English Summer

I heard a quote on the radio last week: 

The English Summer consists of three fine days and a thunderstorm.  

Cockney

We have a resident, named Tony, at Windmill house who is very proud of his cockney heritage.  He will tell you that he was born is east London within the sound of the Bow Bells.  (Bow Bells are the bells of the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, London. To be 'born within the sound of Bow Bells' is the traditional definition of a Cockney.)  Here is a portion of his discourse on all things cockney:

By birthright is given the title of cockney and all of the blessings that this title bestows.  Namely: courage, panache, tact, stunningly good looks, slang language, good singing voice, and the ability to make up any absurdity of a story and make it believable.  

Some of Tony's cockney rhyming slang:

A cockney might say:                           Meaning:

Apples and pears Stairs   

Frog and toad Road

Hampstead Heath Teeth

Belt buckle Chuckle

A giraffe A laugh

Trouble and strife Wife

Pie and liquor Vicar

Jam jar Scar

China plate Mate (friend)

Dog and bone phone

Mince pies Eyes

Boat race Face

Plates of meat Feet

Current bun Sun

Whistle and flute Suit

Lady Godiva Fiver

Actually, I think he is having a giraffe on my behalf.  

Sheep

I was out walking with Scott and Peter this past Sunday.  We went through several sheep fields and the sheep were quite vocal.  They are funny sounding  - the young ones with higher pitch bleats and the older with funny low bleats.  Peter and I wondered what they were trying to communicate.  Peter suggested that they were telling each other corny jokes.  But I said no, they did not sound happy, they sounded like they were complaining.  They sounded loud and complaining, grumpy and whiny.  Isn't it apt that we are called sheep in the Bible?  Doesn't complaining just come so naturally?  God wants to give us His best for our best, yet I can always find something to complain about.  I want to try to emulate the content sleeping sheep or the happy ewes that scamper and frolic.  Dear Lord, show me my sin when I bleat and whine - lead me to a heart of gratitude.