Biochemistry and Genetics

Ten years ago there were about 14 of us starting a degree in biochemistry and genetics at Nottingham university, and some of us have managed to stay in touch. So yesterday we met up in Nottingham. It was great to see them all again, and though we looked a little older, those friendships had not suffered through lack of contact. Not feeling or looking especially old, I commented on the fact that new students looked really young to me these days, and pondered if we looked so young back then, Lisa said we probably looked about 14 years old back then! I was very lucky to be on a course with such a great bunch of people. There were a couple of people there who I had not seen since graduating, and I was excited to catch up with them. In particular, with Nadeem, who was my lab partner during our many practicals. Recently married, Nadeem brought along his beautiful wife, who was lovely and didn't seem to mind all our reminiscing conversations. During practicals we always seemed to take much longer than most to complete our experiments, but during one practical, we won t-shirts for a reason we could no longer remember, apart from the fact that we didn't really know what we were writing, and choosing phrases that sounded good!

A walk around the campus and a wonderful Thai meal made a really great day.

Doctor in the house

Do you remember that, it was a song by coldcut featuring the plastic population I think. They introduced us to Yazz who was the vocalist on that track.

But what I really mean is that these last two days has seen two of my friends pass their PhD vivas, introducing Dr Dave P and my housemate Dr richard T. Nice one!

Off to get some fish and chips and sample some of my home brew which is ready today, I used demarererererererererer sugar and some honey, so I'll see how it turned out. Then I'm off to meet the new dr p at the fat cat for a few beers.

Freecycle

Just been helping Dave and Jo collect some stuff for his new house. His downstairs loo was not in a very good condition so he posted on freecycle-sheffield that he was looking out for a toilet should anyone be getting rid of one.

Freecycle is this really cool idea, an email group where you offer any old rubbish that you are getting rid of, as it is surprising what people can find a use for. It's possible to make requests too. There are groups all around the country, so if you're after something, or want to get rid of something that might be of benefit to someone else, why not try freecycle.

It just so happens that someone was getting rid of a toilet as they were in the process of renovating their home, so off we went to collect and Dave sealed off the pipes and waste for them.

A short history of nearly everything

Some might remember that I started reading this ages ago:





well it started out as a fairly good read, some of the scientists in previous centuries were incredibly resourceful. Some of the things they calculated was astonishing. However, because this book is aimed at the lay person I often found that I wasn't getting enough technical detail. When they talked about weighing the earth, i didn't just want to know the name of the person and that they acheived their goal, I wanted the calculations, because I wanted to try and do it too!

I began to read it much more sporadically as time went on, particularly through areas that i have some expertise in, as it was nothing new. I guess it's not designed to be a gripping read like a novel, just informative and well written. Just gives a little taste to some of the questions that have been tackled with regards to the earth. It's still fascinating to read how finely balanced life really is on this planet - more encouragement for us to be better stewards of this place we call home.

Cold tabs

Just been in to town to do a few odd things and it was a refreshing walk there and back. The sun is out and the sky is blue and it's the first time this autumn that the wind has been cold and biting. My tabs are freezing, so cold that they ache, I'll have to wear a hat soon. I do like a brisk walk in the cold.

Commons defeat

I'm not so sure about our political system in this country. So the 90 day detention without charge bill is defeated - and rightly so, I see no justification for holding anyone that long without charge, we'd be apalled if it were to happen in another country. The response from the newspapers - well it's all about Tony losing the grip of his party, and Tony says that his MPs are not in touch with how the electorate feel. Thank goodness for that is all I can say, because if the MPs voted just how populist opinion of the electorate dictates then we'd have legalised euthenasia a complete ban on genetic engineering and who knows what else. Probably some pop star as prime minister. Anyway my point is this. If you are elected to represent your constituency surely you should be free to decide how to vote that best suits the needs of the people you represent taking into consideration all the facts regarding the issue. Why is it then that party politics plays such a big role, even if you disagree with a bill you are expected to tow the party line, and are considered a rebel if you don't. I have great respect for those MPs who publically anounce they are not towing the party line on issues that they feel passionately for. Particularly the likes of Robin Cook and Andy Reed who had concerns over the war with Iraq.

Christmas decorations

Went to Tesco this evening and they already have their Christmas tree up and christmas decorations hung up. Can you believe it? It's enough with the Christmas adverts on TV already. I can see where E scrooge was coming from - Bah Humbug!

I should inform you all that there is a new newsletter from Siobhan out in Kenya and you can read it on her blog here.

Stuck in traffic

Was asked to go and help out at the leeds offiice today cos they were down on secretaries thru holidays and illness. Bit annoyed cos I had quite a bit to do from the barnsley office. Went, got stuck in traffic, got there, did the work I could on the computer that I could've done in barnsley. In addition I answered the phone about 5 times and that was it - what a waste of time - to travel all that way for nothing. Sat bored for sometime cos couldn't complete some of the work that I'd got planned to do in barnsley cos that was where the info was. Then the journey home was just as bad - 1 hour 20min, stuck on m1.

Still, there was a parcel on my return, the prayer manuals and 'time to talk of God' books that I'd ordered for church.

Listening and watching the Gorillaz live here on radio 1, I think it's available for about a week. It sounds alright, not much difference from a cd mind, and definately doesn't capture the live experience.

Arab Strap live

Went to see arab strap play live at the leadmill on saturday evening. It's ages since I've been to a gig, so it was good to see a band I've admired for ages. Janet got me a cheap ticket cos she knows some members of a local band called Corleone, who were the first support act. They were pretty good, especially their first tune. A blend of guitars and feedback not unlike mogwai and God Speed! You Black Emperor, with hints of 65 days of static. Which is i guess their achilles heel - though sounding very good - there wasn't a distinctiveness in their sound to make them stand out from the crowd. That said I'd rather listen to their music then a lot of the rubbish on the radio and in the charts. If I was a dj I'd give them and airing.

The second band were my latest novel the latest of the great bands hailing from Glasgow. An intersting indie art rock making good use of vocal harmonies. Tunes that will grow on me I'm sure - definate potential, though the sound mix wasn't great and the crowd were a bit too noisy to appreciate them fully.

Finally Arab Strap took the stage, and were sounding great - the best I've heard Aiden. His lyrics, though quite rude, are so enlightening and witty. Some of his comments can be so cutting. Malcolm's guitar work is magnificent to view live, he really is a master at it, as his solo albums bare testimony. They fuse melancholia with wonderful riffs that build to some awesome crescendos. They'd also employed the talents of Alan Barr on cello and keyboards. He's played with the delgados since their first album and I've gotten to know him from my many gigs (I like to think of him as my rock star friend!). It was good to chat with him and enquire about the music scene in scotland, and I also got to mock him for his performance. During one song he was supposed to play the backing strings on the keyboard, but as he brought his hands down in dramatic fashion - nothing, no sound. He realised his keyboard wasn't plugged in, and had to quickly chase the lead through the jumble on the floor and fix the problem. He also mentioned that he's heard some of Emma Pollock's solo material (ex delgado) and that it is brilliant. Can't wait to hear it myself.

Friends

It's been a fairly odd weekend in that I've caught up with a couple of friends from years ago. On friday I was working on site in Doncaster when I received a text from my friend John. We grew up together in Pilsley and went to the same school and have done quite well at keeping in touch, if sporadically. Sadly his dad is unwell, hence him being in the area, but it turned out that his dad was actually in ICU at doncaster royal infirmary. Just half a mile from where I was working. So I took the opportunity to go and spend some time with his dad. It's always fairly shocking to see someone with so many machines and wires attached, but I guess with all these medical dramas it's not an uncommon sight - except this is for real. I've not seen his dad for quite some time, and as i introduced myself, I'm sure he recognised me as his head moved and he tried to move his eyes, and a small tear trickeld down his cheek. It was quite moving, I spent some time chatting about what I'd been up to, when his partner arrived - who I've never seen. It must have been somewhat surprising for her to hear that there was someone at his bedside - and then someone she didn't know!

Anyway, on saturday I was able to meet up with John back in Pilsley and had opportunity to catch up over a pint, and also chance to meet his partner who was lovely. It's great to have friends who you rarely see, but when you meet up conversation flows naturally and it could've been just last week that you last met. Though our conversation did move to a bit of reminiscing which must've bored Suzanne a bit.

Then today, I receive an email out of the blue from the guy I used to share a bathroom with in halls at uni. I must've sent him a message on the uni alumini portal not expecting any results - but it did. Great to hear from him, and see that he is also considering career change too. Interesting that - maybe it's something that happens in your late 20s.

Paraphrases

These are those paraphrases from John's gospel that I mentioned in my post the other day, some ppl might find them useful

1:1
It all started with a conversation; Jesus was with God and the conversation was between them.

1:3
The conversation brought all things into being; nothing came into being except through the conversation.

1:4
This was life and the conversation brought light to all people.

1:10
The conversation took place in the world; indeed it brought the world into life although the world did not listen to the conversation.

1:14
And the conversation became human, we’ve seen it was glorious; it was as if a new born baby was amongst us full of innocence and beauty.

1:18
No one has ever heard the conversation except through Jesus who heard it and made it known.

14:1
Don’t worry, believe the conversation continues.

14:7
If you know me, you can hear the conversation. From now on you can take part.

14:9
You’ve known me all this time, Philip, and still have not heard what I’m saying. If you know me you have heard the conversation. How can you say you do not hear?

14:10
Do you not believe in the conversation? I do not speak on my own – the whole of the conversation is heard through me.

14:11
Believe me, there is a conversation; look and around you see all it has achieved.

14:12
Believe me; the one who joins the conversation will do greater things than I did because I have to leave the conversation.

14:16
Out of the conversation, shall come another to converse with you.

14:20
On that day you will know I am in conversation, you will converse with me and I with you.

14:24
Without love there is no conversation; with love the conversation is not with me but with the one who sent me.

16:2b, 3
Indeed, the hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they take part in the conversation. And they will do so because they are not part of the conversation.

16:23
Very, truly, I tell you, if you ask for anything in the conversation, you will receive it.

16:25
I have said these things to you in figures of speech, the hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but speak plainly in the conversation.

16:26, 27
On that day you will ask in conversation and I do not say you will need me to speak on your behalf, because you are loved as part of the conversation, have loved the conversation and believed I am part of the conversation.

16:28
I am from the conversation and part of the world; when I leave the world I shall still be part of the conversation.

Eid

Got a call on the community centre emergency phone this evening. It's a new system we have in place now that the caretaker has retired. It was the saudi union and they couldn't get access to one of the rooms they use, someone must've locked it today. So I headed up and got the keys from the office (only when the path was clear of women for me to pass). After opening the door the guy who had rung invited me to return to share a meal with them as they celebrated Eid together. It felt quite an homour to be invited so I took him up on it and returned. It reminded me that I'd had the privilege of attending the prime minister's open house in Malaysia for the Hari Riya (eid) celebration last year. I would link to my travel diary, but seeing as it is in old fashioned pen and paper I can't, nor can i be bothered to type it up. Suffice to say I got to shake the hand of the Malaysian prime minister and get on the front page of the english language Malaysian newspaper (albeit in a where's wally form, though a white man, 10cm higher than everyone else isn't that difficult to spot!)

So anyway, I felt it an honour to be invited to the saudi society get together. At first I was put in a room of arabic speaking men partaking in a quiz game that seemed to be causing much merriment, though I was not understanding anything, and remembering what it is like to be the ethnic minority for a change. During the meal I got chatting with a guy called Iyad who was very interesting and was explaining all manner of Islamic history from a saudi islamic perspective. Which was refreshing, much more moderate than I would've thought. Though of course we chatted on common religion ground and a bit of religious history etc. I found it quite refreshing and hope that perhaps this dialogue can continue.

Shepherd guiding us to the future

Today I attended the funeral of a well liked lady from church, it was a sad occassion, but comforting in seeing the wealth of support from the people who turned out. From her family and also from church. I was pleased to be able to get some time off work and go along, and I was also able to pick up Margorie from the nursing home. She was really pleased to be able to attend. The service was lead by inderjit Bhogul, who some may remember as president of the methodist conference or speaker for christian aid. He once was the minister at the cv and became good family friends with Edith and her family. The ceremony was conducted in a real sense of peace and I felt comforted by that amongst the sadness. Using Psalm 23 Inderjit spoke of Palestinian shepherds of the time constantly moving the flock to pastures new, in a sense leading the flock to the future from a place of death to a place of life. Sharing how through Jesus not even death can separate us from the love and presene of God. In true crookes valley fashion there had to be something in the service that was a bit different: Edith's grand daughter had prepared a series of photo collages that adorned the casket and as Inderjit finished the commital he pressed the automatic curtain closing button when natalie called out to Inderjit that she wanted the photos. Well he tried to stop the curtains by pressing the button again, but to no avail, so as the curtains slowly closed Inderjit nipped in and out collecting the photos and rescuing them from the furnace. It made me smile, and I knew Edith would've done too.

You'll like this, not a lot...

My friend sent me this link in an email last week, it's an optical illusion, and it's pretty smart. You should give it a go.

Conversation

So Sunday I was writing my blog and time seemed to fly by and before I knew it i had to go and help set up the circuit AWE service. But I'd mentioned this:

To live and communicate as Christians we need to live out the heavenly kingdom, and thus we need to learn the conversations and actions of the heavenly kingdom of which we are part.

I really enjoyed AWE this sunday, I always like helping set up all the av stuff, and though it can be quite exhaustig, I feel like I'm using some technical gifts in worship. In AWE we've been trying to explore alternative worship but it was beginning to feel a lot like any other service, but just with newer songs and fancy av. For this service the planning team put together a completely different order of service that leant more on participation and group work. Following our contemplation of the trinity the speaker lead us into a time of discussion as we considered the role of Christ as Son within the trinity. As an introduction to the discussion this is kind of what was shared. One of the earliest theologians to descibe the trinity, Tertullian (i think) described God as three person, or in latin persona. The literal translation being through sound. Interesting to think that our word 'person' has such a strange derivation. The reason being that the masked actors in greek theatre were thus termed as from a distance the character could only be distinguished by their voice - or through sound, and it was not unusual for the same actor to play several characters - the same person, but different sounds. So consider the trinity as three 'through sounds'. Intresting. Consider a given translation of John 1, in the beginning was the Word, as in the beginning was the conversation. The conversation of God. Using this idea CS had paraphrased a number of reading from John and reading them in this light really opened up a new way of considering the trinity (well for me anyway) It seemed to give the relationship between the three a kind of fluidity and life that sometimes the 'i in the father and the father in me' etc fails to portray. A conversation then invites participation, allowing us to be drawn into the conversation of God. Then when i look back at what i was rambling about before heading off to AWE about learning the conversations of the kingdom of heaven really seem to link in. I still don't think i can articulate it yet, but there's definately something exciting there. When I get them I'll try and post some of these paraphrases.

Some thoughts on church

Had some good conversations at bible study again on thurs. It's often interesting to chat about passages in a group as you see more things and think of new ways of looking at them, it's easy to get into tangents and having good conversations from them too. We were looking at some parables, esp those where something lost is found, a coin, a sheep, a son. The discussion point was what does your church do to meet the lost? My question was - who are the lost? From the passage it appears to represent a sinner repenting, therefore surely the lost is everyone. We went on to comment on this idea called time to talk of God which came out of the methodist conference. It's strange to think that in a church/worship setting we rarely talk of God with each other, and if we can't communicate well with those whom we share fellowship, how do we best do it with those who don't? Why is it that all our conversations with new people start around where do you live? what is your job? and it's difficult to have conversation without those starters. It's as if our job defines who we are, and definately I felt that when I was a scientist and answered such a question, with out doubt i'm sure it influenced my perception to the questioner. And now when i answer I'm an admin assistant for construction firm it doesn't feel so good, and i know it gives a different impression (i sometimes want to tag in, i'm a doctor too, but then that might make me appear even more pathetic!) So where am I going with this ramble, not sure yet, there's more of this rambling then i'll sum up.

When communicating with people we have to set ourselves in a heavenly situation and the values of stature there are completely different to western culture where prestige and money is a sign of success. There is no doubt that capitilism teaches us that success comes to those that work hard, and that this success is demonstrated in wealth. It's taught at school, work hard etc and you'll get a good job. The thing is I know from experience that you can work hard and attain academic success, cos it's something i enjoy and am good at, but it doesn't necessarily give you a goal for a career, especially if you think there are things that are more important at measuring success than money and career. So it's within this experience that I feel we should meet and communicate with people as people, not their job, not their musical taste (which i'm afraid is my yardstick!), not the clothes they wear, not the colour of their skin, not their sexuality. It's something else that makes the person, and at the moment I don't think I can articulate what that is, but what I'm sure of, is that it is the 'yardstick' of the kingdom of heaven, where the first are last and the last are first. If we can master this, then we are halfway there at communicating the love of God.

Next is this problem where do we do this, of course we should do it at all time, but for people wanting to explore the kingdom of heaven, where do they go. Where do we invite them too. I'm acutely aware that if i am to have conversations about a heavenly kingdom with non church people then it will be at work, and no one I work with lives anywhere near the church i attend, a problem with how 'communities' work these days. So even should I wish to invite them to collective worship, the commute would seem pointless. However, I really feel that collective worship is important, cos Luke tells us it was Jesus' custom to go regularly to collective worship. Here is another stumbling block, what if the week a guest comes, church is rubbish. No one knows the songs, the message from the preacher is less than bearable and the whole time you feel slightly embarressed at inviting a guest. Why? not because church was a bit crap that morning, because God speaks in many ways in collective worship that sometimes you don't spot. i think the reason we get embarressed is because collective worship on a sunday is perceived to be what knowing God is all about, and you perceive your guest thinks that this last 2 hours has summed up your entire experience and understanding of God. Of course it hasn't, in fact there are aspects of worship that I have grown to like more now then I did as a teenager. We need this collective worship just to be the tip of our expereince of God working in and through our lives.

Because this probably doesn't make a deal of sense I'll try to conclude it:

To live and communicate as Christians we need to live out the heavenly kingdom, and thus we need to learn the conversations and actions of the heavenly kingdom of which we are part.

We need to encourage others to seek the heavenly kingdom on earth and in their lives, using Christ as an example of the heavenly kingdom lived out.

In doing this we need to encourage collective worship of some sort, but need to teach that this experience of worship is part of our understanding and worship to God but not all.

We need to make collective worship more accessible to those 'communities' of which we ourselves are part.

Moving house

Helped dave p move into his house this weekend. It was great to be able to repay the many times he's helped me with odd jobs around my house. Though I'm no where near as efficient at such skilled manual labour as he is. It's good to have a place of your own.

John Peel

So it's exactly one year since the great man died. I had just taken a day trip to Hells gate national park near lake Naivasha by matatu, returning to stay with andy. It was whilst watching tv that he informed me that he'd heard that John had died.

Now I know there's loads of tributes and stuff going on, but i really think that this guy made a difference to my life, and i guess i'm not the only one to say that. Which is really something, i can't imagine any of the current crop of djs having such an influence - they seem more preoccupied with their own ego, but for John it was all about the music. I'm not saying that i enjoyed every show he did, sometimes there's a limit to how much german industrial techno you can take - but due credit for playing it in the first place. But john introduced me to some fantastic music, some of my favourite in fact, and those he didn't introduce me to, he inevitably played tunes by them.

I recall being a young teenager, recently into music, listening to the radio one sat evening and john was on playing a fantastic electronic tune, and i made an effort to get out of bed and scribble on a piece of paper "papua new guinea by future sound of london, dumb child of Q remix'. Sometime later, whilst at university i purchased that single!

Another peel highlight was whilst revising for my winter finals, a cold january evening reading my notes and in the background he played a song that made me stop and quickly place a blank tape into the recorder to capture this tune. It was pull the wires from the wall by the delgados. After playing it he said, i could play that again and again it's so good, but I won't, I don't want to overuse such a special track. It went on to top the Festive 50 that year. Within a fortnight of hearing that track i'd been to derby to hear them live for the first time. Amazing.

I think the last band he introduced me to were Architecture in Helsinki as he played a white label by them during a programme where the delgados were playing a session.

So thanks john for helping create my diverse musical collection

mogwai

delgados

malcolm middleton

arab strap

belleandsebastian

boards of canada

broadcast

architecture in helsinki

super furry animals

joy division

inspiral carpets

nirvana

nick cave

sleeper

the smiths

godspeed you! black emperor

low

65 days of static

this list could go on and on...

Stewart Henderson, the bass player with the delgados, gave an account of the times he met the great man in his diary, read his 3 entries here, here and here. btw it's got swearing and stuff in it.

Bored at work

again, i hate having nothing to do, but I received a timely email from siobhan and I have now created a blog for her so that you can read about her adventures in kenya. It's great and I'd certainly recommend that you visit it here.

Backdoor to conference??....

Despite forgetting to submit my application as a district rep to methodist conference it appears there is still another avenue open to me. A friend of mine, John Cooper (who's blog is worth reading) is a member of methodist council and informed me that they can send a couple of people to conference as 'council nominated' or something. Seems a bit of a farce cos you go, but then don't officially have to report to anyone. He rang me and said he'd like to nominate me, which was very good of him.

I won't find out till december if i'm chosen, but i won't be disheartened if i'm not, as i see it as merely a bonus now. I'll prob take the week off anyway to go and see my friend get ordained and perhaps do some walking, if I'm not debating!

Singing in the rain

well not so much singing as walking, and not so much rain either.

Had to go and check that a user group could get into the community centre this evening and it was absolutely chucking it down with rain. I decided that I'd give my new, early christmas present, hiking boots a road test in the downpour. Put all my waterproofs on and ventured out to brave the weather and walk up to the centre. I was about half way there when the rain stopped - typical. Still there was quite a lot of surface water to splash through - the boots were great, i'm going to enjoy doing some hiking in these.

On sunday morning this girl came up to church all in a flap about some children's party she had booked for this friday. She seemed to think that there was a play scheme running at the same time. 'I've not slept all night', 'my son has been looking forward to this for weeks' etc etc. Checked the bookings diary and she was all booked in, no sign of the play scheme. Contacted the play scheme people yesterday and they said they'd only booked the hall mon-wed. So I rang the girl whilst i was at the community centre to explain she'd been flapping about nothing.

Worked from leeds today - and the traffic was fine, a little slow, but none of that stop-start nonsense. What a difference half term makes.

al fresco church

Couldn't get up this morning, I'd woken up around 7:30 and decided that was far too early to be thinking of getting up and promptly fell asleep, and into quite a deep one at that, as my alarm woke me rudely and I still felt quite groggy. Just laying there thinking i ought to get up, wishing i didn't have to get to church so early. Another hour in bed would've been great. Just calculating how late I could lay there before having to get up and fetch peter when the phone rang and made the decision for me. It was james informing me that the appointed local preacher for this morning was unwell and wouldn't make the service, leaving us to sort out our worship. Hmmm 9:10 i've got 20 min before I have to pick up peter, a quick phone call to andrew, shower and into the car - took my breakfast to church. Explained the situation to peter and asked if he would help lead us studying the lectionary readings between hymns which he agreed to do. We're lucky to have such a wise local preacher in our congregation. I think officially if the preacher doesn't turn up it is methodist protocol to get out the 'emergency' book of sermons by john wesley and read one of them! We were quite quick setting up and were able to cobble together a kind of order of service. It was interesting, a selection of favourite hymns interspersed with prayers and bible study, and went quite well. Speaking to our eldest member, margorie, who's well in her 90s, she told me with a grin: "I've really enjoyed the service today - al fresco!"

traid craft and memento

Went along to a traid craft evening tonight, more out of duty than choice. Felt that someone from cv should make an effort - couldn't remember what time it started, so arrived 1 hour late. Not too much of a problem as i was in time for the food ;)

There was the expected abundance of rainbow coloured handbags, cardigans and purses, does anybody actually use these? It was interesting to see the range of products on offer in the catalogue, though the highlight for me was the paper bag game. I say game, but in actual fact it was to highlight the working life of many in india who construct similar bags from paper to sell to shop keepers as their living. So for 20min it was quite fun, but 10 hours a day 7 days a week....... makes you think.

got home and watched memento.

not as good as i was expecting, perhaps my expectations were set too high from hearing so many glowing reports. Interesting story idea, though not quite sure if the backwards storyline/plot was just gimicky or a tool to try and describe the fact that the lead character doesn't understand the context of any of his actions due to his short term memory loss. Still it was better than a lot of things i've seen.

fopp

Had some things to do in town this morning, including getting some things from ccc. Wanted to get a couple of albums too and decided that as i was expecting to be paid sometime soon i could justify a trip to fopp for the first time in a while. I've not been in for ages, because it has a dangerous effect on my bank balance, and indeed the shop floor lay out had changed since i was last there. However I was able to purchase the new album by arab strap and boards of canada so i'll review them in the near future. Was pretty good and wasn't tempted to buy any other albums, though i did purchase a book, the virgin suicides, only £3 - bargain. I think i'll read this and then get the film from the library, it's a film i've wanted to see for ages and not got around to yet. Directed by sofia coppola, and i did like her other film, lost in translation, so it bodes well.

DVDs from the library

Got back home about 5:15, giving me quarter of an hour before the library closed. I quite fancied watching a dvd tonight, so walked round and had a browse in the collection. It costs one whole pound to borrow a dvd for a week, how good is that! Two films caught my eye, big fish and memento.

So this evening I decided to watch big fish whilst eating my fish and chips. I usually like tim burton films and never got around to seeing this when it came out. As with all tim burton films it had a great look about it, visually stunning distinctively burtonesque. Steve Buscemi is also great, he's such a good actor, portraying so much through the way he controls his facial movements. However the film itself was taking a while to unravel where it was going, i'd not read any synopsis, so had no idea what to expect, but it eventually became clear. What is a story, why do we use stories, what is fact, is there place for the mythical in stories or should they be as factual as possible. Made me think about the way we treat the creation story, sometimes the mythical helps us remember and brings more character than a factual re-telling would. As the movie progressed i didn't realise it was going to bring a tear to my eye :( it's quite an emotional ending.

Commuting

Was asked to go and work from the leeds office this week to help put together some operation and maintenance manuals for some completed projects. The commute is quite annoying, especially in the morning, even leaving at just after 7am the motorway is just one long stop start journey until the M62 is passed. Takes about 1hr20, quite frustrating. At least the journey back is quicker. Pleased I don't have to do it everyday, and at least i'm fairly busy when i get there.

manse

Went round to the manse yesterday to have a meal with james, the new minister, and his wife followed by some discussions around the crookes valley project. Or that was the intention. Nicola, his wife, is a minister in another circuit and is part of a team investigating emerging church for the 20-40s and was interested in some of the things we were doing at cv and some of the plans we have. So it was interesting sharing ideas and also being challenged to what is the central vision for cv, which i think is basically somewhere for the current congregation to meet and continue to worship in this dialogue/cafe style manner as we continue to explore God's grace, and to be a witness in whatever location we find ourselves.

After dinner me and james turned our attention to investigating funding for the cv project. However, we soon became side tracked, talking about my current situation and what i wanted from a job etc. It was a very useful discussion, as it is something that has been concerning me for sometime. The fact that i don't actually have any definitive vision for my life, it's all very wispy if you know what i mean, ethereal. I have no concrete goals, just ideas of things i'd like to do. We of course discussed whether i had considered working for the church at all. Which i have, but fleetingly, and i shared my initial concerns over such an idea, which makes it such a brief consideration for me. Like, just because i could do it, and know that ppl think i could do it, doesn't mean i should. And my lack of patience i would have with ppl who moan and argue about trivial matters. And seeing first hand from friends who work for the church the hassle they get from ppl as they try to do their work. These matters were discussed at length and james shared his own concerns for going into the ministry, it was interesting and really useful. I was recommended to read 'what colour's your parachute' so i'll look it up...


let's sneak out of this party
it's getting boring
there's more to life than this
Bjork

This time last year

I began walking up Mt Kenya....

Today I got up and take breakfast about 8am and meet up with Andre and Patrick at 9. We buy loo roll and water purifying tablets and await the arrival of Robert. He's delayed waiting for some chicken. Eventually we set off after 11 and take a van up to the Sirimon gates. Here our chef, John, prepares us some sandwiches, chese, salad and avocado. We then start the trek up to OPld Moses hut. The incline is steady, mainly like walking up to Broomhill from uni. After a water break, we set off at different times, and I go a bit later. As I walk along the path I hear a noise in the bush and looking around I spot two baboons. Which I think is an impressive spot, until I turn the corner and see about 30 on the track ahead! immediately I feel a bit vulnerable and stand still wondering whether to head back to the guide. Eventually I press forward and they leave the path as i approach. Unfortunately I tried to take a photo, but it didn't work. The flora and fauna on this trek is incredible, from a forrest with the baboons, which moves to a more scrub based landscape with heather as the tree line is passed. Many beautiful coloured birds exist up here too. We reach the hut around 4pm and make ourselves at home as the clouds begin to encoach around 5pm.
We watch the sun go down and then take tea, which is remarkable considering what is available. Afterwards we make a set of cards from paper to play some games with. My nights sleep was odd, I was warm but a little cramped. Didn't appear to fall into a deep sleep, more a kind of limbo, but I was quite relaxed in the morning.

interview

so it didn't go that well. It's for a clinical trails co-ordinator, and the job sounded quite interesting and i thought I had most of the skills required, bar any real knowledge of research and development policy. Though I thought that i wouldn't have any problem learning it quickly. Something I tried to make clear in my application form. Anyway, most of the questions they asked were about R&D policy and I had to say I had no idea at all about it, but had worked within legal policies before etc. Then they tell me that although the job is advertised in the first instance as a two year placement, they hope to secure funding to make it a permenant position and where do i see myself in 5 years time. My head is screaming at me "not here!" so i have to try and pretend that nothing excites me more than entering a job that i will do for the rest of my life, and that I'd love to work my way up the career ladder.

I'm single and pretty young with no real ties, why on earth would i want to tie myself to a job that I see as a means to an end. Why do I have this lacklustre attitude towards work, i want my life to be more than a 9-5, i want to explore, learn, be challenged, get to know god better, share my stories, make a difference in some way, challenge people, challenge attitudes, write a book, climb a mountain. Maybe these are the dreams of a child and i should grow up....

Riga

Had a really good long weekend away with my old uni friends, and I think it was just what I needed. Leading up to the weekend had been quite draining emotionally with getting this job and other stuff and despite feeling like the last thing I wanted to do was go away, it was a great time.

On arrival we took a taxi to our apartment, but we were taken to the wrong street, so another taxi was required. Once settled we headed in to the old town for a delicious meal of Latvian fare. A huge meal for less than £3, Jonah and Nick then took us to a bar/club they'd visited earlier in the year and we had a great time. After a few drinks we headed down to the dance floor where we danced the night away in the company of some very beautiful and pleasant Latvian girls.Dancing to a mix of english, russian and latvian tunes was good fun. I even danced to cotton eye joe by Rednex for possibly the first time since 1995, Nick organised a bit of a ho down which went down a treat! We left at 4:30 and dancing was still going strong.

Woke up to a fabulously sunny day, wonderful blue skies, so spent the afternoon exploring the city including a trip up to a viewing platform in the steeple of St Peter's church. The panorama from this point was amazing, I took quite a few pictures, and it was interesting to see a bit of history about the building with the steeple being rebuilt in the late 60s after the original was destroyed in the war. I think Latvia must have a very interesting history, a country that has often fell into occupation.

We had intended to watch the england football match in a bar, but we left after the first half. The problem being our fellow country men who had entered the pub and who were chanting in loud and abusive manner whilst being quite disrespectful to the waitresses. It's such an embaressment to know that they are from the same country. What is it about football that makes it become this very tribilistic occasion?

Saturday evening was extremely quiet in the old town, and we later discovered that the influx of tourists had made all the bars too expensive for the locals, and I fear that it could result in a beautiful city being turned into some kind of stag party haven, which would be horrendous. Cheap flights make it easier to visit these interesting places, but the tourism it brings, although bringing much needed capitol, merely serves to make the place less accessible to those that live there.

Tried some Absinthe as I was sure that it would inspire me artistically like Toulouse Lautrec. In reality it burnt right down to the stomach and made me feel a bit ill the next day - although that might have had something to do with the tequila as well, and i was trying to be good.

Boat trip on sunday afternoon was nice and relaxing, before a final latvian meal and heading off to the airport.

One of the other things that struck me about the place was how it immediatly reminded me of Crime and Punishment that I'd read last year. There's still something about the place that has a very different feel and is something I'd love to explore. Perhaps travel from the baltics up to moscow one day.

click below for more photos, and on the page that loads click on the link that say Riga under tags on the right of the screen for all the pics.

One of those days

Do you know what, sometimes i wish i didn't do anything except work, eat and sleep. No sooner had i got home then i got a phone call i was supposed to be meeting the centre manager at the community centre so i headed on up there. Got home, no food, cos i was too tired to do a proper shop last night, and it had gone past that threshold where you can't be bothered to cook or anything. Decided eventually on a take away despite not really being able to justify the cost - in the end convenience won. Then my mobile went, I'm supposed to be at another meeting now to organise a circuit service, i feel a bit bad that i can't go. It's just too much...

Anyway, on a better note I got an email from Siobhan in Kenya:

Well, I've made it to the second email! Yes, I know I lied in the last one. I was viciously attacked by a fit of blond-ness and wrote next week instead of 2 weeks. Please forgive me! Perhaps so called 'African time' is rubbing off on me. I've even noticed some Kenyans talking about American time when they want something to start promptly!

You'll be pleased to know that I've become used to the food, although I still think cabbage is seriously over-rated. As food is one of my favourite topics I'm going to continue for a while. Last Saturday I learnt how to make chipatis but I didn't learn how to spell it - I hope that's right. I have also tasted sugar cane, which is like rock but you have to spit bits out and you can't get any with your name written through the middle. I almost lost some more teeth eating it, watching some of the kids filled me with awe. They either have good technique or their jaws are made from titanium. Most of the time they lop of a cane from one of the plants around the home but you also see men with overflowing wheelbarrows in town. Another thing you find in wheelbarrows is live chickens. In fact I've just remembered that on my 4th day in Meru I was with Esther and she bought one of these infamous live chickens. Being the young fit and able one I was the one who had to go and fetch it and put it in the boot. I don't think that beats Janet but it was a bit weird.

It's not just my stomach that's settled in - the rest of me feels more at home as well. I think I've just about got the hang of the routine. I don't feel so much like a torist any more but I've discovered that I myself am I torist attraction! Every time I walk through town I get stared at like I have two heads. The other day I even got a bunch of kids following me back through the slums. However, I do feel a bit out of place sometimes because some of the 'children' are older than me yet I'm counted as staff - where do I fit in?! Woe is me!

The school system here starts at 7 with 8 years of primary followed by 4 years of secondary (which is usually bording school). Which means that the end of primary school is like GCSE age but quite a few started late or had to repeat years so they end up being older than me. Free primary education only came in a couple of years back when the 3rd President (yes, they've only had 3!) was elected.

He appears to be making quite a lot of changes (like surfacing roads!! Whoo!) but the main one is the constitution. Everyone here is bananas! No, that is not a prejudiced assessment of their mental capabilities, it is a judgement of the current political climate. Honest. Due to high levels of illiteracy, when they vote on the new constitution it'll be bananas for 'yes' and oranges for 'no'. How cool is that? Most people round here seem to be bananas but we'll have to wait until November to find out.

I've been spending a couple of days a week at CCM which is a feeding project in Meru town that feeds some of the other street children the Children's Home can't take in. Just so you know 'street children' doesn't mean 'homeless'. Most of them have a parent/guardian but choose to spend most of their time on the street because home isn't very pleasant. Poverty is a big issue, just being able to get food is a problem let alone paying rent and HIV/AIDS only compounds the problem. As well as giving out lunch they're encouraging the guardians of the children to grow their own food. (The school where it's based has given over some land for this, which was very nice of them.) The social services and Food for the Hungry do quite a lot of home visits to guardians - the theory being that anything they do will be a waste of time if it's not backed up by the parents/guardians. I've tagged along on a few of them, hense the pied piper impression through the slums with the kids following me. These visits have been very interesting in a horrible kind of way. I will not attempt to describe the homes of some of the people because it will make me cry.

In order to continue walking around Meru on home visits when the rains come I've invested in a lovely pair of wellies, they are a stylish black so will always be fashionable. Sometime in the next two weeks all the bright red dust which is currently choking me will turn into bright red mud which will no doubt make me fall over. It's slightly bewildering to see people preparing for some rain. One of the things we've been busy with over the weekend is preparing a field for growing maize. Which means I helped with the lovely job of moving tons of manure, I did attempt to balance the bucket on my head but I think manure isn't the best thing to pratice with.

I've also had my hair plaited, which felt like a xylophone had landed on my scalp. It took ages! As in, 5 hours! But it looked good, at least everyone here seemed to appreciate me looking like a 'proper' Kenyan girl.

Church is much better now I can understand what people say. This Sunday was the first sermon I could actually follow! Success! My Swahili lessons have taken a musical form, as the Home has a choir and they've started teaching me the songs as well. It'll be even better when I know what they mean! Kimeru is still beyond me, my tongue is having serious problems, at least I can greet people now.

And with that I'll say goodbye.

Siobhan

That's cool, cos it's exactly a year since I set out on my travels, starting with Kenya

,Pretty tired

Had a good time in Riga, will post later when I'm not so tired. Flight got into Stanstead about 1130 last night, so by the time I set off on my way back to Sheffield it was 0030 this morning. My journey was accompanied by some fantastic radio, why isn't daytime radio like this? First off there's an eclectic mix of top tunes from Gilles Peterson which was followed at 0100 by two hours of John Peel a compilation of stuff from John's travels and exploration of world music. It was great. Didn't get to sleep until about 0330 and then up for work at 0720.

Though distressing to hear about the tragic loss of life in the asian earthquake on the news.

Still, discovered I have a job interview on thurs for a job I applied for ages and ages ago. Hopefully I can arrange some time off work.

Can't believe how warm it has been today considering it is october, the trees are just looking great too. Parts of them are beginning to turn beautiful golden orange shades. And yesterday the moon was a deep orange over Riga, a proper harvest moon, which now always reminds me of red moon rising which is an inspirational read. Right, off to bed.

B-line

retrospective blogging

If I could just
Compose myself
I'd radiate just the right amount of cool and heat
So you'd never know
How I tremble to touch you

lyrics from b-line by Lamb

well that pretty sums up what i was feeling tonight, but looks like it's not to be

Light equipment

I don't know how he does it, but David p always seems to be able to find stuff for church or ebay. Today I met him to help pick up some odd lighting equipment that the union had chucked away. It was stacked up outside the octagon, and david had been in touch with his contact who said that it was free to a good home before they got round to skipping it. So spent some time loading up his van with odd bits of lighting equipment, that probably dosn't work, but might do with a bit of tinkering.

It was good to meet up, and I can't believe it was a week ago that we were delivering flyers in the pouring rain.

Off to Riga for a long weekend with some of my old uni friends from nottingham days, mainly housemates. It should be good to get together for first time since new years day. So I'll not be posting again 'til some time next week.

I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said, "I don't know."

Still feeling a little grey, and I think it has something to do with jobs. Today I started a full time placement at Bluestone, but it was a struggle to get up this morning. I should've been pleased, but the only thing that raised a slight smile was the fact that I'd be getting paid regularly and more than at any time this year - though still fairly pitifully. And to do what? Photocopy, answer the phone and file things away, what on earth is happening that I'm reduced to doing this, why can't i get a proper job (well that's cos i want to stay in sheffield cos i feel called to seeing out this church project). Bumped into an old friend in tesco's and her friend was there too - "ooh Chris, last time I saw you you were just finishing your thesis, what exciting things are you doing now?" "Hmmm crap jobs, but i did travel round the world" i add to try and make things look better. Still count it as experience, at least this way I should have work during the christmas period - hoorah(!)

Janet came round last night to get her Magic Numbers ticket, I'd unfortunately double booked myself. Booked a w/e away in Riga ages ago with my old uni friends, turns out that it's this w/e, just like the Magic Numbers gig. Oh well.

this was quite a good idea for a harvest service - take it to tesco martin poole's blog

Bbbbrrrrrrrrrrr

Back working for Bluestone today, sat in an office on site. The doors are always open and the office was pretty cold. The last few weeks there have been some beautiful clear skies in the mornings, in fact I've needed to wear my sunglasses driving to school in a morning as the low sun is so bright. Not today, not on the day when it could've been possible to see a bit of an eclipse of the sun. No, it was blanket cloud as far as you could see. The kind of dull grey cloud that has no end, so yet again another astronomical phenomenon passes me by.

However, Siobhan said that in Kenya it was a beautiful clear day and the kids had been watching the event through foil and three pairs of sunglasses.

Eclipse

Just read that there is a solar eclipse on monday which is very exciting. We only get a bit of the sun covered in the uk, but it will be interesting to see. I did go down to devon in 1999 for the total solar eclipse. It was cloudy, just saw a huge cloud approaching at speed, which engulfed us. It doesn't really go that dark, just like twilight really - I guess because the atmosphere is still lit up by the sun in other areas. The birds seemed to go a bit mental, tweeting and flying around, but they didn't seem to be bothered about it for too long.

Just sent a text to Siobhan in Kenya to let her know that she will be in an optimum position to see it, and I doubt it will be cloudy either! She's settling in well, but finding church services rather dull. It's pretty amazing that I can contact her in a fairly remote part of Kenya, and hear back from her within a few minutes.

Post a comment

I've decided to allow any random reader to leave a comment on here now that blogger have introduced a word verication to reduce spam comments. So i'll see how that goes, though if i have to spend ages filtering out spam it'll revert back to blogger members only

Beer, bagpuss, balby carr and bands

alliteration, how poetic

Just putting off writing up the church council minutes from monday, but before I get on with them I thought I'd post something here.

Went to the sheffield beer festival on thursday evening, meeting up with some of the guys I used to work with at the uni. I was there just before it opened, joining a queue of overweight gentlemen sporting shaggy facial hair. It certainly serves an interesting clientele. There was a huge selection of beers and it's difficult to know what to choose to taste. My favourite was by the Ossett brewery, but a special mention must be given to the Abbeydale brewery who produced a beer called Bagpuss.

Finished working at Balby carr school on friday, and i was given a parting gift from the other technicians there, which was very nice of them. It's been alright working there, back to bluestone on monday, but i hope i get a bit further with this application i sent in last week. The last few jobs i've applied for I haven't even made an interview.

Whilst working at the school we've had the radio on, and so I thought I'd comment on a few tunes around at the moment.

I predict a riot - Kaiser Chiefs

This song gets the thumbs up for the great lyric: Watching the people get lairy Is not very pretty I tell thee. Walking through town is quite scary.

If you can use 'I tell thee' in a pop song you must be doing something right!

King of the mountain - Kate Bush

Nice tune, typically haunting, but i think would be more interesting with a more drum and bassy percussian

Suddenly I see - KT Tunstall

If I have to listen to this song once more...... it's not terrible, but seems to be perpetually on every radio station and it just gets on your nerves.

Judgement Day - Ms Dynamite

Heard this on one of those music tv channels, I'm quite a fan of Ms Dynamite, she is often very challenging lyrically and this song continues that vein:

Now take a look at these project buildings They got us living in It's like we're raised in prison cos of the colour of our skin Now how you gonna wash the blood from your hands? The pharmaceutical industry need to get paid They're sitting on a cure Watching new born babies die of AIDS Tell me how you gonna wash the blood from your hands? How could you keep exploiting 3rd world children Using them as underpaid slaves So you can make your millions How you gonna wash the blood from your hands?

Hardly the sugary nondescript lyrics that seem to dominate the charts - but then I wonder if ppl even consider what's being sung about when they purchase popular music.

Ella Guru

Saw these at Greenbelt, and you can listen to their album online and so have turned to them to escape kt tunstall, it's beautiful music.

It's that rain that gets you wet...

Arranged to meet dave p after work to deliver some of those cool crookes valley flyers in the local area.

It was raining

a lot!

I got really wet, soaked to the skin in fact. We were out for ages, yet my bag of flyers seemed to be like the feeding of the five thousand. I'm sure I had more flyers left then what I started with!

Found a good looking job, so applied to that this eve as the closing date is tomorrow. Luckily I saw it advertised today on a site I browse every two weeks or so.

What else, oh yes the side of my head hurts a bit cos I walked into a door on monday night after church council meeting. A feat I presumed both propostorous and impossible when used in soaps as a cover up story for being involved in a violent clash. "How did you get that bruise?" "Walked into a door" "Yeah right..."

well it is possible, what you have to do is be in a rush to lock up the community centre. Turn the lights off, pull the door open ajar to rush through. Forget that the door is only one of a pair of double doors and turn full pelt into the remaining closed door. It makes a loud bang and smarts (hey that's a funny word - smarts)

It was my cousins wedding on saturday and it was a great occasion. The weather was just fine, beautiful blue skies. My sis came by my house to give me a lift to Kendal - she was late of course! It was good to catch up with my sis on the way there though. It's not often we get together as a family these days, so it was a good opportunity to catch up with some of my cousins too. We used to spend quite a bit of time together when we were little as we lived fairly close together. In fact I have fond memories spending days together creating huge dynamic pictures, with all manner of strips of paper to pull that would move some character on the drawing.

The day was great, seeing my cousin, Ben, incredibly happy and his new wife equally so too. I also got chance to see Dan and Kim's daughter, Amelie, for the first time. As baby's go she is incredibly cute, i'm not normally a baby fan, but I took quite a few pics of Amelie!

Ben and myself were also very happy to hear that Chesterfield had won again, after the ceremony I checked the results on my mobile and was able to inform Ben during the wedding breakfast!

Kim and Amelie

Ben and Lyndsey dancing

My mum and dad dancing (to razorlite believe it or not!)

Ben, Dan and Scott

Air guitar to 'the final countdown'

me and dan at the end of the night

On being a tv star...

Yesterday I headed into town to see Michael Vaughn make a public address at the town hall. It was being filmed live for the local news on both itv and bbc. Because Michael Vaughn was expected at 6:15pm, there were hardly any people around at 6pm when we first went live on itv's callender show. I was stood near the front and was stood behind someone being interviewed. my mum and dad saw me clearly, so i think that makes me a tv star. Unfortunately I recorded the bbc's look north instead, where I appear as a non descript blur, but a me shaped blur nonetheless!

OK are already planning to do a feature on me




Harry Gration tries to get the crowd to sing Jeruselem - what awful words this hymn has!



Michael chatting to the bloke from Callender

No sex please.....confessions

So it was the final episode of No sex please, we're teenagers last night, and I think on reflection it has been a good programme. I have grown to like some of the characters, and it has been great hearing teenagers talk honestly and openly about sex and relations.

What really struck me about last night's episode was the occassion with all the participants gathered around and the leaders asked the group if any of them had failed in remaining abstinant for the 5 month period. Not to show them up, but giving them a chance to admit their failure to the group and to the leaders, so that when it came to graduating they would feel good about taking part in the ceremony rather than feeling guilty because they hadn't shared their failings. Well as you can imagine there was a time of silence, but the was broken by Janine, who was first to admit that she had failed by having sex early on in the process. But she shared her feelings about her failure and the group showed her support, as did the leaders. She wasn't made to feel that she had done something terrible, but was comended for her honesty. The leaders mentioned that they wanted to show unconditional love for the group despite their failings. Once Janine had shared with the group then others followed, and all those who shared with the group said independently to the camera how it had made them feel so much better in getting it out in the open.

It made me think about confession and forgiveness. Apparently the early methodist class groups would meet and share openly and honestly together the sins that they'd done that week and together they would ask for forgiveness. The roman catholic church continue the tradition of confessing sins openly, whereas today there is a silent time for confessing sins during a prayer. A time that lasts about 10s, just enough time for you to try and think about something before the opportunity has gone. Should we confess more openly in groups? Is it helpful in our receiving forgiveness from God. Probably not, but the support from peers can help us feel forgiven, especially if we feel we've let them down. Though I don't think confession in front of any group is helpful, must remember this group of teenagers had become very close during their four months together. But perhaps there is some kind of precedence for confession to more than God......?

John Peel Tribute CD

There's a tribute cd coming out on the anniversary of this great man's death. It looks like a cracking collection and great to see that the delgados are included. The press barely gave them a mention when they listed John Peel's favourite bands, but this was a group that John personally invited to his house to play a gig for his wife's 50th birthday. There can be fewer greater accolades than that!

Lonnie Donegan – 'Lost John'

Tyrannosaurus Rex – 'Deborah'

Pink Floyd – 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun'

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – 'Spanish Castle Magic'

Van Morrison – 'Sweet Thing'

David Bowie – 'Life On Mars?'

The Doors – 'Five To One'

Tim Buckley – 'Song To The Siren'

The Faces – 'Stay With Me'

The Misunderstood –'I Can Take You To The Sun'

Country Joe & The Fish – 'Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine'

Fairport Convention – 'Meet On The Ledge'

Captain Beefheart – 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus'

Loudon Wainwright III – 'Be Careful There Is A Baby In The House'

Roy Buchanan – 'I Am a Lonesome Fugitive'

The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band – 'Mr Apollo'

The Ramones – 'I Don't Want To Walk Around With You'

The Clash – 'Complete Control'

Joy Division – 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'

New Order – 'Ceremony'



CD2

The Undertones – 'Teenage Kicks'

Altered Images – 'Happy Birthday'

The Smiths – 'How Soon Is Now?'

The Cocteau Twins – 'Pearly-Dewdrops Drops'

The Jesus & Mary Chain – 'Sidewalking'

Blur – 'Song 2'

Culture – 'Lion Rock'

Billy Bragg – 'A New England'

Robert Wyatt – 'Shipbuilding'

The Wedding Present – 'Brassneck'

PJ Harvey – 'Sheela-Na-Gig'

Pulp – 'Common People'

The Fall – 'Theme From Sparta F.C.'

Super Furry Animals – 'Something For The Weekend'

Nina Nastasia – 'Bird Of Cuzco'

The Delgados – 'Pull The Wires From The Wall'

Belle & Sebastian – 'Lazy Line Painter Jane'

Laura Cantrell – 'Two Seconds'

Orbital – 'Chime'

Elmore James – 'Dust My Blues'

Siobhan

Went to see Siobhan yesterday, and right now she will be heading down to Gatwick as she catches her flight to Kenya. She'll be there for about 11 months on an experience Exchange Project with USPG doing some work in a christian orphanage near Meru. It's going to be such an exciting experience, I wish I was going too. Spending so long in such a different culture is going to have a profound effect on her. It was great chatting with her and remembering about my time there last year visiting friends.

Is that a technician...

Can you believe it. Was working today in the prep room and a teacher came in with a guest who was hoping to speak to another teacher who was in the middle of teaching her class. This guest woman turned to the teacher with her and looking towards me said "Is that a technician"

I realy wish I'd hit her with a torrent of verbal abuse, I was just so shocked at her manner I didn't retaliate in time. That is a person, there are proper pronouns for addressing people, they are he and she. And no I'm an ice cream man, that's why I wear a white coat, not because I'm a technician.

My God, it's full of stars

Was chatting to helen c about films, and she was commenting on the fact the she often found the soundtracks to films clouded her interpretation on what was happening on the screen. It reminded me that there is very little use of soundtrack in 2001:Space Odyssey, because it mostly takes place in space where sound can't travel. So here Stanley Kubrick uses just classical music and the sounds of the characters breathing etc.

Well, talking about the film made me want to watch it again, so decided that I would tonight. On getting back from work I went and posted my time sheet and as I was walking back home I passed the library and finally decided it was time to venture inside. Partly because helen c had said that sheffield library had a very good selection of films on dvd. They didn't have 2001 in, but I decided on getting a book, cos otherwise my joining the library might've appeared a waste of time to the librarian. Not sure I'll get round to reading it as I'm quite enjoying that bill bryson book.

So back to 2001, I dug out an old video, as I'd videoed it off channel 4 about ten years ago. On long play, so the picture quailty was pretty awful. Actually, keeping a programe so long on video is actually breaking the law. The film is stunning, and I just wonder what the original audience made of it all. I remember the first time I saw it being quite perplexed. Blokes dressed as apes milling around for about 20 minutes, strange monoliths, incredible ideas of space travel, computers going wrong and then the weirdest psychedelic sequence I've ever seen. Later grasping the story better and reading Arthur C Clarkes works I've grown to really appreciate this film. The ideas of something instigating great changes in the evolution of community, here the invention of tools and later in the series the growth of a second sun. Then questions of artificial intelligence, how a computer would deal with two conflicting assignments. Then the quite moving scene of the 'death' of artificial intelligence. I was also sure that the last words spoken by Dave Bowman on entering the monolith was "My God, it's full of stars", but it wasn't. They're the last words in the novel, and are used in the sequal 2010. In conclusion, this film is a peice of visionary masterwork, as you'd expect from Stanley Kubrik. The input from Arthur C Clarke gives a certain 'believability' to the space scenes, this is a man who predicted the use of geostationary satalites, velcro to walk in zero gravity conditions and spinning space stations that generate a pseudogravity through centrifugal force. It's well worth watching if you haven't seen it before.

Where was I.....

oh yes, no sex please, we're teenagers. Much better episode this time. It was good to hear the reservations that the leaders had over the silver ring thing, and it was refreshing to hear the girl criticising the event for being all one sided. At least it shows that she is really thinking and engaging with the content.

The support that each indiviual gained from being a member of the romance academy group was really interesting. How many of them would've taken the abstinance vow without being part of a group, likewise how many teenagers would go to church fellowship without their friends? When do you reach that stage when you feel confident enough in your 'faith' to venture somewhere alone? Would I still go to the church I worship at if my close friends left, or would I find another church with likemined people?

What I continually find amazing about this programme is the frank honesty of the teenagers taking part, and their way of articulating the impact the romance acadamy has had on the way they now view friendships and relationships. It was sad to hear that girls sister tell the story of meeting some bloke at a night club who she later had sex with cos it felt right at the time, and the reason it felt right is because for those moments she felt comfortable with herself and appearance and confident because someone appeared to be finding her attractive. Whereas her twin sister had gathered that she didn't need to have sex to be comfortable with herself, and the confidence she gained from this knowledge was lasting and not fleeting like that of her sisters.

Then why is abstinance such a joke, it seemed really difficult for the teenagers to encourage their own peers to join the project. The response they received was luke warm at best. What is the culture that makes it seem that not having sex is the weirdest thing anyone can do. Surely this just fuels the insecurities of being a teenager. If you're not having sex then it seems that current culture dictates that you must be lacking in something, and that is obviously attractiveness to other people. So if you don't feel attractive that just fuels the insecurities and so it appears that having sex is thought to be the answer to this problem. However the undergraduates of the Romance Academy are learning that this is not the case at all.

One moving part of the programme was the girl who split up from her boyfriend, she realised that she had matured in her thinking and was now in a place that was alien to her boyfriend. She now found it difficult to connect with him. It was sad to hear her retell the difficulty she had in trying to explain this to her boyfriend in order to end the relationship.

it seems that there is now a Romance Academy web site.

Just got in

Had a none stop day, can't believe it's 9:45pm and I've only just got home. Left house at 7:10am this morning for work, got stuck in traffic, cos of road works and only just got to work in time. From work I went straight to meet the new minister, James, to help fill him in with the details of the proposed purchase and redevelopment scheme at Crookes Valley. No easy task as there is so much history and characters to fill in. It was a very good meeting though, and James seems like he'll be a great minister for CV, bringing a good sense of accountability to our project. Left the manse and came home to meet dave P, so i guess I have been back home already, but that was only to do the world's longest wee (i was bursting) and pick up a pizza from the freezer. David gave me a lift up to matt and emma's and they kindly cooked my pizza as we discussed the upcoming AWE service. Useful discussion, but I think I was a bit too 'meetinged' out to give any decent input. Was dismayed to hear about a meeting the night before, local preachers meeting or something, where the layout of the new plan had been discussed for over 45 minutes. Unbelievable, well not really, but it annoys me that meetings are filled with such trivial nonsense - surely someone can just sort these things out without the need of getting approval from a meeting.

Last night I really enjoyed the next episode of No Sex Please We're Teenagers. I should give some more thoughts at a later stage, but to remind myself: community of the group, concept of relationships and why is abstinance such a joke. If i remember I'll expound on that.....

On a lighter side, I got my free comic from Dave Walker of cartoon church fame today. They were left over from his contribution to the greenbelt communion service. Very nice

Regaining the Ashes

Hooray

What an acheivement, the England team deserve to be proud. Though it was a bit of a damp squid ending. Waiting around for ages for them to actually lift the urn, and there was quite a farce with Michael Vaughn having to accept a replica glass trophy and some other trophy and hand them back. Just get on and lift that urn, that's all that really matters - give the fancy dan trophies later!

Was just about to have some tea and think about handing in my application form when I thought it'd be great to celebrate the victory with a pint. It was then that I got a phone call from Tom, who I used to share a bench with in the lab. We hadn't seen each other for nearly a year and so it was great to meet up this evening. Arranged to meet him after delivering my application by hand. Hope I get some success with this application, it really is becoming increasingly frustrating. But thanks must be sent to Jonathan for suggesting looking at Sheffield PCT for jobs. At least this seems like something I can engage with and also be stimulating too.

Emerging church

I must recommend these musings, if you have bit of spare time:

richard passmore is running a series of posts over at sundaypapers. parts 1 | 2| 3 are up so far.

CVM Flyer

Here is the flyer that me and andrew were discussing at Greenbelt. I think Andrew has done a really good job.

The Big Blind

Finished this book a couple of days ago and really enjoyed it. I must admit I did find it difficult to imagine the lead female character without thinking of Louise Wener as it is written in the first person. I'm sure there are lots of traits that the lead character has which are Louise's own, so you see some of the author coming thru in the book. I must admit the subject matter of poker and gambling doesn't need the glossiness that this book gives it. though it does touch on the destructive nature gambling can have, everything works out in the end for the characters here. This is probably my only critisism, and it is something I would use for Louise's first book about a guy trying to crack the music scene - of course in the end his band finally make it.

Don't have anything left to read now, Helen suggests i join the library (which is only about 20 metre away from my house, but I've yet to enter it). However, in the mean time my housemate has leant me

it seems really interesting, and I just know i'd have loved this book when I was about 14.

Synod

Not blogged for a bit, though I've quite a few thoughts i want to get down. I'll perhaps get round to it tomorrow. I've been trying to apply for a job and get this presentation for synod sorted and so didn't want to be distracted with writing here.

Synod today, so no lie in, which I think I needed after a week of commuting to school. It was, as expected, fairly boring. My presentation of the Pilgrimage of Faith went ok, though it seemed to have been quite a bit of effort for 3 minutes. I was also fasciliting a workshop on 'technology and worship' where I had to introduce the speaker. It was alright, but not something I would've chosen thru choice as I didn't learn anything new.

Began to feel really tired after that, and the key note speach from some bishop or other was particularly dull, and was relieved when he finally finished. No idea what he was on about, his voice was so dull I'd drifted away after about 2 mins. Wish I had a sudoku to do at that point - if just to keep me awake!

Football disappointment

Congratulations to Northern Ireland, they played a tireless game that kept England out of contention. I don't think England had a chance on target apart from Michael Owen's overhead kick. Whereas NI had a number of chances, taking their best with aplomb. I know the excitement of watching the underdog side etch out the impossible result. It is amazing what a good organised, passionate team with self belief can acheive despite having inferior talent. Just ask any Chesterfield fan about the FA cup semi final in 1997!

Let's hope England can get it together soon. Erikson was very crafty in getting a multi milion pound contract signed just before the start of euro 2004, all other high profile countries sacked their managers after that competition. I wonder where England would be if we'd had a new manager for this world cup quailfying campaign.

No sex please, we're teenagers

I was really inspired by the bbc programme the Monastry, earlier this year. In fact, it was searching for comments on this programme that lead me to Jonny Baker's blog, inspiring me to start my own.

Well last night was another bit of religious programming, that sounded like it might prove to be interesting:

No Sex Please We're Teenagers
Tue 6 Sep, 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm 60mins

With a shocking increase in STIs and teen pregnancies in the last decade, two Christian Youth Workers, Rachel Gardner and Dan Burke, are challenging youth culture they're turning everything on its head, and teaching kids how not to have sex.

They've chosen 12 teenagers aged 15 to 17, with more than 50 sexual conquests between them, to launch the Romance Academy. For the five-month project, these teens have taken a pledge saying no to any form of sexual activity.

The project takes them on an emotional journey 5000 miles from home, to America - the home of teenage abstinence. Here they're asked to make the ultimate sacrifice - to give up sex until marriage.

But before that, they go away for the weekend and spend the night together for the first time ever, - but can 12 lively teenagers stick to the no sex rule while they're all under the same roof? Contains strong language. [S]

So what did I make of it? I really liked the challenge to the young people of thinking about what relationships were all about, and it was good to hear positive response coming from those undertaking the abstinence pledge into seeing the sometimes shallow nature having sex. All teenagers have image problems of some sort or another, and quite often the having someone attracted to you helps your 'ego' and this is fuelled by sex, but as these kids were relating, still leaves a lot to be desired. Is this where a deep loving relationship with God can help??

Anyway, was beginning to like the programme, and then they sent them to the US for some ultra conservative teaching on chastity - why????

It was clear that the 'modern, conservative' thinking youth pastor was having problems having the authority of his teaching questioned by the young people, and rightly so in my opinion. Interesting to see one of the US youth group getting a bit upset by this, probably a fear that these questions being posed were giving her questions about the pastors teaching (which can lead to a fear of questioning other aspects of faith, which can be daunting for someone spoon fed the gospel without properly challenging and engaging with it)

There were these US kids giving high fives, saying yeah we don't have sex before marriage cos that's what it says in the bible. Does it? Cos I've never seen it, I've seen passages where men can give back their brides if they aren't happy with them and the girls parents can't prove their virginity before the marriage. I've seen encouragement for loving monogamous relationships...I could go on.

Then this youth pastor was saying you shouldn't even consider starting a relationship with some one if you didn't want to marry them. some of these kids were 14 and 15 for goodness sake. Of course they're not thinking of marriage - i'd be worried if they were. Sometimes I worry that christians rush to get married just to have sex.

And what about divorce and remarriage.

These are real issues and i hope get addressed in this programme and that the kids can learn stuff about relationships. The church should be at the heart of this, the bible uses the analogy of a relationship of lovers as that of God's love for the world.

I'm not saying that chastity before marriage is wrong either, it's just a more complicated thing then seemed to be portrayed from the US hosts.

But I think this programme is worth watching, and hopefully in churches accross the country people will be engaging in these kind of conversations.

there's another good blog on this topic here

technorati

Synod, forgetful and a new job

It suddenly occured to me last night that on saturday it is district synod, and as I was a rep to conference in june i had been asked to give a short 2 min presentation on one of the reports. For some reason I opted for proably the most dificult and sensitive reports of conference, the Pilgramage of Faith report on human sexuality. The report can be read on the link if you have a spare hour! Was just mulling over the report tonight when I suddenly thought I hadn't got anyone to nominate me for conference 2006. Dug out my synod mailing that I'd filed away on receipt a few weeks ago to discover that the deadline for nominations was last saturday. Rang up the secretary and there was no chance of getting put on the list cos it had already been prepared for the printers. What an idiot forgetting about it. I just wanted to see if I could get one more year, especially as it was in Edinburgh and a friend of mine would be getting ordained too. Typical.

Had my first day of a new temping job today. Back to being a supply lab technician for a school. Was worried that I wouldn't be able to remember any science - but it all came flooding back. Arrived too early, cos I feared being late. Bit boring today, as it was teacher training - no kids. Was shown where the test tubes were kept etc. and asked how much about chemicals and stuff I knew - felt a bit uncomfortable and said I knew a fair bit, got a-levels and stuff whilst thinking that I'm probably more qualified at science then most of the teachers.

Hope a proper job will come up soon..................

Blogs

Have been enjoying reading peoples blogs about Greenbelt using this technorati link thing, you add it to your blog with a tag and it becomes available to anyone who searches for a greenbelt2005 tag using technorati

It's great to hear other views from the event, and in some strange way feel part of a community of bloggers. Which I've never felt before, only really started this cos i was bored of looking for jobs, and it gave me something to do. Now I find there are links to my blogs from other blogs and it feels quite exciting. As you can see I've kind of done likewise, adding a few blogs that are worth checking out under links.

Quite looking forward to Greenbelt next year when i can perhaps meet these bloggers!

Deception Point

Just finished reading this Dan Brown novel:



what a pile of cack.

It was the reading equivelent of watching a no-brainer thriller on tv, that's just entertaining enough for you to want to know the cliched ending.

Are all Dan Brown's novels like this, his name emblazened bigger than the title, claims that everything he relates is true, a terrible sexual chemistry underplot between the main characters....

similes included - she was tossed around like a sock in a washing machine. Now that's either genius comedy or the writing attempts of a 14 year old!

Then what about this, during the raising of the metoerite it went from just a few feet from the surface - to just 9 metres left. Imperial unit using american fool. 9 metres is much further then a few feet - idiot!

However, now I can start that Louise Wener novel i got on ebay



The lead charcter sounds great, I'd love to meet a girl like this, she likes numbers and top trumps!

september already

I'm having a frenzy of blogging this evening, mainly retrospectively.

Anyway, bible study was good again yesterday. Reading Deuteronomy is really challenging, as emma quipped, it's a shame we don't have any non-christians here, reading these passages would really help them (!)

Truth is, reading some of these laws in deuteronomy are really difficult, they often seem so contrary to my understanding of God. It really raises the question about how divinely inspired these laws are. Or whether they are perhaps the result of humans failings to completely love and obey God, that some fear factor has to be written in. In order for a developing society to live harmoniously together they must all love God, but due to free will that is not the case, and as is perhaps shown in New Orleans, it is easy for the disruptive few to damage the group society (anarchy etc). So perhaps these amplifications of God's rules of living are in order to bring order through fear of punishment to a society that is to be ambassaders for Yahweh in an interesting cultural mix of tribes and gods that is Canaan. I guess in the ideal world there wouldn't be need to deter people from committing crimes by punishment of death, cos such a thought of committig crimes would never have occured. This seems all a bit rambly - do u know what i mean...