General Chat

Good morning :-)


Concluding the story of C. S. Lewis...


In 1963 Lewis wrote a letter to a correspondent named Thomas Van Osdall. He wrote of his sadness to learn that Van Osdall’s only child, Thomas, had been killed in a car crash at the age of 18. Recalling his own grief at his wife’s death, he wrote: “You tell a most moving story. I too have lost what I most loved. Indeed, unless we die young ourselves, we mostly do. We must die before them or see them die before us. And when we wish – and how agonizingly we do, o how perpetually! – it is entirely for ourselves, for our sakes not theirs.”

C. S. Lewis died on 22nd November 1963 - the same day as President Kennedy was assassinated. He is buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry near Oxford. The famous writer was a regular at the church’s 8:00 a.m. service. In 1992, a gorgeous etched glass window featuring beloved Narnia characters was installed in the church. The fantasy scene is located adjacent to the pew where he always sat.

Since his death, his books and influence have continued to grow. He has been rated as one of the top English writers of all time and his books have been translated into numerous languages.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Continuing the story of C. S. Lewis (Jack), author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.......

Jack's wife, Joy died July 13, 1960. Two of the last things she said were, “You have made me happy,” and “I am at peace with God.” She certainly brought Jack happiness. As he wrote to one friend soon after their marriage, "It's funny having at 59 the sort of happiness most men have in their twenties ... 'Thou hast kept the good wine till now.'

The loss of Joy plunged Lewis into the depths of grief and pain. Following Joy’s death, Lewis kept a journal and wrote down his thoughts because he was personally helped by doing so—with no intent of publication. However, he eventually had it published as A Grief Observed under a pen name – N.W. Clerk. Interestingly when the book first came out, many people thought it would be helpful to C.S. Lewis and he received many gift copies of his own book!

“And grief still feels like fear. Perhaps, more strictly, like suspense. Or like waiting; just hanging about waiting for something to happen. It gives life a permanently provisional feeling. It doesn’t seem worth starting anything. I can’t settle down. I yawn, I fidget, I smoke too much. Up till this I always had too little time. Now there is nothing but time. Almost pure time, empty successiveness.”

? C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


It seems as though our kandj is having problems with her renewing her membership to the site. Hope she can get it sorted soon.


Continuing the story of C.S Lewis (Jack) author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.....


Preaching sermons, giving talks, and expressing his theological views over the radio throughout the United Kingdom bolstered Lewis's reputation and increased his book sales. With these new circumstances came other changes—not the least being a marked upswing in annual income. In his youth, money had always been scarce but now, even though money no longer an issue, Lewis refused to upgrade his standard of living, and instead established a charitable fund for his royalty earnings. He supported numerous impoverished families, underwrote education fees for orphans and poor seminarians, and put monies into scores of charities and church ministries.

Jack did not marry until he was 58 years old. His wife, Joy, was of Jewish background and she was also a writer. Early in her life she had become a Communist but made the journey from that to Christianity. She was a divorcee with 2 sons and became friends with Jack through correspondence about faith issues. She had been diagnosed with cancer and they were married at her bedside in the hospital. She experienced a remarkable remission of the cancer and they were able to have 3 happy years together before she died.

Continued tomorrow…….


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


C. S. (Jack) Lewis - author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe....the story continues......

Soon after joining the English faculty at Magdalen College, Lewis met two more Christians, Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings fame). These men became close friends of Lewis. He admired their brilliance and their logic. Soon Lewis recognized that most of his friends, like his favourite authors, held to this Christianity.

In 1929 C.S. Lewis surrendered, admitting "God was God, and knelt and prayed." Within two years the reluctant convert also moved from theism to Christianity and joined the Church of England. The new Christian devoted his talent and energy to writing prose that reflected his recently found faith.

Lewis's 25 Christian books sold millions of copies, including The Screwtape Letters (1942), Mere Christianity (1952), the Chronicles of Narnia (1950–56) and many more. The Screwtape letters was a particularly popular book which he dedicated to J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a collection of letters written by a senior demon (Uncle Screwtape) to his nephew, junior demon (Wormwood). Wormwood is assigned a young man to tempt and the letters turn into a kind of study on how spiritual warfare works. It underlines the fact of how easy it is for Christians to be tempted by evil.

In spite of his intellectual accomplishments, he refused to be arrogant: "The intellectual life is not the only road to God, nor the safest, but we find it to be a road, and it may be the appointed road for us. Of course, it will be so only so long as we keep the impulse pure and disinterested."

Continued tomorrow......??

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thanks Vera - I do my best <3

C. S. Lewis - author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - the story continues....

‘Jack’ Lewis entered Oxford in 1917 as a student and never really left. Despite an interruption to fight in World War I (in which he was wounded by a bursting shell), he always maintained his home and friends in Oxford.

In 1919 he published his first book, Spirits in Bondage, which he wrote under the pen name of Clive Hamilton. In 1924 he became a philosophy tutor at University College, and was the following year elected a Fellow of Magdalen College, where he tutored in English language and literature. His second volume of poetry, Dymer, was also published under a pen name.

As Lewis continued to read, he especially enjoyed Christian author George MacDonald. One volume, Phantastes, powerfully challenged his atheism. "What it actually did to me," wrote Lewis, "was to convert, even to baptize … my imagination." G.K. Chesterton's books had the same effect, especially The Everlasting Man, which raised serious questions about the young intellectual's materialism.

Whilst these books were giving Jack food for thought, his close friend Owen Barfield, tackled him about the logic of his atheism. Barfield had converted from atheism to theism, then finally Christianity, and he frequently badgered Jack about his materialism.

More tomorrow……… :-D


Cx :-)

I hope all is calm again now your daughter’s house move is done Cynthia. You have picked another interesting topic again this week. I am so impressed with the great variety of subjects you find. It makes for an interesting thread. Thank you.

Good morning :-)


It sounds as thought someone complained or else they all caught Covid doesn't it Sylvia? I know what your husband means - it's really strange without the music part of the service.

I watched 2 yesterday (I'm just greedy :-D) and they were as different as chalk and cheese and both within 10 mins from my home. One was the sort of service I get most out of - simple but dignified, with a good sermon and communion. The other was beset by the leader (in jumper, casual trousers and sandals), bobbing about like a headless chicken with a microphone like a fishing rod and getting entangled in wires as he 'interviewed' another clergyman. I lost the plot and left early. :-(

Hey ho. Such is life at the moment. :-S

I guess all of you will be familiar with The Stories of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe etc. These were written by C. S. Lewis and it is for his books and ideas that he is remembered as one of the greatest Christian writers of the twentieth century. I thought we could have a look at his life this week.

Clive Staples Lewis (knowns as ‘Jack’ to his friends), was born into a bookish family of Protestants in Belfast, Ireland. They purchased and read many books. On rainy days, Jack would take a book off the shelves a worlds created by authors such as Conan Doyle, E. Nesbit and Mark Twain.

After his only brother, Warren, was sent off to English boarding school in 1905, Jack became somewhat reclusive. He spent more time in books and an imaginary world of ‘dressed animals’ and ‘knights in armour’, but he did more than read books, he wrote and illustrated his own stories as well.

His mother's death from cancer in 1908 made him even more withdrawn. Mrs Lewis died just three months before Jack's tenth birthday, and the young boy was hurt deeply by her passing. Not only did he lose a mother, his father never fully recovered from her death. Both boys felt estranged from their father, and home life was never warm and satisfying again.

The death of Mrs. Lewis convinced young Jack that the God he encountered in the Bible his mother gave him was, if not cruel, at least a vague abstraction. By 1912, with the additional influence of a spiritually unorthodox boarding school matron, Lewis rejected Christianity and became an avowed atheist.

More tomorrow……. :-D

Cx :-)

I haven't mentioned before, but the Baptist church across the street is no longer holding services .......... the last one was at the end of July, and they all congregated outside for a photograph afterwards. Not well separated at all.

I thought that was the "end of the year" group photo, because the Filipeno church in particular does seem to take a summer break, but a notice went up on the door 2 or 3 days later, saying closed due to covid.

I've wondered if someone complained about the photo session??

In the meantime, St Augustine's, the Anglican church that OH attends, has been holding Sunday Service since July 26. OH has attended every Sunday even though he has only had a "job" to do twice .......... the first Sunday (a reading) and today (leading the prayers). He says it is truly boring with no music or choir, even though their new priest is pretty good with her sermons.

I think you might be doing better watching services on TV if they do have choral music!!


It is getting hot again here, so it's north-facing living room with 2 fans blowing on me from about 10 am for the next 2 or 3 days or so :-D

Good afternoon :-)


A bit hectic this morning trying to sort out which church service to watch etc.......oh to be back to normal!

Sounds like a lovely meal Sylvia. Restaurants round here seem to be doing good trade - some look a bit 'crowded' but......

The bells, the bells.........good to hear from you Pat :-D

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Let your merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to the prayers of your humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions
make them to ask such things as shall please you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Cx :-)

Thank you all for the good wishes. We had a great day, had a lovely meal at our favourite restaurant ............ well set up for the current way of things. He has only 50% of the tables in use, so everyone is more than 6' away from other guests. That means he only has a maximum capacity of 20 people per sitting, 2 sittings per evening/ The staff were all wearing masks, as were many of the guests on arrival, and staff kept as much distance as they were bale ............ a bit difficult to put a plate in place or pour wine from 6' :-D

We return on Tuesday for OH's 82nd birthday ................ I think I might have the grilled beef tenderloin, although the duck breast was very good on Wednesday!

Best wishes for this new phase in your life, Cyn, as you get used to your daughter living back home "permanently", instead of just for sheltering during covid.

Today is Assumption of St Mary and last night - yes you guessed it - the bells.

Very quiet today as it's a holiday so people not off to work or shopping.

Today is VJ Day remember those from WW2 and other wars but please remember there are people who served in more modern days and are physically injured and mentally challenged.

Lest We Forget <3

Good morning :-)

What a day yesterday! Not only have we been dealing with my daughter moving house to come and live with me, but the internet and phone were off for most of the day. We certainly rely on these things more than we think sometimes!! :-D



A Prayer for Patience and Peace
God, teach us what it means to have faith in silence. When we face trials that are beyond our understanding, help us to find peace. Help me be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. You set all things in accordance to your time. Remind us to wait patiently and find peace in your plan. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Lord,

We pray for healing and peace
for the stresses and strains
within family relationships.
For couples who have lost
the love that they once had,
and their lives are drifting apart.
For parents who no longer
can control their children,
and are beginning to despair.
For families who struggle
to live within their means
and not slip deeper into debt.
For children who walk into
a more uncertain future
with difficult choices to make.
For the stresses and strains
within family relationships
we pray for healing and peace. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your meaningful words Cynthia.

Belated Happy Anniversary wishes to Sylvia and husband. I hope you both enjoyed your special day X

Good morning :-)


Goodness, we don't see Emma these days so I had no idea that she was celebrating such a special event. Much love and many congratulations to her and her husband. <3 <3

I remembered that Sylvia had been married on The Glorious Twelfth but completely forgot to mention it.....doh. Hope you had a lovely day Sylvia. <3


Reveal yourself
dear Lord, this day
in the special places
where we can be alone.
Reveal yourself
in the busy places
where noise is all around.
Reveal yourself
in the smiling faces
of friends and family
Reveal yourself
in the sullen faces
of people passing by.
Reveal yourself
dear Lord, this day
and by your grace
bless this beautiful
but fragile world with joy.


Cx :-)

Happy anniversary to you too Sylvia <3

Congratulations to Emma and her husband on their diamond wedding.

Much love and best wishes to them both


It is our 53rd anniversary today ...... OH has always called it the opening of the grouse-ing season ;-) :-D

Believe it or not I had forgotten that the 12th August was the opening of the grouse shooting season when I suggested the date, and OH didn't remind me, until after we were on our own in the hotel in the Lake District :-D

Hello all

Another scorcher here today. Keep cool everyone.

Congratulations to Emma and Husband on 60 years of marriage today. Hope you have an amazing day.

A train has derailed in Aberdeenshire causing serious injuries to passengers. Thoughts and prayers for all who are involved in this incident.

Lovely prayer today Cynthia.

Congratulations to Emma and her OH who are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary today and wishing them many blessings in the years to come <3

Good morning :-)


It's toooooo hot! :-)



Bless our families;
mothers, fathers,
daughters, sons.
Protect them
from all that might harm.
Prosper them
in times of hardship.
Instruct them
in the ways of goodness.
Prepare them
for both joy and sorrow.
Unite them
within your arms of love.
Daughters, sons,
mothers, fathers,
bless our families
Lord, we pray.



Cx :-)