Good Friday

Hello Everyone,

Today is Good Friday in the Christian Religion. It is the day when Christians remember how Jesus died on the Cross outside the Jerusalem City Wall. 

"And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then there were two thieves crucified with him , one on the right hand, and another on the left." (Matthew Chapter 27 vs 33-38).

                     *************


On Sunday the church  will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. That first Sunday morning, when the women went to the tomb where Jesus had been hastily lain only to find the stone removed and the body missing, is celebrated. Christianity stemmed from Judaism; Jesus, himself was Jewish and the Jewish holy day or Sabbath is on a Saturday. The beginning of the Sabbath is sunset on a Friday evening and is marked by a synagogue service and meal. It is a day of complete rest and worship; no work is done. Consequently, there was a tremendous rush to pronounce Jesus dead and remove Him from the cross.

The women were anxious to anoint the body, in accordance with Jewish tradition, at the earliest opportunity.  Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and other women arrived at the tomb, expecting to find it secured by a stone. Imagine their surprise, the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Inside, a young man, wearing a white robe, spoke to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples and Peter, that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him as he told you."( Mark ,Chapter16, vs 6 & 7.)

Later, we read of several appearances by Christ to the disciples and others. The belief in the risen Christ was enough for some very frightened Jews, scared of prosecution, to become the first followers, or Christians. The Eucharist/Mass became the main service, where bread and wine were received by the congregation, in memory of the bread and wine at the last supper on the Thursday evening, and having the extra symbolic significance of the body and blood of Christ. Services were held in secret, and the early Christians identified themselves to each other, not by the cross, but a fish, after Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, the disciples who were fishermen.

Christians remember that first Sunday morning and rejoice. It is proof, that there is an eternal,  afterlife or new life. Chickens, eggs, rabbits are all symbolic of new life and new hope. However, you spend this Covid Eastertide, have a very HAPPY EASTER!

Lady M 

Stimulating September... SHALOM SEARCH! Quiz time!

Hello Everyone!

I hope things are good with you wherever you are. I would love to have some comments on these quizzes from those of you doing them. This is the last week of September and the last quiz.
Can you really believe it is October next week? If you are in the UK, as the nights get longer and the days get shorter, now is the time to read a good book...
If you are 'down under' have a great spring and summer.


1. What is the Decalogue more commonly known as?
The Ten Commandments

2.  Who sold his birthright for a 'mess of pottage'?
Esau


3.  Where did Noah's Ark come to rest after the flood?
Mt. Ararat

4.  Who was the Great Lawgiver of the Israelites?
Moses

5.  What is the Holy Book of the Islamic religion?
The Koran

6.  Which religion has the Five K's?
Sikhism

7.  Who was King of England when the first authorised version of the Bible was published?
King James 1

8.  Who said, 'I find no fault with this man'?
Pontius  Pilate

9.  Name the apostle chosen to fill the place of Judas?
Matthias

10. What does the word shalom mean?
Peace

11. Who captured Samson?
Philistines


12. Which evangelist came to England for the Crusade in 1984?
Billy Graham


13. Who was the founder of the founder of the Salvation Army?
General Booth

14.  Name the most Holy Shrine for the Jews?
Wailing (Western) Wall, Jerusalem


15. Who wrote his autobiography, My Experiment with Truth ?
Mahatma Gandhi


16. What is a monotheistic religion?
A religion which worships one God


17. Which religion does the Golden Temple at Amritsar belong to?
Sikhism


18. Which religion celebrates Ramadan?
Islam


19.  Which Old Testament character is known for his wisdom?
Solomon


20.  How many books are there in the Bible?
66


Answers next week.

Love and goodbye from me. I'm taking a long holiday into 2019 but Sofia and Donald will be back with you next week. I've no idea what they are planning but with those two it will probably be 'x' rated. Enjoy their company.

 Lady M!

Tokyo

Hello Everyone,

TOKYO!

1. Tokyo is the capital of Japan.

2. It is on the east (Pacific Ocean) side of the island.

3. Tokyo is one of Japan's 47 prefectures.

4. Before 1868, this city was known as Edo, and many of the inhabitants still think of themselves as Edokkos (children of Edo).

5. It is in Asia but separated from the Asian mainland by about 100 miles of sea.

6. The main language is Japanese, although English is spoken in Tokyo and the other main cities.

7.Shintoism and Buddhism are the main religions.

8. The International dialling code is 81.

9. The currency is the Japanese Yen.

10. The Japanese love seafood and like to eat it in its natural state; a favourite is sushi.

11.The Tsukiji Fish Market is a predawn institution and highly active market providing around 90% of the fish eaten in Tokyo

12.Chopsticks are the common eating utensils. (An artistic way of eating which I'm still trying to master!)

13.The street life in Tokyo is spectacular at anytime of the year with different acts - acrobats, magicians, brass bands, jazz, dancing. . .

14. There are numerous festivals celebrated throughout the year.

15. The traditional dress is the kimono.

16. It is also a city where the Geisha girls may make a public appearance.

17. The Sumida River forms a strip with a number of sights on the banks from temples to museums and the Hundred Flowers Garden.

18.It is a modern city with skyscrapers but also a city proud to show its past. In the backstreets it is possible to see numerous temples, shrines, Buddha images and statues.

19.On Valentine's Day, (February 14th), it is the custom for women to give men gifts of chocolate!

20.'Cherry Blossom' time! When winter ends and spring begins it is time for the cherry blossom celebrations in Japan. People flock to parks and temple gardens to see this beautiful sight of pink and white petals. Ueno Park is the best-known venue in Tokyo, home to over 1000 trees.

Thought for the week: -Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away! (anonymous)I cannot think of a better comment to describe cherry blossom time.


Love Lady M xxxxx

HAPPY EASTER

Hello Everyone,





I cannot believe that Easter is here all ready. I am sure it's only five minutes since Christmas, and when time speeds by at such a fast pace, you know you're getting older. It's like noticing that policeman are getting younger!


Easter is a celebration. It is a holiday and a time to eat chocolate eggs. In today's society it is easy to forget the true meaning of Easter. It is a Christian festival remembering how Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday and rose again, three days later, on Easter Sunday. In the days of my youth Good Friday was a day when shops closed and there was an air of solemnity as Christians remembered how Christ died and suffered for our sins, "he died to make us good". There would be hot-cross buns for tea as a reminder of that cross. The church was the focus of everyone's attention as we shared those three hours from 9-12  remembering His suffering. Some people organised Passion plays where actors acted out the entire 'passion' or suffering of our Lord. I remember taking part in one in Crewe in the early 70's.


On Sunday the church celebrates the Resurrection of Christ. That first Sunday morning, when the women went to the tomb where Jesus had been hastily lain only to find the stone removed and the body missing, is celebrated. Christianity stemmed from Judaism; Jesus, himself was Jewish and the Jewish holy day or Sabbath is on a Saturday. The beginning of the Sabbath is sunset on a Friday evening and is marked by a synagogue service and meal. It is a day of complete rest and worship; no work is done. Consequently, there was a tremendous rush to pronounce Jesus dead and remove Him from the cross.


The women were anxious to anoint the body, in accordance with Jewish tradition, at the earliest opportunity.  Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and other women arrived at the tomb, expecting to find it secured by a stone. Imagine their surprise, the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Inside, a young man, wearing a white robe, spoke to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples and Peter, that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him as he told you." Mark ,Chapter16, vs 6 & 7.


Later, we read of several appearances by Christ to the disciples and others. The belief in the risen Christ was enough for some very frightened Jews, scared of prosecution, to become the first followers, or Christians. The Eucharist/Mass became the main service, where bread and wine were received by the congregation, in memory of the bread and wine at the last supper on the Thursday evening, and having the extra symbolic significance of the body and blood of Christ. Services were held in secret, and the early Christians identified themselves to each other, not by the cross, but a fish, after Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, the disciples who were fishermen.


Christians remember that first Sunday morning and rejoice. It is proof, that there is an eternal,  afterlife or new life. Chickens, eggs, rabbits are all symbolic of new life and new hope. However, you spend this Eastertide, have a very HAPPY EASTER!

Love to you all,

Lady M

Captivating Cyprus

Howde Folks,

Sofia here again. Lady M is letting me escort you, this summer.

Sunset from her hotel room!

Geriskipou Church

Lania

Memorial at Coral Bay

St. Barnabas Monastery at Famagusta

"Wow, wasn't Malta beautiful? Donald and I certainly enjoyed it and we will be returning many times. Anyway, our next island is only a short flight eastward to Cyprus. Well, at least we are only getting five of her holiday photographs! Remember, she spent her 60th birthday there? Whether she remembers or not after drinking so much champagne is another matter. So, fasten those seatbelts and have a quick snooze while our pilot hits the skies and we fly to Pafos.

Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea lies between Turkey in Europe, Israel/Syria towards the east and Egypt in Africa to the south. It is a divided island, with Turkish occupation in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south. The Attila Line, also known as the Green Line, so called because it was drawn on the map in green ink, divides the island through it's capital Nicosia.

The Greek (Southern) area is in the EU and has the Euro as its currency. However, the Turkish northern part is, like Turkey, not a member of the EU and still has Turkish Lira as its main currency although Euros are accepted.

The main religion in the south is Greek Orthodox and in the North, Islam.

The major towns are Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos in the south; Famagusta, Morphou and Kyrenia in the north. Limassol is the main shopping and industrial area on the coast with a long promenade; it has very few historical or archaelogical sites. Only a small area on the western side of the town has the old fishing port and a mediaeval castle which houses a museum. Larnaca has the main airport and also the Church of St Lazarus, which is where Lazarus sailed to after being raised from the dead by Jesus; the church is built over his tomb. Paphos is a popular tourist destination having a small domestic airport, beautiful harbour and old market town as well as numerous historical and archaelogical sites. In the Turkish area, Famagusta, on the east coast, is known as the ghost town as part of it is still unoccupied after the Greek Cypriots fled during the uprising in 1974. It does have the St. Barnabas Monastery nearby. Morphou and Kyrenia are on the west side of the island.

Cyprus, due to its location, has been occupied by many different countries throughout the years; it is steeped in history and has numerous archaelogical sites. It is the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Her birthplace is a rock on the south west coast, a few miles from Paphos; her baths are on the north coast near to Polis.

Okay, Donald, I think that's enough information for this week. After all, Lady M has posted about Cyprus on several occasions. As it is the island of love, where shall we go? How about Afrodites Baths?"

"Sounds good to me, Sofia."

"So, we're signing off now and going to enjoy this beautiful island. Next week, we are going to Bali. Fortunately, Lady M visited it before she had a digital camera so we do not have any of her holiday snaps for you."

Mantra for the week: TAKE IT EASY!

Love to you all, Sofia

All aboard for ATHENS!

Hello People,

Well, our time in Moscow has come to an end. Awesome experience. . . Bolshoi ballet, the circus and Red Square not to mention ST. BASIL'S!

Anyway, come and join us on our flight to ATHENS. We love you all, Sofia.

1. Athens is the capital of Greece; it is in Southeast Europe and one of the European Union countries.

2. Greece consists of a mainland area and several islands. Athens is situated on the south part of the mainland.

3. The main language is Greek, although English, French, German and Italian are also spoken by those in tourism and many of the young people.

4. Since 2002 the currency has been the Euro; prior to that it was the Greek Drachma.

5. The religion is 97% Greek Orthodox, with Muslim, Roman Catholic and Jewish minorities.

6. Athens sprawls across the central plain of Attica; often referred to as Attica Basin which is surrounded by four mountains.

7. It has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years.

8. It was chosen as the capital of the new State of Greece in 1834 after the Greek War of Independence.

9. In ancient Greek, the name Athens  relates to the goddess Athena. There is a myth regarding this name. Both Poseidon and Athena, requested to be patrons of this city. They competed for it by each bringing a gift. Poseidon produced a salt water spring by striking the ground with his trident thus showing naval power, whereas Athena created the olive tree symbolising peace and prosperity. Athena was chosen by the people.

10. Athens has hosted the Summer Olympics three times in 1896, 1906 and 2004.

11. Perhaps the most famous landmark in Athens is the Acropolis. Originally built in 5th century BC during the 30 year leadership of the Athenian politician, Pericles. It was the most sacred place for worship in Greece.

12. The term 'Acropolis' in Greek, simply means 'High City' and translated as 'Citadel' in English. Today's visitor to the Acropolis takes a steady climb up to the Parthenon, the great temple situated on the top. While walking up one can only think and marvel at what the original city of Athens surrounding this magnificent temple must have been like.

13. This Acropolis is nominated to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

14. Athens, steeped in history, has numerous museums and is one of the world's main centres for archaelogical research.

15. It has 148 theatrical stages including the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus which hosts the Athens Festival from May to October every year.

16. At the centre of the city is Syntagma Square, where the Parliament and most of the Ministries can be found.

17. The magnificent 15.5 hectares of The National Garden of Athens,  completed in 1840, is a green refuge in the heart of the city.

18. The old quarter of the town is known as Plaka, which is around the Acropolis. It is picturesque with winding streets, tavernas, craft shops and a famous flea market.

19. Athens has a superb transport system; a large bus fleet, trams,  metro and railway service. Take a tram ride from the centre to Paleo Faliro, just 30 minutes to the outskirts of the city and see a different side to Athens. It's the coast!

20. Its nickname is 'The Glorious City' and if you live there you are an Athenian!

"Well, here we are Donald in Athens. Let's do the Parthenon first. Do you remember the last time we were here?"
"Sure do, Sofia. It was that naughty weekend, paid for by Derek. It's all in 'her' book."
"Next week, 'she' is finishing this touring lark in Rome."
"Guess, we had better enjoy ourselves then before the show is over."
"Did you know, Donald, that Mother Teresa would be 100 on 26th August, this Friday?"
"Wow, I wonder if she will be celebrating upstairs?"
"No, shouldn't think so. . .she's not the type."
"You're right, as usual Sofia. So, are you going to leave them with a thought for the week and then we can hit the Parthenon."
"Yes, but don't forget you can still view 'her' interview at www.SarahButland.com "


Thought for the week: A true friend is one soul in two bodies (Aristotle, Greek Philosopher 384-322 BC)

Stimulating September 4

Hello Everyone,



I hope you've enjoyed the quizzes during September. This will be the last one as October is looming on the horizon . . .



1. Who wrote 'War and Peace'?
LEO TOLSTOY

2. What is the capital of Egypt?
CAIRO

3. What is the currency in Egypt?
EGYPTIAN POUND (E£)

4. Which is the shortest month in the year?
FEBRUARY

5. What is a baby lion called?
CUB

6. In which winter sport is a broom part of the equipment?
CURLING

7. Who was the idol of the Indian masses shot by a fanatic in 1948?
MAHATMA GANDHI

8. To whom do the Falkland Islands belong?
GT. BRITAIN

9.In Germany which places are famous for a)perfume, b)china, c)pottery?
A)COLOGNE B)DRESDEN C)MEISSEN

10. In which book does Louisa M Alcott introduce the four March sisters for the first time?
LITTLE WOMEN

11. Who painted The Hay Wain?
CONSTABLE

12. Who was assassinated on the Ides of March, 44 BC?
JULIUS CAESAR

13. Who is the patron saint of carpenters?
ST. JOSEPH

14. Which TWO planets are nearest the sun?
MERCURY & VENUS

15. Which acid is present in vinegar?
ACETIC ACID

16. If I were a philatelist, what would I be collecting?
STAMPS

17. What is the Roman numeral for 1,000?
M

18. Which famous Quaker in 1671 founded one of the American States?
WILLIAM PENN

19. If I were taking a boat ride on the River Seine, which city would I be visiting?
PARIS

20. In No Regrets what was Joanna's occupation?
TEACHER

Thought for the week: Each Day Brings New Opportunities!