Well it goes like this!
The Abbey Sanctuary does exist as can be seen from the picture, it is located immediately across the street from the site of the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh.
There are three brass plates on the road outside this building, these are in the shape of the letter 'S' to signify sanctuary! Up until the 19th century it was possible for some one to claim sanctuary in the building in the picture when they were being pursued by their creditors.
The real reason for the picture is that the building was part of my playground as a child. The tenement building which I lived in was demolished in the 1970's to be replaced by an office complex for Scottish and Newcastle Breweries HQ. This was subsequently sold to the Government when they needed land for a Parliament building and that is what stands on the site of the old tenement at the foot of the Canongate.
We felt privileged to have the Royal Family as near neighbours. I wonder if they ever knew that there were people living in flats not more than 100 yards from there royal apartments who had to share a toilet between 3, 4, or even more families. No bathrooms, and no hot water other than that could be heated on the fire, in the kitchen/living/dining room.
The building is a landmark at the foot of the Canongate but also a continuing landmark in my memory. when I see it I can return to it and enjoy the experiences of childhood some not so enjoyable but nevertheless return to that sense of 'then' and all that went with it.
theabbeysanctuary.blogspot.com hopefully will have the same effect on the reader as the building has on me. A desire to return now and again to have a look and remember!
Friday 28 December 2007
Back to work - with a vengance!
Yesterday morning returned to work. It did not take long for reality to strike back. Christmas was great. Enjoyed all the fun of the festivities. Run the 100 metres at the mario/sonic olympics. Boxed with my grand children and my daughter. Played golf with Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach and never left the house except in the company of a couple of people in white coats. No the truth is Nintendo Wii fever has gripped the Campbell household. There was hardly a game we did not play, baseball and tennis included. What a great time we had.
Down to earth - work - that four letter word - which we all suffer from at some time in our life.
It was one of the busiest days I have had for a while. I must admit it was rather rewarding at the end of the day - a long one at that - to realise just what can be achieved given the opportunity to complete a job without being interuppted.
I only hope that this pattern does not wear off in the new year.
Back to work! A man's got to do - what a man's got to do!
Down to earth - work - that four letter word - which we all suffer from at some time in our life.
It was one of the busiest days I have had for a while. I must admit it was rather rewarding at the end of the day - a long one at that - to realise just what can be achieved given the opportunity to complete a job without being interuppted.
I only hope that this pattern does not wear off in the new year.
Back to work! A man's got to do - what a man's got to do!
Monday 24 December 2007
So this is Christmas
For the first time in I don't know how long I am not working. Normally my whole thinking process is totally caught up in what I am going to do! Not this year! What a change!
I am sure it will not take me long to upset someone, but that will just be par for the course! Christmas is a time for giving and maybe this year I will be able to give back a little of the time I have taken from my family over the past 40 years or so. Its a long time and I will never be able to repay them for all the time I have spent away from them. I have already done more this Christmas - this evening I sang a Christmas song with my grand-daughter and then with the bulk of the family went to an open air Christmas Carol event. It was just great.
Christmas is a time for giving -many years ago I stopped off one Christmas morning at St Helen's Children's Home in Edinburgh to drop off some presents. while waiting in the reception area I overheard a young girl say to her mother, 'Mummy mummy, is that my daddy?' The child was asking a question I had never heard before. Certainly one I had never needed to ask. I knew my Dad, he was a great guy. A wonderful Dad and friend, he would have and did give me everything I ever needed, laced with great big lumps of love. (He would not have called it that, but that's what it was). He gave me all of that and more and not just at Christmas time.
I think of my Dad often. his kindness, his patience, his warmth, all that and more signify what Christmas is all about. At Christmas I often think about my Dad.
I am really looking forward to the next couple of days. No work, just doing the things that Grandfathers do at Christmas. Open presents and play games. Annoy my children and try and impress my grandchildren, that will be hard, these are very modern 21st century children - all clued up.
I don't know what presents I will receive tomorrow, but I know i shall be thankful for each one, because i will be able to relax without worrying about what I am going to be doing in a few hours time at work! Not this year, and maybe if I enjoy it I will endeavour to make a habit of not working at Christmas in the future. But there again, we are only given today - not tomorrow so I will just enjoy today and hope for tomorrow.
Happy Christmas to all my friends and family.
I am sure it will not take me long to upset someone, but that will just be par for the course! Christmas is a time for giving and maybe this year I will be able to give back a little of the time I have taken from my family over the past 40 years or so. Its a long time and I will never be able to repay them for all the time I have spent away from them. I have already done more this Christmas - this evening I sang a Christmas song with my grand-daughter and then with the bulk of the family went to an open air Christmas Carol event. It was just great.
Christmas is a time for giving -many years ago I stopped off one Christmas morning at St Helen's Children's Home in Edinburgh to drop off some presents. while waiting in the reception area I overheard a young girl say to her mother, 'Mummy mummy, is that my daddy?' The child was asking a question I had never heard before. Certainly one I had never needed to ask. I knew my Dad, he was a great guy. A wonderful Dad and friend, he would have and did give me everything I ever needed, laced with great big lumps of love. (He would not have called it that, but that's what it was). He gave me all of that and more and not just at Christmas time.
I think of my Dad often. his kindness, his patience, his warmth, all that and more signify what Christmas is all about. At Christmas I often think about my Dad.
I am really looking forward to the next couple of days. No work, just doing the things that Grandfathers do at Christmas. Open presents and play games. Annoy my children and try and impress my grandchildren, that will be hard, these are very modern 21st century children - all clued up.
I don't know what presents I will receive tomorrow, but I know i shall be thankful for each one, because i will be able to relax without worrying about what I am going to be doing in a few hours time at work! Not this year, and maybe if I enjoy it I will endeavour to make a habit of not working at Christmas in the future. But there again, we are only given today - not tomorrow so I will just enjoy today and hope for tomorrow.
Happy Christmas to all my friends and family.
Sunday 23 December 2007
No more 'Back o' Sunday'
Alex Cowe – Fisherman - Christian Soldier
I was first introduced to Alex and Christine Cowe in the early months of 1980, on a visit to Peterhead to preach for the vacancy that existed for the post of Pastor of the Assemblies of God Church in Chapel Street.
During that weekend my wife and I were farmed out to various members of the congregation so they could get a taste of what we were really like. A kind of beauty parade! What they saw was what they got. A couple with three kids, one just a babe in arms, who came with a desire to serve people. Alex and Christine welcomed us warmly into their home. Since that day to this I can still remember being treated like royalty with such tender care and respect. I still feel that warmth even now nearly 27 years later.
I never asked them what they thought about us, this strange family from Edinburgh translated to Peterhead, I did not need to. I knew from day one that they cared for us that was all that mattered. At the end of the weekend I was asked if I would like to go down to watch the fishing vessels set out ‘back o’ Sunday’. This was to become one of my favourite pastimes during my stay in Peterhead. Alex Cowe took me on board the Shemara, the vessel of which he was first mate, she was a pair trawler, which had just been lengthened along with her sister vessel the Golden Dawn, skippered by Alex’s brother, Andrew(?).
Alex was so proud of these vessels, lengthened to 106ft, with sea water refrigeration in the holds, to enable them to fish for herring and mackerel, as well as white fish. So much so that on this evening he just had to show me over these vessels. I could not deny myself such an outing, I had never been on a deep sea fishing vessel before and this would be my introduction! I was like a young child! Of I went with the words of my wife ringing in my ears, she did not have to say anything, the look was enough: ‘make sure you do not get any oil on that new suit you are wearing.’ Alex gave me the tour of his Shemara, wheelhouse, galley, saloon, sleeping quarters, fish deck, the works. I was doing well until I came past a brand new piece of deck equipment on my way off the vessel and yes, you guessed – a great ‘dollop’ of oil brushed onto my new suit. Alex looked at me and said absolutely nothing, but shrugged his shoulders and gave me a look as if to say: ‘you’re on your own’.
During my time as Pastor of the Assembly Alex treated me as not just a friend but allowed me to be his ‘Pastor’, he never referred to me as anything else. Even after I left the Assembly in 1982 he always spoke to me using the term ‘Pastor’ before correcting himself! He was that kind of fellow! In a strange way I was deeply saddened when I heard of his promotion to glory. Unfortunately I could not be present at his funeral as I was overseas at the time.
In life it is often the case that some people you come into contact with make little or no impression. That cannot be said about Alex Cowe. When he dealt with me, he was, in the words of the AV a ‘familiar friend’. Over the years since we left Peterhead, we kept in touch and occasionally, never enough really, we met up, he visited us here at least once and we met at various times when I returned north. In my life I only ever felt a distinct call to one place of ministry, Peterhead, it was to people like Alex and Christine Cowe I found it my privilege to serve.
You will note from this, that Alex Cowe was a special, a brother in Christ. He may never have gained much from me but I certainly was enriched by his friendship from day one. My only regret is that I was unable to be with him or at his funeral to join with others to say farewell. Or to put it in the words of the old song: ‘We will say good night here, But good morning up there!’
Alex Cowe was, in my eyes, a man who was worthy of the name of soldier of Christ!
I was first introduced to Alex and Christine Cowe in the early months of 1980, on a visit to Peterhead to preach for the vacancy that existed for the post of Pastor of the Assemblies of God Church in Chapel Street.
During that weekend my wife and I were farmed out to various members of the congregation so they could get a taste of what we were really like. A kind of beauty parade! What they saw was what they got. A couple with three kids, one just a babe in arms, who came with a desire to serve people. Alex and Christine welcomed us warmly into their home. Since that day to this I can still remember being treated like royalty with such tender care and respect. I still feel that warmth even now nearly 27 years later.
I never asked them what they thought about us, this strange family from Edinburgh translated to Peterhead, I did not need to. I knew from day one that they cared for us that was all that mattered. At the end of the weekend I was asked if I would like to go down to watch the fishing vessels set out ‘back o’ Sunday’. This was to become one of my favourite pastimes during my stay in Peterhead. Alex Cowe took me on board the Shemara, the vessel of which he was first mate, she was a pair trawler, which had just been lengthened along with her sister vessel the Golden Dawn, skippered by Alex’s brother, Andrew(?).
Alex was so proud of these vessels, lengthened to 106ft, with sea water refrigeration in the holds, to enable them to fish for herring and mackerel, as well as white fish. So much so that on this evening he just had to show me over these vessels. I could not deny myself such an outing, I had never been on a deep sea fishing vessel before and this would be my introduction! I was like a young child! Of I went with the words of my wife ringing in my ears, she did not have to say anything, the look was enough: ‘make sure you do not get any oil on that new suit you are wearing.’ Alex gave me the tour of his Shemara, wheelhouse, galley, saloon, sleeping quarters, fish deck, the works. I was doing well until I came past a brand new piece of deck equipment on my way off the vessel and yes, you guessed – a great ‘dollop’ of oil brushed onto my new suit. Alex looked at me and said absolutely nothing, but shrugged his shoulders and gave me a look as if to say: ‘you’re on your own’.
During my time as Pastor of the Assembly Alex treated me as not just a friend but allowed me to be his ‘Pastor’, he never referred to me as anything else. Even after I left the Assembly in 1982 he always spoke to me using the term ‘Pastor’ before correcting himself! He was that kind of fellow! In a strange way I was deeply saddened when I heard of his promotion to glory. Unfortunately I could not be present at his funeral as I was overseas at the time.
In life it is often the case that some people you come into contact with make little or no impression. That cannot be said about Alex Cowe. When he dealt with me, he was, in the words of the AV a ‘familiar friend’. Over the years since we left Peterhead, we kept in touch and occasionally, never enough really, we met up, he visited us here at least once and we met at various times when I returned north. In my life I only ever felt a distinct call to one place of ministry, Peterhead, it was to people like Alex and Christine Cowe I found it my privilege to serve.
You will note from this, that Alex Cowe was a special, a brother in Christ. He may never have gained much from me but I certainly was enriched by his friendship from day one. My only regret is that I was unable to be with him or at his funeral to join with others to say farewell. Or to put it in the words of the old song: ‘We will say good night here, But good morning up there!’
Alex Cowe was, in my eyes, a man who was worthy of the name of soldier of Christ!
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