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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE July 2021 7

Calder’s Corner sailing into British ports; not now ing the school playground selling
Large Family bristling with guns but laden with apples at a halfpenny each! The Diary of a
the many goods and produce that
Today, when I see the abundance
Vicarage Cat
the populace had missed during
of fruit available in shops and su-
Syndrome wartime. I can remember at about permarkets, I am transported back Tribute Compilation
eight years of age passing one
to childhood helping my father in
of the small greengrocers dotted his barrow boy days. This meant
Hello! This is the fifth article throughout the back streets of the buying fruit, wholesale, at Stratford
about my large family struggling to Capital, and staring in wonder at market at 6.am in the morning! lorence had a way of making George’s guardian had George in
survive in the East End of London a curved, yellow fruit that I had We then washed the produce in Fpeople smile and indeed his hands, and tears in his eyes,
during the 1940s. The aftermath never seen before. It was shaped a horse-trough to make it look laugh. Here are a few extracts George wasn’t moving. I could
of the 2nd World War saw Britain like a boomerang and hung in `morning-fresh` and after that we from the past diaries…. recognise it as him, but he looked
trying to settle back into some kind bunches outside the shop; bananas trundled our two-wheeled barrow From June 2018….. so different – limp and lifeless.
of normality, with millions of lives were making a welcome comeback to our pitch, two to three miles Well you would have thought I’d The shock on the faces of his
endeavouring to erase the brooding in post war Britain. But, like many away. Dad covered the handcart dragged a baby unicorn into the human family quickly turned to
spectre of death or Nazi occupation other fruits, bananas were a luxury with wooden boards, spread a house by the look my guardian grief as they too realised what had
that had threatened all their futures that poorer families could ill afford. baize cloth, then built `towers` of gave me last week. She looked happened. Poor George had been
for the past several years. Yes, times were obviously hard for fruit to catch the eye of the public. horrified and then she started to hit by a van, when the roads are so
The spontaneous celebrations and many, and children often went to I am further reminded of those smile as she reached for the kitchen quiet.
euphoria of `Victory` street parties school on an empty stomach. At days when I read the letter to the towel and approached me with lots They took his little body into their
were short-term fixes, but lifting my school there were only one or Galatians in the New Testament. In of those soft absorbent squares. home and turned their backs on me,
spirits long-term, in an exhaust- two youngsters from well-off fami- chapter five the Apostle Paul laid What was her problem, yes I was a not noticing the grief in my heart.
Was it my fault? If only I hadn’t
ed and drained nation, required lies. They were always the `centre out his stall, spread his own baize little wet, well completely soak-
a more substantial response. For of attraction` in the lunch break, cloth and made a `show` of fruit. ing; and yes I had got a little grass chased George he wouldn’t have
ran in front of that van? Why was
instance, if one desired some form strutting the playground chewing The fruit of the Spirit: “Love, joy, tangled on me, well actually I was
of escapism then entertainment was apples and closely followed by a peace, patience, kindness, good- covered in rather a lot of pond he going that way home – the other
way is safer? Why did he hiss at
a possibility but it was very limited. trail of hungry kids yelling, “Give ness, faithfulness, gentleness and weed, which does have rather a me? And why can’t I turn the clock
Television was in its infancy, and us the core!” self-control.” The Bible teaches strong smell to it, well actually it back so that it never happened.
TV sets could only be afforded by I had a friend whose Aunt `lived that these attributes come about stinks of fish poo. But what she Later that day George’s human
rich and well-to-do people. On one out in the sticks` – he said she through the Holy Spirit working failed to realise is that at last I won family met my guardians by a hole
occasion, hearing that a colour TV had apple trees in her garden! So, in our lives. Of course, opponents the game. I’d been playing ‘tag’ that had been dug in a quiet corner
had been installed in a neighbour’s being a budding entrepreneur, I de- of Christianity may argue that the with the fish who live in the pond of the churchyard, they had a little
home, a large crowd of people, vised a plan and asked if we could characteristics of love, joy, peace, in our garden, it’s not easy but I box, and tears in their eyes. The
including myself, gathered on the visit his relative. One Saturday etc, are embedded in our psyche did it! little box had a whiff of George
pavement outside and gawped morning we arrived there on our anyway and are merely a product about it, as they gently placed his
through the lounge window, fasci- bikes and immediately I asked if of the human mind. Our reply From May 2019 coffin into the earth, I realised then
I don’t know what came over me,
nated by the first pictures to appear I might pick some apples. Auntie is that, having been made in the I just wanted to play and I saw on what is in the big boxes that are
in our locality. Neither could we agreed, thinking I would put just image of God, we may produce a the mantel-piece – where I love brought here to the churchyard, and
indulge in culinary `blowouts` to one or two in my pocket, but when `flash` of these attributes anywhere, to walk, well there were several it hurts.
alleviate the stress and pent-up I pulled out a couple of very large at any time. But the actual fruit of pretty little cat figures, so I thought
anxiety that had permeated our shopping bags and filled them right the Spirit is enduring and unwa- it would be fun to see if I could And her Conclusion to
lives for so long. Indulging in glut- to the top, she was not too pleased! vering, often in the face of extraor- knock them off, and I did, and it ‘Diary of A Vicarage Cat’
tony or eating-orgies to somehow We eventually left and started out dinary and persistent provocation. was fun. Until she came in and
encourage the healing process in for home. I hung a bulging bag And even if these characteristics saw my paw go tap, tap, tap and I’ve had great fun observing and
our broken and shattered lives was over each handlebar and wobbled are not exclusive to faith, they are the last one tumbled down onto the trying to understand my human
certainly not an option. Rationing off downhill. The bike quickly certainly the hallmark of Christian- hard floor below and just like the guardians, I think now I have more
was still in place, even though hos- picked up speed but one bag caught ity! So, while we believers patrol other three, broke into several piec- questions than answers, and per-
tilities had ended, so any kind of in the front wheel and ripped open! the supermarket aisles, choosing es. Well I got the waggly finger haps that is the way it will always
`comfort eating` was off the menu. A stream of apples poured across physical fruit to place in our shop- from her as she rushed over to see be. But I do feel closer to them,
It is true that international trad- the road, filled the gutter, and ping trolleys, we might also remind the shiny, colourful ornaments now closer to understanding what’s
ing had commenced again. The rolled down the hill! One red- ourselves that the Holy Spirit in- in pieces, broken on the floor. He important to them and understand-
high seas and oceans, that for so faced, school-boy ended up rushing spires the spiritual fruit that hangs stood at the door and I’m sure he ing the truth about love. Love isn’t
long had served as battle zones, around, collecting a whole lot of from the boughs of our lives. was sniggering. envious, and I’ve tried not to be en-
slowly returned to the familiarity bruised fruit. But, come Monday Ken Calder vious of the other cats, and the time
of peacetime ships and tankers morning, guess who was roam- From September 2020 my guardians spend with them.
It was on a recent sunny evening, Love isn’t resentful, and I don’t
my guardians were sat on the local resent being abandoned as a kitten,
Introduction to THE STILLING green, with the people from the otherwise I might not have been
neighbouring houses, but not sat
Catholic Christianity OF THE STORM too close together, forming a sort found by these guardians. Love
isn’t arrogant – okay I struggle
of circle, so I decided to walk over
Interested in the Catholic Church? - Our Lady ARTWORK BY to greet my guardians. As I strode with this one, but when you are
being judged for something you
J C LEGARE
and St Thomas Catholic Church, Ilkeston is go- And behold, there through the centre of the people, I can’t do, for a dis-ability, rather
ing to begin running an introduction to Catholic arose a great tempest saw Archie (the neighbouring sleek than for your many, many abilities
Christianity for adults. in the sea, insomuch handsome black cat) run under the you need to take pride in every
hedge, but I was more interested
The sessions are appropriate for those who that the ship was cov- in the smell of a catnip pillow. – it achievement you make, especially
winning at ‘Hide and Seek’. Love
wish to enter the Church (RCIA) and those who ered with the waves, was one of mine. I’m not sure how does not rejoice in wrong doings,
are exploring faith. Whether you are baptised, but he (Jesus) was it got to be out here, but she has so I’ve tried to behave, really I
non-baptised, a member of another Christian or asleep. all sorts of stuff in her handbag. I have.
And his disciples
faith community, or a Catholic who has just been came to him and love my catnip toys, but as I ap- I know it’s the love of my guardi-
away for a while and just wants a refresher you awoke him saying: proached, it smelt different, it smelt ans that bears all the mischievous
would be warmly welcomed. Lord, save us, we of Archie. He had been playing things I do, because of their love
We will be l exploring all aspects of faith such perish. with my toy! I was really annoyed; for me – they believe in me;
it was my toy, not his. How dare
as: Is there a God? Who is Jesus? What do And he saith unto he play with it. Without thinking, because of the abundance of their
Catholics believe and why? What is the Church? them: Why are ye I couldn’t stop myself, I sat on it love, they endured all the things I
got up to but this I do know, true
fearful, O ye of little
How do we pray? How do we know what is right faith? and quickly wee-ed on it! Now he love, the love of my guardians for
and wrong? and there will be plenty of time for Then he arose and re- wouldn’t want to play with it! me, and me for them, well that
questions. buked the winds and And from June 2020 love never ends.
We will meet every 1st Saturday of the month the sea, and there was It hurts, it hurts so badly, not a So if you can, please give a home
in the church hall (just behind the church, off a great calm. But the physical pain, but a different deeper to a rescue cat …. your home
men marvelled, say-
Regent Street) beginning on the 4th September at ing: What manner of pain somewhere inside me. And and your heart will be filled with
4:30 pm, and every subsequent month at the same man is this, that even I know what’s in those big boxes more love than you ever imagined
time and place. Our address is Our Lady and St the winds and the sea and I’m not happy. I know I’m not possible.
Thomas of Hereford RC Church, Regent Street, obey him! making much sense but life at the Goodbye from
moment doesn’t seem to be making
DE7 5RF, Ilkeston. - Fr. Andrew Matthew 8: 24-27 much sense… Florence