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Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
A Talk at St. Asaph Lodge – Widows Sons Brotherhood Squared
This evening I attended St. Asaph Lodge No 8034 to present a talk on the Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association.
It was my first time visiting St. Asaph Lodge, and it was very enjoyable. Although when taking wine in the festive board those taking the wine are expected to sing to the WM. I had never seen this before, and had to do it twice. Once as the nights speaker, and once as a visitor.
In appreciation of the talk the members of St. Asaph Lodge voted to donate the money from the Festive Board’s raffle to a Charity of my choice.
The raffle raised £205 which I donated to Blood Bikes Wales in the Lodges name.
Widows Sons
The Widows Sons are quite simply a motorcycle-riding club. We are a non-brand specific riding Association so no matter what brand of motorcycle you ride, so long as you are a Master Mason in good standing you are welcome as a member.
We also have associate membership open to non-riding Masons. We are an internationally based group of independent Masons who have joined together to simply share the thrill of riding with other members of our fraternity.
We are not a 1% club. We are just a social riding club, which happens to have set one of its membership requirements to include being a Master Mason in good standing.
A Talk at Bala Lodge – Widows Sons
The Worshipful Master of Bala Lodge No 1369, contacted me to ask if I would give a talk on the Widows Sons at their April meeting. He said that they had nothing on that evening, so it would be a very quick night unless they could think of something to do. He also pointed out Bala Lodge was a small Lodge with not many people who attend, and since the Worshipful Master was a fellow member of the North Wales Chapter of the Widows Sons, I agreed.
Everything was going well until I received an email from Sally in the Provincial Office asking if I was available to be part of the Provincial Team on the 4th April (The date of the Talk) to attend Bala Lodge with the Provincial Grand Master. I am a Provincial Grand Steward so get to go out with the PGM a lot. I said yes, because its always fun to go out with the team on a visit.
I then realised that I was giving the talk at Bala on the 4th, and that since the PGM and the whole team was going, there would be LOADS of visitors. So the “supposed” quiet night with nothing on was actually a visit from the PGM and 100s of visitors.
No pressure then on my second ever talk!
The Provincial Grand Master really enjoyed the talk, and asked me if I would be willing at some point to give it to his own Lodge. I of course said I would be happy to.
Bala Lodge even give a donation to a charity of my choice, which was Blood Bikes Wales.
Widows Sons
The Widows Sons are quite simply a motorcycle-riding club. We are a non-brand specific riding Association so no matter what brand of motorcycle you ride, so long as you are a Master Mason in good standing you are welcome as a member.
We also have associate membership open to non-riding Masons. We are an internationally based group of independent Masons who have joined together to simply share the thrill of riding with other members of our fraternity.
We are not a 1% club. We are just a social riding club, which happens to have set one of its membership requirements to include being a Master Mason in good standing.
The Year That Was – 2017
Its that time of year again.
Where I look back over the previous year and answer the same 40 questions.
1. What did you do in 2017 that you’d never done before?
OK, New things :-
- Got Provincial Rank.
- Was part of the Provincial Chain.
- Was asked to give a talk in a Craft Lodge.
- Gave a Talk in a Craft Lodge.
- Was asked to write an Article for an International Magazine.
- Attended a High Council Meeting.
- Helped Organising a National Rally (Widows Sons).
- Helped Organising a UGLE Tercentenary Event.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I gave up on resolutions many years back as I never stuck to them, whereas my competitive nature makes me stick to challenges. So for the last few years I have had a yearly challenge.
This year I failed miserably with everything apart from the 100 Day challenge, and the Goodreads reading challenge.
Because I failed miserably this year, I am using this failure as the focus of rebooting myself next year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
A very good/old school friend died this year!.
5. What countries did you visit?
The usual suspects of England/Wales.
6. What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?
More Productivity, Several more papers written towards a book of papers that I hope to publish in 2018 2019. An army of Minions or at least a few PA’s.
7. What dates from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
- 7th October – The day I got my 1st Honours.
- 11th November – My 1st time visiting a Lodge to give a talk.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being appointed Provincial Grand Steward, Being asked to give a talk at a Lodge, then getting other requests for talks, Being asked to write an article for a Masonic Magazine.
9. What was your biggest failure?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Alexa!
Or more accurately an echo dot. It is like the PA I always wanted, she keeps track of my calendar, notes, todo lists, etc.
Best toy ever!!!!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
- Myself, Just because.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
The Special Snowflakes, Those people who scream in the echo chamber of their social media circles about how everyone who thinks different are Nazis. And get angry when they loose votes because the majority wanted what they wanted so how can they have lost. We can no longer have conversations or debates because to disagree is to assault them and they need to kill you to defend themselves or run to a safe space. The world is going to pieces.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Video Games, Books, More Books, More Games, Possibly a few Books.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
16. What song will always remind you of 2017?
With the year (or two) We’ve had, there can only be one song to sum up the year.
Friends in Safe Spaces. By Chad Prather and Steve Mudflap McGrew.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- a) happier or sadder? Happier.
- b) thinner or fatter? Same.
- c) richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Falling in Love, Writing, Following my Dreams, Conquering the World, Finding a cure for the common cold and blackmailing people for the cure, You know, the simple pleasures in life.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? .
Wasting time, and suffering from lack of enthusiasm.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
21. What was your favourite month of 2017?
July. The month started with The Big Party the Provincial party day to celebrate the tercentenary, And the month ended with the North Wales Chapter hosting the National Widows Sons Rally!.
22. Did you fall in love in 2017?
Alas No. I am still a high functioning Sociopath.
23. How many one-night stands?
I do not believe in one-night stands. How can you tell if you really like something unless you try it at least a couple of times?
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
Way too many to mention.
As well as all the excellent ongoing TV shows, 2017 saw dozens of new shows being released such as The Orville, S.W.A.T., The Brave, The Gifted, The Punished, etc… As well as some old shows I discovered for the first time such as Greys Anatomy, The Catch, etc.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
“Hate leads to suffering” and I do not make myself suffer!
Or to put it another way. No. There are no new people on “The List” this year.
26. What was the best book you read?
This is always a very hard question. According to Goodreads I have read about 150 books this year. Trying to pick the best of that lot is not going to be easy. But if I had to pick just one book, arrgghghhh…
OK I will go with “Revolutionary Ride: On the Road in Search of the Real Iran”. The story of one woman who took a solo motorcycle trip around Iran where women are not allowed to drive cars, let alone ride bikes, and should always be accompanied, and that is before you take into account she was a westerner.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Temperance Movement.
Thanks Helen!!!!!.
28. What did you want and get?
An amazon Dot & a coffee machine. Which I wanted, and I got.
GO ME!!!!.
29. What did you want and not get?
Enthusiasm.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
- Thor: Ragnarok
I have not seen the new star wars yet.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The Zombie Apocalypse. Seriously, How cool would that have been!.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?
Mostly Cargo Pants (I like the extra pockets) Jumpers, and in work Coats.
Oh and suits, because suits are awesome – True story.
34. What kept you sane?
Sane? Sane? “You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means” I think, Good Friends, Good Books, and the fact I was never very sane to start off with, so there is not that much to keep hold of.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Well due to binge watching 13 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy this year, I guess Izzy would count.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
This year is basically the same thing as last year.
The same screaming angry nazi fascists who believe their echo-chambers and scream death threats against everyone who is different to them, or who does not think 100% the same as them.
We were wrong guys. 1984 does not come from the far right trying to take over, but from the far left trying to reduce everyone to the same as them.
37. Who did you miss?
No one. “ high functioning Sociopath” Remember? Remember? from Question 22?.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
No one jumps out, as the best new person.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017?.
Empty Vessels make most noise!.
Do not engage in an argument with a stupid person, they will drag you down to their level and beat yo with their experience.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I’ve got friends in Safe Spaces
And If you don’t go with us Then you must be racist
That is our catch phrase
Where is my latte Come on in and let’s get cozy
Showing off participation trophies Watching CNN In Safe Spaces
A Talk at Ruthanian Lodge – Widows Sons Brotherhood Squared
The members of the Old Ruthinian Lodge contacted me saying they had nothing on for their November meeting, and they wondered if I would attend to give a short talk on the Widows Sons.
I had never given a talk in a Lodge before, so I do not know why they asked me.
Since they are a small friendly Lodge, and I always have a great time when visiting them, I agreed. So I sat down and wrote a small talk titled “Widows Sons – Brotherhood Squared”
Everyone there seemed to enjoy the talk, and had many questions at the end, which proved they had been paying attention.
They even gave a donation of £50 to a charity of my choice, I selected Blood Bikes Wales.
Widows Sons
The Widows Sons are quite simply a motorcycle-riding club. We are a non-brand specific riding Association so no matter what brand of motorcycle you ride, so long as you are a Master Mason in good standing you are welcome as a member.
We also have associate membership open to non-riding Masons. We are an internationally based group of independent Masons who have joined together to simply share the thrill of riding with other members of our fraternity.
We are not a 1% club. We are just a social riding club, which happens to have set one of its membership requirements to include being a Master Mason in good standing.
First Craft Promotion
Today I went along to the Provincial AGM, to receive my first honours.
I was very lucky to get Provincial Grand Steward!
Yes, I get the coveted Red Regalia! And as a Active Steward I will be out with the team loads this year, since it is the last year of our PGM’s run and he intends to visit as many Lodges as he can in the year. I am really looking forward to this, Not many get to wear the red.
In the context of Freemasonry, a Provincial Grand Steward (ProvGStwd) is a prestigious position within a province, often a Past Master or current Master, who shows potential for future leadership and is identified by their red regalia, assisting with various tasks and duties, including assisting with ceremonies and supporting the Provincial Grand Master.
The Year That Was – 2016
Its that time of year again.
Where I look back over the previous year and answer the same 40 questions.
1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?
OK, New things :-
- Became a Godfather for none-family member!.
- Presented a Paper to a group of peers.
- Visited a Lodge in the Province of Warwickshire.
- Was invited to visit a Lodge for the purpose of performing ritual (Charge after Initiation).
- Entered the chair of Z.
- Was Promoted to the Second Order of S.R.I.A.
- Did the Intermediate Degrees in Rose Croix.
- Got a Provincial Job (Provincial Webmaster).
- Partied in the Clubhouse of a 1% MC.
- Visited a Lodge in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding.
- Finally Visited LOLS.
- Placed a bet on a horse race.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I gave up on resolutions many years back as I never stuck to them, whereas my competitive nature makes me stick to challenges. So for the last few years I have had a yearly challenge. This year it was the Artisan Challenge,
- Do the 100 Days Challenge.
- Write 4 none LOLS papers
- Do a piece of Art slowly over the year.
I did not do so well this year.
- 100% Completed.
- 25% Completed. I only managed 1 papers
- 40% Completed. I drew lots of the bits, but never got them put together.
Because I failed miserably this year, I am using this failure as the focus of rebooting myself next year.
I am doing a Challenge Reboot. To reboot my creativity, productivity etc.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No one. Which is a good thing considering the year.
But I did loose a load of childhood heroes, and people from Music & Film who made an impact on me growing up.
5. What countries did you visit?
The usual suspects of England/Wales.
6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
More Productivity, Several more papers written towards a book of papers that I hope to publish in 2018. An army of Minions or at least a few PA’s.
7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
- 11th June – The day I joined the 2nd Order of S.R.I.A.
- 10th December – My 1st visit to LOLS.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not actually getting anything published this year, and not fully completing the years challenge, and my total lack of productivity!.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I do not recall any great new purchase this year. This is not acceptable, I must get myself a new toy before the end of the year.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
- My Godson Callum for learning to walk (And for being an evil genius).
- Henry for being great.
- My father for getting a decent 1st Honours.
- Myself, Just because.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
14. Where did most of your money go?
Video Games, Books, More Books, More Games, Possibly a few Books.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Well for the second year in a row we get a new Star Wars film. This year we also got Doctor Strange & Suicide Squad, so that’s three films this year I got excited about.
I also go excited about finally visiting LOLS after all these years.
16. What song will always remind you of 2016?
With the number of decent musicians we lost this year, there is only one song suitable to remember 2016.
American Pie – Don McLean.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- a) happier or sadder? Happier.
- b) thinner or fatter? Fatter (slightly).
- c) richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Falling in Love, Writing, Following my Dreams, Conquering the World, Finding a cure for the common cold and blackmailing people for the cure, You know, the simple pleasures in life.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? .
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I will wake up late, grab some breakfast & a coffee, then go over to my Parents house with the rest of the family to open presents and do that festive cheer stuff. Then Christmas Dinner, and off to youngest nephews house for a Christmas Party type thing. Then home.. Beer, Doctor Who Special, and laze in front of the TV.
21. What was your favourite month of 2016?
I do not think any one month stands out more than any other since the great stuff that happened this year was spread out over the whole year.
22. Did you fall in love in 2016?
Alas No. I am still a high functioning Sociopath.
23. How many one-night stands?
I do not believe in one-night stands. How can you tell if you really like something unless you try it at least a couple of times?
24. What was your favourite TV programme?
How do I pick just one?
Lucifer, Blindspot, Van Helsing, Killjoys, Dark Matter, Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, Scorpion, Librarians, Blacklist, Brooklyn Nine Nine. the list is endless.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
“Hate leads to suffering” and I do not make myself suffer!
Or to put it another way. No. There are no new people on “The List” this year.
26. What was the best book you read?
Picking a favorite book, is even harder than picking a favorite TV Series, or Film. So here is a list of some of the Top books I read this year (In no particular order) :-
- Warheart (To finish the Sword of Truth Series).
- Fox & O’Hair Series.
- Lois on the Loose.
- Ben Hope Series.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Forest Rangers
An American Rock Band that started from the TV Series Sons Of Anarchy.
28. What did you want and get?
I do not think there was anything I really wanted this year that I actually got. It is depressing really.
29. What did you want and not get?
Enthusiasm, Love, Slaves A PA/Intern, A new House (Not easy finding one I like, I may be fussy?).
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
- Doctor Strange.
- Star Wars – Rogue One.
- Suicide Squad.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The Zombie Apocalypse. Seriously, How cool would that have been!.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?
Mostly Cargo Pants (I like the extra pockets) Jumpers, and in work Coats.
Oh and suits, because suits are awesome – True story.
34. What kept you sane?
Sane? Sane? “You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means” I think, Good Friends, Good Books, and the fact I was never very sane to start off with, so there is not that much to keep hold of.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don’t think any one celebratory really stood out this year.
It was a poor year for crushes.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
There was two this year, but they are basically the same thing.
Brexit! We had the vote, and the Leave group won. And from the second they won the remain lot started screaming that only racist idiots would vote to leave, and their votes should not count. They have tried dozens of petitions, legal campaigns, and everything to go against the winning vote on the grounds that anyone who disagreed with them is too stupid to be allowed a vote. This loud insulting of anyone with a different view started in the run up to the vote.
American Presidential Election. Again, the loosing side started legal means to get the vote changed, they tried forcing the electoral collage to break the law to make the loosing candidate be the winner. There was even rioting on the streets and such. and plans to prevent it from happening.
I am not saying the right outcome was won on either of those votes, but it is the minority who lost and just insult and threaten anyone who thinks differently that has annoyed me the most. You can no longer discuss or debate things, you either agree 100% with the special snowflakes or you are evil racist scum with an IQ of a carrot. And their yells of we must protect democracy by going with the loosing vote. errrr?
37. Who did you miss?
No one. “ high functioning Sociopath” Remember? Remember? from Question 22?.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I am not sure, I guess I would probably have to go with some of the Masonic people I have started working closely with since becoming the Provincial Webmaster. There are some insane, funny people among them.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016?.
Empty Vessels make most noise!.
Do not engage in an argument with a stupid person, they will drag you down to their level and beat yo with their experience.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step
I can’t remember if I cried when I
Read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music
Died
Provincial Webmaster
I can now officially announce the news that I am now the New Webmaster for the Provincial Grand Lodge of North Wales.
The previous Webmaster reached out to me a short while ago to test the waters on if I was interested in taking over the role from him. He had been looking after the site, since he fire wrote it a LONG-LONG-Time ago. After discussing the requirements of the role, and the amount of work involved, I agreed to put my name forward.
So an interview was arranged with the Provincial Grand Secretary, and the current Webmaster, the interview went well. I knew it had gone well because it ended at the bar with the Provincial Secretary getting the drinks in.
And now, it is all official, I have formally accepted the role and have taken over the running of the sites.
It will be 100% official at the Provincial AGM when the PGM thanks David for all his work, and welcomes me as part of the team.
I heard an Insane thing on the radio this morning.
During my commute this morning, I was minding my own business happily singing along with the radio…
When out of the blue, and with no warning whatsoever the radio made an announcement. There was no slow build up, no trigger warnings, or anything. They just blurted it out heedless of the damage they could cause.
I ALMOST crashed!
“Apparently” due to the heat they’re suggesting a max of TWO cups of coffee (or tea) ALL DAY!
Is that even humanly possible?
I need 2 mugs just to get to work. I can not survive a whole day on just 2 cups of coffee.
I should rephrase that. Everyone else can not survive if I only have 2 cups of coffee a day!!
have you had a car accident in the last 3 years
The annoying constant PPI phone calls have finally reduced to just the occasional one every few weeks.
But the peace is not to be enjoyed as the “Have you or anyone there had or been involved in a traffic accident in the last three years” calls have risen to take their place. And these guys are much more aggressive.
- “Have you or anyone there had or been involved in a traffic accident in the last three years”
- “They must have”
- “someone there will have had some accident. ask them now!”
- “There WILL BE SOMEONE.”
So the other day after a dozen calls in under a hour, from the same number. Someone who will remain nameless may have gotten a tad annoyed.
Cold Caller
WO
Cold Caller
NO!
So you have been in a accident in the last three years because……
WO
I am not to blame!!!!!
Cold Caller
So what kind of accident were you involved in?
WO
Cold Caller
WO
Heart FM’s fault to be exact.
If they had not put on Justin Beaver, I would not have had to take my eyes off the road to try and make it stop. Gods I had to make it stop. So how was I supposed to see the car ahead of me stop sharply?
Cold Caller
WO
NO!
I managed to stop the hideous music and lookup in time to swerve off the road, and I missed them. The issue is with the Bus Stop.
Cold Caller
WO
Cold Caller
WO
Well most managed to jump or run out of the way.
It was just the pregnant nuns that could not waddle out the way fast enough.
Cold Caller
WO
Yes, Nuns. You know those odd women who dress up as penguins and are all married to the same guy?
I know some say its an odd fetish, but personally I think it has to be some weird cult.
I have nothing against fetishes myself, nothing wrong with a bit of bdsm.
Cold Caller
BDSM?
What, hang on.
WO
BDSM, you know like 50 shades but much less rapey!
My safe word is Pineapple!
Cold Caller
FUCK OFF YOU FREAK!!!
*CLICK*
WO
*buzzing on phone*
WO
Hello?
Hello?
Anyone there?
Pineapple!!!!
Oddly.
That was the last such call we had. And there has been none since.
The world is an odd place..
Sitting in the Chair of the Holy Royal Arch – Chair 1
This evening I was Installed into the Chair of Zerubbabel.
In the Holy Royal Arch the Masters chair is actually split into three chairs. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Principals. representing Zerubbabel, Haggai and Joshua. This evening I entered the third of the chairs, which is the 1st Principals chair of Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was a historical figure, a Jewish prince who led the return from Babylonian captivity and oversaw the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
So I am now the Master of Wynnstay Chapter.