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!