On the Ropes on Radio 4 on a Tuesday can either be cringe or very good. Max Mosely was cringe. A self indulgent, selfish and self deceiving person (in addition to deceiving his wife of course). Not that I should be judging anyone, as a Christian but everything that came out of his mouth made me really sad, and mad.
Adam Ant, or Stuart Goddard, on the other hand made me feel sad but in a good way. He came across as a decent bloke really, who tried his best and cracked under the hard work and pressure from the record company, earning only 9% profits in the process...
Probably still a decent wage but seems awful whan you listen to what he went through as a result.
It tickled me when he referred to the mental institution he'd been in as a 'nut house', and was rebuked by John Humphries. After all, he'd been committed to the place so he can call it what he wants, in my view. What did annoy me was when JH called Bipolar disorder a disease, and SG did pick him up on that.
What was so sad about it all is that people like him can be very creative and productive, then they crack and are totally helpless in some awful situation they didn't want. They have to deal with the repercussions and stigma forever.
Mental illness is so misunderstood. It seems on the increase, maybe due to the pressures and pace of life. The mentally ill ae treated like cattle and forced to take medication that has awful side effects. It may have the desired effect in one way (stopping dangerous behaviour, keeping the patient quiet, lessening the 'nuisance' factor) but the long term health and wellbeing of the patient seem almost never to be taken into account. The description of what SG experienced sounds appalling and I know that it's not an isolated case. I hope he can acheive what he wants, and that is never to be in that vulnerable state again. Let's hope for a better future for all mentally ill people, and better treatment.
On a lighter note, one lunchtime this week, I saw a van with the logo advertising 'Photography at heights'. It had all kinds of equipment strapped to the top. You could only imagine the stuff they did, from mountain tops etc. Then the guy stepped out of the van carrying a little step ladder, all of 2 steps. He climbed to the very top of these and took a picture of a sign face in a car park. Just wish I'd had a discreet way of taking a photo.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Pope Joan and 'The Natwest Three'
There was a very entertaining programme on Radio 4, I think yesterday, on the way to work. I need to research it, but there is a new book out retracing the Papal line back to way back when (I told you that I need to research it!).
Anyway, the main subject of the programme was Pope John, whose dates of reign I can't say at the moment. He turned out to be a woman, Joan, and, oops, gave birth in public view. This, of course was a huge scandal and was much documented, although I think it was said that there is no concrete proof of her existence.
What really made me chuckle was that, after Pope Joan, there was a chair made for the ordination of subsequent Popes, with a hole in it. Allegedly, the Popes-to-be had to sit butt neckid on this seat, and an official had to reach beneath the hole to feel for testicals...when testicals were felt, the official cried out to the expectant crowd, 'He has testicles!'.
Whereupon, the crowd would respond, 'God be praised!'.
The comment made on the radio to this was, apparently Pope Alexander the ?th, who had fathered many children, was also supposed to have been in the time when this was practice. It was remarked that, it was difficult to imagine that he had had to be subjected to such undignified groping...Classic.
This morning, in 'On the Ropes', John Humpries gave one of the 'Natwest Three' a good grilling. The guy has written a book. This was almost transparently done to overcome huge costs incurred by employing lawyers to fight his case before and during the imprisonment of the three (who were implicated in the fall of Enron). Excellent stuff and well worth a listen. I had to give it to the 'grilled one', he took it on the chin and only once started to get really defensive, which was swiftly fielded by JH.
Anyway, the main subject of the programme was Pope John, whose dates of reign I can't say at the moment. He turned out to be a woman, Joan, and, oops, gave birth in public view. This, of course was a huge scandal and was much documented, although I think it was said that there is no concrete proof of her existence.
What really made me chuckle was that, after Pope Joan, there was a chair made for the ordination of subsequent Popes, with a hole in it. Allegedly, the Popes-to-be had to sit butt neckid on this seat, and an official had to reach beneath the hole to feel for testicals...when testicals were felt, the official cried out to the expectant crowd, 'He has testicles!'.
Whereupon, the crowd would respond, 'God be praised!'.
The comment made on the radio to this was, apparently Pope Alexander the ?th, who had fathered many children, was also supposed to have been in the time when this was practice. It was remarked that, it was difficult to imagine that he had had to be subjected to such undignified groping...Classic.
This morning, in 'On the Ropes', John Humpries gave one of the 'Natwest Three' a good grilling. The guy has written a book. This was almost transparently done to overcome huge costs incurred by employing lawyers to fight his case before and during the imprisonment of the three (who were implicated in the fall of Enron). Excellent stuff and well worth a listen. I had to give it to the 'grilled one', he took it on the chin and only once started to get really defensive, which was swiftly fielded by JH.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Pout for all you're worth!
A busy and pleasant Sunday. After getting back home mid afternoon and rushing round to put dinner on, my 5 year old son was extremely quiet upstairs. 1% of the time this happens he is asleep in bed but only after a massive tantrum. Usually the quiet gives me a feeling of impending doom...Anything could have happened up there, usually taking up to an hour to clear up. Last time he'd emptied all his moon sand all over the carpet and bed.
I took my sorted washing up to his room and hesitated outside...no noise at all.
I peered expectantly around the door at the bed, but it was flat. not much mess either..I felt a bit worried so hot-footed up the other side of the house and heard a little noise from the bathroom. As I peered round I was shocked..there he was in his altogether with what appeared to be red stuff all around his mouth, and all over everywhere else!! I gathered myself to realise that he had rummaged in my make up bag and was experimenting with my coral coloured lippy. I was so releived to see it wasn't a horrific accident with the nail scissors that I laughed. He laughed too, relieved that I hadn't gone hairless. This is why I get some of my stuff from the £1 shop!
'How do I get it off from round my mouth?', he asked..He'd been trying to tidy up his lip job which had been generously applied all over his face. He's also applied it thickly under his armpits, a la roll on deoderant.
Funnily enough, my 19 month old is also very interested in my make up. I will have to get them both demonstrating on my Avon lady round...
I took my sorted washing up to his room and hesitated outside...no noise at all.
I peered expectantly around the door at the bed, but it was flat. not much mess either..I felt a bit worried so hot-footed up the other side of the house and heard a little noise from the bathroom. As I peered round I was shocked..there he was in his altogether with what appeared to be red stuff all around his mouth, and all over everywhere else!! I gathered myself to realise that he had rummaged in my make up bag and was experimenting with my coral coloured lippy. I was so releived to see it wasn't a horrific accident with the nail scissors that I laughed. He laughed too, relieved that I hadn't gone hairless. This is why I get some of my stuff from the £1 shop!
'How do I get it off from round my mouth?', he asked..He'd been trying to tidy up his lip job which had been generously applied all over his face. He's also applied it thickly under his armpits, a la roll on deoderant.
Funnily enough, my 19 month old is also very interested in my make up. I will have to get them both demonstrating on my Avon lady round...
Friday, 18 March 2011
Things that puzzle me about the Church
At Mass several weeks ago (a big traditional Church with the 'Head' priest and two others) it was announced that one of the priests was entering Holy Life in his 60's. This is very unusual at this age, normally it's younger. My immediate thought was, ' The man is a priest, surely that means he already is in Holy Life? Apparently not, this man is going into a Monastry. Now that surely is Holy Life. I saw the big Cahoona priest in Tesco the other morning and honestly, if I'd not known him I would not have thought, 'Oh, a priest', as you would exprect.
He was just wearing a ski jacket, no dog collar in sight, which is fair enough but led me to wonder if priests think their job ends at a certain time like office hours.
I'd always thought not, but then you wonder about this huge problem of child abuse in the Catholic church. I've asked my originally C of E mother, 'Why do you not hear of this problem in the C of E? Is it because of the choice of marriage there?'
This is doubtful to me, as I can bear witness to many stories of married or partnered men abusing their own and other children, so how could this be the case?
My mother thinks that, as the C of E is much smaller and, of course, is the national Church, you may not hear about it as freely.
The problem the Catholic church faces has crippled it's growth, although not the faith of the Catholics. It's a total shame. I always think, how can even a 'normal' bog standard bloke even think of looking at a child in such a way, let alone abuse. It's so frightening. But a priest....I mean, it's not that easy to get into priesthood, and surely you must believe in the teachings, so how can they go so totally opposite to what they are supposed to stand for? Are they evil or just extremely weak people?
I pray that this Pope all those in power make some choices that will obliterate this issue.
He was just wearing a ski jacket, no dog collar in sight, which is fair enough but led me to wonder if priests think their job ends at a certain time like office hours.
I'd always thought not, but then you wonder about this huge problem of child abuse in the Catholic church. I've asked my originally C of E mother, 'Why do you not hear of this problem in the C of E? Is it because of the choice of marriage there?'
This is doubtful to me, as I can bear witness to many stories of married or partnered men abusing their own and other children, so how could this be the case?
My mother thinks that, as the C of E is much smaller and, of course, is the national Church, you may not hear about it as freely.
The problem the Catholic church faces has crippled it's growth, although not the faith of the Catholics. It's a total shame. I always think, how can even a 'normal' bog standard bloke even think of looking at a child in such a way, let alone abuse. It's so frightening. But a priest....I mean, it's not that easy to get into priesthood, and surely you must believe in the teachings, so how can they go so totally opposite to what they are supposed to stand for? Are they evil or just extremely weak people?
I pray that this Pope all those in power make some choices that will obliterate this issue.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Allelu, Alleluyah!
I went to the school Church service today. It's C of E and we're Catholic, so having not been in a C of E Church since, well I can't remember a service although I must have at some point. Lovely Church, very austere inside and the whole, albeit small primary school attended.
It was really lovely. The Head (who is a Canon) prides the school on being a big 'singing' school. The hymns were sung without hymnbook and as I was at the front with my row of infants, I was scared I wouldn't know any of them (wondered if the hymns would be different to Catholic), but it was such a lovely transportation back to my own childhood, I soon remembered the words and of course the music is unforgettable. Those children sung their hearts out! His teacher has a lovely singing voice and sang harmony to 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of God'. It made me so glad that my son can experience this with his peers, and not just with his 'ol Mum.
Teaching the faith is an important integral part of life for me. I think I'm the only one of 5 children who has leant on and enjoyed my faith, and even if my children disregard it as they get older, I want them to have the wonderful grounding they can always go back to at any time.
It was really lovely. The Head (who is a Canon) prides the school on being a big 'singing' school. The hymns were sung without hymnbook and as I was at the front with my row of infants, I was scared I wouldn't know any of them (wondered if the hymns would be different to Catholic), but it was such a lovely transportation back to my own childhood, I soon remembered the words and of course the music is unforgettable. Those children sung their hearts out! His teacher has a lovely singing voice and sang harmony to 'Seek ye first the Kingdom of God'. It made me so glad that my son can experience this with his peers, and not just with his 'ol Mum.
Teaching the faith is an important integral part of life for me. I think I'm the only one of 5 children who has leant on and enjoyed my faith, and even if my children disregard it as they get older, I want them to have the wonderful grounding they can always go back to at any time.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Ash Wednesday
It was lovely to be able to go to Mass today, I havn't been on this day for many years. I can remember the teacher crying, 'No, don't rub off your ashes', as our foreheads itched and I wanted to feel the texture of the gritty stuff under my fingers.
At the end of Mass, the priest said that normally he wasn't bothered about biscuits and the like, but that morning, on a day of fasting and abstinence, he'd had a craving for a biscuit.
The devil in the guise of a rich tea biscuit!
I felt sad that my older son, who can now understand some of the teaching, couldn't attend as he's in C of E school. I can't understand why they don't celebrate the Holy Days, I didn't think there was so much difference.Instead, I've settled for helping to walk the little ones over the road to their church next time they go, which is some consolation.
At the end of Mass, the priest said that normally he wasn't bothered about biscuits and the like, but that morning, on a day of fasting and abstinence, he'd had a craving for a biscuit.
The devil in the guise of a rich tea biscuit!
I felt sad that my older son, who can now understand some of the teaching, couldn't attend as he's in C of E school. I can't understand why they don't celebrate the Holy Days, I didn't think there was so much difference.Instead, I've settled for helping to walk the little ones over the road to their church next time they go, which is some consolation.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Thought for today
Just a thought that struck me yesterday whilst listening to a Radio 4 interview with Sara Brown, the wife of the ex Prime Minister, Gordon. She was describing being called over to meet George Clooney who had an appointment with Gordon. The interviewer asked how gaga she went during the short meeting, and Mrs Brown replied that she didn't go gaga, the person who she really went gaga over was Barbara Streisand.
This reminded me of a survey I read about some time ago, where men (with partners) were put in a room with an attractive available woman, and their reaction was documented. It was noted that the majority of the men flirted with the female and/or denied being attached to someone, then openly admitted to being attracted to the female.
The females put in the same position, however, largely protected their partner and denied being attracted to the males. Interesting, and this situation illustrated it perfectly.
This reminded me of a survey I read about some time ago, where men (with partners) were put in a room with an attractive available woman, and their reaction was documented. It was noted that the majority of the men flirted with the female and/or denied being attached to someone, then openly admitted to being attracted to the female.
The females put in the same position, however, largely protected their partner and denied being attracted to the males. Interesting, and this situation illustrated it perfectly.
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