Blog Posts:
Latest News and Blog Posts from Wayne “Pendragon” Owens.
In Memory of Charlie Kirk
It is with heavy hearts that we mark the passing of Charlie Kirk, a figure whose presence stirred thought, provoked dialogue, and left an indelible mark on the political landscape. Whether one agreed or disagreed with his views, few could deny the passion and conviction with which he spoke, the energy he brought to public discourse, and the loyalty he inspired in those who followed his work.
Charlie was more than a commentator; he was a catalyst. He challenged norms, sparked conversations, and stood firm in his beliefs. To his supporters, he was a voice of clarity in turbulent times. To his critics, he was a formidable opponent who never shied away from debate.
But beyond the headlines and microphones, Charlie was a son, a friend, and a human being navigating the complexities of life like the rest of us. His death is a reminder of the fragility of our time here, and of the importance of listening, engaging, and seeking understanding, even in disagreement.
The biggest issue with the death of Charlie Kirk is the cheering, dancing, singing and all around happiness the Left are posting online. They are treating the murder of a husband and father as an excuse for a party. They are so happy that a man is dead, and a young family ruined. I have even seen them making lists of who else needs to be killed. They even posted their celebrations on the post Charlie’s wife made announcing his death.
What has happened to the world where people can happily celebrate murder on the internet? And do it his wife and children who were then and watched him get shot.
The Left has lost all claims of being the kind, caring party.
Start of the New Season
This evening was the start of the new Masonic Year.
So for the first time in a while, I suited up and headed off to the coast, well sunny Mostyn for the meeting of Clwyd College SRIA.
It was a very enjoyable evening, the new officers did a great job doing both a Grade IIIº, and a Grade IVº. We did have a couple of missing members so I stood in as 4th Ancient. (Yes the mad fools trusted me with fire.)
As usual with the Mostyn Hall, the food was amazing. So overall it was a great start to the new season, Good meeting, Good food, Good Beer, and Great company.
Well!
Not everything was great. Traveling home I fond that not only were the slip-roads onto the A55 closed, but the A55 itself was closed. So while I traveled along old streets to get home, the massive amounts of traffic redirected off the main East-West road that were trying to use backroads did make the whole thing “Interesting”
I was shocked that it only added 20 minutes to my journey, it felt like a lot longer.
BBW – Sams Cafe 2025 Fundraising Weekend
Sam’s Cafe is once again having one of their week long fundraising events in aid of Blood Bikes Wales.
Unfortunately the weather forecast has been full of doom and gloom, with promises of thunder storms, torrential rain, and heavy wind. This kind of weather does not go well with Motorcycles, and as today was the quietest I have ever seen Sam’s Cafe.
We still seemed to have done well today, and they Crew will still be raising money over the rest of the weekend.
UK Online Safety Act – My Account is Old Enough
This morning I received an email from Microsoft Xbox.
“As part of our compliance program for the UK Online Safety Act and our ongoing investments in tools and technologies that help ensure age-appropriate experiences, we need you to verify your age so you can continue enjoying social features on Xbox.”
This amused me a lot, since apart from December when I dusted off and used my old Xbox after the winter storms blew up my PS4. my Xbox has been collecting dust for over a decade. The account itself is old enough in the UK to go to the pub and get pissed, since it is over 20 years old.
I believe if I was actually under age, I would either need a time machine, or a past life to be able to create the account many years before I was born. Twitter had the right idea by saying anyone who has an account older than X (see what I did there) number of years is obviously old enought.
Some of the things in the UK my account is old enough to do :-
- Buy Alcohol (18 or 21 depending where in the UK)
- Buy Fireworks (18)
- Have Botox (18)
- Buy offensive weapons (18 previously you could only get none offensive weapons)
- Get married (18)
- Join the army (16)
- Drive a car (17)
Some of the things in the UK my account is NOT old enough to do :-
- Avoid age verification
Coronatio Quadrans – Talks, Papers, and Heat!
Today has been a day all about Coronatio Quadrans. This was a pure coincidence, and not planned.
Whilst talking to an old friend this morning, I was reminded that I owed CQ an article for their next publication and that I had not sent one in. This led to me re-writing an old paper on “Ye Sons of the Widow” that I had done possibly over Lockdown (or just before) for the old OpenLodge writing challenge. I was able to get the paper into a sensible and (I hope) entertaining format and posted it off to the editors before they could start shouting at me. Which is how it has gone in the past.
After sorting that, and grabbing some food it was time to log into the Coronatio Quadrans associates talk, where a Canadian was booked to give a talk on Cosmic Consciousness from an engineering/scientific aspect.
The associate talks have been on the generalised topic of Cosmic Consciousness but from different perspectives, such as spiritual, historical, scientific, and practical. once the topic is over, it will make a fantastic and educational special edition of the CQ magazine.
BBW – National Blood Bike Awareness Day (2025)
Today is National Blood Bike Awareness Day,
So lets us take a moment to say “thank you” to the 1000s of volunteers who give up their free time to help support this wonderful and important service.
There are multiple Blood Bikes groups across the UK. they are all charities that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Their riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.
TYoaBM – Bonus Meeting
The Year of a Busy Mason has ended, along with my Masonic year itself. Or, I thought it had.
Today I popped along to the Maesgwyn Hall to visit the newest Lodge in North Wales, the Combined Services Lodge. This was only their third meeting, and I wanted to go and hear the advertised lecture. I also wanted to go see what they were like, since they have booked us to give a talk on Blood Bikes at their next meeting.
Unfortunately, the planned speaker who was giving a talk on Freemasonry among Prisoners of War during the Napoleonic and World Wars did not turn up. But we did have two short talks by the two joining members of the afternoon.
Overall it was an enjoyable revisit to Masonry during the summer shutdown period. The only downside was, due to us deciding at the last moment to go visit we had not booked ourselves in for a meal, which would have been since since there were plans to go to the pub for a few pints and a bacon bap. Alas the pub’s kitchens were closed, so no bacon was to be had!
BBW – Scouts Camp Cymru – Fun in the Sun
Today, Welsh Nev, Hugh and myself braved the 32ºC heat and went along to the Scouts “Camp Cymru” event.
900 Scouts of all ages, accompanied by Scout Leaders, Helpers, and Parents descended on “Park in the Past” Hope for a weekend camp. And Blood Bikes Wales were asked to come along and have a spot.
The camp had been split into multiple Zones, with a dozen or so activities in each one.
The scouts were split into multiple groups and circulated around the zones. Each of them had a camp passport, and had to get it signed by every attraction, group they visited. It was a good thing we had a load of Blood Bikes Pens with us because we spent most the morning signing passports, explaining what we do, and letting people sit on the bikes.
At lunch time the Scouts running the stall next to us explained that lunch had been provided for us, and it was just a ten minute walk to the camp where burgers were being cooked.
twenty minutes into the one mile walk up and down hills we started to really feel the 32ºC sun blasting away.
I will say it was worth it, because the burgers were very enjoyable, and the bottle of water provided really hit the spot. The only downside was the one mile walk back to the stall.
The afternoons session was a lot calmer, since the event organisers had told the Scouts they did not have to go about if they did not want too, due to the oppressive heat. Many decided to stay in camp, so there were fewer people all afternoon. So we got a chance to relax and sit out of the sun.
Blood Bikes Wales
Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.
RIP Laz
Many, many years ago…
Or in the early 90s when Spodding was a thing, I got chatting to some cool people in Aberystwyth University on Surfers, and the Pleasuredome. After ages of talking, they invited me down to visit. Yes, children, in the days of “Stay away from strangers”, and “be careful of people you meet off the Internet”. it never mattered to Spod’s, we traveled the world meeting strangers in strange places. Spod’s are special bunch of people. We are also trendsetters since now everyone orders strangers off the internet to drive them places.
Anyway, I met a great group of people. The ringleaders being Laz and Babbit.
Over the next few years I would often pop down to Aber for the odd weekend for parties, drinking, fun and madness. These are the guys who formed the Reindeer Liberation Army, amongst other things. We all moved apart after University, but everyone stayed friends online. The friendships formed from Spodding last, you can go years without talking, and the second you reconnect you go on as if you were never apart.
I still have Shroom the reindeers here, that she gave me to look after, which led to an interesting interaction with the police that I will post on here one day.
I have just heard that Laz passed away yesterday, after a battle with illness caused by a stroke she had twenty odd years ago.
She was the heart of the old aber-group, and I felt that something needed to be posted to remember her.
We will miss you Laz.
BBW – Garden Village Fete – AKA Fun in the Sun
Suns out, Bikes out!
Today was a glorious sunny and warm day, some would even call it a heat wave since that is what a lot of media types are saying. So what better to do than go along to the Garden Village Fete, with a load of Blood Bikes and enjoy the weather.
It was a glorious event, we even had queues forming to sit on the bikes, one mother informed me that she had been trying to get her young son to go for a donkey ride for the last fifteen minutes, but he just kept pointing at the bikes and saying he wanted to go there. Who can blame him, big bright motorbikes beat donkeys any day of the week.
It was a good day to stand in the sun, eat ice-creams, and talk to the public about what we do and why. We even met some young kids that while they were having their photos taken on the bikes, their mothers let us know that we had been delivering breast milk to them after the were born prematurely. It is always heartwarming to meet people we have helped, especially when we see how well they are doing now.
I think I may have gotten a bit of sunburn on my arms, but it was well worth it.
Blood Bikes Wales
Blood Bikes Wales is a charity that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast-milk & any other urgently required medical items to hospitals at night, weekends and bank holidays. This service is provided completely free of charge, allowing the NHS to divert funds where they are needed most.
Our riders are a hardy bunch that operate in all but the very worst weather.