QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011-25 ... 14 YEARS & STILL READING @quoteoftheweekblog - Tumblr Blog

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15/6/26 - AGATHA CHRISTIE

’ “And what with not knowing what this damned Government is going to do next … ” ’ (Christie, 2015, p.76).

REFERENCE

Christie, A. (2015 [ 1948] ) 'Taken at the flood'. London: Harper Collins.

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VOTE LABOUR

IN THE

MAKERFIELD BY-ELECTION

Oasis and Elbow have soundtracked Burnham’s byelection campaign and he got Liam Gallagher doing Manchester’s tram announcements. Will he kee

...

'In the next general election, I hope all proudly progressive voters rally behind the Labour party whoever is at its head. But I really hope it’s Andy Burnham.' (Guy Garvey in Kinney, 2026).

REFERENCE

Kinney, F. (2026) ‘ “He understands soft power”: why Andy Burnham put music at the heart of his political identity’, ‘Guardian’ 15 June [Online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jun/15/andy-burnham-manchester-music-his-political-identity (Accessed 15 June 2026).

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FOR OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

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WHO ISN’T MAKING IT TO MAKERFIELD

BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TIME OFF

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DRINKS WITH MY SISTERS LAST NIGHT!

‘ “Really, men … “ ‘ (Christie, 2015, p.25).

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PRIDE MONTH 2026

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PRIDE

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20 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY CHALLENGE - THIS IS WHAT WE DID IN THE WEEK

THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

I DID THE AV

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ALL SAINTS

FOR THE SECOND WEEK RUNNING

(YES I AM OFFICIALLY A SAINT)

WENT FOR A DRINK WITH

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

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OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

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’ “I am a good Catholic,” said Poirot cautiously.’ (Christie, 2015, p.8).

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OUR BELLRINGERS

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IN THE SECOND WEEK AFTER TRINITY

OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

WAS ON THE BASINGSTOKE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

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FOLLOWED BY

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IMPORTANT MEETINGS

OUR TEXAS CORRESPONDENT

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MUM LOOK WHO I JUST BUMPED INTO

OUR NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT

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TRINITY

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CANDLEMAS CANDLE

LIGHTING THE YEAR

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AGATHA CHRISTIE

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011 - 2026

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14 EPIC YEARS

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2/12/19

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•18+ Adults Only

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AGATHA CHRISTIE - ‘TAKEN AT THE FLOOD’ (FIRST PUBLISHED 1948)

First sentence:

'In every club there is a club bore.' (Christie, 2015, p.1).

On Poirot:

' "I am a good Catholic," said Poirot cautiously.' (Christie, 2015, p.8).

On life:

' "Oh! brave new world," ... ' (Christie, 2015, p.19).

On politics:

' "In a year we'll be back where we were - with wages up, workers unwilling, everybody dissatisfied and nobody knowing where they are." ' (Christie, 2015, p.41).

' "Ill will. Ill feeling. It's everywhere. On railways and buses and in shops and amongst workers and clerks and even agricultural labourers. And I suppose worse in mines and factories. Ill will." ' (Christie, 2015, p.49).

'And she thought, shocked: "Do we hate them so much? These strangers who have taken what we think is ours?" ' (Christie, 2015, p.49).

' ... "I was having thoughts about the state of the world." ' (Christie, 2015, p.50).

' "Taxation's dreadful these days." ' (Christie, 2015, p.71).

' "And what with not knowing what this damned Government is going to do next ... " ' (Christie, 2015, p.76).

' ... unfavourable comment was made upon the Government ... ' (Christie, 2015, p.85).

REFERENCE

Christie, A. (2015 [1948] ) 'Taken at the flood'. London: Harper Collins.

8/6/26 - ALEX PRESTON (AND MARJANE SATRAPI)

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‘He found it disconcerting that the Course insisted on marketing itself as a forum for philosophical enquiry …

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… when it was so clearly focused on pushing a fairly narrow form of Christianity.’ (Preston, 2012, p.35).

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REFERENCE

Preston, A. (2012) ‘The Revelations’. London: Faber and Faber.

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We are one church across five locations in the town of Basingstoke. Join us for Sunday worship and throughout the week. We can’t wait to see

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’ “What you believe is a heavily mediated, crackpot version of religion.” ‘ (Preston, 2026, p.115)

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BASINGSTOKE CHURCH

IS PART OF THE

HTB NETWORK OF CHURCHES

NO DOUBT COMING SOON TO A CHURCH NEAR YOU

‘ “We are now in three hundred churches across the UK. Imagine all the good we’re doing.” ‘ (Preston, 2012, p.284).

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OTHER READERS

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ST LUKE’S LITTLE SUMMER

My other reading is the new Pen Wilcock novel in her Hawk and Dove series.

It is 'St. Luke's Little Summer.'

The theme is based on the ouroboros, (a serpent eating its own tail) which symbolises eternity; the endless cycle of destruction and creation.

The author gives wonderful examples of this happening all the time in the monks' own lives.

She explains to readers what the ouroboros is through the monks' novice master who is teaching the new brothers about it.

📚📚📚📚📚

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THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE

I have read ‘forty rules of love’ by Elif shafak - possibly my favourite so far combining religion and secular love across different centuries and life styles.

📚📚📚📚📚

PLUS

TWO OF OUR MEMBERS ALSO READ OTHER BIOGRAPHIES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO

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ODD BOY OUT

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BECOMING

I don’t like Giles Brandreth so did not want to read his book. Instead I re-read Michelle Obama Becoming. I think it is well written, very insightful and very interesting.

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STEP BY STEP

My biography was ‘Step by Step’ by Simon Reeve. I have been a fan of his tv work and was fascinated to read of his early life.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO RETURN TO

15/5/26 - PAULA BYRNE

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18/5/26 - ELIF SHAFAK

' "It's been a tough week, I think I need a drink." ' (Shafek, 2024, p.329).

REFERENCE

SHAFAK, E. (2024) ‘THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY’. AMAZON.COM [E-BOOK]. AVAILABLE AT: https://www.amazon.co.uk/There-are-Rivers-Sky-bestseller-ebook/dp/B0BLGMP41J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T71XYST4VYH0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aYxgpGDh3TXocs0DsO32E-x_Pp30PHbg97UMo3KATuo.AZcqp4Hj9gGWODt9GigevqmbOxaD4sdZx_C9LkqRvWo&dib_tag=se&keywords=there+are+rivers+in+the+sky&qid=1761054692&s=digital-text&sprefix=%2Cdigital-text%2C141&sr=1-1 (ACCESSED 17 MAY 2026).

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TELL US ABOUT IT

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FOR OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

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IN SOLIDARITY

MONDAY 11 MAY

Chances of Starmer remaining in No 10 appear to be diminishing as about 40 Labour MPs call on him to quit

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OH NO

NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR PHOTOS

(TOO MUCH DRINKING)

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR

18/5/26 - IN SOLIDARITY

PHEW

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LOOKING GOOD

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A WEEK IS A VERY LONG TIME IN POLITICS

TODAY

Burnham vows to have ‘relentless domestic focus’ in Makerfield in first speech since announcing byelection run

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ALSO

FOR MY HUSBAND

WHO IS TURNING IN HIS GRAVE

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BUT WHO WOULD ALWAYS HAVE SAID

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VOTE LABOUR

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XXXX

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OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

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FOR HIS ADVICE ABOUT THIS QUOTE

AND THANKS AGAIN

XXXX

ONE OF OUR BELLRINGERS

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FOR SENDING ME THIS PHOTO OF

OUR ALL SAINTS CORRESPONDENT

OUR CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

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SAINT JAMES’ CHURCH - BRAMLEY

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NOT BADINGSTOKE* CHURCH *TYPO

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MY DAUGHTER

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FOR THE FLOWERS

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AND THANKS AGAIN

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK 2011 - 2026

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12 EPIC YEARS

*****

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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24/7/23

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•18+ Adults Only

Watch Anya Live on Cam

Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.

✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions

Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming

ELIF SHAFEK - 'THERE ARE RIVERS IN THE SKY' (FIRST PUBLISHED 2024)

First sentence:

'Later, when the storm had passed, everyone will talk about the destruction it left behind, though no one, not even the King himself, will remember that it all began with a dingle raindrop.’ Shafek, 2024, p.1).

On storytelling:

'Ashurbanipol loves stories, he believes that, in order to succeed as a leader, you do not have to embark on a perilous journey like Gilgamesh. Nor do you have to become a conquering warrior of brain and sinew. Nor do you have to traverse mountains, deserts and forests, from which few return. All you need is a memorable tale, one that focuses you on the hero.’ (Shafek, 2024, p.1).

On Gilgamesh:

’ “Gilgamesh … He wished to conqueer death and so he travelled to the ends of the world - but he failed. He did not see that the only way to become immortal is to be remembered after you have gone, and the only way to be remembered is to leave behid a good story.” ’ (Shafek, 2024, p.15).

’ “Gilgamesh”, the earliest recorded tale in the history of humanity, the oldest surviving poem … ’ (Shafek, 2024, p.215).

’ “The Epic of Gilgamesh” is hugely important. This poem is even older than the Greek myths, imagine!“ ’ (Shafek, 2024, p.394).

On thinking:

'So he seeks help from mathematics. Whenever he feels worried, he does sums and multiplications in his head.’ (Shafek, 2024, p.47).

On word association:

'Words always come to him with their distinctive flavours. "Accident” is gamey, like burning fat and stale sausages, bags o'mystery, whose ingredients no one really knows. “School” has a pungency that lingers on the tongue, like licking old boots. And “mother” is buttery, warm and sweet, though with an acidic undertone, reminiscent of an apple pie gone sour. For years Arther assumed it must be the same for everyone, that other people also experienced similar associations, until he realized this was not the case.’ (Shafek, 2024, p.47).

On religion:

’ “ … God made humans … Adam and Eve, Christians, Jews, Muslims and everyone else in this world … ” ’ (Shafek, 2014, p.94).

On books:

’ “Words are like birds … When you publish books, you are setting caged birds free. They can go wherever they please. They can fly over the highest walls and across vast distances, settling in the mansions of the gentry, in the farmsteads and labourers’ cottages alike.” ’ (Shafek, 2024, p.102).

’ “ … books, it seems to me, do not end, even when we are finished reading them.” ’ (Shafek, 2024, p.110).

’ “Books, Iike paper lanterns, provide us with a light amidst the fog.” ’ (Shafek, 2014, p.110).

On poetry:

’ “People need poetry, beauty, love! So long as the sun rises and rivers flow, there will always be weddings and celebrations and music.” ’ (Shafek, 2014, p.146).

On Western literature:

’ “Our people … we are never the heroes. Always the villains in their stories! And, if not, the sidekicks. Sancho Panza to Don Quixote, Friday to Robinson Crusoe. Huckleberry Finn to Tom Sawyer.” ’ (Shafek, 2014, p.330).

’ “How would the Western classics have survived if they had not been translated into Arabic?” ’ (Shafek, 2024, p.330).

REFERENCE

Shafak, E. (2024) 'There are rivers in the sky’. Amazon.com [E-book]. Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/There-are-Rivers-Sky-bestseller-ebook/dp/B0BLGMP41J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T71XYST4VYH0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aYxgpGDh3TXocs0DsO32E-x_Pp30PHbg97UMo3KATuo.AZcqp4Hj9gGWODt9GigevqmbOxaD4sdZx_C9LkqRvWo&dib_tag=se&keywords=there+are+rivers+in+the+sky&qid=1761054692&s=digital-text&sprefix=%2Cdigital-text%2C141&sr=1-1 (Accessed 17 May 2026).

18/5/26 - IN SOLIDARITY

PHEW …

MONDAY 11 MAY