Wednesday 14 November 2007
Wednesday 31 October 2007
Malawi
It’s been too long.
I normally go back twice a year, but this year my commitments haven’t allowed a mid-year trip. It’s been 10 months, and I’m feeling it.
The sky - it’s so much bigger there. And the lake – swimming in it, sitting by it, looking at it, counting the fishing boat lights at night, which make a horizon. It’s the rain, real hard rain, relieving the heat and leaving freshness and flying ants. It’s the dust and the red sunsets.
It’s the people and their openness and warmth. Life can be so hard, and yet I’ve never seen so much smiling. Always time to talk and laugh. Really beautiful people.
It’s putting down my suitcases, taking off my shoes and walking out into the garden. It’s tea-time with the cats and dogs. Banana bread.
It’s the baobab named Julia, which we pass on the way to the lake. She’s the first one you notice – after her, you realise that you are surrounded by them, having descended 500m since Lilongwe. Then you stop to buy some mangos. And the tomatoes are so full of flavour – as are the avocados.
Why do I feel so free there?
All the parts of London that I normally love seem to have dulled. I don’t care about the anonymity of London, which I usually indulge in. As I cycle over Vauxhall Bridge in the morning, I don’t get excited by the view of Battersea power station, or St Paul’s when I cross Waterloo Bridge. I don’t want to discover another amazing little theatre doing Shakespeare. I don’t feel like socialising and meeting all the interesting people that you do in London. I know I will appreciate these again, but for now they seem so meaningless to me.
And maybe it’s other things that are making me blue. The lengthening hours of darkness as winter approaches. The pressures of a work-and-study lifestyle and the worries about my dissertation. Or being just too far from my family.
But I long for Malawi and I’m counting the days.
I normally go back twice a year, but this year my commitments haven’t allowed a mid-year trip. It’s been 10 months, and I’m feeling it.
The sky - it’s so much bigger there. And the lake – swimming in it, sitting by it, looking at it, counting the fishing boat lights at night, which make a horizon. It’s the rain, real hard rain, relieving the heat and leaving freshness and flying ants. It’s the dust and the red sunsets.
It’s the people and their openness and warmth. Life can be so hard, and yet I’ve never seen so much smiling. Always time to talk and laugh. Really beautiful people.
It’s putting down my suitcases, taking off my shoes and walking out into the garden. It’s tea-time with the cats and dogs. Banana bread.
It’s the baobab named Julia, which we pass on the way to the lake. She’s the first one you notice – after her, you realise that you are surrounded by them, having descended 500m since Lilongwe. Then you stop to buy some mangos. And the tomatoes are so full of flavour – as are the avocados.
Why do I feel so free there?
All the parts of London that I normally love seem to have dulled. I don’t care about the anonymity of London, which I usually indulge in. As I cycle over Vauxhall Bridge in the morning, I don’t get excited by the view of Battersea power station, or St Paul’s when I cross Waterloo Bridge. I don’t want to discover another amazing little theatre doing Shakespeare. I don’t feel like socialising and meeting all the interesting people that you do in London. I know I will appreciate these again, but for now they seem so meaningless to me.
And maybe it’s other things that are making me blue. The lengthening hours of darkness as winter approaches. The pressures of a work-and-study lifestyle and the worries about my dissertation. Or being just too far from my family.
But I long for Malawi and I’m counting the days.
Thursday 25 October 2007
get blogging...
the blog gang is slacking again....
i have a few posts in their early stages and promise to complete at least one by the end of the weekend.
and i expect others to do the same!
i have a few posts in their early stages and promise to complete at least one by the end of the weekend.
and i expect others to do the same!
Friday 12 October 2007
Which is better? Being president of the USA or winning the Nobel Peace Prize AND an oscar???
So, Al Gore and the IPCC have won the Nobel Peace Prize. As you can imagine there is much excitement in my office.
Very interesting methinks:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7041082.stm
Very interesting methinks:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7041082.stm
Tuesday 2 October 2007
totally random
a few thoughts (mainly because i am going on holiday and i really don't want the post at the top of my blog to be about a haircut the whole time i'm away...)
regarding the MA i am doing: i think i am going to ask for my money back. i am becomming more and more confused the further i go along. seriously, the opinions i had before the course may have been naive - but at least i had opinions.
regarding squash: i love love love love it! we have a squash court in the basement at work and now all those hours spent at lilongwe golf club playing squash in my youth are paying off. and i get to give the boys at work a run for their money! representing the girls - woohoo!
regarding the MA i am doing: i think i am going to ask for my money back. i am becomming more and more confused the further i go along. seriously, the opinions i had before the course may have been naive - but at least i had opinions.
regarding squash: i love love love love it! we have a squash court in the basement at work and now all those hours spent at lilongwe golf club playing squash in my youth are paying off. and i get to give the boys at work a run for their money! representing the girls - woohoo!
Saturday 29 September 2007
Has Delilah been misunderstood?
Having just had a haircut, I wonder to myself whether there has been a little inaccuracy in the documentation of history. Delilah is supposed to have betrayed Samson and caused his downfall. She is supposed to have done this for the Philistines, in exchange for money, by cutting his hair (or at least ordering a servant to cut his hair).
But I suspect something different happened. Suppose Delilah herself had just had a haircut; and feeling the power and exhilaration that this experience had bestowed upon her, thought she should pass this feeling on to Samson.
Because it seriously does have this effect – the shorter the better. I feel like a new person. I feel like I could take over the world. I even wonder whether I have turned into a super-hero.
But I suspect something different happened. Suppose Delilah herself had just had a haircut; and feeling the power and exhilaration that this experience had bestowed upon her, thought she should pass this feeling on to Samson.
Because it seriously does have this effect – the shorter the better. I feel like a new person. I feel like I could take over the world. I even wonder whether I have turned into a super-hero.
Thursday 27 September 2007
How to start the day
The best-laid plan
06:00 – wake up and embrace the day.
06:30 – spring out of bed, shower, get ready, wear pretty new top, feel fantastic.
07:30 – leave for work.
08:00 – get to work and have an extremely productive morning.
What actually happened (no mice and men involved)
06:00 – wake up with headache (realise it may have something to do with friend’s birthday dinner the previous night and the red wine that accompanied it).
06:30 – get up, shower etc etc.
07:00 – phone aforementioned friend to wish her a happy holiday. Listen to sad story that friend has lost bank card, is at heathrow and is about to go on 3 week holiday with no money. Recollect (in horror) that bank card was taken away from friend when friend tried to pay for birthday dinner. Look in back pocket of jeans worn last night to find bank card.
07:15 – leave the house, run to Brixton station.
07:20 – wait for train.
07:25 – keep waiting for train.
07:30 – get told that there is a signal failure at Victoria and there will be no trains running. Try to leave the station with 1 million others who have been waiting for the tube.
07:37 – run to minicab place down the road.
07:40 – get told that they have no cars. Wait while they check all the other minicab places in the area.
07:42 – start running to Stockwell tube. Sprint the last 200m to try and get in front of the bus carrying all the people who couldn’t get on at Brixton.
07:55 – get on tube. Feel the sweat pouring down my back and getting soaked up by pretty new top.
08:15 – finally get on Piccadilly line.
08:55 – get to heathrow - swap bank card for cup of tea and chocolate muffin. Laugh a lot with friend. Watch friend running off into the distance to catch flight by the skin of her teeth.
09:00 – get back onto Piccadilly line.
09:15 – finally start moving. Do make-up on train.
10:00 – change at Green Park.
10:15 – get to Westminster. Get stopped at ticket barrier and threatened to be fined as not enough money on oyster card. Get let off fine.
10:30 – arrive at work.
06:00 – wake up and embrace the day.
06:30 – spring out of bed, shower, get ready, wear pretty new top, feel fantastic.
07:30 – leave for work.
08:00 – get to work and have an extremely productive morning.
What actually happened (no mice and men involved)
06:00 – wake up with headache (realise it may have something to do with friend’s birthday dinner the previous night and the red wine that accompanied it).
06:30 – get up, shower etc etc.
07:00 – phone aforementioned friend to wish her a happy holiday. Listen to sad story that friend has lost bank card, is at heathrow and is about to go on 3 week holiday with no money. Recollect (in horror) that bank card was taken away from friend when friend tried to pay for birthday dinner. Look in back pocket of jeans worn last night to find bank card.
07:15 – leave the house, run to Brixton station.
07:20 – wait for train.
07:25 – keep waiting for train.
07:30 – get told that there is a signal failure at Victoria and there will be no trains running. Try to leave the station with 1 million others who have been waiting for the tube.
07:37 – run to minicab place down the road.
07:40 – get told that they have no cars. Wait while they check all the other minicab places in the area.
07:42 – start running to Stockwell tube. Sprint the last 200m to try and get in front of the bus carrying all the people who couldn’t get on at Brixton.
07:55 – get on tube. Feel the sweat pouring down my back and getting soaked up by pretty new top.
08:15 – finally get on Piccadilly line.
08:55 – get to heathrow - swap bank card for cup of tea and chocolate muffin. Laugh a lot with friend. Watch friend running off into the distance to catch flight by the skin of her teeth.
09:00 – get back onto Piccadilly line.
09:15 – finally start moving. Do make-up on train.
10:00 – change at Green Park.
10:15 – get to Westminster. Get stopped at ticket barrier and threatened to be fined as not enough money on oyster card. Get let off fine.
10:30 – arrive at work.
Sunday 23 September 2007
Sucked in
So term has started at uni.
And once again I find myself sitting in front of my computer on a Sunday, attempting to be a good student – this time trying to write a year long work plan for my dissertation.
Now of course, before I could REALLY get down to some good work, I needed to get some stationary (mainly because I found myself without paper). So a trip into Brixton’s Woolworths was in order.
And I just wanted to share with a couple of people how I embrace our consumer society.
As my budget at the moment denies me a silver convertible or a flat screen TV, today, I bought Woolworth’s special offer, half price (was £4.99, now £2.49) 20 colour gel pens, consisting of 3 classic gel pens, 6 neon gel pens, 5 scented glitter fruits gel pens, 4 pastel swirl gel pens and 2 metallic gel pens.
Of course these pens (along with the 40 fibre tip pens, the letter pack with smiling bees and the three pack of reporters notebooks) are essential to anyone writing a dissertation highlighting the social effects and power structures resulting from capitalism and the imposition of the free market on the rest of the world.
Hmmmmmmm……
And once again I find myself sitting in front of my computer on a Sunday, attempting to be a good student – this time trying to write a year long work plan for my dissertation.
Now of course, before I could REALLY get down to some good work, I needed to get some stationary (mainly because I found myself without paper). So a trip into Brixton’s Woolworths was in order.
And I just wanted to share with a couple of people how I embrace our consumer society.
As my budget at the moment denies me a silver convertible or a flat screen TV, today, I bought Woolworth’s special offer, half price (was £4.99, now £2.49) 20 colour gel pens, consisting of 3 classic gel pens, 6 neon gel pens, 5 scented glitter fruits gel pens, 4 pastel swirl gel pens and 2 metallic gel pens.
Of course these pens (along with the 40 fibre tip pens, the letter pack with smiling bees and the three pack of reporters notebooks) are essential to anyone writing a dissertation highlighting the social effects and power structures resulting from capitalism and the imposition of the free market on the rest of the world.
Hmmmmmmm……
Sunday 26 August 2007
I blog, therefore I am
Cogito ergo sum – Descartes
Blogito ergo sum – malawihazel (and probably someone before me)
I would like to talk of two blogs, belonging to two old friends of mine – one from school and one from university. I started reading these blogs at around the same time, and they were the very inspiration that started me blogging. Although very different, the blogs had the common theme of being created when the authors moved (or were about to move) somewhere new. They are both brilliant, and I love reading them. However, over the last couple of months, their upkeep has withered. This entry is to try to encourage the authors to get back on blogging form (presuming they are still reading mine).
In an earlier post, I spoke of a blog being a reflection of identity. I would like to take this thought further and suggest that blogging is philosophy-forming. When our thoughts are documented, they reveal a lot about our state of mind at the time. There is an intersection of many factors - new experiences and relationships; our history, upbringing, education and beliefs; similarities and difference; emotions; and the context we are in. Our interpretation of the world around us is being represented in the (relatively) new form of a website with the possibility of those we choose (and sometimes those we don’t choose) to comment. We are representing ourselves.
Without always realising it, we are exploring what, for us, constitutes knowledge (a social construction?). We are revealing how and where our beliefs are being challenged, when we question what we previously thought was granted. Our imaginations are being exercised and a record (or log) is being produced. This is part of working out what we really believe in.
Expressions of autonomy.
Place-making.
How we fit into our environment.
That beautiful ‘thing’ - subjectivity.
Questions of what we want to write about and how to depict a situation.
The language we choose to use.
Meaning.
And on a more grounded note - I also find that since I started blogging, I have acquired a new appreciation for words. I use the dictionary or rather dictionary.com a lot more and am finding words can be really fun (said at the risk of sounding like a complete loser). The other day my finger pressed the d key instead of the s and I inserted the word ‘strawberried’ into my sentence. Isn’t it a wonderful word? Wouldn’t you love to be strawberried? Another time I was reading (and obviously not concentrating very well) and I came across the phrase “the danger bears”. Thoughts and images flew through my mind, I was fascinated by who these bears could be. After further investigation, I found the sentence (split over two lines) “the danger bears down on us”.
So please start blogging again, and share the evolution of your philosophy of life with those around you. Admittedly, now that I am working full time, my need for updates on these blogs is not as pressing as when I was only studying and had all the time in the world…. But still, they make me feel closer to friends who are far away. They are also important for times like now when I am taking a break from work to write an assignment (and therefore need some procrastination) – and yes, you guessed right – I am writing a methodology paper about the philosophical underpinnings of my dissertation.
P.S. I must add that I have just had a look at the one blog, and seeing as there have been three posts in the last two weeks, perhaps this entry doesn’t apply to it anymore. Welcome back!! Wanna meet up for a glass of red wine to discuss whether one should be or do? Do you remember that t-shirt that Marcus had – it went something along the lines of:
To do is to be - Descartes
To be is to do - Voltaire
Do be do be do - Frank Sinatra
Funny – our blogs seem to be in tune right now.
As for the other blogger – you are still rubbish.
Blogito ergo sum – malawihazel (and probably someone before me)
I would like to talk of two blogs, belonging to two old friends of mine – one from school and one from university. I started reading these blogs at around the same time, and they were the very inspiration that started me blogging. Although very different, the blogs had the common theme of being created when the authors moved (or were about to move) somewhere new. They are both brilliant, and I love reading them. However, over the last couple of months, their upkeep has withered. This entry is to try to encourage the authors to get back on blogging form (presuming they are still reading mine).
In an earlier post, I spoke of a blog being a reflection of identity. I would like to take this thought further and suggest that blogging is philosophy-forming. When our thoughts are documented, they reveal a lot about our state of mind at the time. There is an intersection of many factors - new experiences and relationships; our history, upbringing, education and beliefs; similarities and difference; emotions; and the context we are in. Our interpretation of the world around us is being represented in the (relatively) new form of a website with the possibility of those we choose (and sometimes those we don’t choose) to comment. We are representing ourselves.
Without always realising it, we are exploring what, for us, constitutes knowledge (a social construction?). We are revealing how and where our beliefs are being challenged, when we question what we previously thought was granted. Our imaginations are being exercised and a record (or log) is being produced. This is part of working out what we really believe in.
Expressions of autonomy.
Place-making.
How we fit into our environment.
That beautiful ‘thing’ - subjectivity.
Questions of what we want to write about and how to depict a situation.
The language we choose to use.
Meaning.
And on a more grounded note - I also find that since I started blogging, I have acquired a new appreciation for words. I use the dictionary or rather dictionary.com a lot more and am finding words can be really fun (said at the risk of sounding like a complete loser). The other day my finger pressed the d key instead of the s and I inserted the word ‘strawberried’ into my sentence. Isn’t it a wonderful word? Wouldn’t you love to be strawberried? Another time I was reading (and obviously not concentrating very well) and I came across the phrase “the danger bears”. Thoughts and images flew through my mind, I was fascinated by who these bears could be. After further investigation, I found the sentence (split over two lines) “the danger bears down on us”.
So please start blogging again, and share the evolution of your philosophy of life with those around you. Admittedly, now that I am working full time, my need for updates on these blogs is not as pressing as when I was only studying and had all the time in the world…. But still, they make me feel closer to friends who are far away. They are also important for times like now when I am taking a break from work to write an assignment (and therefore need some procrastination) – and yes, you guessed right – I am writing a methodology paper about the philosophical underpinnings of my dissertation.
P.S. I must add that I have just had a look at the one blog, and seeing as there have been three posts in the last two weeks, perhaps this entry doesn’t apply to it anymore. Welcome back!! Wanna meet up for a glass of red wine to discuss whether one should be or do? Do you remember that t-shirt that Marcus had – it went something along the lines of:
To do is to be - Descartes
To be is to do - Voltaire
Do be do be do - Frank Sinatra
Funny – our blogs seem to be in tune right now.
As for the other blogger – you are still rubbish.
Monday 30 July 2007
It can be very windy up there on the moral high ground
As my friend Diana would say.
And I have been reminded of this a couple of times in the last month. I have had to eat my hat (no, wrong expression), eat my shorts (still wrong – when is that simpson’s movie out by the way?), eat my WORDS!!!!
A few months ago I helped my friend Lucy pack up her house (actually I don’t think I helped much) and I remember the word “hoarder” emanating from me a few times (as I smugly mentioned how the room I was living in was VERY small and that I didn’t own very much – belongings, you know, are SO overrated).
So, I moved house this last weekend. I don’t want to talk about it too much (it is cited as the third most stressful thing you can do in your life – after losing a loved one and getting divorced). But while my darling friend Lucy (along with Rosahn and Stuart) helped me on Sunday – I felt rather humble as we made our umpteenth trip down the stairs, with the 4000th box. She is very kind and didn’t rub it in.
The other fact to which I feel rather sheepish is - I joined Facebook (this is where I need a little yellow emoticon face blushing). After months of slandering, insulting, criticising, judging……curiosity killed the cat. Those of you who are regular readers may remember my pompous, maligning facebook post.
“My name is Hazel xxxxxxxx (blog anonymity – identity theft etc etc) and I am a facebooker. I have been a facebooker for 34 days. And that is all I have to say about that.”
Anyway, a few thoughts from the last week:
Things I have done for the first time:
Hired a van.
Gone to collect my van and found that the previous hirers are $%*@ers and they haven’t returned my van and so have made do with a car after a one and a half hour wait.
Driven a car through central London (am quite proud of this one – the most spectacular moment was driving round and round and round Vauxhall junction trying to work out how to get into the drop off car hire place that I could see very clearly – anyone who knows Vauxhall junction will appreciate this).
Been quite relieved that I was driving a car and not a van through central London.
Things that I haven’t done that I want to:
Try some British wine (there’s a story but I am too tired to explain right now).
Things that I thought I thought that have now been confirmed and I know I think for sure:
A friend who helps you move house, is a TRUE friend!!! I love you Lucy, Rosahn and Stuart!!!
I hate packing.
I hate unpacking.
It’s very windy up there on the moral highground.
A post describing my new hood to follow.
Monday 9 July 2007
Advertisers are people too
So, a couple of friends of mine visited Botswana a couple of months ago, and on the flight from Joburg to Maun, they found the following advert in the in-flight magazine. It is an advert for Musica – a music shop in South Africa, and it was encouraging tourists to buy some South African music. I thought it was worth sharing with my readers.
(Musica generally does good adverts – a few years ago, one of their tv ads featured my friend Natalie’s bare bum in the shower – filmed through the opaque glass)
So, a couple of friends of mine visited Botswana a couple of months ago, and on the flight from Joburg to Maun, they found the following advert in the in-flight magazine. It is an advert for Musica – a music shop in South Africa, and it was encouraging tourists to buy some South African music. I thought it was worth sharing with my readers.
(Musica generally does good adverts – a few years ago, one of their tv ads featured my friend Natalie’s bare bum in the shower – filmed through the opaque glass)
Thursday 28 June 2007
Glastonbury rocks!!!!!
So, I went.
And it rained.
And there was mud.
AND IT ROCKED!!!!
I love glasto – it is amazing. It is enormous – never quite imagined how huge it would be. Thousands of people, (177 to be exact) all having fun and partying and enjoying the music.
I saw the Killers for the second time (I can die happy twice now). As well as The Automatic, Babyshambles, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, The Marley Brothers, Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs, The Editors, Maximo Park, Manic Street Preachers, Amy Winehouse, The Bees, The Kooks, Rupert Wainwright.
And then there were all the less known ones, my personal favourites being - Shit Disco, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Slovo, Hedge Monkey.
I don’t know how to describe it properly, so hopefully the photos do some justice – but it was AWESOME despite the rain and the mud and the loos.
As I sit in my ironed shirt at my computer at work – I fondly look down at the bits of mud that I STILL can’t get out of my nails!
And it rained.
And there was mud.
AND IT ROCKED!!!!
I love glasto – it is amazing. It is enormous – never quite imagined how huge it would be. Thousands of people, (177 to be exact) all having fun and partying and enjoying the music.
I saw the Killers for the second time (I can die happy twice now). As well as The Automatic, Babyshambles, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, The Marley Brothers, Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs, The Editors, Maximo Park, Manic Street Preachers, Amy Winehouse, The Bees, The Kooks, Rupert Wainwright.
And then there were all the less known ones, my personal favourites being - Shit Disco, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Slovo, Hedge Monkey.
I don’t know how to describe it properly, so hopefully the photos do some justice – but it was AWESOME despite the rain and the mud and the loos.
As I sit in my ironed shirt at my computer at work – I fondly look down at the bits of mud that I STILL can’t get out of my nails!
Tuesday 19 June 2007
My corn on the cob
Due to popular demand (well, two out of the five people who read my blog), I am going to write a short post describing my new job.
I am working for Defra – the government’s department for environment, food and rural affairs, in their climate change team. I am part of CESA (climate energy science analysis) in the response strategies and greenhouse gas emissions group. Last week we hosted a workshop on achieving a Low Carbon Society (LCS), with people from all over the world, which was really interesting. I will stop there with the descriptions as this paragraph might end up in acronymical madness (see dave’s blog for a good acronym descriptive posting). But I think it is safe to say that in a few weeks time I will know the Kyoto protocol, UNFCCC, IPCC, Stern Report etc etc backwards.
The good news is that it is a wonderful mix of the science and the social. Obviously there is a lot of science involved; but then there is the actual influencing of policy, getting people to change behaviour etc. It is also an international topic, so the north/south differences are involved. A very good exposure to how all these issues play out in the real world.
So far I am really enjoying it and I think it will be a great experience (as long as I can keep it a secret that in the last year my airmiles have consisted of a flight to Norway, two flights to Malawi, one to Cape Town and one to Sri Lanka…..)
I am working for Defra – the government’s department for environment, food and rural affairs, in their climate change team. I am part of CESA (climate energy science analysis) in the response strategies and greenhouse gas emissions group. Last week we hosted a workshop on achieving a Low Carbon Society (LCS), with people from all over the world, which was really interesting. I will stop there with the descriptions as this paragraph might end up in acronymical madness (see dave’s blog for a good acronym descriptive posting). But I think it is safe to say that in a few weeks time I will know the Kyoto protocol, UNFCCC, IPCC, Stern Report etc etc backwards.
The good news is that it is a wonderful mix of the science and the social. Obviously there is a lot of science involved; but then there is the actual influencing of policy, getting people to change behaviour etc. It is also an international topic, so the north/south differences are involved. A very good exposure to how all these issues play out in the real world.
So far I am really enjoying it and I think it will be a great experience (as long as I can keep it a secret that in the last year my airmiles have consisted of a flight to Norway, two flights to Malawi, one to Cape Town and one to Sri Lanka…..)
Sunday 10 June 2007
The Good News and the Bad
The Good News – as of tomorrow, I will be gainfully employed again.
I’ve got a job. I will be earning money. It is one that sounds like it will be very interesting and will be good on the CV. I won’t be a delinquent daughter anymore.
I am very happy.
The Bad News – as of tomorrow, I will be gainfully employed again.
It is the end of my carefree student days. I will have to wear uncomfortable shoes. I won’t be able to walk along the South Bank at 2pm on Tuesdays. I won’t be able to sleep in until 11am if I want to. I won’t be taking library breaks with Anna, Sam, Rachel and Davina to have a cup of tea and do the crossword.
I am quite sad.
I’ve got a job. I will be earning money. It is one that sounds like it will be very interesting and will be good on the CV. I won’t be a delinquent daughter anymore.
I am very happy.
The Bad News – as of tomorrow, I will be gainfully employed again.
It is the end of my carefree student days. I will have to wear uncomfortable shoes. I won’t be able to walk along the South Bank at 2pm on Tuesdays. I won’t be able to sleep in until 11am if I want to. I won’t be taking library breaks with Anna, Sam, Rachel and Davina to have a cup of tea and do the crossword.
I am quite sad.
Friday 1 June 2007
I wanna breathe that fire again
The stars are blazing
like rebel diamonds
cut out of the sun
can you read my mind?
like rebel diamonds
cut out of the sun
can you read my mind?
Tuesday 29 May 2007
Some more music
Just a quick update on live music over the past week or so….
Monday 21st May – The Hilltop Hoods – Islington Carling Academy – Brilliant!
Australian hiphop – my friend Groova’s favourite band – from Adelaide.
My favourite line:
“I make origami of your lyrics”
“Geez that’s good – what is it?”
“It’s a swan”
Monday 28th May – Miriam Makeba – Trafalgar Square – Brilliant!
As part of the “Africa Day” concert, my friend David and I went to see “Mama Afrika” and her band (including her amazing 12 year great grandson on drums!!).
Unfortunately the weather wasn’t very African!
Monday 21st May – The Hilltop Hoods – Islington Carling Academy – Brilliant!
Australian hiphop – my friend Groova’s favourite band – from Adelaide.
My favourite line:
“I make origami of your lyrics”
“Geez that’s good – what is it?”
“It’s a swan”
Monday 28th May – Miriam Makeba – Trafalgar Square – Brilliant!
As part of the “Africa Day” concert, my friend David and I went to see “Mama Afrika” and her band (including her amazing 12 year great grandson on drums!!).
Unfortunately the weather wasn’t very African!
Thursday 24 May 2007
Oslo
So I went to Oslo. And it was fantastic :)
Diana and I went to visit Monica, who lives in Oslo. We were all in Malawi at the same time a couple of years ago.
After watching and enjoying the parade, we headed down to the docks for a polser (hotdog) and an icecream. We would later become addicted to polser.
The other museum held the raft Kon Tiki and the papyrus boat Ra II. Thor Heyerdahl, the Norwegian explorer sailed the balsa wood Kon Tiki from South America to Polynesia in 1947, and the papyrus Ra II from West Africa to the Caribbean to prove that there was contact between these places.
On the right is Ra II.
Diana and I went to visit Monica, who lives in Oslo. We were all in Malawi at the same time a couple of years ago.
After arriving late on Wednesday night, we were awakened on Thursday morning to a beautiful champagne breakfast. It was the 17th May - Norways National Day. Monica's friend Moona joined us for breakfast. Both looked gorgeous in their
national outfits.
national outfits.After breakfast we made our way into the centre of Oslo where the streets were packed with celebrating people, many wearing their national dress, which differs depending on where in Norway you come from. Moona had advised us that it was acceptable to stare at the men on national day. We didn't really understand what she was talking about until, while on the tube, a man walked on. The men's national dress is incredibly dashing - sort of Jane Austen style!!
There was a huge parade up the main street and past the palace, where the King and Queen waved from the balcony. Hundreds of school children were part of the parade, representing their school, as well as brass bands. There were flags everywhere and everyone was in great spirits.
On the right is Moni climbing over the rails in order to cross the road - not very easy in national dress! Note one of the dashing men looking on!!
On the right is Moni climbing over the rails in order to cross the road - not very easy in national dress! Note one of the dashing men looking on!!After watching and enjoying the parade, we headed down to the docks for a polser (hotdog) and an icecream. We would later become addicted to polser.
You can see on the left - the traditional mobile phone carriers.
Later on we went to a concert in the park where bands were playing. One of the bands was brilliant - so we had to buy the cd. To hear some Norwegian tunes - check out their myspace here
The next day we took a boat on the fjord to get to Bygdoy (pronounced Bigday) to visit some museums.
The next day we took a boat on the fjord to get to Bygdoy (pronounced Bigday) to visit some museums.The Fram museum (below - Aframe) houses the ship Fram, which sailed to the Arctic and Antartic around the beginning of the 20th Century. It is thought to be the strongest ship ever built and took some of Norway's most famous explorers, including Roald Amundsen. You could go onboard the ship. Absolutely brilliant museum.
The other museum held the raft Kon Tiki and the papyrus boat Ra II. Thor Heyerdahl, the Norwegian explorer sailed the balsa wood Kon Tiki from South America to Polynesia in 1947, and the papyrus Ra II from West Africa to the Caribbean to prove that there was contact between these places.
On the right is Ra II.
Below - we are enjoying the most delicious curry in Oslo :)
Later we went to Vigeland Park, which is, I think, the most amazing park I have ever been to.
Gustav Vigeland was a Norwegian sculptor who created the hundreds of statues in the park, some bronze, some stone, all in the theme of the "Human Condition". The expressions on the faces of the sculptures are beautiful.
Below is one of the most famous sculptures - a VERY cross little boy!!
Below is one of the most famous sculptures - a VERY cross little boy!!
The next day we went to an enormous ski jump on a hill overlooking Oslo, where we went on a ski simulator - woohoo! The view was fantastic. Later to the Munch museum (didn't manage to steal anything).
Thank you to the best Oslo tour guide ever xxxx
Wednesday 23 May 2007
:(
sorry liverpool - you were so the better team. kuyt's 89th minute goal was beautiful and alonso even did some ballet.
:(
:(
Tuesday 15 May 2007
I've cracked it
A plaice is a fish with scales, caught in a fishing net(work), providing someone with a livelihood.
Sunday 13 May 2007
Nil Points
Please bear with me while I despair – this won’t take long. I am having a why-on-earth-did-I-CHOOSE-to-go-back-to-uni moment...
There are three days left of this essay. I have started twitching and talking to myself. I feel like I have been in the library forever and the highlight of my weekend was the Eurovision Song Contest (could things get much worse?).
Why and how did I manage to choose this essay title? It must have been in a moment of madness. Basically, it is a case of talking about place (ie. EVERYWHERE), livelihoods (of EVERYONE), networks (how EVERYONE and EVERYWHERE are connected) and scale (what you find on fish), linking this all to the philosophical thought of the last few decades and making it coherent and interesting. And by the way – all knowledge is constructed, there are no truths, nothing is certain and it’s all about language and process. My brain is full. I feel like I have been chasing my tail for 2 weeks. AAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
OK, I have finished despairing. I will get back to work now.
Speaking of the Eurovision – for those of you who missed it… This year there was a marked decrease in men in white suits and an increase in vampy goth women in black dresses. As always, there was fake tan aplenty – Norway voted for Sweden, nobody voted for UK etc etc. The interval show had heavy metal cellists and an amazing trapeze artist. Low points – Ireland (bad karaoke) and Spain (Spanish version of Take That). High points - Ukraine’s silver drag queen, Terry Wogan’s commentary and my favourite – France in pink Jean Paul Gaultier – who unfortunately didn’t do very well.
There are three days left of this essay. I have started twitching and talking to myself. I feel like I have been in the library forever and the highlight of my weekend was the Eurovision Song Contest (could things get much worse?).
Why and how did I manage to choose this essay title? It must have been in a moment of madness. Basically, it is a case of talking about place (ie. EVERYWHERE), livelihoods (of EVERYONE), networks (how EVERYONE and EVERYWHERE are connected) and scale (what you find on fish), linking this all to the philosophical thought of the last few decades and making it coherent and interesting. And by the way – all knowledge is constructed, there are no truths, nothing is certain and it’s all about language and process. My brain is full. I feel like I have been chasing my tail for 2 weeks. AAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
OK, I have finished despairing. I will get back to work now.
Speaking of the Eurovision – for those of you who missed it… This year there was a marked decrease in men in white suits and an increase in vampy goth women in black dresses. As always, there was fake tan aplenty – Norway voted for Sweden, nobody voted for UK etc etc. The interval show had heavy metal cellists and an amazing trapeze artist. Low points – Ireland (bad karaoke) and Spain (Spanish version of Take That). High points - Ukraine’s silver drag queen, Terry Wogan’s commentary and my favourite – France in pink Jean Paul Gaultier – who unfortunately didn’t do very well.
Saturday 12 May 2007
Happy Birthday Weather!!!
Today my beautiful sister turns 30!
Below is a sonnet which my mum wrote about Heather (clever mum!). Have a happy birthday Heath – wish I could celebrate with you xxx
JPD
Below is a sonnet which my mum wrote about Heather (clever mum!). Have a happy birthday Heath – wish I could celebrate with you xxx
HEATHER
A special day dawned 30 years ago,
And into this amazing world of ours,
With mountains, valleys, oceans, trees and flowers,
Arrived a baby. Mother said “I know
This child is much more beautiful and fair
Than any other baby ever born.
All other mothers must feel quite forlorn
Because their new-born babies can’t compare!”
Throughout the 30 years that have gone by,
This babe has grown in beauty and in strength,
And we know she will go to any length
To do what’s right and she will always try
To help a friend in need. Oh lucky me!
To have a loving daughter such as she.
JPD
Thursday 10 May 2007
Albatross in WC2
This morning, as I approached the library, I stepped in the most enormous bird poo I have EVER seen.
As I continue my assignment, I trust that coming into contact with the aforementioned from the bottom up brings the same fortune as top down, and hope that it is does not bring the opposite…..
As I continue my assignment, I trust that coming into contact with the aforementioned from the bottom up brings the same fortune as top down, and hope that it is does not bring the opposite…..
Tuesday 8 May 2007
Memories of Taipei
Last Thursday, my friend Kindrah was in London for 12 hours on her way to Botswana from Canada.
I met Kindrah and her husband Stewart when we were teaching English in Taiwan about five years ago. My flatmate Cara accosted Kindrah on the MRT (Taipei’s underground) and they became friends. Kindrah and I started chatting at the Laundromat in ShirDa and before we knew it we would all be spending most of the next 7 months together, along with Stewart, Sean, Anthony and a wider circle of friends.
As we walked around the sites of London (she had ONLY crossed 5 times zones and ONLY had another 11 hours on a plane – so I felt a five mile walk was in order) we reminisced. As the day wore on, we realised how bizarre our stories sounded and it made me want to document some of the experiences that I never wrote about at the time…
I met Kindrah and her husband Stewart when we were teaching English in Taiwan about five years ago. My flatmate Cara accosted Kindrah on the MRT (Taipei’s underground) and they became friends. Kindrah and I started chatting at the Laundromat in ShirDa and before we knew it we would all be spending most of the next 7 months together, along with Stewart, Sean, Anthony and a wider circle of friends.
As we walked around the sites of London (she had ONLY crossed 5 times zones and ONLY had another 11 hours on a plane – so I felt a five mile walk was in order) we reminisced. As the day wore on, we realised how bizarre our stories sounded and it made me want to document some of the experiences that I never wrote about at the time…
Sean, Cara and I lived in a little apartment, which we named the hovel. It was both wonderful and slightly revolting at the same time - down a little muddy alley, at the top of some concrete stairs. Every evening old ladies would do tai chi to special tai chi music outside our minute balcony which resembled a cage. We could squeeze up to four of us on the balcony for a sundowner and a smoke. We were very good friends with the smelly cat who lived in the alley. I can’t remember what we named her - she had one eye and half a tail.
About a month into living there, the bathroom light died – it had started sparking when the shower was turned on, so we decided that candles were the way forward. Cara pointed out how candle light was very complementary and enhancing to one’s showering silhouette. We bought paint for the walls and by mistake (the shop keeper didn’t speak English), we bought glossy acrylic and ended up with shiny peach walls.
The hovel was not exactly the Ritz but we were in the coolest part of town – ShirDa – the student area.
Kindrah and Stewart also lived in ShirDa – in a MUCH posher place. The funny thing about their apartment was that it was above a dentist surgery and in order to get to the apartment, you had to walk through the surgery and wander past the dentist treating his patient. The dentist was a lovely man – you could never see his mouth as he was wearing a mask, but could tell by his eyes that he was smiling broadly as he waved at us filing past. The patient wouldn’t be smiling.
We were there over Christmas and decided to organise a Christmas party. We ended up having it at Curria – the Indian restaurant in ShirDa. We knew the owner and he did a deal for us. A certain amount per head, a wide range of curries and he threw in a bottle of tequila (his idea). So it was Christmas at Curria - rather different from my usual Christmas celebrations - Canadians, Americans, Taiwanese, South Africans and a Malawian eating curry in Taipei.
New Years Day was spent (slightly jaded) at our friend Brantley’s house for a special Southern tradition (Brantley came from Savannah, Georgia) – black eyed beans and collared greens, which represents money for the year ahead.
The stories go on. Hitchhiking through Taroko Gorge (made of marble) – we never had to put our thumbs out for more than a few minutes before being picked up by a kind driver. Celebrating Chinese New Year (the year of the Ram). Visiting the museum (can’t remember its name) with the world’s largest collection of Chinese art and artefacts rumoured to be the reason why China didn’t bomb Taipei. The pride and glory of the museum was – a jade cabbage? Asparagus? spring onion? Can’t quite remember but it was tiny and (in my opinion) not nearly as impressive as most of the other stuff. Art…..
We had an amazing stationary shop round the corner and it became my obsession. I had the most gorgeous kids in my class, and they would roll out their sleeping bags after lunch for a nap. It was unbelievable how fast they learned English. I went to see Sean’s four year olds doing a production of “The Snowman” for their Christmas play.
There was a Seven Eleven almost on every corner – and I lived off their tea eggs. The night markets were unreal. We played badminton on top of a hill that emerged out of Taipei. The rubbish collection truck played a special tune to let you know that it was going past. I once tried a step class at my gym – I never realised how difficult it would be to follow it in Mandarin!
I remember being on the back of my friend Rocky’s scooter, flying through Taipei to the immigration department – I had managed to overstay my visa and had to do a visa run to Hong Kong, which turned into a bit of a group trip. When we got back Cara had managed to get proper wall paint and had painted our hovel and put pictures up. It looked beautiful.
Kindrah and I couldn’t help but feel that we were so much more sensible now - our lives getting less and less random and chaotic. Becoming more planned and organised. More to think about. Not so much rushing into situations without much consideration. It was wonderful to get all the memories back, but a little sad to think a situation like that would probably not happen in the near future. But that’s OK. I guess we always have a mid life crisis to look forward to.
PS. With the recent bout of long-winded waffling posts, you may be suspicious. Yes I have a big assignment due in next week. But I feel that this last post is very relevant to my essay about place, livelihood, networks, scale, globalisation, glocalisation and one-eyed cats ;)
Sunday 6 May 2007
A Musical Monologue
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music”
Aldous Huxley (1894 – 1963)
One of my favourite things about living in London is the live music. If you wanted to (and were financially able..), you could watch a different band playing every night for the rest of your life.
In the last three months I’ve been to see three bands courtesy of three dear friends, that were brilliant (four, if you count the sixteen year olds playing at the bowling/diner/karaoke place for Tova’s farewell).
Last week I went with David to see Lucky Dube at the Elephant and Castle Coronet. Awesome. If you have never heard of him, he is a South African Reggae artist. He is one of the South Africa’s most toured artists and “the only South African artist to have a record signed to Motown Records”. For more fun facts, check out his website here. The atmosphere was wonderful – the feeling one can only get at a reggae concert. I had had a particularly weird weekend, and meeting my old friend David, and relaxing to the tunes made life feel good again. Lucky had a large band playing with him who were great, in particular the three ladies singing. I had seen one of them singing in a jazz bar in Cape Town before. Vibrant in bright colours, beads, and voices like angels. The lyrics are incredibly powerful too.
Shepherds Bush Empire, about a month ago, my friend Anna had got tickets to see Ozomatli, for her birthday and she invited me along. I had never heard of them before. Both of us were feeling quite tired and almost didn’t go. I’m so glad we did. Within minutes we were loving it. I don’t know how you would fit this music into a genre – there’s about 9 of them; one minute it is rap, then reggae, then Latin American influence, then Middle Eastern all interspersed with messages of social justice. They were having SO much fun – just loving the music, the audience and atmosphere. The Empire is now one of my favourite venues – perfect size, great ambience. We made friends with the people next to us and I saw the biggest hair I have EVER seen. If you haven’t ever heard of Ozomatli – please check them out – they’re awesome and their website is right here.
Two months ago - Wembley Arena - The Killers. When my friend Mark told me that he had managed to get tickets, I almost feinted. So I got the best birthday present in the world. They have been on my top five list since Hot Fuss came out three (?) years ago. I remember listening to them all the way from Scotland to London driving with my sister (remember Heath?). I am going to put a video in now, the quality is not very good but every time I watch it I get shivers down my spine (one day I will have a good quality video on my blog). It was phenomenal.
So…. Why is it that music touches us so deeply? How can it be so powerful?
Now please understand, this is a rhetorical question; I do not want an answer. Undoubtedly, there have been studies that have reduced the power of music to some psychological theory. Deconstructed the phenomenon; attributing it to some evolutionary explanation. And I don’t want to know.
I rather want to marvel at the power of music.
I rarely feel an emotion that can rival listening to a favourite song. Music makes me run faster and further. It can make me cry. It makes me feel like I can conquer the world. It brings back the most vivid memories – Nirvana at high school, The Cure at boarding school, Henry Eight at Uni, Ben Harper driving across America etc etc etc.
Some days I can ABSOLUTELY NOT listen to any music whatsoever. Some days only Mozart will do. Others, it’s Tracey Chapman. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to stop on the stairs going up to my flat to air drum Green Day after a night out. I will never get bored of jumping up and down at 3am, with my old flatmates, to the dance version of Mr Brightside.
And I love seeing the effect on other people. The dance group at the mall in Portsmouth all ages, shapes and sizes, enjoying the sun and jiving to New Order’s Blue Monday (this does bring in the sub-category “dance” which I can’t really go into now). My friend Groova at his decks mixing. My friend Matthieu mixing on his mac.
About 8am one Sunday morning in Lilongwe a few years ago. I had got home at 5am and had had a few carlsbergs the night before. Suddenly, with sound to rival the Royal Albert Hall, I was awakened. My mum was up and happy to be alive, ready to enjoy her Sunday morning with music. It was something to rival Rachmaninov - this is your cue to finally comment on my blog mum, and correct me. While it didn’t make me smile at the time, I love looking back on it and laughing.
Ok, I will stop rambling. That’s enough for a Sunday morning in London.
If music be the food of love, play on. Actually, even if music isn’t the food of love, please play on anyway.
Aldous Huxley (1894 – 1963)
One of my favourite things about living in London is the live music. If you wanted to (and were financially able..), you could watch a different band playing every night for the rest of your life.
In the last three months I’ve been to see three bands courtesy of three dear friends, that were brilliant (four, if you count the sixteen year olds playing at the bowling/diner/karaoke place for Tova’s farewell).
Last week I went with David to see Lucky Dube at the Elephant and Castle Coronet. Awesome. If you have never heard of him, he is a South African Reggae artist. He is one of the South Africa’s most toured artists and “the only South African artist to have a record signed to Motown Records”. For more fun facts, check out his website here. The atmosphere was wonderful – the feeling one can only get at a reggae concert. I had had a particularly weird weekend, and meeting my old friend David, and relaxing to the tunes made life feel good again. Lucky had a large band playing with him who were great, in particular the three ladies singing. I had seen one of them singing in a jazz bar in Cape Town before. Vibrant in bright colours, beads, and voices like angels. The lyrics are incredibly powerful too.
Shepherds Bush Empire, about a month ago, my friend Anna had got tickets to see Ozomatli, for her birthday and she invited me along. I had never heard of them before. Both of us were feeling quite tired and almost didn’t go. I’m so glad we did. Within minutes we were loving it. I don’t know how you would fit this music into a genre – there’s about 9 of them; one minute it is rap, then reggae, then Latin American influence, then Middle Eastern all interspersed with messages of social justice. They were having SO much fun – just loving the music, the audience and atmosphere. The Empire is now one of my favourite venues – perfect size, great ambience. We made friends with the people next to us and I saw the biggest hair I have EVER seen. If you haven’t ever heard of Ozomatli – please check them out – they’re awesome and their website is right here.
Two months ago - Wembley Arena - The Killers. When my friend Mark told me that he had managed to get tickets, I almost feinted. So I got the best birthday present in the world. They have been on my top five list since Hot Fuss came out three (?) years ago. I remember listening to them all the way from Scotland to London driving with my sister (remember Heath?). I am going to put a video in now, the quality is not very good but every time I watch it I get shivers down my spine (one day I will have a good quality video on my blog). It was phenomenal.
So…. Why is it that music touches us so deeply? How can it be so powerful?
Now please understand, this is a rhetorical question; I do not want an answer. Undoubtedly, there have been studies that have reduced the power of music to some psychological theory. Deconstructed the phenomenon; attributing it to some evolutionary explanation. And I don’t want to know.
I rather want to marvel at the power of music.
I rarely feel an emotion that can rival listening to a favourite song. Music makes me run faster and further. It can make me cry. It makes me feel like I can conquer the world. It brings back the most vivid memories – Nirvana at high school, The Cure at boarding school, Henry Eight at Uni, Ben Harper driving across America etc etc etc.
Some days I can ABSOLUTELY NOT listen to any music whatsoever. Some days only Mozart will do. Others, it’s Tracey Chapman. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to stop on the stairs going up to my flat to air drum Green Day after a night out. I will never get bored of jumping up and down at 3am, with my old flatmates, to the dance version of Mr Brightside.
And I love seeing the effect on other people. The dance group at the mall in Portsmouth all ages, shapes and sizes, enjoying the sun and jiving to New Order’s Blue Monday (this does bring in the sub-category “dance” which I can’t really go into now). My friend Groova at his decks mixing. My friend Matthieu mixing on his mac.
About 8am one Sunday morning in Lilongwe a few years ago. I had got home at 5am and had had a few carlsbergs the night before. Suddenly, with sound to rival the Royal Albert Hall, I was awakened. My mum was up and happy to be alive, ready to enjoy her Sunday morning with music. It was something to rival Rachmaninov - this is your cue to finally comment on my blog mum, and correct me. While it didn’t make me smile at the time, I love looking back on it and laughing.
Ok, I will stop rambling. That’s enough for a Sunday morning in London.
If music be the food of love, play on. Actually, even if music isn’t the food of love, please play on anyway.
Friday 4 May 2007
Messing about with posts
OK - so I have decided to become a web designer.... Check what I have discovered...
This is a link to another web site.
Now hold your mouse over it and see what comes up...
Apologies for this post - it is more of an experiment - but I am having fun :)
This is a link to another web site.
Now hold your mouse over it and see what comes up...
Apologies for this post - it is more of an experiment - but I am having fun :)
Wednesday 18 April 2007
Up in the ivory tower
OK – so before you think I've got ahead of myself academically, I am not actually talking about the proverbial ivory tower. I am LITERALLY in an ivory tower. Well, its not really ivory – more limestone.
I am in study carrel 5, fourth floor clock-tower, Maughan Library, Chancery Lane. I am in the prime location carrel (with sunshine and a view). You have to get here before 9am to score this one – especially as exams are coming up. On the photo above, my windows are the two on the left – second from the top of the tower.
With one week left before a big assignment is due, I have banished myself to the tower. Books and papers surround me, my pencil case is full, no distractions, conditions are perfect for a productive day. But then there is always my blog………….
I am in study carrel 5, fourth floor clock-tower, Maughan Library, Chancery Lane. I am in the prime location carrel (with sunshine and a view). You have to get here before 9am to score this one – especially as exams are coming up. On the photo above, my windows are the two on the left – second from the top of the tower.
With one week left before a big assignment is due, I have banished myself to the tower. Books and papers surround me, my pencil case is full, no distractions, conditions are perfect for a productive day. But then there is always my blog………….
Below are the views I have. At least I have lovely views from my prison tower.
Friday 13 April 2007
Can I see some ID please?
Emotions felt, when buying booze, and the cashier asks for ID...
17 yrs old - devastated
18 yrs old - triumphant (as you produce the ID)
23 yrs old - annoyed
28 yrs old - BRILLIANT!!!!
I got asked for ID when buying a bottle of wine at Sainsbury's yesterday - beautiful!
17 yrs old - devastated
18 yrs old - triumphant (as you produce the ID)
23 yrs old - annoyed
28 yrs old - BRILLIANT!!!!
I got asked for ID when buying a bottle of wine at Sainsbury's yesterday - beautiful!
Tuesday 3 April 2007
Glastonbury II
After a traumatic morning involving many hours of sitting in front of my computer refreshing the screen, with my landline on one ear, my mobile on the other – my dear friend Groova eventually managed to get us all tickets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There’s going to be about 15 of us, there’s going to be tents, there’s going to be (hopefully a bit of) sun, there’s going to be (hopefully not too much) mud, there’s going to be beer, wellies, music, dancing, and much festivities all round. I just can’t wait.
Below is a photo of Glasto 2005 – hahahahaha – I really hope this doesn’t happen to us :)
There’s going to be about 15 of us, there’s going to be tents, there’s going to be (hopefully a bit of) sun, there’s going to be (hopefully not too much) mud, there’s going to be beer, wellies, music, dancing, and much festivities all round. I just can’t wait.
Below is a photo of Glasto 2005 – hahahahaha – I really hope this doesn’t happen to us :)
Sunday 1 April 2007
Tuesday 27 March 2007
If
With less than 24 hours left before another essay is due in, I have decided to post a poem that I wrote a couple of months ago. I wrote it the day before a big essay was due in. Luckily tomorrows essay is not as big and important, so I am not feeling quite as desperate......... (hopefully you know the original)
If
(with sincere apologies to Mr. Kipling)
If you can keep your head when all around you
Are papers, books and half-drunk cups of tea
If you can trust yourself when doubt enfolds you,
That your argument is contradictory.
If an “outing” is a visit to the kitchen
If a “treat”s a game of online solitaire.
If you fail to recognize you in the mirror
As your red and bleary eyes look back and stare.
If you can stay awake and not be tired,
Or, being tired, don't give in to sleep,
Or, being awake, don't give way to hating,
And yet withstand the temptation to weep;
If you can quote - and not make these your master;
If you can think - and make those thoughts your own;
If you can turn to friends when in disaster
And waste a half an hour on the phone;
If you can make one heap of all the theories
And throw in a few of them - just for show,
And grapple with “reductionist” and “localism”
And decide on whether or not to quote Foucault;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To keep your sanity when reality is gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can bear to read the words you've written
And check the spelling, et al’s and ibid
Put your student number on the top right corner
And remember – omit your name or God forbid!
If you can fill the last possible minute
With sixty seconds' more of your conclusion -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And you’ll have handed in your essay - my son/daughter! (gender emphasis added)
If
(with sincere apologies to Mr. Kipling)
If you can keep your head when all around you
Are papers, books and half-drunk cups of tea
If you can trust yourself when doubt enfolds you,
That your argument is contradictory.
If an “outing” is a visit to the kitchen
If a “treat”s a game of online solitaire.
If you fail to recognize you in the mirror
As your red and bleary eyes look back and stare.
If you can stay awake and not be tired,
Or, being tired, don't give in to sleep,
Or, being awake, don't give way to hating,
And yet withstand the temptation to weep;
If you can quote - and not make these your master;
If you can think - and make those thoughts your own;
If you can turn to friends when in disaster
And waste a half an hour on the phone;
If you can make one heap of all the theories
And throw in a few of them - just for show,
And grapple with “reductionist” and “localism”
And decide on whether or not to quote Foucault;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To keep your sanity when reality is gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can bear to read the words you've written
And check the spelling, et al’s and ibid
Put your student number on the top right corner
And remember – omit your name or God forbid!
If you can fill the last possible minute
With sixty seconds' more of your conclusion -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And you’ll have handed in your essay - my son/daughter! (gender emphasis added)
Sunday 25 March 2007
Sizwe Banzi is Dead
Last Tuesday night, some friends and I went to see ‘Sizwe Banzi is Dead’ at the National Theatre.
If you haven't heard of it, the play was first performed in 1972 in Cape Town, written by a white South African playwright, Athol Fugard and two black South African actors, John Kani and Winston Ntshona, who played the two lead roles. They then took the play to London where it won the London Theatre Critics award for the best play of 1974 and has become one of South Africa's most important plays. The play explores the effects that controls such as the 'pass law' had on South Africans during apartheid.
The extraordinary thing about the production we saw was that it starred the original actors John Kani and Winston Ntshona playing their parts, 35 years after the first performance. They were phenomenal. I wonder how many times they have performed the play. They wrote it when they were affected by the oppressive laws that the play addresses. Writing the play was an act of defiance against the cruel apartheid regime and they have seen the play becoming an icon of the struggle. They have also seen South Africa become a democracy. Their performance was full of passion and you can tell that this play is part of them. I feel privileged to have seen them.
As I sat on the top deck of the bus going home after the play, I thought about some of the questions the play generates.
Questions of autonomy. How important is my name? How important is my identity? And for what would I give it up?
Also of freedom. I have had it all my life. I can go where I like. Do what I want. I have never had to question it. But this is not the case for many people all around the world. Oppressive regimes continue. And I shouldn’t take my freedom for granted.
I am going to take the easy option and end this post here. I don’t have any groundbreaking comments to say about this issue. All I can say is that I am thinking about it and where my role lies in the bigger picture. If nothing else, I at least aim to not be ignorant about what is going on and what has happened in recent times.
And if you haven’t seen or read the play, please do. It is brilliant.
Wednesday 21 March 2007
You have entered wedding season
About three years ago it started. Wedding season. My friends began to get hitched. From thereon in, things would never be the same. And I don’t mean that my friends changed after getting married, I mean that I had to start planning my life months in advance around the various weddings to make sure I could attend. Now please understand, I am not complaining at all. Considering the last two weddings I went to were in Sri Lanka and Cape Town, it has been fantastic!
Now weddings are great places to observe fellow human beings and probably my favourite part is the dancing. The couple are married, the speeches are over, the guests have been fed, and everyone is finally relaxed and the real fun begins. There’s the shy, quiet guy from table 3 who turns out to be a demon on the dance floor, the old uncle who dances with every young girl in succession. And no matter what people’s music taste is outside of weddings – jazz, punk rock, classical – suddenly everyone’s favourite song is Bryan Adam’s “Summer of Sixty Nine” or any Abba track.
My first video on the blog is from a wedding I went to about a month ago and it is one of my favourite videos. The evening is coming to an end, there are probably only a dozen songs left to be played, everyone has had a few wines and is feeling quite happy with life and slightly tired after a long day. What I love about the video is how each person is in their own little world, doing their own little dance, happy to be in the circle (or not quite in the circle) but not taking any notice of anyone else and the song is an absolute wedding classic. I can watch this video over and over as it just makes me laugh each time. Unfortunately it’s come out a bit dark. Enjoy!!
Now weddings are great places to observe fellow human beings and probably my favourite part is the dancing. The couple are married, the speeches are over, the guests have been fed, and everyone is finally relaxed and the real fun begins. There’s the shy, quiet guy from table 3 who turns out to be a demon on the dance floor, the old uncle who dances with every young girl in succession. And no matter what people’s music taste is outside of weddings – jazz, punk rock, classical – suddenly everyone’s favourite song is Bryan Adam’s “Summer of Sixty Nine” or any Abba track.
My first video on the blog is from a wedding I went to about a month ago and it is one of my favourite videos. The evening is coming to an end, there are probably only a dozen songs left to be played, everyone has had a few wines and is feeling quite happy with life and slightly tired after a long day. What I love about the video is how each person is in their own little world, doing their own little dance, happy to be in the circle (or not quite in the circle) but not taking any notice of anyone else and the song is an absolute wedding classic. I can watch this video over and over as it just makes me laugh each time. Unfortunately it’s come out a bit dark. Enjoy!!
P.S. When I posted this video on youTube, the site directed me to some other videos of dancing at weddings, and it led me to believe that perhaps the weddings I have been to have been quite tame. Below are my personal favourites. If any of you are at inclined towards wasting a bit of time on youTube, please have a look – you won’t be disappointed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYgTBRbhw0M&NR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPmYbP0F4Zw&mode=related&search=
Monday 19 March 2007
Notes from the field Part 1: They call it Facebook
(while studying my class, complete with lab coat and clip board)
I have come across an interesting phenonemon. It is widespread,but only among my younger classmates, and it is EVERYWHERE. Computer screens across the nation.
On the home screen it advertises itself as "Facebook is a social utility that connects you with the people around you." After a tour given by a classmate (one of the younger ones..) I can tell you about it - you give yourself a profile: name, age, origin, sexual preference, education, history, favourite books, favourite food, favourite movies, favourite quotes. You can add friends and look at their profiles. You can look at who your friend's friends are, you can see which friends you have in common. You can post messages, form groups, arrange events, add photos. And there is news: this tells you what your friends are doing, where they've been, who've they've met, who just broke up with who..
I don't think I shall comment on this today.
I have come across an interesting phenonemon. It is widespread,but only among my younger classmates, and it is EVERYWHERE. Computer screens across the nation.
On the home screen it advertises itself as "Facebook is a social utility that connects you with the people around you." After a tour given by a classmate (one of the younger ones..) I can tell you about it - you give yourself a profile: name, age, origin, sexual preference, education, history, favourite books, favourite food, favourite movies, favourite quotes. You can add friends and look at their profiles. You can look at who your friend's friends are, you can see which friends you have in common. You can post messages, form groups, arrange events, add photos. And there is news: this tells you what your friends are doing, where they've been, who've they've met, who just broke up with who..
I don't think I shall comment on this today.
Tuesday 13 March 2007
The unbearable lightness of blogging
So,
I think I should expand on the theme of my blog….
Last Thursday was International Women’s Day and thanks to my friend Anna, I attended a panel discussion, entitled “Women’s Rights in the age of insecurity”. The panel included, amongst others, Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development, and Noerine Kaleeba, co-founder of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) in Uganda, whose husband died of AIDS and who now lives in Malawi and is the director of the Funder’s Collaborative for Children, which helps children in Malawi grow up free from the burden of HIV and AIDS. Areas discussed included: the impact of neoliberalism on women’s rights, religious fundamentalism, stigma as a form of violence.
So what relevance is this to my blog?
Well, in September I started a Masters in Environment and Development, which, obviously, explores the issues of, yes, environment and development. And I am learning about how social issues such as politics and economics affect people’s lives, how the environment fits in to this all, globalisation, social networks, gender, community etc etc etc.
I am on a quest to become a social scientist. And with my background in science, I am finding the transition incredibly interesting. (I am also in the Geography department, which is wonderful - I've always loved maps and my dad loved geography).
Part of the masters involves research and to get us into the spirit of human observation, we had to perform a “participant observation exercise”, which involved sitting on the bus and recording what went on. (I was lucky enough to have an eventful journey as a woman fell down the stairs – oh dear, what have I become). In our methods class we are looking into such questions as what constitutes knowledge and reality, what is taken for the truth, how can research ever be objective when a human (the researcher) is involved? Epistemology, ontology etc.
So………. This blog is practice. Practice in observing MY world and recording it. Observing the actions of people around me (and my own actions) and MAYBE drawing some conclusions. And, as a lecturer of mine says “embracing the subjectivity”.
I should probably get back to that assignment that is due tomorrow, now that I have tried to justify my blog existence. Ask me in a couple of years what I am doing, I will probably be studying dentistry.
I think I should expand on the theme of my blog….
Last Thursday was International Women’s Day and thanks to my friend Anna, I attended a panel discussion, entitled “Women’s Rights in the age of insecurity”. The panel included, amongst others, Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development, and Noerine Kaleeba, co-founder of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) in Uganda, whose husband died of AIDS and who now lives in Malawi and is the director of the Funder’s Collaborative for Children, which helps children in Malawi grow up free from the burden of HIV and AIDS. Areas discussed included: the impact of neoliberalism on women’s rights, religious fundamentalism, stigma as a form of violence.
So what relevance is this to my blog?
Well, in September I started a Masters in Environment and Development, which, obviously, explores the issues of, yes, environment and development. And I am learning about how social issues such as politics and economics affect people’s lives, how the environment fits in to this all, globalisation, social networks, gender, community etc etc etc.
I am on a quest to become a social scientist. And with my background in science, I am finding the transition incredibly interesting. (I am also in the Geography department, which is wonderful - I've always loved maps and my dad loved geography).
Part of the masters involves research and to get us into the spirit of human observation, we had to perform a “participant observation exercise”, which involved sitting on the bus and recording what went on. (I was lucky enough to have an eventful journey as a woman fell down the stairs – oh dear, what have I become). In our methods class we are looking into such questions as what constitutes knowledge and reality, what is taken for the truth, how can research ever be objective when a human (the researcher) is involved? Epistemology, ontology etc.
So………. This blog is practice. Practice in observing MY world and recording it. Observing the actions of people around me (and my own actions) and MAYBE drawing some conclusions. And, as a lecturer of mine says “embracing the subjectivity”.
I should probably get back to that assignment that is due tomorrow, now that I have tried to justify my blog existence. Ask me in a couple of years what I am doing, I will probably be studying dentistry.
Thursday 8 March 2007
Panic on the streets of London.....
Panic on the streets of London
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
And I worry............
What future is there for a neoliberal world, a consumer society, where have our values gone, will there be enough ice for the polar bears, will the poorest continue to get poorer, does aid do more harm or good, will the fatcats ever cease their unfair agricultural subsidies, is our world turning into a desert, does fair trade work, should i buy coffee from starbucks...
But above all, I worry... about this blog... will it reflect who I am, will it properly reveal my IDENTITY, will I be judged, will big brother find out my secrets, will it be used against me when i am president, will my friends laugh at me...
And I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again?
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
And I worry............
What future is there for a neoliberal world, a consumer society, where have our values gone, will there be enough ice for the polar bears, will the poorest continue to get poorer, does aid do more harm or good, will the fatcats ever cease their unfair agricultural subsidies, is our world turning into a desert, does fair trade work, should i buy coffee from starbucks...
But above all, I worry... about this blog... will it reflect who I am, will it properly reveal my IDENTITY, will I be judged, will big brother find out my secrets, will it be used against me when i am president, will my friends laugh at me...
And I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again?
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