3 dogs and 33 cats.

The church services were only a pleasure – can hardly be described as work. Mass at Eliza Liddell Home on Maundy Thursday was full house and St John’s was better attended than I remember at all services. Two baptisms at the Easter Day Ceremonies made it very special. The service was followed by blessing the new Wall of Remembrance for the interment of ashes. The wall is a work of art.

An old friend, Judith Blowers, died on Maundy Thursday. I stayed on after Easter with Bernard & his family from Australia and Dubai to take the funeral on Wednesday. Such very nice people. A power failure in the middle of my sermon momentarily put me off my stride, but all went well. It was worse for the ladies doing the catering for the Wake – coffee wasn’t as hot as it might have been, but the booze wasn’t affected. A number of people from the townships attended, which was a tribute to the work Judith & Bernard had done for them.

The extra couple of days made time to visit friends in the townships who were all most welcoming. It’s a very affirming experience to be so well-remembered.

An old friend, Isabel, turns 80 this week and I shall be going to Ficksburg to celebrate with her on Thursday. This weekend I think I’m supposed to be in Kimberley for something or other with Sister Camilla at St Augustine’s. Must check on this. Sr Camilla was at Masite when I was there last & she invited me, but the details have become vague.

April 6th .. Diary Continued

Bloemfontein Diary Cont….
Preached at St Margaret’s for first time on Lent 1 – really enjoyed that. Have continued to assist at Wednesday Mass (as Lay Minister).

After more how’s-your-father with Spar, my new coffee filter was couriered to my flat on the 23rd. Took a lot of time & effort, but worth it in the end..

Someone told me it was a public holiday on the 21st – I never noticed. Isn’t retirement great?

I was in Kimberley on April Fools’ Day & had a nice plate of prawns with the Bishop, Ossie Swartz.
I came away thinking I had arranged a solution to their problem which wouldn’t involve me but a call from the Bishop yesterday proved me wrong. He still wants me there.

Haven’t seen my maid, Agnes for some time: her husband died and then she found herself admitted to hospital. I hope she’s going to be OK. She’s such a nice woman who doesn’t deserve all this tsouris.

I spend some time doing housework, which I don’t mind. However, ironing isn’t one of my talents – takes me a whole morning to do what Agnes would do in an hour or so.

Will be at St John’s Harrismith from Palm Sunday to Easter doing the Holy Week thing & a couple of baptisms. It will be good to see everyone again and I feel very complimented to get the invitation. Now that the World Cup cricket is over, I have time to prepare.

A friend in CT, Daphne (a cricket fan like me), SMSed each other during the games and got all our result forecasts wrong except for the final: Daphne got that right while I continued my losing streak.

Diary continued

Diary continued … (by popular request)

I have acquired a maid. Agnes. She comes for a Saturday morning twice a month. Mainly to do ironing. (I do the washing). She cleans the flat in the time remaining. Marvellous!!

February was fairly quiet. Mass on Sundays & Wednesdays; bible study on Wednesdays. Ongoing fights with Standard Bank: they’ve stolen R7-29 from my account and some woman on the phone said that “terms & conditions” allow them to do this. Notwithstanding all the times & hours I’ve spent in Preller Square branch, I’m still not FICA compliant. Going there again tomorrow – eventually they’ll learn.

Similar fight with Spar. I bought a coffee filter machine in Harrismith which died just before the guarantee expired – bad planning on their part. Local Spars (lots of them in Bloem) are not interested. For last 3 weeks have been in contact with Spar’s Customer Service in Durban. They express interest but have not achieved anything (yet). Spoke to them again today. By the time I’ve won (and I will) I’ll have spent more on phone calls than the thing is worth. Meantime, an antique filter I bought at Cash Crusaders about 10 years ago is working perfectly – which is just as well – can’t do without decent coffee.

From 20th Feb I spent a week at Masite in Lesotho with the holy sisters. I did their accounts for 2010 and nearly balanced them. Said Mass & preached every day. Spent a good deal of time on their stoep watching the mountains, reading catholic magazines and being bitten by mosquitoes. Must do it again sooner rather than later. They’re very much easier to reach from Bloem than from Harrismith.

March started well: a friend from Vrede (Titose) pitched last Friday. Will assist at St Margaret’s on Ash Wednesday. Had a “haircut” at Maison Costa: shampoo, conditioning, scalp massage, cut & dry, another rinse to get rid of loose hairs. The massage was a delight & took about 15 minutes. And all for R85 – well worth it!!

I won the English football pools: a whole 3 pounds 40 pence!! Don’t know what to do with the cheque. Standard Bank would charge much more than it’s worth. Also won the SA Lotto: about R30. Might buy a packet of fags.

St Valentine

A very loving Valentine's Day to all who read this.
An unusual picture of the Saint: more realistic than most!

St Valentine

A very loving Valentine's Day to all who read this.
An unusual picture of the Saint: more realistic than most!

Second Few Days in Bloemfontein

19th January.

Spent the morning at Universitas Hospital’s cardiology clinic.
All OK: BP 120/60; BG 6.2; Pulse slightly irregular.
Kept on same muti and told to come back only in 12 months. (Used to be 6 months).

Found a splendid Spar supermarket near the hospital. Bit too far to go on a regular basis, but the one up Andries Pretorius is not so good.

Invited to bible study this evening at Pat’s.
Bible study went well. Kept a low profile.

22nd January
Went to ordination in Cathedral. An OK 3 hour service except for some incredibly slow singing.
Main reason was to catch up with old friends who had also come. Was good to see them again.

24th Jan.
Audited African Martyrs’ books for 2010.
Dentist again. Another R1,000 later was pleased with the result: 3 more broken teeth patched by Dr Marx.
Then spent a lot of time in Standard Bank trying to convince them of my new address. Failed!! The most unco-operative person in enquiries who seemed to be of the opinion that because I didn’t have an account at Edgars I wasn’t entitled to be a Standard Bank customer!! I have no accounts and owe nobody anything and so the bank isn’t interested in me. I closed my Standard Bank Card Account. Which meant that I also lost my garage card which was linked. It’s apparently impossible to unlink that card. It has to be destroyed and I have to apply for a new one. The miracles of banking IT!!

25th Jan.
Called in Diocesan Office to collect some figures for African Martyrs & some post, including a beautiful Lesotho calendar from Masite’s SPB Sisters.
Again in the bank. Applied for a new garage card and was told that the application would be declined because the destruction of the old one hadn’t yet taken effect!! My change of address also hadn’t taken effect and I had to do it again. SMSs tell me that new cards & cheque books have been sent to Harrismith. (Add your own !!). How does Standard Bank stay in business?
Spent the last of my Woolworths gift voucher (from St John’s Ladies’ Guild) on some goodies in the food line. That improved the day somewhat.
Got lost driving home again from Preller Square.
Finished audit.

26th Jan.
First day of some sunshine after what seems like forever of wet & miserable weather. So did some laundry.
Went to Pat’s Bible Study again. Colin from St Margaret’s was there and at the end asked me to take it over. I really don’t want to do that.

27th Jan.
Went nowhere and did nothing – had a day off, except for trying on the phone to get the Traffic Dept to accept my new address for car licence. Failed. I apparently have to pitch up in person to do something so very esoteric! They must have been taking lessons from Standard Bank. What happened to the good old days when you slipped someone a nip of cane spirit and everything fell into place?

First Few Days in Bloemfontein

It’s been a busy (even traumatic) first few days in Bloem.
The removal people pitched up at 06:30 on Monday morning. We got things packed and out of the Rectory by 11 and I left for Bloem. They eventually arrived at my flat at 19:30 and got everything in by about 21:00. Mountains of boxes everywhere But they were good: every box labelled with its contents and which room in the rectory it had come from. I did little that night except break a tooth on a toasted sandwich, but had a massive job for the next few days.
I ended totally exhausted with an aching back, making lists of necessary shopping.
Yesterday, I found a dentist and spent 1 ¼ hours in the chair having all sorts of things done. It took 2 of them about 10 minutes to pull the broken tooth, which broke into several pieces in the process. Getting the last root out took a lot of cutting and digging. Amazingly, I survived the experience and have had no subsequent pain, even though the dentist – a beautiful young blond called Dr Marx – said I would and gave me painkillers. I go to see her again in 10 days for more work.
I also found a new barber – Simone – who did a great job straight after the dentist when I couldn’t talk and was dribbling blood. She seemed to think this was perfectly natural! A new pharmacist completed my searches – and all within walking distance of Woolworths! All I need now is a new doctor.
This morning I did some laundry and tomorrow I have a maid – Agnes – who’s coming to iron it. Hard life?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we accumulate far too much “stuff” – I’d be doing perfectly well with less than half of what I have.
The traumatic part of the experience was leaving Harrismith and all my friends. Martie keeps in touch and Bernard came to see me when he brought Judith to Med Clinic for scans.
My 1st visit to St Margaret’s on Sunday should be interesting.

Leaving St John's

Farewell Sermon: Harrismith Jan 9th 2011 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
This is my farewell sermon here at St John’s, after 5 years of ministry. Normally, I give a report at our Annual Vestry Meeting, so you may think of this as a variation of that. But without the facts and figures.

It’s been a very good 5 years for me - better than I could have imagined. I hope that most of our congregation have benefitted as much as I have.

Much at St John’s has impressed me: firstly the quality of worship. As I’ve said and written many times before: this is our number one priority. We come to church to worship God and, then, to receive his many blessings in the sacraments and in other ways. It’s great that the congregation joins in the worship enthusiastically and not just as an audience – which is the case in some churches. The object is not our entertainment, even though we’re entitled to enjoy ourselves. I suspect that God often finds us entertaining and has a good chuckle, especially when we manage to get things wrong! Anglicans the world over are famous for being frightened to sing – but not at St John’s. Led by Martie & our little choir, our singing has echoed around the halls of heaven, to the joy of the angels & saints. It’s no accident that the biggest book in the Bible is a collection of 150 songs.
My ministry at Eliza Lidddell has been a blessing to me. I shall miss my work at the Hospital as a member of the Board and chaplain to the staff. We have a wonderful new hospital – be proud of it.

It’s wonderful that we have been able to be a blessing to so many in the community, mainly through the dedication & hard work of our tiny Ladies’ Guild. By way of mealie meal and blankets, they have fulfilled Jesus’ instruction to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. They, and others, have also enriched our church community by beautifying the church and enabling the fellowship of Sunday breakfasts. Their Friday morning teas are famous throughout the whole of Harrismith.
I'm very grateful for the Guild's most generous birthday/Xmas gift and will enjoy spending it at Woolworths when I get to Bloem.

We have a good collection of Lay Ministers, Readers, Servers, sidespeople & sacristans. The more people involved in leading the worship, the better. Our Sunday School & Teenz group are the envy of the diocese.

As I said last week, I don’t normally talk about myself & my experiences, but it may be useful to tell you how I came to St John’s. I was in Ficksburg for 12 years, which is more than long enough for anybody anywhere, and was looking to retire in less than 3 years. The Bishop asked me if I would come to St John’s and I explained that this was impossible. I had at most 3 years to go to retirement, which wasn’t long enough to start something new. The Bishop accepted this – it made perfect sense.

Then, I was preaching on the Sunday before Christmass when the Gospel was the Annunciation: The angel Gabriel came to Mary and asked her to be the mother of the messiah. Mary said that it was impossible for all sorts of good, sensible reasons. Gabriel’s response was “Nothing is impossible with God” (and that was the theme of my sermon). I suddenly realised that I was, even more than usual, preaching to myself. Gabriel wasn’t only speaking to Mary but also to me.

A few weeks later I happened to be speaking to the Bishop and mentioned that I would go to St John’s if he still wanted me to and if they would have me. I came here for interviews, and even though this old bachelor bore no relation to what St John’s wanted in the way of a priest (young, married with children), I was accepted. The rest is history. It’s not hard to see God’s clever, scheming, plotting, guiding hand in all this.

Retirement from St John’s is not my idea. I never felt less like retiring. But there is a time (God’s time) for everything. So, now I’ll read my Gospel for today. It’s not the one prescribed by the Lectionary, which is the Baptism of Christ, but verses from chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes. (1-8) It was a hit song ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’, by a little Irish girl, Mary Hopkins, when I was a teenager. I think I’ve only ever used it before at funerals.
Read it ………………………………
The point is that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. It’s now my time to go elsewhere and do what I don’t yet know. It’s also time for a change at St John’s. You may well be without a resident priest for some time. But it’s happened before and St John’s has flourished. You will do so again. The Cluster Leader, Fr Ben Mafereka will be in charge and will ensure that sacramental ministry continues. While the lay leadership will look after everything else. God will bless you if you co-operate with him & give him half a chance. Noting is impossible!

Vic's Christmass Leter 2010

Dear Friends & Family,

I turned 67 last month and I got my pensions after a lot of form-filling. So I’m very much a pensioner. But I continued to work for 2010 and saved the pay. So I was able to buy a car for my retirement which takes effect in January. (It’s a Chev Aveo hatchback). Being a pensioner gets me a 5% discount at the local supermarket (Spar) once a week. No such thing as bus passes or any other benefits. (No busses at all in most places, so a car is a necessity).

We had a severe Winter – very cold with not much snow. The Summer is funny: hot one minute and perishing cold the next. Not enough rain so far. I was in Durban a few months ago for a short holiday and it was beautiful. I stayed in a retirement hotel (Park View), just off the beach and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I was in Zululand, I used to stay there when it was an ordinary hotel. I could buy or rent a suite. But I’ve also been offered a flat in Bloemfontein together with a part-time job. And this is what I’m doing. At least until the middle of Winter when I may change my mind & go to Durban.

I’m renting a 1st floor 2 bedroomed flat, just outside the forest on Naval Hill – a great place for walks. (Plenty of room for visitors). A couple of little shops near by, but a car drive to supermarkets. St Margaret’s church is just down the road and that’s where I shall be based. Arranging the furniture removal is proving a slight problem (no removal firms in Harrismith) but I hope to get away by the middle of January.

We had our Parish Family Feast Day last Sunday, with the Bishop present. A good time was had by all. This included a farewell to me and my assistant, Edwina de Wet, who is also retiring and leaving for Cape Town. So, St John’s will have no priest at all for the foreseeable future. (Anybody interested?) Carols by candlelight next Sunday.

I may go over to England next year for a few weeks after Easter. It would be good to see everybody again. I’ve now got family there who I’ve never seen and my generation is getting older and fewer.

My diabetes is still under control. But now have a heart condition as well. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - which is nowhere near as bad as it sounds. I was put on rat poison to lessen the risk of a stroke. This alternates with ‘ventricular extras’ for which I’m taking a beta blocker. I wouldn’t have known about these things if I hadn’t been going to the diabetic clinic where they found them – not unusual for diabetics I understand. I feel perfectly well most of the time.

From mid January, my address will be 16, Prosper Court, Brompton Road, Navalsig, Bloemfontein, 9301, SA. Postal address: Box 411, Bloemfontein, 9300, SA. E Mail and cellphone as above, but no landline.

Love & Blessings to everyone,
wishing you a very holy Christmass and a peaceful Year in 2011.

Christ - A Most Unusual King!!

One Solitary Life

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an travelling preacher.

He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never travelled more than two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Those are the facts of his human life. He rises from the dead. Twenty long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centrepiece of the human race and leader of all progress.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of people upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.

All of us have been affected by the birth of this one man.