news and the net

So many inspirational quotes from such an amazing man are on my fb feed this morning. I remember waiting somewhat impatiently on the day he was released from prison, in a time when news was much less live stream than it is nowadays. There are some mornings when I really don't want to get up and face the day. Nelson Mandela kept going. Maybe I'll put one of those wonderful quotes up in my bedroom.

We were surprisingly connected to the news last night and made much use of the internet. The extreme weather encouraged us to learn about storm surges. My daughter also shared some "so-scary-how-will-we-sleep-at-night" footage about super volcanoes that will wipe out the world, that she'd been learning about at school. But we also got to go ooh and ahhh at some very pretty close up snowflakes:

http://www.natureknows.org/2013/11/amazing-macro-photography-of-individual.html

I still love geography :) And I am increasingly a fan of social media and all its potential for bringing us together, inspiring us, supporting us through tricky times -well it's the people that do that, obviously. Let's keep being inspirational and supportive :D

Ms. Not-Allowed

My army camp access pass had been renewed with the word Mr by mistake. I carefully kept my joke to myself about how I could come along in disguise if that would help. It doesn't do to make such jokes on an army camp. Twice the guy asked if it should be Miss or Mrs, twice I replied Ms. The third time, I said Mrs, and asked was Ms not allowed, he said he'd not tried putting that in. So then, twice more his female colleague asked if he would try Ms. I smiled at her with gratitude for the solidarity. He didn't budge and my pass has Mrs on it. I could have asked for Dr to go on it, but I have no time for games about rank, and I don't like to reveal I'm a Dr in case anyone mistakenly thinks I can help them out medically.
I've no idea why it was so important to that guy and didn't get chance to find out - I shall remain grateful to the woman who knew the importance of standing up for what others would like. If the army is full of people with her attitude that can only be a good thing :)

plea for safer cycling

My friend who was knocked off her bike next week will still be in hospital over Christmas. I'm so impressed by her cheerfulness on facebook and her kind attitude towards the driver. I've been thinking I need another new phrase. (Remember how I discovered I could substitute "kill 2 birds with 1 stone" with "bake 2 cakes in the 1 oven"). This time the phrase is "there for the grace of God go I" - a phrase I hear sometimes and struggle with. I think it has NOTHING to do with God's grace that it wasn't me either hurt on the bike or driving the car. I don't think God keeps people from certain situations. I do see what people are getting at tho when they use it - and I don't get cross when I hear it as I understand that people are being sympathetic and grateful all at the same time.
I use my car around 5 days a week now, and realise it only takes a few seconds distraction to have fatal consequences. I can't imagine how awful I would feel if I caused someone pain - or even death - how hard must that be to live with? Also, I know what it's like to feel vulnerable on a bike - that swoosh as a lorry surges past, the exposure on a busy roundabout. Having found it difficult to arrange missing just 2 pick ups from school last week, I don't want to even begin to imagine what it would be like to be incapacitated for weeks. And this is without even thinking about the pain.

I cringed at the tactless discussion on the radio last night that with so many cycle deaths recently we need to teach better cycling skills. Maybe I missed a finding that has concluded all those deaths were as a result of dangerous cycling. The report was about how last year (I think) in 26 of 28 EU countries, more bikes were purchased than cars. I'm really pleased that cycling is taking off. And for the sake of my friends, kids, my self, and strangers, I want more done so cycling isn't so costly in human terms.

The gales kept me awake part of last night. I used the time to pray for the safety of everyone in them, and to give thanks for what I take for granted. Stay safe you drivers, cyclists, and big love to those already hurting.

blessings for all

No internet - nightmare! Not even on my phone for a while! Got to get to work tho so will have to keep trying later.
I declined communion this morning and 'just' had a blessing. At my usual church children join in as full participants so we break bread together. That's not the tradition at the school where communion is only for the confirmed. I didn't want to take it when my son couldn't - not that he will have noticed - so had a blessing instead. They are freely available, no matter what your age or beliefs. Hurrah!

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T'interweb seems to be working again now, phew!!!! I do so love my internet for so many reasons, and realised that now my girly has so much homework that needs access to the web, it's even more imperative that it works. As part of my attempting to mend it this morning, I pulled the whole computer desk out and gave it a thorough hoover behind. I've not shoved it back yet and consequently am typing in more sunlight than usual. Light is good. If you've not had enough today go get a few rays on your face quick before it sets for the day :D

no point crying over spilled milk

I think I have a pretty strong sense of smell - it's such an important sense. I often can still smell someone after we've hugged, I will sometimes smell a book when I open it, I love catching a whiff of something that reminds me of happy things/particular people. Tonight I quickly noticed a disgusting smell on my hands - but not quickly enough - and it took me a little while to locate its source. Our vicar had involved us all in a symbolic joining of our lights at the morning advent service. We each had a glow stick and connected them together to form a large circle. My son wanted to take them all home after, and having had an unfortunate incident with one a couple of years back, that I can still vividly remember, I asked him to be careful. Somehow tho, one leaked and a small amount of the corrosive, toxic, lethal, or at least just plain disgusting chemicals spilled onto the work surface, and I hadn't noticed and placed the milk lid there, picked it back up and returned it to the top of the milk. I noticed the smell, furiously scrubbed my hands and the surface, but didn't notice the milk lid was contaminated til much later. Obviously the milk was a brand new 2 litre one, and so I had to turn away whilst I emptied the vast quantities of it down the plug hole, silently apologizing to the cow who had produced it, the farmer and subsequent workers who enabled it to reach me. I'd had 2 sips of my brew and decided it wasn't worth the risk, so my sink has been much utilised tonight. I've not died yet. All the glow sticks, even the un-snapped ones, are now in the bin and again I apologize to those in foreign factories, who have to breathe in the odours everyday whilst making them, and those involved in the disposal of everything we just chuck away.
Tomorrow I shall try to be less careless.

get me out of here

My daughter has started watching I'm a celebrity and wants me to sit alongside her whilst she does. For someone who doesn't really do tele, this is a bit of a massive leap. Not only do I find this particular programme banal, but last night I started getting outraged - some of it looked like torture and I fail to see how it can be entertaining to watch someone struggle so much. Maybe it's because I'm not keen on crawling creatures myself and it was too hard to watch. But I was beginning to wonder how they gather together so many creatures and wondered how they felt about being caught, and then chucked in a crate to be swiped at. Why do we think it's OK to use creatures - even if they are "just" insects, to suit our own purposes?
In less grumpy news, we started putting decorations around the house and the kids have placed curtains of lameta from the tops of some of the doorways. It's about 50cm long so brushes the top of my head as I pass through. It's fun. We've not done this before - it feels like we're starting new Christmas traditions this year and that feels good. The weekend has been very hard though. I'm glad I can juggle work today from home.

let the preparations begin!

Today is the first day of December and also Advent Sunday. My day began bleary eyed threading silver cotton onto baubles as this year both children want little trees in their bedrooms.
I'm aware that many have finished their Christmas shopping, but now December is here and other events are out of the way, now is the time I _start_ to think about Christmas.
I'm feeling pretty lousy which isn't great timing as I have two Advent services today where I shall be cantor singing. What I really need is lots of fun and silliness and hope and laughter and joy. Let's hope there's lots of that in the start of the festivities here.