Though the above sounds like the name for a pub, I am actually referring to a real pheasant who likes to nibble away at the seeds discarded by the smaller birds under the bird feeder. He is usually accompanied by a female and though they are possibily the daftest birds in the world, they are fun to watch. I don't even mind the loud squawk that announces their arrival.
I finally managed to get a decent picture of the male - the colour of his plummage up close is really amazing. The picture taking involved crawling along and hiding behind a shrub and though Purde also joined me (cats do so like to see what you are doing) the pheasant wasn't put off. I'm sure I can get a better picture, soI'll keep trying - a more powerful zoom lens would be a boon - reducing the commando style stalking immensely!
At Greenbelt last year I was fortunate enough to attend a question and answer session with Rob Bell. I remember it being very interesting with some real gems but it not being an official 'talk' didn't take any notes.
Greenbelt have just released the session as a free download on their blog. I listened to it again over the last couple of days and have scribbled down a few things. As always with Rob I find that afterwards my head is buzzing with illumninating thoughts and creative ideas so despair that I actually have to work and can't just sit with pen in hand and scribble it all down!
Having turned 37 and pondering about what it means to grow older, one comment struck me. Rob had done a talk that weekend entitled Two kinds of New, one of the central themes being flexible as we grow older. This prompted a question as to how we can stop ourselves becoming inflexible and old.
'When something makes you feel old, move towards it with a sense of expectant discovery'
I shall be pondering that amongst other things in my struggle with not necessarily being bothered about getting older but more the lack of progress I sense in key areas of my life.
However for now, I shall kick against that cultural conclusion that there is nothing good about getting older and delight in all the new discoveries I make.
I am known for my large shoe collection, though in fact it's not actually as large as people think, it's just that many of the shoes I have are unusual...or ridiculous.When it comes to clothes, I am guilty of having surplus items that I don't wear and have to have a regular purge ( though this has got markedly less in recent years as I come closer to the Holy Grail of 'my style' - I'm only 37 for heavens sake, give a girl a chance!)
However, shoes are an entirely different matter and I lovingly cherise them for years on end. I still have a pair of black stillettos bought in the winter of 1999 which, despite having a small tear on one side still have a bit of life in them. Everytime they need re-heeling I'm told that due to the heel being so thin they could snap but they survive unscathed each time.
So, imagine my despair when I discovered a split right across the entire width of the sole of my absolute favourite boots.
They have served me very well for the last, ooh 8 or 9 years. The wedge heel makes them comfortable enough to walk around in all day, whilst giving my petite frame some height, they aren't knee high boots and only come up to mid calf, which is a flattering length, they can be worn with denim skirts or give a slightly edgier look to a dress.
Like Mary Poppins they are practically perfect any everyway.
But, the man at the shoe repair shop was very clear that there was nothing that could be done to save
them, his manner is a little brusque, I feel that he doesn't fully understand the impact those words can have on a girl - what? there is NOTHING that can be done to save my absolute favourite, faithful friend boots!?
I immediately went out and purchased some very strong glue to prove him wrong, however I fear he may be right as the repair didn't hold. Still, I continue to be in denial and will be sourcing some strong black tape to further strengthen the repair. I'm just not ready to say Goodbye yet....especially when this is completely the wrong season for buying boots.
So, if anyone sees boots that look like the picture below, do let me know - my wardrobe is incomplete without them!
I watched a programme on Saturday in which Michael Portillio was travelling in the UK (with a brief stint in the US) looking at people power.
Given the looming general election and the predicition that we could end up with a hung parliment, it is more important then ever to consider how we would like our country to be run.
The beginning comment of the programme was that many of us don't vote, as we feel far removed from the politicians and are doubtful that what we think makes any difference.
Michael visited several towns where 'people power' is being enforced.
Two examples were a group of parents lobbying to turn a disused hosiptal into a secondary school as there wasn't one in the area and the other a village where a team of local volunteers had saved the village shop from closure. I think most of us are willing to get involved in a crisis in order to make a difference but this works better on a local level. Michael was calling for a change in the way politics is handled in the UK and that more power needs to be given back to local authorities. In some towns they have an elected mayor which has improved the visibility and, more importantly, accountability of local authorities.
People need to know that they can make a difference, that we all have a responsibility to make this country a better place in whatever small way we can. There are larger hot potatos such as Education, immigration and the NHS where it is hard for us to feel that our opinions are noted let alone listened to but if we could make more of an impact locally, and let politicians see that we take matters seriously, would we start to see a change?
These are very interesting times, we could be on the brink of a very different system but we do need to gather information and make informed decisions and of course cement that with a vote.
Otherwise, I believe we are in danger of allowing a select few and the media to decide the shape of our nation.
Given that I have 3 books to read before the 3rd April, I've been catching up on my reading this lunchtime.
However, I'm also suffering blog withdrawal but I don't really have anything to say! I'm very inspired by the lovely DM and JR's blogs with their well chosen photography. My camera does get some use but the photos take awhile to transfer from the camera to the PC.
I will have something more inspired to post tomorrow but for now here are a couple of lists....
5 lovely films
Lars and the real girl
Miss Pettigrew lives for a day
Mr Magoriams magical emporium
Arsnic and old lace
Wall-E
Films that stay in your brain for ages
Let the right one in
The third man
Mulholland Drive
