Read a few pages in the Saturday paper this morning over my cup of tea.

Convinced me more than ever how uninteresting and generally shit the media in Britain has become. It's not the news, or the sport, or the TV etc that I find uninteresting, it is the way these things are presented.
The following (short) rant is a rare example of social commentary on this ere blog.

For instance. Accompanying a 'story' about Wayne Rooney's wedding/family etc (how is that of any relevance anyway...) is a small picture of his fiancee's friend at a party flashing her boobs at the camera. The picture is 'licensed' from Hello, and has a couple of logos strategically placed covering her nipples.
The caption describes her etc etc, and suggests ' a bit of help from us to protect her modesty.' One, its not help from the paper, its an integral part of the Hello license (otherwise it would say the newspapers name or be a black square) Two, its not to 'protect her modesty' - its a legal condition of the paper and the whole topless woman thing. Three, why would a girl who is happy to flash her tits to Hello magazine photographs at a public bar need her 'modesty' protecting anyway...

Second story. Another young girl has gone missing in the Midlands, a nine year old called Shannon something.
Reading behind the headlines is always so much more interesting. There is a last known photo of her shown leaving a leisure centre after a swimming lesson with school, wearing her 'distinctive' red furry Bratz boots.
At school???
She was last seen by her mates walking home after the coach dropped her off at school.
Walking home alone??? She's nine years old.

England is going to the Dogs Kai Motte

My second post of the evening (which probably isn't a great idea) but I wanted to make a note here of my thoughts on the Chris Watson album "Weather Report" that I have played a couple of times in the last week or so during the evenings.

Even by my standards, it's weird. It's not even, almost, or is it, actually 'music' at all.
Founder member of the extraordinary (and I know far too little about them) Cabaret Voltaire in the late 1970's early 80s, Watson is now one of the world's leading wildlife sound recordists as well as being a member of the experimental industrial noise scientists Hafler Trio. I've mentioned this before, but I hadn't really played it then.

This is an album that consists of three 20-minute pieces, each a 'reduced' time compression of a much longer project recording the various effects of weather on our lives and landscape
Ol-Olool-O is a fourteen hour drama in Kenya's Masai Mara from 0500h - 1900h on Thursday 17th October 2002.
The Lapaichis the sound of a Scottish highland glen through autumn and into winter during the four months of September to December.
Vatnajökull presents the 10,000 year climatic journey of ice formed deep within this Icelandic glacier and its lingering flow into the Norwegian Sea.

I think your reaction to this album depends on how you interpret and define 'music', which isn't something I've really done before and probably can''t do very effectively in five minutes.Wikipedia describes 'music' as: an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner.
This album doesn't feature instrumentation or vocal tones. Its made up of the sounds of the natural world, from the electricity of storms and the sound of wind and rain, though birdsong, animal calls and noises to the creaking and reverb of glaciers and ice fields. But that makes it sound like a 'sound effects' album from the BBC wardrobe which would be ridiculous. Although it is exactly what Chris Watson has recorded before.
What makes this album different from that is his treatment of the sounds and the way he has compressed the aural projects into short pieces, organising, structuring and repeating the sounds to create atmosphere, rhythm, emotion and harmony.
It's very, very clever and haunting. The sound of serious rainfall is mesmeric.

Tx hates it of course, and it has pushed the boundary of 'ridiculous' even further into the abyss.
Perhaps its a preparation for my forays into Polish and Russian traditional music which should be much easier to bear.

So that's the half term? I've been at home all week.
Must have blinked. Missed it.

Finished the decorating in the second bedroom midweek, and then spent most of the afternoon Wednesday assembling the bunk beds we bought that morning. Somehow we have shuffled the furniture around and created considerably more floor space than we had before despite having the three girls now sharing. Gave E and F two nights on their own to give them time to adjust to the new beds, and then last night moved Baggins into the cot bed vacated by E as she moved up to the bunk. Worked out well - she had a disturbed night, but by no means one of her worst and we're convinced now the whole thing will work out well.
Probably something we have been putting off for a while to be honest, as it does rather mark the beginning of a whole new era for us. Baggins has been in our bedroom probably two months or so longer than any of the others were so last night was our first with out her. Maybe we will not have children sharing our room ever again? Scary thought.

It's been a difficult week. I've spent so much time on the computer working that I haven't felt much like spending time here in the evenings as well. hence all the things I have wanted to do for church and all the music I have wanted to play simply hasn't happened.
Much harder to work here than it used to be and I am suffering in general from a lack of motivation. If there we three of me I could perhaps get most of the things done that I want to do. As it is,I have been feeling increasingly often lately that I am only just holding it together.

F*xx has announced a tour of Australian - which is totally unexpected and not something I have been talking about with Ris in our most recent conversations. Likewise the performance of the Quite Man in Leeds in November. i thought there were a million things happening this year - seems there are a million and two.
Haven't touched the biography either for more than a week, which is awkward as I have now lost momentum again.

But then I have been out and enjoyed two nights of live music this week - all in the line of duty. Tuesday night, Mr Vicar, Bunday and I met up in the Dolphin to discuss plans for the church's 140th anniversary this summer, accompanied by the sounds of Louche Manouche. They combine guitars, violins, double bass, mandolin, clarinet, flute and vocals in a style brought to the fore by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in the bars and cafes of Paris in the 1930s. probably the city's most "in" alternative band at the moment. Very, very good.
Considerably better than 'born-again' (I HATE that phrase, but it's one he insists on using) blues veteran Bob Pearce who played with his band in the Platform on Thursday. Again with Bunday, I went to check out the first professional act committed to a performance in our Building in September. He's a big fan, and has talked Bob into playing the church - an answer to prayer for both parties. We are looking for a showcase evening to show-off potentially what we want to do with the space in future, and Bob is looking for opportunities to play his new Christian worship songs and present his testimony to a wider audience as well as his own loyal fanbase.
But I found his music to be unoriginal and uninspiring ("that's the blues for ya"), until he played some of his newer material. this works well, but again the arrangements and song formats are boring and over-familiar.
But but _ I have difficult tastes to please, and it is a popular style that will hopefully draw 500+ people in for the show in September.

Bored now. Seems I can't play music and write at the same time.
Could be a difficult night. Currently playing The Pleasure Principle again, but I feel some exploring is needed. I will ending up with either Walker, Dee or garland no doubt.

Must look out for some more material by Barbara for these times, and I feel an urge to explore the Polish cultural sound a bit further.

Struggling to understand Chris Watson's Weather Report which was in a package send to me recently.
Blurs the edges of our understanding of what constitutes 'music'...

Making My Way Back Home Bob Pearce

Wrote this yesterday but it refused to post...???

One of Those Days. We can laugh about it already, such was the ridiculousness. Is that a word?

Now there's an idea. two ideas in fact.
A dictionary in reverse.
I've got a definition, now how do I find a word for it?
I need a word to describe, for instance, an alphabetical list of words and their associated meanings...

Second idea - is it possible using the technology of the world wide web to search using pictures??
Here's a butterfly I saw today - what is it?
Here's an actress I saw in a film - who is she? etc

That's what having Kink here does for my head. Flippity flop. Trains of thought get derailed very quickly.

First off this morning we had a man in to move a radiator in F and E's bedroom, and check out the lighting that keeps blowing bulbs in the loft. £200 later he has done both jobs very well, but left me wondering what state the rest of the conversion is in after describing the wiring circuit to the lights as 'illegal and potentially dangerous'. Great.
We have to get some different lights immediately that can be used and changed safely without an earth cable.
Is that normal, to have no earth cable in lighting circuits?
While this is all going on, furniture pushed into the middle of two rooms etc, and dust and plaster everywhere, the car is in the garage. Dad has spectacularly failed to get a replacement part for the windscreen linkage assembly that has broken. We've had a week with no wiper. Or rain.
Seems like an easy job to get the ball joint or part of the arm but no - apparently we had to buy the whole assembly. Dad was told this by garages, dealers and breakers yards. Andy at the garage we use explained the same thing. We've used him and his dad for years. good men. Honest business.
But the part still cost £199 and then took four hours to fit. Bits and bobs, VAT etc. No change from £300.

Meanwhile, Noonah is busy emptying the kitchen cupboards and dropped a china mixing bowl on her foot.
Broken toe? Hobbling around with a nice big purple bruise.

Work has been shit too. Far far too much going on. Overloading the stress levels.

Caretaking at the church this weekend. A job I don't enjoy.

And tomorrow night we are off out for a friend's 30th birthday meal with a group of people we don't otherwise know. Strangely looking forward to it...

I'm not generally comfortable with pictures of myself, but here's an entirely spontaneous one taken after the prayer meeting last week.

We are running a Giving in Grace campaign this month, and I am explaining my earlier comments on the treasury. We have very little money, but we have been made too feel for too long that this is a problem and we must on no account spend anything. What we have is a gift, an opportunity, and a test of our courage. We should spend, not frivolously, but carefully and in a targeted, considered way, and in a public and expressive way. By giving like that we will inspire confidence and vision in those around us and encourage others to do the same.

Giving is a gift, a privilege that more people need to realise the value of.
What you give is what you get.

Pleading poverty is a very negative attitude and one that can only re-generate itself.
Like boredom and apathy. Do nothing and you get more tired. Propagating by self-replication.

These people make me feel very special, and in so many ways we are all very good for each other.

Faith and church is about so much more than religion and God. Enlightening, fascinating, refreshing while at the same time challenging, purposeful and complex. The mix of humility and pride is hard to explain, but I feel I have such a long way to go with this. An understanding of people and concern for others that I never even knew I didn't have.
You don't know what it is you haven't got, until you have it. That's what I mean by enlightening.
Self-awakening, self-awareness. Self confidence and self respect.

Selfish arrogance... its a thin line. Prayers for patience, understanding, vision.

Light of the world, You step down into darkness.
Opened my eyes let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you

I am at a loss to know where this comes from and why this hat feels so comfortable.

I'm two thirds of the way through the book "Northern Lights" for the second time and enjoying it even more than previously.
Seems therefore a perfect time to watch the film Biscuit passed me a week or three ago.

What is it Lyra says on meeting Iorek Byrnisson?
"I was excited. And scared. Now I'm just disappointed." Something like that.
For a film that lasts only just over 90 minutes its heavy going and difficult to follow.
Seems I can review music, but not films. Probably because I don't watch films.
I accept that the film is 'an interpretation' of the book, and there are many events common to both, but there are so many plot lines, key details and character studies missing that I think anyone who had not read the book would struggle to understand it. Maybe that's the case - the film is meant to bring to life the book and is targeted at those who have read it? Well then if that is so, why deviate so much and patronise the (young) audience with this dumpling of a movie. Surely people aren't so stupid they can't follow a story line? Perhaps young film goers are - and perhaps the film is designed to appeal to others who have NOT read the book? Which I'm sure it must fail to do.

It's a shambles. The significance of the daemons are SO understated its almost a nonsense to suggest that being torn form them is such a big deal.
Why is Lyra taken to the ice bears when she's captured by the Samoyed, not straight to Bolvanga? Why is Serafina Pekkala in it so early, and not her goose daemon? Why is the 'ghost boy' Billy Costa? That's just corny...
Mrs Coulter is not nearly evil enough and the film lacks any depth or challenge.
In fact, the introduction of the gyptians in the film is weak and insignificant. Who are these people? The film makes a lot of assumptions.

I also thought the animation was laughable in places. The ice bears really are cheap copies of each other, and Iorek's fighting is so badly done in places that he jumps around on the screen as if half the frames are missing!
Pan's morphing is not well done either. Suggests to me a rather lower budget than was necessary to do it properly.
The scientists running around during the blaze at Bolvangar seems as if it were made for the Benny Hill show.

Five years ago, Lord of the Rings set the standard for this kind of fantasy adventure animation. I think the stories are comparatively brilliant, and the films really could be as well. But the former is heavily 'copied' here and its a poor copy too. The ice bridge that Lyra crosses is cut and pasted directly from Khazad-Dhum in Moria and the battle scene is a direct parody of the Last battle on the Pelennor.
Serafina Pekkala might as well be Arwen.

So its cheap, rushed, too short and patronising. Difficult to follow and lacks any significant drama.
A great opportunity missed.

I'm beginning to wonder if I have arrived at (or at least gone past the first signpost for) the wall/barrier/tangled mass of politics etc that previous churchwardens might have come across after in year in post here.
There is an element of frustration setting in with my colleague, who on closer inspection seems determined at all costs to 'be' in an important position and martyr herself to the burden of responsibility, rather than actively 'do' anything that might help the organisation in the longer term. We have all been praying most of 2007 for a new treasurer, and in November TN stepped forward, with a reference and experience of the position at at least two other churches. He's a little unknown, and I have personally only really spoken with him at any length since his appointment, but he's enthusiastic, experienced and not afraid to ask provocative questions.
But all of a sudden it is proving 'very difficult' to handover the books, and it is now starting to feel as if excuses are being made as to why this can't be done. We have had no budget talks yet, and I have seen no books, or figures or anything despite the Acting treasurer being squirreled away in the vestry two days a week. Doing what?
Last time I saw anything was September, when we had unravelled enough of the previous treasurers books to make some sense of it all and start a simple ledger.
I'm disappointed. This is only one example of several things that other members of the church have expressed. She's under a lot of pressure, and struggles with her husband's health and all sorts of other personal issues but don't we all. It's the not acting in the best interests of the church that is getting to me.
All offers of help are effectively and politely declined and it is all under control. But for two PCC meetings in a row now, we have 'not been able' to get any sensible financial report.

And today another example of how Mr Vicar can in his own way be equally 'unhelpful'. He's a good man, a wonderful vicar, and very very good at all things pastoral. Faultless, devoted, credible - and a skilled and knowledgeable theologian. It has been said before that he lacks any management skills, and that is becoming increasingly apparent. No one likes conflict of course, but it is a manager's job to challenge negativity and conflict and resolve issues etc - not run from them.
We have this week begun to print off the 'Begging Letter' that invites parishioners to Give in Grace to our course. I edited the letter at the weekend and we discussed its content, theme and style Monday. It's a delicate issue.
Today I went into the office to see how the re-write is going, a little concerned that I haven't seen anything.
The administrator indicates 2000 copies, all neatly folded and ready for distribution!!
It's not printed on headed paper - so there are no contact details for the church!
It does not include the paragraph we discussed setting out out reasons for the request - just states how much we need each week to run. Nothing about re-development, new projects, maintenance programmes etc
Worse perhaps it does not go out with a Gift Aid form, rather a sentence suggesting that if people want to Gift Aid their donation then they should 'contact the office'! Nnnoooo - that introduces a barrier - who is going to do that???

And it goes on with lots of other tiny little things that all of a sudden form a blurred picture. They have one another's confidence and meet regularly (apparently) outside of Standing Committee etc and everything runs along in the kind of shambolic way that it always has. Which we love,and which is a trademark of our church and its people. Myself included.

But but but - we are not moving forward, and I can now begin to understand why FIVE other people have been the 'other' warden in the last eight years alongside these two. I will be standing for the post again of course - it has taken a year to learn the ropes and see how this relationship works. But if we are talking about progress and seven year plans and vision etc, we need to challenge things, ask questions and move forward.
Hence the hesitation as far as the new treasurer is concerned I suspect.

So tonight I pray for patience. For barriers to be worn down and differences to be settled. And that I can understand things better, and work out a way to take up the challenges ahead of us most effectively.

There was something else. It will come to me.

No More Shall We Part Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

These are following me around and have now been emailed by two different people.
Seems I am to answer them as I have enjoyed the answers of others.

What is your greatest fear?
That I will not be worthy of my children

What is your earliest memory?
My Uncle Fred - Grandma's brother - coming to lunch on Fridays in his blue 'invalid carriage'

Aside from property what is the most expensive thing you bought?
My car. But I borrowed the money for that. Paid for at the time, by me? erm...my business.

What would your super power be?
Time turning, or somesuch. To be with all my children whenever they need me.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?
My relationship with my eldest daughter's mother

Have you ever said "I love you" and not meant it?
Yes. See above.

What is the closest you've come to death?
I'm not sure that I have. And I would rather not know.

How would you like to be remembered?
As one who inspired and encouraged, enabling people to fulfill themselves and their ideas

What is the most important lesson life has taught you to date?
The power of the freedom that comes with forgiveness. And that life is for living. There is so much joy and richness in every minute if you can just get out there and have experiences you will find yourself - and that's the most important discovery of all

Some focussed prayer for Kink over the past weeks seems now to be getting through.

the new part-time job (one of the key reasons behind the move out of the flat with Dn) is working well and she is getting on the extra hours rota more often. The pay is awful, but it does give her the opportunity to spend time doing what she wants to do.
Which includes a lot of photography.

This image is part of a photoshoot she did recently with the girl whose flat she is currently sharing. For two weeks at least.
I'm impressed. Her photoshop skills are also developing nicely.

Then, I think this coming weekend, she takes up a fantastic opportunity and moves into her own room in a 900 year old abbey! It's part of a long-term restoration project, and the building is 'occupied' by guardians on a very cheap rent, who have to do very little other than 'look after' the place. The abbey has underground passages, secret rooms, wine cellars etc etc and is currently inhabited by a dozen or so artisans - photographers, designers, musicians etc etc. Kink will fit in I'm sure absolutely perfect and I am happy for her and more confident again now that she is doing OK and so much better at looking after herself than she was a year ago.

I have successfully managed to do diddly-squit of the work I have brought home - the main focus today has been the corrections to the AA project that turned up unexpectedly this morning.
And alongside them, the first serious package of music of the year.
Not only the welcome and safe return of six bootlegs, but accompanied by Steve Jansen's (apparently very wonderful) 'Slope' and a copy of the celebrated (in small circles) 'Weather Report' album by Chris Watson - ex-Cabaret Voltaire and latterly industrial noises scientists The Hafler Trio

Come to think of it, this is a VERY nice website too. I love the presentation of the discography.
We should think about the way that works.

Also added a couple more LGS pieces to the collection. His new EP 'EST' is especially good. He's accomplished himself as a stand-alone electronic artist and really deserves to be heard. There are strong elements of Eno's early work in these songs - very different from his eclectic folky hip-hop psychedelia...

Finally I have learned that the trick with pancakes is to cook a pile first and then heat them in the oven wrapped in tinfoil. Saves such a lot of faff when everyone wants to eat them at the same time and now no-one has to wait

EST Louis Gordon

Beers with IW last night is always refreshing - and this month I managed not to rant too much about the office!
Difficult, because things have been quite tense since everyone blew up with D on Friday. Instead, we ended up talking about kitchen floors...
Takes only 10-15 minutes to cycle the couple of miles up river to the White Swan through the park. Coming back at midnight was hilarious. It was blowing a gale upstream and raining needles horizontally. I was absolutely dripping when when I got in. Excellent laugh though. Because I got soaked in seconds, caution was thrown to the wind and I whizzed through the huge puddles whooping and laughing aloud.

Most unbecoming of a churchwarden who that morning advised Mr Vicar and the Standing Committee on the content and presentation of our Begging Letter.
This is unfortunately what it has become known as - our decision to write to every home in the parish as part of our Giving in Grace campaign and ask specifically for financial gifts.
First time he's ever done this in thirty years of ministry, and new for our parish too. Should be an interesting exercise. I've arranged for the office Freepost address to be used which might encourage a few people.

Cooked for 48 on Sunday- on of the best attended meals for a while. SImple pasta/veg bake in a cheese sauce - bringing everything right back to basics. And pancakes. Not used the oven-ready ones before and it worked a treat.

Homemade ones tonight.
Working at home to try and catch up. It's not really working

Nouvelle Vague, live at The Brook 31 January 2008

How often do you go to see a band and you don't know what they look like??

Lack of research on my part maybe, but it did add somewhat to the air of anticipation as I stood at The Brook waiting for Nouvelle Vague to appear on stage.
Loving the first album and disappointed by the second, I was also unsure what to expect from the set - and the tempo of the evening. Chilled, at the very least.
A third major ingredient in my anxiety was the presence of Mrs Birdsong beside me - we just don't agree on anything to do with music and have agreed to disagree on the subject for many years.

So in that respect, NV are a refreshing change - something we both like. Time to bury the hatchet with the management of The Brook, who I have struggled to forgive since they spectacularly failed to walk round the corner to my house personally in 1997 and announce the return of John Foxx...

But if I can teach you one thing, my son it is this – never assume, unless you are prepared to be wrong.

I should at eats have known they use two vocalists. Phoebe and Melanie (???) take centre stage and sing so well together, and separately, that only two songs in (The Hanging Garden ? and Ever Fallen In Love) was clear that this going to be a rare treat. Mind you, I am a sucker for tall girls, and shiny red shoes.

Phoebe has that beautiful light of madness in her eyes, and her performance of Human Fly (The Cramps) was breath-taking. She took the song to a whole new level, and introduced me to a much darker, Gothic and sinister side of the band. Her later dramatic interpretation of Bela Lugosi (Bauhaus) oozed credibility and confidence like blood from a coffin.
Perfectly followed by a rendition of Enola Gay (OMD) that practically brought the house down! This was Melanie's moment of glory, singing/talking/whispering with just a very low, melancholic keyboard humming in the background.

Other highlights of a set that was much more up-tempo and dance-worthy than I expected were the drum-and-voice solo of Grey Day (Madness) and the seven-minute jazz/baroque/bossa-nova heavy-on-the-double bass interpretation of The Dead Kennedy's Too Drunk (To F*ck)

Nouvelle Vague prove very effectively that experimental music isn't necessarily about making weird noises. You can muck around with arrangements and interpretation with the same effect - no-one is quite sure what to expect, and its a fairly safe bet they won't have heard anything quite like it before.

It's all in the shoes, and I Just Can't get Enough.

7/10. Surprising. Refreshing and sexy. Disappointing encore and over-priced at £16.50

Bande A Parte Nouvelle Vague

Never underestimate the power of shoes.

Review to follow.
Clever, talented,sexy.

Experimental music doesn't have to involve weird noises.