Just visited my GP last night after some ear pain at the weekend.
He stuck a camera down each of my ear canals and we saw on the screen what the problem was -- I have perforated eardrums, caused by having grommets inserted about eleven years ago.
It was quite a shock to me, especially being able to see the extent of the damage -- I have virtually no ear drum in my right ear!
I'm being referred to an ENT specialist to see if anything can/should be done. There is an operation called a tympanoplasty that may help. We shall have to wait and see!
Wednesday 3 December 2008
Saturday 15 November 2008
The Next Doctor
Well, there's much speculation about who might fill the role of the eleventh Doctor, once David Tennant has completed his run of five specials...
Some have even suggested it might be me! I suspect that the odds on that one are very long - all I have in my favour is being about the right age...
But this isn't really about who will be the twelfth actor to portray the Doctor in the BBC TV series (check the cast list for The Five Doctors if you don't understand that bit).
Last night, on Children in Need, the BBC broadcast the first two minutes of the Christmas Day Special, The Next Doctor. I won't spoil it for you too much, but if you want to be teased you can watch it online here.
As a minister, the thought of Christmas used to fill me with a kind of dread. Not because I don't want to celebrate the awesome gift of God in becoming a human baby, but because it gets harder and harder each year to find new ways of expressing that! By 12.00 on December 25, 2008, I reckon I will have delivered about forty different talks on the same topic! There's probably, God willing, another hundred and fifty or so to go before retirement...
It's also the sheer busy-ness of the season. It often feels like a roller coaster that launches in September and gets faster and faster until 12.00 o'clock on Christmas Day, when I collapse in a heap in my arm chair, and my family wait on me hand and foot! (that last bit is just my fevered imagination!)
Now there is the relatively new Christmas tradition, of looking forward to the special Doctor Who episode, usually recorded and then watched later in the evening once the kids are asleep, or even the next day if I can wait that long!
So it's nice to have a teaser at this time of year, to encourage me to look forward to it.
And it's amazing to think that next Sunday, Doctor Who will be forty five years old! Still going strong.
Some have even suggested it might be me! I suspect that the odds on that one are very long - all I have in my favour is being about the right age...
But this isn't really about who will be the twelfth actor to portray the Doctor in the BBC TV series (check the cast list for The Five Doctors if you don't understand that bit).
Last night, on Children in Need, the BBC broadcast the first two minutes of the Christmas Day Special, The Next Doctor. I won't spoil it for you too much, but if you want to be teased you can watch it online here.
As a minister, the thought of Christmas used to fill me with a kind of dread. Not because I don't want to celebrate the awesome gift of God in becoming a human baby, but because it gets harder and harder each year to find new ways of expressing that! By 12.00 on December 25, 2008, I reckon I will have delivered about forty different talks on the same topic! There's probably, God willing, another hundred and fifty or so to go before retirement...
It's also the sheer busy-ness of the season. It often feels like a roller coaster that launches in September and gets faster and faster until 12.00 o'clock on Christmas Day, when I collapse in a heap in my arm chair, and my family wait on me hand and foot! (that last bit is just my fevered imagination!)
Now there is the relatively new Christmas tradition, of looking forward to the special Doctor Who episode, usually recorded and then watched later in the evening once the kids are asleep, or even the next day if I can wait that long!
So it's nice to have a teaser at this time of year, to encourage me to look forward to it.
And it's amazing to think that next Sunday, Doctor Who will be forty five years old! Still going strong.
Thursday 12 June 2008
Prince Caspian
I went to see a special preview screening of the movie Prince Caspian on Tuesday night, hosted by UCB in Stoke on Trent.
The film follows on from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, but has a somewhat darker feel to the film.
It has been adapted well for the big screen -- those who are very familiar with the original novel by CS Lewis will be aware of a number of changes that have been made for the screenplay. In my view, these changes enhance rather than detract from the film. They certainly help with the narrative flow -- I remember as a six year old rather wading through the early chapters of the book.
It makes really good use of CGI, as you would expect. I could perhaps single out for particular mention the character of Reepicheep, a talking mouse. Reepicheep in the book is a rather endearing character, used for humour and for poignant moments showing some of the impact of the events in the story. I must confess that he is one of my favourite characters from the book, and I was delighted to see him realised so well. He comes across just as humorous and chivalrous as he does in the book.
Some political intrigue has been added to Miraz's court, the chief baddie. This certainly makes for a more interesting story, as we see the power struggle played throughout the film. In the book, much of Caspian's story is told in flashback. This would not work in the film, and the two stories of Caspian and The Pevensie children are interwoven until their stories come together, making for a much more gripping overall story.
A whole new battle is added to the story, which increases the excitement, and adds to some new tension between Caspian and Peter. Susan's role is boosted, and she is present for all the battles, unlike in the book, where the girls are carried away to safety. Susan also has a certain love interest with one of the other characters, which is handled well.
Overall, the film, running at 2 hours and twenty minutes, is a splendid experience, and certainly the time passed very quickly. Due to the darker nature of the plot and its running length, one might want to carefully consider whether it is an appropriate film for younger children (say under 8), to watch. Having said that, it is of course, a story where good triumphs over evil, and there are many moral and spiritual themes explored during the course of the film.
Speaking of these themes, church leaders, youth group leaders and school teachers would be delighted to know that the Damaris Trust have produced some excellent resources for worship, lessons and youth group sessions. These have been produced in conjunction with Disney, and include downloadable clips for illustrating certain points. They are available at their Narnia resources page.
This is a brilliantly produced film, and should provide plenty of opportunities to discuss some of the themes with people in our churches and schools, and hopefully with people who wouldn't normally come to church.
The film follows on from The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, but has a somewhat darker feel to the film.
It has been adapted well for the big screen -- those who are very familiar with the original novel by CS Lewis will be aware of a number of changes that have been made for the screenplay. In my view, these changes enhance rather than detract from the film. They certainly help with the narrative flow -- I remember as a six year old rather wading through the early chapters of the book.
It makes really good use of CGI, as you would expect. I could perhaps single out for particular mention the character of Reepicheep, a talking mouse. Reepicheep in the book is a rather endearing character, used for humour and for poignant moments showing some of the impact of the events in the story. I must confess that he is one of my favourite characters from the book, and I was delighted to see him realised so well. He comes across just as humorous and chivalrous as he does in the book.
Some political intrigue has been added to Miraz's court, the chief baddie. This certainly makes for a more interesting story, as we see the power struggle played throughout the film. In the book, much of Caspian's story is told in flashback. This would not work in the film, and the two stories of Caspian and The Pevensie children are interwoven until their stories come together, making for a much more gripping overall story.
A whole new battle is added to the story, which increases the excitement, and adds to some new tension between Caspian and Peter. Susan's role is boosted, and she is present for all the battles, unlike in the book, where the girls are carried away to safety. Susan also has a certain love interest with one of the other characters, which is handled well.
Overall, the film, running at 2 hours and twenty minutes, is a splendid experience, and certainly the time passed very quickly. Due to the darker nature of the plot and its running length, one might want to carefully consider whether it is an appropriate film for younger children (say under 8), to watch. Having said that, it is of course, a story where good triumphs over evil, and there are many moral and spiritual themes explored during the course of the film.
Speaking of these themes, church leaders, youth group leaders and school teachers would be delighted to know that the Damaris Trust have produced some excellent resources for worship, lessons and youth group sessions. These have been produced in conjunction with Disney, and include downloadable clips for illustrating certain points. They are available at their Narnia resources page.
This is a brilliantly produced film, and should provide plenty of opportunities to discuss some of the themes with people in our churches and schools, and hopefully with people who wouldn't normally come to church.
Monday 26 May 2008
Bank Holiday
Well, at least Walk to School week is over! I managed one more towing of Reuben's bike to school. The amazing thing is, that a couple of the dads that have never really spoken to me chatted to me just because I had cycled. Maybe I should do it a few more times...
The pressure was ramped up when I discovered that Reuben did not just get a sticker, he got 'merit' points from school for doing it. The irritation factor was increased when I discovered that children who lived 2 minutes walk from the school (as opposed to thirty) and walked every day also got these rewards... something about the inherent justice of this life there.
Still, as I was preaching yesterday from Habakkuk chapter 2, we know that justice will be perfect and complete when Jesus returns.
No Doctor Who this week, which gave us the chance to have a highly intelligent dinner party. We chose a Spanish theme, and cooked a chicken and rice dish not too dissimilar to Paella, and some Tapas to begin with. I downloaded some traditional Spanish guitar music to complete the effect, but unfortunately the English weather did not play ball!
Hopefully the weather will be better behaved today, as we were planning to take the boys to Tutbury Castle this morning. I guess we should have realised that good weather and bank holiday Mondays rarely go together!
I am increasingly concerned that the UK economy (indeed the world economy) faces some really tough and difficult circumstances in the next fifty years. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be anyone prepared to take some long term and very unpopular decisions about our future. With more people living longer and needing pensions for longer, healthcare for longer. With medical treatments increasingly expensive. With lifestyle choices leading to further expensive medical intervention, not to treat sickness, but to enable people to have children later in life and without the need for two potent parents in a loving relationship. These costs are soaring, and yet we do not want to pay more tax. The pool of the working population rapidly reducing in relation to the non-working population that needs to be supported by it.
Are we about to see a political party pledging to increase the statutory retirement age, and make early (non tax-paying) retirement illegal? I doubt it.
Are we about to see the reintroduction of charges for expensive fertility treatment? I doubt it.
Are we about to see ever more expensive cancer treatments, with marginal benefits, but with the insistence that they are available for free on the NHS? I should think so.
With costs spiralling and the tax take remaining stable and declining, the sums do not add up.
Expect to see further attempts to legalise euthanasia. The argument will be based on allowing people choice and dignity, even though the most dignified deaths I have observed have been either in a hospice or with 'hospice-at-home care'. However, hospice care is very expensive compared to euthanasia. Euthanasia is cheap. It means it reduces the numbers that need long term care and pensions. It frees up space in our hospitals. This is the argument that people do not dare to put, yet it is the strongest. However, it does not change my view that euthanasia is uncaring to the person and their family, and robs them of dignity and respect. It says that not all life has the same value. That some people are more worth giving care to for others. However, is this not what legislation has said for the past forty years since the introduction of the Abortion Act?
The pressure was ramped up when I discovered that Reuben did not just get a sticker, he got 'merit' points from school for doing it. The irritation factor was increased when I discovered that children who lived 2 minutes walk from the school (as opposed to thirty) and walked every day also got these rewards... something about the inherent justice of this life there.
Still, as I was preaching yesterday from Habakkuk chapter 2, we know that justice will be perfect and complete when Jesus returns.
No Doctor Who this week, which gave us the chance to have a highly intelligent dinner party. We chose a Spanish theme, and cooked a chicken and rice dish not too dissimilar to Paella, and some Tapas to begin with. I downloaded some traditional Spanish guitar music to complete the effect, but unfortunately the English weather did not play ball!
Hopefully the weather will be better behaved today, as we were planning to take the boys to Tutbury Castle this morning. I guess we should have realised that good weather and bank holiday Mondays rarely go together!
I am increasingly concerned that the UK economy (indeed the world economy) faces some really tough and difficult circumstances in the next fifty years. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be anyone prepared to take some long term and very unpopular decisions about our future. With more people living longer and needing pensions for longer, healthcare for longer. With medical treatments increasingly expensive. With lifestyle choices leading to further expensive medical intervention, not to treat sickness, but to enable people to have children later in life and without the need for two potent parents in a loving relationship. These costs are soaring, and yet we do not want to pay more tax. The pool of the working population rapidly reducing in relation to the non-working population that needs to be supported by it.
Are we about to see a political party pledging to increase the statutory retirement age, and make early (non tax-paying) retirement illegal? I doubt it.
Are we about to see the reintroduction of charges for expensive fertility treatment? I doubt it.
Are we about to see ever more expensive cancer treatments, with marginal benefits, but with the insistence that they are available for free on the NHS? I should think so.
With costs spiralling and the tax take remaining stable and declining, the sums do not add up.
Expect to see further attempts to legalise euthanasia. The argument will be based on allowing people choice and dignity, even though the most dignified deaths I have observed have been either in a hospice or with 'hospice-at-home care'. However, hospice care is very expensive compared to euthanasia. Euthanasia is cheap. It means it reduces the numbers that need long term care and pensions. It frees up space in our hospitals. This is the argument that people do not dare to put, yet it is the strongest. However, it does not change my view that euthanasia is uncaring to the person and their family, and robs them of dignity and respect. It says that not all life has the same value. That some people are more worth giving care to for others. However, is this not what legislation has said for the past forty years since the introduction of the Abortion Act?
Tuesday 20 May 2008
Walk to School Week
Oh what a good idea this is.
Now don't get me wrong, I do believe we need to reduce our carbon footprint and be concerned about the environment and global warming. But there is a seeming injustice about Walk to School Week.
Basically, a child gets a sticker if they have not come to school in a car. It matters not whether they live two minutes from school, or right on the edge of the catchment area as we do.
Reuben was very keen on this, and since one of the 'acceptable' modes of transport was a bicycle, he wanted to cycle to school. What this means is, he wanted Daddy to attach his bike to my bike, and tow him to school. It really is uphill all the way. His bike is not a light carbon frame, but a solid steel construction...
I think I deserve the sticker, as I did it this morning! Don't need to go to the gym today...
Monday 19 May 2008
The Unicorn and the Wasp
Wow.
That was a really good episode of Doctor Who!
Before it was broadcast, it was trailed as being the first pure comedy since The Romans, a story which was broadcast in January and February 1965.
It was certainly very funny, making a real pastiche of the Whodunnit? genre in general, and Agatha Christie in particular. Whilst it could have descended into farce, it resisted that route, and instead came across as clever, witty, and self-mocking. It was good fun spotting all the Agatha Christie title references, too. I think the only one I didn't spot first time was "N or M?"
There has been some controversy as to whether revealing the Vicar to be the alien Vespiform is a part of the Producer's atheist bias. I must confess as I watched it I thought, "oh no, they're going to make the vicar the killer." I suppose if you had to pick the least likely person to be the Alien/killer in the best Christie tradition, it have to be either Christie herself, or the vicar.
Still, it was all very good fun, and now we have a whole fortnight to wait for the next episode, written by the excellent Steven Moffat, "The Silence in the Library".
That was a really good episode of Doctor Who!
Before it was broadcast, it was trailed as being the first pure comedy since The Romans, a story which was broadcast in January and February 1965.
It was certainly very funny, making a real pastiche of the Whodunnit? genre in general, and Agatha Christie in particular. Whilst it could have descended into farce, it resisted that route, and instead came across as clever, witty, and self-mocking. It was good fun spotting all the Agatha Christie title references, too. I think the only one I didn't spot first time was "N or M?"
There has been some controversy as to whether revealing the Vicar to be the alien Vespiform is a part of the Producer's atheist bias. I must confess as I watched it I thought, "oh no, they're going to make the vicar the killer." I suppose if you had to pick the least likely person to be the Alien/killer in the best Christie tradition, it have to be either Christie herself, or the vicar.
Still, it was all very good fun, and now we have a whole fortnight to wait for the next episode, written by the excellent Steven Moffat, "The Silence in the Library".
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