Baby you're my light

John sent this to me - he heard it not long after we got together and loved it

C.S.Lewis says -

C. S. Lewis on Atheism

"When I was an atheist my argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? If the whole show was bad and senseless from A to Z, so to speak, why did I, who was supposed to be part of the show, find myself in such violent reaction against it?... Thus in the very act of trying to prove that God did not exist--in other words, that the whole of reality was senseless. I found I was forced to assume that one part of reality--namely my idea of justice--was full of sense. Consequently atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning."-C. S. Lewis (Mere Christianity).

Who runs this place?

The band that supported arctic monkeys were reverend and the makers and the lead singer recited this poem-

WHO REALLY RUNS THIS PLACE?!?

Descending in my flying saucer from some spot called outer space
I encountered you, well how dya do we're the human race
I've seen what you're about and how you act is a disgrace
N all this got me wondering who really runs this place?
I've only been here for a day or two and my snowman's disappeared
You ought to check the thermostat it's getting hot in here
No need for Will Smith, I mean no harm, i'm sure we can be mates
I was merely pondering who really runs this place?
And i've made like Phileas Fogg and i've been North, South, East and West
N I can't work out why seven percent own almost all the rest
I've visited your capital in the United States
But no one truly seems to know who really runs this place?
Your planet's large, but who's in charge, anarchy rules the roost
Christian meet Mohammed, have you two been introduced?
And I can't say **** but bombs are fine? Have you got any taste?
Take me to your leader man, who really runs this place?

sounds about right :)

Arctic Monkeys

Yesterday I went to the first concert I have been to since De La Soul (1989) HA! I have never been very fond of big crowds, so have avoided these kind of events, but now I feel I really have missed out - it was great fun. A fab opportunity to let your hair down and just enjoy some really good live music. When the best known songs were played like"Brianstorm", "when the sun goes down" and "mardy bum", the crowd sang along to every word and threw themselves around - the atmosphere was electric. I also probably lost a stone in water perspired through the event, very holistic :) Vince invited us to tag along and I am so glad he did, it was a great experience.

A Careless Child

I Would I Were a Careless Child

I would I were a careless child,
Still dwelling in my Highland cave,
Or roaming through the dusky wild,
Or bounding o'er the dark blue wave;
The cumbrous pomp of Saxon pride
Accords not with the freeborn soul,
Which loves the mountain's craggy side,
And seeks the rocks where billows roll.

Fortune! take back these cultured lands,
Take back this name of splendid sound!
I hate the touch of servile hands,
I hate the slaves that cringe around.
Place me among the rocks I love,
Which sound to Ocean's wildest roar;
I ask but this - again to rove
Through scenes my youth hath known before.
Few are my years, and yet I feel
The world was ne'er designed for me:
Ah! why do dark'ning shades conceal
The hour when man must cease to be?
Once I beheld a splendid dream,
A visionary scene of bliss:
Truth! - wherefore did thy hated beam
Awake me to a world like this?

I loves - but those I love are gone;
Had friends - my early friends are fled:
How cheerless feels the heart alone,
When all its former hopes are dead!
Though gay companions o'er the bowl
Dispel awhile the sense of ill'
Though pleasure stirs the maddening soul,
The heart - the heart - is lonely still.

How dull! to hear the voice of those
Whom rank or chance, whom wealth or power,
Have made, though neither friends nor foes,
Associates of the festive hour.
Give me again a faithful few,
In years and feelings still the same,
And I will fly the midnight crew,
Where boist'rous joy is but a name.

And woman, lovely woman! thou,
My hope, my comforter, my all!
How cold must be my bosom now,
When e'en thy smiles begin to pall!
Without a sigh would I resign
This busy scene of splendid woe,
To make that calm contentment mine,
Which virtue know, or seems to know.

Fain would I fly the haunts of men -
I seek to shun, not hate mankind;
My breast requires the sullen glen,
Whose gloom may suit a darken'd mind.
Oh! that to me the wings were given
Which bear the turtle to her nest!
Then would I cleave the vault of heaven,
To flee away, and be at rest.



Love this quote by Byron-

I can never get people to understand that poetry is the expression of excited passion, and that there is no such thing as a life of passion any more than a continuous earthquake, or an eternal fever. Besides, who would ever shave themselves in such a state? Lord Byron, in a letter to Thomas Moore, 5 July 1821

differences in love

sleeping out

For the last three days I have been sleeping out in a hammock in the middle of a huge wood in Dorset. Peeing in a dug-out trench and showering under a bag that dribbles water out, into which I have to pump water. John spent a good part of the evening I got home removing a tick from my bum - lovely! He grabbed it by the body like we were instructed and twisted it out, but there was still bits left in and as I was paranoid about lyme disease, he spent a good while inspecting to make sure he got ever little bit.
My brother-in-law Tony runs bushcraftuk.com web site and magazine, and asked if I would go along and take some photographs. It was a great experience, I observed a group making cordage out of bark and nettles. They also made spoons from wood and a flint napper demonstrated how to find flint, then chip it into spear heads and ax heads. I also followed a hyperactive Dutchman and his students on a trek - they all had full back packs and I was doing my best to keep up with my camera. I would stop to take a picture and then have to run to catch up before I found myself stranded in the middle of nowhere :) They caught trout with their own made fishing lines and then cooked them out on the fire. It was a great experience and although awake at 5am with the dawn "hallelujah" chorus waking me up, I think that it is a great way to get away from the madness of life and just enjoy nature at its best.

The flowers withered
Their color faded away
While meaninglessly
I spent my days in the world
And the long rains were falling.



A thing which fades
With no outward sign
Is the flower
Of the heart of man
In this world!


Two short poems by

Ono no Komachi

watch out for those ninjas

To dream

beach run II
Originally uploaded by custardmonkeys

The kids have just had a week off school, just enough time for us to spend two full days at Gellie playing volleyball and football, get to the beach, sort out a messy house and enjoy some friends over for a meal. We have definitely had a work hard, play hard week. My dream is to have an organised house, happy children and a fullfilling life... go here to see some other people's dreams... http://www.yannarthusbertrand.com/v2/Ecard/
what's yours?