earache

...is what I have. Very annoying it is too. I haven't had earache for so long I had forgotten how painful it is and how much I want to get away from noise and chat - not great when have a block week going on and a conference to go to tomorrow. Hey ho.

Anyway, these two videos of my 'in laws' cheered me up today. This one is The Churchfitters - the band Mark's brother Topher is in:




This one is Mark's sister Ema and her now husband Stephen in a very blessed, but I am hoping ironic, video:

half-term

Well it is nearly over and tomorrow I am back at college doing a module called From Mission to Cell: New ways of Being Church. That will keep me busy most of the week. I am quite looking forward to it really. I have nearly read the set text and feel ready to take on the discourse.

I am planning to go to the Bristol University multifaith Chaplaincy tomorrow night for 'Faith meets Faith' - An Interfaith discussion on salvation for those outside of the faith. With speakers from the Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions.

Tuesday night Mark and I are having dinner with John and Maya Bimson and on Wed I am off to Oxford for a conference. So, it really is going to be a busy week.

Having had such a relaxing week it will probably be a shock to my system to have to work to a timetable. Even though I have worked very hard I have been able to work at my own pace. Anyway, I am sure I will find the energy from somewhere.

It is the Oscars tonight and if I were in Liverpool I would be round Philly J's doing the Oscars in real UK time tomorrow night with media blackout all day. Hey ho...maybe next year?

Anyway, best go and have my tea. Running late tonight.

I was a bit cross yesterday

sorry about using a rude word yesterday (I have now altered the post) I really was quite cross about the women Bishops at Synod thing and the silly man's sermon just pushed me over the edge. But that is no excuse for being rude. So sorry. As an antidote to yesterday's rudeness I have put up a nice picture of a fluffy chick. Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts.

women and men

The difference is:
Women can't be Bishops...

I got an email today with the following press release from Women and the Church (WATCH). It made me feel a bit sad, but it doesn't surprise me.

"At the recent meeting of General Synod, members were told by the Chair of the
Legislative Drafting Group that it was “highly unlikely” that the vote on women
bishops would be taken by July 2010."

Thinking Anglicans covers the issue and there are some useful comments here.

It just feels like the Church of England isn't ready yet and even though that isn't really a good enough excuse I would rather the motion was truly successful at Synod than it be either rejected or just get through. I feel weak in the face of this reality and it makes me sick to think about inequality continuing. Meanwhile the (mostly) male Bishops of the world (though many aren't actually going) meet at Lambeth shortly and so many talented and capable women are still not welcome.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...and, real men "p**s against the wall"
this is quote from the sermon below...(warning it contains reference to urination)


(thanks to Dave Walker and The Real Live Preacher for the link to this.)

stairs

I fell down the stairs today! No harm done just a bruised pride and a slightly elevated heart beat. But it does indicate how diddly dee I am at the moment (though some of you might already be aware of this). I had just made Eva's bed and had decided to throw out the duvet the poor child has had since she was 2 which is too short and very thin. I threw it down the stairs to put in the big bin then a few minutes later walked down the said stairs and slipped on the duvet. Let this be a lesson to us all - watch your step and dispose of duvets responsibly.

Anyway, I have spent the rest of the morning reading about church planting. I am struggling with the concept and practicalities...perhaps I will be convinced by the end of the book?

I think I am going out for tea and cakes with Neil later, I have to catch up with Liz H because I have some of her books, I am also planning to get tot he Foundation community meal this evening - if Mark gets back with Eva in time. Eva comes home tonight (I am very excited about seeing her) so I have sorted out her room and made her bed up with her new duvet cover (see above). Anyway, I must get on - books to read, sermons to write, letters to post, etc etc.

wednesday

It's half term and I should be on holiday but here I am writing essays and reading books about doctrine. Hey ho. Well at least I am getting through my list. I finished the essay, started some reading on the next one and even had time for a bit of day-time TV (it is the holidays after all).

This afternoon I went off to Cribbs with Becky to try to buy jeans (for her) that don't show off your bum-crack when you sit down. Goodness me it was very tricky - and we didn't succeed. Blimey, after watching Becky try on approx 20 pairs we both lost the will to shop so came home for a curry. Why oh why are all the jeans so foolish. All she wanted was a nice cosey proper fit...

Mel came over for Mark's marvelous curry, becky went to get Liz and Phil H from the station and Mel and I went to see Juno. We got there a bit late and had the worst seats ever, right at the front so I have a sore neck. It was a great film though. Very heartwarming and touching. My neck is very sore! What a lovely day.

Eva is back tomorrow and it will be great to have her back. I miss her. Best get some more peace and quiet while I can.

today

up early - toast and tea in bed - prayer - on macbook by 9.30am - essay draft 1 done by 12.30pm - read and disappointed - rework essay - essay draft 2 done by 2.30pm - Mark takes me out for lunch (Burger at Rocotillos which was not very good, not up to its usual standards and let me feeling a tad queezy) - visit to the Museum to see the Love exhibition which is on tour from the national gallery - back to work - draft 3 done by 6pm - phone Eva and my Mum (all is well) - wrote a first draft of a sermon for Mothering Sunday which has been brewing for a few weeks - I think it might be what God wants me to say (going to test it for a few days and see what happens) - supper at 9pm - watched TV for a while and now off to bed to read Heat.

A busy and productive day. But so much more to do before Eva comes back on Thursday evening.

night night.

The Christian Socialist Movement

I am member of the CSM and thought I would let you know about an upcoming lecture/ dialogue that might interest you. is happening next month:

Faith in Politics?

The Christian Socialist Movement invites you to join in the 2008 Tawney Dialogue; Faith in Politics?

6:30pm - 7:45pm, Thursday 27 March in Westminster.

The Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP (Labour Party Vice Chair for Faith Groups) and Rev Canon Nick Sagovsky (Canon Theologian, Westminster Abbey) will lead a discussion on the relationship between faith and social justice.

This event follows our AGM (starting at 5:15pm) to which all members are invited.



If anyone wants to come with me I am going to book a train to that London for just after lunch. Do let me know if you fancy coming.

weekend

It is cold. Is it cold where you are? Well, it is very cold here. But it is lovely and bright so being cold is inconvenient but with an extra jumper on it is bearable. I am really struggling with energy levels which surprises me as I have had plenty of sleep and am not drinking so sleep patterns are quite normal. I don't really know why I am sluggish. Anyway, we have had a busy weekend with some restful bits in between...

Elise's mum (Kate) and sister (Orla) have been in Bristol - Orla who is 7yrs stayed over on Friday and she and Eva had a great time. They haven't seen each other for almost a year so it was great for them to get together again and have a good play. They also had some interesting conversations about being aunty's and Living in Liverpool - Orla is moving back from Spain with her mum and dad. Anyway, we had a successful morning playing and then lunch at Fresh and Wild followed by a walk. Elise, Kate and Orla have now gone to Liverpool.

I went to M&S to buy some place mats and dinner service. Claire Caddick's mum sent me some 20% off vouchers so I took the opportunity to go and get a few things I needed /wanted. I also got a new pair of jeans so I don't look quite so scruffy (some hope - I have a talent for looking scruffy even in the nicest clothes). John H came for dinner which was lovely. We ate lasagna and M&S chocolate pudding. Played guitars and chatted and chatted. It was great and as none of us were drinking it didn't get messy at all. Very civilized.

I got up for church this morning - I don't know how or remember getting up - I really wanted to carry on sleeping but was disciplined and we all (Mark as well) made it to church just in time. Came back and had a chat with Linda, a Trinity student who is going to start coming ti St Peter's alongside her commitments to St Mary's Shirehampton. It was so good to speak to another trainee vicar about the church and it's potential. Very refreshing. I had to then clean the house and make lunch which seemed to take for ever.

My mum arrived shortly after lunch and we have been watching TV for a an hour or so. I am now going to start changing the beds and cleaning up a bit upstairs. I am so looking forward to bed. I might be tempted to try out the nice clean bed when I have made it! I am not sure I am going to get out again tonight. I'll have to wait to see if I get a second wind.

So, not all that exciting really. But hey ho...sometimes we have to tread water in order to get a sense of where we are in relation to the shore.

white wine

It is holiday time again but I have far too much work to do! I will get a bit of a rest but I must crack on with stuff in order to not lose my head at a crucial moment. So, I have come home with a pile of books and a list as long as my arm.

I have given up...(I am scared to write this because as soon as I tell anyone what I have given up I feel like I am immediately going to fail)...white wine for lent. I think this week is going to be the biggest challenge. Having a bit of a break, Eva being away, time for a lie in and no white wine. Seems almost unheard of. Anyway, I felt like I was in need of a bit of discipline and the white wine still had an unnecessary hold on me so I felt it was the best thing to give up. I haven't outlawed all forms of alcohol but I don't have the same interest in most other sorts of alcohol so I didn't feel the need to remain completely tea total through lent. Having said that I haven't had anything to drink since shrove Tuesday. Not all that bothered so far.

Anyway, now I have written that I fancy a nice glass of Chablis. But i will not relent.

Babies

I have just got back from a baby shower. Miriam is due to have her 3rd baby really soon and tonight a group of us got together at Laura's house to wish her all the best. It was a lovely evening and great to see a group of girls having a great time. In the room were at least 3 other pregnant women, as you know I am living with a pregnant woman and last week another friend of mine gave birth to a baby boy so it really is baby central round here.

I know I won't be having any more children and I always thought I would have more than one. But there you go, it didn't work out like that. I don't regret anything that has happened but sometimes it does feel a bit strange not minding. I feel like I should be more bothered. Christians seem to have loads and loads of children...

Anyway, I am plodding along with work...writing essays, a homily, a sermon and stuff. I have had a quiet day getting on with bits and bobs of work. Slowly the list gets shorter.

wipples

Today was a momentous day because today I ordered my clergy kit from Wipples. I chose Wipples because I need to be properly fitted and in my experience being measured isn't enough and a pre-making fitting is a very good idea. Wipples offer this service and they are in Exeter so I can go down for the fitting, meet up with Eleanor and be absolutely sure it all fits before I buy it. It may cost more but if you are a funny (ha ha and peculiar) shape like me a good fitting makes all the difference.

It was a very odd feeling getting the stuff down on paper and committing myself to fabric, style (though to be honest the choices are limited). I am going for a classic black almost catholic look. I have even gone as far as ordering a cloak! I am going to look sharp.

I am off to bed now. We have had a very exciting day at Trinity discovering spiritual gifts - I didn't get anything new today though I did renew my subscription to the gift of beverage making, being 2 mins late for stuff, making people laugh at my funny hair, saying rude things and eating cake. In addition I remembered how important the more esoteric spiritual gifts are to the church - for building up love, serving, speaking into the world and for their wow factor. When Paul writes to the Corinthian church warning the not to take this stuff for granted or abuse it he was deadly serious about the importance of making the most of all aspects of Christian life - being spiritual is at the heart of this. In an age of spirituality Christianity can forget to make the most of this and downplay the experience of faith in action. When tempered by the mundane and issues of justice, peace and reconciliation God's spiritual action is sublime and extra-ordinary.

How big is the universe?

This youtube video tries to explain. But, be warned it is big!




if that is too difficult to imagine Monty Python know a song about it that at least can cheer you up whilst your mind recovers from the stress of imagining big numbers.





I know it is very early on a Monday morning to be thinking about the size of the universe but it does put things in perspective and either you will be spurred on or stunned into inertia by imagining yourself so small. If you can bear to question deeper ask yourself where God is? Is your God big enough to care about all this or does your God only care about what the Arch Bishop of Canterbury might have said, or whether Gay people are welcome in church, or if women can be Bishops. Trying to see the bigger picture I'm guessing we might have missed the point.

Portishead

It was a lovely sunny day today and we felt we needed some fresh air and a totter. So, after church we went to Portishead. I don't really know why we chose Portishead but there you go - it was our first time, we had always intended to go in the summer to the lido but never made it, we now have a mental list of places to go before we move and today was Portishead!

It was lovely, the sea was out and mud was immense (like the skin of an elephant), we climbed up the the 'lighthouse' and looked out at Wales. The wind was up and the sun out and we certainly got our fresh air. We had a cup of tea and an icecream then headed home. Since then I have read a book on the liturgical year and had a doze. Now I shall eat a chicken dinner and later will go off to Foundation. It has been a restful weekend. Just what I needed after last week.

ebay stoles

On Monday Mark bid (on my behalf) on four liturgical stoles - red, purple, black and green. He was successful and they arrived today - all four for £85. Which believe me is a bargain. Even more of a result is the fact that they are beautiful handmade stoles each with it's own quirky character. I will get mark to take some pictures of them and show you some time. This is an example of how blessing just appears from nowhere. I have been feeling pretty down in the dumps - overwhelmed by essays etc, feeling nervous about curacy stuff, stress of planing to move, family stuff, etc etc. I even felt I needed a few days off and stayed at home to reflect and recoup. So, I was surprised that these stoles could cheer me up so much - after all they are a symbol of the immanent change in my (and my family's) life. And yet I found them a comfort and blessing. Perhaps it was the fact that they are so lovingly and thoughtfully made by a complete stranger who just made them because she could. Perhaps it was the fact that I am starting to come to terms with the adventure of leaving Trinity and starting curacy etc. Whatever the reasons I am, at last, starting to feel excited.

Amnesty - urgent action required

I have just heard from Amnesty asking me to place this request on my blog. Please respond if you feel you are able.

18-year-old Behnam Zare' is at risk of imminent execution for a murder committed when he was 15 years old. Iran remains one of just a handful of countries that continue to execute child offenders – people under 18 years old at the time of their crime, despite its obligations under international law.



Update

Child offender Behnam Zare' is now facing execution within 72 hours. The order to carry out his execution has been sent to the prison where he is held. If you feel able to protest against the execution of this young man please do so through the Amnesty website (please note: you do not have to be a member of Amnesty to register your request)

monday - essay writing

Today I am trying to write an essay. After recent disappointments I am finding it very difficult to be optimistic or even formulate a plan. There is always an element of despair in essay writing - I think this is part of my process - can I get it done? Do I know enough about the subject to write in n informed way? Have a read enough to back up points? then there are issues of spelling and grammar which plague me at every turn. I know I shouldn't be down in the dumps and should just get back on the essay writing horse. But it is hard to motivate myself. That said a nice cup of tea and a shortbread biscuit has helped. That and I have created a spider chart (mind map to those of a previous generation) so I do have some idea of how to progress. So, after another cup of tea and a stroll about the house I shall get back on and see what occurs.

weekend

Liturgically accurate purple hair!









Our little trip to that London was a great success. Mark and I really needed some time away together on our own - something we didn't realise we needed until we were o the train and chitter chattering about all the stuff that's been going on and our future plans. The show was very funny and it was good to see Terry (Kilkerry) Titter making an appearance as Malcolm. I really properly laughed out loud which I feel I haven't done for ages. Mark and I went out for a mighty fine curry after and I got hiccups.

Our hotel was very comfortable and once I had my earplugs in I slept like a log (until the fire alarm went off in the morning - it was a false alarm but I was alarmed!). Saturday was spent walking about in the sunny cold London day. We went to the National portrait gallery, to Covent Garden and just potterd about until we got the train back at 3.15pm. Back for tea and to see Eva before bed.

Today I slept quite a lot, went to Sainsbury's (I don't usually like shopping on Sunday but seeing as yesterday was taken up and we had no food in for the week so it was a bit necessary). Then I went to Candlemass at St Peter's which was quite hectic but well worth the effort. Jenny had prepared a great service and it was good to see a few children there. I played the guitar and generally helped out - mainly on naughty boy monitoring duty. We changed the vestments to purple for lent (at least my hair now reflects liturgical colours).

We have roast beef for dinner and I need an early night. The wind is blowwing hard outside and I am looking forward to Antiques Roadshow - I think I am getting old!

count arthur strong 2

Tonight Mark and I are off to That London to see Count Arthur Strong at the Arts Theatre. This is Mark's birthday treat and we have been looking forward to it for ages. I really need to get away so I am very excited. I have had a very tricky week - Got an essay back and was disappointed with the mark, just feel like I am not getting much feedback on how I am getting on, feel a bit on the edge of things and have so much to do that it is a bit overwhelming. I know I have been here before and that it comes good in the end but this sort of spiritual burn out is very painful and I hate feeling disconnected from God. It creates a strong yearning and confusion. I understand how the Psalmist must have felt when he wrote Psalm 86:

Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my cry of supplication.
In the day of my trouble I call on you,
for you will answer me.


There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and bow down before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name for ever.
For great is your steadfast love towards me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.


If only David had Count Arthur Strong to cheer him up.

downside

Today was the Federation (united colleges - Anglican, Baptist, Methodist - in Bristol) quiet day. I and a group of other members of the federation spent the day at Downside Abbey. The Abbey is a Benedictine Community of Saint Gregory the Great in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Radstock, Bath. It is also a school.

We spent the day with Dom Alexander reflecting on church unity. I spend the day reading and meditating on Colossians. I don't really know why I was drawn to the book but it was a very profitable time for me as I thought about how Paul (or the Pauline pretender) encouraged the Colossian church to focus on the headship of Christ and unify around their faith in the gospel. A Church that was in danger of splitting is encouraged to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful." Colossians 2.15.

Being one body, one church is very difficult at the moment and it breaks my heart to think that we can not agree enough to unite around this vision. Today was a time for hard thinking about what I would be prepared to give up for the sake of unity. It was a challenge and I am still thinking...

Archbishop delivers ‘Holy Grail’ to Pope

This was the headline from the Yorkpress news today. I was very excited - after all it would be remarkable if, after Indiana Jones et al couldn't find it, the grail had been in York all this time and the Arch- Bishop had decided to hand it over to Rome for verification. Unfortunately it turns out that this holy grail is of the beer variety, brewed in Yorkshire at the Black Sheep brewery. What a laugh the Bishops must have had as the cracked open the crate. The mental image of the moment is forming in my mind as I write.

clerical shirts

I have a real fear of clerical shirts. I am quire concerned that I am going to look blousey. So, today I went to meet a woman who is going to help me to not look like a bloke in puff sleeves. Most of the shirts on the market are just a man's shirt with bust darts. I think this might be a tactical error on my part. I wonder what Gok Wan would make of it all. Anyway, I think I have made a break though with it. I have asked Amanda (the shirt maker) to make a replica of a linen shirt I have loved for years, I bought the black linen and she is making a mock up for a fitting in a couple of weeks. I will keep you posted.

A busy week this week (whenever is it not a busy week?). Tomorrow lectures all day and I am planning to go to hear a cat psychologist speak about how to help your cat with their mental health issues (I really need help with Benny's issues!). Wed is college quiet day - I am off to a monastery. Thursday is a crazy college day which starts at 8.30am and goes on until 10pm. Friday college until 3pm then off to that London to see Count Arthur Strong. So, I really should get a few early nights whilst I can.

prison

Tomorrow I am off to Bristol prison for 2 services at the chapel (one at 9am and the other at 10am) so I have to be up very early to get through the various checks etc. This has been quite a busy weekend - On Friday night we all went over to bath to have a meal with Joe and Harriet who were both celebrating their 18th birthday. We went to a very loud but tasty mexican restuarant. It is extra-ordinary to think that Joe is now 18. He was so happy and all grown up...

My mum has come over to help me with Eva this weekend becuase I hve had to do some work today and tomorrow I am in prison and Mark has gone away to Wales to celebrate Ady's 40th birthday. I am missing out again. Hey ho.

So, I had better get off to bed...early up and I need my wits about me.

banksy

This image is a piece of graffiti by Banksy that has been painted onto a wall at the bottom of Park Street in Bristol, near the cathedral and county courts. The council wanted to remove it but a campaign by local graffiti activists successfully won a battle to keep it unsullied. I have some questions about this decision...who now is responsible for it's maintenance? Is it now a piece of public art? Is it's colour and texture to be preserved in the same way as say the Mona Lisa or the superlambbanana. Now I'm no critic but it seems to me that point of this defiant art is to disorientate and irritate as well as challenge perceptions about art, public and private spaces and ownership of the everyday. To preserve it seems the ultimate futile act and almost deludedly Peter Panesque. If I was Banksy or prepared to climb up a ladder I would be very tempted to spray paint over the image in an attempt to recover some sort of sense of reality. After all isn't it supposed to be temporary, fleeting and timebound?




Liverpool City Council have decided that the infamous house rat on the corner of Berry Street and Duke Street needs to be tidied up. The building is in serious decay so they have decided to half board up the building thus covering the bottom half of the graffiti. This is so the visitors to the city don't get upset about dereliction and decay (as if they haven't seen it before). Many of the unused houses, shops and other buildings have been boarded up and then the boards are painted over and made to look more pleasant. This attempt to Dress Liverpool is one of the most bazaar outworkings of the Capital of Culture plan.

The BBC is running a Banksy Diary which includes some interesting personal stories about the way his work has touched the lives of ordinary people (whatever!!!) and the way to spot a Banksy (as if authetification is the point either).

heaven

I am not sure what heaven is...there are some great biblical hints but it is an illusive place sometimes best understood by it's antithesis.


Contemplating Hell

Contemplating Hell, as I once heard it,
My brother Shelley found it to be a place
Much like the city of London. I,
Who do not live in London, but in Los Angeles,
Find, contemplating Hell, that it
Must be even more like Los Angeles.

Also in Hell,
I do not doubt it, there exist these opulent gardens
With flowers as large as trees, wilting, of course,
Very quickly, if they are not watered with very expensive water. And fruit markets
With great leaps of fruit, which nonetheless

Possess neither scent nor taste. And endless trains of autos,
Lighter than their own shadows, swifter than
Foolish thoughts, shimmering vehicles, in which
Rosy people, coming from nowhere, go nowhere.
And houses, designed for happiness, standing empty,
Even when inhabited.

Even the houses in Hell are not all ugly.
But concern about being thrown into the street
Consumes the inhabitants of the villas no less
Than the inhabitants of the barracks.

Bertolt Brecht

Brentry context are a funny lot

not least because they produced this for the Christmas Trinity College review.

night off

Eva has gone over to stay with Vanessa tonight so we have a night off but we are so tired and don't have much cash so we getting a takeaway and watching a film an TV. I can't believe that we are so rubbish but there you go.

It has been a busy week. I got an essay done, started another one, had planning to do for various services and sermons, done a full week at college, and I now feel that an early night is in order.

You may well have heard that Elise is pregnant! So, I am going to be a step-granny in July - oh joy.

Anyway, because I have the night off and don't have to get up for church too early tomorrow I am off now to have a glass of wine and stare at the telly.

Luis Hardt

I have met some fantastic people via this blog and the latest person to contact me is a woman called Ann who, having read my post about my PhD and the music hall bill I am working on, got in touch with me about a relative of hers who appeared on that bill in 1908. His name was Luis Hardt - the Mighty Atom. She has been kind enough to send me this photo of Luis and some very interesting information about him. She enclosed a contemporary description of his act, which reads:

"Mr Luis Hardt is one of the number of "good little 'uns" who have taken to the boards as professional men. His development, as can be seen from the accompanying photo..., is very handsome and well balanced. He is known to fame as "the Mighty Attom" because of his immense strength in comparison with his bulk and stature. Mr Hardt is a conscientious worker, and exercises daily. He does not believe in alcoholic liquors, but enjoys a good smoke when indulged in, of course, in due moderation"

If anyone else out there has any more information abut Luis Hardt or any other acts on the bill below then please do make a comment here and I will get back to you. Please leave your email address. Thanks



This is the programme for the week commencing Monday afternoon (Monday being the day that the weekly programme changed), April 20th, 1908. Doors opened at 2.30pm and twice nightly 6.50pm and 9pm during the week. On the bill that week were:

1. Overture: ‘Francis the Radical’
2. Ida Katherina: ‘The Dolly Girl’
3. Austins: Comedy Juggling and Dancing
4. Blanche & Powel: In their High Class Drawing Room Entertainment
5. John G. Brandon & Co. In the Famous American Dramatic Sketch – The Girl & the Tough
6. Steel & Laing (Dora & Dulcie): The Meddling Tramp and the Dancing Maid
7. Kenneth & Kane (Sid & Maud) Comedy Duo: ‘Just a Few Words’
8. Capt. Devereaux: Canine Streets of London. A Drama Illustrated by Dogs Only
9. Luis Hardt ‘The Mighty Atom’ and Original Boy Samson in Flights of Imagination – A New and Original Way of Introducing Feats of Strength
10. Neilson Troupe: of Boys and Girls in a Comedy and Dancing Scena entitled ‘An Improvised Rehearsal’
11. Will Walton: Comedian
12. Sarnthaler Troupe: Lady singers and Dancers, in their Mountain Scena ‘ Ten Minutes in the Tyrol
13. ‘Crazy Quilt’ on the Bioscope
14. Tarro Miyake. The Champion Ju Jitsu Wrestler of Japan

phd

I got a letter today from Liverpool University letting me know that my last submission date for my PhD will be March 2009. It seems so odd that having spent all summer writing a draft I now have to wait so long to get it in to them. A twinge of disappointment but to be honest I feel quite relieved as well. Over Christmas I realised that I had taken on to much and it was possible that my brain was going to explode if I kept on trying to put so much in and expect so much to come out in an ordered way. So, I will do a bit at my own pace for a while - just to keep it ticking over - then crack on when I am able to once I am ordained in June. hey ho.

beatle in a box

We are back from Liverpool. It has been an interesting weekend - not without it's tensions but I had a great time. I think next time I need to go on my own and not try to do so much. Trying to juggle Mark and Eva's needs and mine, doing church stuff as well as trying to see everyone is quite hard and it feels that nobody got to do exactly what they wanted and we have come back feeling a bit frustrated and compromised. Having said that we did do so much it is hardly surprising that we are a bit fractious. We got to Bob and Sue's at about 8pm and I had driven most of the way so was tired but buzzing so we tried to find food on Lark Lane. It seems that the combination of the three of us, tiredness and excitement is too much and it ended in a row about food. So, we just fed Eva and got her to bed. Seeing Bob and Sue was great. Bob was very excited about his play and we had a great evening catching up. I spent Friday chilling in the morning, saw Kate who was lunching with Jo and Katie so we had a great chat. Eva went off with Kate to get Maddie from school, I went to see Henry (my new boss and vicar at St Peter's and St John's). We got lots sorted but it was tiring and I didn't leave enough time for a rest before the evening. It is so difficult to rest properly when you re away from home comforts.

I spent 2 hours desperately wanting to get to the Capital of Culture launch event early enough to get a good position to see things but got caught up in other plans and didn't get into town until 7.30pm by which time it was chocker. We had a pretty bad spec but it was nevertheless worth going as being part of such a big crowd is so exciting. I am not sure what I thought of the event itself. It was difficult to make sense of it as we couldn't hear (or see). Seeing Andy Del and Claire Caddick up on the roof with Ringo (who performed in a large perspex container on the roof) was great. I was made up for Andy who considers Ringo to be a hero and the best Beatle. You can see pictures of the event at the offical 08 flicker page.

Did you watch the Culture Show last night? It was an optimistic take on the plans for the year and a good review of the weekend's events.

After the launch we went to see Matt and Kate to find out how Eva was getting on with Maddie - they were having a great time so they had a sleep over and we stayed and chatted for a while until I fell asleep on the sofa and knew it was time to go home. After a good breakfast in Greendays with Kate, Andrea and Andy on Saturday we went into town quite early to have a stomp about and walk from Bold Street to the Dock. There is still so much work to be done in town to get it all spick and span. I am not sure it will be done this year. It was great to wonder about get some bits and bobs and just enjoy being in the city. We eventually made it to the Tate to see the Turner Prize exhibition. I was quite impressed by it, not least for the diversity and depth of the work. Eva loved it and had loads to say about what was going on. She and Andrea had a great time analyzing the work and commenting on it.

We had a little rest before going to see Bob's play at the Unity - if you get a chance to go and see it. The company is called Big Wow - on this week and then probably reprising for Edinburgh. Then I stayed up too late chatting with Chris, Bob, Sue, Andrea and Mark.

Got up for church - Eva and I managed to get it together to go to Christ Church on Linnet Lane (my sending church). It was great to see everyone again and catch up. It seems such a long time since I was there and it as great to see so many new faces as well as hear from old friends. The congregation is getting bigger, it seems like so many positive things have happened.

By the time I got back to Bob and Sue's I was ready to go home - the whole weekend had exhausted me and I felt emotionally pulled in two as I want to make the most of being at Trinity and finishing off work etc but I also just want to get to Liverpool and start my job. The tension I was feeling about my 'old' Liverpool life and the potential for the 'new' one was very hard for me and I found it almost impossible to get things in perspective as we left. We had lunch at Andrea's, which was very kind of her, but I was distracted, tired and to be honest just wanted to switch off and disappear. The journey back was tempestuous as Mark and I fell out over pop music, food and driving. I guess that is how things go sometimes feelings are so overwhelming that they spill out and can be counter to what really should be happening. We should be excited about the future but instead we are fighting against it and trying to make it far more threatening that it probably is.

After a weird night's sleep dreaming about Beatles in a box, big crowds, people shouting to me from far away and being very very small (Freud would have field day with my dreams) I have woken up with the task of writing an essay. It is Mark's birthday so a cake will be made and we will probably be friends again by tea-time.

off to liverpool

I am off to Liverpool very soon. I have to pack for everyone, make sandwiches, have a rest and get eva from school and mark from work then we will be off...ETA 8pm. Staying at Bob and Sue's which will be great though Bob is busy as he has a show on at the Unity theatre. We are seeing the show on Saturday night, Friday we are visiting the new parish, Eva's school and the shops, in the evening we are going to the People's Opening of the Capital of Culture. But it is going to be wet and horrid so I am sure we won't hang about. Sunday we will go to church then set off back to Bristol. Hopefully we will catch up with as many people as possible but there never seems enough time to settle. hey ho...we'll be back forever in a few months (5!!!)

pop music

The BBC has a series of programs running at the moment on pop music called Pop! What is it Good For? Obviously for pop fans and scholars it is a feast of loveliness which is the perfect antidote to the post-Christmas lull. Last night I watched Paul Morley speak to popticians about some pop songs of his choice. He looked st the way these songs reflect something of the concerns of the artists, the impact they had on culture and the way they draw on and develop a pop music cannon. The BBC website writes:

At 50 years of age, Morley is just about as old as pop music itself and in this film he argues that pop has played a central role in the culture of the nation over the past half century. In the post-empire era, pop music has helped give the world a sense of Britain and Britain a sense of itself.

I know I am a complete sucker for pop music and I love it so much it sometimes hurts but I got quite emotional about the way Morley drew out the lyrical content of The Smiths This Charming Man, the iconic shifts of the female image in Madonna's Like a Prayer, and the simplistic complexity of Kylie's Can't get you out of my Head. I think pop music is important and to hear Morley interrogate the three minute pop song in such a loving and creative way was both moving and challenging.

With that in mind I will leave you with The Smiths seminal This Charming Man.



This Charming man

A punctured bicycle
On a hillside desolate
Can nature make a man of me yet?

And in this charming car
This charming man

Why pamper life's complexity
When the leather runs smooth
On the passenger seat ?

I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said "It's gruesome that someone so handsome should care"

A jumped up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things

I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said "It's gruesome that someone so handsome should care"
Na, na-na, na-na, na-na, this charming man ...
Na, na-na, na-na, na-na, this charming man ...


A jumped up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things

I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
Oh, la-la, la-la, la-la, this charming man ...
Oh, la-la, la-la, la-la, this charming man ...

A jumped up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things


Morrissy is a Genius.

pink limo

As promised some photos of my mum's 70th birthday - with pink limo!
more on facebook...

count arthur strong

Have you heard his radio show? If you haven't you must. You really must. It is very very funny - the next one is on Friday 11 January 2008 11:30-12:00 (Radio 4 FM), the last one is still available to listen to on the playback. I have just bought tickets to see him at the Arts Theatre, London on 1st Feb. It is Mark's birthday treat.

back home from Virginia Water

We came back this afternoon having had a very good time with my Mum. Her 70th went off very well. My brother Howard and his girlfriend Annabel had hired a pink limo (pictures to follow) from Portsmouth (where they live) and arrived at mid-day Sat to take us for a drive. We went to collect Auntie Susan (who was very shy about getting in the ridiculous car - but after a few glasses of pink champagne she was a carefree as the rest of us). Eva couldn't believe it, she actually got to sip Lilt from a champagne glass sat in the back of a pink limo. We drove about quite a while then went to the Rose and Olive Branch pub where 20 of my mum's friends had gathered for a posh pub lunch - the R.O.B does great pies! We had a great time and mum was made up with the cake I made (thanks to Liz for the Nigella recipe). We had another little drive about and drank more pink champagne...so to be honest it didn't matter where we went - but mum wanted to visit a few people who couldn't get out to her party. After a while we drove back to mum's flat and carried on with a smaller party there until the early evening when we finally ended up watching some bad tv and mum fell asleep in her chair. All in all a lovely day. The limo being the star of the show.

Today we were in recovery most of the day so took it easy, had a lovely lunch then headed back to Bristol. Mark went off to Foundation and I have retired to bed. But obviously not to sleep just yet. I have the Church Times to read and chamomile tea to sip. So, I'll be off now.

sicky

I hope I haven't got norovirus! I know I am prone to being a bit dramatic about illness but I feel quite sick. According to the BBC "Doctors estimate that more than 100,000 people a week are catching the bug." Though to be honest I haven't been sick so it is more likely that I am still recovering from Christmas food overdose.

Anyway, we are off to Virginia Water in an hour or so. I might not be able to get to a 'puter for a few days so I will let you know how the 70th birthday celebrations went when I get back.

decorations

I have taken the decorations down - with the help of Elise and Amy we sorted everything out and have returned the tree and Christmas box to the attic. I was supposed to be working on my essay on Romans but having spent the morning reading I lost heart and really wanted to sort some stuff out. I had a long list of the this week:
- get my brother and girlfriend a Christmas pressie
- get my mum's birthday pressie sorted (it is a digital picture frame)
- get a new kettle (the old one is manky and boils very slowly)
- clean the car (done the outside but need to hoover inside)
- recycle (plastic bottles - 2 bin bags full, old toaster)
- fill in forms for Eva's new school
- make my mums birthday cake (I have made Nigella's Guinness cake, yum yum)
- sort out insurance for the washing machine
- decorations down
- read for Romans essay

Anyway, all of this is done. Except the reading isn't complete. I am really not in the mood for reading at all. I think I won't be settled until we get back from my Mum's 70th birthday party - which is on Saturday. We leave for Virginia Water tomorrow straight after school. Elise and Amy are in charge at Loudon Bristol HQ. There are a few pizzas in the freezer to keep them going.

I am feeling a bit sicky. Got a poorly belly. I hope this is sorted by tomorrow as we have a weekend of celebrations to get through. My brother has ordered a pink limo for my Mum on Saturday and we're off to a posh restaurant for lunch etc. Eva and my Mum are very excited. I am hoping Mark is going to cope with all the fuss and having to stay in the strange flat at my Mum's apartment block (we have to stay in a flat - which we call the shed - which only has 2 single beds and a shower room in it. There is no TV and it is usually very cold). I am almost out of celebration fizz and really could do with being a bit more settled in order to do some work. but hey ho...it's not often your mother turns 70! I am sure we will have a great time.

wookey hole

Yesterday Mark, Eva and I went to Wookey Hole. I don't know if you have ever been to Wookey Hole? If you haven't I can recommend the caves but the 'theme park' is quite odd - don't go with a hangover or if you are grumpy. We didn't have hangover but we were grumpy and all irony had been left in Bristol which made the experience a bit tricky. Mark had been given free tickets but if I had spent £38 (the price of a family ticket) I would have been very disappointed.

We went to a circus show which was basic and although the clowns were good was a bit of a sham. The acts felt unrehearsed and lacked lustre. The staging was poor and production values almost non-existent. As I say the clowning and some of the skills acts were good but it felt that they had lost heart. Eva loved it though.

The caves were great, I hadn't been in a cave for years and they are pretty impressive. How they had managed to turn something of such natural beauty into something so ugly amazed me. As you some out of the caves you can no longer marvel at the way the water emerges from the rock face but instead are faced with giant plastic fake dinosaurs and tiny weeny follies. A remarkable decision to make and an example of why the earth should belong to everyone and not to a few bonkers developers with no aesthetic sense out to make money. I could only wonder at how long it would take for nature to take over again when the whole Wookey Hole fallacy falls apart?

perhaps if we hadn't been so grumpy, if we had been there earlier in the day, if we hadn't been taken round most of Somerset to get there we might have come at it from a slightly different perspective but I can't say it was an enjoyable day out. hey ho.

first day of the year

I remember writing a list this time last year of ll the things that had changed in our lives during the year. 2007 was another year of great change, it was also a year of consolidation, renewal and refocus. It hasn't been without some disappointments but on the whole I feel I have shifted from the person who worked as a senior lecturer in a University to a person who is nearly ready to take on ordination. I say nearly ready because there is still a great deal to be done before I finish in June but nevertheless it has been a significant year for moving on and stepping forward. So, here are some of the highlights of 2007:

January saw me dating Charity, morrising with Liz and seeing Bruce Cockburn.

February was washing machine disaster month and the month I found I was allergic to buttons. Mark and I went to Florence for a short-break and I got a bit grumpy about writing essays.

March I got angry with Jerry Falwell, got involved in a Foundation big service - unknowing God and got sucked into facebook.

In April I went on a college Mission and went to Belfast for a wedding.

May and we went to Ema and Steve's wedding, to Southall and Cowbridge and Mark had a crisis of doubt.

June was spent writing my PhD and finishing off Trinity work for the year.

July saw Elise turn 21 us go on a few day trips and a week in a yurt but I was mainly writing and speaking to Sara about my PhD.

In August I sorted out a few things - including my curacy (which I had to keep quiet about for a few weeks) and just kept on writing, apart from a trip to Greenbelt we tried to save money and spend the summer in Bristol.

September saw me realise that I was was not going to be able to spend as much time involved in Foundation anymore - the politics of the group was too stressful and I felt to do it justice I would have to commit more time than I was able to, I wasn't able to do my placement at Foundation nor my solo preaches so I had to find another church community to for my final year. I am still a member of Foundation but can't really commit as much time to being an active member. This has made me very sad and to be honest is the biggest regret of the year. I wish I had been able to make this work, but there you go it wasn't possible. I miss the people a great deal and that time to reflect and look at spirituality differently is missing - I haven't been able to replace it. I hope I will be able to contribute a little more once my preaches and placement if complete but that remains to be seen.
On a happier front I finished a draft of my PhD and started being involved with St Peter's Lawrence Western. I started a new year at Trinity and finally got rid of the Saab. Re:jesus blog won an award and we went to see PJ Harvey.

October I got very tired, I did my first preach and was ill. But I went to Liverpool again and finalised the curacy and let the PhD rest for a few months. The relief was palpable. I could just get on with finishing ordination training and doing my theology degree.

In November I was 40 - enough said!

December has been very busy at college and church as one would expect.

So, it has been an eventful year. Many adventures have been had. I am proud of what we have achieved as a family this year and despite a few disappointments I think we have done very well. I know 2008 will be a challenge and we will experience many new changes and challenges. But I am excited about it all - finishing Trinity, being ordained, moving back to Liverpool, starting a new job etc etc. Bring it on...

last day of the year

Well, here we are then. The last day of the year and all is quiet. All our vistors left yesterday and Elise has been at Wayne's so it is just the three of us left. It is very quiet here. Mark went into the Amnesty Bookshop to do his last shift of the year. Eva and I went to Cribbs to take some clothes back and to potter then we went to see Enchanted. Eva has been desperate to see it all holidays - and I think I've been quite keen as well. We both loved it. It had a reasonable sense of self-reflection and irony though I still think the Disney smaltz was a little on the heavy side. The thought of a city lawyer marrying a simple, innocent, Disneyfied pale thin virgin in preference to his long-term designer 'woman of the world' left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. But at least we didn't have to see them snog too much or have any nasty sex scenes. The moral ending was a bit confused and I am not sure if (according to the film) true redemption was found in this world or if we still need Disney to save us???? I discussed this with Eva who was very sure that God would still be involved if it was a 'really true story'. At least one of us can tell the difference between fact and fiction.

We met Mark for a spot of lunch then came home to rest - for some reason we are still very tired and can't be bothered to move from the house again today. We have this made capped plan to go to Wookey Hole tomorrow. We have free tickets and rather than stay at home festering on the first day of the year we thought we'd spend it down a hole in Somerset - and why not?

Well, I hope you have a lovely rest of the last day of the old year...and Happy New Year! xxx

surprisingly busy

It is remarkable how busy we have been. Providing food for large numbers of people, making and remaking beds, tiding up and cleaning loos and keeping the cat away from turkey left-overs has taken it's toll. I think I will need a holiday after all this. Despite all the business I have had a few very good lie-ins. Having my Mum about means that she and Eva busy themselves in the first hours of the morning. I have got used to not getting up until 9.30am - so I don't know how we will get back into a routine of early mornings again next week! Eva is back to school on Thursday, I have an essay to write so will be back to that on Thursday as well. Mark is back at work on Wednesday. But until then there is still a lot of holiday fun to be had...

Phil J is here and we are off to a wedding today on the Glass Boat in Bristol docks. It looks very nice but I have only just about managed to find an outfit. I hate looking nice and tidy. I hate all being dressed up - I feel uncomfortable. But what I have is ok. I think it will see me through the day without being too tight and trussed up. Mark is taking us for 2.30pm start. I will repost back tomorrow.

Apart from that we have visitors for just one more day - so best make the most of it. Then we are going to hide in the house for New Year's eve. Might pop out to the country for a day in the New Year. We have a party for my Mum on Sat (she is 70 on Fri) so we are off to Virginia Water on Friday night after school.

Anyway, Phil is encouraging me to get ready for the wedding now so I had better go and sort myself out now. Hope you all are having a lovely Christmas and getting ready for the New Year.

elf me

Happy Christmas
I have elfed myself...

nativity

Elise and I watched the Liverpool nativity again last night and found it very emotional experience the 2nd time around. There was something about the grounded way they told the story - with all it's impossibleness, confusion, pain and unlikely heroes. It is a challenge to keep telling this story in a way that refreshes us to not just what happened but more importantly why it happened. I think the Liverpool Nativity succeeded in reminding us why this story is still relevant:

God intervened in our world not so powerful people could get what they want but so those who are running scared, who have nowhere to stay, who are not welcome, who are living outside the comfort of society, they get a chance to get what they need. In Jesus we all have a small child full of hope. So, at Christmas we tell this story and remember that the baby Jesus was born in very humble circumstances, had a precarious start to life, was an asylum seeker - a refugee. But his birth was the start of new hope for the whole world.

But I wonder who is listening to this story? Do we like to keep Jesus wrapped up in swaddling clothes, a baby saviour is safer than one that grows up, heals people, challenges society and dies a bloody and shameful death as a common criminal. I wonder if some of us like the baby Jesus more than the grown up one?

I have been sent a few other nativity scenes this year. Each reminding us of other aspects of this story and the twenty first century applications.

The Glasgow Nativity














Walled Nativity, distributed by the Amos Trust - A nativity set with a difference - this year the wise men won't get to the stable.

Poignant, ironic and made in Bethlehem.
Apart from a small administration fee takings go to the manufacturers we work with in Bethlehem.










There has been quite a lot of blogging interest in these modern nativities - Cramner takes a political view; The Cartoon Church leaves it to others to have their say; John Davies has a local view; Steve B incorporates his own advent meditations into his response.

I took part in St Peter's carol service yesterday and despite some family irritations (can't be bothered to even raise them again here) we had a lovely Sunday as the family gathered to watch films, eat and chill out. Mark is at the Amnesty bookshop doing his last volunteer of the year, I am in bed, Mum is making angels with Eva and Elise is watching tv. All is well in the Loudon house. Our own imperfect nativity is set.

not getting better quick enough

It is really nearly Christmas and this cold is doing my head in. I am just about coping with chores but after tomorrow Christmas really kicks in and the festivities begin. It is going to be a quiet one with us. Not too many people (which is odd for us as we usually have lots of extras) Mum, me Mark, Eva Elise and Joe for a short while. We are going over to Bath for Boxing day. Then Phil J is coming over on 28th because we are going to a wedding on the 29th, Andy Del might pop over and it would be great if Andrea came for New Year - but it might be a hope too far. I feel a bit cut off this year and this cold isn't helping. Still it Will be out last quiet Christmas as next year I will be on duty!

I am playing guitar at the carol service tomorrow in church at 10am and I still feel a bit rubbish. Tis cold is nasty. I would love a G&T - but I'm a bit worried that my cold is still hanging about - will it make it worse...what the heck a small one during the strictly last show!

last minute Christmas shopping

I am not doing anything.I have a nasty cold and am stuck in bed - done the cards though which is good. But I hate it here already. Elise and Eva have gone to do some last minute shopping and I may have a little sleep though the last time I went off I have horrid dreams and woke up in a sweat (nice!). I have a bunged up nose and a banging head and want to eat all the food in the world.

Anyway, I wonder if you might need a bit of cheering up as well? If you do take a look at the reviews for Bic Crystal ballpoint pen, medium point, black, on amazon. It is a beautiful thing.

new hair

I have had my Christmas haircut and have decided on purple for the rest of Advent and Christmas. I hope you like it.

dancing

there has been a lot of dancing this weekend. I was dancing about on Friday because managed to put 5,000 words in a reasonable order for this essay (Mark is proofing it as I write so I will have some sort of idea about what more has to be done with it by lunch-time. I have tomorrow to finish it and hand it in by noon tues).

Saturday was Eva's dance class show - she was a reindeer - it all went off well though to be honest I was quite stressed as I was torn between the dance show/party and the church Christmas open day/fair. They were both happening at the same time and the church and community centre are next door to each other so I was popping in and out of both until the dance thing stopped. The tension between the two groups was a bit stressful as well. I got a lovely chocolate cake and some marmalade though and I had a hand massage which was lovely.

In the evening I went to the Trinity college Christmas review. I was impressed with the array of talent and humorous self reflection. I genuinely had a big laugh. Our group did a rendition of Baby got Book which didn't go exactly as planned but was OK (only just) though John Bimson was star of our act. I did have a few sherbets so was having a great time. I loved the cheesy disco afterwards and had a great dance with Geoff which made my night.

Strictly is hotting up - really can't call who is going through but I think Gethin might win. Phil H has a great strictly statistics site which is most useful for updates. I will be glued to the box later for the results and the last Cranford. I will probably pop round to Laura and Paul's for there Christmas do though that's really up to Eva as Mark is off to Stroud to watch the footy so she and I will be doing our own thing.

when spooks and essays collide

I have been having the maddest dreams and I can only assume it is as a result of the stuff I am putting in my head at the moment. I am writing an essay on the centrality of the cross in Pauline theology referring specifically to Galatians and 1 Corinthians (5,000 words). On Tuesday I watched Spooks, which is getting more improbable by the week and is not very well written and just must come to a crashing end soon. Anyway, when these two things collided in my dreams they created a mad dream drama about how I might be able to stop the crucifixion of Christ. If only I knew how to make it stop I could save Christ and the world and ensure things were put back in order. Then I could walk away unnoticed - returning to an ordinary life. Of course that is not how the story ends so after what seemed like hours of chasing about the Middle East I eventually failed, Jesus was crucified and the rest, as they say, is history. Not only did I have to suffer the pain of failure I also had to go through in dream-scape the whole agonizing experience of watching Jesus die (in real time) and the full flow of emotion that this threw up. I woke up scared, confused and very sad.

Last night wasn't much better but this time I had to explain to the Jewish nation what 'covenantal nomism' is. I am not sure it really my performance impressed them.

I tell you I will be very pleased when I get this essay out of my head. I got this weeks copy of Heat magazine to read just before I go to bed - so tonight's dreams could be very interesting!

Help Amnesty stop UK government attempts to lock people up for six weeks without charge!

Amnesty International needs your support for a new campaign called - Not a Day Longer – to stop the government extending pre-charge detention limits yet further and undermining basic human rights.

We’re asking people to sign an e-petition on the Number 10 website stating their opposition, which 600 have signed up to already (and it only went up on Friday).

Sunny Hundal’s leading the bloggers’ charge over at Liberal Conspiracy – the campaign page is here - while Frank Dobson is reportedly doing the same in parliament.

The UK government seems determined to give the Home Secretary the draconian power to lock people up for 42 days – that’s six weeks – without even charging them. Given that the current limit of 28 days pre-charge detention for terrorism suspects is already longer than in any other common law country and is an unacceptable ‘special measure’ that has to be renewed by parliament every year, this new attempt is outrageous.


1. UNDERMINES one of our most basic rights, enshrined in UK law as far back as Magna Carta and now at the heart of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which UK is a signatory: the right for anyone who is detained by the state to be told promptly why they are being held and what they are charged with.

2. COMMUNITY relations will suffer if the Muslim community appears to be particularly targeted for prolonged pre-charge detention. This could have an impact on intelligence gathering and policing, and could undermine positive efforts to engage with Muslims in the UK.

3. IMPACT on any individuals detained for such a long time – in terms of their job, family, house, friendships and relationships within their community – would be devastating.

4. QUESTIONED widely by experts – Lord Goldsmith (former Attorney General), Stella Rimington (former MI5 Chief), Sir Ken Macdonald (Director of Public Prosecutions and head of the Crown Prosecution Service) and parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights.

5. UNDERMINES presumption of innocence –Two months in prison is roughly equivalent to the length of time someone might serve in prison for assault. Lengthy pre-charge detention would impose what is in effect a ‘sentence’ of two months on somebody who may never be charged with any crime.

6. UK ALREADY has by far the longest pre-charge detention period for offences related to terrorism of any common law state.

7. INTERNATIONAL STANDING – it is much harder for the UK to criticise the human rights records of other countries that lock people up without charge when we are doing so at home. This measure would give other countries a ‘green light’ to curtail civil liberties.

8. HISTORY – from Northern Ireland and Amnesty’s experience all over the world - shows that locking people up without charge doesn’t work.

9. STATEMENTS obtained from suspects could be deemed inadmissible at trial if detention conditions are considered to be unduly harsh.

10. SAFEGUARDS discussed are insufficient – the kind of judicial oversight proposed is in no way the same as charging someone and giving them the chance to defend themselves in a fair trial.

This is a pressing issue - the Home Affairs Select Committe were quizzing Jacqui Smith about it today, politicians are discussing it now and the vote will be early next year. I hope you can help us ensure that this measure doesn't get through.

generating kindness

My sermon went ok today - not as fluid as I had hoped but nevertheless it was fine. People were very kind to me and as I had asked 5 people to give me feedback they said some nice things and some useful things which I am most grateful for.


As I mentioned yesterday I gave each member of the congregation a red advent star with a verse from Romans on it. At the end of my sermon I encouraged them to write the name of someone who they felt needed God's hope and asked them to pray for this person during the rest of advent. I then read out the verse as a blessing. It was a simple thing but it seemed to resonate for a number of the older people who spoke to me after the service about how it had moved them and how they now felt they would be able to focus their prayers for hope. One lady, who has recently suffered the bereavement of a close family member, told me that she had put up her tree which she said 'nobody would see', and she hadn't got a star to put on the top. She was so pleased that now she had! Something so fragile and small as a red paper star had offered a bit of advent hope to her. Anyway, someone will see her tree because I hope to go to her house for a cup of tea sometime this week.

If you are up for generating kindness then do take a look at the re:jesus blog as we are discussing inventive ways to be kind at Christmas.

home alone

I took Mark and Eva to the airport at 7am this morning. It was very early to be out and about on a Saturday but I made the most of it. I was in Sainsbury's getting Christmas bits and bobs by 7.30, in town by 9am getting red paper for printing stars for my sermon tomorrow and trying to buy a copy of Dunn's 1 Corinthians which neither SPCK or Wesley Owen had in stock. I ended up in the Trinity Library at 9.30am stressed out because the books I needed were not there but they hadn't been signed out so I have no idea who to ask if I can borrow them when they're done. So, I don't know what I will do about the reading. I guess I will have to make do with 1 commentary and a few general texts.

Anyway, I finished off my sermon and cut out star shapes for each member of the congregation to take away fr Advent with a vrse from Romans:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15.13

which took me longer than had expected. So, after eating lunch, having a little sleep (well I was up very early) and reading for a bit it was time to watch strictly and Robin Hood. I went to Liz and Phil's which was great because the actually like these programmes - unlike Mark who huffs and puffs his way through Saturday night TV.

I am just doing a bit of blogging then off to bed for an early night because I have to be up early to preach tomorrow. It is odd not having Mark and Eva here. It's very quiet, tidy and empty.

long week

It has been a long week and I have finally run out of steam. However, I slept in this morning and didn't get to college which meant that I feel a bit better (guilty but better). I have been tidying the house and have moved on to planning my work for reading week. I have a sermon to prepare for Sunday - if you want to come and hear me preach I will be at St Peter's Church, Lawrence Western at 10am! I also have a 5,000 word essay for Galatians and 1 Corinthians to write which I am not feeling great about. I have done some reading and some vague planning but it is not coming together at all. This is an MA module and the essay will be marked at this standard - somehow my MA in Popular Music Studies and my PhD research into music hall has not prepared me well for the rigors of theology at this level. I have the academic skills but the minutiae of the discipline of Theology is very tricky for a dyslexic brain. I am good with ideas and concepts but not great with detail. Hey ho. I am sure I will find a way through it but at the moment it feels just a little bit intimidating.

I am loving my new macbook. How good it feels to be typing fast and uploading stuff. The only thing is that I can't find a way to change the colour screen for word for mac. I like blue background and black type but it can only seem to do normal or blue with white type. If anyone knows how to sort this please let me know.

Mark and Eva are off to Belfast tis weekend and Elise has gone to Liverpool so I am home alone. Shame I won't have Mark to listen to my sermon. Never mind I have a lifetime of sermons to preach so I am sure he will have a chance sometime. I am going to press on with my essay reading and try to have a rest. Reading week next week will give me a chance to catch up on work and I might even get to do the Christmas cards. I have better go now and do some more work on my sermon.

Taize style worship

Mark came into chapel this morning and took some pictures just before the worship began. This gives a visual flavour of the service.

10.55

This is what time it is. I have led chapel and had a bit of a panic and I am now writing a sermon. This morning's worship Taize style went very well. I think I find the monastic style of worship help me to focus on God and reach out beyond my feelings, physicality and move from my own ideas and projections. Even when I was leading today I found myself being taken into the chants and praising God as well as reaching out to God's mercy. I also felt empowered not overwhelmed by the burdens of the world - sometimes I leave prayers for the world exhausted and overwhelmed. But today I came away feeling like my small steps, my little efforts, my whispered prayers can add to the groundswell against injustice; they might contribute to the sound of fury against oppression; they might reach out into peace. When I am tired, when I feel I have nothing else to give, God steps into that mess and doesn't magically make it disappear but opens up a gap in the darkness for a spec of light to shine in - I can choose to close my eyes and ignore that hope or I can slowly pick at the corners and open it out. So, I am going to spend the day picking at the darkness to see how much light I can let in.

monday

My worship group is leading chapel again this week - this week we are doing Taize style worship. This involves (amongst other things) lighting lots of candles, wearing cassock albs, chanting and extended periods of silence. As there were lots of candles to light I got into chapel for 8am this morning - just as well because the person who was doing intercessions was ill so I had to cover for him, also the laptop and projector didn't turn up. So we improvised our way through and it all seemed to go ok - thanks to the music group and the common worship prayer book.

I was a bit brain dead after it was over though and the prospect of trying to read for my essay or prepare my sermon filled me with horror. So for some reason I decided to go to cribs to finally buy my new macbook. Having received some very generous financial assistance I was able to go to John Lewis and buy one of the peg. It was quite satisfying - if not a bit scary. After nearly a year of saving I now have a new toy to play with. So here I am playing with it now and trying to set up all my systems (the email configuration is taking a while becuase we seem to have lost all the information).

Tonight is Eva's talent show at brownies so there's that to look forward to (not). What a terrible mum I am not wanting to sit through a brownie talent show. I am not sure what Eva is doing - it was a recorder act but due to some mix up with music that changed last week so I have no idea what she is planning to do now. I will let you know. Anyway, for some reason Elise has started to put up the Christmas tree and it has set off a chain reaction of shouting and furniture removal. I have to go....

rested

Today is a rest day. I am just getting started having had breakfast in bed and read the church times and a book about medical ethics. Mark and I also had a long talk about stuff - family, curacy, Christmas, being ill, houses, money. It is amazing how much there is to talk about. So many things going on in out poor little heads. I spend quite a lot of time praying but forget to talk to my husband - In ironic twist of circumstances that needs some attention. So, we are going to spend the day listening to music, visiting friends and resting. Together.