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Edition 21

Win

ter 2010

Page 1

wIntEr’s promIsE

What does this year’s winter promise

From the turning wheel of change Cold, dark damp and bitter frost bite As the seasons rearrange The maturity of fall gives Way to withered discontent Barren trees, bleak grey skylines Bygone summer, she laments. The air is sombre and foreboding Nature’s death toll rings her bell Punishing with sharp, smooth icicles In its frozen wintery hell But life is not forgotten Just retreated in its shell Then we cosy up and cover up, Stocking food like wild squirrels. Another log on crackling fire And warming smoky scents Mingle with aromatic spices A holly wreath placed on the door To give a final touch While old Saint Nic fills stockings which Good boys and girls love so much Then the bleakness becomes forgotten As the Christmas tree lights up With a thousand dainty fairy lights And new year hope fills the empty cup.

Tansy D’Ambrosio

Editors Note:

Dear readers,

We know that for many of you ‘Happy’ Christmas probably doesn’t mean much; pre-

sents, food and family may not be things you associate with this time of year. For oth-ers, you maybe just starting to get your life back. The Bugle is for everyone, and we

hope that this ‘Winter Edition 2010’ with the team’s stories, poems and articles will let you see there are others out there feeling the same way and give comfort, some that may get you thinking and some that hopefully give you that little bit of joy this Christ-mas time. We hope 2011 will have a glimmer of hope to those suffering & will con-

tinue to be brighter to those moving forward.

Best Wishes FF

What choice

have you

made?

There is the villain of the piece

Wanting, grasping, taking, Lying, greedy, hurting,

Selfishly seeking; never satisfied.

There is the silent majority Preyed on, lied to, stolen from, Working, watching, grumbling,

Caring but slow to do or speak out.

There are the caring few Giving up on personal dreams They give and care for others

Who show the way it could be.

Life is seen and lived By the choices we make

Self seeking, villain Satisfied but grumbling

A champion of the needy What choice have you made?

Alex Anderson

Page 2

Christmas

reminds me of:

Decorations

Tree

Fairy

Presents

Turkey

Sprouts

Mincepies

Leftovers- Boxing Day

Queen’s speech

Films on T.V.

Afternoon Nap

Snowball fights

Snowman

Drink

Relative’s visit

Unwanted gifts

Women’s group—Lisa

Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year.

But when it comes it fills us with cheer.

Pilgrims went for the Christ child for to see.

And when they arrived their hearts were filled

with glee.

They bowed down and worshipped

Then their heats - began to sing.

Holy Holy is the Lord. They all did sing with one

accord.

We will give glory and honour to you.

You who reign eternally.

May all the world acknowledge and say.

Welcome Jesus to this world.

Gordon Cameron

Do you believe in

Angels?

Many people have or thought they have had angel

experiences out there. Angels come in different kinds of orbs. They have been around for many years. An-gels can come in human form as well; they can come with peace, love and very bright light. Angels will only step in without asking when it is urgent. Angels sud-denly appear when you need help and they are gone as quick as they arrived, when people are having a problem or difficulties and are in need of help. Angels never hold anything against you, their love and guid-ance is unconditional, some people cannot see angels and some people can. Janice Sheldrick

Page 3

Minimalism

Equals Frugal

Living high and wide

Gives scope to slide From sunshine

To that salty brine Of debt and deep dark despair

Heartbroken she sighs

Gallantly he tries To stem her tears And allay her fears

Consoling brings them together

They have a life to live Both pleased to give

What they need His motive is not greed

Minimalism equals frugal?

Alex Anderson

Christmas tree

Xmas

The sight of winter

Is frosty and cold

But warm inside

Making snowmen

Is cold, but fine

And having a snowball

Fight is alright

Open Xmas presents

With delight and laughing

Into the night

Womens group - Barbara

CHRISTMAS

CAROL

ANAGRAMS

Can you arrange these phrases into popular carol titles? In brackets I've given you the number of words in the carol title; then the number of letters in each word. Best attempted before the sherry trifle! The half shy childish bedwetter wreck-ing shop ( 7 words: 5, 9, 7, 5, 6, 2, 5 ) He thinly halved toy ( 5 words: 3, 5, 3, 3, 3 ) Sling the tin ( 2 words: 6, 5 ) I Join Duel Club ( 3 words: 2, 5, 6 ) No Hotel to Befit Them Well ( 5 words: 1, 6, 4, 2, 9 ) A New Army Again ( 4 words: 4, 2, 1, 6 ) Twee Gherkins ( 3 words: 2, 5, 5 ) Debate Within Kremlin ( 4 words: 2, 3, 5, 9 )

It was lit up out-

side the dome and I feel low over xmas but I felt happy when the tree was lit up. It had lights and presents round the tree. Douglas Forbes

Page 4

O Lord, its winter!

Would you miss winter if it suddenly stopped happening? I personally would miss the

unique beauty that it brings but certainly wouldn’t miss the icy cold wind that deliberately finds out ways to get beneath my woolly scarf and up the sleeves of my coat. We feel ex-posed and fragile against such conditions and we instinctively do all we can to protect ourselves from feeling more than uncomfortable. Likewise we often have a similar re-sponse during the spiritual winters of our souls. This is usually when we realise our frailty as man. Sometimes we become so overwhelmingly sensitive to the elements that are harmful to our spiritual wellbeing that we withdraw for that season. Cold people and situations, hard conditions that cause unseen bruises or perhaps you are aware of your faults and no one is willing to forgive you. What ever the situation it’s the winter of your soul, you’re fragile, vulnerable and you know it’s a hard season with no set time span to it. To top it all Christ-mas is coming! You think back to better times or to Christmases that could’ve been better. You may have friends and family around but still have a nagging emptiness. Christmas of-ten brings on a winter storm within us and we become aware of what Christmas is not while being deeply conscious of what it is supposed to be and that is ‘’heart warming’’. Reader, allow me please to briefly share with you a small part of the Christmas story…….. When God sent His angels to the shepherds saying ‘’Glory to God on the Highest, and on Earth Peace, Goodwill towards all men!’’ God was not instructing the shepherds to simply be ‘’nice’’ to each other, He, God was declaring that Peace between Himself and man had come for the Messiah, the Christ had been born. The Goodwill towards ALL men was God passionately fulfilling His incredible promise of His reconciliation with man. God was mak-ing known His forgiveness and unconditional love for man by giving heavens very best, Je-sus, to get His wayward creation back, that being us. Yes, God who seams so distant and unobtainable came to us so that we should know His heart towards us. That we should no longer ‘’think’’ of Him as an angry rod wielding power freak who waits to catch us out on our mistakes, but rather that we should ‘’know’’ Him as the gracious God He is. Perhaps the winter of your soul is through your own mistakes but God still wants to heal you, forgive you and bring you out stronger. Christmas is a celebration of Gods indescribable gift to us, Jesus, a Saviour who longs to bring you out of your winter safely and into the heart warming, soul embracing love of a Heavenly Father. ‘’Glory to God on the Highest’’

By Alison

In the spotlight

Who are you?

My name is Paul Drury, I’m the Director of Operations, North Division. I’m basically in charge of all services working with people in Edinburgh, Inver-ness, Aberdeen and Fife. I’m in charge of Communications, Support here and up-stairs (in Bonnington Road), the services in Aberdeen, the Care Van, Homemaker…We have managers in all of these places, I’m the manager of the managers. Why so many Managers, are they necessary? It’s important to provide leadership for each service and to have someone to make sure that the services have all they need, and that they are run properly. Quick fire questions X-factor or The Apprentice? X-Factor If you could have a superpower what would it be? The Ability to fly Tea or Coffee? Coffee Community Education or Supported Housing? Comm Ed If you were Prime Minister what would be the first thing you’d do? Raise the Minimum wage Hibs or Hearts? Neither, I’m a Dundee United Fan Any updates on the welfare of your club? I’m expecting us to go into administration. We hear you’re in a band… Yes, this interest started with the Salvation Army band. My interest is in brass bands, I do this most nights. I play the tuba (the big noisy one at the back), but I spend most of my time conducting. Do you only play religious music? I’m involved in all kinds of music. I play in my church band but also in the secular world. I believe all music is a gift from God. How long have you worked for Bethany? Four and a half years. What’s the best memory you have of Bethany? So many, but some of the highlights are my first night at a care shelter, when we started in Aberdeen and when we moved here (Bonnington Road). It was good to see more facilities, particularly a larger learning centre. Generally meeting folk and seeing how they’ve made progress. What bits do you like in the Bugle? The poetry. I’m not that in to poetry. The two arts I really don’t un-derstand are pictures and poetry, but the one’s in the bugle have a real edge to them. There’s a real sense of you in them. There’s also been some fantastic photography, I particularly remember one of Newhaven Harbour and the guy said that he had waited four hours for that picture, it was worth it. I also like it when read something by someone I’ve know from the other services. Is the Bugle too lenient in what it lets in? What I’ve noticed is that it’s been very interesting to read such diverse views – something overtly Christian followed by something very political, followed by some-thing very light hearted. We are happy for people to express their views; the spirit of openness in con-tent is a good thing.

Page 5

If someone asks you for money on the street, what do you do? I’m not someone who usually gives money to anybody. I’ll occasionally buy a big issue (although I think the Bugle’s better). I will always make eye contact. We are conditioned not to trust, it’s difficult. I think that’s why a lot of people give to organi-zations; this can be a better way of helping. Can you help someone or can they help themselves? We seek as an organization to help people to help themselves. We should not be condemning of people, which can be an easy position to take. The other thing is, after 20 years of working in homelessness, people don’t always get it right the first time, maybe the first time it all goes pear shaped, but something will be learnt that can help later on. There is nothing wrong with helping someone. A lot of people we work with have no-one to turn to, I know I could always turn to my Mum, some people don’t have that. We can be that person to turn to. It would be depressing if we expected every time to succeed, if we succeed one time in ten, that’s making a real difference. How would you rate your success out of ten? Five and a half to seven. A lot work goes in to measuring what we’re doing. Our funders need to know that we’re doing what we say we’re doing. Success for the Care Van might mean keeping someone alive, that’s not generally how you measure things in Comm Ed. In housing it might be getting someone into a tenancy. What sorts of numbers? Gateway delivers 30-40 packs a week, Homemaker will work with 18-30 families, The Care Van gives out hundreds of soups, Comm Ed has about 200 visitors a month. Does help get abused? Sometimes, but often it’s gratefully received. Do you ever turn people away? Unfortunately yes, sometimes for the greater good. For instance some-one might be asked to leave their accommodation if their behaviour is not acceptable. It’s difficult to do this, but we don’t shirk from it. But like I said in the beginning, you might not succeed every time but something will be learnt. If we seek to empower people, they need to learn responsibility. Does Bethany work closely with other agencies? Yes, supported housing work as part of a consortium group of agencies – Rock Trust, Fresh Start, Move On and Salvation Army. Nobody is going to do anything on their own, we need to make sure we’re not duplicating services. Partnerships are the way forward, this we’ll see more of in the future, such as those Com Ed have with the Acorn Centre, Working Links and Leith FM. Gambling is a major issue, why is there not a greater awareness of it? People can become homeless through putting something too high up, it could be gambling or drink etc. It’s when this thing is so impor-tant nothing else matters, such as work, other people. It’s possible not addressed more because it’s not so obvious, or known about, people can do it their own home. We did have one man stay in Bethany Chris-tian Centre for his gambling addiction. The problem is that our culture has things like going to the pub, going to the bookies, going to the bingo, as a rite of passage. Their Dad took them to the pub aged 18, to the bookies at 21 etc. A lot of the work we do is about providing alternatives, the men’s group is all about that, also the toastie clubs, passing the baton etc. Providing positive social networks, so that if men want to meet each other they don’t have to do it in the pub. Do you have any stories of someone’s who’s life turned around? If someone is rough sleeping their self esteem is completely taken, we can provide help but it also needs the individual to make the change. I worked with a girl at another agency, before Bethany, we worked with young people who’d left care. This girl was 17 and trouble, really badly behaved. I would meet her and say “we want to help you, but you need to help yourself”, she wouldn’t believe me that I would help. She had had 40 support workers who promised they would be the difference in her life and they had let her down. She needed to learn to trust herself and slowly learn to trust others; the work went on with her and probably still does. Recovery is always possible and available. Page 6

Page 7

The Future is

Brighter

She stands alone, forlorn

Watching loving couples, Passionately kissing,

Reminded what she’s missing Inside she weeps.

He walked away from love Only to return, a searcher For what he’d left behind Her remembered image

Focuses his search.

On a familiar corner He sees a woman

Solitary and soulful Looking again he sees

That much longed for face.

Inside, hope ignites, Inspiring action,

Inhaling courage, He approaches, hoping,

Needing to know?

“Are you…” “I am and I have been waiting,

It feels … forever … For you to find me.”

Trembling the hand is offered The future suddenly is so much

brighter

Alex Anderson

wE’rE tHE mEn oF

Bethany

We’re coming doon Leith Walk

And alang Great Junction Street Tae a place where we’re aw Welcome

Tae the place where we aw meet

An there’s talking and there’s laughing There’s young men and there’s auld

There’s hairy men and baldy men There’s shy men and there’s bold

Some will find the way back home

Some find the path to God We’ll be the best we can be

On life’s long road

Over there’s a shy new laddie They’ll soon draw him in

For we are a band of brothers These men will be his friends

There’s Tim wi’ his quizzes An Margaret’s food is braw

An we’re grateful tae oor volunteers Thank ye, ane and aw

Time can go slow at hame

An here it rushes by There’s a fellowship amongst us

We’re the men o’ Bethany

There’s learning, there’s achievement There’s the stories o’ oor friends

We’re aw Jock Tamson’s bairns, they say And something in us mends

There’s trips oot tae the country An Tim tells o’ the days gone by

O’ kings an queens an common folk How they lived and how they died

And the lessons life has taught us

They didna teach in school Oor cups were aince half empty

Noo oor cups are aw half full

Music group at the men’s group

Page 8

HOMELESS AND WHEEL-

CHAIR BOUND

Homelessness is hard for everybody , but imagine if you were wheel-

chair bound also. For everybody reading this this might sound like a horror story but for me this is a reality. Things that people take for granted such as opening and closing a door is a struggle for me, homeless people who can walk have it physically easier compared to me, for example i moved to Edinburgh five weeks ago because of a difficult situation in England.

For other people who arrive homeless and hungry they don’t have to deal with half the issues I have to cope with. First thing that comes in homeless peoples minds is where can I get shelter and food. You get given a guide in Edinburgh called the pavement, which lists all the services for homeless people. None of the services listed had any info on wheelchair access though. For every body else this wouldn't be a problem but for me the first thing that came to my mind was where do I start? The first two weeks in Edinburgh were hell also, some people within the council may need a little more awareness of people in wheelchairs. Because of being in a wheelchair I couldn’t get into a refuge in Scotland. I feel a lot of people don’t know what it’s like, with the lack of information and awareness it made me feel that they didn’t think that wheelchair people can become homeless. I hope that in the future people will realise that there are people like me going through these situa-tions. Jessie

C Christmas Eve spaghetti and anchovies

H Hot doughnuts with salty fish

R Rosary

I Ice- cream made with snow

S Shoeless pilgrimage to church

T Together with my son

M Midnight mass

A Aniseed Liquor

S Singing Christmas carols

The Wild Italian Women

EDDIE’s

CHRISTMAS

QUOTES “He who has not Christmas in his heart

will never find it under a tree.” ~Roy L.

Smith

“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a

state of mind.” ~Mary Ellen Chase

“Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa

what they want and adults pay for it. Defi-

cits are when adults tell the government

what they want and their kids pay for it.”

~Richard Lamm

“There has been only one Christmas - the

rest are anniversaries.” ~W.J. Cameron

Page 9

ONCE UPON A TIME

Christmas and its traditions are soon to be with

us once again one of them being the pantomime. Although not a fan of this genre, I am passionate about the fairy story on which many are based. I loved being told stories as a child and have al-ways been an avid reader but it was while ob-serving the positive influence of using story work in the primary EFL classroom that lead me to dis-cover the work of Dr Bruno Bettelheim. Dr Bet-telheim survived the holocaust and while in camp

he suggested, to make things a little easier, that the inmates tell each other stories that they could remember from childhood. After WW2 while meeting with fellow survivors in the USA, his psychiatrist training was to be astonished by the fact that those who had told stories had come through with less emotional scarring. This lead him to dedicate the remainder of his life to working with traumatised children and the research the im-portance of the story in human culture and psyche. His findings are to be found in his seminal work “The Uses of Enchantment”. What he discovered was fascinating and confirms Jung theories of ancestral archetypes. All traditional stories, from all cultures share common values, hard work, perseverance, respecting your parents, not stealing, being truthful, being responsible and dependable. He also found stories tend to focus on only one or two of these elements. Fairy stories all contain a journey where the protagonists evolve, grow and learn to surmount their difficulties. They learn that life throws a lot of curve balls but that help is also available, if we are prepared to accept it. He also discovered the origin of many of the stories were unexpected. Cinderella is first noted in Europe by Penault in the 16th century but is in fact of Chinese Origin as early as the 9th hence the importance of the glass slipper. We tend in these days of Disneyfication (a development Bettelheim saw as detrimental) to see the fairy story as a child genre. However, the idea of children’s literature per se only evolved as a concept with the introduction of compulsory education. Prior to that people had read and before that they had listened to the storyteller. Each one of us takes out different things at different times from a story. Bettelheim discovered that the leitmotifs in stories connect with our subconscious and cure us without our knowledge and are in fact more holistic that a self help book which give insight but don’t institute change. Two other people who have followed in Bettelheim’s footsteps are Dr Jorge Bu-cay and his “Stories to Think” and Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estés “Women who Run With The Wolves”. Oxford Lecturer Diane Purkiss goes into the European Fairy Story Tradition in “Troublesome Things. The story of fairies and fairy stories.”

Page 10

What is a wife?

She is the one that makes you feel like having children, her children.

A wife is an expert at drying in between tiny little toes and fingers. She is a woman who stands by you through all the troubles you wouldn’t have had if you had stayed single. She’s the girl who makes me say to God every day, thanks for this girl God. My wife is the best friend you will ever in your life. She will share your thoughts, your moods, your laughter and your tears. She is someone to live up to and follow to the ends of the Earth, and that sounds too sentimental, I can’t help it because that’s the way I feel about my girl or wife.

When I look upon your face and I glance at you even an instant, I can no longer utter a word, my tongue thickens to a lump and beneath my skin there breaks a burning fire, my eyes are blind, my ears filled with hum-ming and sweat streams down my body, I am seized by a sudden shudder-ing. This is true love. I feel I should die.

Gerry McKenna

I conclude by quoting Dr Bettelheim “Each fairy tale is a magic mirror, which reflects some aspects of our inner world and of the steps required by our evolution from immaturity to maturity. For those who im-merse themselves in what the fairy tale has to communicate, it becomes a deep quiet pool which at first seems to reflect only our own image, but behind it we soon discover our inner turmoil of our soul- it’s depth, and ways to gain peace within ourselves and with the world, which is the reward of our struggles.” So let’s get along to a panto-mime this Christmas for not only light-hearted fun but some deeper healing too. What better way to celebrate the birth of Christ the greatest storyteller of all time.

Julie Ann Thomason

Page 11

MERCY

Tears an expression

A confession of the heart, God given tears That set us apart. Waters brought forth From the deep well within, Each drop collected In a bottle for Him. Tears of repentance That save us from ourselves, As the precious Lord shines light Into darkness as He delves. The Mightiest of all, A hand so strong and great, Yet so gently cleanses wounds That are caused by our mistakes. Compassionate for our helpless state Fervent for our souls, Our King, our Shepherd, the Son of God On our wounds His mercy pours. No recalling, no casting up No harsh condemning words, This by grace and grace alone Are we saved and know His works. Break down the walls of hardness We built with bricks of flesh, Come and make my heart Your home, Increase…. and make me less. BY ALISON

W Wet and windy

I Icy and cold

N Nice Christmas lights

T Trees

E Everybody enjoying themselves

R Remembering loved ones

Nyomi Brooke & Shirley

Winter Senses

The smell of smoke on the fire

Watching the Robin Redbreasts on the trees The sound of crunching on the snow Feeling the tinsel going through your fingertips The taste of the Christmas “Yule Log” for dessert Women’s group -Rumana

The Bugle team Liz Whyte went round to the Bugle team and asked them a few winter/Christmas questions...

1. What does the bugle mean to you?

2. What is Christmas about for you?

3. What is your favourite winter food? Bobby.

1. A lot! Company, help, companionship.

2. Families, giving gifts.

3. Sprouts! Douglas

1. Caring and seeing people.

2. Being with friends.

3. Christmas dinner. Alex

1. Two hours of friendly company, to write something worth reading.

2. The birth of a boy who turned out to be special. I get annoyed about the commercialising of it.

3. The best meal whatever it is! Jamal

1. Everybody’s life in Leith and Edinburgh. A good magazine.

2. Love each other.

3. Roast chicken and roast potatoes. Andrew

1. Really good articles / literature, free! Scots through and through.

2. Spirit of Christmas, a certain kind of peace.

3. Chicken and sweetcorn. Julie

1. What does the Bugle mean to me. Good company which is both constructive and positive and keeps me in touch with my writing discipline which is important.

2. Christmas is about tradition and rituals doing the same thing every year makes you feel comforted and safe.

3. My favourite Christmas food is mince pies my favourite winter food is spoon food soups and stews. Jocelyn.

1. Lots of different ideas coming together.

2. Friends and family and Jesus.

3. Soup – minestrone is the best. Eddie 1. Bugles are used to sound the “wake-up” call. It’s our megaphone which amplifies an otherwise inaudible message about homelessness. 2. Er, isn’t it about the 25th December? I keep Christ’s birth separate from the tawdry pool of profiteering and self-indulgence. Like a squib – one big bang then it’s forgotten. Why the big build up? Christ’s “masse” deserves daily praise. 3.Winter harvest – parsnip, turnips….home-made broth; Chicken and stuffing; Polish poppy-seed cake.

Page 12

Page 13

We will have you in stitches.

Christmas

C cosy, carols, cards, crackers, charity, celebra-

tions

H humbug, happy, holiday

R rest, reindeer, reunion

I icerink, inclusion, isolation

S snowball fight. Santa, sharing

T tv, turkey, tinsel, tree, tolerance, temptation

M mistletoe, mince pie, madness, music

A advocaa, arguments, advent calendar, an-

gels

S snowman, stocking, star

Women’s group—Clara Gay

The women also made some fantastic quilts to wrap up warm in and had a fun time with Debbie making them!

W Winter can be cold and crisp

I Icey pavements slipping and sliding

N Nippy noses fingers and toesys

T Tree tops sparkling with shiny stars

E Envelopes filled with Christmas wishes

R Robins bobbing back and forth

Women’s group - Patricia Hamilton

At the men's sewing with Felicity and Debbie

on a Friday morning, I made a green quilt be-cause I am a hibbs fan and I go to football on a Saturday afternoon. I have finished my quilt and I am making cushions they are green ones. Douglas Forbes

Page 14

EDDIE’s tHouGHt For CHrIstmAs

At this festive time of year, I am reminded of Jesus’s words : "In everything, therefore,

treat people the same way you want them to treat you…” (Matt 7:12; NASB throughout). Seems reasonable innit? But don’t you think that most people tend to “look after No. 1 ”? We mostly want the best for ourselves without thinking about those who had to make sacrifices just to make our desires possible. Ain’t nothing wrong in seeing to our own needs. It’s right and proper. Didn’t Jesus say “love your neighbour as yourself. “ (Matt 19:19; Lev 19:18;) ? Here he restated and reinforced a Levitical command. Yet what if seeking our own pleasures and comforts is to some other person’s detriment? Or if you extend this, to society as a whole? What if our desires don’t fit into the ‘common good’ ? We’re going through a global financial downturn in which the ‘common good’ appears to have been forgotten. It’s no longer a priority to those in charge of the economy. If the high heid yins of high fi-nance – dare I say the “high priests of Mammon” – really put the common good before their own gains, they would never have allowed blatant greed to upset the global balance. I’m sure you’d agree with me that self gratification goes on around us all of the time. Child labour in sweat shops, defores-tation, global warming, forced prostitution……. all bear witness to anything but the ‘common good’. C’mon folks – we can do better than this! If only we all did live for the principle of ‘common good’. Jesus said his way of life was summed up as loving God, then your neighbour as yourself. He wisnae daft. He was telling us just how His kingdom operated. Even in this imperfect world, if everybody be-haved in this way, then poverty, corruption and injustice would be eradicated. The oft-sung Christmas “peace on earth” concept would become a distinct possibility. Let’s do it now – and lay down the foundation of a better world which our children and grandchildren will inherit. ‘Tis the season of goodwill (so they say), and the Christian is often reminded by the decent media of a true meaning of Christmas. So before the jackals of the commercial advertising media start creeping round us to raid our purses, let us pause and reflect. It’s not about self-indulgence. Before we’re plunged into the whirlpool of Christmas hype and being made to feel guilty if we don’t buy this or don’t do that, let’s reflect. It’s all about Jesus’s birth – whether or not on 25th December – a humble man who really did live his life for the ‘common good’; Imagine – he gave up everything to live among us in this lowly mortal state. He died so that we will have life more abundantly. It reminds me of chess. Some games are won by sacrificing the most powerful piece. Some gamble, eh? Don’t get me wrong; I’m not the Reverend Jolly of the Bugle. There’s nowt wrong with enjoying the material side of this season. Just don’t forget the spirit of ‘common good’ - think of others. (Matt 22:29). We at The Bugle magazine wish you a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Someone once said, “A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbour’s.”

Snow down love on your neighbour this season.

Love is a word that comes and goes but few people really know what it means to really love some-body, Love is a word that fades away, but let the unconditional love shine down on someone this season, actually showing love as an action word. No matter what someone has done to you or said to you, forgive and love anyway. Unconditional love brings healing to the soul, keeps families to-gether, mends broken hearts and allows love to grow stronger and deeper. True love comes from God. And now these three remain; Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love. (1 Co-rinthians 13 verse 13) Love is the greatest gift of all! You can give this Christmas, As well as to help raise funds for those who do not have. There is an Aunt that I have and she broke up friendship with my mum when they were young adults so for over 20 yrs they have been out of touch and no matter what, my aunt refuses to have anything to do with my mum. Because of this my brothers and I missed out having any friendship with our three cousins, my aunts kids. People seem to forget the kids always suffer in the end. I tried to see if I could get to the bottom of it so that my mum and aunt will reconcile. I thought that whatever it was my mum did years back must have been something really bad for my aunt to be acting like this, but only to find that it was something really very simple. I was shocked that some-one can be like this and not care about even the life of their niece’s and nephew’s, causing division in the family over something so simple that happened when they were both young and immature. One must recognise when it’s time to grow up and move on especially when someone has apolo-gized many times. Un-forgiveness is like hatred and can make a person very bitter and angry. If this grows and develops it can become detrimental to the spiritual life of that person. It eats away at you and attacks others. It’s like a ship with the anchor still down, it cannot be free to sail and along with a small hole that gets wider throughout the years, it slowly sinking. Health wise it is very damaging to the body; causing stress, even depression. Consistent stress puts pressure on the body and can cause various problems. We can cause ourselves to be ill. We can carry un-forgiveness and stress to our death. We need to give our hearts a break and carry around Love = forgiveness = a stress free life = a longer life. We would live longer by asking God to help us to have this unconditional love that will set our spirits free. We can’t do it on our own we need God to help us if we are finding it difficult to forgive. God can help us to be burden free, all we have to do is ask him and try. As we make the first steps towards forgiveness then we are half way there. For others they find it hard to say sorry. The bible says; “Pride comes before a downfall”. We need to swallow pride and challenge ourselves to do what we find the hardest and humble ourselves. When we do this there will be a huge breakthrough with the other person. You will be surprised how one word ‘Sorry’ can bring healing to the soul and make one whole again. And for those stubborn people, they need not to be the scourge of Christmas or of life like my aunt is. Her son my cousin now grown up and can’t be stopped ended up being the bigger man, he communicates with us regardless and refuses to be like his mum. In his own words; “This is crazy, we are blood and nothing should come in they way of that. And what we did when

we were kids should stay there, cause I know I did some crazy wild things

Page 15

snowInG Down LovE…

Page 16

And so this is

Christmas

With your family and your own

Please think of the others who are alone I’ve been there, it was not good When you don’t have money, For festive things and you don’t have food Being alone, it’s not right Whatever the reason, Think positive There IS a light, whatever season So to Tim, Margaret etc Kenny and Wing For goodness sake Get up and sing Davie Young

If you tried with a stubborn person God will bless you for trying and keep the faith cause he will always make a way in the end. God has done so for me and I am grateful. So please take in all I have said and let us unite this Christmas as families! Satan hates families that’s why they are always being attacked, so lets make the devil angry, swallow our pride and unite. It’s a shame if we don’t as there are those who do not have any family and are lonely. If your family is abroad unite and reconcile on the phone. So snow down love this season and show unconditional love!!! It may be cold but don’t be cold, exer-cise your heart and be warm. For help/info. call: 07523294961 or for counselling to reconcile with a loved one this season e.mail; rightdirection@rocketmail.com or join facebook group Right Direction. Male or female counsellors available on request. Beth.

Cold, carols,

Cosy, Crackers

Cuddles

Humbug, happy

Hamper

Reindeer, Reun-

ion Rest

Incredible, Ice- rink

Sad, Snowball (drink or fight) Stockings

Tasty food, Togetherness T.V.

Mince Pies, Mistletoe, Music Madness

Alcohol, Advent Calendar Arguments

Surreal, Santa, Snowman, Sex, Skiing

Snowboarding

Women’s group -Trish “Christmas is a real drag”

Page 17

What Christmas day means

to me

Christmas day means to me that I can spend the day with my family and friends. I also

think about family that are not with us, and it can be a bit sad. I meet up with my pals at night for and drink and we have a good night. I like putting the candles on at night and having the Christmas tree on as well, it is so cosy. I like to give presents to my family and friends. I also like to listen to Christmas music and hearing Christmas carols.

Women’s group - Dawn McGee

Happy Christmas, Music Lovers!

DJs don’t have to play the same Christmas records every year. They play the most popular songs,

the ones that got higher in the charts than all the rest. Christmas fayre in music is different from mu-

sic that people hear the rest of the year. Well, songs about Christmas that is. and so can’t be com-

pared in the same way.

Music of the festive season relates the many blessings people get from the season of goodwill,

whereas the music that’s heard the rest of the time nowadays is just about how one can gain sexual

gratification with one’s “baby.” People won’t want to rock around the Christmas tree if they keep

hearing the exact same records being played. They will have a blue Christmas. DJs who play it safe,

as they see it, and relate the same sounds to the public are not being clever. Perhaps they think they

are when considering that many or most people may not like the records they play in the first place.

Constantly repeating them must be the poorest type of entertainment to people. DJs should take

risks and play music that’s unfamiliar to them. Some people will like new music and some won’t.

DJs shouldn’t be ill thought of when they take a chance on playing unheard material over the air-

waves. Even if it is a flop with many people, if the DJs consider the music to be reasonable enough,

they should play it and hope for the best. Thinking too pessimistically about music will leave disc

jockeys with a limited amount of records to play. Entertainers should never bore people especially

unnecessarily. Because DJs don’t see their audiences and will never associate with the people they

broadcast to, they think there is an impersonal element to their work, but they shouldn’t think this

way.

The entertainer should always have a love for their audience. There should be phone-ins to hear

people’s views on the music played. DJs can get too self-satisfied about the music they play if they

are never criticised. If DJs did increase their repertoire of records in the festive season, then every-

one would say that they wished every day was like Christmas.

Andrew Watt

Page 18

C - Cold, sparkling night

H - Holly and Ivy

R - Remembering to show the love

I - icicles

S - Santa Claus is coming to town

T - Time for giving

M - Merry Christmas

A - And Happy New Year

S - Snow

Women’s group - Laura

Fun in the Snow My grandchildren and I were having fun in the

snow. We took the sled out on the hills and they

had great fun. We came back inn because it was

getting cold. We listened to the music and had

cookies, put the candles on to make it cosier and

then we wrapped up the presents. Then I told them

a ghost story about the wicked snowman who was

called Scrooge and frightened all the children and

elves, but Jesus and three wise men came to the

door and told them to come out and meet Rudolph

the reindeer and go for a sleigh ride with them,

which they did, but that is another story.

Women’s group - Barbara

BoBBy’s BumpEr quIz - Another chance to test your knowledge from last edition—answers on page 20! 1. Who was Scotland's Rugby grand slam captain in 1984? 2. Which Edinburgh born player captained Rangers to their European Cup Winners triumph in 1972? 3. Which Edinburgh born boxer, won the light-weight champion of the world in Madison Sq gardens? 4. In which year did Celtic win the European Cup? 5. Which Edinburgh born sprinter was claimed a one time to be the fastest man in the world? 6. Which darts player was known as the crafty cockney? 7. Ian St John one half of TV’s Saint and Greavesie signed for Liverpool from what Scottish club? 8. Which British boxer put Cassius Clay, later Muhammed Ali on the canvas during the world title fight at

Highbury in 1963? 9. Who was the first Hibs player to score in Europe? 10. Which hearts player scored Scotland's 1st ever goal in the World Cup finals in 1958? 11. Which former Newcastle, Hibs and Celtic goalkeeper played for Queens Park as a 14 year old? 12. Peter Huston was Dundee United manager when they won the Scottish cup of the end of the season, who

was the manager when they won it in 1994? 13. Who was the last Scottish rugby player to captain the British Lions squad? 14. Which legendry Scottish commentator who passed away recently made a sweet famous? 15. The answer to the above question son in law was capped for Scotland at Rugby, what position did he

play? 16. Who in darts was known as the craftie Cockney? 17. Name the two Scottish rugby players who were known as the Mighty Mouse and the White Shark? 18. Which Hibs legend who recently passed away, scored the last goal when Hibs beat Hearts 7—0 at Tyne-

castle in 1973? 19. Which member of Hibs legendary famous five went on to win 2 league medals with two other different

teams? 20. Which former Scottish International footballer now deceased will always be remembered by Scotland

fans for playing keepie uppie in the middle of Wemberly when Scotland beat England 3 - 2 in 1967?

Page 19

The story of Maggie Dickson in

the 18th century - continued.

Although the sound had stopped a discussion took place on the proposal that the lid

of the lid of the coffin be removed and this was agreed upon after some opposition.

The events of the next few moments were macabre in the extreme when the coffin cooms

were taken off the corpse was seen to draw up her limbs and heard to utter an unearthly

groan. The terrified onlookers promptly fled down the dusty road as fast as their legs would

carry them with one exception. Peter Purdie a young practitioner of phlebotomy (the opera-

tion of opening a vein by means of incision as a remedial measure) stayed his ground and

*** a vein in Maggie’s arm as her blood streamed out she stirred and murmured 'Oh dear Oh

dear.'

Purdie then lifted her from the chest and carried her to a brae at the roadside where the

blood returned to her lips and cheeks. While one must admire Purdie’s courage and good

intentions it would be ridiculous to suggest that Maggie owed her life to his treatment.

A broadside of the period proceeding upon strong approval of the text that the works of God

are works of wonder and his ways past finding out submits that she recovered and who can

doubt it because the breaking down of the coom having given some air into and the jolting of

the cart set her blood and vitals going.

The fugitives having conquered their fears sufficiently to render assistance, Maggie was low-

ered on to a pile of blankets arranged in a corn cart, with a woman holding up her head and

shoulders, she was then driven to Musselburgh where on the instructions of the magistrate

she was taken to the house of her brother James Dickson a weaver by trade.

A PRAYER

There she was given some nourishment and a glass of whisky and Mr. Robert Bonally a min-

ister in the parish of Inveresk came and prayed over her. Word of what had happened spread

like wildfire. A host of Maggie’s acquaintances, sympathisers and neighbours called at the

house some with tears in their eyes to pray others simply to gaze down at her in meditative

silence and not a few to leave gifts of money on the bed.

Throughout the next day Maggie raised no hopes that she was recovering her strength and

senses. She lay in a coma broken by occasional bouts of delirium.

Once she startled those present by crying out in an anguished voice, let me be gone for I am

to be executed on Wednesday.

Page 20

The following morning however saw a marked improvement and she was able to sit up

complaining of soreness in her neck. On Sunday two days later she decided she was strong

enough to attend church. Her presence there almost caused a riot and at the end of the

sermon the minister was obliged to conduct her out of the churchyard so that she would

not be trampled down by the crowds that surged and pressed on all sides for a glimpse of

her. On the following Wednesday a week to the day after her execution she devoted the

time to solemn fasting and prayer, in gratitude for her deliverance a ritual which she re-

solved to observe on every Wednesday during the rest of her life.

Freedom

Maggie’s astonishing recovery presented the Edinburgh magistrates with a problem that

was not only difficult but unprecedented. Voices were raised among them that she brought

back and hanged properly. The legal authorities pointed out however, that the certificate

of execution had been signed that they had therefore no further claim on her.

The upshot was that Maggie was given her freedom. All that the law could do to her was

dissolve her marriage. This did not worry Maggie –or her husband. Either from forgiveness,

remorse or the idea that her unexpected fame might be turned to financial advantage he

effected reconciliation and they were married for the second time. She rewarded him for

his change of heart by presenting him with several more children all of them creditable

born.

Maggie renounced her calling as a fish-wife to become a crier of salt in the Edinburgh

streets. During the long span of life that remained to her-almost 40 years she became a fa-

miliar figure in the Edinburgh scene. Finding that the publicity enhanced her trade she

made no effort to shun the limelight or discourage the grisly nickname that was bestowed

upon her.

Until the end of her days few, strangers came to Edinburgh who did not have her pointed

out to them and were not regaled in full with the extraordinary story of Half-Hangit Maggie

Dickson.

Evan Robertson

W Winter is when the weather is cold and snowy

I Icy when you go out and slide on sledges

N Nice time for Christmas presents and family

T Trees are all white with snow

E Evening relaxing after Christmas dinner

R Recovering after eating to much

Women’s group - Liz Smith

So they gave money to the ma-

sons...Ezra3:7a

At this festive time of year we tend to spend a lot, or max out our credit cards, in buying presents,

food, drink and other indulgences for the party season. Hard to think there’s actually a recession go-ing on, innit? We’re in the worst financial position since the Great Recession of the 1930’s. Some fat cat economists say that they can see the “green shoots” of recovery. Well, I don’t see them – especially after the recent spending review announced by Tory Gideon Osborne (who he?, ed.). I suspect they’re smoking some “green” and just seeing things. But it’s OK – “We can buy the poor with money and the needy for a pair of sandals” (Amos 8:6). So while we brace ourselves for the toughest government cutbacks for generations, the European Union gravy train is going into overdrive. Just as thousands of UK civil servants find themselves fac-ing the dole queue last week, the Euro MP’s vote themselves a staggering 5.9% increase to their own budget. And it’s our taxes that pay for our EU membership bill!

I actually feel afraid of what we are about to face; in London many B&B’s have been boarded up as the homeless are being forced out of city centres and into rural and distant areas. And it’s not just the homeless. Many low earners are just as affected. Landlords refuse to lower their asking price, benefits are being cut. Is this the start of “Social Cleansing” in action? Hmmmmm….. and of course the government won’t honour and meet the housing / homeless pledges and targets set by the pre-vious administration, “due to the previous government’s failure and misuse of public funds” . “…for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.” (Gen 31:15).

Ever since the collapse of the Lehman Brothers’ banking kingdom in 2008, global finance has slowly but surely been atrophying, with world leaders desperately trying to pull a rabbit from the magic hat. “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money” (Eccles 5:10). I’d like to get the whole motley crew round the table, grab their collars and quote the following from the Epistle of James:- 1Pay attention to this if you're rich. Cry and moan about the misery that is coming to you. 2 You

riches have decayed, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be used as evidence against you. Like fire, it will destroy your body. You have stored up treasure in these last days. 4 The wages you refused to pay the people who harvested your fields shout [to God] against you. The Lord of Armies has heard the cries of those who gather the crops. 5 You have lived in luxury and self-indulgence here on earth. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and mur-dered people who have God's approval, even though they didn't resist you. [James 5: 1-6. God’s Word version+

Strong words eh? I think that just about says it all, don’t you agree? And that’s a message from a guy who lived 2000 years ago! How come politicians get expenses and perks so easily? All they need to do is phone their secretary, sign a bit paper and bingo! – cash in hand. “Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?” (Prov 17:16). And yet the “System” is so hard, obscure, picky and downright evasive if I ask for help with heating costs. I’ve been trying for 2 weeks now to get through on the phone for a crisis loan, but it’s been constantly engaged. So I’ve given up and pawned my £90 camera for the princely sum of £20 just to buy gas till next pay day. And the questions you get from the DWP if you do get through on the phone – you end up feeling so cheap, dirty and demeaned. C’mere and listen to my phone call……………… ….ring ring……ring ring……*CLICK+ please hold, your call is important to us…..ring ring……ring ring……..(that bloody Vivaldi music)……* CLICK ] ...all of our Advisors (geddit?) are currently busy; please hold …. Ring ring….ring ring..… [CLICK + ..or perhaps you’d prefer to call later…….ring

ring…..ring ring……..(mair Vivaldi..)…….if you require a crisis loan, please press ‘1’ – if you can count – thank you, your call will be dealt with as soon as

Page 21

Page 22

possible…….I’m sorry, all our advisors………ring ring…….* CLICK +….the crisis loan line is open Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm…..I HATE Vivaldi ! Used to like classical music up till now. Advisors busy? – what, have they only got TWO of them?? By the time they do actually answer in per-son, you’d probably find me deid in my flat – just a skeleton having died o’ hypothermia and starvation. “Poor Eddie – persevered to the very end………” Humour is the answer to this sort of situation. As well as prayer. So back to James’s Epistle, same chapter. Look at verses 7-8 :- 7 Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. See how farmers wait for their

precious crops to grow. They wait patiently for fall and spring rains. 8 You, too, must be patient. Don't give up hope. The Lord will soon be here. [James 5: 7-8.

God’s Word version+ This guy spoke sense. Prayer, perseverance, patience and toleration all take away the negatives from life’s difficult episodes. The more you practise it, the stronger you grow and your charac-ter slowly builds up And if you can sprinkle in some humour and positive thinking, you’ve got a winning combination. You’re “more than a conqueror”. Remember: “Bread is made for laugh-ter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.” (Eccles 10:9).

I may not be “happy” in life; but I am very, very content with what I’ve got – and that’s very little – praise be!!

Eddie Klimeck

BoBBy’s BumpEr

Sports Quiz—

answers

So for all those readers that have been ea-gerly awaiting the answers to last issue’s great sports quiz, here they are! But in case you forgot the questions we have also put them back for you!

1. Jim Aitken

2. 2. John Greig

3. 3. Ken Buchanan

4. 1967

5. Allan Wells

6. Eric Bristol

7. Motherwell

8. Henry Cooper

9. Eddy Turnbull

10. Jimmy Murray

11. Ronny Simpson

12. Ivan Golac

13. Gavin Hastings

14. Bill McLaren

15. Scrum half

17 Ian McLaughlin & John Jeffrey

18 Alan Gordon

19 Gordon Smith

20 Jim Baxter

EDDIE’s suDuko

4 1

3 1 6

8 5 3

7 9

6 5 4 9 3

5 2

4 9 2

3 4 1

3 7

Fill in the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the Numbers 1—9

Supported by The City

Of Edinburgh Council.

Written & put together by the Bethany Press Team.

The Bethany Press Team puts together each edition of The Bugle magazine. We meet almost

every Wednesday from 1.30p.m.-3.pm at our Learning Centre at 65 Bonnington Road, Leith

What is the Bugle?

Well the dictionary says that it is a musical instrument like a small trumpet. Our Bugle is a quarterly

magazine.. As beginners we at The Bugle are first learning our trade as reporters , editors or just plain

gofers. In time we hope The Bugle will become a much read and much sought after local magazine that

people will enjoy and discuss until the next issue.

Where is The Bugle available?

From hostels, drop-ins, libraries, churches, doctor and dentist waiting rooms… look out for it!

Who are we looking for to write for The Bugle?

Anyone! But especially people who are or have been homeless. Most members of our Press Team

have been, or are currently homeless.

The views expressed in The Bugle are not necessarily those of Bethany Christian Trust. If you have any comments on The Bugle or would like to get involved give us a call or write to:

Felicity Fyall

Bethany Community Education

32 Jane Street

Edinburgh

EH6 5HD

felicityfyall@bethanychristiantrust.com

0131 625 5411

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