Maurice Ently

Swan V's Mini Cooper

2006-02-05T17:09:00.000Z

Victor Meldrew, Larry David, Will Self and Maurice Ently. Today I joined the ranks of grumpy old men, despite being a young, not too grumpy, woman.

We awoke to a beautifully crisp sunday morning. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and we decided to go out for a nice leisurely walk around Box Hill (which is a 20 min drive away). We jumped into my, on it's last legs, old style (ie; actually mini) mini cooper and hit the road in good spirits.

About 10 mins into our journey we trundled along a bog standard residential street to find a middle aged WI type in a red cardigan directing traffic from the route we intended to take, right up an unmade road with homemade speedbumps which, no matter how slow i went, scraped the shit out of the bottom of my car. I was fucked off - fucking spedbumps, don't get me started, this blog is about something else that irks me.

I drove over one, saw a few more ahead and decided to turn back to insist on driving ahead as we intended. The reason we couldn't go ahead was because there was a swan SITTING in the middle of the road....A SWAN!!!!

As you can imagine - the local villigers hadn't been so excited since mrs miggins cat got stuck in her bush! They were all out in full force. Old women with twin sets and pearls, old men in wellingtons and wax jackets, middle aged men in cardigans still living with mummy and daddy and.....worst of all....one of those community volunteer officers in his 'please take me seriously' flourescent waistcoat.

In a controlled rage i approached Mrs Miggins - now fully recovered - and Special cuntstubble gareth and began;

"I cannot take this alternative route as it is seriously damaging the underside of my car, can't we just beep the horn or shoo it out of the way?"

Look of horror on both faces

"Well no, we can't scare him, we have called the RSPCA and they are on their way"

"When did you call them?"

"About 10 minutes ago"

"And when do you expect them?"

"Well tey said it was a code 1 situation"

"Is that like code red"

"What's code red?"

"I don't know...it doesn't matter, can't I just drive around it?"

"No it will be too frightening for the poor little fella"

"Ok..do you think that woman in the red cardigan would be willing to pay my garage bill?"

Blank faces....

"I don't think that is standard protocol in this situation"

I give up. I get back into car. I rev my engine in anger and in the hope that it will shift the swan - the swan doesn't move - in fact, I think he looks smugly at me as he settles down for the duration.

I headed back the way we came and we changed out plans and went elsewhere.

It got me thinking about English people. On the whole we are complete and utter cunts. 'A nation of animal lovers', a country with the highest divorce rates in europe and those not divorced often live quietly miserable lives. Why? because we are emotionally retarded, the 'stiff upper lip', put on a brave face, lie back and think of england (quite literally get shafted and put up with it, it's your duty) all these cliches associated with 'The English'

If we, as a nation, cared as much for one another (and could express it) as we do for bloody animals then we would be a lot better for it.

Why should the whole of Leatherhead be put out for the sake of a stupid swan. We ARE more important and our needs should come first. Ok, perhaps I wouldn't have run it over, but the whole softly softly, don't scare it bollocks was too much.

We all sit down and munch on a juicy bit of cow, whilst wearing them on our shoes and backs, we are oh so grateful when medicine tested on animals serves us well but a whole village comes to a halt when a dumb bird can't be arsed to fly away. Let's not hurt him because he looks beautiful.....ok, would we have ben as bothered if it was a rat?

I think not.

Bloody villigers.

Bloody England!

Cowboys my arse...a pair of namby pamby sheepherders!

2006-01-22T09:53:00.000Z

COLLEAGUE
"What are you doing tonight Maurice?"

ME
"Going to see Brokeback Mountain"

COLLEAGUE
"Oh that's that gay cowboy film"

ME
"It surely is"

COLLEAGUE
"Urrrr I hate that shit"

ME
"What shit?"

COLLEAGUE
"You know, gay stuff like that"

ME
"But I thought you were gay!"

COLLEAGUE - shifting from one foot to the other
"Nah nah, not me mate"

ME
"So you don't like gays"

COLLEAGUE
"Nah, it's not that, i've got nothing against gays....I just don't like Gay Cowboys"

ME
!!!

How many gay cowboys could a slightly slow middle eastern man living in croydon have met?

So off I went to see some gay cowboy action with my delightful significant other. The cinema was pretty busy and our screen almost full. On arrival I scanned the room.
To my right were a large mixed group of 15-16 year olds, behind me a couple of lesbians in their early forties (the sexuality isn't an assumption based on elvis hairstyles and ill fitting slacks, they were talking loudly about 'their experiences' - the age is an assumption), in front sat three generations of one family, the eldest of which must have been about 75. So a broad and balanced mix of people.

I knew nothing about this film, other than the description of it as a

'gay western'.

It turns out that my other half knew even less and was very disappointed to see a 60's pick up truck in the first scene.

"I thought this was an old western...where are the injins?"
"No..it's set in 1960's-80's"
"I wouldn't have come if i'd known that...i love old westerns"

mmmmmmmmmmm, me thinking he don't quite get that we haven't come to see jeremiah jones.

So here we are watching a film which is being talked about as a gay western, if you know nothing else about this film you must know that it is about two men who have a relationship, yet when the first love scene is shown the teenagers laugh and mutter things like 'that's well gay' (for once, unlike the inanimate ruler or pencil tin, they have used the term in the appropriate context).
The lesbians coo and caw about how beautiful it is, the old people shuffle uncomfortably and I cry like a little baby.

Meanwhile, my other half is becoming increasingly irked by the lack of 'action' in the traditional western sense of the word

"I mean they didn't even try and fight that bear, a real cowboy would have done. they're not even herding cows either, it's bloody sheep"

I composed myself and continued to watch one of the most beautifully portrayed but ultimately tragic love stories I have ever seen unfold.

Perhaps it was because of recent events in my life, perhaps it was because of the saddnes I felt on behalf of some of my friends grappling with their sexuality, perhaps it was simply because i'm a sukker for a love story, whatever the reason I sobbed my little heart out from start to finish.

I highly recommend this film. YES it's slow and NO there are no sign of indians, gun fights, swinging saloon doors and busty wenches therein but it's very moving.

The sexuality of the central characters is not THE issue, in fact, certainly one of them simply wasn't gay! It is about two people who feel a connection, who communicate with one another in a way that they can't communicate with others, who are drawn to one another on an emotional and spiritual level, who feel passion for one another and express it in the most natural of ways. It is a classic love story.

The director has achieved something quite remarkable in that, as a viewer, you really believe the love that exists between these two men, and you really believe that it continues to grow deeper over a period of 20 years AND you want them to be together, you don't care that they are gay, you don't care what others will think, or even that they will leave their wives, you just want them to be togetether.

The film raised the following issues for me:

- why so many people do what is expected of them rather than what they truly feel is right for them
- how hard it must be to be part of a minority group in an area where your particular 'minority' are despised and even attacked
- whether i would be brave enough to challenege the recvieved wisdom of my family and community if it meant ostracising (!) myself and putting myself in danger
- how so many things conspire to complicate something as simple as love
- how so many people behave/don't behave in a certain way in the hope of being with god in some magical kingdom in the clouds, even if it means making huge sacrifices on earth - the only existence we can be SURE of
- The way in which we decieve ourselves and others

i know this is rushed and rambling but it's been a while since i blogged about anything so i need to get back in the saddle and slowly rebuild my blogging skills.

99% Persperation

2005-11-24T20:41:00.000Z

Totally forgot about this little fella
spoke to grant today
he reminded me to blog

He also gave me 9-2 odds on it snowing in the south east at christmas

WHEN are we going to have a white christmas?

Last year
March....April...snow!!
but december?
November, January, February....Snow, but december??

does anyone else rather fancy gordon ramsey?

Make this white band history

2005-08-28T17:51:00.000+01:00

Does anyone know how i can get rid of this irritating white band slashed across my blog?

Moral dilemma

2005-06-29T22:20:00.000+01:00

You are on your way to buy a paper from the local newsagents.

Hanging around outside is a male chav of roughly 15 years of age
he waves a fiver in front of you and asks you to buy him 20 B&H (Cigarettes)
He can't get served because he is underage.

Do you buy them for him?

Countdown to Death

2005-06-26T23:26:00.000+01:00

So Richard Whitely is dead.
Why does this upset me?

Buddha reckons that anytime you feel sadness over something someone has told you that is unrelated to you it is because it taps into some sadness you are experiencing anyway....so....conclusion, I must be sad!

But....hang on a minute....basement Jaxx are covering Kylie's "Can't get you outta my head" at Glasters and it is a really good cover so that's picked us (Thistle and I) up out of the doldrums.

Talking of Buddha
The notion behind Buddhism
as I understand it
is that you have to find happiness within yourself
rather than depend on other people for happiness
whoever they might be

Is this really possible?
What makes you happy?

Thistle wants me to call this post "The Conundrum"
I don't want to.

Withering Prose

2005-06-20T20:32:00.000+01:00

Ok....so I was reading my cousin Frank's blog the other day and he has a post all about books including - How thick his collection is, those that mean a lot to him etc etc and I have decided (prompted by cousin Frank) to do my own run down.

1. Number of books I own:
This is a tough one. I'm a bit of a hoarder and particularly like having plenty of books around. However, at the moment I haven't. Having recently separated from my husband most of my books remain at 'our' flat. On top of this I have dumped a load of books in my dad's attic until such time as I have something more than a shoebox to live in. So.....are you still there?...I have, here now, in my flat, only about 200 books, but, in total I reckon (including those bought jointly with Richard...what's mine is his, and his mine...or was!) about 600 ish.

2. Last book I Bought:
"Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour" by Kate Fox. I bought this whilst at Waterloo station having just met my brother from Eurostar. I dragged him into WH Smith to buy him a sudoku puzzle book (he contained his excitement) and, from there, he bought "A year in the Merde" which, I gather, is about an Englishman's experiences and observations of living in Paris (as my brother does). This was a great opportunity for Steve to tell me some hilarious tales of misinterpretations and misunderstandings between him and 'The French' (though for some of them I don't think you really needed to be French...I think he was just being a little unclear). Anyway...and I bought this!

3. Last book I read:
"Woody Allen's Complete Prose" - Funny, tiring, hard work, clever, dark and woody allenlike!

4. Five books that mean a lot to me:

a)"Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte".
A rather dark but moving love story....I'm sure I don't need to go on...we all know it! I just love this novel. I love the notion that there really is one person who is your soul mate. Who, without, you become broken hearted and die;

"Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!"

Heathcliff passionatley pleading with Catherine not to leave him after she has died. Altogether now.....

b) "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.
Again...we all know the tale. A morality tale - the best kind! But that's not why I love it. Firstly and simply, I love Christmas and no Christmas is complete without reading this. Secondly and more importantly (in terms of why it means a lot to me) my dad always used to read Dickens to me as a child. I loved Dickens when most kid's were enjoying 'My cat likes to hide in Boxes'. Anyone who knows my dad, knows that he is a rather eccentric but lovable old chap. He exists on that line between genius and insanity (though he rather plays up to the insanity bit). His love of literature and his ability to recall and retell stories he has read/heard over the past 70 years is a hugely endearing quality. He loves Dickens (as I do) because of the fantastic and vivid characterisation and he's not far off being a Dickens character himself. So....because I love Christmas and I love my dad and the happy memories of him it evokes, I include this book!

c)"A Theory of Justice" by John Rawls
I didn't particularly enjoy reading this book but it means a lot to me because it forms the basis of my Masters in Political Philosophy. I'll be honest, I struggled with it, but when I finally grasped it I felt an enourmous sense of achievement and, though I don't agree with all Rawls rambles on about, I found his theory interesting.

d) "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger
Just love the way it is written. Excellent opening paragraph:

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth."

Angst ridden teenage years. Thankfully I no longer exist in that time, but I lived it once and I identified with this book...so, it appears here now.

e) "Tony Benn Diaries: Free at Last! 1991-2001"
Introduced to me by my ex-husband this is a most moving, humorous and intersting book. As always (with such political diaries) I am interested more in the human emotion than the stuff of party politics and Tony Benn writes with bucketloads of it. His account of the illness and death of his beloved wife Caroline moved me to tears and his critique of 'New Labour' had me racked with cognitive dissonance. A truly principled man and a great read!

I gather the idea is now to pass the baton on and nominate someone to publish their own book run-down. I nominate Grant, Richard and Dom.

ps: Since not being with Richard (who was mr techno) I have reverted to being a complete techno incompetent. Can't seem to link, so addresses below refer to above blogs:

Frank = www.internetcommentator.typepad.com
Grant = www.hawkesmorenomore.blogspot.com
Thistle = www.thistlebright.blogspot.com
Dom = www.shoethesaviour.blogspot.com

ps: I'm excited by the prospect of doing a 'film' version of this. This may cause upset amongst the intellectually snobbish, but I say, just for the fun of it, let's do it! All in favour, Post!

Enjoy the Silence

2005-06-09T23:12:00.000+01:00

The Independent
Crosswords
SuDokus
Buts Chan Mining
Tubskey Titstart
Duty
Harry Hill
wilfull misinterpretation
red wine on the ceiling
My big phone
sketching
Matisse
Rome
black hairs
hoover stairs
gifted and talented
silly puns
stolen gags
monday's shirt
letter of application
shoes
sadness and hurt
rent-a-gorm
sausage sangwiches
thai curry
friendly landlord
reprographics
crap impressions
lunch
fridge poetry
trivial pursuit
john craven
tommorow
remeber
happiness
soul
and
silence

Su Doku

2005-05-15T22:11:00.000+01:00

One of my all time favourite people introduced me to something called Su Doku recently. I gather it is sweeping the nation (well the nurds of the nation) by storm. For those of you that don't know it is a number puzzle whereby you must input a number between 1-9 (and in some cases letters A-F) in each row horizontally, verticaly AND in each box.

I wasn't sure i'd like Su Doku when first introduced to it, not least because some loser at work who scratches his balls and sniffs his fingers is a Su Doku fan, but because i've always been right hemisphere dominant (if that is the side that isn't great with numbers) BUT I have always loved a challenge and am supremo competative, so it could have gone either way. As it turns out, I love Su Dokuing and am pretty great at it. Without any help from anyone else I recently completed the most difficult one EVER set and won a palm top as a result of getting it all right.

In short - Su Doku is a fun and addictive pastime for all. I'm BRILLIANT at it.
You will find one in most newspapers these days. I recommend The Independent.

ps: does anyone else feel physically sick when they see/hear either robbie OR robin williams?

Who really cares?

2005-05-03T21:35:00.000+01:00

I went to visit some relations in Ireland recently, one of whom I have known 'of' but never had any kind of relationship 'with' - a first cousin. This cousin of mine 'blogs' and it is through blogging that I came to know him a little better. The plan was that I stay with my Aunt and Uncle, an aunt and uncle who know that I don't know this cousin. It came as a surprise to them when he rang to see if I had arrived.

On arriving at Dublin airport my Aunt said:

"Frank rang to let you know he'll be in The Clermont tonight if you want to join them"

I could tell by the way she said it that she was itching to know exaclty how this came about. I felt the need to explain.

"Oh" says I
"Yeah frank and I have been in touch over the blogs"

(not thinking for one moment that this would mean ANYTHING to her)

"What's a blog" she asked (the first of about 10 times I was asked throughout my 4 day stay)

I found myself saying the following:

"it's kinda like an online diary....only not really, in that it's not private and it's not really common to type your innermost thoughts. I suppose it's more like an opportunity to write down your opinions on certain issues and gather responses from other people"

"What??? why would anyone be interested in that" she said

I went on:

"well (now clutching at straws) for example, with friends and family living in other countries it's a nice way to keep up with each other and maybe understand one another a little better."

I carried on (I shouldn't have)

"Like the other day i put a picture of a mango on my blog and said that i like peeling ripe mangos" (Even as I say it I think I sound mentally ill.....I'm assuming she does too)

*Laughter* (AT me)

"Why would ANYONE want to know that?"

I had no answer to that. The truth is they probably don't.

No matter how much I tried to explain the joys of blogging they (now uncle and cousins too) weren't really buying it. I think it's now generally agreed that they think i'm a bit odd and a bit egotistical....but then I guess I am so what's the harm.

It did get me thinking though about what a funny pursuit it is. Maybe not in Franks case but in mine....it does seem a little pointless. BUT, though i've been away for a while, I do enjoy it....so i guess that's the point!
Whether anyone else does is another question.

what dreams may come?

2005-04-02T00:04:00.000+01:00

late nights
interrupted sleep
early mornings
drinking
smoking
fragile
being gossiped about
eating peanut m&m's
listening to nick cave
missing deadlines
dumping work on everyone else who isn't getting paid for it
sleeping on sofas
taking buses
shopping at asda
laughing and joking
crying
lisa and grant
dreams of what might be

ok grant....eat your heart out.....worth the wait?

Opinions Please

2005-02-25T18:24:00.000Z

Funny funny man?

Ricky gervais: Comedy Genius or irritating petulant child?

More Than This?

2005-02-17T21:49:00.000Z

Bryan with a Y

I decided tonight, with a deadline looming, that it was about time I ordered the textbook I need for my course. I always feel like I have to buy more than one thing when I am on Amazon otherwise I will have to pay two delivery charges. Having (again) recently watched ‘lost in translation’ I wanted to buy the song 'more than this' that bob sings to charley in the karaoke scene. I had no idea who sang this. As it turns out it is by Roxy Music (I’m sure those of you older than me would have known that) so I bought this album. Well it is cheap - wonder why. also bought 'Kingpin' and 'Groundhog day’ as I was having a Bill Murray moment.
So, as usual, I found something to do other than work.
I will now mark books. I hate marking. Ask any teacher, it is the worst part of the job, never mind that bollocks about kids being a nightmare these days, try sifting through the shit they write every 7 months!

Will the real Jennifer Rush please stand up.....

2005-02-14T22:37:00.000Z

white?

.....actually, don't bother love, no one knows who you are anyway.

Not since Michael Jackson has anyone managed to look like three completley different people in as many decades. OK in Jackos case he may well be made up of three different people.

And another thing - Just because it is line that deserves to be repeated and committed to print, Talking head, David quantick said of Whitney Housten that she holds a note like Michael Jackson holds a baby.
make of that what you will, I found it very funny.

2005-02-14T22:36:00.001Z

mixed race?

2005-02-14T22:36:00.000Z

kylie?

Richard - A Valentines Tribute

2005-02-13T15:17:00.000Z

My husband isn’t perfect (Sorry to break that to you all) but here are some nice things about him:

He smiled at me, leaned over and touched my hand when I had a face like thunder and was in a rotten mood yesterday

I think he is capable of doing anything he wants to do

He will be prime minister one day

I would choose him above anyone else as my ‘phone a friend’

He does a duck thing with his hands

He gets enjoyment from buying DVDs and cd's - I like that we can share this pleasure

He doesn't suffer fools

He is extremely principled

He does the dishes

He has a nice voice and wide vocabulary

He looks cute still in bed when i leave for work in the morning

He hugs me

He knows I don’t like purdeys, fish and raw tomatoes and can make me tea like I like it

He only sees the post 16 yr old me and doesn’t buy into the bullshit my family sometimes purport about my rebellious teenage yrs

He won’t shop at kwik save

He is compassionate

He sticks his tongue out whenever he is concentrating

He is endlessly patient with my dad who talks a lot and is a bit mad

He reads lots of books quickly

Though he is cleverer than everyone around him, he has no time for people who feel the need to show off their intelligence

He brought Tivo and wireless LAN into my life

LOVE LOVE LOVE

2005-02-11T21:59:00.000Z

It matters

I love a good love story. I am such a romantic, but it does the image I have attempted to purvey no good! I think I am seen by many, including my pupils, as a bit ascerbic, and I’m happy with this image, in fact it is one I have cultivated, BUT it’s not real, I’m ridiculously soft natured and a hopeless romantic. I felt it apt to post this blog in the run up to Valentines Day. Today I found myself describing ‘Gladiator’ as a love story, then when questioned about my reasons for this I found myself saying that, I fact, all films are love stories!!! Of course that’s not true, but many are, and certainly many of my favourites are. So the following is my tribute to all time best luuuurrvve films. Dedicated to all those in love. Whether the path of true love runs smoothly or not, don’t give up on it because, while it’s not ALL you need, it’s pretty fucking special:

In no particular order:

a) Lost in Translation
b) When Harry Met Sally
c) Shrek
d) Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
e) Gladiator
f) Betty Blue
g) L’Apartament
h) Love story
i) Annie hall
j) American beauty
k) The office (Dawn and Tim – ok not a film but I love it)
l) West side story

OK now songs – because I’ve got carried away.

Again in no particular order:

a) God only knows (Beach Boys)
b) Haunted (Shane Mcgowan/Sinead O’Cconnor)
c) Into my arms (Nick Cave)
d) Halo (The Cure)
e) What it’s like to be beautiful (Lena Fiagbe)
f) Bedshaped (keane)
g) I threw it all away (Dylan)
h) No more shall we part (Nick Cave)
i) (Are you) the one I’ve been waiting for (nick cave)
j) How soon is now (The Smiths)
k) I know it’s gonna happen someday (Morrissey)
l) Still (Macy Gray)

Some things:
I see Charlie and Camilla for the love story that it is. I’m not interested in hearing the ‘threat to the monarchy’ bollocks – they love each other and have done for decades, now they can finally declare their love publicly – something they should have done a LONG time ago!!!!!

When I was about 13 I had a real crush on my brothers mate Lee Milner and I rang heart 106.2 “cuddle on the couch” and dedicated a love song to him – it may well have been ‘Heart – Alone’ though it pains me to say it.

“So if you find someone that gives you all of her love,
take it to your heart, don’t let it stray.
For one thing that’s certain,
You will surely be hurtin,
If you throw it all away” (Dylan 1969)

Happy valentines day. LOVE to all and to all a good night
xx

Would you Adam and Eve it?

2005-01-30T19:56:00.000Z

Pretty bird

I only mentioned the problem of evil as an aside to express that getting pissed midweek isn't a great idea when you have a job which requires you to be on the ball all the time. This started as a reply in the comments page but ended up being so long that it has become it’s own post.

Perhaps there is a God who created humans with free will so as to give meaning to the very act of creation. The idea being that people freely choose to love him and behave in such a way that brings them to eternal existence with the creator. IF God does exist and has given us free will then the laws of nature must also be fixed so that we can investigate, understand and predict the world around us and make free choices about our actions within it. God would not, for example, stop a rock from falling on someone by making it hover until they moved, or alter the law of gravity whenever anyone wanted to jump out of a window, because by doing so he would interfere with our free choice (if for example my choice is to kill you by chucking rocks at you).

It follows from this that natural 'evil' will occur and a god who wants us to be free chooses not to interfere when it does. It could be argued that god does exist and is both omnipotent and benevolent - he abhors evil, could prevent it but chooses not to since doing so would mean that we are no longer free.

A couple of other things:
1) Of course there is an argument to say that we are not and never could be truly free, that freedom always and everywhere is an illusion.

2) Supposed miracles call into question god’s benevolence, if he is willing to prevent some 'evils' why not others.

3) Euthyphros dilemma highlights the problem Frank mentioned, either Something is good because god commands it (in which case things are not good in themselves) so hypothetically god could command killing and it would be 'good' to do simply because god commanded it (god can't therefore be benevolent) OR God commands certain actions because they are good - so there is a standard of goodness independent of god which God refers to in order to command it (so god is not omnipotent)

4) The ontological argument suggests that what is meant by GOD is "That than which nothing greater can be conceived" and since it is better to exist in reality than hypothetically (e.g; it is better to have £10 in my hand than to dream of having £1000) God (that than which nothing greater can be conceived) must exist, even in a world with evil

5) My dad’s response “Bloody women!, if Eve hadn’t eaten that flippin apple….”

My personal conclusion: The notion of a God (as articulated to me through Catholicism) makes no sense to my intellect. I’m not even sure it makes sense to me for people to want there to be a God. However, I am an emotional person more heart led than head and my spiritual self requires no explanation - intuitively and emotionally I believe, in the same way that I love. Neither faith, nor love, always makes sense to me but it doesn’t stop them from being real to me. I’m happy to hear arguments against the existence of God (and have done) but they can only ever change my thinking and faith Is not stored in my intellect.

I’ll conclude by making a clear distinction between faith and religious practice. In book 1 of his Treatise on Human Nature Hume writes, “Errors in religion are dangerous, those in philosophy only ridiculous”. Whilst I can empathise that it is frustrating for atheists (such as Frank) to hear someone say that their faith cannot be altered by logic since it resides in a place logic doesn’t reach, it is dangerous to be so immovable when reasoned thinking and a concern for humanity show that some religious practices should be abandoned – For religious law and practice ARE born out of the intellect.

Cobra, Wireless and Me

2005-01-26T23:12:00.000Z

It's......what?......11 something on a cold wednesday in January. Wednesday is midweek drinking day. After 4 bottles of Cobra I am sat here downloading songs from limewire and listening to them via a wireless techno thingy that enables me to hear songs through a) the TV, b) my ipod, c) the stereo d) the toaster. .....I don't get all this but my husband works 'In Computers' and I benefit from the futuristic toys he gets through work.

As I write I am listening to "Thinking about you" by Radiohead and will move on to 'Take me to the river' by talking heads (good version). What a nice evening!

.....However, In less than 9 hours I will have to face 30 14 yr olds all 'keen' (ahem) to know about the problem of evil. Not sure I'll be up to it!
lesson plan:
Evil exists
It's shit
God might/might not exist
the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive
you decide , i'm hungover!

My Cousin Frank

2005-01-26T20:02:00.000Z

I have 26 first cousins
One of which is Frank McGahon
Read his blog:
internet commentator

I think you'll enjoy it. I do.

One of lifes pleasures......

2005-01-26T19:58:00.000Z

mmmmmmmm

........peeling a ripe mango (as i have just done for my dinner).

By Jove I Think She's Got It!!

2005-01-24T22:25:00.000Z

My sweets

2005-01-24T22:21:00.000Z

My eye

First day at school

2005-01-24T21:52:00.000Z

Great day at blog school today. I learned how to post a photo of my eye and some Bassett's Fruit Allsorts (no liquorice)

and how to link

"smoke on your pipe and put that in"