Mike's musings

Buffy

Oh, and possibly the best Buffy episode ever: The Wish. Just _loving_ the whole Willow thing, in a slightly unhealthy way.

Labels: television

Buffy Fest

(backposting) Oh, we love Buffy. The Vampire Slayer, of course. We're watching the entire set of seasons on DVD, one after the other, and we got to the one in Season 2 where Cordy and Xander first get it together. What quality!

In completely unrelated news, I Miri was absolutely gutted to discover that she wouldn't be going to pre-school till tomorrow. She's too young, really, to have much concept of time, and she loves it so much that I think we're going to have to increase the number of sessions she does pretty soon.

Labels: miri, television

London, school, and design

Starck - interesting guy, and amazing designer. There was a good programme on the TV this evening - Design School or similar - about a bunch of young designers battling for the chance to work with him. Very, very interesting. We caught it by accident, but we'll try to watch it again next week.

I was in London today, and had a very good meeting with the rest of the team. I'm really, really enjoying the chance to think architecturally and to apply some of the skills and experience I've gained over the past 15 years of work. There's dull stuff, too, but also the opportunity to think and debate with clever colleagues. Good stuff.

And it was Jo's first day at school for an entire day. She loved it, and particularly having a school dinner. I'm very keen that she should do this: it will encourage her to eat a wider range of food, it will allow more pupils to eat better food, and I think it builds better social cohesion. So I'm very pleased that she enjoyed it.

Labels: jojo, school, television, work

Cricket, deacons, and the theology of Torchwood

In reverse order, then.

This week's mini-series of Torchwood has attracted a lot of interest, and lots of people I know are talking about it. It seems silly not to mine it for theological content, because it was full of it. The more obvious bits included:

• the brokenness of all characters, particularly when humans are working together in organisations
• the "an injury to one is an injury to all" message
• the deathscene between two gay characters - played absolutely "straight", as it would have been for any heterosexual characters, just highlighting love and loss
• Gwen's sylloquy to camera about understanding why "The Doctor" (read "God") doesn't step in on every occasion to save the day: it's because humans aren't worth it
• child trafficking
• treatment of people - and particularly children - at the "lower ends" of society as if they are basically worthless ("... what do we have school league tables for?")
• the treatment of children in care ("... they were chosen because they wouldn't be missed.")
• the treatment of those with mental illness
• how parenthood - or impending parenthood - changes you
• how impending parenthood - and disasters - affect relationships
• the "sacrificial atonement" which ended the last episode, where Captain Jack Harkness' grandson was killed to save the rest of mankind - or at least the 10% of the children demanded by the 456

How many sermons in that? It was, for my money, and intensely theological - and very thought-provoking - set of programmes. Very well done the BBC.

Deacons? Well, it was Sally's first Sunday as a deacon in the parish, and it was a joy. It made me really, really happy. Not just for her, but for me, too. I really enjoyed my deacon's year, and seeing her taking the role I've spent a year at made me feel so much part of a continuum, particularly as she's a woman. This whole "continuum" of priesthood is very powerful for me at the moment.

Last, and far from least, we managed to draw the first of the Ashes test matches. Quite how, I don't know. But I'm one of many, many England supporters who wants to marry Collingwood or Monty or Anderson or a combination of the 3. Yay!

Labels: television, theology

Torchwood

Looking forward to tonight's Torchwood - the 4th episode of 5 running this week. It's getting interesting. As I said on Twitter and Facebook, the 456 (the aliens) seem to want 10% of human children, but haven't yet specified what bits: a leg each, maybe?

Labels: television

Ironing

We've not watched any of the The Wire (we're currently on Season 4) and I spent lots of time this evening watching that and ironing. Lots of ironing. Must remember to take it up this evening so that the kids don't knock it all over tomorrow morning.

I did another run this morning. It hurt rather more than yesterday, but I kept running, of which I'm inordinately proud.

Labels: exercise, television

Stylista

Surely the shallowest piece of programming in the history of TV. It has, in fact, no dimension of "depth" at all. At the same time, horribly, lethally compelling.

Labels: television

Sleeping in

(backposting) It's not that often that we get to sleep in, but I was up and dressed by 1106, which isn't too bad. Not that much later for Moo. We had a lovely meal at The Punchbowl, and then headed up to The Wool Clip, where Moo bought some wool (one lot at my suggestion, as I hope she's going to use it to knit something for me). Then back to the cottage to finish off the 2nd series of The Wire. What a great programme.

When we phoned the girls, Miri said "I miss you, too" in response to me. It's lovely when they learn to speak properly.

Labels: family, girls, Moo, television

Spooks

So much to blog about, but I have so little time to do it right now. Too tired, all that. So I'm watching Spooks instead. Usual quality of script, acting and characterisation.

Labels: television

Trip to Anglesey

(Abbey, that is). Although I did worry that if I told my GPS phone thingy to find our way there, we might have been half way through Wales before we realised. Anglesey Abbey is another National Trust property, and we took the girls there today. Had a lovely, lovely time, mainly chasing each other and having our socks and shoes stolen (well, that was mainly me).

Jo really got it today. Not all the time, of course, but mostly. Kind, sharing, polite, thoughtful, listening.

Watched Merlin on BBC1. Good stuff: a romp, without any historical reference at all, as far as I could tell. Who cares?

Labels: children, television

God on Trial

(backposting) At 2100 today, BBC2 showed God on Trial. It was astonishing. The acting, script and cinematography were astounding, and it was extremely moving. I'm still trying to process it, but it's the sort of programme that I'd like to show the girls when they're old enough. That'll be a while. I wept.

I came across a stubble fire today, called the fire brigade and told someone who might know the farmer. It's a while since I saw a stubble fire. They spread quickly, they really do.

We had a "ministers fraternal" meeting today, where the clergy from Halstead - Baptist, CofE, Methodist, Roman Catholic and URC (notice how I sorted them alphabetically?) get together. The Baptist guy didn't make it, which was a pity, but it was good to meet the other clergy. We do a number of services together, and there's a "Churches together in Halstead" group (also including lay people) which meets to arrange other events, etc.. I also called someone from the town of Haubourdin, near Lille, which is near Halstead's twin town, and got them to agree that we might try to have some coordinated prayer events with them during the Week for Christian Unity next January. Did that in French. I was quite chuffed with myself.

Labels: church, ecumenism, god, television

And back home

Got Kate's router sorted nice and early, did some work at her house (the wonders of laptops) and headed home to complete my work day. Pretty tired, but happy to have done my bit.

We've rented Peter's Friends to watch on DVD, which I've not seen for ages, so hopefully I can do some ironing in front of the TV tonight.

Labels: computers, television

Embarrassing Bodies

(backposting) This has been great TV, and it could quite easily have been awful. A bunch of doctors go around talking to real people about embarrassing problems from baldness to acne to erectile dysfunction and beyond. The people were very brave to appear, and were treated with humanity, dignity and humour.

Brave, worthwhile television.

Labels: television

Hospice day 1

(backposting) I've taken two days off work for my placement at St Helena Hospice, today being the first. I spent the whole day at the main site (and the Colchester Day Centre), attending meetings, meeting staff and patients, and discussing it with my supervisor Alan. People were very generous with their time, and it's one of those places where the staff - from volunteers to directors - really believe in the place. I had a very interesting time, and enjoyed myself very much.

Did a little more tidying in preparation for our visitors this weekend (Miri's baptism), and then did lots of ironing in front of Tuesday's episode of Spooks.

Oh - I hate providing IT support. Particularly for Windows. And even more when it's long distance, over the phone. That's one of the downsides of Polly and Lee moving out.

Labels: computing, ERMC, television

Assembly

Did an assembly at Long Melford primary school today, on caring. Started the kids singing anything they wanted, all at the same time ("I don't care what you sing"). That fell apart, as expected. Then got them all to sing "Twinkle, twinkle little star" all together, at whatever speed and volume they wanted. Ditto. Then asked them to listen to each other, and work together. That did it, although I was ready to conduct them and lead it if needs be. They did very well, and it was a clear and obvious message, and went down well. Ian, my supervisor, seemed happy.

More following up of stuff for work, which seems to be going well.

Oh, and Moo's started knitting. We're both sitting in front of the TV watching Spooks.

Labels: ERMC, television, work

Another day, another tooth

(backposting) Yup, Miri's got another one. Might explain the restless night (though not Jo's now-usual appearance in the early hours). Two down, lots to go.

Went to Cambridge today, to buy a book on system hardening: Network Security Hacks, 2nd ed. by Andrew Lockhart. It's good, and is relevant because I'm going to be doing some work with colleagues in Canada on this.

Watched Heroes (yesterday's episode) which we'd recorded. It keeps being good, doesn't it? Just how many twists can _keep_ happening?

Labels: security, sleep, television

Heroes

(backposting) It just keeps getting better, doesn't it? We couldn't face staying up till 2220 (!), so only watched the one episode tonight, recording the other: no spoilers, please. My mate Mark Brown has joined Facebook, so welcome along if you're reading this.

I grabbed a few minutes when I would otherwise have been having a cup of tea yesterday morning, and joined Jo, Miri and Mel (who's also just joined Facebook) at toddler group. It's lovely to see Jo running around, and I'm completely unfazed (sp?) by being the only bloke there. Seems that I get some looks, but I don't care. I noticed yesterday (as I have in similar situations before) that I immediately get lots of attention from other children. This can sometimes be quite disturbing, depending on how they relate to you, but on this occasion it all seemed happy and healthy enough.

Started using the Vulgate for some of my readings for evensong since coming back from the latest ERMC weekend. I'd forgotten how lovely it is, and it appears that I've not got too rusty.

Jo's started recognising "J for Jojo" all over the place, "squiggly snake S's", and the letter "O". She knows that when two "o's" are next to each other as friends, they tend to make an "ooooo" sound, and she goes around finding examples and telling us all about it.

Labels: bible, facebook, Jo, miri, television

Early, early

(backposting) I thought it was bad enough being woken up by the girls at night, but I had to get up at 0415 this morning (0315 UK time) to catch my flight. In fact, I didn't need to get up _that_ early, but I always play these things safe. I was there very early, and we got into the UK on time. I really can't remember what time that was! Got some breakfast at a truck stop, drove home, had a sleep. I was so pleased to get an extra day with Jo, Miri and Moo - always a bonus.

I'm getting close to writing up more of an assignment - I'm at the stage of having far too much to put in: I need to decide where it's going. Hope to have something at least in draft by the end of the weekend.

Moo's nan's parrot died today, so she's upset. Jo's made a card to post.

Watched some West Wing (final series), and then the first episode of Spaced which I bought last week for Moo (we're on a Simon Pegg-fest atm).

Labels: television, travel