DADI never ever told you DadBut I guess you always knewHow much this lad loved youWith Mum and my brothers too.And now it is a hundred years sinceMud and blood and gore,While the diplomats lied for senseless prideAs they guided us to war.I never asked the questionsI should have asked before,“What did you do in the conflict Dad,A century ago,Were there screams in the dark as the bullets flewAnd the sniper found his mark?Were there tears in the trench as the rain did drench<strong>The</strong> streams of blood away?”Thank God you survived and came homeTo create the life of this lad today.Did you ever recall those fearful daysPerhaps a nightmare or two?While this young lad was hearing<strong>The</strong>se few bitter words from you,“Better not knowing lad –History will tell the taleOf a time to kill – and mournWhile widows weep and wail”.I don’t recall a hug at allPerhaps, not a manly thing to do,But oh those smiles and laughterRemembered a lifetime through.And even your admonishmentsTold me right from wrongAnd I think that wink assured meThat I really did belong.Len WatsonWar tornI’m ready for my soulTo soar, escape, leave this place.My box full of memories,A faded card with lace and loveSends silent screams remembering,Battlefield claimed my young beau.Was it yesterday or long ago?Tired but rested, close my eyes,Floating, gliding, now feel free,<strong>The</strong>re’s my soldier boy, awaiting me.Mary BrittainSince wars begin in the minds of men, it isin the minds of men that the defences ofpeace must be constructed.(Constitution of UNESCO)DONATE8news‘Great things happen when peoplework together’Many thanks for the wonderful response to the tasksrequested by the team leaders in the parish since Donate8was launched on the feast day of St Francis in October 2014.Hundreds of hours of volunteer time have been donated forexample, to the following tasks:• Cleaning, polishing, wax removal and window cleaning• Collecting and tidying hymn books after 10.30am SundayMass • Helping with the First Holy Communion sashes andties. • Helping with the preparation for Mass, altar cloths,altar linen at Nettlestead • Laundry of altar linen on aninfrequent basis when required at Nettlestead.• Washing ofthe altar servers albs at St Francis’ church • Calligraphy forthe First Holy Communion certificates • Database entry inthe Parish office • Helping with Sunday morningrefreshments by baking cakes (St Francis’ 10.30 Sun Mass)• Serving teas, setting up tea arrangements and clearingaway (St Francis’ 10.30 Sun Mass) • Art work on the Nativity• Counting of Sunday Mass collections • Helping to design amonthly poster for the Mass centres, giving details of eachnew DEW Association charity and other notice boardrequirements • Constructing a plinth for under the candlestands at St Francis’ church • Replacing the wall lights at StLuke’s chapel • Organising refreshments in the Heart of KentHospice café following the 8.30am Sun Mass at St Luke’schapel • Fundraising for the roof repairs at St Francis e.g.Easter Sunday Cake sale.<strong>The</strong> maxim ‘Many hands make light work’ has truly beenborne out this year and we look forward to the future withrenewed optimism. New tasks will be available after thesummer holidays to help maintain the smooth running of ourgreat parish.If you would like further information about Donate8please contact: donate8@stfrancisparish.org.uk or leavea note in the RED donate8 box an the back of church.10
A Day in the life of a ThinkerLen WatsonMy wife has gone to sleep in a huff. We argue a lot these days. It’s all down tothe recession of course – I’ve been out of work for four months now. I expect tobe awake for some little time yet, for she has given me something extra to thinkabout —- but there’s no hurry —- Why is it that moonlight is that insipid colour?Why not pink or aquamarine, or some other romantic tint? Silver is so ‘yuleish’— like trying to sleep under a tinselled awning with fairy lights. I’m beingdistracted – where was I? Ah yes! Mary bless her. I do try to see her point of view,but she has rather ruffled me this time. She called me indolent – Me indolent! Herexact words were something like: “What do you do with yourself all day, youindolent clod?”I was so taken aback I looked it up in the dictionary. Good God! Doesn’t sheknow that thinking is a time consuming business? Anyway, I’m determined tohave an answer for her in the morning. I’m in the process of collating my fullagenda of thought for yesterday. Now let me see – I did think about getting out ofbed about nine. No! We won’t count that; I fell asleep again until eleven. Isuppose my intensive cogitations began ten minutes later in the bath —— Why isit that the ends of your fingers go ‘crinkly’ when immersed in water for a while? Isit something to do with hard water? <strong>The</strong>se are not considerations that will solvethe problems of the universe, but only the mental pabulum with which I begin myday – (‘Mental Pabulum’ is just something else I discovered in the dictionary –must remember that for Mary). I can just see her gape in astonishment at mywisdom: “All the great issues of daily woe are my mental pabulum that keeps mefrom indolence. Food for thought, lass, – food for thought; keeps me goingthrough the day”.<strong>The</strong>n I tarted myself up quickly – the pub will be open in five minutes.<strong>The</strong>re were a group of youngsters in the corner. I guessed they were students forthey were discussing poetry. Immediately I’m interested, for I have an anthologyof poems on my bookshelf (it stands next to the dictionary). <strong>The</strong>y were reciting‘Frost at Midnight’ – unfortunately they were also referring to Wordsworth. Ithought I would enlighten them: “Keats” I said, assembling my most intelligentpose.Two of them looked surprised, and a freckled young lass in the corner had anattack of the giggles.“I just thought you might like to know – you know – ‘damsel with a dulcimer –from distant Ophir’”.More giggles! This time the boys joined in as they filed into the Lounge Bar. Ahwell! Some people you just can’t help. But it did start me thinking again. Idawdled over my pint (the dole money was not due for two days yet). Yugoslavia!Yes – now I remember – I considered the Balkans – it was the ‘frost’ that did it. Allthis bother with these Groats and Kerbs and such; the answer is so simple – <strong>The</strong>Arctic! Repatriation for the lot of them! After all, they did once belong to Austria –another move might do them good. <strong>The</strong>y would be so busy building igloos andchasing seals that they wouldn’t have time to rub noses; never mind rubbing eachother the wrong way. Politicians don’t give themselves time to think. I think theyshould try this unemployment lark for a change. Of course, there may be someperil in thinking. Take Mrs Lofthouse at number 3. She thought she was quickerthan a 97 bus. I did think about attending her funeral but it looked like rain. Nowlet’s get this straight – what did I think about after my afternoon nap? Well I didthink about making Mary a sandwich but the bread was frozen from the freezer.Yes – the more I thought about it – the Arctic was definitely the solution. Most ofthe evening was spent arguing. Mary thought she was right – and I – well‘indolent indeed!’ I revised my list in my head; changing a phrase here,sharpening a calumny there. When I felt ready with my ‘ammunition’ I fell asleep.It’s not easy feigning sleep when your wife’s banging wardrobe doors andbawling “I’m late for work now, have you seen my pleated skirt?” I keep my eyesresolutely closed; all the time practising my ‘mental pabulum’ bit. But no – off shegoes again: “What time do you intend to get up? <strong>The</strong> grass needs cutting, andyou can hang that washing out for me. Do you hear me?”“I’ll think about it dear”. “Think about it? Oh you will, will you? Well myprocrastinating oaf, think about this too. If I come home to wet washing, or thatgreen ‘paddy field’ out there; you and I are going to be talking in termsof‘Psilosis’.I just hope she has finished. ‘Psilosis?’ What the hell …………..the dictionarylands with a thump on my head (thrown from the doorway). Damn! Why did Ihave to marry a schoolteacher? Now I’m going to have a headache – it’s goingto hurt too much to think.MemoriesSadly the Convent of the Sacred Heart building,that became the Russell Hotel in Boxley Road,Maidstone, was demolished in April this year.My schooldays at the Convent were wonderful,the nuns were kind(well, most of themwere) and thesetting wasperfect; treesoutside thewindows with redsquirrels inresidence. I usedto watch them,when I lost a bit ofinterest in mylessons.Sadly the Conventclosed in 1975. <strong>The</strong> nuns offered their SacredHeart Statue (see picture) to my mother,Kathleen Dominey. This was kept in herbedroom until her death in 1991, when Ibecame its custodian. It stands on a small tableon the corner of my bedroom (but moved to thestairs for a better photo). <strong>The</strong> statue is 2ft 9inshigh and is quite heavy. It has now been in ourfamily for 40 years, a lovely, lasting memory ofmy convent schooldays.Mary Brittain (nee Dominey)Winning team at the St Francis’ ChurchQuiz Evening, Saturday 16th May in theURC church hall.A good number of St. Francis’parishioners joined the ChurchesTogether Good Friday Walk from ourchurch to Jubilee Square where there wasa short service with hymns. Thisphotograph shows parishioner DennisEdwardes holding the cross with Robertand Sarah Waters.11
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