Boring couple of days

I can't believe I've gone so long without blogging! Mostly it's because the last coule of days have been busy but boring. So boring means nothing to report, and busy means no time to think of somthing interesting to say. Instead I'll share something Mother Teresa said coz it's amazingly humble, and very encouraging:

'We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.'

Ahhh, I feel all warm inside now.

Amazing link on random 'next blog'

Just clicked on 'next blog', and found a very funny response to a weird scientific article. Click here to read it. I think my wife has a Tom Cruise cell at the moment.

I suppose it had to happen eventually

I have finally been quizzed on the meaning of 'Spacebats'. This might take a while...

The Fast Show was a popular comedy sketch show from the 1990s, which gave the English language several catchphrases, at least for a short time ('Scorchio!', 'Suits you, sir' and 'I'm afraid I was very, very drunk' being just three). Featuring on this show was a wonderful character called Professor Denzil Dexter, of the University of Southern California, who had long hippy-style hair (casually flicked over the shoulder at regular intervals) and a lab assistant called Dave. It was a joyous moment for many when it was revealed that Dave was, in fact, a chimpanzee.

Among his experiments are: trying to pass his hand through a pane of glass by changing its molecular structure, examining the link between sunspots and the lack of good TV late at night, and creating a special hat to harness gamma rays. As well as this, and here comes the crucial part, he is in the middle of researching into spacebats.

I thought it would be an appropriate name mainly due to our admiration of the Fast Show in general, but also due to our tastes in film & TV being generally on the sci-fi side, and that we might blog about that on regular occasions.

Feedback: who was your favourite Fast Show character, and why?



That's got it.

I love a good storm...

Yay! Cracks of lightning, thunder reverberating, rain lashing and the sound of an icy wind (maybe that's something on the air base...?). "Storms: the best fun you can have with the weather. Discuss."

Picture perfect

Just had a look at a brilliant blog by the Clarke kids (Mark's nieces and nephew). Take a look at http://aajphotos.blogspot.com/ I think the composition on some of them is outstanding, and what a great eye they're each developing. Proud, proud.

She stole my post!

Well, last night when Heidi started blogging I said 'Don't say everything; leave something for me to comment on'. Did she? Did she hell.

So, my thoughts on Ben Hur: far too long, very much 'of its time' (i.e. the fifties, not AD30) in terms of acting and directing style for epics, and as Heidi said, very weird. It would have been fine if it finished after the podrace, sorry, chariot race (saw George Lucas' influences throughout, by the way), which was the natural conclusion. But no, they had to blather on for about an hour dealing with how Jesus gets in there. Controversial I know, but I think the film would have been better without him! Well, without their version of him anyway (just avoided the lightning strike there!). That said, there were some very effective scenes, the chariot race and the galley battle being the standouts for me. That's probably because something was actually moving on screen at the time...

Cold Mountain: in total, a much more engaging film than I expected. In parts, a portrait of how depraved and vicious humans can be when under the pressure of war (and like Heidi said, not gratuitous but definitely unflinching and upsetting). In other parts, a vision of how people can really help, love and change one another when under similar pressure. Zellweger was fantastic, Jude and Nicole good too, but their parts weren't as fun.

Now I must get back to work. BTW, who left comments that were deleted?

Jesus, chariots, and mountains

We've been trying to catch up with our current dvd rentals, so last night it was Ben Hur and this evening Cold Mountain. First Ben Hur: possibly the longest story that never needed to be told. Okay, so we all know it's a very long film, but when you have to pause to re-settle your baby repeatedly it makes it last a lifetime! Of course, it would be a much shorter film if everyone... didn't... move... so... slowly... and... pause... before... every... line... It felt very stylised, almost reverent. And parts of it were oddly familiar if you've ever seen Gladiator/Spartacus/The Life of Brian/anything with Charlton Heston in. Most baffling was the presence of Jesus! It begins with a little bit about Jesus' birth and says it's 'A story of the Christ' but turns out to be about a guy who gets screwed over by his childhood friend, humiliates and kills him in a chariot race yadda, yadda, yadda, then Jesus (who doesn't utter a single line) turns up at the end and makes Judah Ben Hur feel all nice inside. Wierder than it sounds. Also, had to stop it at midnight- just abouts at the point when Jesus turned up- to finish it up when we had more strength to face it!
This evening Elodie settled a lot quicker (I think the controlled crying is getting through to her...?) so we got to finish up the end of Ben Hur and move on to Cold Mountain, which was better than either of us anticipated, but one of those films you couldn't recommend to just anyone, and that would need a little disclaimer: it's a good film but there's some pretty uncomfortable viewing. In particular there's one bit that I'll find hard to shake, but there was not much that I would call gratuitous. The tone of the film is such that you never feel attracted to the evil in it, and the violence is never presented as exciting or anything other than horrible. Renee Zelwegger was pretty darn good, and had all the best lines. Might give her a second chance. Next up it's The Right Stuff, of course if we have to watch it in stages like we did with Ben Hur it could be weeks before we get to the end...

Fuzzy fun

Yesterday Mim and Adam came over and did a wonderful job of amusing Caleb all afternoon. They really got into the whole fuzzyfelt thing, despite Caleb's bossiness. They're both great with him. The best part is that they're fun in a really calm way- no running and shouting- which is perfect on a Sunday afternoon when you're all feeling tired. Gosh I sound old! I'll put it down to having a six-week-old baby.
Anyway, it was lovely hearing about the wedding plans, and the spectacular honeymoon they've booked (if you can't go to the Maldives for your honeymoon, when can you go?!) I told Mim she should do a Wedding blog so we can all get girly about things. For some reason she still thinks it's a good idea to have Josiah and Caleb as pageboys, we're chuffed but we think she's playing with fire...
Mim and Adam are really good at ringing us up and asking when they can come over. I want to say I wish there were more people that were so good at keeping in touch, but I know it's all my fault that we go months without seeing some of our favourite people. Must get better at that- it's free entertainment for Caleb!

My girl

So, Mark has finally posted a picture and it's of him with two pretty girls. Hmmm. I think this is more like it!

Gentle reminder...

Okay, so I've changed the format of our page, only because this template had the links field for me to play with.

Speaking of links, there's one from my profile page to a wishlist.

Speaking of that wishlist, it's my birthday in less than two weeks.

(Think I'll get away with that one?)

The wonders of inter-net communication

It seems I have done a wonderful thing by setting up this blog. Now Robin and Nikki are looking at Sarah's blog via ours and commenting, and vice versa, and thereby discovering a whole new world of people and things and experiences. Frankly I don't know where you all get the time!

Well, today was the momentous day when we got our new timetables for next year. Or, to put it another way, the day we discover which vague group of kids we will teach at which point in the week / fortnight. Or, to put it yet another way, which days will tire us out the most next year! Until we know the kids, it doesn't give us a very good picture of our likely life next year at all, but it's still seen as very important.

We're setting up a prayer table in the centre of Carterton tomorrow. Well, I say we, but in fact Heidi and I (and the kids) will be in Oxford at a previously-arranged hair appointment (I know you're wondering how I could possibly have a better configuration on my head, but there we go), so it's actually others in our church who will be doing it. And by it, I'm talking about offering prayer for whatever to whoever passes by, or the promise of prayer for a week if they write it down in a book. I think it's a great idea, and I'm praying for lots of people to pass and jot something down. If no-one does, it will at least make our church that little bit more visible.

And finally, I will take this chance to say goodbye to one of my favourite pupils from my tutor group, Leanne (blonde hair, on my right in photo). Even though she's left school now, I will still miss her when she goes to Germany tomorrow; one of the main reasons being she won't be there to babysit for us! You've always been friendly, fun, level-headed, hard-working and generally pleasant, and I wish you all the best (hoping, of course, that you look at this some time soon!). Love, Me.

One-handed blogging

Of course, I've also discovered this week that I can blog while Elodie feeds. Yay!

Privileged parenting

When you have a newborn you spend a lot of time feeding it, and it can be a challenge keeping yourself amused, I know people who read but I find that too absorbing which means it doesn't feel like a very personal or 'bonding' thing. Funnily enough, Caleb often brings me books for us to read together, which is nice because it feels like family time somehow, even though I'm unsure that Elodie is really gaining from it quite yet! I was talking to Mum about this a couple of weeks ago and she reminded me that until her fourth daughter there was no tv on in the daytime or for those middle-of-the-night feeds. This got me thinking about the things I take for granted in my parenting, things that I only have access to because I live in a western country in the 21st century. For instance, I thank God for: double glazing, nappies (disposable ones, no less!), the park, The Muppets, batteries, electric fans, George Lucas, stairgates, vaccines (yes, even the MMR), bottles, Gina Ford's routines, the microwave, Pixar, our garden, Mothercare, the swimming pool, the internet, hospitals, dummies, our bin men, the washing machine, Veggie Tales, supermarkets, the car, books, CDs...
That probably seems materialistic, but I'm grateful!
I also feel incredibly blessed to have a loving family of my own and brilliant in-laws, and a great church, and that God gave us music, and the seaside, and flowers, and cats, and that he made people start out as babies not just more people...
I'm gushing! Feel free to add more ofyour own.

Talking up my son

In the last two days Caleb has cracked me up, mostly by anticipating what I'm going to say to him and saying it for me. Yesterday when he was threatening to pinch food from my dinner plate he took one look at my face and went 'cheeky monkey!' then giggled and ran off. More impressive was this morning when we both recognised that he was on the brink of a tantrum, all I said was his name and he went 'calm down.' Disaster averted. Nice one.
Both Mark and I are fascinated and delighted by Caleb's language development, not too long ago it was an achievement if he came out with a single new word, now he can say a complete phrase or express a thought quite clearly using words we've never heard from him before, or in new ways. Like just now as I was suggesting some things he might like for lunch: 'bin your raisins.' Enough said. Apparantly toddlers don't start putting 2 words together until they have a vocabulary of over a hundred words (so Matt B. said to us the other day) This doesn't really surprise me since Caleb can list off a great number of Star Wars characters alone! (We're very proud of that by the way: from Anakin to Yoda, taking in the likes of Greedo, Jar jar and- my personal favourite- Bib Fortuna.)
It's amazing to think that only 2 years ago, he was as helpless as Elodie is right now. It happens so quickly. Sniff sniff...

New leaf?

I have officially decided that tomorrow any blogging will be whinge-free. Well, I'll try anyway ;-)

Internet Shopping

Argh! I've spent all the time the kids have been asleep today just trying to do our grocery shopping for next month and I think it may have pushed me over the edge! I love not having to drag the family around the shop on a saturday but I hate the fact that it takes so long if I want to find stuff I've never bought before. When you're not looking at a stocked shelf each month you can miss it when cheaper versions of the stuff you buy come on the market, so I was trawling through looking for more 'Value' and Tescos own brand things- I think there will be stripes in front of my eyes when I try to get to sleep tonight!
It's not just the groceries either. Because I still can't drive I do a lot of ordering through catalogues for our clothes and things and it's never straight forward- they recognise Mark at the post office in town now, he's returned that many trolley-fulls of parcels. Next are about the most reliable and easy to use but they're too expensive for all your clothes and soft furnishings! Besides, a lot of they're stuff is pretty frumpy at the moment.
And when are Ikea going to cotton on to internet shopping? Surely it's the same principle as they operate on in-store: Big warehouse full of stuff and just a few staff.
Rant over, I'd better get on and re-order the curtains that were too short for the window in the den...

Another night in the tent?

So it's apocalyptically hot again this evening. I've been evaluating some online teaching resources produced by a certain company (they're generally rubbish), getting warmer and warmer in my leather chair and becoming more and more certain that sleep will not be easy. Listened to the radio today, and Jeremy Vine was discussing this very problem, and apparently the secret is to have a shower, not dry yourself and go to bed wet. Heidi's having none of it! And of course, she can't get to sleep without me there, and i can't get to sleep upstairs full stop.

But that's boring. Of vaguely more interest - current cultural influences on my brain:

• bought a CD the other day called "Cosmosonica: Crazy Covers vol 1". Best entries: Scissor Sisters doing Franz Ferdinand's 'Take me out' and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain doing 'Dy-Na-Mi-Tee'. Class.
• am currently reading Fatherland by Robert Harris. Fascinating re-imagination of the world after Germany won WWII, and a detective mystery in Berlin of the 60s. Brilliant.
• DVDs rented recently from Lovefilm: 'I am Sam' - made us both weep profusely. Highly recommended drama about a man with learning difficulties (I think that's the politically correct phrase these days) trying to bring up his daughter; possibly a bit too emotional when you've just had a new baby. 'Open Water' - NEVER EVER WATCH THIS. I can't express quite how poor a film it is, and we stuck it out right to its uselessly limp 80-minute ending. From the trailers it looks like a fun shark attack movie. It's not. With the exception of a couple of nice shots (split-second shots, I hasten to add), it's a pile of poo that should never have been made into a film.
• phew, got that off my chest. Also discovering through listening to them very loudly in the car quite how good the most recent albums by Tobymac and Ian Eskelin are (Welcome to Diverse City and Save the Humans respectively)

That'll do, pig.

Going back to the subject of sleep...

Why, oh why, does my son insist on staying awake at naptime then torturing me because he's tired?

Cruise control

I know it's sad to think about these things but am I the only one who thinks this whole Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes thing is a publicity stunt? Every time I turn on the tv or load up the internet there's more footage of him acting like a crazy person and her looking all cute and vacant. I can't help thinking we're all being manipulated into thinking about and watching Tom Cruise instead of doing more important stuff. Oh darn it.

Sleep? What sleep?

I unexpectedly spent the night apart from my husband last night. He was so tired after being up pretty much all night on Sunday that Mark put the tent up in the garden and slept out there. That's all very well for him but I find it really hard to get to sleep without him there! Then of course I'm woken up repeatedly by a hungry little Miss...

Officially summer

There are certain things that indicate that summer has arrived aren't there? For me, in no particular order:
Not being able to see through the tears or smell through my nose due to the pollen, failing to get a Father's day card to either of our Dad's on time, my Mum's birthday, that ever-present music from the elusive ice-cream van (he's torturing me!), seeing a bit more of Mark now that his timetable is lighter because of exam time, that snake of hose becoming an almost permanant fixture across the lawn, the car sitting in the drive all day because it's actually nice enough to walk, the moth 'sweep' as I enter a room, the paddling pool!

Yep, yesterday it was decided that it was worth getting out the paddling pool. This year we are premiering the super-duper pool that we were given by our friends- the lovely Matt and Anna- who felt their garden was too small to accomodate it. It's a lovely big pool (for a toddler- I'm not practising for the Olympics or anything) with an integral sun canopy, and it's nice and sturdy so it can be a pretty permanant fixture throughout the summer.
It was brilliant out in the garden yesterday, I noticed that all the toys that were in the garden had been given to us, and I felt cherished. Most of all though, both Mark and I felt blessed by God when we saw how big and beautiful the garden he gave us is. Please come and enjoy it with us any time! (Unless you're a strange stalker who doesn't actually know us- then you'll have to at least give us a ring first okay?)

Feeling hot hot hot

Hmm, I wonder how many other people are doing what I'm doing right now when they should be sleeping but can't because it's just too hot. I'm going to try going back to bed in a minute, so this will be short.
Very short - the birds have started so I only have 2 and 1/2 hours max. Oh, the kids are going to get it if they wind me up today!

Last Dr Who thoughts, and other stuff

Having just watched the last episode of the new Dr Who series, I feel I ought to give my thoughts. It was alright, but didn't make much sense (even within the established nonsense-based Whoniverse), and the Doctor shouldn't have kissed Rose, and Captain Jack should have stayed dead (sick and tired of Russell T Davies using his character as a political mouthpiece). Regeneration: great. Shame Davros didn't look a bit like he used to, that would have been nice. I still think that overall the series has been really fun though, and has more or less eradicated the memory of the Paul McGann debacle. Very much looking forward to seeing what David Tennant makes of it.

In other news, I am now a fully fledged pastor. Not really, but I completed my part-time training course today (with merit), and got a certificate. Which was nice.

Sadly, while I was doing that, Caleb was having bodily function issues at home, which Heidi had to deal with.

This will show up as one of Heidi's posts, but actually it's Mark. Bye!

first little wurble

Well I thought I ought to have a turn. And since I have a sleepy baby on my lap and a temporarily contented toddler in front of the tv I'll seize the opportunity.

I have to say, this whole blog thing feels like quite a challenge to me as a full-time Mum- it can be difficult to distinguish one unremarkable, stressful or housework-filled day from any other. You really notice it in conversation with other adults (that blissful rarity) somehow you can't help talking about nappies and sleep and speech development and tantrums and whatever else comes with the stage you're at. Even with people who don't have kids. Even with people who don't like kids! Obviously I think my job is vital and of enormous importance but how did I get to the stage where I don't have anything else in my life of interest to share? This isn't going to be a cheesy blog of milestones and 'cute' pictures of our adorable children (though some of that is inevitable I'm afraid) so I guess I'm going to have to find some interests of my own again if I want anything else on here...

First post!

Well, just a few weeks ago I decided I didn't have time to blog and why did I need to let anyone and everyone know my random thoughts anyway. And here I am, embarking on a project to let people know my (and my wife's) random thoughts. My change of heart is mainly due to a load of things happening that I considered quite important, and that I wanted to share with the world, and thinking that perhaps my life and views could be interesting to others. But it's gone midnight now, and tomorrow I have to spend all day perfecting my pastoring skills, so I'm off to bed on a hot, muggy night. See you in a few minutes probably.