Mike's musings

Writing

Wrote a major report for work today, and another 2,200 words of essay: I'm within 600 words now, and have just a conclusion to put together, so that's about right. I think I'm very pleased with it, but I'm absolutely on my last legs and off to bed soon, so can't really tell.

Had a good chat over lunch with Tim, the area CME (Continuing Ministerial Education) Officer, who will be overseeing a fair bit of my training over the next 3-4 years. Got on very well, and we've got lots in common in terms of background and academic interests, so I'm very pleased about that, too.

Got to stop now, as my typing accuracy is going to pot...

Labels: essay, ministry, work

I give in

Yup, I've done it. The new barbecue arrived today, and it's a gas one. It's just going to be so much quicker to have barbecues, particularly for the girls, who aren't great at waiting for food. Tried it out for Moo and my supper, and it worked very well. Put it together all on my own, as well.

Started on my final ERMC essay tonight. 6,000 words. I've got the first 1,000 or so done, which I was dreading. The next 3,000 or so shouldn't be too hard, and we'll see after that.

Labels: ERMC, essay, food

Essay on Psalm 137

So, I decided that I _could_ use David Gray's "Babylon" as a reading of Psalm 137, and I frankly don't care if I get marked down for it. I think I made a good case for it, so we'll see how it goes. I've sent a copy to Sally, contrary to my usual practice not to send anything out until I've seen a marked copy. This decision is mainly because I can't face bothering enough not to, and because I suspect that Sally will have some interesting things to say about it.

Very excitingly, I got a letter from Crockford's today, asking for my details so that they can put me in their publication. This means that I really will be a _proper_ priest at some point. One of the things they asked for was an email address, so I've given them a new one, which I now feel happy about releasing: mike [dot] bursell {at} anglicanpriest *(dot)* org. You can take out the relevant bits and pieces to make that a real address, and see why I've not felt happy about using it until things looked pretty certain.

Miri can now say "cat" pretty distinctively - to the cat, or about it, when she wants to go and see him - and has a sound that she associates with dog (but doesn't sound much like it). She also has a hysterically funny face she does that has been labelled "hippo", where she puts her hands out, opens her mouth very widely, and vibrates her head from side to side. You have to see it. What's particularly amusing about it is that she looks very much like Jo when she does it.

Labels: ERMC, essay, Jo, miri, ordination

Assignment

I've just finished an assignment on using a model of theological reflection within a placement context. I used the Pastoral Cycle - everyone does - within the context of my hospice placement. It doesn't quite fit, but was useful at the same time. Anyway, some useful insights, and the essay's now finished. One more to do by the 7th January, a verbatim, and a goodly amount of the preparation is already done for that.

Tomorrow I'll sanity-check this one, and send it off. Thanks be to God!

Labels: ERMC, essay, placement

Back at work - huzzah!

(backposting) Odd that, isn't it?

Despite lots of sleep - Miri's going 11-12 hours unbroken, and Jo's alternating a night in her bed with one when she ends up in ours - Moo's still very tired. I think we need some routine weeks, but that's not on the horizon for a while.

Tonight, I finished and sent off the 6,000 word essay for ERMC on music. I'm pleased with it, and I think that it's moved me forward formationally, too, which was a large part of the point of it, I'm sure. All it needed was some tidying and completion of the references, and I've done that. Also sent it to Keith, with whom I had a supervision over lunch. I've agreed to run the Great Yeldham service for the 2nd Sunday of each month for him, and I want to think about what it might entail: there's an opportunity to do something new there...

Labels: essay, work

Quiet morning

(backposting) A quiet morning - in that we're not supposed to talk. Prayers and address in chapel, and then silent till an Iona Communion. I used the time to polish off all but the references of my essay on music. Apart from the usual day-to-day, fairly quiet until 1630, when we met in groups to do some more discussion of literature again, following up from yesterday. Interesting, and we got quite deeply stuck into some of the questions set.

The evening session was a fascinating talk and then discussion on graphic novels, including manga, and how they're impacting telling of the Gospel - both OT and NT. I really enjoyed this, and would like to get my hands on a particular book Marked by Steve Ross. Not quite sure how I feel about it, but I'd like more time to reflect on it and my reaction.

Labels: ERMC, essay

Busy, busy

Stayed up till after midnight last night and then did some work on the essay this morning, and we're getting there. Unluckily I'm not going to manage to finish it today, which means that I'll probably have to do it at Summer School. Annoying, but at least I know where it's going.

In London for a useful meeting during the afternoon, back in time for Jo's bath and bedtime. Tired.

Labels: ERMC, essay, work

Essay writing

I'm about 2000 words (excluding quotations, references, etc.) into a 6000 word essay I'm writing on the question "What insights can the Orthodox tradition give us on music as a response to God?" for Helen at ERMC. It's going OK, and I think I'm about at the right point for where I've got to in the examination. I've tackled one hard bit - rather poorly for now, but I hope to improve it - and the really difficult bit is coming next. I'm being helped by listening to Cloudburst and other choral works by Eric Whiteacre. Very uplifting, very stirring, very calming in about equal measure. A must to listen to on a regular basis for me.

I'm going to have a quick read over my notes for the next section of the essay before heading down to be with Moo. I hope (and suspect) that having a night to think things over and mull quietly will bring things into more focus.

Timing not great in that I've got a new computer (in bits) arriving tomorrow, and you just _know_ which task will win out...

Labels: ERMC, essay, Moo, music

Essay done

Started it around 1800, finished it at 2329. Need to sanity-check it, but I think it's done. Only had one pint of Guinness and one glass of red wine, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Thanks to Sally for the interruptions - allowed me to step back a couple of times. An unwinding drink in front of the TV now, I think, then bed.

Church History: 98%

Mission: 100%

Happiness level: 90%

Labels: drink, essay

Essay

I'll start tomorrow. That's the deal. Moo and Joo are off to stay with Kate and Mac, and I'll have around 24 hours to do it. That should be enough. I've got half a clue as to what I'm going to say, and I'll wing it from there on in. I only need to do one other for this weekend, and that's done and dusted: it needs a cover sheet and printing, and that's all.

I'm still on holiday (only spent around an hour and a half on the phone or doing emails for work today), but don't feel very rested. Feeling guilty about the fact that I'm half looking forward to a few nights away on work which will allow me to get some sleep. At least I've avoided a 5 day work trip to DisneyWorld Florida next week. No, really.

Labels: essay, rest, work

Back home

It's lovely to be back. A pretty good journey home, and in the afternoon, our friend Leo came to see us. She's a pretty big time grown-up EU lawyer, and isn't over in the UK very often - in the end she only managed to get over for a little over an hour, but it was fantastic to see her.

I've still got an essay to write. For the 5th. It needs to be on Church History, and I've chosen the following:

Analyse and discuss the relationship of Christianity and one other faith during the period studied and any impact of this today.

I'll do Islam, because the second half is pretty obvious. I've only got 3000 words or so to write, so it shouldn't be too much of a nightmare.

"I'll do Islam". Well, you know what I mean...

Prayers for Sally's son Chris, who's in hospital.

Labels: essay, friends, home