The contradictions that surround

“The Ministry of Peace concerns itself with war, the Ministry of Truth with lies, the Ministry of Love with torture and the Ministry of Plenty with starvation. These contradictions are not accidental, nor do they result from from ordinary hypocrisy: they are deliberate exercises in doublethink”

George Orwell, 1984

We've been hearing a lot about end times lately, but it is certainly not new to wish for the end to personal responsibility and to hand over the gift of this life to someone else - and indeed the story of one of our most famous end times cults of the last four hundred years makes for fascinatingly faithful fare (sorry for the always annoying alliteration).

At the time of the ascendancy of the Münster Anabaptists, the signs for impending doom were generally accepted and of course the resultant bloody rebellion was the most awful news for the women in that society - first subjugated and sexually enslaved by their own men of faith, then violently dealt with by mercenaries hired by the local expelled bishop. Gosh, surely that couldn't happen again? Well, except for maybe Jim Jones or David Koresh or, er, OK so maybe we still need to be vigilant!

The apparent contradiction of some of the best conditions on the planet, together with the rising spectre of climate change and the ever-present threat of economic instability can lead to some interesting contrasts, all inflamed by the cauldron of the internet (accountability anyone?)

And speaking of contrasts, whilst our north island compatriots are facing temperatures of around 40 degrees at the moment, this morning we were collecting cherries in our raincoats, and then returned to our house where the fire has been on for the last 24 hours or so!

Yes sir, yes sir, three buckets full

Smelly Kelly loves to be involved all the time with what the humans are doing and so she actually stole some cherries to have for herself - not to eat apparently, just for decoration in her "nest".

What cherries?

So cozy is it inside at the moment that our little birdy type friends cannot stand being out in the rain - or maybe it is the faux berries on the Christmas decorations causing a bird brain fade?

Anyhoo, grateful are we for the cherries, the fire, the cozy puppies, the crazy birds and of course for life itself - may it not end soon despite the ongoing gloomy forecasts!