Tag: Andrew

christian, Festivals, PoetryLeave a comment

family and love is what counts at Christmas

Michael McFarland Campbell

Every Christmas for I don’t know how long we have had rows in our family. This year, I am glad to say that it has been much reduced. I am hoping that this will continue into the New Year. As I have discovered, my family is in no way unique in this Christmas rowing tendency. Luckily for me, I am not alone at Christmas. My hugs go to Spidey – whose post yesterday made me cry. Whatever, is going on over there – I’ve been sending good thoughts her way – and I hope they make it through. One Christmas … Continue reading family and love is what counts at Christmas

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Belfast, christian, LGBT, news, Northern Ireland lifeLeave a comment

Christmas Past, Present, and Future

Michael McFarland Campbell
And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.

From Twitter I learn that most people have already opened their presents, their stockings, and parcels – before lunch!

with my parents when I was young

Before we set off for the service on Christmas Eve night, we set up the Christmas tree unlike many of our friends who had had theirs up since December 1. The most we got during Advent was usually an Advent Calendar or in latter years an Advent Candle.

Since my brothers and I were in the choir at the local Anglican parish church – we were allowed to open one present upon our return from Midnight Mass, then bed quickly. Then Santa came round on his second trip* round the UK. Then in the morning we were allowed to see what Santa had left in the stocking.

Something every child could get

Continue reading “Christmas Past, Present, and Future”

DVD, Music, Support2 Comments

When I go… will they cry?

hivblogger

Last night was difficult – I’m not quite sure why, but it was. I was watching the last episode of Series 1 of Queer As Folk (American version) with my friend Andrew. Right at the end of this episode is the scene where Justin Taylor, played so excellently by Randy Harrison, ends up as the victim in a vicious homophobic attack. Justin is taken to hospital, and there is a lot of crying, not just on screen – but in the audience. I said something then that I possibly shouldn’t have. But I’m repeating it now to see what others … Continue reading When I go… will they cry?

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Belfast, Disability, Health, HIV, Metro, news, Northern Ireland life, Translink, Transport, UlsterbusLeave a comment

Translink needs to work on access for disabled on buses

hivblogger

Having been falling asleep on the number 4a bus on the way home from the appointments of the day, I was very much awake when the bus driver let one person off at our stop, but then proceeded to drive on without letting myself, and my two escorts off as well – indeed we were still on the stairs at the time. I shouted No. STOP Everyone looked a bit surprised on the bus. Stephen says that those on the top deck (where he still was) were asking Did the driver just drive off there? And with the answer in … Continue reading Translink needs to work on access for disabled on buses

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Benedict XVI, catholic, christian, gay, Health, HIV, London, news, sufferingLeave a comment

‘six hundred of the men who got sick and died were young and fellow Catholics’

Michael McFarland Campbell

I didn’t think that I would be posting quite as quickly after the last post – but reading what I have just read really makes me want to make sure others get to read what Fr Bernard Lynch said at a rally in London today. As someone living with HIV, Fr Lynch’s words somewhat grabbed hold of me. Fortunately, we can now live with HIV – it is no longer the death sentence it once was. Here is a wordle followed by the full text… Dear Holy Father, Welcome to the United Kingdom. I am one of your fellow priests … Continue reading ‘six hundred of the men who got sick and died were young and fellow Catholics’

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a century of postings…

Michael McFarland Campbell

Having had a rapid increase in postings in recent weeks, the 100th post has come up rather more quickly than I had expected. So just a little look back at where the blog has been? Blog post 1 – Housework wings its way out the window – March 5, 2009 Well, it’s been a frantic few days for me here in Belfast. Trips to Bangor and Holywood have interspersed themselves with a trip to the cinema to see Doubt, as well the usual trips to University Street in the Queen’s Quarter of the city. Fit in two evening meetings as … Continue reading a century of postings…

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Benedict XVI, Blessed Sacrament, catholic, John Henry Newman, London, news2 Comments

lead, kindly light… Pope Benedict XVI

Michael McFarland Campbell

Sadly, due to illness, I was unable to use the ticket that I had been granted to attend the Vigil in Hyde Park, but thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to lie, sit, and kneel at a friend’s house in East Belfast to watch. Afterwards, he remarked that what the Holy Father said was not that far away from what could be said in a Christadelphian exhortation. If this is how close we are together, then there really is hope for Christian unity. The text of the homily given by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to … Continue reading lead, kindly light… Pope Benedict XVI

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