Ritz tips

Tea at the Ritz is a marvelous experience. I was given my small birthday cake in a huge carry home box, large enough for a big rabbit or average cat. The waiter kindly added several more exquisite cakes because I said it seemed a shame to waste such a large box on just one.  
After carefully carrying the unwieldy box across London, I entered the Houses of Parliament to listen to the King's speech debate. I placed my splendid box in the grey security tray whereupon the security lady turned it on its side and squashed it down so it would fit through the scanner. My horrified reaction echoed round Parliament square. Not since King Alfred had anyone lamented so loudly over their cakes.

It's sad when something precious is ruined by carelessness. I think in life it happens more often than it should. Christmas is the time when God sent his son to deal with that exact problem. We are precious, but I dare say most of us have encountered things that have tipped us and squashed us and challenged our security. I believe Jesus came to restore us to our original exquisite self, to put us upright, to rejuvenate us and to make us secure. Happy Christmas.

Hanging loops on clothes.

What is it about hanging loops that means they always dangle out of your garment? You can tuck them in, wrap them round, trap them under and they still sneak out and dangle for all the world (except you) to see.
 If you ever get your arm stuck in one as you don your garment, you will end up with an interesting shaped outfit and a red burn mark under your arm pit. If you use them properly when you hang your wide necked top on the specially designed 'cut out bits' hanger, they will cling to the hanger for dear life and when you shake the hanger to release the loop, the two hangers either side of the stubborn item will fall onto the wardrobe floor leaving their contents lying in a crumpled heap. You will then yank the offending loop festooned hanger with some force, which will cause the top to partly hang itself on the next available hanger which will somehow cross it's metal hook over your metal hook rather like a Chinese puzzle. Yanking again will result in the plastic hanger snapping in half  near the hook and dangling down so that your loopy top looks as if it was designed for somebody with a dislocated shoulder as well as a wide neck.
I have tried to chew the loops off while I've been in the car on the way to an event which doesn't encourage loop displays, but whilst your teeth are vigorously flossed and your shoulder seams are wet and soggy, the loops are rarely removed in the time allowed.
 On occasions I have remembered to cut the loops off and I have subsequently sewn them on  to tea towels where they serve a much more useful purpose. Did you know that the owl most commonly found in kitchens in the UK is the Teet owl?
I am reminded of a Bible verse in Ezra chapter 9 where the prophet says God has shown grace to his people by 'providing a nail in his holy place', I think that means somewhere his worn out people can still hang on. God doesn't want you to slip onto the floor in a crumpled heap, he wants you crease free and ready for action. However loopy you are, you can hang on to God and know you are safe and secure.