War Drums

 

You no sooner take a putative day off than two nuclear powers, Pakistan and India are at it, and then some. Maybe you've followed the story, which goes something like this. Pakistani Moslems went Jihad on Indian, Hindu, tourists in Kashmir. They killed quite a few, in a typical act of Moslem butchery.

India didn't like this and started bulldozing mosques, good call, take note Texas, and deporting Pakistanis. Sorry, Moslems, you've got to go. Pakistan didn't like this and has apparently  closed its airspace to India. Not to be outdone, India's closed the Indus dam to Pakistan, cutting off the radical Moslem country's water. Here endeth a 1960s treaty.

Pakistan, understandably annoyed by this, has called India's Indus gambit an "act of war." In fairness, it probably is. That in mind, who would win the war? India is far larger and has an equivalently larger deployable force. Both countries have, for some reason, nuclear weapons. Result?

Right on the very brink. Move over, Ukraine, you're yesterday's money-laundering scheme, here's a new thing. Hopefully calm heads will prevail. But here's a thought, why should a single American life be lost to defend the sovereignty of either of these two countries.

You can see why we ruled them. Skinner v. Probyn, what? Guinea on the monkey India takes it, and twice as fast.

Your Friend,

LSP

Dam Hippies Stole My Sailboat

 

Yeah, you think they're friends, then they steal your dam boat.

Thieving frauds,

LSP

Marking Time

 

Marking time, here at the Compound. Do you remember the command? "Marking time. Mark time!" Quite the thing, stamp about like fury and there you have it. Parade square reminiscence aside, here's jolly old Procul Harum:

See you at the SAVAGE,

LSP

Just Taking It Easy

 

Yes, in Dallas of all places. Part of this R&R involves setting up a clothes line, which is braggably Old Skool, and energizing a new cordless lawnmower, which is dismayingly Nu Skool. Onerous yard chores done, I ambled over to the "pub" and ordered a "Guinness."

Guess what, the Guinness was weak and cost 8 bucks. Welcome to the New World Order, my friends. Still, it made a change, so there is that. Next step? Read some sci-fi short stories, if they're rubbish they're at least short, and then? Grill chicken thighs. 40 minutes of indirect heat seems to do the trick.

Cheers,

LSP

Have You Ever Known Junkies?

 

Tempted by Mike_C, I offer this edifying infovid. BTW, have you ever known Junkies? I know some of you have, and what wretched people they are. Never tempted me, you'll be glad to know. Speaking of which, there was a time when I lived in South London.

Huh, far out, it seems like a dream.

Your Pal,

LSP

On The Other Side

 

Well that was a lot of fun. Spirited Easter Masses followed by the roast beef of Old Texas, Yorkshire pudding, carrots, roast potatoes, outrageously heavy English silver, Gerrards thank you very much, and general mahogany pounding all 'round. Great result, Christ has risen.

Then today. Wake up, amble downstairs and survey the kitchen. Marvel at the fact of its cleanliness. Yes, we cleared up after last night's celebration, make strong coffee and head out onto the back porch. Check the news on your phone and... lo and behold, the Pope's dead.

Well he was 88, to be fair, he also hated the Latin Mass and loved mass immigration into the West. I love the Latin Mass and hate mass immigration into the West, so we disagreed on that. But I won't bang on, may he rest in peace, even if he was a behind-the-times Vatican II empty the pew com/symp Liberation Theology Jesuit.

Who knows, maybe Ignatius Loyola will give him a stern talking to. And who knows who will succeed him? I don't and don't pretend to, though perhaps you do. Feel free to weigh in, no rule. In the meanwhile, leftover beef is being transformed into a beef and mushroom pie. Stand by for updates on this exciting culinary adventure.

Your Old Friend,

LSP

Sorry I Missed Church

 

Just kidding. Prime rib's in the oven and medium rare's the way, is there any other way? Feel free to chime in, even though there is a rule.

Christus Surrexit,

LSP

Christ is Risen!

 

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived thereof. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; He gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.

And He shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one He gives, and upon the other He bestows gifts. And He both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.

Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen. (St. John Chrysostom)

Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may, by thy life-giving Spirit, be delivered from sin and raised from death; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

God bless you all,

LSP

We Love Clubland

We love Clubland a lot, here at the Compound. Look, a snapshot. I approached the NatLib's Porter, a Portugese Rhodesian, and foolishly said, "When on interview with the Royal Green Jackets years ago I was told, 'No more Rhodesians, it'll change the complexion of our unit.'" You see, after the Zimbabwe fiasco, RLI officers headed overseas and joined the RGJ and associates, which must have made the UK's light infantry strangely combat experienced. Regardless, thus spake Major MD in his office at the Winchester barracks and thank you very much.

You'll note, dear friends, that the same Major asked me some years before,  in Canterbury, "Can you, son of a Vicar, keep up with the boys in the Mess?" What a good question as we walked around the Green Court, and I assured him I could, falsely. Be that as it may, are we all not Rhodesians now? As in fighting the Leftist Leviathan against our replacement?"

Back to last April. I offered all of this to the Porter at the NatLib and he looked at me, with Porter wisdom: "That was a long time ago, sir." You see, he'd fought in the Bush War. Stout fellow, and off I went, somewhat shamefaced, into the dark of the Embankment. 

"Do you know," uttered a very close friend, "That he didn't want to talk about it?" I looked at her, "Yes. It is what it is. What next, shall we go to Lee Ho Phuk's, the French House or both? Your call."

We ended up in the magic that is the French House. Let the reader, all two of you, understand. Enough rambling. Holy Saturday to you all.

Space is Deep,

LSP

Holy Saturday

 

The Fourteenth Station.

(Genuflect) Priest: We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.

People: Because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

(Stand)

Priest: Consider how the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged it in the sepulchre with her own hands. They then closed the tomb, and all withdrew.

(Kneel)

People: Ah, my buried Jesus, * I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. * But Thou didst rise again the third day * I beseech Thee, by Thy Resurrection, * make me rise glorious with Thee at the last day, * to be always united with Thee in heaven, * to praise Thee and love Thee forever.

I love Thee, and I repent of ever having offended Thee. * Permit not that I ever offend Thee again. * Grant that I may love Thee always; * and then do with me what Thou wilt. *

(Say) Our Father-Hail Mary-Gloria Patri.

Look, dear friends, Altar #1 is all set up for Easter and the Victory of our risen Lord. And that's just it. Good triumphs over evil, life over death, heaven over hell, God over Satan. You too can be part of this victory but that, punters, few as you are, is for tomorrow.

Christus Surrexit,

LSP

Good Friday

 

A reflection:

"CHRIST broke his mysterious body and gave it to his disciples at the Supper without explaining at that time what the breaking and giving would mean.  There was no need, the facts would presently make it clear.  What, then, was done to this body?  It was stripped, scourged, and nailed to a cross: stripped of all dignity and all possession, scourged with the stroke of penal justice, and nailed up like a dead thing while it was still alive.  The body you receive in this sacrament accomplished its purpose by nailing to a tree.  You are to become this body, you are to be nailed: nailed to Christ’s sacrificial will.  The nails that hold you are God’s commandments, your rules of life, prayers, confessions, communions regularly observed.  Let us honour the nails for Christ’s sake, and pray that by the virtue of his passion they may hold fast." (Austin Farrer, Crown of the Year)

A prayer:

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the Cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

God bless you all,

LSP

HOC EST CORPUS MEUM

 

Today we stand in the Upper Room as Christ institutes the Eucharist, the Sacrament of the Altar, in which He gives himself body and blood for the remission  of sin. A perfect sacrifice made present under the form of bread and wine. Farrer speaks to this via Chantblog:

Do the disciples understand the nature of the bond? Jesus has blessed his food, to be the body he will offer in his sacrifice; do they know that they are committed to membership in such a body as that?  A body flogged, broken, crucified - see, he crumbles the loaf before their eyes.  Do they perceive the new meaning in the ancient custom, the breaking of the bread?  Are they willing to be parts of such a body, are they willing that his body, with its sacrificial destiny, should be theirs?  The disciples were not yet fully willing, but they came to be, and so we all must; for if we do not want to be given and surrendered to God, why touch religion at all?  By partaking of the sacrificial body, we are to be made capable of sacrifice, taken up, as we are, into the sacrificial being of Christ. (From Austin Farrer's address "This is my Body", given at the 1958 Eucharistic Congress, in Said and Sung.)

Soldats, Attention!  if we do not want to be given and surrendered to God, why touch religion at all?  By partaking of the sacrificial body, we are to be made capable of sacrifice, taken up, as we are, into the sacrificial being of Christ. Yes indeed, and you'll note Exorcists rate the Latin Rite and the new one not at all.

God Bless,

LSP