Snippets of daily life come to light

RECENTLY, I’d begun to wonder if it was just me thinking that the press, radio and television news had become mostly negative. Surely, I thought, there are some ‘happy’ things going on in the world, apart from tragedies and disaster headlines the media seem to believe hold people’s attention?

However, following a recent moan from the ol’ sailor, my lady drew my attention to a different section of the press. She quietly said: “Read the letters section, mister, where ordinary folk put pen to paper to tell us about normal things in life. ”

So I did, and as always, she was right. Members of the public write various letters about everyday events that describe their personal feelings and within each letter comes across a real life story.

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We’re fast approaching the time of the year when the nation quietly remembers those who sacrificed their lives, so that future generations might live in freedom. This year it appears in certain sections remembrance services will concentrate more on the First World War, where millions died in the bitter conflict between 1914 and 1918 ... yet another period of complete political insanity. The Brixham Mission Community together with the British Legion have organised not one, but several non-denominational services on Saturday, November 10, to commemorate the end of the First World War.

But first, on Wednesday, November 7, the British Legion’s local annual festival of remembrance service will be held at Higher Brixham’s St Mary’s Church at 7.30pm. Both the BOMVC and the town band will take part and once again the community will show their total respect, I’m sure.

On November 10 there will be services at Brixham’s All Saint’s Church at 10am, at noon at Churston’s St Mary’s, followed by another at the Barn Chapel in Galmpton, at 2pm, Kingswear’s St Thomas at 4pm and at Cowtown’s St Mary’s church at 7pm.

I’m told the five services on the 10th will not be official remembrance festivals, but an opportunity for people to remember the fallen. Whichever service you might attend ‘We Shall Remember Them!’

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Certain sections of the media tell us that we’ve almost become a nation with compulsive habits. According to them we can’t survive the day unless we have a mobile phone close at hand.

Youngsters, the middle-aged and even pensioners, apparently start and end the day grasping this modern technology, which is able to make contact with all parts of the world. Walking around our streets it’s pretty evident scores of folk, especially teenagers, seem to be glued to their mobiles and it’s amazing there are not more accidents.

A friend told me about a dinner party he’d attended a few weeks ago, and was sitting beside a very attractive woman. Before and during the meal she never said a word to him, but every few minutes kept checking her phone, called someone, or sent a message. During dessert and fed up with being ignored he politely asked her: “Excuse me, but could we have a few words?” Her reply was: “Yes, of course, just let me have your number!” I know now why I don’t own a mobile phone.

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Last week, attending a concert at St Andrew’s church in Paignton turned out to be a lesson about singing and sadness! To aid the St Andrew’s church funds, Brixham’s Male Voice Choir and women from the port’s Quay Harmony Group had given up their Saturday night to entertain Paignton residents.

The sadness was caused by the fact both choirs outnumbered the audience. In a place of worship that must seat a couple of hundred people there were less than 50 in the audience. I’m not sure what went wrong, perhaps a lack of publicity or there might have been other events taking place in Paignton. However the lack of bums-on-seats didn’t affect the standard of singing and I’m sure those members of the public went home with melodies ringing in their ears. The evening made me proud of the dedication and the talent of Brixham’s musicians. Well done.