GettingCreative

As a Senior Citizen there are a lot of things I like about having a pc - I can Blog for a start and I can email back and forth with family and friends and buy stuff on line etc. But recently I've found a new thing I can do - design and print my own greetings cards.
I've been 'crafting' cards for some years now - that is the hand made ones with stuck on bits etc - all very nice to do but you end up with all your tools and craft items taking up a lot space. As I love taking photographs and have built up quite a library of them, I thought I might try using them for cards as well. As you can see - I haven't quite got to grips with downloading them in the right places for my Blog ! Very frustrating ..... Anyway - these are the result of learning how to do 'effects' on them in my Photoshop programme.
Which brings me to my Software. I know they come with CD instructions/ help and the like , but I bet I always end up buying a 'for Dummies' or 'the Idiot's Guide to' book. Why they give them these misleading titles I don't know - just so naive people like me will fall for it and spend their money I s'pose. For a start , you've really got to know exactly what will suit your particular needs and desired goals - it's a minefield out there to pick your way through.
You start off with one programme, can't quite 'get' it, so you look for a book to explain things more clearly but you find there seem to be bits missing or it isn't exactly showing the same boxes as yours - then you realise you've gawn and spent a fortune on the wrong book ! Your version is CS2 and you've bought CS4 or Elements 'cos you thought Photoshop was Photoshop no matter what number it had ..... silly woman! Still, you're able to muddle through sussing things out.
So - after fiddling around and wasting hours on finding out what it is you want [what you really, really want] you're in danger of being overwhelmed with it all.
Maybe it's just an age thingy and all this marvelous technology has arrived just that little bit too late in life for me to reap the benefits.[ I still haven't got the hang of using a mobile phone !] Younger people take it all for granted and it doesn't seem to bother them in the least that there are all these variations and continuous changes going on. Everything seems to get out of date so quickly and there seems to be a treadmill of 'upgrades' to get on.
So - I've accumulated 5 books on how to use Photoshop, Paintshop, Office Publisher etc and printed out instructions from various on line free lessons. I probably should've ignored the books and gone for these - but Hey-Ho - that's life !
One thing I do find with these 'for beginners' books is that the people who write them have obviously forgotten what it means to be a True Beginner. They take it for granted that you know certain things that you don't or that you've bought another book to cover what you don't know. Sometimes they tell you to click on an icon [ see - I know what those little pics in squares are called] but they don't tell you where it is, so you spend half an hour or so searching for it on your screen - even rashly clicking on likely looking [to you anyway] things before giving up in frustration yet again.....
There are times when I get quite excited 'cos I'm actually following what they mean and learning something new and useful and then they go and throw in a bit of info without explanation - there they go, taking your knowledge for granted again.
It's quite daunting to be faced with a book of 200-400 pages ! True - they are divided into sections, chapters, and subjects but an awful lot of stuff seems entirely irrelevant - still - you never know - I might need that section on 'Working In the Camera Raw Plug-in' or 'Designating Links with Image Maps' at some point in the future I s'pose.
Mmmm - out of all this, I'm learning to note my own 'formulas' that I can follow for the particular effects I want on my cards, so it's a matter of make do and mend I guess. I can't help thinking I'm missing out on such a lot of great effects if only I had somebody at my side to guide me. It would make life so much easier.[ I think there's a spiritual analogy there somewhere !]
Once I've got something under my belt I have this strong urge to pass my new found knowledge on to others who may be struggling too - only because I can tell the difference between a Beginner and a Really, Really True Beginner , like wot I was ....
it's a bit like learning to play the guitar or piano - you don't really have to learn to read music - there are easier, simpler ways to reach your heart's desire - not everyone wants to be a Concert Pianist do they ? You just want the pleasure of making your own sounds .... you can be blinded by 'experts' and think you'll never achieve something so you get disheartened and give up altogether.
It's only by looking back and reflecting that I can see how far I've come - from being someone who was even frightened of using The Mouse ['cos it kept running all over the place on it's own] to the 'expert' I am today - Oh yeah - who says so ?

Facing Reality

I'm not in the business of making people look foolish or uncomfortable, nor do I like the idea of scoring points, but sometimes I just have to join in a debate for the sake of truth.
I recently had a look at a You Tube video of Richard Dawkin being 'stumped' by a Creationist question, " Can you give an example of a genetic mutation or an evolutionary process which can be seen to increase the information in the genome ?"
Of the various video contributions from other people, one in particular caught my eye. My ghast was really flabbered when I heard him give Down's Syndrome as his example ! I hardly think this is suitable as Down's Syndrome is surely a 'mistake' in the genes blueprint ? Ask any parent of a DS child if they believe this is 'progress' from the norm ? Loved as they are , their parents would surely not have wished for the extra information afforded? As I'm not an evolutionist I can't challenge his assumption that it indeed increases the information - I would need to investigate that one - however it certainly doesn't back up the idea that everything is getting better and better in the evolutionary tree does it ? As far as I know - any drifting away from the genetic blueprint of any living thing will introduce mistakes. I hope that someone will put me right if I have my facts wrong !
I've read that Richard Dawkin is becoming a bit of an embarrassment to some Scientists/ Evolutionists simply because he is so insulting to Creationists. He ignores their evidence because his own faith-system won't allow him to be open minded enough to credit believers with just as much 'intelligence' as he thinks HE has. The Creation Scientists that I have seen and read about deserve to be treated with respect and taken seriously.
I'm very glad that more and more Christians are taking up the challenge and being conscientious in answering their critics. We are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ [Romans 1:16].
I've been a Christian believer now for 44 years [ having been an out and out Atheist for the previous 11 years] and I've never known a time quite like this before, when Christianity is under such attack from all quarters. In these days of political correctness, Christians are being marginalised to an unprecidented degree in our country. We are no longer living in a land of free speech - except for those who disagree with the Christian faith of course - it seems they can say what they like !
We must fall over backwards not to upset those of other faiths - particularly Moslems [ could this be because Governments are running scared of being the targets of terrorism if they do I wonder ?] The name of Jesus Christ is blasphemed and used as a swear word all the time - when did you ever hear the name of Mohammed, Buddha, Hindu gods, or even the devil come to that , being used as a swear word ?
A few years ago I withdrew my support from the British Red Cross because of their ban of Nativity displays in their charity shop windows. What a terrible betrayal of their Christian heritage ! Even among Christians Christmas is being looked on as paganism and therefore no longer acceptable. Yes - the devil would love to snuff out the Name of Jesus completely.
Loss of Christian influence is seen everywhere now and we are portrayed as bigotted, ignorant and foolish. Very recently a nurse was in the news because she'd been suspended. Her 'crime'? she offered to pray with a patient. Apparently the patient didn't complain but the nurses' colleague did. Some weeks ago a policeman lost his job because he refused to support a 'Gay Day' at his station by wearing a ribbon in his lapel. It's not just in this country either. Canada has very strict 'hate laws' now and a Christian ministry I know has had to transfer to the States because they lost their charitable status as they wouldn't compromise their message. This was a ministry to help those in the Jehovahs Witness cult. What have we come to ?
D'you know - I get really, really offended at the swearing and worse that goes on when I watch my Tele - I know I'm not alone - but does anyone care or take any notice if I complain ??? I also don't like the bias that's shown against Israel over the whole of the media. Thank God that Gen/Rev TV gives the other side of the conflict and cuts through all the lies and half-truths that we are fed. Anti semitism and Anti christianity is alive and kicking today alright!
Of course I'm not in the least bit surprised by all this as it's recorded in God's Book [ which is also under attack]. The Bible is a history book - specifically about the Jews and the Christians and what will happen to them in the future too. These two groups have always been persecuted and it will culminate in the rise of Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, The Day of Judgement and God's new Heaven and new Earth.
Meanwhile - we love our enemies, bless those who curse us and do good to those who hate us , as Jesus, the Saviour of the world taught us to do. I'm so glad that I know Him and wish above all things that everyone reading this will get to know Him too.

Genesis/Revelation TV

Of late I've taken a shine to watching Genesis/Revelation TV. Sky channels 585 & 592 [see web link at right side]. I avoid like the plague the other 'God' channels that promote mostly American Evangelists.
What I like most about Gen/Rev is how relaxed, friendly and 'ordinary' they are - although presenting an extraordinary message of course. For most of the time we are invited to email or phone in on their live shows and many people do just that, and although the bulk of these are 'believers' there is absolutely no prejudice or barring of atheists, agnostics and those of other faiths to give their views too.
The programmes are refreshing, interesting and topical. Of course everyone is not going to agree with everything that's on offer - but at least there is the freedom to say so. Which can't be said of the secular/religious climate we currently live in, towards Christians of the Bible-believing sort.
In particular I watch World in Focus and Voice in the Wilderness. There is a young man presenter on the latter programme , Mark Willats, who is a London Taxi Driver. Despite suffering himself, he has a lot of compassion for viewers who email or phone in and it appears quite a few are 'regulars'. He shows genuine interest in their lives and what's happening to them. His Christian love for people is obvious, but he shows a lot of patience too - I believe he's on for 3 hours [ not that I've been able to watch for that long !]
I'm very impressed with his knowledge and memory of Bible verses. What a good and true witness and ambassador he is for the Christian faith. In closing I would like to say I hope this doesn't sound like hero-worship - God forbid that we should put anyone upon a pedestal - none are fautless ..... just wanted to have my say, as usual !!

Where is John Smith?

After 'resting' from my Family History for some months, I've recently taken up the Cudgel again. Joy of Joys - the 1911 Census is now available to search on line [at a price]. So I registered on the 'Official' site and with great anticipation typed in Thomas George Smith, West Ham. Oh dear - what a disappointment - my first efforts kept showing 'no results found'. Decided I'd better try other variations, then eventually found him when I typed in Louisa Smith [ his wife] Bingo !! There he was with all the family .... why it hadn't worked for the 'Head' of the household I don't know.
Maybe it's just teething troubles but it kept happening to me for everyone else that I searched for ! I began to realise that sometimes it was best to leave out the Christian name and place name altogether. It seems the least info offered, the better the result.
Anyway - I was delighted to find that my Dad had another little sister that I hadn't known about and I found out , at last, when my Uncle Fred was born. Their elder sister Mary Millicent was now 10 and the youngest, Louisa Florence was 4. I've now located their birth records and sent for the certs to add to my collection - very satisfying .......

Less satisfying and positively frustrating and disappointing, is my complete lack of info re - the above Thomas George Smith's father [ my Great Grandfather] John Smith.
I'd sort of abandoned ship on him at various times, every so often having another look, but never getting anywhere. Now my desire to find him is rekindled and I'm putting myself through the mill again !
My first move has been to put requests for help on a couple of Message Boards.These have proved really useful in the past for other queries I've had and people are really kind and helpful. The danger for me now is in keeping track of my searches and requests for help so that I don't keep duplicating things and wasting time and energy in the process.
I've always been quite a methodical person- I love 'filing' things and was a born Office Worker I'm sure ! But now the effects of old age are creeping in and my discipline in efficiency is declining. I almost 'can't be bothered' at times ..... maybe it's the weather ! I hate to admit it, but I have papers all over the place waiting to be sorted and filed.
I also need to re- examine all my Smith 'maybe' stuff. I'm sure I must have printed off the same research results a few times and the only way of finding out is to get stuck in and check it all out !

Anyway - back to my elusive Great Grandfather John Smith. I have his marriage cert for Oct 1871, which has his address as High Street, Tunbridge wells. He and his father James Smith were both Tailors. John married at 32 and his bride was only 21. She very unfortunately died at the age of 30 with TB. His married life therefore sits neatly between the 1871 and 1881 Census'! I've searched the 1871 Census for him as a single person in Tunbridge wells with zilch results. Without the census I don't know where he was born and so I can't search for his birth record.
It's possible that John died soon after his wife as their 2 boys ended up in the Orphanage I mentioned in a previous post. Although he's on his eldest son's marriage cert in 1897 I've been informed by someone more experienced in these matters than I am, that just because the cert doesn't indicate he's 'deceased' , it doesn't necessarily mean he was still 'alive'. How annoying is that ?? All this time I was convinced certs proved everything - I find they can be unreliable and may contain MISTAKES ! Oh well - c'est la vie ..... now I'll have to assume the worst and start again.

A timely Newsletter from 'Ancestry' this morning has tips about searching for needles in haystacks when you have a really common surname [ in their case Kelly]. One of the suggestions is to try to follow ALL the families of that name in the given area in order to accumulate all possible connections and follow 'lines', the idea being that you will eventually rule out and eliminate and hopefully be left with the only possible correct John Smith !!!
I'm so desperate that I'm actually contemplating this daft idea [ daft because we're SMITHs for goodness sake !! - have you no heart ??] As a bit of light relief I'm posting a pic of me aged roughly 2 1/2 yrs old just before I went into hospital for my first operation and the beginning of WW2 - [ chubby chops aren't I ?] - here's to the next time folks .......

Evidently So

I'm going to put on my 'Gospel' hat today.

My dictionary tells me that God, among other things, is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. On the other hand, the world at large - including many religious people , believe Evolution is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. Therefore to the atheist/humanist/religious Evolution is their equivalent of God. They worship Evolution and the things it has created as surely as the Christian worships the God of the Bible.

We all have the same evidence in the world about us and there are Scientists on both sides - but who is interpreting that evidence correctly ? For instance - the evidence of 'design' in everything we see around us is clear. This suggests an 'intelligent mind' does it not?

Had Evolution it's own intelligence and decided one day to 'become' life and grow and change according to it's environment and circumstances? [ To believe that doesn't seem very intelligent to me - but then -I'm not a Scientist am I - so what do I know??] Can living things now or ever 'decide' to adapt or 'choose' what shape or what kind of outer skin they will have ? Let alone plants/trees 'choose' what they will be ..... We all know that there is something within all living things that is a blue print or pattern that makes them what they are - and that they reproduce always 'after their own kind' as the Genesis account of Creation tells us. There is not one instance of one creature changing into another - except in the fairy story of a frog turning into a Prince !! and then it was instant ! It's just an impossibilty and there is no evidence to show that it ever happened. It's all in the genes isn't it? I seem to recall that a few months ago Scientists were telling us we're all descended from one set of parents ? That is the evidence of the genes. True Science confirms the Bible account is true.

Because the world at large and atheists/humanists in particular do not want to believe in a Supreme God and Ruler of the Universe, they end up giving Evolution an intelligence and mind of it's own which takes it far beyond a mere theory or process and so it becomes 'God' in another form. Are you following me?
It's interesting that the New Testament directly addresses this very issue and I'll quote it in full if I may?
Romans 1:16-25 says [St Paul writing to the Church at Rome from Corinth 57AD]

' For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

I think this is a picture that speaks for itself - don't think that God doesn't know He's being rejected by the vast majority of the human race - He knows very well and yet still is patient and loving towards us - but only for this Gospel age. Jesus said His way is narrow and few people would find it. That's why it's so important to get right with God while you are here in this world - it's not wise to leave it till the last minute, do it while there's time and become one of the 'few'.

I hope that my message doesn't sound self-righteous and condemning - it isn't meant to be - like many before me - I am just a sinner saved by grace and when you've found something good you want to share it ...... till the next time .......

Ramblings

I'm a bit fed up at the moment so I thought I would 'talk' to anyone out there who finds my ramblings mildly interesting/ amusing ....

What happened with this Big Bang experiment then ? The rest of us are still here, but maybe the 'scientists' have got swallowed up in a Black Hole of their own creating - into another dimension where they can experiment on each other to their hearts' content - bless their little cotton socks.

I was a bit peeved the other day because I'd heard back from the Big Boss Lady of the Botanical Painting Course that I'm doing and was none too pleased with what she had to say. I'd been given excellent marks for my last two assignments and was feeling mighty upbeat because of it. BBL checked out my Tutor and , although she didn't actually say I'd been marked too high - it was pretty obvious that's what she thought.
I'm not usually one to complain about anything , believing one should take critcism on the chin and be a humble person. However , just this once I decided I would write my defence...... so I await her reply in the not too distant future.

I watched the TV series 'Maestro' with great enjoyment .... what a good idea whoever thought of it - I hope they do it again. The only thing is - the subtleties of conducting are still evading my confused brain. P'raps a Google search is in order - that usually turns up trumps when I want to know anything.
I love these music programmes. Being an 'old' I like things that soothe and not things that agitate. There are definitely not enough programmes on that do not disturb or irritate one. I would watch more Wild Life programmes if they didn't always put a horrific scene in it of animals attacking and eating each other. The evolutionists that make these programmes believe it's all part of the reality of life so that's why they include it. But I know that God didn't create animals to kill each other and the Bible promises to restore Paradise conditions one day so that the Wolf will lie down with the Lamb in companionship.

I have enrolled with the University of the 3rd Age [ U3A] to join a Digital Photography group. I have high expectations of this and hope to put the fruit of my labours on this Blog eventually .... I have also bought a new camera in anticipation.

Well it's tea-time now and I have to gather myself to prepare a meal for myself and my son Paul who is with me today. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do - so see y'all soon.

The Charity Collectors Salute !

Yesterday I was one of several 'volunteers' who went into town to do our bit, collecting for SASBAH - The Sussex Association for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus. This is what my eldest son was born with. Babies can be born with both or either and Hydrocephalus can happen for various reasons at any point in life.
Over the years we have benefitted greatly from this charity - the most important for me being the specialised Clinic that is available for my son and people like him to have regular checks by a Doctor who is familiar with all aspects of the disabilty.
I haven't been able to help with many of the things that SASBAH needs and so haven't been 'involved' as much as I would have liked. However - the one thing that I have been able to do is go out with my tin once a year !

I have recently 'acquired' a really nice email/penpal friend called Charlie and I told him all about my day - he writes great poetry - and he has very kindly written a poem that sums it all up - I hope you will all enjoy it as much as me. Charlie says my pic reminds him of Benny Hill's Capt Scuttle - what do you think ??
I believe he titled it 'Collection Day' but I'm calling it 'The Charity Collector's Salute. Thank you Charlie !

So there she stood with shaking hand,
While across the road there played a Band
Sometimes in tune but sometimes Not
It helped her with the collecting lot

The weather's nice, the people too,
She prayed she didn't need the loo,
A lady stopped and opened her bag
But no purse emerged, only a fag

The tin shook on, began to fill,
She carried on with forceful will
People asked, "why the tin?"
She did her best to fill them in

Needless to say the cause was great
She continued on with her tin to wait
Until the coffers became too heavy
So off she went for a well earned bevy

All in all, her time well spent
For Spina Bifida it is meant
"Let's help some others" cries the voice
Let's all chip in, we have no choice.

by Charlie Horner - Poet