We're going on our hols ...

I'm going to be dragging Hubby up hill and down dale for a few days (or perhaps he'll be carrying me after the first day). So be good while I'm gone and I might reward you with a piccie or two of the Lake District when we get back.

Here's hoping for sunshine and ...

Happy Journeys

More than words

I was catching up with my reading of my New Scientist magazines and found this and other related articles about "Animals and Us" in the 4th June edition.

Jane Goodall says, "When you look into the eyes of a chimp, or another animal, you know you are looking into the eyes of a thinking, feeling being. To me the wonder and the mystery is that you never really know what they are thinking. What do they think of me? What is it like to think without words?"

What is it like to think without words?
This gave me a zen-like moment. Stop and try to think about something without words. Limit yourself to your senses. Think about an experience only in terms of sight, sound, texture, smell and taste. Being the verbose person that I am, it's impossible. I tried something really simple, nothing involving abstract or complex ideas, just a train journey ... I couldn't do it. Words kept popping into my head - objects that I saw in my minds eye, place names on the journey, etc.

We can confidently say language as complex and structured as ours is one thing that separates us from animals. We can communicate ideas to others, plan for future events, pass on oral history, blog ... Advancement of a society such as ours would appear to be impossible without the ability to communicate in such a structured and varied way.

And yet, while I may be a complex developed being, I can't even imagine what it would be like to think without words.

Book Meme

I've been memed by Zinnia so here goes:


How many books do I own?
Um, probably over 200. If I buy any more, we'll need a bigger flat. Thank goodness for my local library.


What was the last book I bought?

Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde
I will admit to never having heard of this author before but will definately be buying more in future. I liked the look of the cover (printed to look battered and dog-eared) when browsing the top twenty paperbacks in my local Waitrose. And I liked the back cover ever more:

"Literary detective Thursday Next is on a mission - and it's not just a mission to save the planet. If only life were that simple. Unemployed following an international chese-smuggling scandal, our favourite cultural crime-fighter is faced with a world of problems: Hamlets's not attending his conflict resolution classes, President George Formby is facing a coup ... Join Thursday on her toughest assignment yet, and enter a world where fiction is always much stranger than the truth."

Cool, huh? :o)
I'll review once I've finished it.

And Mister Monday by Garth Nix (author of the fabulous Abhorsen series of Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen - highly recommended).

"Arthur Penhaligon is supposed to die and he almost does on a school run when he collapses because of his chronic asthma. In his dreams he is visited by the enigmatic Mister Monday, who gives him a mysterious atlas and a magic key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. But Arthur wakes up and Mister Monday wants everything back. With these "gifts", Arthur suddenly assumes new powers and with them frightening responsibilities. Arthur's family and friends are under threat from a sudden outbreak of drug-resistant influenza and it seems the cure to this curious rash of afflictions can only be found inside a vast house that only Arthur can see."

This feels a bit like a children's book to start with but soon settles into a good story and, in the same way as the Harry Potter series, good young people's literature is enjoyable for all.


What was the last book I read?

Bit of an odd question for me as I'm always reading at least two books, so my reading is a continuous overlapping process.

Dan Brown's Angels and Demons is the one I have finished most recently. I enjoyed it as much as the Da Vinci Code (reviewed here). It had the same real-life places, art and institutions to make it feel close to reality whilst still drawing you into a fantastic world of conspiracy.
Talk about edge-of-your-seat stuff ... poor Hubby had to periodically endure me bounding into his study saying, "guess what's happened now?!" hehe


What five books mean a lot to me?

Interesting question. I presume that this isn't a favourite book question more of books that had an impact question.

The Lord of the Rings by JRRTolkien
My first foray into epic fantasy which opened my mind to the wonderful possibilities within the fantasy genre. I must have read it a dozen times and each time with a slightly different perspective. I've still got the same copies that I bought in my early teens - they're looking rather dog-eared now.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (commented upon here)
A must for anyone who has an interest in religion/philosophy/sociology/life. I'm a great believer in real literature. I don't tend to read obscure prize winners unless they happen to be writing in a favourite genre or become popular with "normal people". Fantasy as a genre is probably seen by many as the geeky book equivalent of a sci-fi tv series but well-written fantasy can and often does deal with very big questions. This is a fantastically funny read that deals with some seriously big issues. As one reviewer put it, "Heaven to read and you'll laugh like hell."

The Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling
Hubby moved to London a couple of months before me and stayed in digs until I could get a job and we could find a place. So I hung around Kings Cross station quite a lot whilst waiting for a train to take me away from him for another week. I was browsing WHSmiths for something to read on the way home and thought, that looks like it could be ok. It was before all the big hype so I hadn't heard of her at that point.
I've just checked the book and the faded receipt is still tucked in the back cover.

The complete works of Shakespeare
Ok, so I don't actually read it from cover to cover that often :o) but I am very grateful for a certain English teacher for helping me get to know ol' Bill in the right way. I had already seen Midsummer Night's Dream (still my favourite) with my parents a couple of times but it was during my A-levels when I really got to grips with Shakespeare (King Lear and A Winter's Tale). We were each assigned a part to read but We were not allowed to read it in a mono-tone fashion. Instead the teacher spent some time running through what was happening in the scene and then we would have to "act" it. We also went to see professional productions of both plays.
Reading Shakespeare verbatim as a student is the best way to turn someone off him for life. To watch his plays being performed, even if you only understand one word in ten at that point, helps them come alive.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
This was required reading for English Lit (GCSE level I think) and I don't think I've read such an awful book in my life (quickly ducks).
Going by the numerous positively gushing reviews on Amazon I am in the minority here but I could not get into it. I recently borrowed a copy as I wondered whether it was the way in which we had to go over and over each passage from different angles during the course of study that turned me off the book ... nope, still couldn't handle it.
I have included this book as this helped me to realise that just because others say a book should be read doesn't mean that I MUST like it. Reading is something that I do for my own enjoyment, not for intellectual one-upmanship.


And the only book I'd really need on a desert island?
It could be argued that all I'd really need is a library catalogue - by prudent use of L-Space I would be able to access any library and therefore any book I could ever need.

The Discworld theory of L-Space is such that:
Knowledge = Power = Energy = Matter = Mass
Therefore large amounts of knowledge can warp time and space to create L-Space.

Or perhaps How to Build a Wooden Boat? ;o)

A serious answer? ... I can't do it. Nope, sorry, I refuse. I am not so much a book worm as a book omnivore. I cannot imagine limiting myself to one book. One glance at my book shelf and I might be able to manage to survive with about 30!


Happy Journeys

Honourary Auntie

I've just found out I'm an honourary Auntie! :o)

My American Matron of Honour has given birth today - yay!
The small person arrived a bit early but all is well.

Now I've just got to finish the cross stitch sampler, get it framed, wrap it together with the the Harrods Teddy I bought, package it all up and get it shipped off to the States .. sharpish!

Big grins all round.

Happy Journeys

Girlie Geeks

This deserves a thumbs up - there is a definate lack of women in IT and the sciences in general.

As a bit of a girlie geek, I was encouraged as I started to read the article that this initiative is being introduced in a number of schools and then I got to this paragraph:

"Run in community centres, schools and other venues, it gives girls the chance to take part in a wide range of computer-based activities, from designing their own celebrity posters to creating a fashion show or mixing music."

Ahh ... six paragraphs and we're back to gender stereotypes again.

Fair enough, computers can do this and I'm sure that might sound like fun to teenage girls. The point is though, most teenagers are PC literate these days and probably already know more than their teachers. How is manipulating images or using off-the-shelf DJ software going to turn girls on to proper IT?

I'm not suggesting server configuration or advanced .Net programming, however they need to be encouraged to see the real power of the hunk of wires and circuits in front of them; to see what cool stuff it can do. I think that most sucessful techies began as self-taught dabblers. There are many applications out there that enable you to create cool applications with little programming knowledge. Perhaps presentations recorded by real techies in the industry. Seeing IT in action - how it plays an important part in different sectors ...

Hmmmm, then again, I'm thinking as a thirty year old. Perhaps posters and fashion shows are what it will take.

Happy Journeys.

Summer Camp with a difference

I've read a mind-boggling story recently on a young person's blog. You will notice that I haven't linked directly to the blog. Whilst his blog is in the public domain, he is a minor and I feel uncomfortable in showing his identity. I'm sure you could find it, if you really want to.

The general story is as follows:

A young man tells his Christian parents that he is gay. They ask him what they did wrong in raising him and tell him he is mentally unwell. They tell him that he has to attend a Christian camp.

"At Love In Action International, our belief is based on three foundational truths:

Truth One: There is no such creation as a "gay" or "homosexual" person. There is only homosexual attraction and behavior; accordingly, there can be no "change" from a sexual identity that never existed in the first place.

Truth Two: The truth for most men and women who struggle with homosexual behavior is that they will, at times, continue to experience attractions in large and small ways for a lifetime. It is often misleading and harmful to speak vaguely of "total" deliverance without mentioning the normal, ongoing struggles with temptations all believers have.

Truth Three: God sees homosexuality as sin like any other, and directs us to apply the same biblical model to it that we would to any other sin. His real solution for deliverance and healing is based on repentance and obedience."

The rules for "clients" are very restrictive (obviously I am unable to verify these so I have taken this young man's post at face value), and include such things as permitted hair styles; banned clothing (brands as well as types); limited or no access to secular books, music, television and shops; no outside contact; etc.

Unfortunately, I'm sure this story is all too familiar to many.

Hubby's response to the parents' actions was "they think they're doing the right thing". No he's not defending their actions but, as ever, he is my devil's advocate. I dive headlong with my heart into issues like this. Hubby gets me to step back and see all sides which is always a useful exercise (even if it does annoy me at times).

And yes, unfortunately, I presume his parents do think that they're doing the right thing. They obviously believe that homosexuality is an abomination, an illness of the soul, if you will. It is not my place to judge them as people but I will certainly question their beliefs. Surely they should want their son to be happy, accept him as he is and help him with love and support to grow into a well-adjusted adult. Let's face it being a teenager is hard enough - coming to terms with independence, first forays into adult responsibilities and relationships, making choices about futher education and career, peer pressure, exams, etc.

I would argue that homosexuality is simply a state of being. It's not a deviation from the accepted "norm". Science now knows (roughly) what makes boys boys and girls girls. Perhaps one day they will know why some people are straight and some gay (although in the current climate of intolerance, it's probably a good idea if they can't do that for a while!).

Gender is not a 0/1 or should I say XX/XY issue. At one end of the scale there are strong masculine men, at the other gentle feminine women, and real people in between. In fact, there are some cultures who recognise five distinct genders. Science accepts that the male/female divide is not as clear cut as once thought. By the same token, sexual/gender orientation is recognised as being varied - straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual and intersex.

We're all variations on a theme. A musical piece would be very boring if played on one note.

The human race is beautiful because it contains diversity.

Freedom of Belief vs. Freedom of Speech

Take a look at this and then read on.

Firstly, I want to make it clear that I'm all for people being safe to be able to live their life in accordance with their own beliefs (or lack thereof) providing that those beliefs do not harm others.

That said, I'm not entirely comfortable with the new proposed law which plans to make it illegal to "knowingly use words or behaviour which are threatening, insulting or abusive in a way designed to stir up hatred against an individual because of what they believe".

I get the point of legislation against incitement of hatred against a particular group of people. But the problem is what is threatening, insulting or abusive to one might be seen as harmless criticism or even amusing commentary to others.

A number of people have pointed out that similar legislation here and overseas has been manipulated and twisted in ways not originally intended. From what I have read about this legislation, it sounds as if the limits need to be a bit more defined so it is not abused and used to restrict free speech. The freedom to promote your beliefs and respectfully criticise (or even poke gentle fun at) others is important. Debate enables us to grow and develop.

Happy Journeys

I want to be ... a tree

After reading this, I went here and found out that our little household produces about five and a half tonnes of CO2 per year (based on our electricity and gas consumption).

5.5 tonnes - wow!

To off-set that, we are advised to plant eight trees.
The site offers ways in which you can contribute towards forestation and CO2 reduction projects to offset what you have produced. In addition, they provide advice on how you can reduct your CO2 production.

Want to see how much you produce? - http://www.futureforests.com/acatalog/index_shop_calculator.asp (this link doesn't appear to work through blogger but you should be able to copy and paste it into your browser).

Want to learn how you can do your bit? - http://www.futureforests.com/explainmore/athome.asp


Quite an interesting site.

Happy Eco-friendly Journeys

Learning of the past

My parents have recently moved and their friends made them a memory book filled with lots of comments and best wishes.

Reading through it helped me to see a side of my parents of which I had not been fully aware. Many of the comments spoke of valued friendships, help in times of difficulty, practical and emotional support, fun and laughter.

As a child, the perception of your parents is formed by the egocentric way in which you feel their lives revolve around you.

Through the teenage years, the start of the sometimes difficult process of developing an adult relationship with your parents begins. And developing an adult relationship with them involves understanding your parents have other important interests, relationships and concerns.

Reading through their friends' comments has added another facet to my understanding of who my parents are.

Spring Clean

We are in the midst of an spring clean ... you would be forgiven, dear reader, for stifling a yawn at this point but stay with me. This is always an interesting exercise for me. For I am a hoarder, Hubby is a chucker.

I treasure bizarre and mundane objects for sentimental reasons obscure to anyone but myself. Hubby is an "I haven't used it for six months so I'm not likely to use within the next six months" kind of person.

So, as you can probably guess, about 75% of the stuff in our flat is mine - books, cross stitch supplies, books, pictures and ornaments, books ... you get the idea.

I come from a family that appears to be predisposed to hoarding so I wonder if this is a genetic trait?