Blair

One (kind!!) friend gave me Tony Blair's 'A Journey' for Christmas. I'm reading it - I'd never have bought it. It's a book which is both engrossing and offputting at the same time. There is an awful lot of repetitious waffle in it, but it has the authentic tone of the man, and one can't help feeling he's really put pen to paper, however much it probably is ghost-written. It is, of course, massively self-justifying but also occasionally (disarmingly) honest(-sounding).

I find myself asking, have I misjudged this man? I honestly had got to the point where I couldn't bear the sight or sound of him. I feel, even just looking at the photo on the cover, he must have a screw loose to allow such a disconcertingly unnatural image to appear on his autobiography. He is worrying, when you do know something about the subject, for example what he says about the railways post-Hatfield as being in effect too risk-verse for his assessment of the political situation (not a direct quote - my summary) makes the blood run cold.

But he is effective, and passionate, and rational, about his own great cause - modernisation; he is engaging about his mistakes (e.g. the move to ban foxhunting); he is analytical and probing about issues he encounters, e.g. the relationship between Islam and Christianity prior to 9/11. That's as far as I've got.

A mystery wrapped in an enigma?

Christmas

Well, the marathon of seven services in 2 1/2 days is past - and it was very enjoyable! Christingles and Family Communions seemed relaxed and happy.

Family has been good, all three children (and Si) here at once: and the Panto was amazing (see Facebook page). Gotta stop this now as we need to sort out the TV!

"all my mind needs"

Coming back from a clergy meeting this afternoon, which had been down at the Ferry Inn (last ferry departed about 1287 AD), I thought I'd take a quick hike up Chapel Bank to the old graveyard there. It was dramatic weather, bitterly cold and grey, but with a redness to the higher sky that was casting shadows and adding an acidity to the colours. The view from the top is always worth it. Truidged the first field through mud, over a bridge alongisde another field where two swans rested: then up the bank itself. Looking down I could see a big digger clearing out drains, one of which ran straight toward my position. Two men stood by it, one wearing high-vis, one not: I thought, if I'd got thsat job with the Environment Agency I went for, I'd probably be the guy in the high-vis. Then on up to the top, to the Sinden trees and the view beyond over Appledore to the Marshes. A diiferent kind of high-vis? Looking back, I realised a bank of darker weather was coming inn fast from the west, and I hurried down, just a few spots of water on my glasses. Glad I did it.

Jesus the Evangelist, Jesus and Politics

Having just finished 'Jesus and Politics' (see below), it occurs to me that about a year ago I read a book which, while on a different subject, took a very similar approach: 'Jesus the Evangelist' by Robin Gamble. In a way, Robin's book is slightly more unusual, because I don't know of another with the same scope and focus; Alan's book, while exciting and original, does cover ground others have explored, though Alan is much more incisive.

Anyway, as I write, I don't have Robin's book to hand - it's in New Romney - but I realise rather suddenly that each book to some extent needs the other. And the picture of Jesus which emerges is gripping, exciting, fresh, contemporary, informed, and has been a blessing to me in the last twelve months. Thank you Alan Storkey and Robin Gamble!

Good News!

One bit of good news I am delighted to share - today I rode my bike only 2 1/2 miles but it's the first time since June when I was taken ill (apart from the one time I tried in August and ended up with a paramedic treating my cut head). Hallelujah!

Education, Politics

Today the Government's Education White Paper was published. We're still digesting it and trying to work out how it affects both Anne and I in our jobs. I'm doing so in a context - still reading 'Jesus and Politics' which is a tremendous gutsy review of Jesus life, principles, ministry and everything that has happened since; and also having taken up rather at random the 'Very Short Introduction to Habermas'. I first read Habermas as a 70's student, and his subtle, difficult but accurate analysis of the way we live has stayed with me.

Into that mental mix Michael Gove throws his white paper. I want to say 'yes' to so  much he aims at; yet I wonder whether the system can deliver it, or these methods. A conversation this morning in a (great) coffee-shop in Tenterden with a colleague "education should enable children to fully discover who they are before God, and respond to his love and promises". Habermas didn't think that - but his analysis tells me that is the optimum way forward for lost humanity. I hope we can make space for it in this new dispensation.

A Special Meal

Off to Church Thursday for an Agape (A-ga-pe) (Greek for 'Love')(not erotic love)(that's enough brackets) Meal. It was  really good. The catering team put in immense effort! See Picture...

Remembrance

Remembrance Sunday is always an important one. The community of Bethersden stood together in pouring rain and remembered; the little cubs, brownies, beavers and rainbows looking soggier by the second. Fortunately the church was good and warm and I kept the sermon short in the hope they wouldn't catch a chill.  The realities of life and loss seemed combined and it was healthy. But, just as 70% of the UK population say they are Christian but only 5% or so attend church, so, too, the statistical truth is - most people weren't there, either at the Memorial or in Church. I think we have to be careful - the greatly increased coverage of Remembrance which Tony Blair seemed to energise is good, but we mustn't make it a test of a point of view. In a very new-Labourite way, the poppy seems almost to have been "rebranded" - (I'm not sure about this but what do others think?) , and the rise of the new charity 'Help for heroes' somehow suggests the poppy brand isn't working for everyone. It needs to. It's always most moving to see the politicians of all parties joining together at the Cenotaph; and Remembrance Sunday needs to be open to all. Which I believe it was at Bethersden. In a commercial world where everything is differentiated by brands and preferences, what is a unifying theme for us all as a nation?

I finished "The Vicar of Morwenstow" (see posts below) last night. In a strange way, the account of the eccentric Richard Hawker's controversial death (did he convert to Roman Catholicism or not?) has a similar disturbing quality. Having branded himself firmly as a mystical Anglican in his cliff-top parish, why did he accept those last rites of Baptism, Confirmation and Unction - against his 'brand'? I think he ceased to function mentally and his wife pushed him into it! The only reason for caring is the Remembrance Sunday question: how much does it matter what the symbols mean? What was the unifying theme of Hawker's life?

Ready for Change

It's all been out in the public domain for a few weeks now that we are leaving Bethersden and High Halden in January to take up a new job as Assistant Diocesan Director of Education (Schools Organisation). Whilst feeling great excitement about the new work, both just as an interesting thing to do and as a vocation, I also felt very guilty about leaving this job so soon.

But people have been marvellously kind and supportive. One said 'remember we are all grown ups' which was good; another said 'no way should there be a burden of guilt when you follow the Lord's leading' and I've taken that to heart. I want now to do the best job I can for the Benefice; and I think I've come to recognise my ministry has been what is recognised elsewhere as 'Interim Ministry'. In fact, it was that concept that we based the Wakefield 'Turnaround Team' projects on; and it's well-supported in Canada particularly through the Alban Institute and elsewhere.

Having just found deep strength at the monthly Prayer Meeting, I sense that the leaders of the Benefice are embracing the future positively. There is much yet to take shape in terms of Deanery reorganisation for the Benefice, and my own preparation for my new role (which must begin now in part because the current post-holder will retire before I start). Borne up by prayer, I think it will all work out well...

Food and Family; labyrinthitis and reading

It's been a week of great meals out: fantastic pub lunch with clergy at the Stone Ferry Inn Thursday; great fish boona from the Rajah of Kent yesterday; and today a slightly belated birthday lunch with Mum and Charlie and families at Raffles in Cranbrook. Each day I've really been unable to eat a third meal; shameful really.Kate, Luke, and Ellie joined us back at Charlie's house and it was a pleasure to be with them too.

The week stated badly with labyrinthitis really kicking back in - linked as usual to some poor nights' sleep - but, better rested, I now feel 200 times better and almost symptom-free. I have a hope maybe this is the final fling of it but I can't tell. It's five months since I was hospitalised with it so I reckon, on average, I'm about due to be well again.

One pleasure of our week in Suffolk was catching up with David and Gillian Shacklock in Debenham - a very fine lunch in a very fine house, enjoying our coffee in the gallery that has been there since it allowed spectators to watch Shakespeare and the Kings Men perform in the courtyard below. Better still, it is a house with a built in secondhand bookshop which David presides over. I remembered he collected works by Sabine Baring Gould but didn't think I'd buy one until I found SBG's "The Vicar of Morwenstow". Anne and I visited Morwenstow once on a sunny day off when Tom and Claire were tiny and picnicked on the hillside overlooking the church and the Vicarage with its eccentric chimneys (each is built in the miniature of the church towers where Harker the Vicar had ministered). Anyway, the book is highly entertaining and has many anecdotes which we enjoy for their Victorian humour, clerical eccentricity, and Cornishness. Great bedtime stuff.

 And today I took delivery of 'Jesus and Politics' by Alan Storkey. Those who appreciate the work of AS know the kind of treat I am in for - to my shame I didn't know he'd written it - it came out in 2005 just when I dropped out of paid ministry for my 'self-funded sabbatical' on the RHDR. Read the first 40 pp tonight: well worth it for the background material on Herod alone.

Talking of books I spent much of Friday sorting (and clearing) out books at New Romney ready to reintegrate the library from Bethersden. Found many old friends - including Edersheim's 'Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah' which AS quotes - and also 'Eeyore's Little Book of Gloom' from which I quote to close:

Sharpen your Bluntness:
"I've got a sort of idea," said Pooh at last, "but I don't suppose it's a very good one"
"I don't suppose it is either," said Eeyore

A note for RHDR followers

It's a fortnight now since I drove Hurricane for a day on the 'Purple' timetable. Turning up at 8am to light up, I was worried she'd be cold, as according to the roster she hadn't been out all week, but evidently there had been a fusible check and water change the day before and - I'm glad to say - either hot water had been used or she'd been warmed through. I had my first taste on the footplate of the magnificently overhauled Dr Syn (just to chuck the fire out but that was enough). Thrilled to find the double regulator had been retained; love the livery but very sad because it's the livery I had hoped No9 might get when she comes back. She was black lined yellow the first time I saw her - I've an old photo from a slide (just realised it's not on this hard-drive - I'll try and upload it on Monday) - notice the pipe going into the chimney, part of the experiment with oil-firing going on then - but she looked superb. I wonder what livery she will get now?

And I had a fantastic day, very lucky with the weather. The road hadn't been checked, so it was a 10mph crawl out to Dungeness - at one point much slower because the rail up to Half Mile Curve was dreadful - and I do mean 10mph as I don't know how you can spot an open joint from a steam loco going any faster (I'd been told there had been two such the previous day). Anyway, all was well, and I decided my challenge would be absolute minimum coal usage. At one point I tried too hard and was losing steam and water; but No8 seemed on good form, steaming steadily at 170psi and not 150 as used to be normal.

I took advantage of the last long break at Dungeness to clean the top off thoroughly, saving time back at Romney and enabling me to do a thorough job underneath, and tube properly - when disaster struck and I caught the blower ring with the rod and bent it about four inches out of alignment. It wouldn't sit back properly and I had to leave an apologetic booking in the Repair Book.

Political Aristocracy

Pondering on politicians - we have married partners in Cabinet, a battle between two brothers for leadership of Labour... surely there is a bigger gene pool of talent out there to draw on? Is this healthy? Reading (I shall probably give up -it's very dull) Douglas Hurd's 'Memoirs' - his father was also a Tory MP. I was DH's constituent for a while, he was an excellent MP, answering my student letters of protest in longhand, courteous, considered.

Anyway, I recently finished Diane Purkiss's The English Civil War: A People's History and now I muse, after our incredible history, what kind of democracy have we achieved? A very strange one, I think - a good one, but weird and wonderful. Like so many things in British life, if you started with a blank sheet of paper, you would not design this: but haviung got it, we tinker with it at our peril. We all await the promised civil liberties legislation, promnised by the Coalition to restore freedoms eroded under the last government. I'm afraid I'm cynical they will happen - but it would be best they do as the only historically verifieable method by which the British populace have made their elected governments accountable is protest, riot, or war. All very undesirable. So come on, political aristocrats - do your democratic duty.

Art and Caesars

Travelled to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at UAE Norwich today. Big grey building, impressive footbridge. Art collection arranged rather loosely, but fascinating when very modern art (Bacon, Picasso) juxtaposed with very primitive artefacts (up to 4000BC). For example, a Giacometti figure next to a female idol. Then, after a good lunch, into the 'Surrealist Friends' exhibition - not thrilling, some interest downstairs.

Meanwhile reading 'American Caesars', fascinating vignettes of all the post-war US Presidents. One or two amazing things - Carter lost to Reagan because Reagan fixed the Iranians release of the hostages, i.e. the US election was decided in Tehran!

Blog returns to life

I am planning to return to more regular blogging here in the next few months. I will aim to include a mix of personal reflection, book reviews, and occasional snippets from the RHDR.
I have zeroed the statcounter to start again. For tyhe record it was at 1543 when I reset it.


For starters, Gary showed me how to produce wordles. Here is one produced from the text of the book of Revelation: