I have now spent 20 years in this place. Wow, when i look around, i wonder how i made it this far! I can't help thinking that anyone who makes it this far, must have a fairly good chance of finishing life Ok. I have no knowledge of what's to come, but i doubt there will be many decades as frantic or as difficult as the teens, (and the preteens for the pernickity ones). It seems that most of lifes lessons have been learnt in these ten years. I don't pretend to have reached anything near full maturity, and someone please kick me if that happens anytime while I am still alive! However i think the teens are a big thorny hedge that everyone must be dragged through backwards to get to the other side.
It is also a mini milestone, because I have now spent almost exactly half my life up North. This depresses me slightly, as I mourn my lost accent. The vast rolling hills of urban wasteland, the paradise of urban heat island, the glorious mountains of concrete are no more a part of my life. Of course this is really just a comparison between town and city, however for me it seperates life dan saerf from life uhp ear. Not that i have loooads of happy memories from London. Infact most of the significant things in my life happened up here, and most within the last few years! lol
So yesterday did not go too soon really, just sounded like a nice nostalgic name, albeit nicked from a song.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Easter Existentialism
'Existence precedes essence'
It's a popular concept in modern philosophical thinking-The idea that we ourselves create a meaning within our own lives which does not extend beyond those boundaries. Life is nothing except the subjective point and meaning that we give it ourselves. Once this cornerstone has been laid, it is natural that other such ideas such as truth, meaning, purpose, reality and God tend to go down the drain. How does this idea of subjectivity actually reflect the 'reality' we perceive?
C.S Lewis writes that that 'You can't go on seeing through things forever. The whole point in seeing through something is to see something through it...If you see through everything then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To see through all things is to not see'. He uses the example of a window looking out onto a garden. In other words subjectivity can only truly exist within the framework of objectivity. I wonder what the bank manager would say if i went down and tried to argue that the debt i have is all subjective, and so from my perspective there is no debt. What would a husband say to a bride who claimed when they said 'I do' it was a subjective statement? The very nature of the world we live in, is one of objectivity. This does not mean that subjectivity cannot exit, but it does mean that we cannot try to deny the existence of objective reality.
And if there is an objective reality, is it then outrageous to claim that there is an objective truth? For if objectivity exists then it is possible for ideas such as purpose, meaning, truth, reality and God to exist outside of our person. It is possible that there could be a God, who created this universe and everything in it. It is possible that there could be a right and a wrong, an ultimate truth. It is possible that we could be part of an amazing creation that reflects an amazing creator.
In the Bible, God refers to himself as 'Yahweh'. This means 'I am'. He is that he is. This is not a fluffy subjective term, this is a reality, an existence, a truth. The Bible goes onto claim that as God's creation, made with a specific purpose, we have all turned away from him, and live in a world with little purpose, and little meaning. Sound familiar? It then claims that Jesus, the Son of God came to Earth to die, as a real person so that we might find purpose again, that we might have a living real relationshp with the God that created us. It's a big claim,it's a massive claim but one i would argue is very much worth investigating.
Happy Easter!
It's a popular concept in modern philosophical thinking-The idea that we ourselves create a meaning within our own lives which does not extend beyond those boundaries. Life is nothing except the subjective point and meaning that we give it ourselves. Once this cornerstone has been laid, it is natural that other such ideas such as truth, meaning, purpose, reality and God tend to go down the drain. How does this idea of subjectivity actually reflect the 'reality' we perceive?
C.S Lewis writes that that 'You can't go on seeing through things forever. The whole point in seeing through something is to see something through it...If you see through everything then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To see through all things is to not see'. He uses the example of a window looking out onto a garden. In other words subjectivity can only truly exist within the framework of objectivity. I wonder what the bank manager would say if i went down and tried to argue that the debt i have is all subjective, and so from my perspective there is no debt. What would a husband say to a bride who claimed when they said 'I do' it was a subjective statement? The very nature of the world we live in, is one of objectivity. This does not mean that subjectivity cannot exit, but it does mean that we cannot try to deny the existence of objective reality.
And if there is an objective reality, is it then outrageous to claim that there is an objective truth? For if objectivity exists then it is possible for ideas such as purpose, meaning, truth, reality and God to exist outside of our person. It is possible that there could be a God, who created this universe and everything in it. It is possible that there could be a right and a wrong, an ultimate truth. It is possible that we could be part of an amazing creation that reflects an amazing creator.
In the Bible, God refers to himself as 'Yahweh'. This means 'I am'. He is that he is. This is not a fluffy subjective term, this is a reality, an existence, a truth. The Bible goes onto claim that as God's creation, made with a specific purpose, we have all turned away from him, and live in a world with little purpose, and little meaning. Sound familiar? It then claims that Jesus, the Son of God came to Earth to die, as a real person so that we might find purpose again, that we might have a living real relationshp with the God that created us. It's a big claim,it's a massive claim but one i would argue is very much worth investigating.
Happy Easter!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
STOP THE TRAFFIK
I went to see 'Amazing Grace' the film last night. It's a brilliant film, and I recommend that everyone go see it, at least once. The acting is of a very good standard, the music is great, the cinematography is good, the story is well told. However none of the reasons above are what make the film good. The film is so powerful, because it is a real story. It is the accurate portrayal of one man's fight for what he believed was right. This isn't some blown up heroic story of a wild revolutionary, it is a story of how one man, with an amazing passion, used his position, and everything he had, to try and change the world. Of course it wasn't just him, there were plenty of equally committed people, but William Wilberforce particularly gave his whole life to the cause.
This can sound a bit cheesy, sickly sweet, but it's really not. If William Wilberforce had been apathetic, I wonder how much longer slavery would have continued. If William Wilberforce had sighed and despairingly said 'Well, its awful, but what can you do', I wonder if the movement would have ever taken off in the way it did. It didn't happen to begin with, there was massive opposition, but finally after years and years of campaigning he got the bill passed in Parliament.
Finally slavery was abolished, throughout the British Empire.
I wonder if I would have had that courage. I wonder if I would have had the guts, and the determination to see it through. Its easy in hindsight to think sometimes, that had I been faced with such injustice, with such inequality, then I would have also acted in a similar way.
Well here is the slap round the face. The same injustice DOES exist today. There are over 2.4 million people worldwide in slavery as a result of human trafficking. This includes forced labour as well as prostitution. There are over 4000 trafficked sex workers in the UK currently, although the exact figures are unknown. There are more slaves in the world today than there were 200 years ago when slavery was abolished. 12,000 children have been trafficked into the Ivory Coast to work on cocoa farms. Nearly half the world's chocolate is made using cocoa beans from the Ivory Coast. So next time you eat chocolate, enjoy!
So are we a people driven by whatever we believe, to act and make a real difference in our world? Or will we let apathy seep in, and water down our conscience?
This can sound a bit cheesy, sickly sweet, but it's really not. If William Wilberforce had been apathetic, I wonder how much longer slavery would have continued. If William Wilberforce had sighed and despairingly said 'Well, its awful, but what can you do', I wonder if the movement would have ever taken off in the way it did. It didn't happen to begin with, there was massive opposition, but finally after years and years of campaigning he got the bill passed in Parliament.
Finally slavery was abolished, throughout the British Empire.
I wonder if I would have had that courage. I wonder if I would have had the guts, and the determination to see it through. Its easy in hindsight to think sometimes, that had I been faced with such injustice, with such inequality, then I would have also acted in a similar way.
Well here is the slap round the face. The same injustice DOES exist today. There are over 2.4 million people worldwide in slavery as a result of human trafficking. This includes forced labour as well as prostitution. There are over 4000 trafficked sex workers in the UK currently, although the exact figures are unknown. There are more slaves in the world today than there were 200 years ago when slavery was abolished. 12,000 children have been trafficked into the Ivory Coast to work on cocoa farms. Nearly half the world's chocolate is made using cocoa beans from the Ivory Coast. So next time you eat chocolate, enjoy!
So are we a people driven by whatever we believe, to act and make a real difference in our world? Or will we let apathy seep in, and water down our conscience?
Saturday, March 24, 2007
1 Year, 3 seasons...
Ok, if you are not aware of how sad a loser I am, and would rather be kept in the dark look away now!
A year ago today, a good old friend of mine (Andy) introduced me to a website, that has changed my life forever. A year ago today I took over struggling Division V team Pigeons XI. Lingering at the bottom of the table they faced iminent relegation. Long faces filled the pavillion, morale was down, and the performances reflected that. And now a year on, it is a different team altogether. Only two players remain from the original line up, captain Ron Keane, and wicket keeping maestro Danny Lonergan. Alongside these two stalwarts for the team, are 9 young individuals all under 20, with a promising career ahead of them. Having finished 7th in the first season, the next two seasons brought 3rd and 2nd place finishes respectively, and now as I speak Pigeons XI are fighting for promotion at the end of this season, top on equal points with Nuig CC. The stadium has been vastly expanded, the team completely reshuffled, the sponsors are happy and it would appear that Pigeons XI have a very bright future ahead! So who knows what might have happened by this time next year? lol
It's been a quiet few days!
A year ago today, a good old friend of mine (Andy) introduced me to a website, that has changed my life forever. A year ago today I took over struggling Division V team Pigeons XI. Lingering at the bottom of the table they faced iminent relegation. Long faces filled the pavillion, morale was down, and the performances reflected that. And now a year on, it is a different team altogether. Only two players remain from the original line up, captain Ron Keane, and wicket keeping maestro Danny Lonergan. Alongside these two stalwarts for the team, are 9 young individuals all under 20, with a promising career ahead of them. Having finished 7th in the first season, the next two seasons brought 3rd and 2nd place finishes respectively, and now as I speak Pigeons XI are fighting for promotion at the end of this season, top on equal points with Nuig CC. The stadium has been vastly expanded, the team completely reshuffled, the sponsors are happy and it would appear that Pigeons XI have a very bright future ahead! So who knows what might have happened by this time next year? lol
It's been a quiet few days!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Of this and that
Is it bad that I am now procrastinating from procrastinating? I came to write a blog, to stop myself from working, but then could not think of anything to write about, so went on Wikipedia instead! It is a sorry state indeed. However my sightseeing trip to Wikipedia did serve a purpose. It helped me concoct this blog. Therefore this blog is going to be about two words, that are in many ways synonymous...well ok, maybe they aren't but that word is cool enough to warrant use without need. My first word is water.
Did you know that it is World Day for Water today? Well now you do! Not something that crosses our minds very often. Well make it cross back and forth for today at least. It is in many ways i think a sign of our general attitude. We take it for granted so much, whereas in some parts of the world a whole day might be taken up in pursuit of enough water to keep a family alive. As cliched as it is, it is true that many people worldwide have to walk for miles just to get clean water. And yet here we are, wasting it by the gallon!
My second word is communism. (Today's featured article was about the 'Fourth International')
Now many people are of the opinion that I am a communist in disguise. So I want to offer this rebuttal (another fantastic word probably used out of place). The problem is that we have two systems really, capitalism and communism. Neither are very good. Capitalism, because it is by nature wrong, and Communism because it is by nature impossible. For me to believe in Capitalism would be equivalent to saying 'Yes I love evil' and for me to support communism would be to say 'I think human flight is a viable low emissions travel option'. Now i realise that many would argue that Communism can exist, however i believe that human nature defies that.
So where does that leave me? There is no point investing in something that is never going to work, so I am not a communist, instead perhaps 'conscience capitalist with communist ideals'. How's that? As someone once said, let's start from the imperfect, and work towards the perfect!!
Oh and by the way, at some people's request I spent hours slaving away yesterday bringing you original audio versions of 'Springtime again' and other such poems. See www.pigeonboy.podbean.com
Did you know that it is World Day for Water today? Well now you do! Not something that crosses our minds very often. Well make it cross back and forth for today at least. It is in many ways i think a sign of our general attitude. We take it for granted so much, whereas in some parts of the world a whole day might be taken up in pursuit of enough water to keep a family alive. As cliched as it is, it is true that many people worldwide have to walk for miles just to get clean water. And yet here we are, wasting it by the gallon!
My second word is communism. (Today's featured article was about the 'Fourth International')
Now many people are of the opinion that I am a communist in disguise. So I want to offer this rebuttal (another fantastic word probably used out of place). The problem is that we have two systems really, capitalism and communism. Neither are very good. Capitalism, because it is by nature wrong, and Communism because it is by nature impossible. For me to believe in Capitalism would be equivalent to saying 'Yes I love evil' and for me to support communism would be to say 'I think human flight is a viable low emissions travel option'. Now i realise that many would argue that Communism can exist, however i believe that human nature defies that.
So where does that leave me? There is no point investing in something that is never going to work, so I am not a communist, instead perhaps 'conscience capitalist with communist ideals'. How's that? As someone once said, let's start from the imperfect, and work towards the perfect!!
Oh and by the way, at some people's request I spent hours slaving away yesterday bringing you original audio versions of 'Springtime again' and other such poems. See www.pigeonboy.podbean.com
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Springtime again!
That was the title of one of my first ever poems written at school. Needless to say i have since been subjected to much mockery relating to that poem! I thought it was good!
And so I am back in Harrogate! Back in the land of 'do-nothing', where wireless and tea rule my day. Though things are slightly different this time round. I'm a changed man! If only because nextdoors wireless network has now been secured! Not that I rely too heavily on their wireless, but our wireless gets switched off at 11 each night, so no more late nighters for me!
So what have I been up to in this last week since i blogged. Well truth be told-nothing. That is part of the reason I have not blogged-my mind has been devoid of things to write about!
The weather has been typically British, varying between bright sunshine that stifles the room with heat, and snow blizzards which bring with them icy blasts. Who knows, maybe rain later today...
I shall go now and try and make something of the day before it is too late
Hasta luego
And so I am back in Harrogate! Back in the land of 'do-nothing', where wireless and tea rule my day. Though things are slightly different this time round. I'm a changed man! If only because nextdoors wireless network has now been secured! Not that I rely too heavily on their wireless, but our wireless gets switched off at 11 each night, so no more late nighters for me!
So what have I been up to in this last week since i blogged. Well truth be told-nothing. That is part of the reason I have not blogged-my mind has been devoid of things to write about!
The weather has been typically British, varying between bright sunshine that stifles the room with heat, and snow blizzards which bring with them icy blasts. Who knows, maybe rain later today...
I shall go now and try and make something of the day before it is too late
Hasta luego
Thursday, March 15, 2007
I hope this helps
There are some things in life which make you cry or scream. There are other things which make you roar with laughter. There are things which change your life, moments of great intensity. There are times when you feel you cannot go on. There are times when you feel you cannot stop.
Then there are times of very little significance, at which you just have to sit back and giggle at the world around us. let this be one of those times! Hehehe
Then there are times of very little significance, at which you just have to sit back and giggle at the world around us. let this be one of those times! Hehehe
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Wind down
A week left of what has in many ways been a frantic term, and in many other ways been a fairly quiet term. It's odd to once again be preparing to go home for another 5 weeks. After which we will be in exams season once more. Oh what fun!
I must apologise (once again) for a lack of blogging. However I will use the excuse of essay deadline week! And blogger not orking yesterday. he last week has been good, getting rid of two essays, and seeing Ditt again and going to planet etc. The next week promises to be a fairly relaxed one. So finally I must consider tidying my room! Ahhhhh
I must apologise (once again) for a lack of blogging. However I will use the excuse of essay deadline week! And blogger not orking yesterday. he last week has been good, getting rid of two essays, and seeing Ditt again and going to planet etc. The next week promises to be a fairly relaxed one. So finally I must consider tidying my room! Ahhhhh
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Be who you wanna be, B-A-R-B-I-E
One of my favourite pastimes these days is watching early morning T.V far later than I should be, and hence having to run to lectures to get there on time. It's fantastic seeing all the different TV shows. Whether it is Thomas and Friends, the incredible Sailor Sid, the ever oinking Pepper Pig or even the rather depressing Titch, it keeps us entertained for half an hour every day! Unfortunately because it happens to be on Channe 5, there are adverts.
The adverts are the same everyday. One hair product, lego, some fighting things, and a whole variety of Barbie things. From skating barbies to flying barbies, through Amish Barbie and Muslim Barbie (with full length veil). What really made me laugh was the slogan 'Be who you want to be'. That slogan for a barbie doll!?!? A doll which if it existed in real life would have died beacuse her legs are too long for her waist or something (I read about it once a long time ago). So here we have the image of conformity, the epitome of stereotypes and unfortunately what many people aim for as the ideal image, with a slogan implying individuality and self expression.
Well this week I have decided to be myself and to just forget what other people might think ( As anyone who has seen me will know). I don't write this looking for praise or applauding myself. I do this instead for two reasons. Firstly to help reassure myself that it is ok for me to be me! And secondly to encourage everyone to be exactly who you want to be. In the end, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks!
The adverts are the same everyday. One hair product, lego, some fighting things, and a whole variety of Barbie things. From skating barbies to flying barbies, through Amish Barbie and Muslim Barbie (with full length veil). What really made me laugh was the slogan 'Be who you want to be'. That slogan for a barbie doll!?!? A doll which if it existed in real life would have died beacuse her legs are too long for her waist or something (I read about it once a long time ago). So here we have the image of conformity, the epitome of stereotypes and unfortunately what many people aim for as the ideal image, with a slogan implying individuality and self expression.
Well this week I have decided to be myself and to just forget what other people might think ( As anyone who has seen me will know). I don't write this looking for praise or applauding myself. I do this instead for two reasons. Firstly to help reassure myself that it is ok for me to be me! And secondly to encourage everyone to be exactly who you want to be. In the end, doesn't matter what anyone else thinks!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Stokes' Theorem
This my friends is Stokes' Theroem. And quite frankly its great. That is, if you understand it. You see no matter how much i think about, how much it means to me, there isn't really much point in me posting it. Why? Because there will be two types of readers. Firstly there are the ones who know what it means. Mathematicians and physicists will look at it and with a knowing smile understand it completely. But they already knew it, it is useless reading something that you already know-what's the point. There would be no point in me standing up in front of a maths class and explaining Stokes' Theorem to them, or even recommending they read this blog-It's old news, barely worth the read.
The second kind of readers are those who have no idea what I am on about. But if that is the case then this will not help them either. You can't understand it just from this formula. It would require someone to come and find me afterwards and ask me to explain it. If anything it would just cause confusion. So what is my point?
The only remaining justification for me posting this riddle of an equation is self-expression. However I might as well just go and write it on a piece of paper rather than writing it up here and causing confusion.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Oh dear
A whole week since I last blogged. Not very impressive at all. Though i will mention that it is not entirely my fault. I have written several blogs which were simply not good enough! Taj will identify with suh writings. So I have resorted to writing one just because I haven't written one for ages, and to let everyone know what has been going on recently i guess!
Was away for the weekend in sunny Whitby which was grrreeeatt! While I was there I went to see a play which was fantastic. One of the issues the play covered was people trafficking. Rather than watse time reading further musings and mumblings from me, go to http://www.stopthetraffik.org/ and read about something very important that actually matters.
Was away for the weekend in sunny Whitby which was grrreeeatt! While I was there I went to see a play which was fantastic. One of the issues the play covered was people trafficking. Rather than watse time reading further musings and mumblings from me, go to http://www.stopthetraffik.org/ and read about something very important that actually matters.
Monday, February 19, 2007
You mean I actually got it right?!?
I am swelling in pride at the moment, momentarily. Then I shall return to my usual state of general incompetence as I slog away at my essay. But I wont forget this moment. Moments like this don't come very often. Actually the moment I refer to occured a few hours ago at approximately 2.30ish. It was in a maths tutorial, with a legend of a tutor. Following his little intro, everyone was working on a question, or just putting on a thoughtful face so that the tutor wouldn't ask a question. In fact that is my tactic most tutorials. Sit there with a puzzled face. It's an art though. You have to look puzzled enough that they wont ask you to go through it, yet not puzzled enough to look as though you need any help. I find that if you moderately tax the brain with a problem such as what to have for lunch, whilst staring intently and flicking through your notes, the desired effect is reached.
Anyway on this one occasion I was wandering through the wilderness of mathematical madness when I stumbled upon rare jungle gold. Just like that, out of the dark and dusty cobweb filled corners of my mind came a flash of inspiration. And BANG there was the answer. I was so shocked I had to ask the affectionately named 'Maths Richard' sat next to me to check the answer. Answer checked ,I tentatively put up my hand. The very intelligence of some of the people in the room, and the fact that no one else had the answer yet, put more then a dram of caution in my mind. The tutor came over, peered at the scruffy paper, and with a voiceof bewilderment only matched by the amazement inside me, he declared that 'yes...that's right...that's perfect, exactly right'. His response should indicate that it is not often I that comes up with the answer first. Taj was in disbelief (As he knows that it is very rare for me to actually work in tutorials), however here I stand, basking in the fact that I was right.
I don't mean to sound arsey or arrogant. I think everyone would admit that when you are right, it is an amazing feeling, especially as for most people it doesn't happen very often, so yeah, just thought I'd share that feeling with y'all!
Anyway on this one occasion I was wandering through the wilderness of mathematical madness when I stumbled upon rare jungle gold. Just like that, out of the dark and dusty cobweb filled corners of my mind came a flash of inspiration. And BANG there was the answer. I was so shocked I had to ask the affectionately named 'Maths Richard' sat next to me to check the answer. Answer checked ,I tentatively put up my hand. The very intelligence of some of the people in the room, and the fact that no one else had the answer yet, put more then a dram of caution in my mind. The tutor came over, peered at the scruffy paper, and with a voiceof bewilderment only matched by the amazement inside me, he declared that 'yes...that's right...that's perfect, exactly right'. His response should indicate that it is not often I that comes up with the answer first. Taj was in disbelief (As he knows that it is very rare for me to actually work in tutorials), however here I stand, basking in the fact that I was right.
I don't mean to sound arsey or arrogant. I think everyone would admit that when you are right, it is an amazing feeling, especially as for most people it doesn't happen very often, so yeah, just thought I'd share that feeling with y'all!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Library
I come to you direct from the computer room on the ground floor of the library! One of the most mysterious places on Earth (And one of the most daunting!)
These last few days have been fairly exciting. We got a house on Monday, yesterday I went to see the Merchant of Venice...erm, well ok that consitutes an exciting few days for me!
Also had Valentines Day of course. Though I feel that day has had enough press already so I wont bother delving into it, and ripping it to shreds.
Well I don't really have anything else to ponder upon at this time, so I shall leave you with some words to ponder upon yourselves.
'I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what' Harper Lee (TKAM)
These last few days have been fairly exciting. We got a house on Monday, yesterday I went to see the Merchant of Venice...erm, well ok that consitutes an exciting few days for me!
Also had Valentines Day of course. Though I feel that day has had enough press already so I wont bother delving into it, and ripping it to shreds.
Well I don't really have anything else to ponder upon at this time, so I shall leave you with some words to ponder upon yourselves.
'I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what' Harper Lee (TKAM)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Who attached lead to my eyelids?
For some reason I have had difficulty staying awake today. So I am going to give up and go to bed. Tomorrow we have all the fun of househunting! Oh yay. I am looking forward to getting a house-just not to looking for one. Not that i can't see one. There are lots around in Durham, of manhy different shapes and sizes. You see househunting is not like real hunting. The houses won't run away, they won't suddenly jump into a bush or hide or something. However it comes with problems of its own. I would like to propose three difficulties that explain why househunting never caught on whilst foxhunting did.
Firstly, imagine this. You are on a poncy foxhunt, and you are following a fox. The dogs are inches away, gnashing away (the friendly creatures they are) and then suddenly the moment before you get the fox Lord Snooty and his gang come charging through the bush to your left, snatch the fox and are gone within seconds leaving you with little more than a mouthful of dirt. Yes...the 'just missed it' when the contract has just been signed.
So a little later you catch a glimpse of another fox sitting on the floor of the wood. Great, you think. Its silky fur reflects the sun. It is truly majestic! You lick your lips and head off in mad pursuit of the fox. However as you get near, it spots you, turns around and legs it off in the other direction at what can only be described as a supersonic speed. With one last surge you continue the chase, and having forced him to the edge of a cliff, surrounded, surely victory must be yours. To your amazement the fox unfurls its wings and flies off the cliff, landing safely on a ledge a few 100 metres away. Yes this is those targets which are just impossible to get. The ones that are far too good, or out of range...
Tired, but still determined you head back into the forest. You spot a small rater scruffy figure in the distance which you think must be a fox. At last! Something that you might actually be able to catch! Off on the chase again...tearing through the wood. Closer, and closer and closer, until YES, you finally have it. But wait...you pick up the damp, sodden half dead mess before you and to your dismay realise that it is a large rat you have been chasing. The oh so unmistakable piles of rubbish that look so tempting to begin with, until you realise the damp makes the rooms like a rainforest, and that the bathroom has no toilet.
So there you go! And so as you blow your horn and set off househunting, remember those three perilous situations! Good luck and happy hunting!
Thought for the Day: 'It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well'
Rene Descartes
Firstly, imagine this. You are on a poncy foxhunt, and you are following a fox. The dogs are inches away, gnashing away (the friendly creatures they are) and then suddenly the moment before you get the fox Lord Snooty and his gang come charging through the bush to your left, snatch the fox and are gone within seconds leaving you with little more than a mouthful of dirt. Yes...the 'just missed it' when the contract has just been signed.
So a little later you catch a glimpse of another fox sitting on the floor of the wood. Great, you think. Its silky fur reflects the sun. It is truly majestic! You lick your lips and head off in mad pursuit of the fox. However as you get near, it spots you, turns around and legs it off in the other direction at what can only be described as a supersonic speed. With one last surge you continue the chase, and having forced him to the edge of a cliff, surrounded, surely victory must be yours. To your amazement the fox unfurls its wings and flies off the cliff, landing safely on a ledge a few 100 metres away. Yes this is those targets which are just impossible to get. The ones that are far too good, or out of range...
Tired, but still determined you head back into the forest. You spot a small rater scruffy figure in the distance which you think must be a fox. At last! Something that you might actually be able to catch! Off on the chase again...tearing through the wood. Closer, and closer and closer, until YES, you finally have it. But wait...you pick up the damp, sodden half dead mess before you and to your dismay realise that it is a large rat you have been chasing. The oh so unmistakable piles of rubbish that look so tempting to begin with, until you realise the damp makes the rooms like a rainforest, and that the bathroom has no toilet.
So there you go! And so as you blow your horn and set off househunting, remember those three perilous situations! Good luck and happy hunting!
Thought for the Day: 'It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well'
Rene Descartes
Friday, February 09, 2007
No cirques please, we're British!
This week has been a good week. I have spent a fair amount of it staring at maps, measuring maps and then collating data on cirques. For those who have not had the misfortune of being around me this week and do not know what a cirque is, a cirque is a small glacier, or rather a hole left by one, perched on the side and at the head of valleys. They also form the main part of my summative project this term.
SNOOOOOOOOW! Yes although it has been patchy, we have still been snowed on this week-which is very exciting. Perhaps at this point i should share my analogy which got me strange looks last week. Every morning i think about the day ahead as a field of untouched snow. Perfectly flat and covered, undisturbed. And everyday I run, dance prance and generally fall across the field. An then at the end of the day, i look back across the field, and there is a massive trail of mess and destruction behind me! But as long as I don't make too much of a mess, and provided i do get to the other side of the field, then that's ok! lol.
Thought for the Day: "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." C.S. Lewis
SNOOOOOOOOW! Yes although it has been patchy, we have still been snowed on this week-which is very exciting. Perhaps at this point i should share my analogy which got me strange looks last week. Every morning i think about the day ahead as a field of untouched snow. Perfectly flat and covered, undisturbed. And everyday I run, dance prance and generally fall across the field. An then at the end of the day, i look back across the field, and there is a massive trail of mess and destruction behind me! But as long as I don't make too much of a mess, and provided i do get to the other side of the field, then that's ok! lol.
Thought for the Day: "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." C.S. Lewis
Monday, February 05, 2007
The ever flexible John O'Shea
He started off his Manchester United career as a left back. Since then he has played centre back, right back, central midfield, left wing, even upfront as a striker for part of a game. Then yesterday came his biggest moment yet, playing in goal for 10 minutes at the end of the game againt 'Spurs.
This leaves right wing as the only position he has yet to play in!
Check out the video-i know it is long, but there are some great moments. Notably his punch from the free kick, and him denying Robbie Keane, 1 on 1 right near the end. Ahhh fantastic!
If you get a bit bored in the middle just try and work out what the commentators are saying!
This leaves right wing as the only position he has yet to play in!
Check out the video-i know it is long, but there are some great moments. Notably his punch from the free kick, and him denying Robbie Keane, 1 on 1 right near the end. Ahhh fantastic!
If you get a bit bored in the middle just try and work out what the commentators are saying!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
I doubt it
Doubt-Possibly everyones favourite word. It's a strange thing doubt. Its strange how more often than not, it's difficult to see why people doubt themselves. From the outside it can be difficult to comprehend. That's because I don't think people doubt what they cannot do, but rather what they can. In general most people know what they can't do, so don't do it, or do it with no expectation. Doubt implies a given expectation that will not be lived up to. So why do we doubt?
Firstly i think we all think we are crap. No matter how well we may do at something, no matter how many times people may tell us, often we think we are rubbish. Whether it be academic, or to do with our personality, our likeability or whatever, we fail to see what others do.
In some ways this is a good way to be. It saves us from arrogance and self importance, from pride and a self belief which sets us up to fail. However it has its downsides too. Through merely believing our own opinion of ourselves, we miss out on part of who we really are. We can end up getting quite down at not living up to our own expectations or by comparing our view of ourselves, to our view of other people.
Secondly, i think it is due to the uncertainty we face. At every step there are thing which we have not done before, challenges which we have not previously encountered. These provide a perfect opportunity to question our ability. It is true, that until we try something we can't be sure that we are capable of it, but that's not necessarily a reason to believe that we are incapable.
I think the answer lies in those besides ourselves. Whereas we may have a very negative view, friends offer a far more realistic view of ourselves. That may include some healthy skepticism however will probably also offer a far less doubtful view of us, and our abilities. So next time you want to doubt yourself-go listen to a friend!
Garrr blutak is really annoying. Why does it stick to everything within a 20cm radius of it, including pens, rulers, tables, paper etc, but then the minute you stick it to a wall, it falls off!!
Firstly i think we all think we are crap. No matter how well we may do at something, no matter how many times people may tell us, often we think we are rubbish. Whether it be academic, or to do with our personality, our likeability or whatever, we fail to see what others do.
In some ways this is a good way to be. It saves us from arrogance and self importance, from pride and a self belief which sets us up to fail. However it has its downsides too. Through merely believing our own opinion of ourselves, we miss out on part of who we really are. We can end up getting quite down at not living up to our own expectations or by comparing our view of ourselves, to our view of other people.
Secondly, i think it is due to the uncertainty we face. At every step there are thing which we have not done before, challenges which we have not previously encountered. These provide a perfect opportunity to question our ability. It is true, that until we try something we can't be sure that we are capable of it, but that's not necessarily a reason to believe that we are incapable.
I think the answer lies in those besides ourselves. Whereas we may have a very negative view, friends offer a far more realistic view of ourselves. That may include some healthy skepticism however will probably also offer a far less doubtful view of us, and our abilities. So next time you want to doubt yourself-go listen to a friend!
Garrr blutak is really annoying. Why does it stick to everything within a 20cm radius of it, including pens, rulers, tables, paper etc, but then the minute you stick it to a wall, it falls off!!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Children
I was lucky enough to be able to spend the evening with two wonderful children this evening, and so this blog is really 'why we should all be like children'. This may come as a surprise to some. I have in the past pointed out to people, that we must grow up. Despite the wonders of childhood, adult life presents a much more complex situation where we must act differently from children, however I aim to suggest a few characteristics maybe we should adopt from children.
Firstly there attitude. One of excitememt, and anticipation. The smallest things excite them and they always are wanting to know more. They want to meet new people, to tell others about themselves and to find out about other people. There are very few people more interested with everyday life than children. Children are often less reserved. They will have hopes, and dreams and get easily excited, but of course they will also sometimes get more upset as a result. However I think there is a lot to be said for taking the risk. I mean you have to be up high to fall. Too often adults would rather go for the middle ground. Adopt realism or pessimism, which aren't inherently bad things. Sure you never get the fall, but likewise you never get the view from the top. Children also have a very generous attitude. Within 2 or 3hrs I was given a picture, drawn for me, and a pencil! Ok it doesn't seem much, but what a sacrifice and loving gift to give to someone she had only just met.
Trust is another big 'un. Kind of linked with the last point. Often adults are too skeptical-Trust no one rather than trust everyone. And once again it is probably wise not to trust everyone as we may los a lot. However children are far more trusting. And once again, there are negative consequences. However i think it would be far better if every now and then we stuck our neck out, risked being let down and trusted those around us a little bit more.
Honesty. Now there's a difficult one. Now i will preface this one by saying that I more than see the need for tact within conversation, and being honest does not necessarily mean that just because you think something-you tell everyone! I have come to appreciate honesty and bluntness within my friends. Ok, it may hurt when they tell you something you don't want to hear. It might be difficult to swallow your pride and accept that maybe they are right. It's like when children say things they 'shouldn't say' in public. Children don't care-they tell it as it is. I think it's far better to be honest, and to have an honest friend rather than to have one who will not put you right when you are wrong, who will not tell you when you are out of order.
So there you go-a brief insight as to why I think we should all be slightly more like children
Thought for the Day: Be childlike not childish
Firstly there attitude. One of excitememt, and anticipation. The smallest things excite them and they always are wanting to know more. They want to meet new people, to tell others about themselves and to find out about other people. There are very few people more interested with everyday life than children. Children are often less reserved. They will have hopes, and dreams and get easily excited, but of course they will also sometimes get more upset as a result. However I think there is a lot to be said for taking the risk. I mean you have to be up high to fall. Too often adults would rather go for the middle ground. Adopt realism or pessimism, which aren't inherently bad things. Sure you never get the fall, but likewise you never get the view from the top. Children also have a very generous attitude. Within 2 or 3hrs I was given a picture, drawn for me, and a pencil! Ok it doesn't seem much, but what a sacrifice and loving gift to give to someone she had only just met.
Trust is another big 'un. Kind of linked with the last point. Often adults are too skeptical-Trust no one rather than trust everyone. And once again it is probably wise not to trust everyone as we may los a lot. However children are far more trusting. And once again, there are negative consequences. However i think it would be far better if every now and then we stuck our neck out, risked being let down and trusted those around us a little bit more.
Honesty. Now there's a difficult one. Now i will preface this one by saying that I more than see the need for tact within conversation, and being honest does not necessarily mean that just because you think something-you tell everyone! I have come to appreciate honesty and bluntness within my friends. Ok, it may hurt when they tell you something you don't want to hear. It might be difficult to swallow your pride and accept that maybe they are right. It's like when children say things they 'shouldn't say' in public. Children don't care-they tell it as it is. I think it's far better to be honest, and to have an honest friend rather than to have one who will not put you right when you are wrong, who will not tell you when you are out of order.
So there you go-a brief insight as to why I think we should all be slightly more like children
Thought for the Day: Be childlike not childish
Friday, January 26, 2007
Long time no post
I would like to apolgise for my appaulling efforts recently with the blog. Having been away last weekend, I have been consistently fairly busy and so have fallen very behind. The unfortunate truth is that I still don't have anything to write! Maybe tomorrow....
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The marvel that is 'Refresh' Tea!
My head is twice the size it usually is, and twice as heavy, my eyelids are heavier than usual and i have a slightly spaced-out air about me. Unfortunately 3hrs sleep is not enough for Tim to function correctly. It's not that I haven't done it before. But it is the beginning of term so I'm not really back into the sleepless pattern . I woke up this morning, dazed and feeling horrible. A shower and some breakfast later things weren't much better. I felt dead! I went to my 9am which was a nightmare, i felt awful the whole way through, like my body was telling me I should still be asleep. Then after that lecture i struggled home, sorry to the chemistry cafe (the two are almost synonymous now!). Hrmm good word, probably completely out of context but you know what I mean.
I crawled to the counter, and heaved my heavy frame up to ask for a tea, through half-shut eyes. However rather than the usual choice I went for a 'refresh' tea. This is a mint tea, which i have had a few times before. From the first sniff, to the final sip (I decided not to chew the teabag this time) it was magical! In that 30mins, a party started inside my head! It was as though I woke up there and then. My shoulders lifted, my eyes opened, the sun shone and it was day! And I looked around and saw that it was good! That small cup kept me awake and energetic for the whole afternoon, however now I am beginning to lag again. Maybe I should buy some.
I will go now and try and get a first class ticket on the first train leaving reality. I need sleep.
I crawled to the counter, and heaved my heavy frame up to ask for a tea, through half-shut eyes. However rather than the usual choice I went for a 'refresh' tea. This is a mint tea, which i have had a few times before. From the first sniff, to the final sip (I decided not to chew the teabag this time) it was magical! In that 30mins, a party started inside my head! It was as though I woke up there and then. My shoulders lifted, my eyes opened, the sun shone and it was day! And I looked around and saw that it was good! That small cup kept me awake and energetic for the whole afternoon, however now I am beginning to lag again. Maybe I should buy some.
I will go now and try and get a first class ticket on the first train leaving reality. I need sleep.
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