Doxey marsh, the place to be!

This morning, Steven and I went to Doxey marsh for a tour with another 40 birders (as they are called). We had a fantastic time. What did you do today, do drop me a line. Blessings.Here are a few pictures!

Beautiful nature, birds

Last year the Express claimed that the robin with its red breast and joyous winter song was knocked off its perch as the nation’s best-loved bird by the king-fisher. 
I am so envious when I hear my friends and my hubby saying they have actually seen it, all I remember is seeing a glimpse of blue rocketing when we were birdwatching in la Camargue by a canal. Since nothing!

My other favourite bird is the heron. I have seen it about 10 times in the last 6 years since Steven and I started birdwatching!

I love the colours of this mandarin ducks,!

Beautiful nature, Antartic

 Chinstrap penguins, Deception Island in the Antarctic.


Let's praise the Lord for his creation.

Psalm 148

Praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.

He set them in place forever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart

Praise the LORD! Have a blessed week-end!

Beautiful nature, Florida

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Loggerhead turtles nest and live in the marine and estuary habitats of Florida Bay. These turtles are magnificently colored. They feed on horseshoe crabs, conchs, and other hard-shelled animals, which they crush in their powerful jaws.

The American Crocodile

The American Crocodile is a slimmer saltwater-residing cousin of the alligator. These creatures can be around 15 feet long and have long, tapered snouts. Their diet mainly consists of fish. Today, crocodile habitats are in peril due to several factors.

Wood Stork

The wood stork is a large wading bird with a thick down-curved bill and a bald head. It breeds during the dry season in the Everglades and along Florida Bay when fish are widely accessible. It is the only stork to breed in the United States.

Source:  http://www.everglades-city-tours.com/

Why do TV shows make fun of dads?

Even Peppa Pig and the Flintstones were named as programmes that damage children's perceptions of fatherhood. 

A ground-breaking survey by parenting website Netmums found 93% of parents agree the portrayal of Dads in the media doesn't reflect what they contribute to families in real life. 

Nearly half - 46 % - said books, adverts and TV shows like The Simpsons - famed for couch potato Dad Homer Simpson - could make children believe that Dads are "useless".

Some 28 % claimed the programmes were a "very subtle form of discrimination" and there would be an outcry if jokes aimed at Dads were aimed at women, ethnic minorities or religious groups.

Just last summer, Homer Simpson topped a Father's Day poll to find the UK's favourite film Dad. He was also named the Best Role Model, Most Embarrasing, and Funniest Dad.

But Netnums founder Siobhan Freegard said: "Good dads have never been more needed by their families. So it seems perverse we are telling men to step up and be involved, while running them down in the media.
"Some people claim 'it's just a joke' - but there's nothing amusing about taking away good role models for young boys."

She added: "Academic studies show children with involved fathers do far better at school, have a much lower chance of getting involved in crime and have better mental health, so we should be celebrating and encouraging what dads do well."Critically there was little difference in the responses given by women to the NetNums survey than those sent in by men. The survey reveals that a quarter of those polled believe rocketing divorce rates are the main issue undermining fatherhood. Click here to read it on line

One in nine men say the number of women choosing to have kids alone through IVF or sperm donation was a pressing concern. Others fear the influence of step parents. Some 88 per cent of Dads insist they are trying to do be a better father than their own one.

After having seen a programme on Revelation TV, an interview with David G. Evans, about dads becoming men after God's own heart, I read his book, Dare to be a man, the truth every man must know and every woman needs to know about him. 

It's a very inspiring reading that I recommend to any age for men and women. 

Have you been carolling this year? You have still got time!

O Come, All Ye Faithful is one of my favorite carols. What's yours? 

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Attributed to John Francis Wade(ca. 1711-1786)

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye,
O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens
of heaven above;
Glory to God,
Glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be
all glory given;
Son of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.

Enjoy the Christmas church services

Last night, Steven went carolling at Stowe last night and I joined him later on. Everybody had a great time. 

Sunday 22nd December
St Peter's, Hixon - Team Service and Communion 10.00
St Peter's, Hixon - Carols at the Inn at 7.00.pm where the 'Inn' is the Bank House pub
Tuesday 24th December - Christmas Eve
All Saints, Sandon -  Christingle at 4.00.pm.
All Saint's, Milwich - Crib Service 4.00.pm
St. Peter's, Hixon - Christingle 5.00.pm
St. Andrew's, Weston - Christingle Service 6.00.pm
St. James the Less, Fradswell - Christmas Communion 8.00.pm
St. Peter's, Hixon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
All Saints, Milwich - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
St. James the Great, Salt - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
All Saints, Sandon - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
St. Andrew's, Weston - Midnight Communion 11.30.pm
Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day
St. Rufin, Burston - Christmas Communion 9.30.am
St. Peter's, Hopton - Christmas Communion 9.30.am
St. Peter's, Gayton - Christmas Communion 11.15.am
St John's, Stowe  - Christmas Communion at 11.15.am
Sunday 29th December
St. John's, Stowe  - Team Service at 10.00.am - farewell to Jason

The Daily Show: Extended Interview: Malala Yousafzai

Hang on to God's promises!

Brian and Gina Walden always wanted to have a family. Their first son was easy, their second son Ethan would wake up and scream. Mum says: I would tickle him, bring his toys and he wouldn't respond. As he got older, his parents worried. He would just cry and bit himself until he bled. Their doctor told them he had autism. 

They began to care for him but the stress strained their marriage. One night they realised they were up against something else and that this fight was a spiritual battle as much as a physical. 
Dad: I started to get up earlier and we would pray. 
Soon after that, they found an autism specialist Ginelle who was a Christian too: 'Prayer was as important as therapy'  and she would pray with them daily...
This is such an encouraging story. Our God loves us and He is there for us in every moment of our daily walk.

A prayer for today: Father, you hold us in our hands, you know our deepest thoughts and worries. 
We ask you to pour your healing on our little ones, their parents, grand-parents, carers, nurses, doctors and hospital staff. 
Guide them and help them keeping on looking after their patients, strengthten them, for your glory. 
In Jesus' name, our Saviour and Redeemer, amen.
Have a blessed day. N.

Worried about ?

Let's pray about it!

Bad taste joke? Let me know!

Husband Store







A store that sells new husbands has opened in London , where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates:



You may visit this store ONLY ONCE! There are six floors and the value of the products increase as the shopper ascends the flights. The shopper may choose any item from a particular floor, or may choose to go up to the next floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 - These men Have Jobs

She is intrigued, but continues to the second floor, where the sign reads:

Floor 2 - These men Have Jobs and Love Kids.

'That's nice,' she thinks, 'but I want more.'

So she continues upward. The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, and are Extremely Good Looking.

'Wow,' she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.

She goes to the fourth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 4 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Good Looking and Help With Housework.

'Oh, mercy me!' she exclaims, 'I can hardly stand it!'

Still, she goes to the fifth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 5 - These men Have Jobs, Love Kids, are Drop-dead Gorgeous, Help with Housework, and Have a Strong Romantic Streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor, where the sign reads:



Floor 6 - You are visitor 31,456,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store.

PLEASE NOTE:

To avoid gender bias charges, the store's owner opened a New Wives store just across the street.

The first floor has wives that love sex.

The second floor has wives that love sex and have money and like beer

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors have never been visited.

Grapefruit health benefits

Enjoy Benefits from the Antioxidant Lycopene
Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. Vitamin C-rich foods like grapefruit may help reduce cold symptoms or severity of cold symptoms; over 20 scientific studies have suggested that vitamin C is a cold-fighter. Vitamin C also prevents the free radical damage that triggers the inflammatory cascade, and is therefore also associated with reduced severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. As free radicals can oxidize cholesterol and lead to plaques that may rupture causing heart attacks or stroke, vitamin C is beneficial to promoting cardiovascular health.The rich pink and red colors of grapefruit are due to lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient. (PLEASE NOTE: Lycopene is only found in pink and red grapefruit. White grapefruit does not provide this carotenoid.) Lycopene appears to have anti-tumor activity. Among the common dietary carotenoids, lycopene has the highest capacity to help fight oxygen free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells.
Choosing to regularly eat lycopene-rich foods, such as pink grapefruit, and drink green tea may greatly reduce a man's risk of developing prostate cancer, suggests research published the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Jian L, Lee AH, et al.)
In this case-control study involving 130 prostate cancer patients and 274 hospital controls, men drinking the most green tea were found to have an 86% reduced risk of prostate cancer compared, to those drinking the least.
A similar inverse association was found between the men's consumption of lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, apricots, pink grapefruit, watermelon, papaya, and guava. Men who most frequently enjoyed these foods were 82% less likely to have prostate cancer compared to those consuming the least lycopene-rich foods.
Regular consumption of both green tea and foods rich in lycopene resulted in a synergistic protective effect, stronger than the protection afforded by either, the researchers also noted.

I am not so keen on green tea but I try to eat a pink grapefruit everyday. I noticed that the grapefruit juice content in sugar is too high so I prefer buying the fruits.

Have a blessed week-end!

Mattersight?

Ok, I confess that I should not even be here this morning on my blog as I have set myself another goal today still I just thought I 'd share this with you:

Are you the kind of person who prefers to be chatty on customer service calls, or do you like to get right to the point? Do you prefer to be lead through an explanation every step of the way, or do you prefer the person on the other end to just shut up and “do what they need to do”? Do you prefer person-centered explanations, or technical explanations? Are you outgoing, or are you shy?

Believe it or not, there is a computer system out there that can figure out the details of your personality and interaction style after listening to mere seconds of your phone calls. In fact, this may have already happened the last time you called a customer service line. There is no way you would ever know.

Mattersight is an extremely sophisticated data analysis system that listens to the way you respond on the telephone. It listens to you in the background, and breaks down hundreds of micro-features of your voice: volume, tone, pauses, speed of response, and so on. It uses extremely sophisticated mathematical algorithms to interpret these features, compare them to data in their databases, and come up with a personality profile for you.

All of this happens, by the way, during the first few seconds that you are on the phone. 

Then, when you are finally connected to a sales representative or customer service professional, Mattersight takes its analysis of your personality, compares it to the personality profiles of the call center employees that it has on file, and automatically connects you with the service agent that you are most compatible with.

So I have a question: are they allowed to do that? Your views are welcome!

Source : http://www.kernelmag.com/features/report/5648/sleepwalking-into-moral-censorship/

Let's celebrate!

We knew we wanted something different, so when our vicar (Vicar, St Mary's & St Martin's Church, Blyth) suggested a flashmob, we were sold.
Gary Richardson

A perfect husband?

A woman was walking along the beach when she stumbled upon a Genie’s lamp. She picked it up, rubbed it, and a Genie appeared. The amazed woman asked if she got three wishes. The Genie said, “No. Due to inflation, constant downsizing, and fierce global competition, I can only grant you one wish. So, what’ll it be?” The woman didn’t hesitate. She said, “I want peace in the Middle East. See this map? I want these countries to stop fighting with each other.” The Genie looked at the map and exclaimed, “Lady, these countries have been at war for thousands of years. I’m good but not THAT good! Make another wish.” The woman thought for a minute and said, “Well, I’ve never been able to find the right man. You know, one that’s considerate and fun, likes to cook and helps with the housecleaning, is romantic, gets along with my family, doesn’t watch sports all the time, and is faithful. That’s what I wish for—a perfect husband.” The Genie let out a long sigh and said, “Let me see that map again.”