Two Wheels Good!

Perhaps, if I have the energy I will do a longer blog post about this year’s Northern Green Gathering, if not not. But for now, proof positive that I cycled all the way there and all the way back.



Observant readers (or reader would be a fine thing) of this blog will notice the Northern Green Pixie herself sipping one of her rose hip wines, one of the tastiest home made wines I have ever tasted. Herewith another picture of Gael



anyway, surprised more greenies did not cycle all the way, are Merrick and I a dying breed of cycle fetishists in the Green movement?

Splashdown Again!

I forget when I left the site of the Northern Green Gathering (aka Hippies Up North) yesterday, I think it was 1633 hhrs. Got safely back home to Old Blighty (Armley, Leeds) at about 2210. Not bad! It was a wonderful experience cycling. Glad my tyre survived the journey, had to pull two thorns out of it and fix 2 punctures before setting off, took me ages. Oh the hazards of the countryside.

I needed a holiday after Crowbar 2! I might just have had the holiday I needed, special thanks to NGG Wellbeing crew.

Camping times

Well, after Crowbar 2, I need a holiday!!!! JAH willing will put in an appearance at the northern green gathering.

Pictures from Hourne Farm

I originally planned to upload these pics with any commentry I felt moved. I hope to publish another post about what I did down in Sussex, but for now, perhaps a picture can paint a thousand words. I certainly learned that in art history. A few of the pics I am having difficulty rotating at the photobucket, so they will come later.



In the refrectory.




Contemplation of Lentil Soup



a path leading somewhere, a parable of life perhaps



The Mosaic in the yard



This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius!



A view of Sussex



The Swans



The swans from a distance



A vision of the New Jerusalem!



Behind the stable



Goethe, yer man!



Inside the Goethe Room



Musicians! And singers



The Open Space Timetable



Rise Up Singing!



Heather’s Café Choco Celtica!



Dodgy Quaker types………..



Firepit



Bluebell’s David Beckham sarong



Group Photo from the firepit



Michael’s Birthday



the last supper, or dinner



Chocolate cake



Orlando looking perplexed



DON’T MESS WITH THE CHEF!!



In the main meeting room. Who’s that fat bastard?




Everyone’s gone home



bluebell (endymion non-scriptus) again





The Library



Even a section on sex and marriage, popular subject!

Bluebell the Photographer (part 2)

A few weeks ago I wandered round the Aviaries in Armley. It was a hot sunny day and I took the following pictures.

Dodging Bombs and Bullets

Ello Fellow Creatures.

Well, I safely got to Hourne Farm and back and spent 6 days there at Community Building in Britain's "Facilitating Ourselves" gathering. It was held at Hourne Farm (or should that be Hourne Funny Farm) near Crowborough in Sussex, hence often referred to as Crowbar 2.



It was only passing through London on the way out that I kept hearing things about do not leave packages unattended due to the heightened security situation. Indeed at Victoria Coach and Underground Stations, such a reminder we got every two minutes.



But get a load of this! Boarded my coach at Victoria and the driver says that due to the heightened security thingy, we were to switch off all mobile phones, personal steroes and lap top computers. Failure to do so could result in being escorted off the coach by the Police. Driver subsequently tells us that some British Muslims from Leeds had been arrested on suspicion of terrorism, and that all our baggage would be searched by the police (some of them armed) when we arrived in Leeds. If we did arrive in Leeds that is, assuming there was no bomb on the coach….. Pretty spooky really. I did feel angry that the said terrorist suspects were described as muslims, I really do not see what difference it makes what religious profession terrorist suspects have. Or, more to the point, Al-Qaeda is a perversion of Islam, or as one muslim put it, terrorism has the same relationship to Islam as adultery has to marriage.

Anyway, as my coach was due to arrive in Leeds after the off licence was closed, I had scored a couple of cans of cider. I was going to need it. I was still in an altered state after Crowbar 2. And to be honest I still am! I am having the time of my life! Or rather I would be if I were not having spasms of that undiagnosed physical pain in my right cheek! Aghhh!!!!

So, likesay, prayed that we would arrive safely in Leeds and that our encounter with the Fuzz would be just part of life's rich tapestry. I had some anxiety that National Express terms and conditions re alcohol mite have included stuff in the bottom of the rucksack. Still, anti terroism police are not supposed to be looking for a can of cider or two.

And when we got to Leeds, nothing, no Police, armed or unarmed.

Got home, checked my Republican Mail, shut door to my room, opened cans of strongbow and wrote in my diary "Splashdown". An unforgettable trip if nothing else. More later.

Saving the Planet (Part One of an occasional series?)

“In and through true community lies the SALVATION of the world!”



Does anyone apart from me just feel it to be true?



I am running on empty, in severe pain, and of course am very depressed.

Very excited about attending, or still hoping to attend “Facilitating Ourselves” gathering, community building on the model of M Scott Peck and facilitating of such community. I think so anyway. Hold The Fort!

England's Dreaming!

"While much attention was focused then (and still is now) on the personal morals and theological speculations of the Ranters, their general outlook is more important for our present concerns. The Ranters included some of the most brilliant and perceptive young thinkers of the day, including Joseph Salmon, Jacob Bauthumley, and Abiezer Coppe. Their writings breath despair over circumstances offering no apparent way forward. Like the unemployed ranks of punks in England of the 1970's snarling 'no future,' the Ranters were a disturbed and disturbing presence within a receding utopian horizon."

(p88 "The Covenant Crucified-Quakers and the Rise of Capitalism" by Douglas Gwyn. Pendle Hill Publications, Wallingford, Pennsylvania, Amerika 1995)

The One And Only Jim Smith

Amerikans are Nuts! Either there really is a Jim Smith Society (motto: We Don’t Shun Fun) in Amerika or there is a spoof website. Membership is open to anyone by the name of Jim Smith. Apparently. Wonder if they wear name tags at their annual conference? And yes, the President is Jim Smith, the Treasurer is Jim Smith, the Secretary is Jim Smith and as for next years committee….

Now the thought of rectifying my name by statutory declaration to Jim Smith in order to join did occur. But somehow. It brightens up otherwise dull days to have official documents with Bluebell New Jerusalem Eikonoklastes on them. Not enough maybe but hey it costs nothing. Somehow Jim Smith just doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.

There is only one Bluebell Eikonoklastes. I put James Smith, Jim Smith and Jimmy Smith into

http://www.yournotme.co.uk

And it turns out that there are 6390, 57 and 22 respectively a grand total of 6469

And wondering how many Bluebell Eikonoklastes there are well there is only one.

“You are unique. You are one with the angry Squirrel. Shout 'I am the unique. I am unified with the badger overlord.' People will run away. That's because they're jealous. JEALOUS.. ”

Wikipediana (part one of an occasional series. Maybe)

Did text a few friends:-

“The following Emperors were Field Marshals in the British Army wilhelm 2nd of Germany, franz-josef of austria-hungary, hirohito of japan, sadam hussain of iraq”

amazing what you find on wikipedia. Love it!

My Friend Simon texted back saying he had a picture of Kaiser Bill in a kilt so did text him with

“I remember as a lad watching the news, a kilt was auctioned and bourght by Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada VC President of Uganda and conquerer of the british empire b”



anyway, noting wrong with men in skirts.

But back to Field Marshals. Funny, having made 2 enemy emporers high ranking officers in the British Army, you would think they would have learned a lesson. But no, the late Showa emporer as well was a 5 star general in “our” army. Pehaps, though finally that was the last straw and was the only reason why Sadam Hussain was not given a baton by the Queen. He was on our side once as well.

Original Watercolours by Bluebell (part one of an occasional series)

No Smoking





this and another original watercolour by Bluebell currently hung in the kitchen for health and safety reasons. Remember smoking is bad for your health. Don’t do it kidz!

For It Is Written....

Average Churchgoer OK, you made it! You scored 17 of 76!

Good job! OK, some of the tough ones may have tripped you up, or maybe your memory got confused, but on average you know what's what. You could probably look up the answers and do better next time--in fact, I invite you to do just that!

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 9% on halos

Link: The Bible Test written by pratfall on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

LET THE SUN SHINE! (part two)

Likesay, my digital camera has its’ limitations. LET THE SUN SHINE IN! Above picture taken in Oblong. Below is a picture of said hanging in it’s context with Oblong’s Punk in Chief Duncan enjoying the sunshine.

May the Government be Dammed! (part two)

It comes as a shock to the system to learn that two veteran sixty something peace activists are being charged under supposedly anti-terrorism legislation which could see them facing a year in the state pen. See article in Independent.

Ok yes there is a personal side to this in that Sylvia Boyes is a personal friend and a Sister in the Lord.

Anyway. Why the National ID database? To combat terrorism? Hardly. Suicide bombers have passports if they need and if they needed them would have ID cards in their own name. To combat ordinary crime? Er no. Police State? Ah that was the reason wasn’t it Tony?

May the Government be Dammed!

Pictures of Pussy on the Internet (part two of an occasional series)

Since Gael asked for more pictures of pussy and less quizzes…………..

Already A Master Photograhper! Er well maybe not

Here at Oblong Resource Centre there are lots of workers and peasants hard at work creating a new and just and beautiful society. Alas since they are all camera shy I can’t take any pictures. Much respect.

First a view from Cardigan Road





now a view from the rosebank




another view from the Rosebank





OK pics are not so good at the moment need a bit more tender love and care in a graphics programme, and my camera has it’s limitations. Or perhaps I am still on a learning curve