Category: Random

Coffee Corner, Watching the World go by

Posted on by Julie

Waiting to for the bus to reach its stop I wondered how long ago it was that I had headed into my old university. How often I crossed the road at Holy Corner, turning down Colinton Road to campus. That was my life for three years, my focus, and I couldn’t see much further than the next assignment or exam.

10 years on, I’ve moved on and so has campus. Meeting a friend of coffee the corridors seems quiet and the building had changed, but not changed. We didn’t stay in the student café but instead went along to the (new?) Starbucks. My student loan may not have lasted long if that had been there 10 years ago. There is now the choice of coffee though, as it seems ‘Holy corner’ has become ‘Coffee corner’ with a Costa on the other side of the road. Is coffee the new student drink of choice? But on such a beautiful day who can blame them for sitting outside watching the world go by.

10 years. It goes by so quickly!

 

Valencia. A Boring Procession

Posted on by Julie

I enjoy watching Formula One Racing and am a huge supporter of Jensen Button.

The Canadian Grand Prix started slowly for me and I truly thought we would be in for a pretty dull race. However wet conditions can often be relied on to provide a little excitement and excitement is what we got. Hamiltion nearly took webber out followed, which was shortly followed by Hamilton nearly taking button out (you can see a pattern here). Follow this with 2 hours of red flag filler including ornithology and meteorology and the evening began to get exciting. After multiple pit stops JB was at the back of the race but nothing was going to hold him up. After passing 14 cars in the last 5 laps he managed to put the pressure on Vettel and force an error. Going wide Vettel lost control for an instant and that gave JB the win. Over 5 hours of programming for 2 hours of racing. Excellent Sunday night television.

Fast forward 2 weeks and we are now watching the European GP. A boring procession. The random red shouldered North American bird at Montréal was much more exciting than this! No racing at all bar JB passing Rosburg early on; if you blinked you might have missed it.

Hoping that Silverstone will be just a little more interesting.

London Calling

Posted on by Julie

Watching the Olympics closing ceremony this weekend I was intrigued as to how London would present itself. When Mr Johnson stood side by side with the Chinese and Olympic delegates I have to admit that I was slightly embarrassed. Surely the Mayoral office has the name of a good tailor! But then the presentation started and I was impressed.

The video used iconic visuals to show a fast paced, modern city, the dance segment pulled together characters from London society and presented them through a well choreographed piece of modern dance and the music pulled in the London soundscape in a really interesting way. I was thrilled to hear snatches of ‘This is London’, the radio pips and Jerusalem along with the Top of the Pops theme, which I have been informed was a Led Zeppelin ‘tune’. Leona Lewis is purported to be our biggest current musical export (?) and is also London born, so although I may not fully agree with the choice I can understand it.

I’ve read a few blog comments on this and I think we need to remember that the target for this piece was not the Londoners/English/British viewers but the billions that were watching from around the world. Without being too stereotypical how would you demonstrate the modern city in such a vibrant way and in only 8 minutes?

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To view the video visit the London 2012 Blog

Throwing the First Stone

Posted on by Julie

I think that I’m just too old now to listen to Radio 1. I like to listen to the DJs in the most part but some of the music is getting irritating. With BBC podcasts married to my iPod I can get the best of both worlds. It also means I can listen to a more mind expanding station like Radio 4.

Early on Saturday morning I was listening to an article on Jesus’ remark about the stoning of an adulteress (John 8:1-11). It was a short piece and was followed immediately with a piece on personal data lost by a government contractor.Listening to these pieces back to back sparked a thought about how the media seems to sit either in the role of celebrant – preening and flattering the newest pet celebrity – or in the role of judge, jury and hangman, all rolled into one, attacking a person, organisation or standpoint.

Should we draw a line before the media and say ‘He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone’?

Love and Pestilence

Posted on by Julie

I’m pretty useless at the moment and have spent the last week feeling very sorry for myself. Why did God give us the common cold? What was the point of this? Did he sit there on day 6 and think ‘I’ve got a few minutes before shift end – what can I add to this mix of mine for a bit of fun? I’ve got my Love, Joy and Happiness and with War, Death and Pestilence I’ve evened the score. I know what – just for a laugh I’ll add a few little germs that won’t do anyone any harm but will be really irritating. There, glad that’s settled, now I’m off to the pub!’

Needless to say I’ve achieved very little in the last week but pass the blame between God and his germs, cussing and blaspheming as I go.

You Can’t Beat a Good Wedding

Posted on by Julie

I’ve been feeling down over the last few weeks. D is away in the States and for some reason I turn into some scary recluse when that happens.

UKTV Gold, however, were showing re-runs of The Vicar of Dibley yesterday and I found myself laughing like I haven’t laughed in a very long time. Dawn French is one of the funniest women of all time and it doesn’t matter if she’s performing her own work or the work of others. The final episodes, when she meets and marries her dream guy, are fantastic; a mix of humour, poignant sadness and toe curling romance that made my day. Plus I think I’ve fallen in love with Richard Armitage.

Consciousness

Posted on by Julie

I exist in a web of relationships – links to nature, people, God.
I trace out these links, giving thanks for the life that flows through them.
Some links are twisted or broken: I may feel regret, anger, disappointment.
I pray for the gift of acceptance and forgiveness.

Sacred Space

Friends Will Be Friends

Posted on by Julie

Another red letter day
So the pound has dropped and the children are creating
The other half ran away
Taking all the cash and leaving you with the lumber
Got a pain in the chest
Doctors on strike what you need is a rest

It’s not easy love, but you’ve got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When you’re in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When you’re through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hand ‘cos friends will be friends – right till the end

Now it’s a beautiful day
The postman delivered a letter from your lover
Only a ‘phone call away
You tried to track him down but somebody stole his number
As a matter of fact
You’re getting used to life without him in your way

It’s so easy now, ‘cos you got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When you’re in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When you’re through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hand ‘cos friends will be friends – right till the end

It’s so easy now, ‘cos you got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends
When you’re in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When you’re through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hand – friends will be friends – right till the end

Friends will be friends
When you’re in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends
When you’re through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hand ‘cos right till the end – friends will be friends
Yeah yeah

John Deacon & Freddie Mercury 1986