Heading Home

View of the beach at San Lameer Country Estate

It's our last day on holiday at San Lameer Country Estate near Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. We're heading back home tomorrow. Why does a week always go by so quickly when you're on holiday?

Rid Us Of Anonymous Individuals

I believe that we should all adopt a policy of completely ignoring anyone who choices to remain anonymous while interacting in a rude and insulting manner with us through social media. In fact, I think that in some instances it is actually worthwhile for us to ‘block’ anonymous individuals completely so that we just don’t see what they have to say.

Imagine The One Who Created This Beauty

Beach at San Lameer

Tu, Dómine, terram fundásti et ópera mánuum tuárum sunt cæli. (You founded the earth, Lord, and the heavens are the work of your hands.)

Red-faced Mousebird

Red-faced Mousebird

Until now I have only ever seen the ‘Speckled’ variety of Mousebird in my garden. There are literally dozens of them and they look so cute, scurrying around inside the bushes. It is easy to see why the name Mousebird was given to them. I often think they look like little mice playing in the bushes.

Does Pope Francis Highlight Our Past Prejudices?

Pope Francis
Photo: Catholic News Agency

The media clearly loves Pope Francis. He can almost do no wrong. They literally seem to leap at the slightest opportunity to highlight what a great man he is. I of course agree. He is a great man.

Pope Francis On Benedict XVI

Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
Photo: CTV

We know that there are many people who dislike Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Many Catholics believe that he was harmful to the Church and they have done everything possible to ensure that the whole world knows their feelings in this regard. Some have gone as far as to described Pope Francis as the saviour that the Church needed in order to halt any further disintegration of the Church caused by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Blessed Sacrament In Disposable Cup

Initially I thought this was just a practical joke. I ignored it. However it seems that this is no joke. During the World Youth Day Mass, Holy Communion was indeed distributed in plastic disposable cups.

Homophobia or Bigotry

Some of the definitions given for ‘homophobia’ in various dictionaries are: “an extreme and irrational aversion to homosexuality and homosexual people”, “unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality”, and “intense hatred or fear of homosexuals or homosexuality”. Today this is, in many instances, not the way that the word is actually used.

Giant Kingfisher Visits

Giant Kingfisher

Yesterday I again got to see the most amazing bird life right here in the confines of my own garden at home. I would never ever have expected to see this Giant Kingfisher. I spotted it while sitting in my bed, looking out into the garden in the afternoon. It was such an amazing bird - a female, I think, based on the colours.

Why Pope Francis Gave Up Papal Apartment

Domus Sanctae Marthae seen from the dome of St. Peter's Basilica

Photo: Wikipedia

Pope Francis continues to do the unexpected and it seems that this is helping to increase his popularity with the press no end. He did the unexpected again on his flight home from World Youth Day when he answered questions from the press for about 80 minutes.

Transcript: Pope Francis WYD Press Conference

Pope Francis Disembarks in Rome after WYD 2013
Photo: National Catholic Register

Zenit has produced an English transcript of the press conference that Pope Francis gave on the flight home from World Youth Day. I wish someone would post a video of the entire press conference with English sub-titles. Anyway I suppose one has to be grateful for the transcript.

God In The Beauty of His Creation

South Africa is such a beautiful country. One of the blessings of having been disabled has been the ability to take a moment to smell the roses. To become aware of all those normal everyday things that I simply was oblivious of when I was working and complying with the demands of work and the desire to climb the corporate ladder.

Be Cautious Of Pope Francis Media Reports

Pope Francis

Yesterday I wrote about the many articles that have been written about Pope Francis’ remarks on ‘gays’ during his flight home after World Youth Day. I have come across articles ranging from impending changes in the Church policy on homosexual priests, right through to possible changes to the Church’s teaching on homosexuality.