Was good to be out for most of Sunday night early on to avoid the trick-or-treaters. We went to St John’s church for an event with stalls and fireworks. Had a great chicken curry and rice. First fireworks of the year. Isobel and Hannah dressed up. Very enjoyable.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Football: Bolton 0 - 1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Maxi Rodriguez toe-poked an 86th-minute winner as Liverpool won at Bolton to move out of the relegation zone.
BBC report
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Football: Bradford 5 - 0 Oxford Utd (League Two)
Omar Daley grabbed a brace as 10-man Bradford thrashed nine-man Oxford.
BBC report
Friday, October 29, 2010
Film: The Bucket List
Whole family watched this tonight. Great film and performances from Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. Collective tears at the end . . .
Obituary: Sir Norman Wisdom
Knockabout clown in the music hall tradition who found enormous success in the cinema
Guardian obituary
Obituary: Philippa Foot,. moral philosopher
A 'grande dame of philosophy', she pioneered virtue ethics
The moral philosopher Philippa Foot, who has died aged 90, started a new trend in ethics. She challenged, in two seminal papers given in the late 1950s, the prevailing Oxbridge orthodoxy of AJ Ayer and Richard Hare; and, for the next few decades, passionate debate over her naturalism, as against Hare's prescriptivism, occupied most moral philosophers in Britain and America. She was also one of the pioneers of virtue ethics, a key development in philosophy from the 1970s onwards.
Guardian obituary
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Life Group: Meeting Notes
Meeting at Joly and Tracey’s with Ben, Maria and Lynsey. We had a great discussion (and did not do the Bible study) on all sorts of subjects including personality and prayer including Myers Briggs, medical stories about us and others, Smith WIgglesworth and Proverbs 8 from The Message.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monty Halls: My Media
The marine biologist and BBC presenter on his hatred of the Daily Mail, love of rugby and 'massive Radio 4 habit'
Guardian article
Victoria Derbyshire: My Media
The 5 Live presenter on her love of magazines, Andrew Neil, online antique shopping and Adam & Joe
Guardian article
Alice Roberts: My Media
The anatomist, TV presenter and writer is a big fan of Question Time and science programmes
Guardian article
Obituary: Sir James Cleminson; Industrialist, former president of the CBI and Arnhem veteran
Sir James Cleminson, who has died aged 89, was a brave wartime soldier who brought unassuming charm and clarity to the successful modernisation of Reckitt & Colman, one of Britain's best-known family businesses, and was particularly effective in promoting exports. Meticulous but approachable, with a strong sense of personal and corporate responsibility, he maintained strong east of England roots and was a popular president of the CBI (1984-86), where one senior colleague summed him up simply as "a gent".
Guardian obituary
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Olympian: Jessica Annis
Jessica Ennis is a fave Olympic sports person and a hot tip for a London 2012 Olympic Gold
See Jessica Ennis, World Heptathlon Champion, take on the combined muscle of the Herol Graham Boxing gym. This intense 45 minute fitness test is designed to show how optimal hydration during exercise can help you get the most out of your session.
http://www.poweradegb.com/about/on-tv.aspx
San Francisco: Time Lapse Photos
Triggered by this tweet by Sue Llewellyn (ManyHandsMedia):
This is SO beautiful. San Franciso timelapse, magnificent fogbanks. by Simon Christen http://su.pr/8q1XwR via @marklittlenews
The Unseen Sea from Simon Christen on Vimeo
Half Term Holidays
So coming to the end of 7 days off. 5 days last week to be with Isaac (who was off last week and this week) and 2 days this week when everyone was off. It has been very relaxing and chilled. Not done much at all.
First week I did at least one school run every day and lots of cooking including a couple of Nigella’s Kitchen recipes.
Did some clearing of piles but not much. Sorted out the Punto car insurance.
Loved watching The Social Network film with Isaac. I was a bit surprised that he enjoyed it as much as he did.
Main new thing on the holiday was getting really into Twitter and starting to get the hang of it and potentially to the detriment of blogging. I do intend to do more sussing out.
Didn’t do as much reading as I had hoped.
So back to work tomorrow . . .
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Football: Liverpool 2 - 1 Blackburn (Premier League)
Fernando Torres scored his first goal since August to earn Liverpool a hugely significant victory at Anfield.
BBC report
Guardian report
Sunday Lunch
Had lunch at the cricket club with Ronnie and Dorothy including a couple of pints of Greene King’s Gangly Ghoul – very tasty. Relaxing session.
All Age Worship: Meeting Notes: Marks of a Disciple: #27: Shrewdness
The 27th in a series using as an ideas-prompt Mike Yaconnelli's book "Devotion".
The meeting included clips from Home Alone 1/2 (Kevin’s top 10 traps), puzzles, call my bluff and an Ibiza 24-7 prayer.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Strictly Come Dancing, 2010, Series 8 Week 4, Peter Shilton and Erin Boag, Charleston
Peter was not very good this week and went out. Posting the vid for Erin’s outfit. Peter said after that he was distracted . . . .
Football: Burton Albion 3-0 Bradford (League Two)
Burton recorded an impressive first ever victory against Bradford.
BBC report
Friday, October 22, 2010
Film: The Social Network
Saw this earlier today with Isaac. Highly enjoyable, great screenplay from Aaron Sorkin. Kept the attention throughout and interesting to see this take on the rise of Facebook from an idea through to one of the world’s best known and most widely used web sites and companies. Well worth a watch and not just for those who are Facebook addicts.
Official siteKermode review
Jesse Eisenberg and Aaron Sorkin on Mark Zuckerberg, Misfits and ‘The Social Network’ (Rolling Stone article)
Wikipedia entries for the film, Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg
Nerds are it. Especially when they're worth £4.3bn. Andrew Pulver enjoys the story of Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg
Guardian review
The tale of how Mark Zuckerberg hit on the idea of Facebook is a riveting movie about friendship and greed
Observer review
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Football: Napoli 0-0 Liverpool (Europa League)
A second-string Liverpool side produced a defiant display as they earned an admirable draw at Napoli in their Europa League Group K tie.
BBC report
Guardian report
Film: Restrepo
RESTREPO is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of US soldiers in Afghanistans Korengal Valley.
The Big Society and Public Spending Cuts: Archbishop of Canterbury expresses concerns
Following the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, the Archbishop writes in the Yorkshire Post and The Sun newspapers.
Dr John Sentamu, having listened to the Government's spending review, reflects on the impact of investment cuts on communities and families.
In praise of … Jaffa Cakes
Whoever makes it, the combination of bitter chocolate, sweet orange and a neutral sponge cake, dunked in a cup of tea, is a winner in any culture
Guardian article
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Church: Elders Meeting notes
One of the social action stream of meetings. Discussion on issues in the Care Centre, baptism/discipleship classes (content, how long etc), cafe refurbishment.
Recipe: Nigella’s Small pasta with salami
Made this recipe tonight from the first episode of NIgella’s Kitchen. Was OK but a bit bland. Probably overdid it with the pasta. Will bulk out leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Mitch Benn’s paean of praise for the BBC
Loved this piece on the BBC and being reminded of lots of great programmes over the years. I am a fan of the BBC too.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Recipe: Nigella’s Thai Chicken Noodle Soup
Made this recipe from the first episode of Nigella’s Kitchen. Easy to do and tasted great. Will make again.
Exhibition: Jack Vettriano, Days of Wine and Roses
Saw an interview with Jack Vettriano on a recent BBC Breakfast programme.
Keith Barret (played by Rob Brydon) gets some lessons on how to kiss a girl . . .
. . . from none other than Tracey Cox. Hysterical stuff.
True to type: how we fell in love with our letters
From easyJet to Facebook, road signs to clothing labels, we are surrounded by a world of type. But what messages do its different kinds convey? In this extract from his new book, Just My Type, Simon Garfield looks at the history of typefaces, the obsessive care taken over their design – and the role they play in shaping our lives
Guardian article
Guardian article (Favourite fonts: what's your type?)
Simon Garfield (author of Just My Type) judges some books by their covers (Guardian video)
Pianist/Singer: Mara Carlyle
Mara Carlyle is a new name to me. Stumbled over her via a Jon Snow tweet.
Wikipedia entry
Official web site
Guardian article
One of Mara’s songs features in this Ikea ad.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Film: The Arbor
Social deprivation in Britain: how a writer's life turned to tragedy
A film about Andrea Dunbar and her daughter calls for a better understanding of the devastating effects of social change
Guardian article
This strangely affecting film tells the story of two sad lives lived out on a run-down estate in Bradford, one tragic, the other touched with tragedy but not yet over. It concerns the working-class playwright Andrea Dunbar and her daughter Lorraine, the eldest of three children she had with different fathers.
Guardian review
Eye for Film review
Facebook page
Football: Everton 2-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
Everton ensured John W Henry's reign as Liverpool owner got off to the worst possible start as they emerged as comfortable winners of the Merseyside derby.
BBC report
Everton are everything that Liverpool must now become. John W Henry, owner of the visitors, surely arrived at this match eager to learn more about the Anfield club he now owns, but the reward was a thorough understanding of its inadequacies. While that may serve him well in the long term, Henry must also have admired the efficiency of the soundly constructed winners.
Guardian report
Sunday Lunch with Parents
Mum and Dad stopped off for lunch on their way back to York from Wales. Had a chilled lunch at the White Rose Harvesters. Food was good.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Strictly Come Dancing, 2010, Series 8 Week 3, Gavin Henson and Katya Virshilas, Rumba
Only posting for Katya! Gavin needs to improve and get emotional . . .
Strictly Come Dancing, 2010, Series 8 Week 3, Matt Baker and Aliona Vilani, Quickstep
Thought they deserved more marks than later dancers got!
Strictly Come Dancing, 2010, Series 8 Week 3, Pamela Stephenson and James Jordan, Rumba
Loving that an older woman is doing the business in this series.
Football: Bradford 3-1 Cheltenham (League Two)
A Lee Hendrie-inspired Bradford fought back from a goal down to beat battling Cheltenham Town.
BBC report
Cover to Cover Book Club: Anna Sewell, “Black Beauty”
7 of us met at Vicars Cafe in Saltaire for the latest monthly meeting of the club, including Nancy for her first attendance. Mixed reception to the book including some very anti but I enjoyed this first read of this book. Good discussion and followed by a chat about the coming government cuts and the welfare state.
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg now richer than Murdoch or Apple's Jobs
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, is only 26 but he's already worth $6.9bn and the fastest riser on Forbes rich list
Guardian article
100 Hundred Hopefuls for 2012
An ongoing Guardian series of profiles of sports people who are seeking medals at the London 2012 Olympics.
Book: “Black Beauty”, Anna Sewell
Just read Black Beauty by Anna Sewell as the next selection for the Cover to Cover Bok Club that meets at Vicars Cafe and Bistro in Saltaire. Interesting read and not what I was expecting from this so-called children’s book. Lots of significant themes. Worth a read.
Lots of people started humming the TV series when I said I was reading this book:
Men’s Breakfast
Attended this session at Bierley Bethel. Had a good breakfast and an informative presentation from the Gideon’s. Sat with Warren, Mark and Jon.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Liverpool FC finally has a new owner after 'win on penalties'
Chairman Martin Broughton describes dramatic end to takeover saga as akin to victory in a penalty shoot-out
Guardian article
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Life Group: Meeting Notes (Habakkuk Study 2)
Met at Joly and Tracey’s new house with Ronnie, Dorothy, Dave, Ben and Jon. Joly there from the start. Icebreaker of a significant event in your life that impacted you (I referenced the Willow Creek conference in Cardiff in 1994 with Alan: Willow Creek are celebrating 35 years of ministry this year). Ben led us in worship. I led a study on Habakkuk using this study.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Football: England 0-0 Montenegro (Euro 2012 Qualifier)
Caught the second half of this match. Not great is the summary.
England were frustrated by Montenegro as their flawless start to the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign was ended in a goalless stalemate.
BBC report
This bland night will still be seared into the minds of the England players and their manager. Montenegro, after all, is a country with a population of less than 700,000, yet they did not lack the means to alarm the hosts. Fabio Capello's players were generally kept at bay with little fuss and the one truly vivid incident at Wembley would have made the home side wince in this Euro 2012 qualifier.
Guardian report
Church Membership Interview
Hilary and I interviewed Michaela at Hilary’s as prep for baptism and church membership, Great chat and the questions I pulled together many years ago still working well to cover a lot of ground and to get the person talking. A good interview double act.
Girls’ School Parents Evening
Good updates on Isobel and Hannah’s progress this new school year with their new teachers.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Importance of Language
Stumbled over this quote during my day job today:
Learning to speak another's language means taking one's place in the human community. It means reaching out to others across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Language is far more than a system to be explained. It is our most important link to the world around us. Language is culture in motion. It is people interacting with people.
Professor Sandra Savignon (Pennsylvania State University) from “Communicative Competence: Theory and Classroom Practice”
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Church: Meeting Notes
Alan preached powerfully on the theme of authority and how we should live as Christians.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Kids Saturday
While Rachael did her annual Christmas shopping trip to York, I had day in charge . . .
Took Isobel to ballet (with Hannah) then shopping in town for books at Waterstones and WH Smiths and then lunch at Mamma Mia’s. Great food as always.
Chilled rest of the day, including doing slides for Alan’s sermon tomorrow tomorrow and watching Strictly Come Dancing, Merlin, Comedy Roadshow and Match of the Day.
Football: Barnet 0-2 Bradford (League Two)
Leon Osborne scored his debut Bradford goal to help his side to their first win since August.
BBC report
Friday, October 08, 2010
David Allen’s “Do Lecture (Ideas + Energy = Change)” on Getting Things Done
From the “Do Lecture” site
David Allen’s book ‘Getting things done’, has sold 2 million copies all over the world. The premise of the book is simple enough. That a person needs to move tasks out of the mind by recording them externally. That way, the mind is freed from the job of remembering everything that needs to be done, and can concentrate on actually performing those tasks.
Unlike a computer, we can not add more ram to our brains. So we have to free up ram so we can think more. That’s why David’s book is so amazing. That is gives you a system to take all that stuff and get of your head, so you can do more. Brilliant stuff.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
TV: Modern Family
The whole family loves this programme and were delighted when series 2 started tonight.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Church: Elders Meeting Notes
Meeting on the church stream of meetings looking at baptism, newsletter and prep-ing for the vision day.
Football: Hartlepool 1-0 Bradford (Johnstone’s Paint Trophy)
Leon McSweeney grabbed the only goal as Hartlepool beat Bradford to progress in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
BBC report
Monday, October 04, 2010
In praise of … Colin Montgomerie
Another in the Guardian series.
His rapport with the fans, sometimes so fragile, helped to inspire the crowd to will Europe towards a famous, if close-run, victory
Guardian article
Golf: Ryder Cup, Day 4: Europe beat the USA 14½-13½
A real nail-biter . . .
Graeme McDowell held his nerve in the final singles match as Europe clung on to their overnight lead to beat United States 14½-13½ to regain the Ryder Cup.
Guardian article
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Culture Club: The Visitor (film)
Led the latest Culture Club meeting when we watched “The Visitor” film.
Attended by Mark, Hilary, Tracey, Dave, Billy, Ben and John. Everyone enjoyed the film and we had a thoughtful discussion.
Meeting details here.
Golf: Ryder Cup, Day 3: Europe lead USA 9½-6½
The Ryder Cup goes into a fourth day after all the rain. Europe take a slender lead into the singles.
Sunday church stuff
Had our annual harvest service.
Family spent the afternoon at Sue and Anthony’s with Ben and the Egans prep-ing for the next All Age Worship event. This next mark of a disciple was “shrewdness". The passage from the book was a challenge and a difficult one to fully understand.
Football: Liverpool 1-2 Blackpool (Premier League)
Blackpool produced a stirring display as they piled the pressure on Liverpool by beating the Merseysiders at Anfield.
BBC report
Pressure mounts on Roy Hodgson as Liverpool lose to Blackpool
Guardian report
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Strictly Come Dancing, 2010, Series 8 Week 1, Gavin Henson and Katya Virshilas - Slow Waltz
As Lilia is not in this series, Katya is my fave professional dancer this series . . .
Strictly Come Dancing, 2010, Series 8 Week 1, Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev - Cha Cha Cha
Took the breath away this first dance . . .
Football: Bradford 0-1 Morecambe (League Two)
A close-range effort from Paul Mullin was enough to bag all three points for Morecambe at Bradford.
BBC report
Friday, October 01, 2010
Strictly Come Dancing, 2010, Series 8 Week 1, Pamela Stephenson & James Jordan dance the Waltz
The judges loved this performance.
Strictly Come Dancing, 2010, Series 8 Week 1, Matt Baker & Aliona Vilani dance the Cha Cha Cha
An astounding week 1 performance.
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