London Calling

The scene: Youth Club last night

Actors: Me, middle aged man

Her, 14 year old wearing a tee shirt showing Big Ben, Red phone box and bearing the

slogan "London Calling"

Me: So, are The Clash back in fashion then?

Her: Uhhh?

Me: The Clash, are they trendy again?

Her: Who are The Clash?

Me: London Calling. It's a song by The Clash

Her: Uhhh?

Me: What do they teach you in history these days?

Did everyone else suddenly get braver?

Knowing next to nothing about the film, I went to see The Lovely Bones on Thursday. Not read the book so may be barking up the wrong tree but seemed to be very well done. Visually it was amazing, theologically (unsurprisingly) less so. I found it quite a disturbing film due to it's subject matter and am more than a little surprised at it's only 12A certificate.

This may have already been the subject of media discussion but on a personal level I don't think my two (both old enough to go in unaccompanied) would like it much and as for under 12s? I know I am a sheltered soul but there were times when it was getting a bit much for me.

Am I getting old and sqeamish or did everyone else suddenly get braver?

Pen behind the ear

Watched Tim Vine's latest DVD this week, some really good and silly jokes. This is suitably bizarre. This probably works better after 15 minutes of excellent and awful jokes but see what you think of this trick. I wonder how many people try this themselves once they have seen it.

Though it's not a song I have posted it in the top right hand side of the blog under Friends Eclectic....

Enjoy

Mental as Anything

Love this song from a little known (here) Aussie band. Beneath it's cheerful froth I find it strangely moving and plaintive. Love a bit of plaintive.

Seems an apt choice today as well. Work is going so well, we are seeing great things happen and then suddenly things come in from left field that make people stop and go, "Huh?" Such things will pass, of course, and it's important to remember that. And so I do, as I tap my feet to the charming, "If you leave me, can I come too". Enjoy.

Filthy Poet

Before falling ill this week I had a fabulous time at another church's "Holiday at Home" for those of the Third Age. There was a great turnout, lots of new faces, and a huge variety of things for people to try. We came back buzzing with good ideas to try ourselves.

But... there is one thing we won't be copying - as indeed the church we visited wouldn't again.

In the afternoon they had booked a retired actress - in her seventies? - who came and lead some singing and did some dramatic monologues and recited some poems. Her brief, I later found out, was not to do anything risque. Even without knowing that I was a bit surprised about the poem about the vicar having his hands in a woman's knickers. The one about the prostitute in Portsmouth was even more surprising.

It was truly bizarre, completely out of keeping. I'm pleased to say I've not seen anything like it before. My one comfort is that this happened to such a great church. As and when something like this happens where I am, I will try to remember this and remember that it happens in the best of places.

And why did it happen to them? One reason is that they wanted to love and serve the elderly - often marginalised in our society and to tell them some really important news. They weren't prepared to just stay open on a Sunday and leave it at that.

All told, I would rather make some mistakes through trying than make the mistake of giving up.

More lurgy

Back at work today, though it should be my day off. The reason, which may be connected with the previous post and the hospital visit, is that I picked up a sickness bug and was wiped out for two days. And Sunday will roll round regardless, so here I am.

Lots of people in the church got it too, I know of more than a dozen and that's just from hearing on the grapevine. I do hope it's not an illness that was confined to the church. Not for horrible reasons, but if it was then it will expose that we are an isolated little group. And we are called to be contagious Christians.

Hospital Visiting

Went hospital visiting today, two ladies who are members of the church are in at the moment, aged 86 and 102! After I'd seen them I popped into the hospital cafe for a quick coffee and no word of a lie, the first two songs on in the background were "A good heart these days is hard to find" followed by Cutting Crew, "I just died in your arms tonight."

Watching Sports I Don't Understand

There's something about the Winter Olympics, I really enjoy watching sports that I don't really understand, have not seen before or even that I never knew existed. The women's short skating was an incredible sight today, I had no idea who was skating next as four teams and a total of sixteen skaters whizzed round - but it was fun to watch. Not so fussed about some of the better known sports; skiing is okay, ice hockey is too fast to know what happens until it did and you can keep your ice-skating. But for me the absolute best is the curling. (My very significant other says it's a combination of sport and housework.) I have watched two games all the way through, all two and a half hours worth and the time flies by. Must be my age.

Back in the saddle

A lovely few days away with chums in the Cotswolds; looking good after a dusting of snow. (The Cotswolds, not the chums). Friends you have had most of your life are very precious, especially as you move around from place to place.

The whole relaxing experience is rather spoiled by Exeter City losing to bottom placed Stockport at home today. We are now in the relegation zone and things are beginning to look a little precarious. Thirteen games to go but Stockport had not won a game in 17 before now. Not looking promising.

To cheer myself up I offer Max Wall with the cover of an Ian Dury song for your entertainment. It has all the wit you'd expect of a Dury song and sounds very much like the Blockheads are backing him. It makes me smile and in a better world would be played at the end of discos when people have had a few. Soon be my 50th and it will be on the shortlist.

Back into the saddle tomorrow and looking forward to catching up with people, even though I was only away for three days.

With apologies to Alicia Keys

Caught Jay Z on Later with Jools Holland a while ago and really liked Empire State of Mind - though (obviously) nowhere near as good as the Human League's Empire State Human.

Was listening to part 2 and thinking how evocative New York is to the world with so much iconic TV and film set there. Wondered what Alicia would make of where I live and then it all got a bit silly. Could do with a bit of polishing but this is how far I've got. The real thing is linked on "Our Friends Eclectic" - top right hand corner of this blog. Enjoy?

Burnham State of Mind

Oooooooh Burnham (x2)

Living in a town,
That's closing down, so it seems
Noise is rarely loud
Charity shops all around
Prices are quite keen
If you survive it here
You could make it anywhere
That's what I say
No-one goes out at nights
They're all on bos.com, sniping away.

People leave here by any means
To pursue their dreams
They'll come back to

Burnham, we've got the shortest pier in the UK
The tides out a long way
Now you're in Burnham
The town planning's a big mess
We may lose the Princess
Hear it for Burnham, Burnham, Burnham

There is bracing air, a refurbished cinema,
Soon be mini-golf
Drink tea by the pot, there's a lady selling rock,
Wonderful ice-creams
Lighthouse on the sand
Try to dodge electric buggies on the street
'Cos some of the older residents
Aren't so steady on their feet

People get here by any means
For a change of scene
They come back to

Burnham, we've got a fantastic sea view
Wurzels serenade you
Now you're in Burnham
You can ride on a donkey
See a church that is wonky
Hear it for Burnham, Burnham, Burnham

One hand in the air for the B on Sea
Bright lights, big floats, all looking pretty,
No carnival in the world can compare
Put your glow sticks in the air
Everybody say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Burnham, we've got premier league speedway
And we've just got a Subway
Now you're in Burnham
Living here won't make you rich
At least it's not Highbridge
Hear it for Burnham, Burnham, Burnham.

£56 Million

When the lottery was first launched we all played the game, "What would you do with a million pounds?" I was of the opinion then that to win such a large amount of money could just as easily be a curse rather than a blessing. There's obviously nothing wrong with having money, surely what matters more is what you do with it. But when it's a £56 million, as the big win on the Euro millions this week is, maybe the big concern is what the money will do to you.

Whereas the news of the win would normal pretty much pass me by (even as a record win) I see the winner is from near Cirencester, my home town. Bizarre as it might sound, I hope, whoever it is, that it doesn't ruin life for them. I reckon that living in or near Ciren is pretty much a lottery win anyway, but then I would!

Burnham Beach

Bruce Dickinson today. Now an airline pilot but then on a break from Iron Maiden. Not really my cup of tea but the video was filmed here and I came across it recently. It was, apparently filmed on two beaches; one - with waves and rocks - in Dorset and here - no waves, no rocks, just seven miles of beach. Nearly wrote "golden sand" there but was getting a bit carried away.

Conference Season

There was a time when such a heading would refer to Exeter City and their brief dalliance with non-league football. But no, this past two weeks I have spent three days at two different conferences, which plays havoc on the time for leadership and preaching preparation as Sunday still rolls round regardless.

It was the first time I had attended the (or any) Pastoral Refreshment Conference and it was a conference like no other I've been to. Very relaxed, great food and accommodation, very friendly people and some very simple and yet powerful talks by Dick Dowsett, a former missionary in China and the Philippines. Boy, did he have some stories, which he interspersed with his series of expositions of Philippians. My friend John Risbridger did a great job of preaching at the communion service too and as I left I reflected that next week's conference had a lot to live up to.

I spent this week in okay accommodation, with excellent food, friendly people, and it was very nearly as relaxed. The key difference for me was that the talks, whilst theologically solid approached things quite differently. I think a lot (too much?) was assumed as read and so the main sessions were ones where the Bible was referenced but never opened. This is really odd to me with my background. It was a pleasure to open the Bible on the last session and be challenged as we read it together about speaking the truth in love to one another. At which point I resolved to change my mind and to fill in a feedback form after all!

It just seems to me that while I can get all kinds of good and valuable insight from people who are clearly far more intelligent than I am, what I really need is eternal wisdom and the book that I need to focus on in that is the Bible. To some outside the church that might seem bizarre but the more I read it the more I realise I need to read it.

Free Nelson Mandela

Today's offering is from The Special AKA. I remember reading a story that when the single came out someone rang Chrysalis records to complain that they didn't get a free Nelson Mandela with their copy. Probably not true but a good story all the same.

Still, it worked. A mere six years later the man walked free and today we celebrate the 20th anniversary of that event. There has been something on the radio asking if you remember what you were doing when it happened. I cannot remember but my wife tells me I was with her on a CU houseparty, this before we started going out. I'm a little worried that I don't remember this and that this will start the process of having to rely on my wife to remember things for me.

A theology of hoovering

We are expecting a visit from someone who we have had recommended as a cleaner tomorrow so today I cleaned the kitchen and did the hoovering in preparation. I have become the kind of person that I sometimes talk to who believe that they have to have everything in life clean and tidy before they become a Christian. Doh!

A walk on the beach

Not a lot of blogging as work has been full-on this week. Thursday was the day off and fed up with the exercise bike in front of the telly I resolved to go for a long walk instead.

The weather was good, bright and crisp - until I reached the beach. A strong and cold wind whipped in across the bay and it was a close run call whether my nose or my eyes ran most. Really bitter and the only other people on the beach were walking dogs; they had to be there. The notable exception was a man in his sixties in shorts and tee-shirt who was jogging, bent into the wind, oblivious to the stares of the crows that skulked in the litter washed up by the tide.

After a while, either the wind died down or as I walked round the coast I got some protection from it. As soon as I cut in land over the golf course it was much calmer and warmer too.

In all this I was helped along by the music I listened too. I had treated myself to a TMBG album I didn't have (Lincoln) and Japan's Gentlemen Take Polaroids (a steal to download from Amazon at the moment for just over £3). Yet the album that really put a spring in my stride (it was a long walk) was The Seeds of Love by Tears For Fears. One of those situations where you listen to something occasionally and rediscover it all over again. A brilliant album, I saw them tour it in Manchester with Oleta Adams on piano. Having gone with someone who really liked them I was surprised at how good they were.

So the latest track to be posted is from TFF. Enjoy.

iPod Wisdom

Wise man, he say, "Don't leave it too long to back up your iTunes library". Otherwise it takes you 11 DVD discs and (with two failed discs) over 24 hours of writing your discs to achieve the desired result.

Wise woman, she say, "Serve you right for having so much rubbish on your iPod."

I say, "Wise woman - she not so wise."

She say, "Wise man - ha - no such thing."

More Giants

Today's offering from TMBG is proof that you don't need much of a budget to make an interesting video. Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head is great fun, although to be honest I was looking for Don't Let's Start which I prefer and isn't on You Tube in a decent quality version.

I will stop this TNBG thing today for fear of losing any of my three followers; it is Andy's fault for encouraging me.

If I was in LA I would be getting to one of their shows next month Draycotts!

They Might Be Giants

It's a bit clunky but I have found out how to add a list and so a feature on the blog with music you probably never wanted to hear in the first place let alone ever again. Our Friends Eclectic can be found in the top right hand corner and when the song in question is underlined you get to hear or see it, if you so desire.

First up, the one song you will know from the woefully underrated TMBG. I still have little idea what it is about but enjoy it all the same.

They have a 'Users Guide' best of CD which is a great introduction to their quirky world of genius. And what a world it is....

Ziggy Stardust and the Postmen from Mars

Seen any of these groovy beauties yet? I have just found out they were out a week ago and need to go to the Post Office tomorrow anyway. Now we can really stick it to the man, right?