Saying No for stewardship
Say no, so that you can keep your commitments that you have said yes to.
A man, above all, recognizes his duty and therefore does not accept it lightly
A man, above all, recognizes his duty and therefore does not accept it lightly. He understands that his word is his bond, exercised by everyday actions and daily decisions. He will not waft through life selfish or disconnected, like someone who carries a fickle mind. A man, a real man, will not make promises he cannot keep, and chooses his words as carefully as he does his commitments. And because this man honors his words, he is in turned honored in his actions.
And while years may fall carelessly from the calendar, and the world may pass us by like a reckless wind, it is never too late to man up and mean it.
ibid.
Teaching their son to be a man
I would tell my son that he must never walk away from what he knows is right, and though it may be hard to stand tall against our enemies, it is even harder to reach for the sky opposite our friends. I would tell my son that he must do both, always and without fail. A man who goes along with that which he knows is wrong, whether it is to be a part of something or simply because it is easier, will see less than he wishes when looking in the mirror.
We may not need to wear three piece suits, seven days a week to look our best, but that doesn’t mean we should leave our houses looking like slobs. Proper grooming reveals our respect. Respect for ourselves, respect for those in our company, and respect for those we happen to meet. Proper grooming is not the sole domain of the affluent. Soap is cheap and time runs in equivalence to air.
My boy will know to open the door for his wife, because every day he watches me open the door for mine. Somewhere in the midst of the feminist movement, there was a misunderstanding. Just because we are no longer required to do something by the reduced laws of society, doesn’t mean we never should.
A good society - one which makes it easy to be good in.
Simple and nice.
Vietnam - Saigon and Hoi An
Arriving tired from his Dubai adventures, our hero catches a taxi to the Pham Ngo Lau area. His taxi driver has taken him for a ride, charging him 20 us dollars, when half that would have done nicely. Never mind hero.
He crosses the road slowly as instructed, with eyes closed, as seems right. It is so busy he will either die, or a miracle will occur. He makes it. Miracles 1, Mr Death 0. He has booked his hotel before arriving, so is quickly settled. His room noisy, right next to reception. Neuman! he exclaims.
He goes to sleep early and wakes up at 2am and finds the tv fairly boresome till noon.Wandering around, he locates a coffee shop, meets up with and AFL stars sister and is generally scared. He finds a few bars and susses them out. They are OK. He buys a photocopied book for too much money. He drinks Saigon beer at Go2 Cafe, and Allez boo and Le Bar.
The next day, being perhaps a Thursday, he plans to tour the mekong delta at 8am catching a bus. He sleeps till 2pm and misses the bus, losing his 10 USD. Coffee and a german girl complain will shortly ensue.
He discovers Notre Dame Cathedral and goes to mass there, in Vietnamese. He goes to confession with a priest that can barely speak english. He gives himself 1 decade of the rosary as penance as the priest seems to have forgotten that. This is OK, as he likes to assign to himself more than the customary 1 hail mary.
He is still tired from his Dubai experience of chasing the girl and not feeling at home.
He spends a restless night watching tv and plans to travel to An Hoi, as he has heard good things about their tailoring. His flight leaves at 3pm. He travels there and is greeted at the airport by his hotel taxi driver.
His room is not ready. They give him another, with 3 beds and fantastic finishings. He likes.
He sleeps at 2am. He likes An Hoi, it is quieter than Saigon.
He meets a friend and has beers for 12p each. He likes this place. He seems some temple ruins without much explanation. His tour guide is called Spider man.
He eats again, and says goodbye to his friend Emily he has seen here. He feels human for 10 minutes today and nearly has optimism.
Will he go to Thailand or fly home straight from Singapore? He will sleep on it. He is reading Ian Rankin's last Detective Rebus novel and wants to buy his first.
Dubai and everything after.
Thurs 6th November... - Arrive at airpot with friend. Taxi to Dubai Marina, Radisson SAS. Check in as Laura's cousin. Spent day indoors as too scared to go out. Read note from Laura to say hi. Out with Laura and work colleagues at night. Someone from KPMG picks up bill. Meet Paul and Dan and James and Jorden. Drinks at Barastis after, John is over and Laura is chatting to him. Drinks back at James' apartment till about 6am.
Friday - Day off for Laura and Gang. Beach perhaps. Night time, catch up with Dan's friends Ben and someone in the Greens for a bbq/pizza. Lovely people. Perhaps drinks back at chez Laura.
Saturday. Day 2 for weekend. Not sure what we did today.
Sunday - ATK sleeps in for ages and thinks that he will not be able to wake up to go to mass at 5pm. But he does, at St Francis, Jebel Ali. Trying to get home from the church, there is no taxi. He hails a passing lady. A lovely irish lass - Evelyn. Not really how you spell her name, it has more a's and bh's in it. ATK goes to Madinat Jumeraih with Laura. Dinner outside, Arabic style. Early night as both quite tired.
Monday - ATK gets the big red bus tour round Dubai. Meets Lahn from Aus. Goes for dinner tonight with Evelyn. At Madinat Jumeriah. Lovely.
Tues - ATK goes to Water world on the Palm with Lanh and friend, great day. Tries to fly out. He does not have visa for vietnam, they won't let him.
Wed - ATK drives around Dubai in taxi trying to find visa place. He fails.
Thur - ATK goes to Abu Dhabi, capital of UAE to get visa. He does. He is happy. ATK goes to horse racing with Evelyn. Gets home 3am Laura and Jorden still up.
Friday - Weekend 2 in Dubai. Quiet day. Fast food tonight. Watch 2 Weeks notice.
Sat - Palm Jumeraih apartment and beach with Dominic and Laura and Dan and Ballerina. Lovely place. Sandstorm.
Sunday - Movie, James Bond with the Dubai bods.
Monday - Quiet day as i fly out from Dubai to Vietnam, second time Lucky!
i carry your heart with me
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
e e cummings
I Loved You
I loved you; even now I may confess,
Some embers of my love their fire retain;
But do not let it cause you more distress,
I do not want to sadden you again.
Hopeless and tonguetied, yet I loved you dearly
With pangs the jealous and the timid know;
So tenderly I loved you, so sincerely,
I pray God grant another love you so.
Deep Space Nine Review - Badda Bing, Badda Bang
Vic Fontaine's holosuite program has a malfunction that transports it from the 1920's to the 1960's and under the control of a mafia man. Vic is going to be evicted.
The team bond together to make a plan to get the new owner kicked out by stealing his money.
The plan is enacted with only a few hitches.
A holosuite program. But why? Because it's fun for the actors. I see that. Because it gives the writers something else to explore. OK.
I am quite glad that Captain Sisko keeps out of the holosuite.I hope that we never find out why.
Despite my misgivings, I am happy to see Ezri in another setting. Changing her hair makes her a whole new person.
Nice music.
Chicken with Parmagiana. From Jamie
To prepare your chicken
- Grate your Parmesan
- Pick the thyme leaves off the stalks
- Carefully score the underside of the chicken breasts in a criss-cross fashion with a small knife
- Season with a little pepper (you don’t need salt as the prosciutto is quite salty)
- Lay your breasts next to each other and sprinkle over most of the thyme leaves
- Grate a little lemon zest over them, then sprinkle with the Parmesan
- Lay 3 prosciutto slices on each chicken breast, overlapping them slightly
- Drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining thyme leaves
- Put a square of clingfilm over each breast and give them a few really good bashes with the bottom of a pan until they’re about 1cm thick
To cook your chicken
- Put a frying pan over a medium heat
- Remove the clingfilm and carefully transfer the chicken breasts, prosciutto side down, into the pan
- Drizzle over some olive oil
- Cook for 3 minutes on each side, turning halfway through, giving the ham side an extra 30 seconds to crisp u
Berlin of Germany, Wall of Wallness
Early days and long ways out.
Meet Joe and Mads and baby bub
Take the plane and in Tegel some grub
Bus from airport with GPS and timed route
Get off and walk, hope it's this side of the road
cause the other goes up and this one goes down
find checkpoint charlie and cross the wall
The english hotel is really quite nice
go out for a walk and a waspy bagel
find
Day 2
Rise and put the bags in storage,
Try to find a tour from FriedrichStrasse Bahnoff.
Run into an aussie with drink on the brain
Find Terry the tourman, old englishman Sir
See bricks made by porceline architects,
The jewish sector has stories to tell.
Walk for 8 hours get tired and rest.
Catch the train to Potsdam and rest at art'otel and around.
Have your first Oktoberfest beers with shots of shots
the bub will sleep well, with alcohol milk.
Personality of Me - Easygoing and sociable - Phlegmatic/Sanguine
I do love it when I finish a piece of work, so rewarding!
If you find yourself “stuck in a rut” or avoiding making the extra effort required to make an important change, take time out to analyze your goals for the future, realign your priorities to reflect your values and, if necessary, seek spiritual direction to ensure that your values are aligned with God’s will for you.
Good advice
A danger for the phlegmatic-sanguine is to be satisfied with achieving less than what he is capable of
Hmm
They have deep feelings, hate negative criticism, and become discouraged by negativity in those around them. They are strongly tempted to repress their own wishes in order to preserve peace in a relationship.
Agree
Virtues and Vices
Strengths and natural virtues:amiable, calm, collected, composed, conservative, coolheaded, cooperative, courteous, constant, content, deliberate, dependable, diplomatic, dry, easy-going, efficient, even-tempered, fair, friendly, gentle, good-humored, kind, level-headed, meek, mellow, mild, modest, neutral, peaceful, philosophical, polite, quiet, relaxed, reliable, self-controlled, self-possessed, serene, sincere, sober, stable, steady, sympathetic, tactful, traditional, understanding, undisturbed, unflappable, untroubled, without hostility
Weaknesses and natural vices:
apathetic, boring, distant, indecisive, indifferent, impassive, inattentive, lackadaisical, listless, lukewarm, obtuse, passionless, procrastinating, sluggish, slow, simple, spiritless, unconcerned, unenthusiastic, unopinionated, unmotivated, unresponsive, languid, content with status quo, lack of aspirations
Famous Phlegmatics include Keanu Reaves. Hmm
Germany, Berlin, Potsdam, Kurfürstendamm
Berlin - Friedrichstrasse 31, Berlin, DE, Angleterre Hotel
Potsdam - art'otel potsdam, by park plaza - Zeppelinstr. 136, Potsdam 14471, Germany. Castles, bombings, buildings, KGB
Hotel Castell am Kurfürstendamm , Wielandstrasse 24 , Berlin, 10707, Germany - retail center and Church
Evensong in Windsor Castle, Adventures round London
She
She is cute and sweet and fun and she said my eyes were very brown and that I had nice hands and that she couldn't quite "get" me. and she might just like me.
Touch TNT Series- The French Team ( plus a few others )
Our "French" team, Jen, Scotty, Damo, Paully, Aidan, Sonia, Brendon, Claire, Wadey, Daz, Kiwi,and photographer, supercoach, supporter Anthony. + Other great supporters!
To his Coy Mistress
Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love's day;
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood;
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.
But at my back I always hear
Time's winged chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found,
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song; then worms shall try
That long preserv'd virginity,
And your quaint honour turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust.
The grave's a fine and private place,
But none I think do there embrace.
Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may;
And now, like am'rous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour,
Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power.
Let us roll all our strength, and all
Our sweetness, up into one ball;
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life.
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.
![salad_with_chicken[1] (1)](http://lh5.ggpht.com/akendrick451/SL5w735rFkI/AAAAAAAAMQM/gYEu4jR6TDM/salad_with_chicken%5B1%5D%20%281%29%5B4%5D.jpg)
Will it matter in five years?
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/08/will-all-of-this-matter-in-five-years.html
Ask yourself this question when things go wrong - You fail and exam - will it matter in 5 years? Probably not.
Use this to plan your life to, from small things - is brushing my teeth worth is - probably it will matter in five years, to more important, should I watch tv or work on my project? What will matter more in five years? To the big - will what I do for work matter in five years? Maybe, by earning the money, you can achieve your dreams outside of work, but what if your work could matter in five years also? Hmm.
My current job is like a dung beetle..
"My current job is like a dung beetle trying to mate with an epileptic cow"
From Dilbert.com . Classic!
A few good questions
If you was to collect anything, what would it be?
Probably phones because I would love to have 3 - 1 for work, 1 for going out and 1 for sport
What would you eat every day if you could? - Fruit.. and I do, but if it were some other food.... It would be pasta with chilli and bread and butter. hmmm
What is your favourite breakfast, your usual? - Favourite Bacon and eggs and herbs and semi dried tomatoes on ciabbata. Usual - cereal and apple and banana.
What would you never wear? - Polo neck jumpers. Just doesn't work for a guy.
Who is your best friend? - Gordo and Damien and Wright and other family members
What is something you do that you wish you wouldn't do? - Waste my time doing useless tv channel changing.
What could you spend hours doing? - Reading a good novel. If I get really involving with coding something also, I can spend ages doing that.
Hrvaski - Croatia
of bus trips with coastlines that shimmer and breathe
of bus trips with coach drivers that go with their whim
Land of soft drama and love of quick talking
with fresh splashy water and heat that's a warmth
Old cities of buildings that draw breath away
Of workship and nature that's melded together
Hvala and Dobra and Nema na cemu
Of Islands and ferrys and old women rooms
And people of friendly and straight talking type.
Women of beauty, the beauty of nails
Hot and cold passion, never lukewarm
Hard outer shell that's so changed when it changes -
To soft and vulnerable as she sleeps on your shoulder
The Ability to Break Hearts
Commenting on Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis said the above.
It does. Aragorn, Frodo, Sam, Faramir, the two princeling hobbit in their return to the shire and how they have grown. The numerous times that hope seems lost and on the brink , some good news comes. The Lord of the Rings, breaks my heart. In a very happy way. If theatre and poetry and prose is to help us to train our emotions, then Tolkien is a supercoach. Drink of his riches.
Lewis spoke these words after reading The Two Towers.
Ankle Sprain - Ouch
Here is my ankle, 3 days after injuring it by twisting it in a hole at touch football. Ouch. The doctor suspects it is just ligament damage - perhaps out for 3 weeks. Hope it's not longer than that.
Anyway, it means that I miss my touch team's grand final this Thursday!
Heal foot, heal.
Not painful, and I can hobble around the house without crutches.
About me - Archived Sun 17th Aug 2008
Cheap Simple Phone
Can you get a cheap phone? Pay as you go from the carphone warehouse £30 with £10 credit for the Sony Ericssson T250i. Not too much special functionality, but it looks great and it works.
Da Vinci Code Publisher Kills “anti-Muslim” Book
August 8th, 2008 by Catholic League ·Print ·ShareThis
According to an article in Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal, Random House has reneged on an agreement to publish a novel about Aisha, Muhammad’s young wife. The Jewel of Medina, written by Sherry Jones, allegedly has some racy material, enough to provoke one of the writers who vetted the book, Denise Spellberg, to warn the publisher that it could inspire violence. Random House decided not to publish the book for “fear of a possible terrorist threat from extremist Muslims” and concern for “the safety and security of the Random House building and employees.”
Addressing this today is Catholic League president Bill Donohue:
“There are several issues here. First, where is the outcry from the academic community about the scare tactics of Denise Spellberg, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin? She was the one who sounded the alarms and even got her lawyer to warn Random House that her name was not to be associated with her demagoguery. Second, it is known that the woman whom Jones is writing about, Aisha, was, in fact, six years old when Muhammad wrote the marriage contract; she was nine when the marriage was consummated. So now no one can write a historical novel about his perversions? Third, Doubleday published Dan Brown’s anti-Catholic novel, The Da Vinci Code, and Doubleday is owned by Random House. So what does it take for Random House not to offend religious sensibilities? Threats of violence? Great message.
“The Catholic League will continue to speak out against anti-Catholic books, movies, artwork, music, plays and the like, and we will continue to do so by exercising our First Amendment right to freedom of speech. And we will continue to blast all those phony ‘free speech’ advocates who remain silent about matters like this. Next time they accuse us of censorship for merely voicing our objections about anti-Catholicism, we will be sure to throw this one in their face.”
The future of Housing - Dome houses
AKA Build your own hobbit house!
08 Aug 2008
Styrofoam dome houses at Aso Farm Land (Photo by: Erika Snyder)
Dome House interior
[Via PinkTentacle]
Time stops for no man
I have come to the end of my working visa, so I can still travel, but will have no money. What to do? I plan to go back to Australia to get my Tier 1 visa ( new name for Highly Skilled ). I will to do this asap that I get back. On the way home, I will
- Cycle round london
- Drive round England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland
- Drive round France, Spain
- Fly and tour Egypt and America maybe.
London is about Pubs - The frog and Forget me not
Lovely little pub that I visited near Clapham Common the other day with Jen and Luke.
Love’s Labour’s Lost Review
Great stuff, good fun.
2007, Shakespeare’s Globe
- Director: Dominic Dromgoole
- Designer: Jonathan Fensom
- Composer: Claire van Kampen
Self-denial is in fashion at the court of Navarre where the young King and three of his courtiers solemnly forswear all pleasures in favour of serious study. But the Princess of France and her all-too-lovely entourage have other ideas and it isn’t long before young love, with its glad eyes, hesitations and embarrassments, has broken every self-imposed rule of the all-male ‘academe’.
Cast
Rosaline: Gemma Arterton
Sir Nathaniel: John Bett
Costard: Joe Caffrey
Katherine: Oona Chaplin
Moth: Seroca Davis
Holofernes: Christopher Godwin
Berowne: Trystan Gravelle
Ferdinand King of Navarre: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Maria: Cush Jumbo
Longaville: William Mannering
Dumaine: David Oakes
Jaquenetta: Rhiannon Oliver
Boyet: Paul Rider
Princess of France: Michelle Terry
Dull: Andrew Vincent
Don Armado: Timothy Walker
The Merchant of Venice Review
2007 Shakespeare’s Globe, London, UK
by William Shakespeare
- Director: Rebecca Gatward
- Designer: Liz Cooke
- Composer: Adrian Lee
Portia, a wealthy heiress of Belmont, sets her suitors a challenge. He who wins it will win her hand; those who lose it will lose her hand and much more. In Venice, city of consumption, speculation and debt, Bassanio borrows money from Antonio to finance his attempt. Antonio, in turn, takes out a loan from the moneylender Shylock. The loan will be repaid when Antonio's ships return to the city. If they should fail and the money cannot be paid Antonio shall give to Shylock a pound of his own flesh. And they do fail. And Shylock will have his ‘bond’.
Airports
Airports are good places to write. If I were a writer, I would journey to one even without a ticket, just for some inspiration. Rain slowly fell, struggling to make it to ground, like a reluctant boy dragging his feet to school after the holidays. It pretended to avoid its final destination like a man zig zagging his approach to speak to a cute girl at the bar, the droplets proceeded, pushed on only by the force of the drop behind it, like a sleepy commuter in tube people traffic.
While writing, I would of course desire good coffee, and airports, being airports would provide some pale imitation. One might peer outside at the planes, these huge flys these beasts of the air.
The grey all around the skies made it difficult to believe it was summer. One knew of course, it was a logical deduction from a calendar, but to really be, summer required more than a date. Summer is a belief that life is good and bright and happy. That it's right to drink beer and smile at being alive.
I suppose that if you had been having some poor sleep recently you might dread the prospect of a 24 hour flight. You might just wish you could sleep somewhere, or rather, knowing that you can't, you might wish for an injection that made you feel refreshed. And the prospect might daunt you, you might try to focus on the movies that you would watch and the excitement of new people or old friends newly seen that travel brings.
It is 8pm London time, that means 5am Sydney time. That means that I should stay awake for the next 12 hours. One coffee would not be enough.
3:10 to Yuma
When you go to see a Western movie these days, you expect guns, you want manliness, and a good ending. Well, two out of three aint bad.Crunching gravel and clicks of guns. Fine performances by Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. Though Russell does seem to play himself in most films.See it again rating: I'd see it again in about 10 years.From the director James Mangold of Walk the Line and the sweet romantic comedy Kate and Leopold.
Richard Branson book Screw It, Let’s Do It
 |  |  |  |
Not as good as his later autobiography. Short compared to his other autobiography – Losing my Virginity. Compare 256 pages to 624.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
1. Write everything down
Men are born to write… Whatever he beholds or experiences, comes to him as a model and sits for its picture. He counts it all nonsense that they say, that some things are undescribable. He believes that all that can be thought can be written, first or last; and he would report the Holy Ghost, or attempt it. Nothing so broad, so subtle, or so dear, but comes therefore commended to his pen, and he will write. In his eyes, a man is the faculty of reporting, and the universe is the possibility of being reported.
Getting to Oxford from London – The Oxford “Tube” Coach
You want to go to Oxford from London. You can drive, quickest, quite easy. Lovely.
Or you can get a train. Nice, bug can be expensive if you haven’t booked early. On the day I checked, it was… (check, maybe £20-30 ). If you can book early, and get a £10 return train, then this is a great way to travel.
And then you have a coach. The Oxford tube or Oxford Express, the price is the chief advantage of these, £15 for a day return.
The Oxford Tube Coach had 8 seats down stairs facing each other with a table between. I think these would be the best seats for use with a laptop.
Upstairs is all normal coach seating. Nice airconditioning. A toilet is also available on board. The Sunday morning 9am trip was only about half full. Which meant I was ale to have 2 seats to myself. A blessing for a good journey.
The journey by car, takes about 45minutes, but coach, that time is doubled, to 90.
The Merry Wives of Windsor Review
| Rating, 4.5 Globes out of 5 |  | The music, The costumes, The fun |
| It’s fun, accessible Shakespeare The most laughs I’ve had at a globe performance to date. |  |
Just a reminder that the most enjoyable performance by an actor or actress, went to the funny character from the Merchant of Venice, I think
Other plays at the globe I’ve seen.
| 2008 Season | |
| King Lear | 8 out of 10 Amazing storm and eye gouging scene. Wow. |
| The Merry Wives of Windsor | 9 out of 10. Such fun. |
| Love’s Labour’s Lost |
| 2007 Season | |
| Othello | 7 out of 10 |
| The Merchant of Venice | 8 out of 10 |
Other Reviews:
***** "Christopher Luscombe’s production brims with humanity, ingenuity and irresistible charm, and boasts a magnificent Falstaff in Christopher Benjamin... Serena Evans and Sarah Woodward make one of the funniest double acts I have ever seen on the stage... As we all stood up to applaud at the end, I felt that this was not just theatre but the capital at its very best" Sunday Telegraph
Touch Rugby Spring Clapham – Good Season. Yes Ma’am and Touch and Go
After a good season we came 2nd in both or finals last night.
We lost the mixed in a drop-off about 4-3
We lost the men’s by two, about 5-3. It was good to play Shaun and Zhayne’s team again. Their team played really well.
We led both comps the whole way, but lost it at the final, missing a few players – Lukey, Johnnie, and carrying a few injuries.
Both very entertaining games, and well reffed by an injured Chris Wheeler. Bring on the Summer Season!
The following are the tables at the end of the comp, but before the finals.
May he rest in peace.
An acquaintance in Queensland, Australia passed away recently. Please keep him and his wife and kids in your prayers.
Eternal rest grant unto him O’Lord, may perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace. Amen
http://livedthere.co.uk/
When coming to live over in England for a year or so, one of the chief struggles can be in finding a place, a cheap place to stay. One of the pitfalls can be that you have to move someone quickly, so you end up not being able to find the best place.
A new website will help. It’s called lived there and the premise is simple, and I think great. If you have lived at a place, you review it.
If you have found an add for a place, you can check this site and see what reviews the landlord and the place have. Genius. Wish I had’ve thought of it.
If you are renting in London now, give it a try, review a previous, or even your current dwelling. You can post the reviews anonymous. Go on, do it now, give something back.
Wordl – Word Maps
Wouldn’t it be great to see a word map and learn which words you commonly use, which people are even subconsciously important to you? Well, you can! Simply take some text, say a few blog entries and paste them in to http://wordle.net/ and generate a word map. Here are two that I did.
The first, from my review of the Chartres 2008 Pilgrimage:
The second, from my resume:
Magic, Mystery Derren Brown
For my birthday my brother bought me tickets to see the english magician Derren Brown. He is a wonderful performer, has a number of tv shows.
He is nice performer, when a lady asked him to predict if she would be a millionaire, he told her that he would not answer yes or no, because it could affect her for the rest of her life. He was genuinely concerned not to mess up her life.
At times he seemed too good to be true. His predictions were spot on. He guessed types of animals, eg you have a cat.. no rabbit, names eg I am getting the name of a person it's like Susan, but with a different spelling Suziz... is there anyone with that name... yes.... He told us that he didn't use stooges, but he was so good, that I think he needed to convince us more.
Wonderful man.
Relationships and finance. Tips for the future.
1. Sit down and talk about financial goals and values
one person might want to be frugal in order to save for future goals,
while the other might like to spend and enjoy things now, while the
getting is good. The differences often come from different upbringings,
and they can be emotionally charged.
Remove emotions from financial talk. From your first
meetings about financial goals to your subsequent weekly talks (see
Step 5), it’s important that the two of you stay calm, don’t get hurt
or angry over any of the issues, and try to look at these issues
objectively
Review your goals regularly.
Above all, stay positive and be honest. Remember: you’re a team
King Lear at the Globe
Sailing to France from England? Not quite
Thanks to our Froggy friends, my planned sailing trip across the channel has been redirected. Looking forward with both trepidation and hope, I learnt that the French were protesting about petrol prices and wouldn't let boats use the port at Cherbourg!
Never mind. The Beatrice C with her owner and captains Victor and Karoline, and with sturdy crewmates Mike, Jon, Wayne, Jasper, Dave and myself, we pottered around the south coast of England, near the Isle of Wight.
Our first night we slept on board at our berth in the little river at Hamble and in the morning we slowly sailed to Lymington in the 49 foot Hallberg Rasse, 22 years old.
And then we went to Cowes for the night. A lovely little pub on the Isle of white for some table dancing.
The weather proved changeable and, despite the fact that we couldn't make it to france, we did have a good time!
Thanks Victor and Karoline!
Chartres, A Chrisitan Pilgrimage, the Eldest daughter of the Church
2008, 26th Annual Chartres Pilgrimage
Day 1. Harder than expected. Faster pace. Longer day. This is gruelling.
Day 2. Better, but still tough, very long, but with a slower pace. Did I mention very long?
Day 3. Easiest day of all, even accounting for loss of walking ability due to blisters and sore joints.
---------------------------------------------
Before the Beginning
I have packed my own tent. A one second tent. I hope this will work. Tony Pead, an old friend from Sydney has arrived. We dine out on Friday night with Maria Macgregor from Newcastle and Liz, from Liverpool. We have a bit of a drink, the weather is so nice. I eat tartiflatte for dinner ( with memories of the last time, cooked by Simon and Antoine in the French Alps) in a small french cafe where the food is quite reasonable. We are staying in the 11th Arondisment, the Hotel Belfort, a ten minute walk from Bastille. Bed at 1am. Maria and Liz will be up at 5am to get the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris and register Liz. Tony and I sleep in a bit, hoping that after all the prayers and things, no one will leave till 7 at the earliest.
We get up, I am anxious to get the taxi, and wait a while for Tone to finish packing. He does. It is five minutes to seven. Even on the metro, we will be late. What's the worst that can happen, I think.... Um... My bag will not get on the truck and I'll have to walk with it for the 12 brisk hours today. Hmm that's a worrying thought. Let's hurry. There's a taxi, he'll get us there in time.
Ahh yes, the Cathedral, all the trucks are still here, but ours is full, and in broken french and english, we are told to put our stuff,not on Paris Sud, but Pastereux. Ok. I take a photo of the banner so that I can remember it.The english are not to be seen. They must be in the Cathedral. We spot a man speaking out language and have a chat. He is a father or a teacher at Chavagne, the international school for boys in France. They have a chapter of about 20 boys along. I spot the Irish, who are always up for a chat. I say hello to Eamon, the leader of the group, and Jean-Peter, the man from Holland who loves to walk with the Irish, he is an honorary Irishman.
The beginning. The English, the Irish, the pace
At eight 8am the pilgrims appear, we have ascertained that we will be walking near the front on the first two days, and just about last on the final day. With over 10 000 pilgrims, the difference between the front and the back is 1 hour, and a whole lot of psychoogy. I note where the Irish and American chapters are also walking. I wish that we could walk and camp closer together.
We start walking, I say hello to Madeliene Readings, who has some tendon problems with her foot, but is walking on pain killers. She is such a trooper, and such a kind soul. I spot also her sister Grace and Gregory Flash, who is leading the youth chapter, under the banner of St Alban. It is sad to see that Richard, the irishman from last year has not made it. I think back to the previous year, with Karolina, with her Australian flag, and Liz from Canada and Bec Freer and James' sister. Good times. I wonder what this year will be like. I say hello to Liz from Liverpool and Maria Macgregor and the organisers, Francis and Julie Carey. I spot a few more familiar faces from last years pilgrimage. The english have been walking for 15 years, and it was started with Francis' parents way back then. There are a number of people on this walk who have done all 15.
"It's all well and good going on a religous walk, but this is just too much. Can't someone tell these french to slow it down a bit?"
The pace out of Paris and indeed all of the first day is enough to shock anyone into thinking that it's all well and good going on a religous walk, but this is just too much. Can't someone tell these french to slow it down a bit? We try to get ourselves in to the spirit with singing. Faith of our Fathers seems right. Oh how I wish John and the Wills girls and Stephen Smith from the Ballarat to Bendigo were here.
Our first stop is after 3 hours. The heat is making walking difficult and people are getting sunburnt already at this early hour. We have an apple and a bun, and stretch. We are off again.
Our lunch is held in a less picturesque clearing than in previous years. We speculate why. Not knowing much french, and probably not even being informed in that language, we don't get much information. I think that it is to let more people be able to see the altar. And if this is the aim, they have done a fantastic job. The mass is amazing, so reverend, especially amazing since we are in a forest. Maria and Liz and a new friend of ours Daniel find some shade, while most of the English chapter sit in the blistering sun. At communion time, it is so busy that we don't make it.We move off all too soon, and we are all feeling a bit the worse for wear. Maria has had blisters from a day or two before, never a good start to a tough pilgrimage. Daniel and Liz are finding it MOST surprising.
This afternoon is probably the hardest bit to walk, and we all try to encourage each other. Father Mark Withoos is doing a good job with rosaries and songs on the loudspeaker. He has been studying in America and has brought 20 americans with him. Two of them nuns in their full black habit.
We look to our right, and see a small blonde boy struggling, walking slowly head down. Maria asks him his name and tries to find out where his parents or guardian is. No real response. We stay with him until we get to the "rest stop", which is a sit on a gravel car park. We deliver him to the hands of the bus people. Strange boy.
The One Second Tent
At camp that night, we struggle in. It is still nice weather, and I set up my tent. I'm a little tired, and so the 1 second turns into a few minutes, but it is up on soft grass. I have some room and privacy. This is great. I have camped right near the speaker, but it's loud everywhere, so I assume it won't be so bad tomorrow morning, will it?
We dine together after a brief wash. We share out rolls and chocolate and sweets. It's a communal picnic amongst the five or six of us. We visit the large communal campfire and watch some scout activities, before dropping by the chapel, and hitting the hay.
Friends, Walking and Walking. The longest afternoon
It's horrible. The blaring voice at 5am welcoming us to a new day and saying how wonderful it is. All in french. And all very very loud. I rest for another 20 minutes and then pack up my tent, quite well thank you. I put my stuff on to the truck. Maria and I make a preemptive strike and go to the bathroom. By the time we get out the english have disappeared. Surely we are not behind already? We check the sheet, and the french cries of devant, devant... forces us to run for about 5 minutes. We make it. I tell you, it's every man for himself here.
Daniel is here, so we walk with him again. We pray the rosary in latin and english. Maria teaches us the french version. Je vous salut Marie... It's lovely. I meet 2 canadians who are walking with us. Anjulie and her sister. They are doing a month long tour. Every second year there is a Canadian chapter. This year, the english host the canadians. They have never done a pilgrimage before, but are fairly fit from horse riding and caving and possibly other things. They have lovely voices and are a pleasure to speak to.
Our lunch this day is taken at about 11 am. We stop early. I think that this is going to be a long afternoon. I eat tuna and bread and bananas and chocolate and fall asleep hearing Tony chatting to a big French scout beside me. I wake up for the mass. This time we make it to communion.
We head off, I'm feeling fresh from me sleep and in good spirits. Somehow, I have beaten this pilgrimage. I have eaten well and feel fine. We walk for about two and a half hours, I'm still feeling good. Chatting with Maria and Daniel, who works, or rather, as he says, is employed by the Royal Mail. His mother has cajoled him to coming on this pilgrimage, and I think he likes it. The pace today is slower than yesterday. Maria and I remisc about the mud from last year. A lot of mud.
This day is long, and even if you think that you are ready for a long day, it is longer than you think it will be. You think that the last bend is just around the corner, but it is soooooo far. Towards the end of the day, we get our first glimpse of the Cathedral. Maria and I have skipped ahead of the chapter, as we don't want to get left behind again, and if our pace drops, as we expect, we will end up with the English anyway. We kneel when we see the spires and sing the salve. They are a long way away. And so apparently is the camp. I remember years ago, with Jane and John and this is where we got some chocolate from Tom Windsor, and I think it is what kept me going then.
Maria's blisters are causing her some pain, as is the general joint problems that come from walking 30 miles a day for two days. We help each other out, telling stories of school and the past to forget about the present.
We do finally make it, and the English chapter have caught up to us. We setup for the night and have a small dinner. As there is no cloud cover, the heat vanishes quickly. I opt not to have a wash. We drop by the small chapel for adoration. My heart swells. It is encouraging to see so many people at benediction when they must all be suffering. I stay for a few minutes and say some prayers, asking for direction in life, for help for all my family and friends, especially those who've been on pilgrimage with me before. We head back towards the beds, but stop off at the toilet. The line is stupidly long for 10pm at night. We head to bed.
Day 3. How can this be the easy day?
Tired from walking 60 miles. Blistered, lacking sleep and with 14 miles to go. How can I be happy and looking ahead positively.
In the women's tent, one person awakes later compared to yesterday.. at 5:30am, and asks "Why is that maniac not yelling at us to get up?". We have a chuckle. We were all thinking it. Laughs are welcome. We get to sleep in today, till at least 6. Some other people have got up at 3am and started packing. It takes all sorts.
"Why is that maniac not yelling at us to get up?"
We are walking at the back today, possibly in the last group. Maria and I grab some coffee and hot chocolate. WE don't have our mugs with us, so see two great looking milk cartons in the bin, and use them for mugs. On pilgrimage, you do what you have to. Even if it means scrunging in the bin. We bump into two americans around the camp. Mother and daughter, Susan and Gabriella. They have in a sense both been tricked in to coming. They are cheerful and friendly. I ask if I can walk with their chapter for a bit of today. I meet Joshua from Texas? and Katie Walker and a few others. I sing Chez nous with the head of their chapter, and find that I am one of the stronger voices for that song. How I love it. I learn that last night, one of the American's big tents went missing, so they had to divide up their one tent for men and women. I speak to two guys who had to sleep outside the tent. It was freezing last night. Poor souls. They are quite cheery about it. Pilgrimage people are weird.
I leave the US at the first stop and wait for the English chapter. I wait at least 45 minutes. They stumble in. Here's Daniel and Tony and Liz, and Madeleine and Grace. I can't see Maria. Maybe her blisters have gotten the better of her, and she has got the bus, or has fallen behind. I feel guilty, I should have been there to help her and talk to her. She is stubborn and it will hurt her if she were forced to get the bus. I ask timidly Liz where she is. She'd run ahead for the bathroom. I see her now. She is well. I walk with the English again. This day is easier than the other two. The end is in sight. We practice Chez nous and the Pilgrimage anthemn - Chartres Sonnes, Chartres T'appeller, Gloire honour au Christe Roi.
We get there. We have not made it inside this year. Even the flag bearers do not get to enter. Again Maria and Daniel and I seek out the shade. There is a large screen outside and good speakers, so we can hear the mass.
We have made it!
We dine again that night after fantastic showers and a small mishap were we nearly lost a young lady of our group. But just after 8pm, at La Belle Epoque, we gather and talk about the day and or best and worst moments.
Gabrielle and her mum Susan drop by. This so lovely. They are leaving at 3am for Malta.
We drop by the Irish at the Boef something and have a whiskey and a quiet chat.
Hopefully some grace has been gained, some good done. Hopefully.
Till next year, Chartres Sonner.
The first day, the Saturday had such great weather, that come nightfall, most everyone is pleased to be able to wash from the large sinks with cold dribbling water provided. The forced check of our wristbands, identifying us was quite annoying after walking for a 12 hour day. Perhaps it is necessary, I just wish that there were a better way to do it.
For next year, suggested foods to bring: Bananas, at least 3 for each day, they are great. And 2 apples per day. Pizza for lunch, chicken for lunch, tuna and salads for lunch. Lots of chocolate. No need for smelly cheese, or StinkKaiser, as the germans call it, and boy does it stink. Saucisson, overrated.
A good visual explanation of sleep apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Related Brain Deficits Beaten By Green Tea Compounds
Chemicals
found in green tea may be able to stave off the cognitive deficits that
occur with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a new study
published in the second issue for May of the American Thoracic
Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Related Brain Deficits Beaten By Green Tea Compounds
from the link:
People with OSA have been reported to have increased markers of
oxidative stress and exhibit architectural changes in their brain
tissue in areas involved in learning and memory.
OSA has been increasingly recognized as a serious and frequent health
condition with potential long-term morbidities that include learning
and psychological disabilities […],
Nice website for graphs - Many Eyes
Suicide and Protestant, Jewish or Catholic
http://services.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/view/S9_5xLsOtha6MAkCepzxL2~
Ballarat to Bendigo, Lewisham photo albums
Some old photo albums... ballarat to bendigo, Lewisham
For Katie and Christian, on the occasion of their wedding April 2008
slightly constrained by constraints that she takes.
Cheekily full of that thing we call life,
longing for love and something that's nice.
Sharing her talents and love of such things;
be it music or resting or travelling the seas.
And silently suffering when no one's around
so she's strong on the outside when you see her so proud;
Longing for that which she's always longed for,
combining her passion of Christ and a man -
A man, a guitar ... a guitar and a song
with eyes just for her, and proposal along.
She trying for goodness; deep caring for friends,
giving and loving like winnie the pooh, triumphing well in such innocent joy
Now 2008 and wedding is near,
from London to Sydney's a long way to care, but
I wish you the best andb I wish I were there
Happy wedding to her and to Christian her man,
peace be to both and family become.
