Sunday 14 December 2008

Christchurch

I seem to have been getting the dates wrong for some time - not too surprising I suppose.

Anyway, this is Sat 13th December.

Woken in the night by bird noises - P. thought they were penguins, but as we were in the town of Oameru it did not seem likely. But it was blue penguins, who apparently come and nest in the garage of the hostel, quite a way from the sea, and also under the houses!

At last we found some decent bread, in the Historical Quarter, a German bakery.

Made our way north towards Christchurch. Stopped for a free coffee (for the driver) en route, and saw in a paper that the Barclay brothers have failed in their bid to take over Sark politically. They are withdrawing financially, so it may be a disaster in the sort term for Sark.

We managed to find Raymond Cossham's house in Redwood, Christchurch, and he came to the door and spoke to us for a while. Unfortunately he is still In the Exclusive Brethren, and so is his son Philip, so we didn't stay long. He seemed a very sweet old man, lonely because his wife died in 2000, which is why he moved to be near his son and 2 grandsons.

Rather a sad visit.

We are now at the Vagabond Hostel which I booked aged ago. Christchurch seems very busy after the quiet places we have been in. Accommodation excellent, sharing a nearby house with another couple who have a little girl aged 3.

Today we shall go to the Botanical Gardens and various museums, and the Banks Peninsula.

Very sorry our visit is coming to an end.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"We managed to find Raymond Cossham's house in Redwood, Christchurch, and he came to the door and spoke to us for a while. Unfortunately he is still In the Exclusive Brethren, and so is his son Philip, so we didn't stay long. He seemed a very sweet old man, lonely because his wife died in 2000, which is why he moved to be near his son and 2 grandsons.

Rather a sad visit."

Tedcar in the blog just above yours states."The EB dont break the law,and mind their own business and dont hurt anyone "

Of course i suggest he knows he is so wrong.Which is why he feels the need to leave no option for comment on his blog.Very much like how the EB also like to operate !,doing their best to silence anyone who might openly try discuss matters that go on within this closed cult.

See http://peebs.net/Community/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2638

And that Tedcar might try to suggest "the EB dont hurt anyone",would be laughable if it wasnt so disgraceful and sad that some people are willing to blindly state these wrong claims if it happens to strum their own bow and make the sound they wish to hear.It has some resemblance in likeness to somebody trying to suggest that "no Jews what so ever suffered in Nazi concentration camps".Which putting any personal beliefs aside ,nobody with a ounce of compassion left in their minds would ever be so shallow as to claim.

Ted really needs to do some homework http://peebs.net/Community/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2065 http://peebs.net/Community/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1452

See Teds blog here

http://tedcar.wordpress.com/2008/12/14/anatomy-of-a-zio-con/

Mrshappyanna enjoy the rest of your travels! .
Thankfully you both being non EB are able and (allowed) to visit such things as hostels.Your life is your own! not ruled over by some religious dictator like Bruce Hales the M.O.G (man of god)and present head ruler of the EB.

Many people just dont quite understand the limits on life, some of these oppressive cults such as the exclusive brethren have as a hold to totally control their members within.These are religious concentration camps .

Mrshappyanna said...

Thank you very much for your views.. I would love to know who you are and what your connection is to this... would you post a note telling me a bit more? I wont publish it if you dont want me to.

thanks.. oh, and its my parents who went on this journey. not me or my hubby!

Anna

Anonymous said...

"Thank you very much for your views.. I would love to know who you are and what your connection is to this... would you post a note telling me a bit more? I wont publish it if you dont want me to.

thanks.. oh, and its my parents who went on this journey. not me or my hubby!

Anna"

Hi Anna,
im a ex eb myself.I guess thats why when people like Tedcar do blogs suggesting things such as "The EB dont break the law,and mind their own business and dont hurt anyone "

I feel the need to voice a difference of opinion.If the eb dont break the law mind their own business and dont hurt anyone as Tedcar tries to suggest.

Im left feeling a bit stunned ,as i think back about all the many many nasty situations ive experienced though family being associated with them by only by fate of life and the curse of their place of birth.

This is Christmas when many eb and ex eb families will be separated (only) because of the foolish beliefs of this CULT.These eb are at the present moment stopping some parents from having any access to their children.These eb at the present moment are sueing many ex ebs in court trying to silence them .

There has been (many) ex members who in the past have committed suicide,and quite likely over this very Christmas period there will likely still be those who maybe still consider this final option.

Many people just dont really realize the ongoing effect it has on many both eb and ex eb lives .It is often nothing much less than a complete living nightmare .That never ends !.

And though to many it might seem a little hard to understand !,some cult experiencees in the darkest moments of their life see death as the only means for possibilities of experiencing a little peace of mind.

And why does it continue ?.

Partly i guess because blind shallow people like Tedcar think its ok.Because society in general allows it.Because freedoms of belief in religion has become a higher power, than even the very laws of the lands that are supposedly there to protect all humanity.

To many like Tedcar ,it matters little.

Sure family splits happen ,we wish they would not! but alas its also a part of life which we understand happens at times .

But as a ex eb let me just say handling normal lifes ups and downs is one thing.But splits caused (only) by the curse of (being born) to a religious cult adds a whole new diamention to life, that quite likely only those who themselves have experienced it will ever fully understand.

That all becomes specially close to the bone at (this time of the year) to many!.When at Christmas many folks remember family ,many ex eb can see no other way than to try their best to forget theirs a little .To remember, is just to much like re rubbing a raw wound thats never properly healed even in many years.

And Anna i guess i just had to point out just how shallow blind and very stupid Tedcar really is in making the foolish false claim that he has made.

Sorry i misunderstood !.But let me say, i then wish your parents a lovely journey !.

And Merry Christmas to you all.

Mrshappyanna said...

Dear Poster, I understand and sympathise with what you write. My dad is the Ex Brethren. He was excommunicated from his family one year away from finishing his studies as a Doctor. (so glad a kind benefactor gave him just enough to help him through that least year)

He, like you suffered as a result of his parents religion - its something that he will never be free of, and will "haunt" him forever. It has coloured the lives of his 3 children too.

I will send your comments over to them, as I know they will be interested to read what you write.

I hope your Christmas was pleasant.. and you have a good new year.

If you wish to contact me off blog, Im at Mrshappyanna@gmail.com

Kind regards, Anna

Anonymous said...

"He, like you suffered as a result of his parents religion - its something that he will never be free of, and will "haunt" him forever. It has coloured the lives of his 3 children too."

The Tedcars of this life may believe what they wish to believe,but that doesnt mean they are right.Some people never know something is wrong even if it hits them right in the face .And even if they did they would be to proud to ever admit they were wrong,the type who leave no option for comment (see Tedcars blog)

These type and the eb are very much a reflection of each other !.

What you have replied with is very interesting to me, as it has panned out much the same for me .And specially this you said "and will "haunt" him forever. It has coloured the lives of his 3 children too."

Alas the lives of my children have been colored with a dark gloomy dull grey,what hurt the most for me is there really was not a whole lot i could personally really do about it.Guess that haunts me too.You try to be what you can ,and also try to understand when its not good enough.

A cold shoulder you might receive from a understandably unhappy child who naturally looks around him wishing for all the family and cousins etc other kids have,you try to turn your cheek to them and accept it like its some penalty you somehow deserve! when you cannot produce what they wish for.

At times in such frustration, you dont always make such a good job of playing the Jesus part however.Which tends to make you feel ever so much more unworthy of anything.

Yes maybe i do understand a little how maybe your dad might also at times feel.And i also understand how it may have been rather tough for you kids too !.

Will be in touch sometime Anna.

Mrshappyanna said...

Thank you for your reply.. yes please do get in touch - my parents have said they would like you to have their email address, but I don't really want to put it on the blog, so use mine and I can forward you onto them.