St Peter & St Paul Church - Market Overton

Market Overton: Visiting St Peter & St Paul Church! (28.10.2025)

Culture is an interesting thing – as it often changes and switches. When Henry VIII abolished the Roman Catholic Church in the UK in 1534 (Act of Supremacy) – followed by the Dissolution of the Monasteries – these were tremendous Revolutionary acts that must of shocked the entire population. Even before this, Henry V annulled all foreign-owned abbeys and monasteries (as many English church establishments had been given as gifts to ecclesiastical authorities in other countries) – bringing them into the ownership of the English State. Perhaps the Revolutionary writing was on the wall. Still, out of all this, the “Anglican” (Protestant) movement development – and most of the churches in the UK today are “Protestant” (the Catholic Church was only permitted back into the UK during the early 20th century – but it remains very much a minority religion).

17th Century Safe - Old Wooden Safe - Built In2o Bedroom Wall!

Market Overton: 17th Century Wooden Safe – Built into Bedroom Wall! (26.10.2025)

Anyway, I digress. This morning, and for the first-time in decades, I heard a local Parish Church ring the church-bells – summoning the faithful to worship on this crisp Sunday-morning! I am literally sat in the epicentre of history! Probably far more so than usual. As you can see above – in the bedroom I am frequenting – there is a wooden safe built into the wall. The wood does not seem that secure to me – and I know I could easily place my fist through the door – it seems that thin (not that I would do such a thing). Years ago (in Hong Kong) when I had to punch objects whilst holding an egg in the palm (which had to remain “unbroken”) – the objects I had to hit were far more “stout” than this structure. I cannot not discern any writing on the casing of the safe – but such a craftsman’s signature might be immediately adjacent to the inner wall structure.

Come On England! Euro 2024!

Final Euro 2024 – England Vs Spain – It’s Coming Home! (14.7.2024)

Today, the Men’s England Football Team is playing Spain in the Final of the UEFA Cup (Euro 2024) – after successfully navigating their way through all the rounds! It has not been easy – but the luck of the draw has been on England’s side – with the English players coming to the aid of the team with magnificent last gasp goals! A salute must go to England’s players of African and Caribbean descent – without their expertise – England would not be in this Final! In my lifetime England has never won a major tournament – so perhaps this will change tonight. If not – I am happy with the sheer glory that this superb side has won for the history of English Football! I still remember Gareth Southgate missing his penalty in the World Cup Semi-Final in Italy 1990! He is now one of the greatest Managers England has ever seen! He took the sadness of his experience and positively directed it into a very successful career in steering England to world success! Never give-up and always look for a way to prevail! The Three Lions never give-up!

Kai-Lin on the Champion's Podium!

Redhill: Gymnastic Bronze Medal Earned By Kai-Lin! (24.3.2024)

Every Monday evening at around 5 pm – and after a long day at school – Kai-Lin gets her sport gear on and heads out to train in Gymnastics at Wood Field School. Sundays are usually the only day Kai-Lin has a complete rest – but she was up at 7 am and loosening up for today’s challenge! The Judges ruled that over-all – the points Kai-Lin earned – secured a “Bronze Medal” in her group! Kai-Lin demonstrated that sheer will-power can prevail!

Going to the Bookshop with Liz… (2.12.2022)

On occasion, (despite everything going on around me), a vivid dream bubbles-up into the ‘conscious-sphere’, which often involves historical events and people I have known – usually replicating (or constructing) events very similar to (or identical with) real events that actually happened (such as our visits to the now long closed ‘Borders’ Bookstore in neaeby Kingston-Upon-Thames – ususually during Sunday lunchtimes following demanding gongfu training sessions in the morning)! Recently, wilst dealing with 101 other things – and not having seen Liz for years now (life goes on) – the following ‘vivid’ dream traversed across the surface of my mind – and I thought it meaningful enough to record in writing!

A ‘Red’ Remembrance Day! (12.11.2022)

In 1956 – the USSR was corrupted by Khrushchev’s corruption – and the Revolution lost its essential Marxist-Leninist character! Russia has been dealing with loss ever since the Russian Socialist Revolution of 1917! Today, many ordinary Russians hold right-wing and far-right viewpoints – believing that the West is attempting to corrupt the pure ‘White’ Russian character with ‘multiculturalism’ and ‘homosexuality’! It is perhaps one of the greatest ironies that these ideas of social organisation and tolerance toward ‘difference’ actually originated within the Soviet Union and spread to the West – permanently effecting Western cultural development forever! Our grandfathers and great grandfathers fought in WWI and WWII – and we are very proud of them!

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