Absent Brethren

For hundreds of years, each eve, Freemasons worldwide raise their glasses and toast our absent Brethren. Whether the absence is as a result of their having travelled the long road to the East entering the Grand Lodge above, or laying sick in hospital or looking after their families, they will always be in hearts and minds of their Brethren.

Every evening, somewhere in the world, a Tyler stands ready at the door, a Master seated in the East guiding his lodge, a young man initiated into the Order, another Raised to wear the badge of a Master Mason, laughter and song fill festive boards.

Until now….

A sickness has befallen to earth, hundred of thousands of lives lost, millions sick, worldwide lockdowns resulting in people living in fear, staring outside their windows, fearing the mere physical touch of another human. Grandparents unable to hold their grandchildren, children unable to visit their frail parents, loved ones unable to visit their dying in hospitals…

For the first time since World War II, thousands of Lodges have closed their doors, no longer able to meet in unity and harmony.The merry song of men has ended… for now.

A fraternity which has thrived hundreds of years, through wars, famine, plagues, pandemics, criticism and hatred, remains strong in the hearts of it’s Brethren. Whilst we are not able to meet in person, Masons around the world have joined virtual hands, and support each other and the world alike.

And now, each evening at 9, Masons from across the globe raise their glass, and think of those that have gone, those that are sick, are lonely, sad, those on the frontline, the paramedics, nurses, doctors, those that are holding their families tightly praying for a cure and to be able to hug a loved one not there by their side.

Our working tools have been lain down, but not in our hearts and minds. An Almoner we have all become.

I pray that a vaccine is found soon and we may meet once again, may you and your family remain safe and healthy.

And now, as the clock strikes the hour of 9, I stand and raise my glass.. To absent Brethren.

….

 

Welcome to our world Kate….

I havent posted in a while, and whilst I keep telling myself to do so, and being encouraged by those close to me, and even my psychologist, I havent been in a good space to do so.. more of that to come...

…however…

On a brighter side, my new little niece arrived into the world on the 20th, a mere few hours before my own birthday.

Can’t believe my “baby” sister is a mommy again. Lainy (as I fondly refer to her as) has always been a very special person in my life. 11 years my junior, Lainy has grown to be an incredible woman and mother to Emma, and can only imagine how much Kate will thrive and grow with the immense love her and Bryan provide. I’m so proud of you Lainy.

..Pic courtesy of Jeanette Verster..(my other sister) 

As I’ve preluded to, mentally I’ve not been a good space, and meeting little Kate yesterday made my day.. nay, my year!!

Holding Kate in my arms, looking at her beautiful innocent face, she reminded me how precious life is, something I’ve forgotten recently. How we should treasure those moments with our loved ones, both new and old, and the responsibility we have to ensure our children grow into amazing, thriving individuals, strong to take on this cruel world, and at the same time, having an open big heart to love.

 

… such a sweet precious little girl..

So, Kate, welcome to the world, to very loving and incredible parents and a doting older sister.

… pic courtesy of Jeanette…

King Solomons Chair..Chapt 2

As many of my family and friends know, Freemasonry is a very important aspect of my life. In addition to my District duties, I also belong to multiple Masonic Lodges and Chapters.

My mother Lodge, Orphic Lodge, District Grand Stewards Lodge, Vrede Lodge, Orphic Royal Arch Chapter and Composite Rose Croix Chapter. A specialist lodge dedicated to Police and Emergency Services, Vrede Lodge welcomed me with open arms, and I found fraternising with like minded serviceman fulfilling. In addition to the usual Masonic requirements, there is one additional pre-requisite to join Vrede…. you must be either a current, or ex-police officer and to boost the membership, we have now opened the doors for membership by current and ex-emergency services.

I was honoured to the elected by the Brethren of Vrede Lodge to lead the lodge into the new year, and this week, was installed as the Worshipful Master.

…Jubilee memorial jewel and collarette worn by the Worshipful Master…

I was last in the Chair in 2011 in Orphic Lodge (https://carlsstuff.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/a-surreal-experience/) and surprisingly, even though it has been 8 years post that surreal experience, and having attended over 120 Installations as a District officer, I found being installed again felt the same.The poem I wrote in February 2011 remains apt to this day. ( https://carlsstuff.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/king-solomons-chair/ ) 

Thank you to my fellow Brethren who have placed their trust in me to lead the Lodge into 2020. It’s going to be a great year !!

End of a Masonic Year

Yesterday marked the end of yet another year in the calendar of the District of SA North, under the United Grand Lodge of England. On the 1st Saturday of October each year, the District Grand Master invests his new officers for the year, some being first appointments, and others being promotions.

This year was no different. Always the highlight of the year, where all the Lodges in the District come together, whether to be Johannesburg or Carltonville, Louis Trichardt or Nelspruit, Botswana and Swaziland, and even a contingent as far as Mauritius.

The annual meeting gives us an opportunity to meet up with Brethren from far and wide, laugh and joke and have some serious interactions.. but, defininately a main attraction before the meeting starts….shopping!!

…yes, even us men love shopping….

And then the seriousness began, and the investiture of Active District Officers were invested.

I was honoured to be retain my position in the Royal Arch as District Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and receive a promotion to District Junior Grand Deacon in the Craft. 

 

A very busy year ahead, of which I’m looking forward to.

Time to get back into things

Someone very close to me commented the other day that I haven’t blogged recently. Why haven’t I? Well, my excuse is that I just haven’t got to it, or had nothing to post about, or life has been too busy to take the time to blog.

Blogging has always been my release mechanism, and making excuses merely exasperates my mental well being, which to be honest, is not in the best place. So I have been working more and more during my off time (well, don’t really have off time due to my responsibility at work, and the fact I’m on 24 hr call, and masonic lodge commitments have been taking a lot of my time in the evenings.

Personally, I feel like in an emotional roller coaster, and my masonic commitments and a supportive shoulder are keeping this time bomb from exploding, but a short fuse it is.

 

Work? well, many an hour have been spent on this incredible machine with a great team of fellow dedicated Emergency Care Practitioners and Advanced Life Supports paramedics, going out day in and day out, saving lives.

A cliche some might think or say,  but truly saving lives. Flying out to and airlifting the most critical patients and transporting to Centers of Excellence, one feels an amazing feeling of accomplishment and pride, making a positive difference in someone’s life.

                      

And so, I’ve committed myself to get my mind and body right. Back to gym, supplements, eating right, blogging frequently and getting my personal life and mind back on track.

 

Chip off the ol’ block

Erin has shown an interest in photography for a while, and before we left for holiday, asked if i could teach her on my camera. So, instead of just using mine, I gave her my old one, and we had an amazing time bonding and there is no better location than in the tranquil setting of the Drakensburg mountain range.

Her interest in photography really pleased me, and her keen eye certainly picked up great opportunities and captured them artistically.

Erin joined me at golf, and brought the camera along…

 

She really had such a great time, and something we will definitely continue doing together as a father/daughter thing.

 

 

 

Drakensburg break

After over a year, we finally managed to get away on our annual vacation. This year, we chose the mountains, and budget prevailing, we found an amazing self-catering resort in the Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve, Didima.

…our chalet, uninterrupted view overlooking the Cathedral Peak...

With my ankle still recovering from injury, major hiking was crossed off our list, however, we were able to go on one decently fairly long trek into the range. Despite being listed as a “gentle walk”, the ups and downs on rocks and narrow paths proved to be testing, and by the time we returned, my achilles and ligaments were swearing at me in every language an extremity could muster.

The outdoors offering us a host of experiences and opportunities to relax

...not forgetting gymnastics practice on the drive down…

…renewing my forgotten love for photography…

… with wild hare crossing our path…

…locusts…

 

…a few crabs challenging us…

…tracking spoor…

…friendly locals waving us by…

..and of course, some golfing at the nearby Cathedral Peak golf course…

An opportunity for us as a family to reconnect and enjoy some time away from the world

all in all, a very relaxing holiday so far

 

Weekend in Dullstroom

Many friends and family head to Dullstroom in Mpumalanga Highlands, mostly for trout fishing and whisky tasting. So when Nicole mentioned her and good friends of ours were arranging a getaway there I was in two minds.. One, I’m not a fisherman so what the hell am I going to do all weekend, and two.. Hmmm, Whisky tasting..?!

Fortunately, I found a championship golf course in the area, Highland Gate rated number 15 in the Golf Digest Top 100 Golf Courses in SA.

Each hole representing different trout fishing flies

Beautiful 340m par 4 hole, teeing off down a 50 m drop, which I smashed a drive onto the green..

Designed by the golfing legend Ernie Els, this was certainly a challenging round, filled with brilliant shots and disastrous ones alike.. and the odd curse or two and of course a few balls lost (and found).

We stayed in a quaint wooden cabin at elandskloof trout farm with friends and their daughter. A friendship which has strengthened with “R” becoming a Brother.

A relaxing weekend away, braaing under the African sky, free from artificial lights, bright stars and milky way providing a beautiful canopy above our heads.

Of course, a trip to Dullstroom wouldn’t be complete without Whisky and Gin (for the ladies) tasting.

…An incredible array of fine whisky’s from a menu to choose from…

…in the “porn” section, as our connoisseur host described the top collectables… 

I went for the Glenmorangie tasting, sampling 6 of their best single malts

… umm….yea, I always knew gin was dodgy…

In the end, a great weekend away

and lets not forget the willy warmers

 

A week in review

Most weeks are hectic for me nowadays. My new responsibilities at work, combined with the old, keep me incredibly busy.. and out of mischief I suppose…In addition to the corporate world, our senior management team are always available to respond to emergency cases. This week was no exception, though, it certainly was a difficult one.

A 6 year old drowning, where we successfully obtained spontaneous breathing and pulse, sadly passed away a few days later. A massive accident in the North West Province, called for the need for both our emergency helicopters to be activated. Collected at our head office, I flew out to the scene.  A case which both made me proud and sad at the same time.. Proud.. because, having both our machines on scene certainly makes a stand.. one, no other company can compete with

…sad… because we flew a 2 month old who was sitting on her sister’s lap when their car smashed into a truck.

BMW spoiling us with their new offroad BMW experience in the heart of Midrand.

Followed by yet another tragic accident…

Which brings us to the end of the week.. today.. of which the highlight was another tattoo. Well, sort of, as this tattoo changing an original tattoo.

The original

...check that concentration out..

…work in progress..

… and the final product..

Perfect way to end the week..now the question we ask ourselves.. what’s in store for us next?

New District Appointment

Yesterday was the annual AGM for the District of SA North under the banner of the Grand Lodge of England. A prestigious day in our district, where Masons are appointed and promoted in both active and past rank. I have been an active District Officer  for 3 years https://carlsstuff.wordpress.com/2016/10/02/my-journey-continues/ and this year’s appointment took me in a different direction.

This year I was honoured by being appointed as the District Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies for the Royal Arch.

        

 

To explain a bit more, as this is entering a new avenue of Masonry I haven’t discussed before.

Pure Ancient Freemasonry consists of three degrees, Entered Apprentice (1st Degree) Fellowcraft (2nd Degree)  and Master Mason (3rd Degree).A Mason must have obtained his 3rd Degree to be eligible for the Royal Arch.

The Supreme Degree of the Holy Royal Arch of Jerusalem completes the learning as a Master Mason.Historically, it is the complete story of Jewish History during some of its darkest hours, when Jerusalem and the Holy Temple is destroyed and the people of Israel are being held captive as slaves in Babylon. Symbolically, the Royal Arch leads us from a practical to spiritual journey of self development and knowledge.

Just as the Square and Compass is the symbol of Craft Freemasonry, the Triple Tau is that of Royal Arch Masonry.

The tau is the nineteenth letter in the Greek Alphabet. The triple tau of Royal Arch Masonry consists of 3 T’s linked in the centre joined at their base.The name Hiram Abiff appear in the Phoenican language with the same letters “H” and “T” as they do in English. As such, the Triple Tau takes on the interpretation of the initial letters in Hiram Abiff’s name. (A very significant individual our learnings)

A triangle is a simple shape in geometry that has taken on great spiritual significance and symbolism. The triangle was revered by ancient nations as containing the greatest mysteries, and as a symbol of God, denoting a triad of intelligence or a triad of deity.  The triangle is also a symbol of divine union, representing the attributes of deity : omnipotence (all powerful), omnipresence (eternal) and omniscience (all knowing).

To explain more will ruin the experience of any potential RA candidates reading my blog. Suffice it to say, having journeyed through the Royal Arch, from candidate to the Principal Officer positions over the past 10 years has been an enlightening experience, and being appointed as an Active District Officer is an honour, and one I look forward to over the next year.