Ranters

I noticed this sign over a small hall door on the way to Pentewan on the south coast of Cornwall this afternoon.

I was, for some previous sins, brought up this time round as a Methodist. I don't have any religious beliefs these days, having had them knocked into me by some very sincere people, then watched other sincere people knock each other about because of their convictions. Therefore I class myself as an agnostic atheist, because I don't know what I don't believe in.

So when I saw this it raised my curiosity. A chap called Bourne was apparently kicked out of the Methodist church in 1808. Along with about 200 followers he formed the Primitive Methodists, also known as the Ranters

Suddenly I feel a kinship, follow me if you can. At Pentewan, a pretty little seashore village with a pub, shop and small sailing club, beach and camp site, I was informed by numerous signs that 'no dogs' were permitted virtually everywhere, beach included, and that 'no fishing' could take place in the harbour. Now the 'harbour' is a tad of a misnomer. It's more akin to 50 yards of canal bank which issues onto the beach. I placed my wee hound Toots back in her car seat (yes, she has a car seat and harness, she's safe, so are we) then waited until the boss returned from her meeting. I couldn't get out of that picture box village quickly enough. We are becoming very beholden to "Thou canst not" in this land, what happened to freedom? I know, it went out the window when dog owners wouldn't clean up after their dogs and little lads who were learning the joys of fishing got their lines caught in sailing boats mooring lines.

OK, I can, on occasion, be a Ranter. But not in the Biblical sense of the word. :-)