St George's Day and things

Thursday was St George's Day, although one of our friends was completely unaware of this, asking why all the flags and people wearing St George Cross hats in Coventry. What annoys me is that this is our country, our Patron Saint and that half of the idiots who live here would rather celebrate St Patrick's day or something equally fatuous and foreign. What on earth have we got to thank the Irish for?

Anyway, enough of that, the eve of the 23rd, was bell ringing practice at St John the Baptist in Brinklow (an every Wednesday event), and It was pleasing to see that two of the ringers went aloft to hoist the flag over the church tower.

Speaking of bellringing and St John's, I must say that it is a pleasure to ring the bells here, and I should also mention that we are in the process of raising funds for the installation of two new bells in the tower. At the moment we have a ring of six, which though adequate and lovely to ring, would be greatly enhanced with two more, making a ring of eight and giving the ringing team greater opportunity to enhance the number of methods that we can ring.

Audrone and I are still learning to ring (different stages of course) and I should mention that Tom, who is pictured here teaching Audrone is running a marathon which (hopefully his legs) will take him all the way to London. The wonderful thing about Tom's run is that he is donating all the money that people have subscribed toward the bell fund and that is indeed a magnificent gesture. I find that winding the tower clock pretty heavy going, never mind running a marathon.

I should add that the village of Brinklow is rather fond of the church bells and residents and churchgoers certainly give us feedback if a) we ring badly and b) if we don't ring at all on those special occasions like Christmas, New Year and Easter. So if there are any likely bellringer boaters reading this, please come and have a ring at St John's in Brinklow. You would be most welcome.

Now here's a funny thing; the fish are back. Audrone got some great pictures of them. Someone said that they could be fed by hand if you are patient with them and continue to encourage them, but I must admit that looking at this lot, I wonder if one's hand would be safe near those jaws - don't suppose they have any teeth though. Here are some more images of the monsters from the deep:

In for the kill. . . .

They like the dog food - will they eat the dog?

A quick turn as the prey moves astern

Bloody hell I'm hungry, I could eat a horse!!