They piled on the runs to polite applause > as I struggled to keep eleven men on the field owing to a succession > of toilet breaks due to a pre-match finishing off of beer left over > from Hughie's stag night practice the week before. -archy
Classic. Your a true talent Neil. If you ever write your memoirs I'll buy a copy. dj On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 5:50 PM, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > > My mate Hughie (a West Indian exile) was crying in his beer at the bar > after one of our infamous victories over posh neighbours at cricket. > This was at Cheadle Hulme, a team driven to games in BMWs by trophy > wives who smiled disdainfully at our Ford Anglias and Cortinas, > probably believing them to be stolen. I'd won the toss and put them > in, fearing the game might be over before the bar opened if we batted > as badly as the week before, when we'd been beaten by a bunch of > Yorkshire chicken farmers. They piled on the runs to polite applause > as I struggled to keep eleven men on the field owing to a succession > of toilet breaks due to a pre-match finishing off of beer left over > from Hughie's stag night practice the week before. They declared at > 301 for three - a massive total off 40 overs. Lacking confidence, my > heroic team elected to reverse our batting order to speed up our > demise and get back to the Parr Arms early. > This put 'Steve the Fielder' in first, never a man to take a hopeless > cause unseriously. He was still nought not out when I got to the > crease with the score 70 for seven. Steve was undoubtedly the world's > worst batter, couldn't bowl and his contribution to our innings so far > had been to run three colleagues out, including Hughie who had run > three only to find Steve tying a shoelace at the wrong end, having > only run one. I fielded Steve at Boot Hill, a certain death position > for others, even wearing body armour. In baseball, this would equate > to the catcher fielding in front of a slugger, within bat length. > Steve, oblivious to the danger after his usual smattering of fat > cigarettes, was the only Boot Hill natural the world has ever known, > catching impossible catches. This was to be his greatest innings, the > most unlikely 50 ever scored, the ball so ashamed to be involved in > this game it sought out the edge of his bat before rushing off in all > backward directions to seek solace in the undergrowth at the boundary. > Modesty prevents me revealing my score in this match and shame my > bowling figures. We won with a six of the last ball. I asked Hughie > why he was crying amidst the somewhat squalid, raucous victory > celebration. 'I've been praying', he replied. I put another beer in > front of him, mentioning his Gods must indeed be effective and I must > pay homage to them for my century. More tears flowed. 'I was praying > for the purity of the game I love', he went on, 'and yet got to see > all that is holy destroyed in front of my eyes. God knows what would > have happened if I'd been praying for you. You have sold the soul of > the game for a few runs. A better man would have gone to defeat > quietly'. His nickname for me ever since has been 'Evil'. I was > best man at his wedding, his Xmas cards always in homage to 'days with > the ugliest batsman in the world'. I don't remember signing that > contract in blood, but we were very drunk the night before the match. > > On 10 Sep, 20:24, Molly Brogan <[email protected]> wrote: >> Thanks for moving the prayer discussion over, Francis. You win the >> prize today for thread purity. We should, indeed, keep Neil's homage >> pure... >> >> On Sep 10, 2:47 pm, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> > Two once drink-sodden Celts fulminating from the battle-wagon of peace >> > at the gates of heaven Francis! They'd give up quicker than my first >> > pint of chilled lager on my return in ten months! >> >> > On 10 Sep, 16:37, Simon Ewins <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > > The only prayer know to ever have worked is prayer that cannot be >> > > verified as providing what it was assumed to. Unless the goal is to >> > > just 'feel' better then prayer always works but so what? Many things >> > > can achieve the same result. >> >> > > 2009/9/10 iam deheretic <[email protected]>: >> >> > > > No No Lee it deals with it as a concept of prayer in reality.. it is >> > > > interesting as it is avoiding >> >> > > > the book is >> > > > Basic Magick by Phillip Cooper >> >> > > > it is working off the esoteric view point You = Belief = Life Energy >> >> > > > Life energy is basically the force of creation. It is kind of a >> > > > fascinating >> > > > book to read and in a way it is dealing with the concept of effective >> > > > prayer >> > > > that works.. >> > > > Allan >> >> > > > On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 1:12 PM, [email protected] >> > > > <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > > >> Heh yeah but what kind of magic does it talk about? >> >> > > >> You're basic like for like type where your manipulation of a substance >> > > >> causes change in a similar, or afiliated substance? >> > > >> Or perhaps runic, or chanting, danceing, trancing? What? >> >> > > >> On 10 Sep, 12:01, iam deheretic <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > >> > Oh ,, Lee it was the title of a book I bought years ago that has a >> > > >> > very >> > > >> > interesting view point on prayer I thought Francis might be >> > > >> > interested >> > > >> > in >> > > >> > reading. >> > > >> > Allan >> >> > > >> > On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 11:15 AM, [email protected] < >> >> > > >> > [email protected]> wrote: >> >> > > >> > > Ohh what sort of basic magic? >> >> > > >> > > On 9 Sep, 19:26, iam deheretic <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > >> > > > Me to and it does Francis >> > > >> > > > Next time we see each other remind me to loan you one of my >> > > >> > > > books >> > > >> > > > called >> > > >> > > > basic magic,, put some new insights to prayer. >> > > >> > > > Allan >> >> > > >> > > > On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 5:16 PM, frantheman >> > > >> > > > <[email protected] >> > > >> > > >wrote: >> >> > > >> > > > > I'd be storming heaven with continuing rosaries for a >> > > >> > > > > successful >> > > >> > > > > outcome for you Neil - now, if only I could start believing >> > > >> > > > > that >> > > >> > > > > prayer works ... >> >> > > >> > > > > Francis >> >> > > >> > > > > On 9 Sep., 16:09, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: >> > > >> > > > > > I got news of an interview for a job in Dubai today - it's >> > > >> > > > > > next >> > > >> > > > > > Monday. The job's being run by my old university. Good >> > > >> > > > > > pay, >> > > >> > > > > > free >> > > >> > > > > > accommodation and guaranteed sun and sobriety - an excellent >> > > >> > > > > > retreat >> > > >> > > > > > to finish my books as long as the air conditioning holds >> > > >> > > > > > out! >> > > >> > > > > > I'll >> > > >> > > be >> > > >> > > > > > out in the sticks (not that are any) about an hour from the >> > > >> > > > > > challenge >> > > >> > > > > > of cold lager and an eon from the recession. >> > > >> > > > > > Ahmadenadinejad >> > > >> > > > > > will be >> > > >> > > > > > within grenade tossing distance across the Straights Of >> > > >> > > > > > Homuz, >> > > >> > > > > > so I >> > > >> > > > > > may adjust my view of the 6th Fleet and have to stop calling >> > > >> > > Americans >> > > >> > > > > > my colonial cousins! You may be right that we have a >> > > >> > > > > > 'special >> > > >> > > > > > relationship' Orn. One hopes the monks keep chanting until >> > > >> > > > > > 3 >> > > >> > > > > > p.m. >> > > >> > > > > > 14.9.09 (BST). The work will probably encompass India too. >> > > >> > > > > > Fingers >> > > >> > > > > > crossed, touching the wood, the scientist in me is shouting! >> >> > > >> > > > > > On 9 Sep, 12:13, Pat <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > > >> > > > > > > On 8 Sep, 18:55, ornamentalmind <[email protected]> >> > > >> > > > > > > wrote: >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > Words from those wiser than I: >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > "Listening not to me but to the LOGOS it is wise to >> > > >> > > > > > > > agree >> > > >> > > > > > > > that >> > > >> > > all >> > > >> > > > > > > > things are one." - Heraclitus (ca. 535–475 BCE): >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act >> > > >> > > > > > > > responsibly, >> > > >> > > while >> > > >> > > > > > > > bad people will find a way around the laws." - Plato >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > "A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing >> > > >> > > > > > > > its >> > > >> > > opponents >> > > >> > > > > > > > and making them see the light, but rather because its >> > > >> > > > > > > > opponents >> > > >> > > > > > > > eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is >> > > >> > > > > > > > familiar >> > > >> > > with >> > > >> > > > > > > > it." - Max Planck >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > "The most beautiful and profound emotion we can >> > > >> > > > > > > > experience >> > > >> > > > > > > > is the >> > > >> > > > > > > > sensation of the mystical. He to whom this emotion is a >> > > >> > > > > > > > stranger, >> > > >> > > who >> > > >> > > > > > > > can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good >> > > >> > > > > > > > as >> > > >> > > > > > > > dead. >> > > >> > > To >> > > >> > > > > > > > know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, >> > > >> > > > > > > > manifesting >> > > >> > > > > itself >> > > >> > > > > > > > as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, >> > > >> > > > > > > > which our >> > > >> > > > > > > > dull >> > > >> > > > > > > > faculties can comprehend only in their primitive forms - >> > > >> > > > > > > > this >> > > >> > > > > > > > knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true >> > > >> > > > > > > > religion." >> > > >> > > > > > > > - >> > > >> > > Albert >> > > >> > > > > > > > Einstein >> >> > > >> > > > > > > Just thought I'd add in another Einstein quote, here: >> > > >> > > > > > > "Science >> > > >> > > without >> > > >> > > > > > > religion is lame; religion without science is blind." >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > “There is no salvation in becoming adapted to a world >> > > >> > > > > > > > which >> > > >> > > > > > > > is >> > > >> > > > > crazy.” >> > > >> > > > > > > > Henry Miller >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > "Stuff happens." - Donald H. Rumsfeld >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > On Sep 8, 10:14 am, archytas <[email protected]> >> > > >> > > > > > > > wrote: >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > > Thanks Bill - things have been tough enough for me to >> > > >> > > > > > > > > really >> > > >> > > > > > > > > appreciate the other 'odd balls' in here as a beacon >> > > >> > > > > > > > > of >> > > >> > > > > > > > > hope. >> > > >> > > As a >> > > >> > > > > > > > > young boy I felt much the same about the USA (really), >> > > >> > > confusing it >> > > >> > > > > as >> > > >> > > > > > > > > the beacon city on the hill. I thought you guys were >> > > >> > > > > > > > > so >> > > >> > > democratic >> > > >> > > > > > > > > you wouldn't even get patriotic about sport! One >> > > >> > > > > > > > > lives >> > > >> > > > > > > > > and >> > > >> > > learns! >> > > >> > > > > > > > > Possibly the only thing I can claim to have been >> > > >> > > > > > > > > really >> > > >> > > > > > > > > good at >> > > >> > > is >> > > >> > > > > > > > > 'bad singing'. There has been a similar figure in my >> > > >> > > > > > > > > life >> > > >> > > > > > > > > - >> > > >> > > > > Howard, >> > > >> > > > > > > > > an old-style socialist who did sing-song nights at a >> > > >> > > > > > > > > pub I >> > > >> > > > > > > > > used >> > > >> > > to >> > > >> > > > > > > > > use. >> > > >> > > > > > > > > Our grandson has just started secondary school and >> > > >> > > > > > > > > was so >> > > >> > > impressed >> > > >> > > > > > > > > with his first day he wanted to go back! His Catholic >> > > >> > > > > > > > > primary >> > > >> > > > > school >> > > >> > > > > > > > > was about as good as we can manage. In the UK (with >> > > >> > > > > > > > > some >> > > >> > > > > reservations >> > > >> > > > > > > > > about prep schools), we seem to manage 'equality' >> > > >> > > > > > > > > quite >> > > >> > > > > > > > > well to >> > > >> > > > > this >> > > >> > > > > > > > > point and keep things personal and neighbourly enough. >> > > >> > > > > > > > > Things >> > > >> > > go >> > > >> > > > > sour >> > > >> > > > > > > > > after this point and I do conclude that the >> > > >> > > > > > > > > suppression of >> > > >> > > > > > > > > spirituality and communality after this stage is the >> > > >> > > > > > > > > key. >> > > >> > > > > > > > > I'm >> > > >> > > not >> > > >> > > > > > > > > sure I ever coped with this and the discovery of the >> > > >> > > > > > > > > way >> > > >> > > > > > > > > of the >> > > >> > > > > > > > > world. I've been unrooted all my adult life and even >> > > >> > > > > > > > > now >> > > >> > > > > > > > > miss >> > > >> > > the >> > > >> > > > > > > > > comradeship of disciplined service that replaced this, >> > > >> > > > > > > > > even >> > > >> > > though >> > > >> > > > > I >> > > >> > > > > > > > > know the experience was traumatic - the trauma being >> > > >> > > > > > > > > very >> > > >> > > > > > > > > much >> > > >> > > post >> > > >> > > > > > > > > the experience time itself. There is much we could be >> > > >> > > > > > > > > building >> > > >> > > on >> > > >> > > > > - >> > > >> > > > > > > > > my sense of this is almost marxist in terms of access >> > > >> > > > > > > > > to >> > > >> > > > > > > > > and >> > > >> > > > > control >> > > >> > > > > > > > > of the means of production - but I am only >> > > >> > > > > > > > > materialist in >> > > >> > > believing >> > > >> > > > > in >> > > >> > > > > > > > > this as a means to spiritual being. Fromm put this >> > > >> > > > > > > > > as 'to >> > > >> > > > > > > > > have >> > > >> > > or >> > > >> > > > > to >> > > >> > > > > > > > > be' - there are plenty of arguments, but it often >> > > >> > > > > > > > > seems >> > > >> > > > > > > > > little >> > > >> > > to >> > > >> > > > > do >> > > >> > > > > > > > > other than as a missionary or martyr - I'll stop >> > > >> > > > > > > > > before >> > > >> > > > > > > > > terms >> > > >> > > like >> > > >> > > > > > > > > 'strategic spirituality' start to come out of my >> > > >> > > > > > > > > management >> > > >> > > speak >> > > >> > > > > > > > > learning! >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > > On 8 Sep, 01:27, ornamentalmind >> > > >> > > > > > > > > <[email protected]> >> > > >> > > wrote: >> >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > I couldn’t stop thinking of Neil (and a few others >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > here) >> > > >> > > while >> >> ... >> >> read more » > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. 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