We saw this film the Saturday before the summer holidays started in a cottage on Skye this summer overlooking the lighthouse that played a central role in the film.
Great film and good to see it again when we got home. Stunning scenery and soundtrack.
We had not heard of the film until seeing it advertised before it was broadcast.
More about this moviePublishers confirm that print dictionary market is disappearing so third edition is unlikely
Publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary have confirmed that the third edition may never appear in print. A team of 80 lexicographers began working on it following the publication of the second edition in 1989. It is 28% finished. In comments to a Sunday newspaper, Nigel Portwood, chief executive of Oxford University Press, which owns the dictionary, said: "The print dictionary market is just disappearing. It is falling away by tens of percent a year." Asked if he thought the third edition would appear in printed format, he said: "I don't think so." However, an OUP spokeswoman said no decision had been made.
Guardian article
Service held in the hall round tables. Lorraine was interviewed and said powerful stuff about her heart for worship.
Lots of us went for a picnic at Lister Park. Not that warm and was quite windy as well as sunny at times but a good time had by all including Sam/Will/Lauren, John A, Hilary, Tracy, Garsides, 2 Barrow kids, 3 Faramaz girls and Ben with his guitar. Game of rounders, Plus sushi from Costco. Loads of fresh air and rounded off with a round of hot chocolate.
Caught this game on Match of the Day. A very poor game but good to get the 3 points and to see Torres score again.
Spain striker Fernando Torres volleyed in to give an unconvincing Liverpool victory over West Brom at Anfield.
BBC report
Breakfast at McDonald’s with Isaac and a read of the paper. Girls at church for a Garside girl’s birthday party. Rachael and Hannah at Costco in the afternoon. Chilled day.
Goals from Barry Corr and Anthony Grant secured 10-man Southend a first win of the season at Bradford.
BBC report
Very nostalgic seeing this clip. My fave all time TV series – along with West Wing.
An early evening kick off so not on TV. Good result.
Liverpool secured their place in the group stages of the Europa League courtesy of a win at Trabzonspor.
(BBC report)
The Liberal Democrat business secretary talks frankly about working in coalition with the Conservatives, and his newfound respect for George Osborne
(Guardian article)
Came across the link to 3D ministries from a link listing from 2007 that I was reviewing. Lots of stuff about missional communities including reference in a recent blog post to a forthcoming book “Launching Missional Communities – a field guide”.
Wikipedia entry for missional communities
3D Ministries
Mike Breen’s blog
Keith Treacy fired Preston into the Carling Cup third round with a superb winner in extra time at Valley Parade.
BBC report
A 2007 Catalyst piece by Mark Batterson that includes this manifesto:
Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop criticizing and start creating. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilacs. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Laugh at yourself. Keep making mistakes. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. And remember: if God is for us who can be against us?
Also see the “In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day” book site
Published in 2007,
English has come to reflect the changing powers of globalisation; it is used in different ways, by different people, for different purposes. Where the UK once directed the spread of English, we are now just one of many shareholders in the asset that it represents. Opportunity and influence remain tied to English, but As You Like It argues that native speakers are at risk of being left behind.
The UK has not done enough to respond to these changes. Policy is needed across a wide range of government departments that understands and responds to this changing context. As You Like It sets forth the considerations that must shape this.
(from the Demos “As You Like It” page)
I did this course when I was 17-18 at Felden and part of the 2nd Loughborough Company of the BB.
Chazown: Hebrew for vision
In his book Chazown, to be released September 2010, Craig Groeschel will help you to find, name, and live out your personal vision. It's a journey you'll never forget because it's impossible to return unchanged.
(Official web site)
Watched this game with Isaac at the cricket club and the girls all came along too. Isaac wanted to leave when the 3rd goal went in. Poor performance from Liverpool.
Manchester City celebrated owner Sheikh Mansour's first visit to Eastlands by delivering an impressive performance to cruise to victory against Liverpool.
BBC report
Got a phone call from Rachael towards the end of my working day re they were all going swimming and did I want to go so I did. A rare treat. They are all still off on holiday so it was good to do something holiday-like when I was working!
Stopped to pick up a Subway for tea at home on the way home.
From a June 2009 Guardian article:
So who is top of the pops?
Name the best working band or singer in the world today: that was the simple question we put to scores of musicians.
Jim Kerr of Simple Minds on U2:
If you're going to ask who's the best singer in rock'n'roll terms, it would have to be Bono. He's a brilliant rock singer, emotionally and technically; he's got a fantastic soul voice; he has highs, lows, drama - he makes lesser songs seem better than they are. He's better than Dylan, Lennon or Bruce - better than anyone. They made their limitations work and in doing so became iconic, absolute greats, Zen masters; Dylan's a method singer like Brando was a method actor. But Bono is better. He has no limitations. He hasn't always been this good, he just developed at a pace that no one else did. If you go back to that Band Aid single, everyone's on there - but when he goes to the mic, the drama and tunefulness and pain and sweetness he brings to it, he's on a different planet to everyone else, and that's when he started to take off. U2 without him would be inconceivable. Bono's drama, the attack, coincides with the violence the Edge brings. The first time I saw them, after the War album, the sound they made was immense for a four-piece band. But it's the force behind the music that gives them that extra turbo-charge. Bono carries all of his extracurricular activities into his performances. He can be operatic, he can be angry, he can do pop. He brings so many colours to the palette.
Enjoyed their appearance on the One Show last week.
Has endlessly skimming short texts on the internet made us stupider? An increasing number of experts think so - and say it's time to slow down . . .
(Guardian article)
The article references John Miedema’s book Slow Reading.
A new book claims the amount of time we spend on the internet is changing the very structure of our brains – damaging our ability to think and to learn
(Guardian article)
The article features Nicholas Carr’s book “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains”.
Pixar has perfected the technique of enrapturing two audiences at once, thanks to a mix of broad humour and emotion
(Guardian article)
Not seen Toy Story 3 yet. Helen took the kids so Rachael hasn’t seen it either.
Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: An exhibition at Friends House offers a chilling insight into the suffering wreaked by the A-bombs, 65 years on
(Guardian article)
The Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-bomb exhibition explores the destruction of the two cities by nuclear weapons through photographs and artefacts recovered from the wreckage. Transported from Japan and on display in London for the first time, this represents a unique opportunity to see firsthand the destructive capabilities of nuclear weapons.
(from the Exhibition home page)
Nagasaki Journey (photos)
Ben came round for lunch. The slow cooker recipe was a bit bland but OK. Ben played on the X Box with Isaac all afternoon. Fun time had by all.
Radio has always offered an individual experience while perhaps making listeners feel as if they are in company with like-minded souls. But the technology that is fragmenting other audiences and leaving some sectors in the doldrums (for instance music sales, hit by illegal downloading) is also making it easier and more pleasurable to listen to the radio. Thanks to podcasts, the BBC's iPlayer, radio phone apps (20% of smartphone owners have downloaded these) and internet stations, radio is proving more convenient than ever.
(Guardian article)
I have Radio Five Live on when I am getting ready in the morning in the bathroom and also whenever I am in the kitchen. Plus I listen to radio podcasts on the iPod in the car.
In 1,000 tweets the centenarian entertained her 56,000 followers with posts about food, family and meeting Gordon Brown
Guardian article
Radio producer who helped music's biggest names record their first BBC sessions
Another fascinating obituary of a person who I had never heard of. Was struck by this section about John Peel:
Bernie effectively launched the BBC career of John Peel. He championed John's early Top Gear broadcasts, and fought to keep him as a presenter when not all of the BBC management was keen to do so. Bernie was John's first producer, nurturing his abilities as a DJ and broadcaster, before John's long-running partnership with John Walters began.
Another in this ongoing Guardian series
A comprehensive count gets much closer to the truth than any random sample
Continuing the Grand Designs and homes theme of some recent posts, I recently did this Channel 4 Grand Designs quiz and got the following result:
With a mix of two Grand Designs houses, one of your ideal homes would be the Walton Huf Haus. An impeccable eye for detail, love of all things contemporary and a taste for quality mean that this German kit house is your perfect match. You're cutting edge and like to stay ahead of the crowd, just like Peter Huf, the popular German architect responsible for this fab prefab. here!
You have two perfect houses, but your practical, can-do attitude and ingenuity mean that the Peckham Space Pod is one of your your ultimate Grand Designs. This compact, clever design speaks volumes for your common sense, high intelligence and problem-solving ability. You also have taste that, while not always popular with the mainstream, is undeniably unique and 'you'. here!
Found out that this author had died earlier in the year over the summer.
This is the current official guide to this approach.
Service held in hall round tables. I like it like that, better than in lines. Sylvia was interviewed about her faith. Good stuff.
Daniel Decker’s survey on the top books every young influencer/leader should read.
Hair cut with Isaac first thing. Vanessa is now back fully owning the shop. Then on to McDonald's for breakfast with Isaac and a read of the paper.
First time in ages we have all gone food shopping together but not for a full shop. I was after stuff for my slow cooker recipe.
Isaac and Rachael went to Grandma Jean’s to pick up her X Box on loan.
I went out to Cover to Cover book club to discuss Alex’s Adventures in Numberland.
Made a slow cooker recipe, went well.
Stayed up late with Isaac to watch Match of the Day.
Loved this interview with the straight-laced, prim and proper Sian Williams (who I am a fan of) which I saw on TV when on holiday.
Visited the “Elemental Skye - A Forty Year Obsession” exhibition of work by William Swann at Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye during the recent summer holiday. It featured some of my favourite places on Skye.
Achnacloich
Torrin
Ord
Armadale
Just stumbled over these. They were used in ESPN’s coverage of the World Cup earlier in the summer. Great stuff . .
In 2006, U2 licensed songs and concert footage to the network for use in marketing and programming. Four years on, it's forged an even more ambitious two-pronged promotional deal for the 2010 tournament. Ader and the band selected songs from the group's catalog for the "One Game Changes Everything" series of ads, written by New York ad agency Wieden+Kennedy, promoting the network's tournament coverage. "We wanted that big, global, anthemic stadium sound," Ader says, "and Africa has a very meaningful place in the band's hearts and minds."
Shown on all ESPN channels, the first ad-which started airing in January-featured "City of Blinding Lights." Download sales for "City" spiked in January to about 2,000 per week, up from nearly 1,000 per week in December 2009, before leveling off at slightly more than 1,000 per week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Total scans for the track stand at 331,000. Other ads feature "Magnificent," "Beautiful Day," "Desire," "Where the Streets Have No Name," "Unknown Caller" and "Out of Control."
The Soweto Gospel Choir also recorded versions of "Get On Your Boots," "Magnificent," "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "Amazing Grace," in sync with U2's performances of those songs at its October 2009 Rose Bowl concert in Pasadena, Calif. Footage of the gig will be spliced with the choir performing in Soweto and Johannesburg, with the resulting music videos inserted into ESPN's World Cup coverage. ESPN's executive producer for the tournament, Jed Drake, says discussions are under way to bring songs and videos to retail.
(taken from this Billboard article)
Torquay United maintained their perfect start to the League Two season with a routine win over 10-man Bradford City.
BBC report
This one featuring San Francisco with a soundtrack of the Doobie Brothers’ Listen To The Music. Love breakfasts . . .
Trying this recipe out. Thought it was about time I should show willing with the slow cooker.
Recipe (from The No 1 Slow Cooker Recipes site)
Had a bottle of this beer on Skye a couple of weeks ago. Great beer. The label includes one of the Lewis chessmen which I had never heard of before.
The Lewis Chessmen:
Probably made in Norway, about AD 1150-1200 | Found on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
The chess pieces consist of elaborately worked walrus ivory and whales' teeth in the forms of seated kings and queens, mitred bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and pawns in the shape of obelisks.
(British Museum page)
National Museum of Scotland site
Wikipedia entry
The beer:
A real India pale ale based on 150 year old recipes. Light in colour but strong in flavour. Malty with an intense hop to match. Conditioned over a number of weeks to develop full and complex flavour.
Not seen Naomi on TV for years now but was reminded of her today. I remember her being forthright on what she thought of what people had done to their houses.
Official web site
Channel 4 profile
Soon to be published book:
The flurry of posts on architecture got me thinking about when I was first introduced to these barns. It was one of the episodes of “Other People’s Houses” a few years ago now presented by Naomi Cleaver.
Not the original episode but this is an episode of a programme with Naomi that covers barn builds.
Discovered this company via the Roderick James Architects web site.
Carpenter Oak Ltd. works in conjunction with Roderick James Architects LLP specialising in the design and construction of Timber Architecture including contemporary houses, barn-houses, extensions, conservatories, boathouses, cabins, garden structures, public buildings and timber engineering. We can advise on sites, planning and costs.
During the holiday, I got back into dreamland re big open spaces to live in. Grand Designs was and is a great series of TV programmes.
Calum (the husband of the owner of the cottage we stayed at on Skye recently) mentioned this firm to us. Reminded me of love of wide open space rooms with wood and large glass windows!
Established in 1974 and based in Totnes, Devon, Roderick James Architects LLP specialise in contemporary architecture with a particular emphasis on space and light. We are especially known for our close association with Carpenter Oak Ltd and the design of timber frame buildings. We work nationwide and have also undertaken work in the Channel Islands, Ireland, France, USA, South Africa and the Caribbean. With our experience of designing several hundred individual houses we have developed a language and style of structure which is more subtle than first appears and gives our buildings a comfortable contemporary feel.
Watched the game with Isaac at home. Good match, Game of 2 halves with the opposition better in the first half then vice versa in the second. An OK result and at least no away goal for the opposition. Could have been 3 or 4-0 with the missed penalty and a disallowed goal that looked fine to me.
Liverpool's Joe Cole missed a penalty as his side had to make do with a slender first-leg lead over Trabzonspor in their Europa League qualifier.
(BBC article)
(Jimmy Reid (front left) and Jimmy Airlie (right), both stalwarts of the Communist party, address the press in 1971 at the height of the shipyard dispute)
BBC article on the funeral including eulogies from Billy Connolly and Alex Ferguson
Transcript of a Jimmy Reid speech
Jimmy Reid, the Clydeside trade union activist . . , was an inspiring orator. This speech, delivered on his inauguration as rector of Glasgow University in 1972, was compared at the time to the Gettysburg Address. It has lost little of its relevance
Missing my boy who was on a 3-day X-stream camp with St John’s Church from the Monday we got back from Skye but was back when I got home from work today. He had a great time but was wiped out.
Lunch out today with the team and Andrew. This was the first opportunity after the proper date when we were all in. Went to the Hare and Hounds. I pushed the boat out with a Macaroni Cheese.
We had such a great time where we stayed this summer, especially the kids, that we decided to book again for next year. Great to know that we are all sorted.
Meanwhile, I am back to work while the rest of the family are all still off for 2 weeks (Isaac and Rachael) and for 3 weeks (Isobel and Hannah). Lots of shopping going on for back to school stuff as well as laundry catch up.
Watched the game with Isaac at East Bierley Cricket Club. Probably a fair result but Liverpool seemed to be holding out well for a win.
A mistake by Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina allowed Arsenal to salvage a draw against a Reds side who had Joe Cole sent off on his Premier League debut.
(BBC report)
6 of us met at Vicars Cafe in Saltaire for the latest monthly meeting of the club. Not all of us had read the whole of this non fiction book. One of the problems being that it was hardback and pricey in physical bookshops. This was one of the books I had read over the summer hols and found it hugely enjoyable as well as fascinating. One to dip in over time. Also nostalgic reminding me of log tables at school and uni.
1st service for us after the hols. Held in the hall. Joly and Tracey did a great job as interviewees re their faith and words for the church.
Met Kiku for the first time – a Japanese student about to do a Masters degree in Peace Studies at Bradford. She is from Osaka and her parents live in Hyogo. This was her second week at our church and her 3rd week in Britain. We took her out for lunch at the White Rose Harvesters. It was great getting to know her. She came to our church via a web search for “reformed” as she attends a Reformed Church of Japan church at home. Another great connection that God is so good at!
Gareth Evans' first-half penalty proved the difference between the two sides as Stevenage succumbed to a first defeat in league football at Valley Parade.
(BBC report)
Great 2 weeks in a new cottage to us on Isle Ornsay on the south end of the Isle of Skye. Location was great, with a view overlooking Isle Ornsay lighthouse.
Owner of the cottage (Morag) lived next door and her youngest, Shannon, made great friends with ours, especially the girls. This led to all sorts of activities that were completely unplanned and could not have been done without Morag’s great hospitality, including kayaking, horse riding, swimming in the sea, trampolining and having the kids round.
Had a chilled time. Seemed to do less driving than normal and much more reading – got through 3 books, 2 that were book club related (“One Day” for mine and “Alex’s Adventures in Numberland” for Cover to Cover) and 1 just for e “iPod, Therefore I Am).
Kids had such a great time we are thinking of going back next summer.
No internet access (problem with the line at the cottage) and no mobile signal at the cottage and only patchy in other parts of the island so was not tempted to spend time surfing!
Summary of activities plus photos follow.
Saturday 31 July
Picked up Grandma Jean just before 5am. Breakfast in Callander. Arrived at the cottage just before 4pm. Rachael and Jean did the food shopping at the Broadford Co-op (we took nothing with us this year!).
Sunday 1 August
Quiet day after the long drive yesterday. Trip to Broadford including the second hand bookshop. Went down to the pub/hotel at Isle Ornsay to take pics mainly.
Monday 2 August
Trip to Portree. Lunch at the Aros Centre (pasta bake) and stopped at Sligachan on the way back. An RAF rescue helicopter was parked up at the back of the Sligachan Hotel by the Mountain Rescue Centre.
Tuesday 3 August
Trip to Kyleakin, Kyle of Lochalsh, Plockton, Duncraig Castle and garden centre near Duncraig.
Lunch outside the Portree Shack (white pudding and chips).
Kids went crab fishing with the owner’s kids and friends. Rachael went to supervise! Very scary with kids leaning out over pier with no barriers! They caught loads of crabs.
Wednesday 4 August
Trip to Broadford with the kids and Rachael going to Serpentarium while I and Jean went to the wool shop and secondhand book shop. I picked up a copy of Middlemarch. On the way back we took a quick look at the Forestry Commission’s Leitir Fura.
Thursday 5 August
Trip to Achnacloich beach. As usual we were the only ones there for a lot of the time. Weather OK but clouds on the mountains. Back via Armadale.
Friday 6 August
Rest day (rain). Girls played next door while Jean and Rachael and Isaac went to Broadford.
Saturday 7 August
Trip to Trotternish including lunch at Stein Inn (smoked salmon open sandwich), wool shop and Skyeskins. Later in the day we all went to Isle Ornsay hotel with the kids crab fishing. Isaac was delighted when a car club from Europe parked up at the hotel with lots of great cars.
Sunday 8 August
A lovely bright day and we did a yomp over to the Isle Ornsay lighthouse at low tide. Took a while but great views across to Loch Hourn from the lighthouse.
Evening hospitality with Morag and Calum in their kitchen. Good chat.
Monday 9 August
Portree again on a Monday. Fish and chips outside close to the main street. Took the scenic route back to Broadford – first time we have ever done that route.
Kids went kayaking!.
Tuesday 10 August
A great day! Trip over to Glenelg, Arnisdale and Corran. Saw a stag walking through Corran and we all got within feet of it. Picked up a copy of Dr Zhivago from the secondhand books at the new Corran Community Hall. Back home over the Glenelg – Kylerhea ferry after lunch at Glenelg Village Hall (pea and mint soup and cheese and ham panini).
To round the day off the kids went kayaking again as well as swimming in the sea with wet suits!
Wednesday 11 August
Another quiet day (rainy). I went to see the Elemental Skye exhibition at the nearby Gaelic College. Great pictures and all of our favourite parts of Skye.
Thursday 12 August
Trip to Elgol (mist over the Cuillins). Lunch at the Blue Shed cafe (large Mediterranean veg soup).
Friday 13 August
Last full day of the hols. Girls went horse riding in 2 stints at the start of the day and early evening and then we finished with a walk down to a herb garden at Armadale with Morag and daughter/friends. A good way to end the day but lots of tears from Isobel, Hannah and Shannon when they had to say goodbye.
Saturday 14 August
Took forever to get to sleep last night but we were all up and out of the cottage before 5am. Breakfast at Callander and home at 3:15pm.
