Full Moon

I took the above photo from the back of the house where I work, last night. There was a very bright and full moon as you can see which was quite spooky. I did this partly in response to Yahoo 360 team tag "What I see from my window". Well, its not quite from the office window, but is a view from my workplace

I've always found the luner cycle to be something that clearly affects moods in us, be that heightened happiness, sadness or anger. My theory on this kinda goes along the lines of the moons gravity increasing blood flow in the body. This, in my view, possibly increases brain activity. For me, it no surprise the events that occurred last night with that young lady were partially as a result of a full moon. I also think this ties in with the legend of the Werewolf - an increases in madness , lunacy so to speak. Hmmmmm moon=luna=lunacy. Yes, I seem to remember seeing something about this on TV at some point in the past.

I'm clean out of scribbles for the moment. Are folk still interested in these? I'm writing something about school days at the moment and its quite long and will need splitting into sections if I post it here.

Last minute addition. Instead of a scribble. I'll play the tag game as found on Elly's click here page. 5 songs that will make me cry.

"Drive" from "The Cars" - simply because of the harrowing scenes from Live Aid in the 80's
"Nessum Dorma" from the opera "Turandot" by "Puccini"
"Still" The Commodores
"Nothing compares to you" Sinnead O'Connor
"Imagine" John Lennon - when its heard at the end of the film "The Killing Fields".

Comments

(12 total)

Nice photo Marty.....Moods swings under lunar is well dicussed.Infact not proved.But it is scientifically proved that gravity of moon on us will be less then gravitation influenze by a fly..hmmmmmmmmm

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 09:12PM (IST)

I agree, I always seem to be in a bad mood when there's a full moon (I'm being serious here!)

Sunday 8 October 2006 - 02:45AM (VUT)

Ever see "An American Werewolf in London"? I love the way they use songs with the wor "moon" in them. Every time I hear "Blue Moon" I can't help but think of that movie.

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 11:01AM (CDT)

I fully understand what oyu say about the moons cycles and have read lots of research into this. Here, because we are in a different position to the UK in relation to space, we see the moon differently at times, I will try to capture what I mean next time as hard to describe. But nothing has ever beaten the view of the stars when seen from Sydney Australia, I had never seen the Milky Way with such clarity, I had to go outside almost every evening and just look for ages, absolutely amazing sight, I could pick out many of the star patterns,( can't recall the correct name for them) Doh! As long as I live, I will never forget the sight..

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 05:22PM (BST)

Marty, Great post.
I also believe there's a lot to the lunar cycles and that there are conditions that cause physiological changes. That was interesting stuff.

As for your question, I do like your scribbles and read them with interest. I am trying to reclaim things from my past so I like to see what others come up with as it jogs my memory as well.

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 12:52PM (EDT)

Ooo, perty picture there! I love full moons!!! Very beautiful things to see, especially when the sky is a dark blue or twilight! I love it when the scene is like that!

& scribbles are always good to read, Marty! I'll definately give them a read! *smiles* take it easy!

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 05:57PM (BST)

Just to add..:)
Plz refer
http://skepdic.com/fullmoon.html

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 10:35PM (IST)

Marty, I'd tend to see the lunacy but the very way you do. I've personally experinced this and observed this in a lot of people I know from close quarters.
As to your scribbles, I wonder why you wonder!

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 11:28PM (IST)

read but as 'bit'...

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 11:29PM (IST)

I Love the moon's cycles. Full moon at home is wonderful, like daylight especially January February; kids stay out for hours, no one sleeps.

Sunday 8 October 2006 - 08:43PM (CEST)

This is Chinese Moom Festival.

Monday 9 October 2006 - 07:34AM (CST)

Oh the songs you picked.. oh my! Yes.. all great songs but very gut wrenching.. as you know I can relate with the Nothing compares to You.. and I use it when relating to a great loss for me such as in my sisters passing and serious heart break...

I love the pic of the moon.. what a great spooky backdrop pic.. !! :)

Monday 9 October 2006 - 01:06AM (CDT)

Typical Friday night

Well thats another night shift nearly over. It was mainly a very quiet night apart from summut that happened just before midnight. Typical Friday night situation in any urban area I guess.

One of our lads asked me to call an ambulance because a young girl he knew was very drunk, shouting, collapsing and had hit her hand against a wall or something. In fact she had managed to get herself half way in the front door of the building. She seemed to be going in and out of consciousness, but was really quite abusive when I asked her anything. The ambulance came by and said her hand was ok (superficial cut knuckes) and that she was just very drunk. There was no way she was going to accept any help. The girl was in a right state with no shoes on and she had clearly wet herself too.

A big crowd of young people came by eventually. She had been drinking with them and it appeared she had had far too much vodka. They were all drinking in the street and were very loud. In the end, I persuaded our lad to come in because there was nothing more we could do for her. She disappeared somewhere else about 10 mins. later.

Its really sad to see all this. The girl was probably only about 16. I'm still wondering if she is OK now. Its not exactly warm now and its not as if she was waring any warm clothes. Still, I did what I could to try and help, but there was no way she was going to accept any help. The picture above pretty much depicts what she was like (without the sword of course).

Here is another scribble for today....

Smoking in the office

The shipping agents office I worked in during a year or so in the 1980’s was on the second floor right opposite Ramsgate harbour. We had view over the marina area from the window. The office comprised of 2 rooms. One with a telex machine in it and the other was the main office with 2 telephones, desks either side, four seats and a manual typewriter at each workstation. We had steel wastepaper bins that were about 2ft high (for some reason, but then scrapping documents was something we did frequently).

My boss Ray (whom I’ve written about before) was a fairly heavy smoker. Back in those days, there were far less restrictions on smoking, so there would be a haze in the office most days. One particular afternoon, I was working away at some shipping documentation that I have my full attention. Ray was on the phone to the area manager, leaning back in his leather “captains” chair tugging away at his cigarette and flicking ash in the waste paper bin (which really annoyed me). Whilst concentrating on my work, I heard an unusual clicking sound. I looked round at Ray and noticed yellow flames leaping out of the bin behind Ray’s head, no more than an inch or so away from his curly black hair. The bin was fully alight, but Ray was totally oblivious to this with the phone receiver glued to his ear.

“Ray, RAY!!!” I shouted.

He glanced at me with those accusing penetrating eyes, angry that I was interrupting his very important telephone call to his boss.

“RAY! YOU BIN IS ON FIRE!”. He looked round, panicked, and said, get a glass of water from the kitchen. Before he had finished this sentence, I had grabbed the C02 fire extinguisher, which he grabbed out of my hand and sprayed at the bin. This resulted in singed fragments of paper to fly up into the air and float down around us all over the little office. It put the fire out, fortunately, but we then spent the next 10 minutes clearing up the mess. Well, it didn’t put Ray off smoking, but I think he was a little more cautious afterwards when smoking. Why he wouldn’t use the ash tray, I’ll never know.

Comments

(10 total)

Hmmmmmmmmmm, Marty. I think you did all you could for the drunken girl, but I can't help thinking that she might have got herself even deeper into trouble. A young girl in that state is an easy target in the night ... Did her friends seem trustworthy or were she in reality on her own with strangers? Well, a difficult situation for you, Marty. Love, EC

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 09:13AM (CEST)

Isn't it horrible when a stranger affects your life and they won't even remember you in the morning.
Last week i was in bed about 01:30 and i heard screams from outside, it wasn't the usual drunken sat night scream, i really thought a woman was being attacked...rightly or wrongly i throw on my clothes and ran outside, a few other neighbours (id never met before) had also come outside, it turned out some girl called Lisa had finished with her boyfriend and he was following her up the road and she was screaming at him to leave her alone....she stormed off accepting no help in her drunken state and her b/f continued to follow he. I don't know how this story panned out because to be honest i really didn't know what else to do other than follow them home (that wasn't going to happen) but i spent the rest of the night thinking 'oh my god what if i read shes dead in the paper tomorrow', i know it sounds dramatic but these days with the binge drinking you just know the trouble these young girls can get into.xxx

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 09:36AM (CEST)

I guess you did everything you could for that young lady and drew the line when you needed to - and that doesn't stop the human being in you wondering what happened. You did good Marty. sleep sound.

hugs
steph

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 09:26AM (BST)

Marty the picture of that young girl is very disturbing indeed.

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 03:17AM (PDT)

My god Marty that blog brought quite a few horrible memories back to when my daughter was once drunk in the street and one day I may blog about it....Fortunately for her we got tipped off picked her up and took her to casualty. The youth of today are bored and have nothing else better to do than experiment with drink or drugs it is becoming a real problem. I do hope that the young girl was ok also You did what you could in the circumstance. I was surprised that the ambulance men didnt call the police though as they have the power to arrest on a sec 136 ( to detain for own safety or safety of others)...xxx

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 11:18AM (BST)

Wonderful song/vid, one of my favourites...It is such a pity youngesters feel the need to act in this fashion when it comes to alcohol. Most of us have been drunk at some time, but I see from the news clips on TV, the scenarios that go on in every major town and city most nights when the pubs close. Its sad that they simply don't realise the danger they are in and the long term abuse they are doing to their bodies, its not just in the UK that this occurs, Spain ahs a similar problem in the large towns and cities but not quite to the extent of the UK. I am suprised the ambulance crew didnt do something more though, in that condition she was a danger to herself, she could have easily passed out somewhere and choked on vomit, doesnt bear thinking about, very sad indeed that youngsters feel the need to behave in this way..

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 11:26AM (BST)

I guess this is the thing with me. I have a vivid imagination. I'm sure the girl would be ok, its juts that I wonder if something was to happen to her such as choking on vomit, I wonder how I'd feel about that. I heard on the radio news coming home this morning that there was a fair amount of trouble in Margate last night with some people ending up in hospital, so its no surprise the the ambulance service were a touch stretched. I guess they have to prioritise.

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 03:00PM (BST)

Your story takes me back to one New Years Eve...There was a lot of roudie shouting and singing in the street as usual around midnight....I looked out of my bedroom window as I was closing the curtains about to go to bed...and there was a man laid out in my front garden!...I thought this was a bit strange...but expected he would get up and be on his way shortly...But when I got up in the morning and opened the curtains he was still there!...I decided to put the kettle and make a cup of tea...and then go out and see if he was alright and maybe wanted a hot drink...only to find a moment later he had gone...and was quite happilly just walking down the road!

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 04:07PM (CEST)

Very saddening for that young girl....

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 08:19AM (PDT)

I am so surprised that the ambulance did not call for the police since it was obvious this was a minor.. locate parents and have them pick he up from the station.. public intox or something? You are right though, anything could have happened to her and I myself would have woried as well regardless if she wanted my assistance or not!

As far as the smoking boss.. what are the smoking laws there in public facilities, I really do not know.. and I am curious as to how they differ if they do to ours... your boss was lucky you did say something.. he would have not been so pleased had he caught his hair on fire or worse!
Great post!

Monday 9 October 2006 - 01:13AM (CDT)

Rain

Seems to have been non stop rain here today. Christine has just come in from picking Kara up from school and is soaked through to the skin. Ironically, the rain has now cleared and there is the first sight of blue sky and sun today.
I've stayed in all day today chilling out for a while before I start nigth shift tonight. I've even spent a little time reading this afternoon up in the bedroom and then had a little afternoon snooze. I've really noticed how much cooler it is today. Like my 360 mate Kevin, I find dull, wet weather gives me a bit of a meloncholy mood.

I've made one or two comments on David Camerons blog site and made a couple of blogs there myself. No direct responses yet and I'm not holding my breath. He has though, done some interesting video blogging about his trip to India. Interesting stuff around environmental issues.

OK, So here's another of my usual scribblings... yet again.

Graffiti

Sally Line was the ferry service from Ramsgate to Dunkerque, France during the 80’s and 90’s. The port of Ramsgate was the area I worked as a shipping agent clerk at that time. For the most part, the shipping offices and other buildings were pre fabricated “Portacabins”. They were not the best places to work, being far to hot and stuffy in the summer and freezing cold in the winter despite the little electric heaters on the walls. Very few had kitchen facilities and the loo’s for port workers were in another mini cabin on the port.

Like most public lavatories, albeit for staff, or maybe in particular for this reason, the walls attracted a lot of graffiti. This graffiti was generally very witty and mostly puerile humour aimed at other workers and in particular at management of the port.

Every few weeks, a tradesman would be brought in the whitewash the walls, only for the graffiti to come back with vengeance over the next few days. This went on for quite a number of months until finally, a wipe board and pen was fitted to the wall with instructions that anyone could continue to write what they pleased from that point onward, materials and tools duly provided.

Its amazing how the psychological mind works because I never saw any more graffiti on those walls any more. I guess it just took away the daring and the challenging of authority. I think it says something about manipulating behaviour.

Comments

(9 total)

Amazing that someone would take the time and energy to find such a tiny tiny piece of information as that - I wonder how many hours it took to find that...

there is no guessing what lengths we humans will go to...

;O)

steph

Friday 6 October 2006 - 04:09PM (BST)

that rain you spoke of? Its called skulies rain....it rains while the kids are going to, or comming home from, skule, then once they are inside and clear of the rain, it stops, but if you was to send them outside again, it would start to rain again. Stupid , hey..........
And as for grafitti in the dunny's, dont know who does such a terrible thing... but heres one of my all time favourites....
I wish I was a diamond ring,
upon a ladies hand,
Coz every time she wiped her arse
I would kiss the promised land......

Friday 6 October 2006 - 08:28AM (PDT)

or the old toilet tennis look left...and on the other wall look right......or there is a hole in the wall, someone draws a bum and legs, bent over, around the hole, and asks what did the boss eat for breakfast.....

Friday 6 October 2006 - 08:31AM (PDT)

Rain promised and it cheated...LOL

Friday 6 October 2006 - 09:43PM (IST)

awwww horrible - Pete you really are good at toilet humour.....

;o#

Friday 6 October 2006 - 09:12PM (BST)

great blog. roof leaking here, kitchen and first floor landing a nightmare day........

Friday 6 October 2006 - 09:41PM (BST)

There's been heavy rain and gale-force winds here all day. Actually got a window open so I can listen to the rain while I'm online. The sound is very relaxing, I find.
Funny vid, I bet the person who did it was cursing the loss of resolution at high-magnitude. LOL.

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 01:43AM (BST)

oh no rain, I dont want to move to England anymore lol!x

Saturday 7 October 2006 - 12:55PM (CEST)

Rainy days make me lazy! Or maybe I use that for my excuse.. it is always when it rains I come up with ... "man.. if it wasn't raining I would......" LOL!

Monday 9 October 2006 - 01:17AM (C

A better day at work

I've had a better day today with a lot more focus ON work too. I've not been so tired and managed to get a decent amount of support work admin. as well as quality time with my clients today.

I've not much else to blog tonight other than my usual scribbing....

Brahms and Lidzt – cockney rhyming slang for getting drunk or “Pissed” as its referred to very often.

There has only been one occasion when John and I dated the same girl. In fact it was the first girl I went out with when I was nineteen. When we split up and I told John about this, John was not dating at the time and was looking for some female company to go out with in the evening. So I introduced John to Julie. Their first (and I believe only) date was a treasure hunt organised by one of the local pubs. Basically, this involved being given a list of clues with some loose directions. Each participant then drove their car round the route given (all the local villages) in an attempt to find the clues. The winner was the first person to successfully complete the course and answer all the clue questions. We used to call it a car rally for some reason.

John took Julie with him to navigate and I can remember John telling me about one particular clue he could not get. They had come to one particular junction on a country road where there was a lamppost that was leaning to one side in a somewhat “drunken” fashion. The clue on the sheet was “Brahms and……..” John simply didn’t get it, not being familiar with cockney rhyming slang. Julie, however DID get it but felt too embarrassed to tell John for fear of offending him. I laughed when John asked me what is was all about and explained to him the significance of the clue. I also phoned Julie about it and both had a good laugh at embarrassing situation that occurred.

Comments

Hi Marty, fun little story. I'm glad your feeling better mate, the coming up is allways a lot nicer than the going down isnt it.

Thursday 5 October 2006 - 09:40PM (BST)

Sooooooo by theend of the weekend, you should be back on top.......
Whats with all you poms, one gets sick, ya's all lay down" ooooohhhh I feeeellll sooooo pooooorrlly", is it just sympathy for eachother???
rolloing on the floor, pissinf myself laffing loud[and copping strange looks off Ginger nuts again]....

Thursday 5 October 2006 - 10:16PM (BST)

Marty, I went on some of those rally/treasure hunts years ago. They were great fun, but the organisers always made the clues so obscure, no-one ever found the treasure!!! LOL.

Thursday 5 October 2006 - 10:33PM (BST)

Marty, it's good to hear that you are feelin better and smilin again! the story was cute, I don't think i understood all of it, but then again I am american, we don't get much unless it's explained to us in great detail and 3 or 4 copies are made to explain it! haha!
the music was good as well, ta!
keep smilin Marty, you have every reason to! x

Friday 6 October 2006 - 02:55PM (BST)

Hei Marty.

We used to have those 'Treasure Hunts by Car' in Ireland and the fellow you plotted the routes did nearly get lynched 'coz he did 'em sooo hard! Love the hunts, though.

Me bad: typo - should be, of course 'fellow WHO plotted...' not you!!

Oooopsy blondi-moment there! Just like that, what came over me. =))))

Friday 6 October 2006 - 07:59PM (CEST)

Odd dreams and stuff

I really felt sorry for a daughter (Dawn) today. She had been working hard on some needlework for college homework (studying childcare). Last night, she felt she'd made a mess of it and re-started it with mums help. This went on till past midnight. Its was a "Touch and feel" bag for children. Christine phoned me at work today to tell me not to say anything about it coz the teacher was'nt too impressed with it. Dawn was really tearful. As a parent I really feel for her because I know how much effort she put into the work.

I'm still getting some odd dreams lately. I don't always remember them, but wake up in the morning in an anxious state. This morning however, I remembered what I'd been dreaming. It was about conflict from an old job (motor trade) years ago. I know I need to work through this in therapy. I have my first proper appointment on Monday.

Anyway.... enough of all that emotional stuff... here is todays scribble.... another little old story from my past....

Liebfraumilch is a sweet white German wine. The name is a German word literally meaning "milk of our blessed mother" and derived from "liebe Frau" which translates to "beloved woman/lady".

Another pub experience.

John has been a close friend of mine since school days. He is a successful guy who has achieved a lot professionally but has always kept his feet on the ground and never forgotten his friends. He comes visit me 3 or 4 times a year and we always pop out to the pub to reminisce about our past and have a good laugh.

One particular evening, John arrived a little late to the pub where a few of us were meeting. As he arrived at the bar, I asked him what he would like to drink. John’s brow furrowed as he glanced down the length of the bar at the various ales on offer (being the sort of guy that like to try out different minerals, as he would always say). “What’s that Leibfraumilsh?” he asked and before I had a chance, the barman said “You’d like Leibfraumilsh?” to which John replied. “Yes pleased, I’ll have a pint of that please” I have burned in my memory, the double take and confused shock on the barman’s face when asked to pour a pint of white wine. Poor old John never lived that one down!

The video, my dear friends today is my favourite track from the 80's group "UB40". A bit of a gospel touch to this that kinda got me into liking the gospel style. "Many Rivers to Cross". Here's a question for you non Brits out there. Why did the group call themselves UB40?

Comments

(15 total)

Lol nice little story Marty. I feel sorry for your poor daughter its terrible to see our children unhappy, the good news is of course is it doesnt get any better when they get older lol. Good luck with your counselling I'm sure it will help.

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 10:06PM (BST)

I know I'm a brit babe but the answer is " they were all on the dole " And my heart goes out to your daughter it is awfull when we put our hearts into something that goes unappreciated, it leaves us with such a sense of failure. BUT and this is a big but, she has 2 wonderfull parents who will rebuild the confidence that the teacher stripped from her.... May I say what is wrong with a pint of wine??? I often polish off a bottle on my own lol. Finally babe take care of you and be sure to tell all at your therapy session fingers crossed it will bring you some peace from the dreams...xxx

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 10:07PM (BST)

Marty what an awful teacher! I represent parents in my borough on the education committee and i am always appalled when i hear stories like this, its not the end product but the work, effort and thought that goes into it! The teacher could have offered some advice on maybe what ur daughter could have added to make it more user friendly, but to critise is extremely unprofessional.

I've just started therapy and i'm finding it a path to self discovery, i'm not saying its making my life suddenly wonderful but its helping how i am feeling. So, good luck Marty! :) ~hugs~ x

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 10:33PM (BST)

U.B. 40= Jeez Marty, please, make your questions more of a challenge, this I can type blindfolded and spell it correctly.....When they first got together, they were all unemployed, and thats where the band name comes from...UB40 is the number at the tpo of the unemployment benefit form one hands in the be paid their benefit......

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 03:02PM (PDT)

Hey Marty, funny story about John.
You picked a GREAT song there. I love the classic reggae version by Jimmy Cliff and UB40's version is also fantastic.
Your question was very easy Marty, but then it would be for me. Firstly, I come from the same area of Brum as some of the guys in the band. And of course, you know which line of work I am in.........LOL.

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 11:25PM (BST)

lol cute story :o)

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 06:36PM (CDT)

Hmm, just an idea, but to get her own back, have your daughter check the curriculumn requirements on the course online, do some work on what she has to do to meet the requirements outside the class. If then teacher still is out of hand, she has a case. I had a teacher that just hated me, no matter what I did, when I succeeded in that subject (by researching it on my own) on my own back, I had so much more self confidence.
I am not a brit, but I have been here enough years I know what the dole is knock wood, never had to use it yet though, but I have only been here eight years.
Great blog. And thanks for your kind comments on mine.
Hope your day goes better tomorrow. Kick the lurgy out and have a great friday and weekend!!!

Thursday 5 October 2006 - 12:39AM (BST)

it's horrible when your kids have worked hard on something and a teacher seems to dismiss it out of hand, especially if they can't work out where they went wrong. I'm sure that her 'touch and feel' bag was delightful and the teacher just got out of bed the wrong side. good song. i don't listen to them often now, but when i was married to my first husband 'labour of love' was the one album, yes a real old fashioned vinyl album, that we each had a copy of, when i left i forgot to take any of my records, but it didn't matter cos when i got married again my 2nd husband had it too.

Thursday 5 October 2006 - 12:47AM (BST)

Great story? Video is the best??

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 09:36PM (ADT)

Marty, sorry your daughter's efforts went unacknowledged. It would certainly seem to me that such a project would have a wide range of acceptable, even creative, possibilities. Good she has you. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to do enough catching up on your blog to know that you were having such a difficult time. Therapy certainly can help, more so if the therapist is a good match. I tried to convince my brother of this at one point. There are many therapists out there, and even though they are not supposed to, they bring their own point of view and personality. If you don't get what you need from this one,keep looking. And keep blogging and talking to people. Surround yourself with positive people and politely decline spending too much time with those who bring you down and really sap your energy. (minilecture, sorry!) Best of luck with that anyway. Enjoyed the pub story. Maybe one day I'll enter one of those British pubs and all will become clear.

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 09:45PM (EDT)

Determination is something women have in their bag of tools to get through raising stubborn children, keep the faith, your daughter might not need counselling for her emotions, but rather it is through these laborous pains that ideas of women are born...

Thursday 5 October 2006 - 06:43AM (EDT)

Wonderful reading, as usual mate! btw, what IS this "Leibfraumilsh"?

Thursday 5 October 2006 - 09:30PM (IST)

I recall Claire going through much the same thing, teachers, it seems, don;t always know how to deliver feedback. When I worked, I always delivered it as a 'shit sarnie', excuse the language, but started with soemthing good, the delivered the bad bit, but always ended on a good again, that way no one feels totally demoralised but both parties have still delivered and received the feedback, very rarely did I ever have to deliver totally negative feedback, but it seems teachers are not taught that one....They manage people yet often have no people management skills...

As for dreams, I have been having very vivid dreams over the last few weeks, in colour, the colours being the memorable things about them. usually I just dream and remeber dreaming only once or twice a week, but the last 3-4 weeks it has been virtually every night I am being able to recall dreams. I have no idea, alcohol is not involved as rarely have any, just the odd glass here and there, and dont smoke and not on any medication, so dont know if its because there's almost a detox or what?..

Thursday 5 October 2006 - 07:31PM (BST)

Re the therapy - don't go with a pre-prepared script Marty, try to go in and speak what you feel "right now" and it may be that what is begging for attention is what you thought - the anxiety dream. Jot the most memorable parts down - the things that stand out to you. It may or may not be that the counsellor will be able to work with your dream, depends what "flavour" of therapy they have studied... (s)he may be a trainee and not experienced in dream work (don't forget that right now is a time when new counsellors are taking up their placements to build up hours, to fulfill their Diplomas - so you may be seeing a trainee!) and there is nothing wrong with that either - they will be being supervised and be in therapy too. They should introduce themselves as a trainee in your first session. Just think to yourself about what was going on around the time of your dream, what might have sparked the dream - AND remember you can finish it off for yourself in a way which leaves you feeling safer - not analysing it at all - just speaking it in your head or writing it down - that way you can lose the anxiety.. As to Dawns problems, all you can do is support, as you well know, you can't "do the work" for her - perhaps its about getting her to sit down and have a good chat with the tutor about where things went wrong, better for her to "finish the unfinished business" around her work, than walk about feeling sad\angry\resentful about it. It then leaves a place of open communication between the two of them..

Friday 6 October 2006 - 01:13PM (BST)

I love UB40.. I had their cd stuck in my car for a good year.. could not get it out for nothing.. didn't try so hard though, just tweezers, and a few other things till I did finally pull the whole player out and take it apart and remove it.. and all for what.. sold the car and bought a truck.. now from all the digging at it, it is all scratched up.. I have to remember to replace that.. heck.. I haven't bought any new cd's in a very long time.. good excuse now.. lol!
Oh, and never knew the history on them either in the orginating of the name.. cool!

Monday 9 October 2006 - 01:41AM (CDT)

3rd Part Alpha

OK folks,

I spotted on someone else blog yesterday, a reference to David Cameron (leader of the Conservative Party in the UK) is now blogging/vlogging. Purely as an experimental exercise, I have decided to link up to his website for this. I pretty cynical about politicians in general, but I thought I'd sign up to the site and ask some interesting questions of this guy regarding who he "really" is. I guess this is to see if it is possible for him to blog in a "feelings" and soul bearing way that many of us here do. I don't for any one moment expect to see him doing this, simply because of the position he is in. Politicians, I guess, cannot afford to show any vulnerability. I just thought it would be interesting, considering the responses I have got from people, to imagine how he would be perceived if he were able to blog in this sort of way. Who knows, he might even join 360! (probably under a pseudonym)
Well, I have college this afternoon, then church group tonight.

Here is (final) part 3 Alpha........

from yesterday....

I was wasted with tears pouring down my face.

continued.......

Next morning was time to return home. Everyone embraced each other like a close family. When I got home I was tremendously excited. Although I was still not entirely sure what I believed, I knew I had experienced something very special indeed. It was just like falling in love for the first time. Peter said to me recently that he noticed a real change in me that weekend (something very common for folk after an Alpha weekend). He said that I stopped talking about my depression. It was still there but most of it had lifted from me. After that weekend I had so many answers to prayer. Wonderful things started to happen: -

I met a guy on a train coming home one night who was down and out. I felt so much compassion for him that, for the first time in my life, I said “God loves you”. This guy responded so well. He sat with me for a long while and chatted. I actually told him I would pray for him. Something else I’d never have done before.

A week or 2 later, I went to church in Canterbury one morning (the church that ran the Alpha course). I only decided to go at the last minute. I hated my job in London. On this morning, someone announced some new jobs (my ears pricked up). This was about the project where I now work caring for young homeless people. Immediately, thoughts came to my mind about the guy I’d met on the train. Right at that moment, aged 39, God revealed to me my vocation in life. After years of drifting from one failed career to another, I now knew clearly what work I wanted to do, to help people in dire straits. Even my depression had meaning. If gave me the ability to understand the pain others were going through.

God has shown me the way and I made my commitment to him. The love of God is the only truly free gift in the world. It brings joy, contentment and peace.

A word of warning though and to balance the above statement; in my view, things only start to go wrong when “religiosity” and mans pride gets in the way. Also, the moment we start to rely on religious leaders in our midst and (sometimes without realising it) forget to rely on the BIG G, things will start to go wrong. Man is fallible. Only God is infallible.

Comments

(10 total)

Amazing !

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 08:47AM (EDT)

First off, {{MARTY}}
Second, your Alpha....well done!
Third, I could never see a politician of any kind blogging, haha! It's too much like being a real person. Politicians are as bad as lawyers.
keep smilin Marty! x

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 02:09PM (BST)

Maybe you should suggest he join our little group on here Marty lol. Your writings about the alpha course have been very interesting mate although I do not believe I am in a place where I would go on one for the moment but regarding your last statement, well I couldnt agree more, perfectly put.

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 03:17PM (BST)

I would have to imagine that a politician would only be blogging (under his real name) to get a sense of what the vastly unheard population might be thinking and saying, perhaps to slant his campaign or perhaps, more nobly, to truly try to address some of the issues that normally get lost in politics. I say toss him some hard questions and invite everyone to view his responses. Perhaps this could be the beginning of politicians with conscience and accountability?!! Wouldn't that be something...forge that frontier.

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 10:51AM (EDT)

Hmmmm.....a politician blogging?? No, sorry....that doesn't work for me. We all know how skilled they are in the art of lying, or at least distorting facts to their own agenda. I'm afraid I wouldn't believe a word they wrote.
Thanks for your story about how you found Alpha and how it helped you to find (or rediscover?) God. I keep meaning to write a blog from my own perspective on faith and belief, but keep avoiding it. Mainly because it's such an emotive subject and I'm afraid of accidentally offending someone.

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 06:50PM (BST)

Mitch - I think that so long as you remain respectful and honest, I doubt anyone would be offended by what you write regarding faith. Take a look (if have not already done so) at Kevs blog on this subject. You write very well. I reckon that if you put a caveat at the beginning of you blog on this subject, it would be ok.

Pamela - Yes, I intend to ask some interesting questions of Mr Cameron. Not necc. about politics itself, but about being open and honest. I doubt he will reply, but if he does, it would quite something to see what he admits to and what he avoids, in the way all politicians do.

Kev - Yep, that would be amazing if he engaged with us. I think we have all learned here that being open and honest is really very attractive. The hacks, of course, would have a field day with him.

Scoob.. - Yep I agree, but then Cameron is trying to claim he can break the mould of current politics. Lets see how committed he is on this.

I've not commented yet on Camerons blog. He Vlog was quite interesting. I've seen a few folk make trite remarks accusing him of stage managing his blog. I'm reserving judgement on that. If I DO get a response, I might invite others to sign up to his personal blog and see what happens.

All said and done, this is an experiment that may disappear into the ether within a couple of days. Lets see.....

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 08:29PM (BST)

Hey Marty I have just read the Alpha Blogs and may I say I'm impressed!!! I have even had a look at the website? imagine that! I am even considering looking into it in my area. And as a girl that was brought up a strict catholic and turned my back on it as soon as it became MY CHOICE I think thats pretty good going. Oh and the politician thing....NEVER GONNA HAPPEN BABE...lol..xxx

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 09:29PM (BST)

great??? your alpha blogs are the beat???

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 09:02PM (ADT)

I did enjoy your pieces on the alpha course.
Dave's blog, I dunno, I have a hard time seeing him as a regular guy. Old Tony wounds I suppose. Now, Boris, well he's mad enough to be a proper blogger! (except the complaints would keep him off 360)
Robbie williams has a blog on myspace now. very commercialised. I just don't want to be THAT close to my popstars. I suppose I also hope that 360 doesn't get greedy enough to go for the all out commercialisation like that either. It's a nice little community, dare I say it, let's not americanise it too much, eh? Now before all the americans jump on my back, that is an expression brits use without meaning intent or harm to individuals, it means the capitalistic above morals bit that runs the economy over there (and in quite a few other countries.) Remember I am a Yank too.

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 01:51AM (BST)

thanks for sharing your expereiences they are so valuable :)

Wednesday 4 October 2006 - 04:02PM (BST

Alpha Part 2

Phew!!!!

I've spent the last couple of hours trying to catch up on my homework for the counselling course I'm doing. It will be week 4 tomorrow and I was a journal and a half behind. I'm nearly up to date now and feel more comfortable having achieved a bit of quality time doing this.

Doing this training really gets you into thinking about awareness. This is something thats very clear to me right now. I've been feeling much much better about myself recently, but I still sometimes get that feeling of a little anxiety when waking in the morning. I guess I've pretty much always had this. Its difficult to understand the reasons for this. I wonder if I'd called out in my sleep again last night. Chris didn't mention it but I think I might have had some disturbing dreams... none that I can remember now. Still, I guess I just wanted to state this to "out" it from my consciousness.

I was chatting with a friend (with whom I'm on the counselling course this morning. The discussion was around self esteem. My friend told me about a workshop she went to that was to reject the concept of self esteem and to embrace self acceptance. I found this interesting. It seems to me that "self esteem" is some sort of target to achieve, which puts a degree of pressure on us, whereas self acceptance is a "being" feeling that generates comfort and peace. What do you think?

As promised, here is part 2 of my Alpha experience.....
from yesterday...

"She felt it would be right for me. I did have some recollection of something like this, so I said I would be interested."

continued...

Some months later, at the end of September, the course started. The first night was a meal in a community centre in Canterbury. By this time, I’d done a little research of my own about Alpha Courses and understood what it was about essentially an opportunity to explore my spiritual beliefs (for what they were). Arriving at the centre, I felt a touch nervous, not knowing many people. There were quite a few people there. Tables set out for a 3 course meal. I was invited to sit at a table and spotted a big friendly guy with a really happy smile, named Simon. I exchanged a few words with him and chatted with a few others. The meal ended and tables were moved away preparing for somebody to speak and give a testimony. Just after the talk, I was introduced to another guy, Peter and I got talking with him. I can remember telling him I wasn’t at all sure about believing in God. I said “It feels a bit like trying to believe in Father Christmas”. Peter smiled back and said “I think you are really going to enjoy this course” and how right he was!

I week or so later, I received a call to tell me that the next Alpha meeting would be a week night at someone’s house. Same format, however, this time it was meal, video followed by a discussion about the content. I was really looking forward to this. I was still deep in depression at the time but was beginning to make the first signs of progress and had even found myself a job in London.

And so it went on. Same format with a different video in the series each week. Nobody said grace at the table and wine was served with the meal. It just felt like any other dinner party on that level. I found I really got to know these folk very well indeed. Sitting round having a meal gave the sense of family. Relaxing with a coffee afterwards and having a chat stimulated my mind. In fact, I found the subject really interesting. Discussing the evidence like it was some kind of mystery facinated me. Everyone was respectful of each others views and it felt safe to discuss these issues of belief. Sometimes the subject would go off at a tangent. I was very focused on my experience of depression and spoke mostly about that. I felt validated because it was ok to do this. As the weeks went by we all became closer. Some folk dropped away and didn’t come again. I didn’t make it there every week myself. The food was excellent! As good as any restaurant and it was all free. I put on more than a few pounds in those weeks and was often persuaded into second helpings of desert. It became a standing joke that I’d finish the last bit of trifle or whatever.

One week mid way through, some folk decided they would go along to the church that organised this course and I decided to do so too. I was surprised how much I enjoyed that too. I sensed that something was changing in me. I felt a peace and acceptance with these new found friends. The pace of life felt better for me too.

About 3 quarters of the way through this course, a weekend away was organised. This took place in an isolated house near Chillenden, somewhere between Deal and Dover. It was a case of turning off the main road and going up a long track. This was a REAL place to chill out. It was so very peaceful. Friday evening consisted of a time sitting around and chatting. By now everyone was opening up about things in their lives. Some of us got quite emotional, but again, it just felt so safe to do this. By now we all really cared about each other. I shared a room with another guy. Simon, whom I mentioned earlier had brought down a few bottles of red wine, so we had a few glasses each evening. The guy I shared the room with also had a bottle and we chatted that Friday night until the early hours polishing off more wine. Saturday morning involved another family like breakfast.

We went for a pub lunch that Saturday lunchtime which involved a brisk, half mile walk in the mid autumn air. We were going to watch another video that evening, but discussion got quite intense. I spoke a lot about how angry and bitter I had been in the past about previous jobs and found myself shedding a few tears as a result. It was at this point that Peter suggested it was a time for prayer. This one moment was an experience I shall never forget. One of the helpers in the group (Peter’s son) played his guitar and the guys girlfriend sang a worship song. I had a kind of outer body experience. Peter was praying and laying hands on people over by the fire place and I suddenly felt an enormous sense of forgiveness. I felt God tell me that he had heard everything I had cried out about that day and told me it was OK. I felt a pure love in my heart. By the time it was my turn to be prayed for, I was wasted with tears pouring down my face.

Poll

self esteem

1

self acceptance

11

I'm not concerned with either

2

Comments

(13 total)

My vote is on the self acceptance side too. Seen way too many mates have self esteem but no self acceptance suffer so badly. I do believe you can't love another properly till you love yourself (and that doesn't mean narcissicsm or however it's spelled...) in fact there is a link between high self esteem and dangerous narcissicsmismism.... sometimes big words just trip me up. :)

Monday 2 October 2006 - 03:34PM (BST)

An interesting blog Marty. I'm torn as to which bit to address. Firstly self esteem and self acceptance. Guess they are one and the same - in order to enjoy self esteem there has to be self acceptance.I've written before about that painful hole in the soul which cannot be filled by anyone else other than ourselves, though we would beg, borrow or steal love from anyone in order to feel "loved" when the work is ours - the "esteeming" is ours to do for ourselves.

And I am struck by the way the Alpha course gave you the place of safety to talk to people about you - very much like a counselling experience - I wonder if the facilitators of such courses have any of those skills - I'm guessing they must come across all sorts of people with all kinds of "stuff" around - difficult to keep it all in a safe place - well contained and "held". It was obviously just what you needed at the time and you found your way with that experience...

hugs
steph

Monday 2 October 2006 - 06:05PM (BST)

I am really pleased that you decided to share this Marty and I look forward to what I shall experience with the Alpha course I will be attending.

I had a similar experience to this when I was younger a project in our area called U-turn, there is a large playing field near me and the church in question held a big event thyat was on for 3 evenings there a huge marquee and all were welcome, me ad some friends went along for a laugh (there was nothing else to do!) But something really connected with me throughout the discussions and at the end was the opportunity to come forward to be prayed for. I really do believe God spoke to me and it changed my life. I started attending the church but didn't have the best of experiences, but as a 13 yr old girl I feel I wasn't taken seriously and I left. I've kinda lost my way since then and even decided at a point in my life that I didn't believe in god. However I feel like lately he has been finding me again and I am looking forward to the Alpha course and what it will bring me.

The self acceptance is something I feel at ease with, it has not always been so, but eventually it has come to pass and I have conquered that journey, the self esteem is another matter, I'm still on a difficult journey to find my self esteem, but I believe the self acceptance was the start of that journey, I have done things in my past I'm not particularly proud of and my recent self discovery has aloowed me to accept that it is past and has helped me make some life changing decisions....and it has to be said Marty that you have played such a huge part of all the changes in my life of late, knowing you and sharing some of life's experiences with you through my blog (and indeed sharing some of yours through your blog) has made a major impact on my life it truely has. The kindness of your words and the support you have given me has been tremendous it has lifted me more than anyone else's words although I am grateful to all my friends on here and their love and support. But with you Marty I feel it is different I feel a very strong connection to you and the things you say to me and share with me have had a very profound effect upon me, so thank you Marty, I am so very glad I found you here on 360 and I am honoured to be called your friend.

Gosh I really don't know where all that came from, I guess it just flooded out.
Maybe I should have written that all to you in a personal message and hope you didn't mind me voicing myself so publicly. My love to you Marty as always. Bless you.xxxx

Monday 2 October 2006 - 07:21PM (BST)

Self esteem versus self acceptance, I think in the past I have been more interested in being accepted and recieving the esteem of others and have therefore rather neglected what I thought about myself, due to this I guess my self esteem and self acceptance have been pretty much non existent. I guess my self esteem still is to a certain extent non existent but I am working on accepting myself for who and what I am the esteem will hopefully come from this eventually.
The alpha course notes are interesting, it may sound foolish I dont know but when you talk about a place and people where you can talk freely and let out your feelings, be yourself and vent your frustration and tears I cant help but think about my little group of friends here on 360 of which of course you yourself are a major part, I guess for the moment this group is acting as my own little alpha group where I am free to express and therefore discover myself.

Monday 2 October 2006 - 07:42PM (BST)

Marty, I havent lived the bestest of life, but I do accept me for who I am, therefore unashamed at what I have done in my life. Hopwever, my self esteem is low, coz when a man is down , there are those who take great delight in keeping him down[just take a look at John Howards latest employment contract laws].
But you sir, come across as having it all together, and I am wondering, no offence intended, how well you would have it together, if you removed the religious element from the equasion.......coz your belief in GOD certianly holds you in good stead.........

Monday 2 October 2006 - 12:57PM (PDT)

What can I say folks. Personally, when my friend spoke of self acceptance as opposed to self esteem, I realised that self acceptance it far more comfortably with me. It means I don't have to hit and maintain a target. I am ME.... warts and all and so is eveyone else. I love you folk so much and care about you all (within the strength I have that is limited)

Peter, bless you mate. I'm not religious and I believe religiosity is something different and carries labels. For me, there is a clear difference between being religous and having faith/knowing God. Its unexplainable and I don't expect anyone else to understand it. I just wish peace in others hearts... in what ever way.... that I have experienced it. I believe that comes from God, but that is my experience and I hope and pray others may feel the same.

Monday 2 October 2006 - 11:29PM (BST)

Hey Marty? Self acceptance? Thank you for your friendship??? Ruth? Hugss

Monday 2 October 2006 - 09:40PM (ADT)

I really don't think I have had a great deal of problems with either one.. I have always loved myself, knowing I was a good person and worthy of my own love, without it I know I would have not been able to deal with half the children I have dealt with, I had not always been so confident with my self esteem though.. does thta make sense, in how others viewed me and if I had measured up to their expectations.. A series of trial, and tribulations and even some wins and how I dealt with them all and more importantly to be able to go back and do a crictical self evaluation and kknow that through all I was still a pretty darn goo dperson fixed that.. but I think we all deal with both at a certain level in different stages in our lives.. Great post Marty!

Monday 2 October 2006 - 09:56PM (CDT)

Self-esteem is an interesting topic in that many people think that you can give someone self-esteem, when really self-esteem is not needing an external reward or "atta boy" to feel good about yourself. It's the difference between being in a hot air balloon with an on-board source of heat to keep the balloon afloat, and having to keep returning to the ground to get another uplifting blast. It doesn't seem to me that self-acceptance is a separate thing. As with any good thing, there are those who will turn it around and darken it, and it would seem to me that advocating self-acceptance might lead some people to get too comfortable with who and where they are and become lazy about growing and changing.

Monday 2 October 2006 - 11:55PM (EDT)

This brings to mind a poem I remember from High school(way back in 1972) I can not remember the author though

I am not in this world to live up to your expectations
Nor are you in this world to live up to mine
But if by chance that we should meet
then all will be wonderful.

Thanks to 360 world Ifind you in my friends and am grateful that you are. What a wonderful post Thank You

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 01:12AM (CDT)

Pamela, Thank you for your comments here. I like your perspective on this subject. I can see where you are coming from regarding the danger of becoming lazy and maybe failing to grow and change.
Everyone, its great to get some different viewpoints. It helps to keep a balance on one theory or another. Mind you, like I've always said, if you sit on the fence to often, you get splinters on ya bum! LOL

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 08:40AM (BST)

Marty, what an incredible post. The first time I did alpha I was a new Christian and I had a lot of questions. And it was such a great place to connect with other people and ask all those things that you dare not usually ask!
I answered self acceptance, although I'm a little confused at the difference. I guess before I had high self esteem/acceptance based on what the world thought of me and how good I was and clever I was a certain things. Now I realise all that is meaningless and it all really stems from the nature of my creator.
Steph. I was an alpha leader before and there were a few of us who were quite young and inexperienced. We didn't get any training, per se. We did meet a lot outside the main meetings for prayer and Q&A sessions. We were told to be "normal", open and loving and not to evangelize - because shy people may be intimidated and not ask questions for fear of being put in the spotlight. There were some very mature Christians in our group too and they were wonderful counsellors, by nature. Sometimes I felt God put words in my mouth coz I managed to answer questions that would've stumped me before.

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 10:29AM (BST)

I think you can have self-acceptance without having self-esteem, but you cannot have self-esteem without self-acceptance.

Tuesday 3 October 2006 - 08:14AM (EDT)

Alpha

Hi folks. I hope you are all having a peaceful Sunday.
I'm feeling pretty good right now. I've enjoyed reading round quite a fair few blogs this weekend. As usual, there has been a wide variety of things that folk have shared. I have to say there have been some real good ones in the last couple of days.

Last night was the "Alpha Banquet" organised by the church group I'm involved with. I'd been really looking forward to this and I gotta say I wasn't disappointed. Craig and Dawn both came with me in support as well as 2 lads from the project where I work. I got there early with Dawn and Craig to help set out and lay tables.

The food was as good as anything I've eaten at any resturant.
Starter: - Fruit Salad
Main course: - Turkey breast wrapped in bacon, stuffing, roast potatoes, roast parsnip, carrots, pea, broccolli.
Sweet: - variety to choose from gateau's, pavlova, trifle etc....
Coffee and mints to finish.

The first talk was good, then I was asked to give my testimony in front of around 50 people. I held the microphone a bit close at first and was shocked at how loud my voice was over the PA. A few folk came up to me afterwards and said I would be good for public speaking. (Its so hard not to "errrmmmmm" and "ummm" all the time LOL). I was really pleased that nearly everyone signed up for the rest of the course including Craig and the 2 lads. They really seemed to enjoy themselves. A great night out!

One or two folk have asked me what Alpha is all about. I've got a link to the international website on my blogroll, but I thought now would be a good time to serialize my personal Alpha experience from 4 years ago.

Part 1 is todays scribble......

Alpha

Summer 2002 and I was mega busy. Network Marketing had become my new manic obsession. I was spending all day every day preparing catalogues to deliver in my local area and rushing off out delivering these, collecting them, taking orders, reading motivational books, driving half way up the country and back to attend meetings etc etc. World Cup 2002 was on and I was stopping just briefly for an hour or so to catch the occasional match. I kept pushing and pushing with this work, but somehow it just wasn’t moving as fast as I hoped. Little did I know I was near the point of breakdown.

Walking up a road in the village where I live with a bag full of catalogues and a plastic smile on my face trying to ignore the worry and stress, someone I knew popped her head out her door and said “Hi Martin, what’s up? Are you OK? Come in for a cup of tea. “

Somehow she knew and saw right through the mask I had put up. (This is something I have since realised is very obvious to folk and I’ve quit, for the most part, trying to pretend. There are times though when I do this “mask” thing subconsciously). I went in and spilled the beans on how I’d got myself into so much debt over this business venture. Roz was so very kind, never passing judgement and listening intently to what I had to say. After a long chat, Roz told me that I was welcome to go round to visit her and her husband at any time, and I did a few days later when in an even worse state than before. In classic Martin fashion, I’d “run the engine dry” and had lost all energy and enthusiasm. I was in fact in a deep depression.

Very shortly after that second visit, I failed to get out of bed one morning, and didn’t for 3 days. It felt like the end…. of everything and I had nobody else to blame other than myself as I saw it. Roz and her husband are committed Christians and good friends to Christine and I. The next time I went to see them, Roz asked me very gently and with caution if I would give them permission to pray for me. This is the sort of thing that in the past would have made me very uncomfortable and possibly even freaked me out, but on this occasion, it just felt fine and I gratefully accepted. After the prayer (which had me sobbing my heart out) Roz asked me if I had heard of Alpha and wondered if I would like to go on the course. She felt it would be right for me. I did have some recollection of something like this, so I said I would be interested.

This will be a 3 part story, part 2 tomorrow..

Now Video... Craig is learning Pachabel's Canon on keyboard for his music GCSE at school right now. We had this for background music last night at the meal too. Keeping with the "Love" theme, there is a cute video with the music here..... enjoy.

Comments

(13 total)

Very nice post Marty! It's amazing how true friends can see through our masks of pretending and somehow know what we need more than we know ourselves. A very touching story you have here...thank you for sharing!!

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 10:28AM (EDT)

Marty, glad the evening went well for you, particularly the testimony. I know you were feeling nervous about doing that. I reckon you would be good at public speaking, too.
Canon is my all-time favourite classical piece of music. It is a very versatile piece, and although is a firm favourite for occasions such as weddings, it has been used for a lot of other things too. I have a CD of 10 different interpretations of the piece, some of them quite different to the traditional version. One of my favourite versions, I actually found on a site where 'unsigned' musicians post their work. A musician called Gabriel Winter did a great interpretation called 'Canavistic'. It is done in a modern 'trance'-style. Might sound strange, but it actually works very well ( a little like the trance version of Barber's Adagio you posted recently).

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 05:02PM (BST)

Glad your speech went well and you had a good night, I don't mind speaking in public but I am a big mouth anyway :)

Monday 2 October 2006 - 03:21AM (VUT)

Hiya Marty, Im very glad that the speech went well for you! And even more happy that you are happy! ;-) keep smilin sunshine! x

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 06:13PM (BST)

I really enjoyed listening to the music, sad music like that can be so fitting sometimes. It’s good to know that your speech went well. Dinner sounds like it was super!

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 07:17PM (BST)

I knew you'd be fine mate your so natural with people your allways good to listen to. Glad your writing about the Alpha thingy I've been wondering what its all about, cheers.

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 08:19PM (BST)

Hey Marty great post...well I missed my Alpha banquet, I was so upset (I got let down at the last minute and had no one to have the kids). All is not lost though I received an email from the church saying a few other ppl were unable to attend and that they were sorry not to have seen me there and hoped to see me the following week for week 1 of the course! Hopefully I have it all arranged now and will be attending next wednesday... thank you so much for mentioning it to me Marty.
I'm glad to hear your evening was good and giving your testimony went well... Bless you Marty, big hugs and thanks for everything. I'll let you know how I get on next wednesday at the Alpha course.xxxx

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 10:18PM (BST)

Ooops. forgot to say, I loved the music, I could listen to this whatever my mood and get something different from it each time. Thanks for sharing.xx

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 10:20PM (BST)

Hello YOU? Great Blog today? Check out mine? New, pictures of Halifax? TA TA

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 07:23PM (ADT)

glad that your 'public speaking' went well. the music is lovely, nice and mellow for a sunday evening. do you find that craig works hardest at his music studies? Elizabeth didn't choose to continue with music to gcse, although she does play violin at home and is just starting out learning guitar, but she did take art and drama and really looks forward to those lessons each week and does the homework without objection. is he in year 10 or 11? Elizabeth is year 10, so just starting out on the GCSE journey.

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 11:56PM (BST)

Marty,
I know you had "butterflies" in your stomach,and public speaking had them all a-flutter....Well good on you for saying your piece, and being OUT THERE so to speak......
See? Thats what makes you an amazing human being, you just get up and do it....and worry later, if it was right......
and it always works out for you...so give up the worrying, it only gives you a gut full of ulcers.......you dont need them at your young {???} age...........

Sunday 1 October 2006 - 11:11PM (PDT)

Congratulations on your performance at the meeting. You must be one of the busiest people I know. Dear me, when do you relax? I mean FOR REAL ... Love, EC

Monday 2 October 2006 - 09:18AM (CEST)

Hi Marty
Is this 3 part story your testimony? Wow, so far its really powerful... Can't wait for the next part.
I love Alpha, its such a lovely course. I'm glad you're enjoying it and glad your speech went well.
:)

Monday 2 October 2006 - 01:05PM (BST