Tonight, I am trying to make a start (again) on my Hamble Valley map. having to bring things home again such is the distraction in the office.

But I am distracted, as I started to write THE BOOK properly last night. From the beginning. Some hope...

But then I found enormous gaps in my knowledge and a total inability to write any linking narrative of any sense. So now I have embarked on a quick journey through the history of the Lancashire cotton industry and the subsequent decline of deep coal mining.
from there, its a relatively short step to the Quatermass films and the comic illustration work of the late, great Jack Kirby.
Really getting somewhere though. Progress IS being made.

Would have been even more successful had I not spent a whole hour on the phone.
At least we have a babysitter arranged for Thursday now.

Dualizm Jori Hulkonnen

Once kindled, the love of birds doesn't go away.

The last few warm days have inspired the gardens round here to come alive. The area was positively deluged with birdsong during the breakfast cup-of-tea in the garden - all very inspiring.
Blue tit, great tit, goldcrest, robin, blackbird, woodpigeon, starling, greenfinch, and most significant of all, a house sparrow!
The regular pair we had nesting here for ten years disappeared during 2005 and these birds in general have been on a massive decline round here with so much new building work going on replacing the old warehouses and stuff.

But perhaps he's back, or one of his sons at least. Up there on the traditional overflow pipe below the bathroom window, clearly prospecting for nest sites. 2004 there were three broods raised from there. He'd be very welcome back.

And this morning, one of those great birding moments that I share with the few birders I still ocntact now and again. Came out of a meeting in Ringwood, and was walking through the gardens to the carpark when I heard Canada Geese calling. Quick look around and suddenly a whole squadron appeared, honking like mad and buzzing the town at only about 25-30 feet off the ground!

Below rooftop level at least. Quite a spectacle.
They just needed some pompous militray music behind them. Fantastic

Trout Mask ReplicaCaptain Beefheart

At last we have made the short trip over to Sunnyfields 'Producers and Growers' market. One of those places we have driven past and meant to drop in to for the last year or so but never quite got round to.
Unfortunately its athe wrong time of year, and the 45+ stalls are down to only just over 20 at the moment, but nevertheless a fantastic range of local stuff available.
Fish and seafood, veg, fruit, bread, jams and chutneys, meat of all kinds.
25 years now as a vegetarian, and I have absolutely no problem with the meats etc on sale here. All properly reared, properly killed and properly cooked - just as it should be. I doubt if my constitution could deal with meat now, but the cuts of venison looked amazing and the home made burgers etc on sale were dressed with fresh salad and smelled very, very tempting.

Which proved again to me at least that its the large-scale factory farming ethic that I object to, the poor treatment of the animals before slaughter and the mass over-production techniques that demand preservatives and all kinds of other additives so that it meets a certain expectation.
Unfortunately that expectation is very low and getting worse.

Took lunch home with us and EVERYONE ate so well it was quite enlightening. They generally do, but this meal was one of the most enjoyable I can remember for a while.

Two huge loaves of fresh (white) bread. I prefer fresh white to fresh wholemeal somehow and it makes much better toast.
Lyburn mature cheddar.
New Forest Honey. Local butter.
Tomatoes, rocket and a delicious root vegetable chutney.
Homity pie and hard boiled eggs.
Flapjack and a massive sponge cake with raspberry jam from Lymington.

Smiles all round.

received an email out of the blue last night from a guy I contacted several months ago re: the Ultravox tour of US in 1979. I send out these things now and then - some people get back to me, some people don't.
Seems he passed my query about the Des Moines gig on a contact of his AT THE VENUE, who has at last replied confirming the event and the date. Better that that, I have now received tonight a copy in the post (that's quick work!!) of Ian Copeland's autobiography 'Wild Thing' which (at least in part) describes his role in organising the tour and setting up the venues.
People are SO kind - they just like to be asked.

This in its turn has inspired me to actually WRITE something.
Been feeling for a while that the research has come to a critical point now.
Ris is not forthcoming with the webpages and struggling with other projects, so I am going to take it forward on my own. SM has been in touch as well regarding the l*nd*nunderl*nd*n project.

and you may ask yourself
how did I get here?

Signed a guarantor form for Biscuit Satday night too - her house is now sorted.
Good of her to babysit Friday. Opens up a lot of options.
She's lined up next to do LW's 30th party, not Nouvelle Vague on Thursday night.

A live gig with my wife? Now there's a rare thing

A rare treat - evening at the theatre with Tx to see Oscar Wilde's classic social comedy.
Last saw this performed in Oxford about 15 years ago, and this performance was as good as that.
Reminds me that whenever I go to the theatre I enjoy it immensely and vow to go more often.

So good to be out togtehr - exactly what we needed. And I'm yet to ascertain why, but I am convinced that it is exctly what we needed to see as well. Absolutely brilliant character observations, filled with traps baited with prejudice and misconception.
Who is honourable, noble and without fault?
Who is to judge?

Why do we take an immediate dislike to Lord Goring, assuming him (as Wilde himself) to be shallow, heartless and without moral character or sound judgement, when he is in fact all these things - perhaps the most rounded character in the whole play?
He gets all the best lines too:

"it is not the perfect, but rather the imperfect who have need of love"

So relevant to my perception of faith. It goes for all those who declare themselves unworthy of prayer, or too sinful, misjudged or misguided to be welcome in church.
God has no time for those who consider themselves beyond redemption, and they have no need for Him.

"only dull people are brilliant at breakfast"

"Nothing is so dangerous as being too modern. One is apt to grow old-fashioned quite suddenly"
I think this is the sublime Lady Markby, but isn't it just absolutely spot on?
If like me, you remain steadfastly unfashionable that you are never in danger of going out of fashion, and there's a lot of comfort in that. Takes away all the shallow, unrewarding race that will always be won by the Joneses

"She wore far too much rouge last night and not quite enough clothes. That is always a sign of despair in a woman"
And Wilde wrote this 140 years ago??
Or was it last week? I'm sure the girl he is referring to was in the shopping centre this very afternoon.
It's not so much 'despair' these days as 'abscence of self'

All in all a very refreshing, reflective experience. Set us up nicely and was the perfect antidote to the midweek blues experienced with Baggins waking up at 3am every day and fraying all the nerves.

Avalon Sutra Harold Budd

Two inspiring days off work - I could easily get used to this kind of work pattern. I think it may be a couple of years away yet, but going into the office for three days a week is definitetly something I want to work towards.

Finally got around to planting the last of the new birch trees in the church garden. A big one, 15ft tall and probably around six years old. I think good value at £140 but it was SSSOOOO heavy and took three of us to lift the sandbag. And we spectacularly bent the wheelbarrow! Went on to spend all morning there, fitted a new waterbutt and did some serious pruning in the courtyard. best job was the half hour or so I spent up on the roof. OK, so I was cleaning sh*t out of the gutters but it was very satisfying and incredible to see the Building and the Centre from such a different perspective.

Yes, I used a wooden ladder and yes I was working entirely alone...

More later.
Phones, and MSN icons leaping around

Siouxsie and the Banshees The Scream

Just returned form one of the most uplifting meetings of the PCC that I can remember.
We focused tonight on the results of our Vision Group meetings, which themselves developed as a result of our Mission Audit in October and the challenge to draw up a seven year Action Plan for the church.
The standing Committee is now tasked with summarising the findings of each group and establishing Objectives.

Who are our 'members'? What ae their needs and how effectively do we meet them?
How do we increase the proportion of members that form the core of the church?

How do we worship in our church, and what opportunities are there for change?
Are we meeting the spiritual needs of our members through the services, cell and prayer triplets we offer?

Are we promoting the church and its involvement with the local community effectively?
Does our youth program and local outreach meet the needs of the community?

What do we do as a church to reach out to the international community?
Should we support specific charities, or finance mission work?

Are we using our buildings and resources effectively?
How are our finances managed? Is administration effective?

Lots of interesting questions, and we ran through each group listening to their observations and suggestions for action.
It will be an exciting challenge to put this Action Plan together, but I am very encouraged by the spirit of unity, the purpose and the vision we now seem to share as a church. We are beginning to move forward in a very postive way.
One very specific and very encouraging event planned for the summer (as part of our 40th anniversary celebrations) is the hosting of a Gospel and Blues Concert by local musician Bob Pearce.
We want touse this as an opportunity to test our resources and ability to put on a large scale event.
Ticket sales, logictics, lighting, promotion, organisation, access etc etc.
Let's test them all to the limit.
Following this, someone is hoping to invite a couple of speakers to come and talk at an event promtoing awareness of carbon footprints,and I have been asked to consider how practical it would be to host an exhibition of Polish art in The BUilding. An excellent idea, because not only does it challenge our resources like the Blues Concert will, but it also provides a great opportunity for the large Polish population in our community to feel involved, to celebrate their cultural identity and develop greater awareness of that culture in our society.

In the sapce of one day, Kink and eher boyfriend have decided to part company and she is lloking now to move in with her friend on a long term basis. The point of no return was reached when he expressed his concern that they could no longer survive financially because she doesn't have a full-time job.

Tells me all I need to know really. I'm sad for her right now, but it's a very positive step she has taken and a very pro-active response to her perceived unhappiness over the last month or three.

The live shows that I condsider cutting down on last year are lining up.
It was to be my intention that I would obnly see local gigs as the travel is what I can no longer face (hence the Luminaire in part) but there are some things that I just can't miss.
Marc Almond has announced a whole series of dates this year , mostly one-offs around Europe, but most significantly five consecutive nights at Wiltons Music Hall in London.
Ridiculously priced at £32.50 each, but I have today booked two tickets for the Saturday (last show) which was irresistible as it is scheduled to feature a guest appearance from Baby Dee.
He's also recorded a new song with Antony Hegarty which I will be downloading from myspace tonight.
Lots of collaboration projects on the go - it seems his recovery is gathering momentum and he's back doing what he does best.
Last saw him live in 2001, so this will be quite an experience.

Before that, Tx and I are going to see Nouvelle Vague next Friday (a gig together which I am looking forward to immensely) and then in March, the Replicas' 08 tour arrives at the university. A strange and somewhat obscure venue but it wil be good to see another show there as its been several years since I last managed it. Apart from catching the back end of BoyKillBoy last summer.

I will have to see the F*xx show at Battersea of course, provided that goes ahead as planned, but the only other show I know anything about is maybe another performance of CO which DeSilva mentioned - obviously out of the question unless it happens to be over the road!

MidMushingGit Metamatics

Third consecutive wake up call at 5am from baggins - it's begining to really get on to me.
Staurday Tx got up with her, and yesterday I had a turn but of course we both realise this is doing things according to her plan, which we have never conceded to with any of her siblings.
So this morning we are battling it out in the bedroom - except that I have given up and got up.
Set breakfast, fed the cat and come online.
Emails and links flooding in to my latest review, which now appears at four websites. Very cool - Mk is so touched an dimpressed by it that he has committed to sending me copies of his first album too.
Great stuff - I really hope he gets a break soon.

The house is quiet now.
Half an hour before the children wake up.
Moods pass quickly - I'm looking forward to seeing them now.

Spoke to Kink yesterday, and experienced again the increasing frustration that she seems determined to bring to my head.
While I am pleased to see her working again, 12 hours a week in a shoe shop with two 17yr olds is really not great. She seems to be moving backwards, and has even talked of moving back home with her mum because she can no longer afford the rent on the flat. Next week she is moving into a girlfriend's place 'for a while' to get a break from the boyfriend with whom she seems to argue more often all the time.
His mother owns the flat they share, and he makes no contribution to the rent and no effort to even look for work. BUt seems to be putting more pressure on her not to see any friends etc or spend money on herself.
She's asked if she can come here for a weekend too, whch I'm looking forward to.
Seriously think that moving in with her girlfriend is what she needs to do.
We have met this girl - she studies her at the uni and I met her in town a couple of times.
And I know they have in the past had a relationship.
K definitely needs to go for it I think in terms of exploring her sexuality. She had two girlfriends before moving in with this bloke and has not really settled in with him. There is a sparkle in her voice when she talks of other girls she's met or knows and I think until she has the confidence to follow it through she will never settle.
She's drifting, and to drift back to her mum's would be a further step backwards and inhibit her personal development even more.

The difficulty for me is to express this honestly and I found myself struggling with that on the phone.
Putting a couple of my concerns down in an email has helped.

Scabbycat has arrived home...

No music this morning. Enjoying the blackbird song in the garden.

At last, a pretty ordinary Saturday in our manic household, which has started to feel a little bit as if its getting out of control lately.
Kids busying themselves this morning with stencils, drawing and other creative 'stuff' (except Flo who chose to sulk upset and start a new jigsaw...) while we jobbed and fixed and tidied and moved etc etc.
Weather not as bad as expected (no rain) which gave us an opportunity to take the bikes down to the river.
Fixed the 'computer' to Flo's which she got for Christmas and then had a few lap games, speed games and all kinds of fun with different 'ometers'.
It was scarily mild though, for mid January, temperature probably 10 or 12°.
LC and Boy made daisy chains.

There was a very unseasonal Bumble Bee pottering around over the grass too, which testifies to the unbalanced state of the local climate at least. Over 4000 in the UK last year apparently. That's just not right...

Then this afternoon, accompanied by a bored and frustrated Biscuit ho can't find a house to share next year, we took Boy to a party in the Play Place. Noisy, over-heated, expensively cheap etc - but no worse than I have come to expect from this environment.

I'm not at all sure this whole student thing is working out for her. She seems to lead a very isolated lifestyle and hardly ever goes out. Perhaps that's the way of it these days? Seems to spend most of her time online talking via intranet to friends in the same block - even the same corridor.
In my day (yaay - I had to get that in, Oh, the irony) we got to know our colleagues, mates etc becausw there was no other way except to go into their rooms or the bar or the local pub. She's been into the city once since October and really could be studying in Anytown.
Which explains to me, at least in part, why she doesn't really know anyone and is finding it difficult to get a bunch of people together to share a house.
Such is the faff and Big Deal they make of looking that she told me today she has already lost one deposit. £170.
Does seem VERY early to be doing this for next October? They have hardly had a chance to meet anyone and get to know them yet really - only one term into the course.

Had a very uplifting and encouraging email this evening from Messrs A & H congratulating me on my review of their album! Really nice touch.
They have asked for permission to post the same on various forums across the 'net and if I agree, to use it as part of the sleevenotes for the promo copies going out to agencies etc in the next few weeks.

More than happy with that!

A bit self indulgent maybe, but I would like to pursue this in some sort of commercial way. Years ago I 'sold' a few commissions to help me through uni, including a couple of comments on Howard Jones gigs in the High Wycombe local papers. Not exactly prestigious, but very very cool at the time.
I've only posted one or two that I consider to be the better ones here, but every now and then I 'practise' by reviewing some of my CDs. Or via email to people who have sent me demos (most recently Corinne Lucy, The National Parks, Device, Ichabod Crane, Baby Dee)

Saoked again this morning, which caused a laugh when I turned up late for a meeting with a client to discuss their new logo. NOt our core activit, in fact far from it, but kind of an add-on as they are already customers of ours who now seem keen to take advantage of our new designer.

Mind you, so do I!...

We have had a few enquiries like this lately, Bizarrely enough including such luminaries as Fred. Olson Cruises, and John Lewis!! That's a really weird one. They are buying an advertising package at the terminals in the spring and want to have some kind of experiential campaign too which needs the support of some new graphics. You would have thought they would have agencies, brands, corporate artwork that just got rolled out but this would not seem to be the case. Its a local initiative, and the local stores want ot draw attention to themselves - especially when Liberty of the Seas is launched.
Plus we've been asked to consider tendering a price for wrapping the magazine dump bins at the Airport.

Not convinced that this is a direction we really want to go in, but as an added value package to exisitng clients it seems like an opportunity to run with.

Lovely.

Tonight it feels awkward up here now as Tx has already retired to bed with her returning problem and another bout of fatigue and exhaustion. was hoping for an evening together doing diddly-squit, but I suspect she's already asleep. Not even 9 o'clock yet

Enjoyed Buzzcocks yesterday. Simon Amstell has made it his own now and this is is his best series so far. Biggins has always had more to him than he let on, and now he is 'real' and not playing a caricature of himself it can only bring on more deserved respect.
And Robyn is gorgeous, which helps of course...

Not often I say this kind of thing about 'celebrities'. I don't even know what half of them look like!
Sad but true, but awareness of modern contemporary 'icons' and news and that is badly lacking. Football is the one with the round ball isn't it?
I'm hopeless.

It is however also true that there aren't a lot of people of the female camp that catch my eye these days as everyone strives to be other than they are and more like each other than is healthy. Perhaps that's what makes Robyn stand out. I'm still hooked on the breakthrough single 'Konichiwa Bitches' and enjoy her live show at Bestival now and then.

Blimey - where does this stuff come from sometimes.

And just for the sake of variety and because I was reminded of this by the J*nk r*c*iv*r stuff I have been playing all week tonight I am listening to

New Judas Huoratron, and
Rakamonie EP Robyn

Another Scandinavian. Confirming what I have felt for a year or more that this is the area that the best new music will emerge from over the next couple of years. Sweden, Norway and especially Finland.

But what do I know...

I particularly enjoy listening to music from artists I know nothing about and have never heard before. That experience is enhanced if the artist is undiscovered, unsigned and uncompromising. My desk is covered with unmarked CD-Rs that have arrived from nowhere in particular with just a stamp for company.

I also have a taste for music that I don't quite understand.
Like this.

J8/nk R*ce*v+r is absorbing, enthralling, irritating, simple, complex and stubbornly refuses to go where you expect it to; unfamiliar, and to Romantics like me with a mistrust and fear of sci-fi, it shouldn't even pass into the atmosphere of my green and pleasant world. But despite the reservations induced by A Message from the Exterminator I find myself waving, setting up satellite dishes in the forest, winding up gramophones and turning my head from one speaker to the other in confused anticipation.
It grates, bleeps and scratches its way into orbit and combines white noise with gentle melody in a way that shouldn't really work.
I don't even understand the track titles, but that's how I know they're good. 'The Cortex Department Room 23' is perfect Ballard, and one of the album's stand out tracks. Monotonous in the same way that the ocean isn't. Distant ships and muffled song. Bells KlingKlang-ing through the mist. Someone should be plucking a harp now, but instead they're annoying me with echoes, distortion and - and what exactly? There are so many reactions here. Am I annoyed? I think I was then for a minute. Must go back there. Not as lost as I feared I was going to get - remember that guitar chord, and turn left.
When you make music like this, Messrs App*r*tus and H*nd, how do you decide when a piece is finished? Perhaps Robin Guthrie, Harold Budd, Michel Rother or Edgar Froese could answer the same question. These are references, not comparisons. And who else shall go to the ball?

Here is the news. It's in the trees - it's coming. Komischemuzikmitbiospherics.

There are times when this sea of sound drifts dangerously close to melody and tune, when the Scary Monsters of Vangelis and even JMJ break the surface. But then I see dead people, and hear their voices, and I am reassured. The title track slides in on the oil from the ghost tanker rusting in the fjords, and Cosmic Nova Dust settles on what is now a moonscape. Perhaps this is futuristic after all - when industry and urbanisation finally get bored with each other. Or am I just pretending to see...?

Now I'm listening for all the references I've been told about and I just keep finding different ones. And sirens. Good link. I love this stuff. Sirens wailing in wartime streets; ego-sirens on emergency vehicles; sirens seducing sailors - all sending Messages to one another. Junk. Culture. White noise. White Arcades. Dancing.
And suddenly it's Celtic. That fjord is Bantry Bay. I knew there would be a harp in here somewhere! Just needed a good rummage.
There isn't? Oh. Must go back to that part too.

Frantically scribbling mental notes. Mapping the fog. Getting no nearer.
I don't understand Morse Code either, but there's a Gestalt thing hidden in here. The challenge is letting the musicians inspire you to keep looking.

Clever waymarking, that's their trick, but God knows how they do it.

© Birdsong 2008. Thanks to Mark

It's not News I don't like, its the way its presented.
Same with football.

This plane crash at Heathrow is absolutely everywhere and really getting on my nerves.
I listen to radio 4 while I'm working like this in the evenings and its been on about nothing else for the last two hours.
Aaaagh! There is always the off switch I know - which I have used, believe me. Keep coming back every twenty minutes half hour or so in between music, and its STILL the same stroy.
Seems like most other stuff has been postponed.
What if? Could it have been? FFS - no wonder I don't do news.
Somebody is even asking about the possibility of a terrorist act.
Fanastic. Responsible public broadcasting and unbiased reporting.

You know those times when, as Pete Shelley put it, Something goes wrong again

My computer froze a few minutes ago. A rare thing.
Restarted, and in the meanwhile went downstairs to get a beer.
The kitchen light blew a bulb.
Out to the outside loo/frijamajig to see what's left from the Christmas party debris.
Only the cheap yakky Czech lager that no-one drank. Only three to go now.
I am challenging myself to consume this before I am allowed to buy anything more sensible.
Opened the bottle and it fizzed all over the floor.

Weird.

Medulla Björk

As a result of our Mission Audit in October (was it that long ago??) we charged each member of the PCC to join a triplet and look at our vision for that aspect of our church's work.
I have tonight been in an enlightening two-hour meeting discussing our vision for Prayer and Worship - the 'service' and its constituent elements.

Interesting thing, prayer. I manage probably as little as two prayers a week, but it seems I have got right the 'time and space for that' bit. The idea of 'arrow prayers' as and when during the day really doesn't work for me - I need to find focussed time for some comptemplative application. Certainly during the service on a Sunday is entirely the wrong time and that is one elemnt that I felt really doesn't work.
We have five or ten minutes of communal prayer, led from the front, often squeeze in between songs.
Sometimes we have too many songs.
On Sunday last, Mr Vicar spoke very well and pertinently of the need for 'a prayerful attitude'. He went as far as declaring that we need a posture, a place, a time and almost a script to form habitual prayer.

Hence we conclude that a Prayer Workshop would be valuable.
As a new Christian five years ago I felt totally bewildered by the idea of prayer - and to extent I still do. No one has ever told me How to pray, or what to say, or how to close, or when to pray, or what to pray about. It's not intuitive and has been a slow process of learning by observation.
Prayer for the self, prayer for others known to us, prayer for the community, prayers for our colleagues, leaders and friends, prayer for the world we live in, prayer for others, prayer for other countries and world situations. Prayer alone in a group situation, prayer alone in a private situation. Communal prayer. Praying aloud. Praying with others. Different levels of prayer and different techniques are required.
I need to really work on understanding this.

We agreed tonight that we need to vary the format of the service more and introduce more opportunity for different expressions of worship. It is too easy and too common practice to interpret 'worship' as 'songs'. That's praise -which is one element of worship.
Worship can be prayer, song, drama, silence, listening, talking. We would like to see different times encouraged.

We would like to develop and encourage a trinity of opportunity. At the head of the triangle is The Service, that two-hour time slot on a Sunday when you go to church to meet with God and friends, to express (through worship) your faith. There needs to be time before and after The Servcie for contemplative prayer in quiet surroundings. One of the most significant problems with meeting in a Hall as we do is the distraction of playgroup artwork on the walls, noticeboards of community events, badminton nets and bowls stacked in the corners etc etc. Which is precisely why I personally feeler closer to God and morer effectively 'fed' when we worship in The Building Next Door.
So we would like to dedicate the room that is a small mid-week chapel to the church permanently, releasing it from the once-every-six-months hire for counselling or workshops. This quiet dedicated space could be offered as a contemplative room ALL the time, signed and left open during the week whenever the centre is staffed.
Second in the trinity is the cell group - between six and nine people who meet in various homes once a fortnight to explore a Bible passage and its relevance to each of our lives. This is a good setting for me personally and I have grown enormously in confidence and open-ness as a result of the cell I belong to. Sometimes its deep and complex, sometimes passionate, sometimes fragmented and often rambling totally off the point. But that is nonetheless valuable and helps people get to know one another. I have learned so much about sharing and giving of myself this way and it feels very, very good.
But with up to nine or even twelve people in that group, it is not always the best time or opportunity for personal, contemplative prayer. It can take up to an hour to go round the room talking baout someone's auntie's budgie, or a difficult personal challenge etc that each of us would like prayer for.
Hence the third element, the Prayer Triplet. And this should be a triplet and no more, meeting maybe once a fortnight with two other people to pray for each other (and other issues) with time for quiet, support, reflection etc.

In addition to this it would be very valuable to encourage couples and families to pray together and for each other. We are trying this out as part of our new year package, but shamefully haven't included the children in this. It was quite difficult tonight to admit that we never pray with our kids, or encourage them to do any church at all outside church...

The other main conclusion we drew is that our services in general lack structure and cohesion. They are comprised (most of the time) of wonderful elements that individuals do really well. Notices, Setting the Scene, Songs, Reading, Talk, Prayer etc - but often with a differen tperson in charge of each of these bits. And these people never meet beforehand and often don't tell each other what they are going to do around whatever the theme is for that week.
There is rarely anyone linking the material or the elements together,and even more rarely is an Order of Service organised and shared around. All too often we have moments when people in the congregation don't kow what is happening next, which way to look, whose turn it is etc. BUT - and here's the difficult bit - this slightly shambolic, Heath Robinson, wing and a prayer approach is what makes it all so charming, real and effective on many levels. We all knwo its like that, and we all love it most of the time.
But perhaps it can be exclusive? Visitors do come and then not return. Is this because we appear disorganised, amatuerish, choatic/ Someone once said to me that our church is lacking an alpha male figure. True enough, a fai rpoint. We lack the ROLE of an alpha male rather more than we lack the individual concerned.

So we would like, somehow, to introduce some glue to the proceeings. A littl emore organisation, flow and cohesion to events to maximise the 'efficiency' of The Service.
And not to be afraid of the empty spaces, but use them as an integral and forceful part of the design. "Guided Spaces". I like that.

We got a lot done and a lot talked about.

Tomorrow I lead a staff meeting at 9.30. What the company needs is more cohesion, mmore structure and more dynamic leadership.
Funny that.

And tonight we got the last outstanding deposit from people coming on Holdiay with us. That's eight 'families' now filling all the rooms - 25 out of a mximum 27 people. The logisitcs of who sleeps where (even in which HOUSE) could be an interesting challenge.

Out of the Blue ELO

Don't be afraid of gaps, silence and white spaces.
Without them, sunlight would not get through.

Turns out that the posting thing is a problem with AOL users.

Hardly surprising. Do people really consider that to be an efficient ISP ?in this century??

Sorry people, but come on. There are 12,346,789 better options

Real Gone Tom Waits

Maybe I flatter myself, but it seems that for some technical reason no-one is able to post comments on this blog.

Not many people do anyway, but it's not just that any more. Apparently you can't.
Even if you might have wanted to.
I have chaecked the FAQs and all my settings are correct.
So I've posted a request for help too. We shall see.

In the meantime, I'm celebrating the completion of my 'homer' tonight. Dspite a resolution not to work on Sunday nights again.
Justified to myself by taking Saturday off as we didn't get back from the Farm until quite late after an exhausting day.
Always difficult there when it rains (and bitterly cold too...) so we spent no more than half an hour in the paddock.
Chaos in the house though with a visit from the zany Great Aunt and one of D's mates.
I'm always so impressed by his relationship with all his friends - many of whom he still sees regularly even from schooldays.
This is a quality I much admire, myself being more inclined to move on more or less whenever I move house or circumstances change.
I am more one of those people who keep just a small handful of close friends with whom I have survived the years.
Tx is the same, so we understand each other like that very well.

But I do have much respect and admiration for them as do it differently and are very good at and keen on keeping in touch.

It was effectively our third Christmas, with a big exchange of presents. And three birthdays too.
Lots of cake...

Arrived home to find the year's first CD-R on the mat and I am currently listening to the very 'uncomfortable' Appar*tus and H*nd, whose promo is called Junk Rece*ver. Not even going to attempt a review yet, but there are some interesting elements. Sounds mostly like radio 'interference', morse code and acoustic guitar, but there was a rumble of deeply distorted vocal on one track at least.
I have still to detect any sense of melody or tune - but it's not turning me off?

I feel like Peel - so many people send me 'stuff'. Why is that?
Elements of Holger Czukay's Movies at the very least, but the reference to OMD's Dazzle Ships is much less obvious.

A far cry from the in-car entertainment as we battled through a storm on the M3, but it was such fun to have even the kids singing and Boy getting his first serious go with an air guitar...

Bat Out Of Hell 2 Meatloaf

Rain - and lots of it.

Inspired last night (thanks pip...) and stayed the course to complete eight of the last ten maps in this project.
Also listened to some great music through into the early hours - during which time I found myself experiencing Revolver for the first time in over a year.
really engaging and fascinating album still. despite a million plays over the last twenty years or so it manages to offer new things all the time - and was nowhere near my all time top twenty albums recently. An oversight of the highest order.

It's so obvious that this is the field in which the seeds of many F*xx songs germinated - from Sl*p Away, Endlessly, S*tting at The Edge of the World, through My Sleeping, An Ocean We Can Breathe, Morn*ng Glory, She Was, Sa*l*ng on Sunsh*ne etc etc
It goes on and on - a real treasure trove of inspiration, ideas and creativity.
The Beatles gave up writing hit singles and became a credible and significant band with the release of this album.
Forty years ago or something.

Return to the leisure centre this afternoon to start a course of swimming lessons for LC. She's the fourth to go through this and we have been attending sessions now for eight years. Good to see at least two of the instructors haven't changed either - the older women there are so, so good with the kids. And Boy too has settled much better into gym this week.
Could be logistically difficult though sorting them both out with changing etc, but if it oes as well as it did today every time I can't complain.

By His grace we have been blessed with co-operative and relaxed children in whose company we can grow so much ourselves.

Revolver The Beatles

Having turned up a 'hidden' LG gig last night at the Nozstock Festival in H & W last summer I dug out a couple of albums. Very enjoyable.
Just need to pick up a copy of the latest "Goodbye Walnut Road" and I'll have the whole lot.

Seriously under-rated musician who deserves a lot more recognition for his versatility and plain silliness.

Stayed home this evening instead of leading the cell group, but now I feel guilty despite getting four maps done today and receive notice of a payment into the account from my November invoice. Hurrah.

Corsham and Burford.

Closed Gone Fishing Louis Gordon

… A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, some flowers, £20 and a scarf. Takeaway pizza for tea and a phone call from her Dad.
She smiled. "One of the best birthday's I've had for a while". Simple, but effective.
Surprise visit from Biscuit with theatre tickets this evening, full of news about her plans to move into a house at Easter with some friends, ahead of the usual runaround in July when second year students usually settle in to places.
Good to have her back in town - perhaps we can see more of each other this term.

Three today, which means I am down to the last ten. It's becoming a real slog. I'm still not entirely well apparently, and feel desperately tired. Two drawn up in the office today which was far from ideal, but I just can't seem to quite get inot late nights at the moment.

Feel up against it somehow, and that's unusual.

Should manage to send the 08 PG to print tomorrow - just one ad short.
Looks good, but not as much improved as that for Hamble Valley. Start to plan for D's return on Monday and have set myself up to present him with a list of tasks and responsibilities which I also talked over with J and T today. both reacted very well, and J was very positive about the vision statement for this tyear that I dared to present.
Even MP seems happy to accept the direction and questions and stuff that I put to her this afternoon, so I think it should be fine. It's different of course with D being my co-director but he has insisted himself on being managed more.
I expect it will eb a difficult week as he tries to find his place again and re-assert some mis-guided authority. I'm looking ofrward too - it will be a relief to have some of the responsibility shared out again.

Insert Parallel Universe Zea

First new album of the year, and it's not a bad start.

Issue 171 of Mojo includes a compilation entitled OK_Computer which is basically a selection of experimental and more innovative electronic releases of the past 40 years. Attracted to it because of the inclusion of the wonderful Burning Car, which is probably the highest profile song on the album.
Other classics from Numan (Down in the Park) and the very wonderful Circus of Death by Human League. fascinating band - until 1980...
Apart from these, Fugiki & Mayaki and Tangerine Dream are the only bands I'm familiar with.
Xela,sound especially interesting though, and I want to play Zea again now.

Minchinhampton

OK_Computer Mojo compilation

Spend pretty much ALL DAY in church yesterday. Took the older kids over at ten so they could rehearse their scene-setter for the 11 o'clock service. Stayed for the meal after this (which made a profit for the first time EVER...) and then helped witht he washing and clearing up while Tx took the others home jsut to collect all the stuff fro LC's party in the church hall at 4pm.
Two people then came in early just after half three, so the party itself ran on for two hours.

Very good for the most part, and quite satisfying as its the first time we've really done a 'traditional' party and hosted/catered ourselves.She love dit of course but got too tired and silly, and it was rather spoiled by her Big Brothers manic 7-yr old friends running riot at the at the end, bursting all the balloons and chucking teddies around!
Big day itself today and she's had a million presents (where on Earth are we going to put them all???)

One thing I've noticed with kids though. A week or so after Christmas (and even today with all the birthday presents) there is a sigificant and noticeable return to the old toys - as if there is some comfort and reassurance in the more familiar. She's chosen not to use any of the new stuff but has played with Play-Dough all afternoon and left the new toys unceremoniously scattered across the lounge floor.
And I can't remember what they got for Christmas as its already ben 'put into the cupboard' in favour of this month's craze - jigsaw puzzles.

All that is except for the 20-Q thing. Piece of crap.
It knows Your Mind and can (apparently) work out what object you are thinking of by asking Twenty Questions. Clever piece of logic programming etc and it does, occasionally, get it right, but more often than not it can't guess.
has proved spectacularly unable to guess 'the sun', 'baby' , 'wine' for instance among many. many others.

Infuriating when it asks you, for instance 'is it round?' and 'you say 'no'. Three questions later it says - "I'VE GOT IT - IT'S AN APPLE".
Huh???
But everyone is very amused when asked whether or not said mystery object is 'bigger than a duck?'

First management seminar today.
Exhausting but useful. Covered a bit too much of the basics. SMART, SOFTEN, SUMO, Gantt, belbin, Paareto, Nordstrom etc etc.
Looking forward to the challenge of trying to put some of this into practise, but not quite sure how things will pan out.

Standing Committee this evening.
The PCC has a new treasurer! Hurrah!! Thank you. My role to oversee the handover between now and April.
The FSC on the first Sunday of the month is failing ot deliver anything. It's the only servcie that all the children stay in throughout and the talk/prayers/songs etc are not hitting some of the older people in the congregation as a result. Even I find it shallow and unsaisfying soetimes. I think it is unnecessary to pitch to the kids because they aren't listening anyway so it may as wel go over their heads and at least meet the needs of some people.
Seems though a preferred option is to re-introduce the Sunday School groups for this service too...
Not convinced about this myself.

Very tired. Falling further behind.

Sideways John F*xx and L*uis G*rd*n