But the Greatest is Love

It's been a long couple of week, mainly involving too many hospitals.  To make things totally clear, and for those confused by my Facebook status, I haven't been ill, but people I know have been.

The articles here and here both have references to chess.  I am not trying to belittle the first issue since it such a divisive and controversial issue, but the photo of a bishop is that of the chess piece.  We then get onto chess boxing; where I'd definitely have more chance on the chess part than the boxing part.  I don't know what standard of chess they are playing to, but even at amateur level, there is an enforcement of silence in serious chess, and not with people getting hyped up and cheering in such a manner.  Just imagine a boxing match where the audience was totally quiet.

It's been a while since I blogged.  The weather seems to think it is summer now, although with the British summer you generally get two hot days followed by rain.  The current BBC forecast for the next two days is for rain.  It is a good thing I haven't put my umbrella away.

Having an interest in the Middle East, and Israel in particular, I was very aware that the 60th anniversary of the declaration of the state of Israel was coming up.  I remember the 50th anniversary ten years ago and was confused because I was aware of Israel of the Bible and wondered how it had only existed for such a short time.  It is a bit like the modern state of Greece having only existed since the nineteenth century.

For those of you who were interested and haven't heard, the proposed Mountain Rehab to the Republic of Ireland at the end of May is off:(  There was some talk of maybe going to Portugal later in the year, but that isn't happening either.  I got this information from the AL social committee (otherwise known as daxie and Ray) last night at thecafe.  I will just have to find some other use for the 100 or so Euros I have left over from my trip to Paris in November.

It's been more than a month since I blogged, in which time Easter has been and long gone.  The academic vacation at college has one week left to go, then the undergraduates come back and start panicing about their exams that start in a few weeks.

As it is the end of term (for the undergraduates; it doesn't make much difference for the poor postgraduates) I am in a rather reflective mood; especially as I have found out in the last day that two particular people have died.

Last Thursday there was a networking prayer meeting for those in education and childcare.  As a PhD student who does some teaching and marking, I help educate and am educated.

Here I am, sitting my office at sometime gone 3:30 in the afternoon, eating my lunch.  It just happened that way, I guess.  By the time I had done everything I intended to do immediately after I arrived, schools are probably just clocking off.

The title refers to something rather interesting that happened this evening.  Today, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent that lasts forty(-seven) days until Easter Sunday.  This post is intended to be a ramble through my day.