After Rodin

This picture of Peter Selby made me think of Rodin's "The Thinker"

People we know

One of the great things about with Greenbelt is the people. It was good this year as always to catch up with friends from Westcott & EAMTC as well as to meet friends from Chelmsford Diocese and others we have met at various places over the years. We chatted to people as we queued to get into some of the venues and as we shared bread and wine on Sunday morning. There were many who seemed familiar but whom we couldn't quite place - I'm sure I've seen this Vicar somewhere before...

Returning home

We had to leave newly made friends behind...

Ouch...

Sleeping lions

I guess most of us who have run childrens groups have found at some point the need to get them to calm down and have time out and have probably played sleeping lions. I think this pair at Chatsworth would win hands (or should I say paws) down.

Holiday

Despite having three months out of the parish on Sabbatical I didn't really have any holiday time. We spent last week in the Peak District. It felt like a "proper" holiday - walks, ice cream cones, visit to a cavern, steam trains & stately homes. Staying near Bakewell we had Bakewell tart and Bakewell Pudding. We had sunshine and rain; the only thing missing was a trip to the seaside for a paddle.

All Day I Hear the Noise of Waters

All Day I Hear the Noise of Waters

 

All day I hear the noise of waters
Making moan,
Sad as the sea-bird is when, going
Forth alone,
He hears the winds cry to the water's
Monotone.

The grey winds, the cold winds are blowing
Where I go.
I hear the noise of many waters
Far below.
All day, all night, I hear them flowing
To and fro.

 

James Joyce

Taking Pictures

Jack Jonson's recent album "To The Sea" contains a song "Pictures of people taking pictures"

 

Pictures of people taking
Pictures of people taking
Pictures of people taking pictures

 

I pictured us at the end of time
Holding up a camera to our eyes
I took a picture of you took a picture of me
In the background of the picture
Was water running to the sea

 

So I pictured us standing there
Staying away from time
Watching it like a river

As it slowly washes by

And now
Pictures of people taking
Pictures of people taking
Pictures of people taking pictures
And now

Pictures of people taking
Pictures of people taking
Pictures of people taking pictures

 

The feed back loop

Is closing in so tight
Surrounding ourselves

With satellites

 

But I pictured us standing there
Staying away from time
Just watching it like a river

As it slowly washes by

And now
Pictures of people taking
Pictures of people taking
Pictures of people taking pictures
I pictured us at the end of time
Taking pictures of nothing

living art

This display was by littlewhitehead and entitled "It happened in the corner." You might recognise one of the dummies in the second photograph...

 

refletions in the Saatchi Gallery

I had to post some photos of paintings with reflections in them...

 

They first was by Hurvin Anderson and the second by Sigrid Holmwood, her paintings had an amazing use of fluorescent colour.

After Klimt

I think the artistof this painting, Phoebe Unwin, must have been influenced by Gustav Klimt.

The Saatchi Gallery

We had a bit of time to spare before the concert so had a mooch round the Saatchi gallery (admission is free)

 

The current exhibition is entitled Newspeak: British Art Now. Part One is in until 17th Oct and Part Two from 27th Oct - 16th Jan 2011. I'm sure Richard & I will head back up to see the second part of this exhibition.

 

There was a huge variety of styles of artwork on display. This rug by Rupert Norfolk was fun; it looked as though it was all ruched up but was actually flat - the folds were in the weave.

 

 

The Joan Crawford alphabet was created by Donald Urquhart

Boris' bikes

Took Richard up to the Cadogan Hall to see the Puppini sisters for his birthday. Walking near Sloane Square we saw a couple of docking stands for the London hire bikes. I'm not sure how far you might have to go to find a place to leave the bike as both the stands we saw were full - you may have to walk back to where you hired it from!

Endings and beginnings

In many ways it seems ages since my Sabbatical. It's always amazing how quickly you get back into the usual routine whether away for a few days or for longer. Despite my good intentions I haven't taken many photos since returning to work and those that I have haven't really inspired me into reflection. I have been thinking quite a bit about my Sabbatical and have managed to mention it in sermons on 2 out of 3 Sundays!

 

I enjoyed keeping my blog during the Sabbatical and have found myself missing updating it but haven't really felt I've had anything much to post. I caught a snippit on tv the other evening ( I can't remember what the programme was) which reminded me of these words from The Four Quartets and thought that they were perhaps an appropriate reflection at this time of endings and beginnings.

 

Little Gidding V

 

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

 

T. S. Eliot