Who are the bullies?

At General Synod last week the Church of England announced that it was going to work with Stonewall to address homophobic bullying in schools. In response there has been a typically mean spirited statement from Angican 'Mainstream'. Changing attitude has delivered a robust riposte. To quote Colin Coward:

Anglican Mainstream says that children's lack of psychological and cognitive maturity makes them vulnerable to ideological and sexual manipulation. The statement implies that Stonewall manipulates children ideologically and sexually – it's a disgraceful statement and deeply homophobic.

Anglican 'Mainstream' is deeply homophobic and some of its supporters indulge in bullying and intimidation of those who disagree with them - excusing their behaviour by claiming that those they attack are 'guilty' of first order offences whereas their 'ends justify the means' approach should be disregarded. They need to look at themselves!

Teaser Tuesday - Nov 26

Teaser Tuesday
The rules are:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) 'teaser' sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title and author of the book that you’re getting your 'teaser' from .. that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!

Have you ever noticed that when your mind is awakened or drawn to someone new, that persons name suddenly pops up everywhere? My friend Sophie calls it coincidence, and Reverend Simpless calls it grace.

Stirrings within Juliet Ashton in (again) The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows - our book group of the month. Here's the Guardian review - he liked it. On the other hand from a goodreads review -

This book is a lot like my mother's pie. It looks pretty, the crust is warm and flaky, but one bite and the filling sends you into a diabetic coma.

Mutterings - Nov 24

This week's free word associations from Unconscious mutterings are:

1. Directions :: Compass
2. Juror :: Oath
3. Cheating :: Cards
4. Fact :: Balance
5. Clue :: -do ( the game)
6. Week :: Working
7. Enthusiasm :: Dog
8. Smug :: GAFCON (sorry! ;-) )
9. Venture :: lose our.. (Shakespeare)
10. Bench :: Judge

Yes I know it's Wednesday - Teaser Tuesday - Nov 20

Teaser Tuesday
The rules are:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) 'teaser' sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title and author of the book that you’re getting your 'teaser' from .. that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!

Doubtless you know of the huge memorial Victoria had built for her beloved consort, Prince Albert. It is the jewel in the crown of Kensington Gardens - a monument to the Queen's refined taste as well as to the Departed.

An old dowager gets up steam in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows - our book group(!) book of the month. The book takes the form of a set of letters written shortly after WWII and reflecting on the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands.
Yes, this should have been posted yesterday but it kept slipping my mind!

Loubressac

and again!, a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

Sunrise from the Relais de Castelnau in Loubressac - I thought I ought to add this photo as the view at breakfast was so memorable. One of the prettiest villages in France - according to a guide book and I wouldn't disagree!

About Elly

On Wednesday, Silkscreen showed the Iranian file About Elly - last year they had Asghar Farhadi's 'A Separation'and as that was popular they decided to programme another of his works. It tells of a group of friends going to the Caspian sea for a break but the female school teacher of one of their children has also been invited as has a recently divorced man. As the film progresses the original simple lies become ever more complex giving a real insight into the nature of Iranian society.

I thought it was very involving - even for so different a culture, I spent sometime trying to work out why it felt different and only at the end when the music started did I remember the spoken introduction (by the presenter) mentioning the lack of background music to that point. You didn't feel it was a film and the tension was suddenly ratcheted up and never let go. The Guardian's review is here, much of it felt improvised but there was a very clear direction.

Mutterings - Nov 17

This week's free word associations from Unconscious mutterings are:

1. Jealousy :: Rage
2. Twin :: Matching
3. Logo :: Slogan
4. Bang :: to Rights
5. Darts :: Board
6. Window :: Frame
7. Arcade :: Shopping
8. Sniff :: Scratch
9. Tickets :: Train
10. Eraser :: Pencil

Teaser Tuesday - Nov 12

Teaser Tuesday
The rules are:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) 'teaser' sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title and author of the book that you’re getting your 'teaser' from .. that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!

And he took out his pocket-book and began adding over his accounts, - a process which many gentlemen besides Mr. Haley have found a specific for an uneasy conscience.
The boat swept proudly away from the shore, and all went on as before.

Haley the slave trader in Uncle Tom's Cabin, of Harriet Beecher Stowe, carefully closes his eyes to the moral issue! I was prompted to read this - for the first time after our book group reading of Tracy Chevalier's The Last Runaway - the original underground railway book!

Mutterings - Nov 10

This week's free word associations from Unconscious mutterings are:

1. Reality :: Light (cold light of?)
2. Fanfare :: Trumpets (sounded for him on the other side, `there won't be trumpets'?)
3. Share :: Equal
4. City :: London
5. Stepping :: Hill (Stepping Hill hospital is near here!)
6. Entitled :: Benefit
7. Movement :: Slow (as in music)
8. Review :: Favourable
9. Advertise :: Wares
10. Largest :: Greed

Domaine de Poujo and starter

Domaine de Poujo and starter, a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

The dinner on the final night - meals were excellent here too - the food over the 10 days was very good and we probably returned fitter but fatter! As we had to leave the hotel at 6:30am we were fairly gentle with consumption on the last evening.
We returned by train from Souillac to Paris Austerlitz - roll on when the TGV's are running this route! - and then by Eurotunnel back to London and then back to Macclesfield. If you're doing a similar route beware if hoping to charge up electronic devices - the first charging point we saw was at Euston! By that time most of my toys didn't have much charge left!
A very enjoyable holiday with memories to take into the winter evenings! I've included this link before but it's the flickr album for my photos. I might get around to copying some photos others took in time!

Rocamadour

Rocamadour, a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

The last day was a rest day - at least walks were suggested and we ignored them. We spent the morning investigating Rocamadour. Starting at the top level - most easily reached from Hospitalet - and a vertiginous walk on the ramparts - for which there's a charge and a turnstile - probably to keep down the numbers in peak season! The photo is looking down on the church from the end of the parapet - I think my sense of balance is getting worse but I managed this photo! Then down through the basilica - which was celebrating 1000 years of pilgrimages (I think the dating is a little suspect!) and 100 years since the restoration of the site. I kept my eyes open for mentions of Francis Poulenc (who died 50 years ago) who came here and the place inspired some of his religious music but didn't see anything. A light lunch in one of the cafes and then back up the Voie Sainte to the hotel and a gentle afternoon, I paid a visit back to Hospitalet to try to get sunset over the Rocamadour but unfortunately dinner came too soon!

Rocamadour from Hospitalet

Rocamadour from Hospitalet, a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

The last day with a major walk, we started at Calès and walked back along the Ouysse until it disappeared under the ground and then along a winding gorge until we reached Rocamadour. I had a lot of anticipation - when would Rocamadour be visible - we were traversing the pilgrim route - that the medieval walkers would have taken - though in their case from Rocamadour towards Compostella.

The town didn't come into view until we were walking through the gates and then you were aware of the towering cliffs and buildings on so many levels. Walked through the town - staying on the lowest level - exploration was for tomorrow. A drink at a pavement cafe and then up the Voie Sainte to this view and then on to the Hotel Troubadour just out of Hospitalet.

Caugnaguet mill from the outside

Caugnaguet mill from the outside, a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

We left Lacave on a misty morning with Belcastle invisible and wandered gently along the Ouysse. We saw some divers about to explore some of the submerged caves before arriving at the mill at Caugnaguet - which was open for visitors. The Inntravel itinerary says that it closes from 15th October so I'm not sure whether that's incorrect or whether we were just lucky to find it open. We were guided around and some of us sipped the walnut liqueur! Then through wooded paths to Calès. Drinks outside (watch out for the flies!) but then a marvellous evening meal - it certainly equalled the Michelin starred place - some of us thought it was better. I had snails (with mushrooms which merged nicely , you were never quite sure which you were eating in case you were cautious!) and duck - we had a lot of duck this holiday - I saw a fixed price menu in one place which had duck for 2 of the 3 courses!

reflection

reflection, a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

Day 6 was spent around Lacave - a trip down the cave - steps and reflections here too! Gentle lunch in the village. The Hotel du Pont de l'Ouysse - where we stayed - has a Michelin star, and a wine list with prices to match, I spotted a St Emilion for 1500€ we stayed a lot further down the price range. The food was wonderful and there was the theatre of pouring hot chocolate sauce over a chocolate ball and watching its contents being revealed. You can't quite see the hotel in this picture it's at the foot of the cliff - the castle, on top, is owned by 3 retired schoolteachers - apparently they were offered a lot of money by a Hollywood star for the place but they wanted to keep their piece of heaven! We spent the afternoon lazing outside the hotel in their comfy chairs by the Ouysse. We met a couple also with Inntravel there they were on a cycling tour and on their last day, we had a few more days walking before Rocamadour.

Teaser Tuesday - Nov 5

Teaser Tuesday
The rules are:

• Grab your current read.
• Let the book fall open to a random page.
• Share with us two (2) 'teaser' sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title and author of the book that you’re getting your 'teaser' from .. that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!

I look out, through the steamed-up window; through the mist hiding most of the view, but not all, no; there's not enough of it to hide the thick black smoke that pours out above the trees. Our trees.

Now there's a dramatic moment - Stef Penney's The Invisible Ones our book group book of last month. We had the discussion meeting last night and I think it was uniformly liked. A tale of the relationships between the Gipsy community and the surrounding community. A detective(?) story where things are not quite what they seem. Like her earlier book this is about isolated communities - though in a completely different context! Loved the telling of part of the story through JJ's eyes - a young gipsy. Here's the Guardian review.

Creysse

..and again, a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

A view of Creysse - the taxi which took us to the starting point for the day's walk was a little late so we enjoyed a walk around the village. After being dropped by the taxi in Meyronne we took the easier of the day's 2 alternative walks and enjoyed a spectacular walk through the trees ascending the side of the Dordogne valley (did I not take any photos here? - I need to search the cameras memory card!) we had lunch by a very quiet aerodrome - really just a landing strip and then the walk into Lacave and a refreshment stop before heading to the Pont l'Ouysse - of which there are lots of photos uploaded but I'll hilight one when writing about day 6.

Experimental Nut Station..

Experimental Nut Station.., a photo by rajmarshall on Flickr.

Day 4 - not the longest walk but there was a sting in the tail! After a wonderful sunrise viewed from the hotel terrace (see the album for the photos!) we headed for Creysse. Again through the woods with a stop at a take off point for hang gliders with lovely views over the Dordogne - the spot was off the route so kudos to Inntravel for highlighting it. Then down to cross the river at Gluges and at this point we thought a drink and a stop would be good. Unfortunately none of the refreshment stops were open so we continued. A quick search of the village revealed a Place Edith Piaf without even a bar or cafe! There's a good reason for the square being named in her honour.

Then came the hard part of the day - first of all a gentle wander along the road beneath huge cliffs - but then the road started to ascend (fortunately the cliffs became less high) - but it was a struggle! On getting into Creysse we reached this experimental nut station - there are lots of walnuts in the Dordogne and at the time we went we were perpetually crushing the shells under our feet. The Auberge de l'Ile is wonderfully situated - close to the river and in the midst of a lovely village.

Mutterings - Nov 3

This week's free word associations from Unconscious mutterings are:

1. Partner :: Howdy
2. Villain :: Cartoon
3. Signature :: Email
4. Homespun :: Yarn
5. Ultimate :: Challenge
6. Don’t! :: Stop
7. Musical :: Broadway
8. Candor :: Honesty
9. Terrified :: Shadow
10. Virus :: Antibiotic