The Baguettes of Wimpole Street

Alright, I know it's a terrible pun, but at least it makes a change from quoting or parodying song titles, doesn't it? I was beginning to think after my last posting's title that I ought to rename this blog "Name that tune...". However, Tom O'Connor's already nabbed that one so I think I'll stick to Anyway... for the time being, anyway!

Unless of course, anyone's got a better suggestions. A prize of my lunchtime fare today, a cheese and onion baguette and a fruity scone complete with jam and butter from what has to be the West End's best bargain for whoever comes up with a new title for these musings, though you'll have to come and join me to collect it. Or buy it for yourself. Believe it or not, there really is a sandwich bar called "The Barrets of Wimpole Street" about 300 metres from where I'm now sitting, but I don't choose to offer them my custom. Rather, Vita's the place around this time every weekday for a torrent of West End workers who know how to make the most of their daily bread. I'm not on commission, but I thoroughly recommend them. These mid-day mega mouthfuls really are a bargain for the meagre sum of £1.35!

THE SPIRIT IS WILLING...
I'm sorry it's been a month now since I last posted on here, but it's not been through lack of interest. I've just been either too tired or too busy to actually get down to writing, despite the creative juices eagerly lubricating my brain cells.

"Citizen journalism" as it's known has been really coming into it's own these past few weeks, especially here in the capital where the horrendous events of early summer may have passed and the city attempts normal life, but the fall out remains. My last posting pre-dated the events of 21st July, when fear power came up against the un-nerving experience of potential fire power in London once again. As if enough blameless civilians had not already felt the impact of the events of 7/7. tragically on 22nd July a young Brazilian lost his life to the momentary but fateful mis-judgment of the Met.

As a consequence, today Sir Ian Blair, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police but no relative of that other more senior public figure, has nevertheless become equally controversial with calls for his resignation. Does this ring any bells? It certainly did for that great cleric and poet John Donne, who wrote so famously that we should not send to ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. Death whether by the ballistic force of bullets fired, apparently, at the wrong man or by the sad effects of bodily illness diminishes us all. Today brings news of another sad loss to British public life, as Mo Mowlam passed away after her long, brave fight against the effects of her previous illness. Coming so soon after the loss of Robin Cook who was lost to a heart attack, it's been a summer so far of constant reminders of just what a fragile case contains the miracle which is human life.

ANGELI MINISTRAMUS

In a world which seems to be increasingly losing its sanity as well as its sanctity then, you would think that more people would be turning to religion for the answers to these great questions of life. Spiritual life and enquiry ought to be thriving right now, but the reality appears to be rather different according to today's Christian Herald. Of course, you can do anything with statistics and they are famously unreliable as a source of truth.

The Way, and the Truth, and the Life is found now, as it has been for two millennia, in the life,death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Because he died, we live. And because he lives, and cares for each detail of human life, even the most miniscule matters, we can have Hope in an often hopeless world.

And I know that there are angels standing guard over us. I often miss the benefits of a classical education, even if my two days at Eton College in 1975 were a help. Even with my flimsy grasp of Latin, though, I can work out that the insrciption above the stunning pair of celestial beings in a window above me right now are angels, and they are ministering to us. Even the cynical secular world has a fascination with these most prevalent of biblical figures. May they watch over you now as you return to whatever you do, and may the peace that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Or maybe cause you to meet him, if you haven't already...