as some may remember, i posted about being dubious as to accepting anniversary presents this year from my super-dub family, esp.
my older sister.. well we agreed with the consensus on here that it was best to accept with gratitude and this we have done, but i would just like to reproduce what she wrote in the card accompanying the present and flowers.. after the happy anniversary she wrote :.
"it makes us sad to think of all the anniversaries past when you were part of our christian congregation.
Hi Wobble,
Just flicked on for a quick look and saw a post from you - I hope you are well.
I think the post saying you should ignore it is the best. Continue to act civil towards them otherwise you may rise to the bait.
With the mindset they have, you are never going to win.
Good luck.
SAB
i'm coming back to the uk and will be in town for the 4th november (unfortunately besty and the podlets won't be coming with me) but i would love to meet up with y'all.
especially as i missed the last one.
so, who's up for wagamama's, covent garden, on wednesday 4th november 2009.
Must be the second ones back home! Great night - nice to see some faces from two years ago and good to have some interesting conversations. Really enjoyed talking with Paul and we hope to meet up with you again soon. Nice for me to meet up with Wobble (first time since the early '70s!), and fantastic to see Sam again. Hopefully Bubble and I will meet up with Paul and Sam in the nearish future. X
i'm coming back to the uk and will be in town for the 4th november (unfortunately besty and the podlets won't be coming with me) but i would love to meet up with y'all.
especially as i missed the last one.
so, who's up for wagamama's, covent garden, on wednesday 4th november 2009.
Wobble - what makes you think Bubble and I are scary???
Have we met?
as a true scot, i'm deeply passionate about most things scottish, any possibly one of our small nation's most successful export is my main favourite - our single malt whisky heritage.. i'm writing this while savouring a 12 year old highland park - distilled in the orkney islands, the most northerly distillery in scotland.
it is one of my favourites - it was my late father's favourite tipple.
yet, only 500m from my house is scotlands oldest legal whisky distillery - glenturret, in crieff.
Daniel-p, I think you have totally misread and misinterpreted what Besty was saying.
Basically, chill and enjoy Scotch!
as a true scot, i'm deeply passionate about most things scottish, any possibly one of our small nation's most successful export is my main favourite - our single malt whisky heritage.. i'm writing this while savouring a 12 year old highland park - distilled in the orkney islands, the most northerly distillery in scotland.
it is one of my favourites - it was my late father's favourite tipple.
yet, only 500m from my house is scotlands oldest legal whisky distillery - glenturret, in crieff.
I like the 12 year old Bushmills - sorry, definitely not a Scotch as it comes from Northern Ireland, and the 12 year old version is only available from the distillery.
remember some of the garbage served at the district conventions?.
i was at the dollar store today and noticed they started carrying "shasta" cola.. i started laughing because they used to serve that skunk water at the district conventions when i was a kid.. they always brought in the cheapest, nastiest soda they could buy.. one year we had something called vess cola - that was actually worse than the shasta!
then, they ran out on sunday and had to buy pepsi from the local distributor - we were all rejoicing!!.
Ages ago at Twickenham (or 'Twickers' to the initiated) my super spiritual mum and dad decided it would be a good idea if we volunteered for food preparation - what a disaster, I just wanted to wander round the grounds, wondering what it would be like to be at a rugby match there, what the stadium was built for. It is the home of English Rugby for goodness sake!
Anyway, within a few minutes my dad had cut his hand open slicing the melons with a very sharp knife. Yippee, no more volunteering for the day!!!
now that you're out of the jws do you gamble?
occasionally or regularly?
what's the most you've won?
Yes we do the lotto every week - never one big...YET!!!
Been to Vegas twice, absolutely LOVED gambling there, mainly roulette, blackjack and the multi poker machines. Won well over $1000 on the last day of our vacation, but overall lost.
However, we view it as paying (and sometimes winning) for an evening of entertainment - and on the evenings we met up with Sweetpea and Besty they were spectacular nights of entertainment and friendship.
Back home in the UK I have no compulsion to gamble in a casino at all - why would you, after the glitz and glamour of Vegas?
<< part vi.
part vii not the end or the beginning.
as mentioned previously i was starting to travel more frequently to the us on business, specifically los angeles.
Many pertinent and well written points again Paul. Thanks so much for writing them, they also came alive even more for me and Bubble after meeting you in Vegas. We sincerely hope to see you soon.
and if so how was it handled?.
was it because of illness?.
or extreme case of nature calling?
Once I was Watchtower reader and I had a bit of a panic attack and had to excuse myself and leave the platform. It actually was handled very discreetly and well. I felt a bit guilty as I was in the proceed of doing things for which I would eventually be d'fed and the attention and help I got was a bit embarrassing.
<< part v. .
part vi the great apostasy sets in.
if you ever leave the truth or get disfellowshipped thatll be that well be finished.
Hi Paul, I decided to read your life story after meeting up with you and Sam in Vegas - as my lovely wife 'Bubble' has already said, it was wonderful meeting you both. I just wish we had met earlier and that we don't live so far apart. Mind you an annual meetup in Vegas sounds a good thing to aim for!
Anyway, I digress. As I have a lot to do for work and the fact that jet lag has set in, I thought I'd read Part 1 today, Part 2 tomorrow etc. However what a compelling read! As everyone else has said, it was very well written and many parts about how you felt as you were growing up amidst a strong 'Witness' family reasonated with feelings I had when I was younger.
As with Marie, I have not told my family how I feel regarding the 'Truth'. They all think that soon I will come to my senses, repent of my sins and go back to the Organisation (how do you do that 'tm' up high thingy?). I believe that leaving my elderly parents in ignorance and hope is better than dashing any illusions they may have. What I can never understand is how reasonably intelligent people like my parents can be sucked in by a group such as the JW's - but then the high control nature of a cult gives the answers to that one I suppose.
As I said, great writing Paul, a fantastic time was had by us all in Vegas and we look forward to seeing you and your family soon.
