JP's Corner of The Blogosphere

So. I'm here. I've moved in, and although starting in a new place has its ups and downs I am actually quite enjoying it. In some ways it is only now that it has hit me how much I miss Oxford and how much I took for granted, but life would be dull if it remained static. Life without formal hall and poncing around in a gown will take some getting used to, as will the fact that 10 minutes walk is no longer a long way. Some things on the other hand I will get used to too easily. Like the dishwasher, the proper kitchen and the TV. Nice. Bath, like another great city I could name, is not short on hills. I might attempt to join the few who cycle on occasion but in the last couple of days I've had the joy of sussing out the buses. I hate buses, but some things I might just have to get used to. It could be easier said than done though - I found out to my cost yesterday that the X39 express bus stops at the number 14 stop I walked passed and then sailed past the number 14 ...

I've had a lot to say recently. I have opinions on a lot of things. I was going to write about the Pope and his comments, about Richard Hammond and why I think that any suggestion of removing Top Gear is proposterous, and how actually I did not go to an HMC school. However aside from using my time instead to see good friends and prepare for my move tomorrow I have been crippled by my eyesight. Those of you who know me (or who have read my profile) know that I suffer from nystagmus, and for various reasons it is currently causing me problems. I have however been referred to a specialist, which is good news. Excuses, schmooses, but I'll be back. Maybe not for breakfast but smoke me another kipper if you feel like it anyway.

TopGearTrack Originally uploaded by JP1984 . Ladies and Gentlemen, what you see here is part of the famous BBC Top Gear Track. Being in the vicinity of the airfield on which Top Gear is filmed, Sam and I decided to spend our Sunday afternoon having a bit of a butchers. There was - unsurprisingly - not a lot to be seen and there was a high level of security in place around the perimeter. At one point we were following a footpath, which was suddenly blocked by an impassable and unmarked gate. Remaining convinced that the path should have continued straight on we resorted to the only available option of turning right . However 100yds on we were bought to an abrupt halt by the resident of a massive house whose land were were evidently on. After concluding that we were ramblers (obviously she didn't see Sam's flip-flops) she escorted us back to the gate and let us through, pointing us in the direction of the path. The gate is apparently across the path to alleviate a problem sh...

I had a quality day today - I cycled to meet a good friend about half way between mine and his. I feel quite good after the 17 mile round trip, though the pie, chips and beer for lunch probably negated some of the effects. The pub in which we ate and drank was quite funny. At first glance it appeared closed, but I did find an open door. The landlady and someone's granny seemed initially to be the only people inside but once my friend arrived a couple of cars had appeared in the car park and it developed an element of life. The food was delicious (mmmm homemade steak and kidney pie) but I was rather perturbed to find that they closed the hatch to the kitchen the moment we placed our order. I'm not dead or ill though, so it could just have been coincidence. About half-way through an older guy took over running the place. Sporadically he would come and clear something from the table, saying "I'm not trying to rush you" before eventually telling us that the pub wa...

Mmmm new look. I think I'll play around with the new features of Blogger as time progresses...

Last night Sam very kindly took me out for dinner at the East India Club in London. It was the sort of place where someone even puts your napkin on for you. The food was delicious (I would say 'lush' but I am informed that it is not a classy enough superlative for this occasion), and I enjoyed every minute of it. Little brothers do grow up to have their uses after all. I'm thinking of upgrading to the new version of Blogspot with its new features.

Some of you may remember that a while back, in one of my posts, I was somewhat cynical about the new Civil Partnership act. Far from being 'gay marriage' in everything but name, this act was supposed to bring equality for all. I argued that if this truly was the case then steps should also be taken to improve the situation for other people for whom 'marriage' would be inappropriate; siblings who live together, for example. I was shot down, but upon viewing this video on the BBC News Page, I developed the smug feeling that I might have been right after all. (If you are unable to view the video, it concerns two sisters who share a house. Even under the Civil Partnerships act if one of them dies the other will be forced to sell up and move to pay the inheritance tax). It seems that the campaigners for the Act were wrong. It didn't bring 'equality for all', did it?

Sam tells me that listening to Virgin Radio makes me "lower middle class". Note how I didn't even credit him with a link to his blog.

Just so that there is no confusion, I should like to state two things, 1) I am not a fan of The Mirror 2) Eddie Izzard would not be my first choice of person to give me relationship advice, should I want it. However, when I was on a train recently (all the best stories start that way) I picked up a Mirror supplement and read this article . I thought that it was rather interesting; perhaps because I found to my surprise that I identified well with a lot of what he said. His point about finding it easier to get over someone if one decides to hate them is an interesting one. I guess most people (myself included) can empathise well with that, but at the same time it doesn't seem right. It certainly doesn't sit well with the Christian ethos of forgiveness, which thinking about it logically is a far better option, however hard it can seem. The second point of his which I liked doesn't really need any expansion. "All the girls at school liked the boys who didn't pay ...

I saw a Ferrari Enzo on the road on Wednesday. Yes, actually being driven on the public road (the A272 to be precise). Unfortunately, it was yellow. I think it was Jeremy Clarkson who once said "never go to bed with someone who has a yellow car. Anyone who went in to a showroom and from the vast array of colours available chose yellow is clearly not normal and should be given a wide berth". I'm not sure how wide a berth I should have given someone who could probably have afforded an entire street of houses with the money they blew on this particular yellow car but as they were going the other way I didn't have much time to ponder it. Now I am back in civilisation I can now get around to responding to the comments on the last post. Or at least I will eventually once I have done the other things I need to do now. Watch this space.

Well actually I'm in West Wales. I'm not even sure where "the Zone" is but the title today is a quote from Monsters Inc which I watched last night (and enjoyed very much). I've been rubbish at updating this blog recently, but hey it's August. Everyone's away and not much goes on anyway. Earlier in the week I went househunting in Bath which was an experience. I saw a couple of houses and met some good people, but so far I've not got a definite place of residence for next year (though it's not without hope). Being new to Bath I don't yet know anybody, so it's all about meeting the people I might be living with as well. Placing an ad on the university forum and receiving various responses is worryingly reminiscent of how I imagine internet dating might work. The whole experience just lacks candlelit dinners though. Whilst I was in Bath I also saw the most pregnant looking man I have ever seen and passed another guy whose response to my ...

Sam was driving me home last night when we came up behind a jester in a Porsche. He was one of these really annoying drivers who was inconsistent with speed, and quite slow, yet not quite slow enough to justify overtaking. Frustrated with the sporadic and unnecessary slowing down, Sam lined himself up to overtake on a short stretch of dual carriageway...and Mr Porsche put his foot down. We were (alas) not in a Porsche and it was not possible to safely overtake. Then at the end of the dual carriageway Mr Porsche braked and slowed down again. Clearly the car was a substitute for something - he didn't have the guts or the ability to drive it well, and he evidently felt that being overtaken was not something he could cope with. Ironically however his behaviour just proved that he was small (minded) and rather than being impressed I would like to publically laugh at him for being such a gimp and evidently having more money than sense. When you have finished joining me in mocking...

Dave commented this week and seemed to think that it was a bit ironic for me to go to Rome and seek God. Well, fortunately for him I did not go to Rome in order to seek God. I went to Rome to sing with my college choir. But come to think of it, I find it quite sad that 'seeking God' was not a big feature of some of my visits to Rome's many churches. In fact, I would go so far to say that St Peter's angered me somewhat. This is the centre piece of the Roman Catholic church, and yet rather than focussing on God the statues of the Popes seem to be more important. Rather than being welcomed I felt that I was ushered round aggressively. Rather than encouraging an atmosphere of reverence and worship, camera flashes and talking seem to be acceptable during the services. And rather than taking the opportunity to preach the Christian message in all it's simplicity it was acceptable - encouraged even - to queue and rub the feet of a bronze statue of Peter. Idolatory a...

I've noticed that several people have found this blog recently by searching for Circus Mondao. I think therefore that it deserves its own post - after all there is a lot to say. Circus Mondao is a comedy name in itself, and we knew things would be bad when we saw the name of the venue (Cookies Car Boot Field) and the advertising lorries. Handpainted, they really did claim to have good 'press revues'. However on the basis that a) it looks so bad that it must be funny and b) a huge discount was wangled with ease (being ripped off became less of a concern) we took the kids anyway. The big top was tiny, and the ringside seats we had bartered for were - I kid you not - plastic garden chairs. Some people would have paid £16 for the privilege of sitting in them rather than on some rickety looking wooden 'stalls'. Suckers. The artists as it turned out were the same (badly) facepainted people who tried to sell us hamburgers, candy floss and 'circus novelties' in...

Gannets is the name of the end of the day team meeting at the camp I helped out on last week. So called because after the necessary business and prayer time is over we can descend (like gannets) on the food available in the cookhouse. Mmm. There will be no more gannets this year, not because there were some unwashed mugs left over this morning but because camp finished yesterday. I arrived back in civilisation yesterday evening and was glad of a proper bed to sleep in. However I did have the most amazing time on camp, and I found it really rewarding. I enjoyed taking part in all kinds of activities from Outdoor Pursuits (mmm Zip Wire) to swimming to playing chess (against some really talented people). The spiritual programme worked well and I think that both the team and the campers got a lot out of it. For the kids, it gave them the chance in a low key way to learn about the basics of Christianity, and if they had a faith, to develop it. God was clearly at work throughout the w...

This morning I enjoyed the hot sunshine, strolled in to town for a cafe latte and had the most amazing ice-cream. I may as well have still been in Italy, but a glance at the numerous chip shops and a realisation that cars actually stop at pedestrian crossings put paid to that illusion. In this weather, Norfolk is not without it's charms. Aside from getting to walk back from town along the beach, I also enjoyed seeing a steam train and buying some delicious fudge. Mmm. This afternoon I enjoyed a trip to Circus Mondao. My first circus experience didn't fail to amuse me, but for all the wrong reasons. Despite claiming "excellent press revues" and having some pygmy goats, I was not overly surprised to find that it lacked popularity. I did however very much enjoy it, and the 'never a dull moment' ethos continues to hold true. Defined by user

The afternoon started on an exciting note as it was, when I went in to town and bought myself a dress. I then went with a man who wants to earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records by getting the least votes in a General Election to 'collect some weeds as decoration for our Narnia themed party'. Said 'weeds' were 10ft tall ("tree" is a more appropriate term) and we had to ride home in the trailer to ensure that they didn't fall out. :) Defined by user

On Sunday in Rome my lovely wife and I fancied some Anglican banter and set off early for the English church. The said traditional service was not overly exciting, but the sermon was quite thought provoking. Starting from the feeding of the 5000 it focussed on God's abundant generosity and as the week has progressed I've really noticed it, even in the little things. Rome was awesome, and it all went better than I could ever have imagined. And now I've arrived to help on a camp in Norfolk. Despite terrible weather over the last week, everyone is generally in good spirits and there seems to be a really good group of campers. God has evidently been at work as well, which is exciting. Anyhow, I have business to attend to. So from a field in Norfolk it's over and out. Defined by user

Another funny moment in Rome occurred after a couple of us had spent the day down on the Appian Way (and very nice it was too). Unfortunately, we just missed a bus and the long wait for the next one meant that we were late to that evening's rehearsal. I might have won the BNC Choir Tour "Virgin Trains Award for Punctuality" but not even my nagging wife could have done anything about it in this case. As the two of us raced towards the Dutch Church, however, we realised to our horror that the gate at the top of the steps was locked, and that getting in could be a problem. The sight of a nun the other side of the gate provided a glimmer of hope and we sprinted up the stairs...where we realised that we had no idea how to convey in Italian that the choir we were with was inside the church and that we wanted to join them. The situation looked pretty desperate when hand gestures and "Cantare" (which, it turns out, may mean 'you sing') failed to get us anywhe...

Image006[1] Originally uploaded by JP1984 . ...I didn't remove my glasses in time. [Apologies if you don't know Nick. Apologies if you are Nick. Normal service will resume shortly].