Friday 26 December 2008

St Stephen - 26th December

Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors, by the example of thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

Thursday 25 December 2008

Christmas Day

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born this day of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Tuesday 23 December 2008

O Virgo Virginum - 23rd December

O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.

Monday 22 December 2008

O Emmanuel - 22nd December

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: come and save us, O Lord our God.

Sunday 21 December 2008

O Rex Gentium - 21st December

O king of the nations, you alone can fulfil their desires: cornerstone, binding all together: come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust of the earth.

4th Sunday in Advent

God our Redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Saturday 20 December 2008

O Oriens - 20th December

O morning star, splendour of the light eternal and bright sun of righteousness: come and bring light to those who dwell in darkness and walk in the shadow of death.

Friday 19 December 2008

O Clavis David - 19th December

O key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and none can shut; you shut and none can open: come and free the captives from prison, and break down the walls of death.

Thursday 18 December 2008

Happy Birthday!

Happy 30th Birthday to Jane ()!

O Radix Jesse - 18th December

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before whom kings will shut their mouths, whom the nations will implore: Come to deliver us, and do not now delay.

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Skiing and Technology

Ok so everyone who goes skiing uses the 'net to look at the webcams, resorts webpages and snow forecast before they go skiing, but two new additions I've noticed this year.

SkiWelt have a Google Earth download of the skiing area.

Another site SkiLine says "Entering the number of your lift ticket you will get your personal "skiline" within seconds. At first glance you can review all the lifts you have been using, as well as the vertical meters and downhill kilometres you have completed."
Could be quite interesting to see how much you do in a day.

Away from technology and in the real world, following on from the Kitzbühel - Westendorf link that the KiWest lift brought us a couple of years ago, Westendorf is now going to linked to the main bulk of SkiWelt. In addition there is one further new Gondola in Westendorf and the second part of the Hopfgarten to Hohe Salve is also complete.

I have to say I am looking forward to getting out to Kitzbühel and trying out all these new lifts and the easier link over SkiWelt without having to get a bus from Westendorf to Brixen.

O Adonai - 17th December

O Lord of Lords, and ruler of the House of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and gave him the law on Sinai: come with your outstretched arm and ransom us.

Tuesday 16 December 2008

Fresh Expressions in a Catholic context

Last week a conference on Fresh Expressions in A Catholic context was held at Coventry Cathedral.

It was "interesting"

I didn't attend any of the conference bit but was serving at the Mass in the morning and Benediction the afternoon.

At Benediction the had a smoke machine and strobe light behind the Altar. While some people seemed to enjoy it (Jen said "It was cool!") personally as much as I enjoyed having Benediction in the Cathedral I didn't think it was needed. (And anyway why have a smoke machine when you have incense.) I believe that Anglo-Catholic worship is "multimedia" enough as it is without needing what looked like the entire support group for a top nightclub / pop group!

Jane () attended some of the workshops and will no no doubt post about them in here own time.

The day is being discussed else where on the web on Ship of Fools here and there are also blogs on it here and here.

O Sapientia - 16th December

O wisdom, coming forth from the Most High, filling all creation and reigning to the ends of the earth; come and teach us the way of truth.

Sunday 14 December 2008

3rd Sunday in Advent

O Lord Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Sunday 7 December 2008

Second Sunday in Advent

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Monday 1 December 2008

St Andrew (Transferred to 1st December)

Almighty God, who didst give such grace unto thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay; Grant unto us all, that we, being called by thy holy Word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday 30 November 2008

Advent Sunday

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever.

Damian Green MP

So a government that does not like what a democratically elected member of the opposition is saying has him arrested.

I'm sure a leader of Russia from the middle of last century would have approved.

Monday 3 November 2008

Richard Hooker, priest, apologist , theologian (3rd November)

O God of truth and peace, you raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Sunday 2 November 2008

All Souls Day (2nd November)

O the Creator and Redeemer of all them that believe: grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaidens the remission of all their sins; and as they have ever desired thy merciful pardon, so by the supplications of their brethren they may receive the same. Who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost ever one God.

Saturday 1 November 2008

All Saints Day

Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:
grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living
that we may come to those inexpressible joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Friday 31 October 2008

Lufthansa are buying bmi

It has been announced that Lufthansa are going to buy out Sir Michael Bishop's controlling stake in bmi (British Midland)

Hopefully this will bring some sort of semblance of organisation to bmi as "modular airline" idea that mean there are different service standards between bmi main line and bmi Regional will disappear and we'll have a consistent product. And that's before bmi baby is taken into account.

The problem with bmi at the moment is that it does not know whether it wants to be a low cost model airline (with bmi baby and the "tiny" fares and buy on board with bmi manline) or a full service airline (the long and medium haul routes and bmi regional with a wide range of economy fares from the cheap non-refundable to the expensive flexible and business class together with its membership of Star Alliance) and hopefully Lufthansa will bring order to this chaos.

It would be good to see development of further routes from Birmingham International (BHX) - at the moment the only bmi operation is bmi baby and codes shared on the various Lufthansa routes - and the development of a decent Star hub there.

Thursday 30 October 2008

Uncovering Lady Godiva

When I first moved to Coventry in 1994, one of the first things I heard people moaning about was the "tent" over Broadgate and the Lady Godiva statue.

Well at last it is being removed. See here.

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Halloween and Bonfire Night

The 31st October and 5th November are dates that have long been associated with fun, but elderly people can be left frightened and intimidated by youngsters calling at their home for "trick or treat" and families can find their pets scared by the bangs from fireworks.

Cllr Andrew Williams, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety said, "We see a significant increase in reports of nuisance and anti-social behaviour during this time of year and so the Coventry Community Safety partnership appeal for people to make this time of year as pleasant as possible by showing respect. Parents should ensure that their children are suitably advised and supervised."

Details of locally organised bonfire and firework displays/parties will be advertised in the local media. However, if people wish to hold their own event they are being asked to inform their neighbours well ahead of time. It's illegal to erect a bonfire on public land and the public are asked to report unscheduled bonfires or incidences of fly-tipped rubbish which could become a bonfire to 0500 834333 8am to 8pm (Mon to Fri) and 9am to 1pm (Saturday).

Under the new Fireworks Act there is now a curfew preventing people from lighting fireworks between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am – apart from a few exceptions (New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali) outside of these times, you may be liable to prosecution. Similarly, it is now illegal for children under 18 years old to purchase or be in possession of fireworks. Breaches of the law could result in a £5,000 fine, six months in prison or an on-the-spot fine.

Should you experience any difficulties please contact the Anti Social Behaviour hot line, "It’s Your Call", on 024 7683 1300 or in an emergency 999.

Tuesday 14 October 2008

Foleshill and Tile Hill residents join forces to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour

Residents in the Foleshill and Tile Hill areas of Coventry are taking to the streets for a week of action to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

“Not In My Neighbourhood Week”, which runs from 13 -17 October, aims to highlight what is being done in Foleshill and Tile Hill, day in, day out, to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. Agencies working together with the Coventry Community Safety Partnership will meet with members of the public to discuss the crime issues that need to be tackled and to build confidence in the work they do with the police to make communities safer.

Councillor Andrew Williams, Coventry City Council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety said, "Local residents, neighbourhood policing teams, local authority services, Neighbourhood Watch schemes, anti-social behaviour officers and other local service providers will all be working together locally to inform people of what is happening in Foleshill and Tile Hill and to build on the positive work that's taken place so far to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the area."

Friday 29 August 2008

Update - On Holiday

Currently on holiday. You can read what we have been up to on Jane's live journal () Start reading here.

Photos so far can be seen here.

Incidentally I am quite enjoying £0.60 a pint at the bar next door to us here in Cesky Krumlov.

Friday 18 July 2008

Coventry Beats Targets For Crime Reduction

The latest Home Office British Crime Survey demonstrates a twenty five per cent reduction in overall crime for Coventry over the last three years. This means Coventry is the best performing of a group of fifteen similar sized cities across the U.K in meeting the government’s three year target to reduce crime by twenty per cent by March 2008.

Cllr Andrew Williams, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety says: "I'm delighted that Crime in Coventry is falling faster than similar cities and is falling faster than the prescribed target of twenty per cent. It shows the hard work that's being undertaking by the Coventry Community Safety Partnership. It's particularly good to note that our city centre is the 4th safest in the country - an excellent achievement for the UK's 8th largest city.

Of course this doesn't mean we can sit on our laurels. There's still much work to be done to ensure we continue with these trends and that our city is a safe and enjoyable place to work, visit and socialise in. There is also more to be done to make sure that people actually feel safer as perception of crime doesn't always reflect the reality. "

Over the last 3 years the Coventry Community Safety Partnership has been successful in reducing a range of crimes including:

. 28 per cent reduction in dwelling burglaries
. 43 per cent reduction in theft from a person
. 48 per cent reduction in vehicle crime
. 21 per cent reduction in criminal damage
. 7 per cent reduction in wounding
. 25 per cent reduction in accidental dwelling fires
. 63 per cent reduction in arsons to buildings
. 61 per cent reduction in arsons to vehicles

Wednesday 18 June 2008

Austria

Jane () and I were recently in Austria for a few days.

Photos available here.

Friday 16 May 2008

New Challange!

With the AGM and Mayor making of the City Council yesterday I have been promoted to a new job.

After 3 years of being chairman of Scrutiny Board 1 (Finance, Value for Money, Customer, Workforce and Legal Services) I have now been promoted into the cabinet as Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety.

Saturday 3 May 2008

Election 2008

We made a net loss of one seat Thu night / Fri morning after gaining one but losing two.

Officially we are listed as a Conservative loss to No Overall Control, however we have 27 seats which is exactly half the council so we will remain in control with the Lord Mayor's casting vote.

It was however a good night for us. One of the seats we lost was in fact a Labour hold as the seat in question was held by a Labour councillor who defected to us.

Elsewhere in the city majorities increased and we held Wyken by 400, whereas last year we lost it by around 130. Labour seriously thought they could win this city and it was a pleasure to stop them.