Building the New Jerusalem

Composed this entry yesterday. Had a few technical difficulties posting it.

My empathy, compassion and solidarity, for what it’s worth, for all the casualties of the Indian Ocean Seismic Wave. Including Dickie Attenborough.

Enjoy!

=================================

My home improvements are off to a slow start. It has taken me over 2 years to borrow a drill. Still, finally drill hit wall today. Then headed into town for more screws and some DIY advice. Was going to buy some curtain rails but I seriously underestimated the price. Don’t worry, I am not Scrooge, and I will cough up the wonga when I have slept on it.

Anyway, was listening to State Controlled Radio when what should be on at 1330 hundred hours but a programme called “And Did Those Feet” it being 200 years since the immortal William Blake wrote Jerusalem – the Glastonbury Hymn, England’s national anthem.

OK, a bit of a long blog this one but it will be worth it.

So yes, I forget which commentator/interviewee said it but Blake was part of English Dissent as shown by the fact that if you visit Bunhill Fields Burial Ground in London you will find his grave there along with those of Daniel Defoe and John Bunyan (as well as Cromwells, and Wesleys, and the chap who invented life assurance). Alas, I have not yet scanned my pictures of John and Daniel’s graves, but here I am at the Blake’s memorial.

Many thanks to Nikki for making said visit possible, and for the picture.

Anyway, I am beginning to ramble. There seems to be a conservative theory of history that dissent is very un English. I funnily enough dissent from such a theory. What could be more English than Dissent? And of course Blake was a Republican as all right thinking Englishmen and Englishwomen are (oops yes this is a touch rhetorical, I do have royalist friends, or at least I hope I still do LOL! But hey! this is my blog and please allow some venting of my roaring passions). Indeed he was vehement in his attacks on warmongering Prime Ministers (ahem are you listening Tony?) and the established “church”.

Again, one conservative contributor seemed to be saying that “Jerusalem” would be fine for a national anthem but “would you want a revolutionary to write your national anthem? Well, this is England, and a revolutionary did. Again, ironically for a country not unknown for squalid imperialism and xenophobia, Jerusalem is entirely devoid of imperialism, jingoism, xenophobia or narrow nationalism of any kind.

Maybe this is not quite the entry I had planned. And yes, my ringtone on my mobile phone is….. Jerusalem.

Of course, the words by Blake are only part of the story. Charles H H Parry was justly proud of the music he composed for it. Parry was described as socialist leaning in the programme, perhaps left of centre would be a bit safer. Not again quite a card carrying conservative, even if an old Etonian. George Orwell went to Eton as well. And to his credit again, Parry was unequivocal in his support for votes for women.

OK. I will come clean. I am a fan of Blake. I am for my sins, which are multiplied, oh lord they are multiplied (Prayer of Manassas verse 9 if you must) English. I am an English Republican, Internationalist, moderate anarchist and moderate pacifist. Something stirs inside me every time I hear Blake’s Jerusalem.

Something else. I profess not to be a nationalist. Was M K Ghandi a nationalist? I remember Dickie Attenborough being interviewed in a programme about Humphrey Jennings, the maker of propaganda films in the last unpleasantness (not counting the Gulf wars and all the other unpleasantnesses since the last unpleasantness, when will we ever learn…..). Dickie said that Jennings was a great patriot, “……but of course being left wing you are not supposed to say that”.

Here’s to the eternal memory of William Blake!

Taken in an alehouse near Bunhill Fields. Cheers Nikki!

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand!

Till we have built! Jerusalem!

Right, to bed.

Happy Solstice!

It is that time of year again. Winter solstice was at about 12:40 universal time today, so tonight is the night.

Will do a solitary ritual including the sacrifice of a can of special brew to Odin.

Our summer! will come again!

Happy hippy Yule one and all. Blessed Be!

Desiderata

The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what makes you ache for and if you dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me to know how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive. It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow. If you have been opened by love’s betrayals, or if you have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own. If you can dance with the wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without conditioning us to be realistic, be careful or to remember the limitations of being human. It doesn’t interest me to know if the story you are telling is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself, if you can bear the accusations of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can see the beauty even when it’s not pretty every day and if you can source your life to its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, mine or your own and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon YES! It doesn’t interest me to know how much money you earn or might have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done for the children. It does not interest me to know who you are or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back. It does not interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if your truly like the company you keep, in the empty moments.

Silly Quiz an occasional series no doubt

You know, I never liked the word slut. It sounds negative. Slag at least sounds a bit more positive. If you are a man who likes sleeping with women, should this be viewed in any way negatively? Why is this not a cause for celebration? And likewise if you are a woman who likes sleeping with men? (and yes, goes without saying if you are a man who likes sleeping with other men and so on…. Yes I am a card carrying liberal as stated in this blog passim). And not that sex should ever be seen as something compulsory. Though after 3 months of abstinence I am gnawing at the furniture!

Why do I live in such a sexually repressive society?

Anyway, with a bit of help I could probably get a bit higher than 59% any nubile ladies care to be of assistance? ;)

Management without fear?

Well. It was nice to receive an invite for the Edward Boyle Memorial Lecture 2004, in the centenary year of the University of Leeds.

It seems that Edward Boyle was a Conservative Secretary of State for Education, who resigned from Politics and became Vice Chancellor of the University of Leeds. Then he died prematurely, so a memorial lecture has been set up in his honour. The said lecture is delivered in alternate years at the University of Leeds and The Royal Society of Arts (or to be an anorak, cheers Greg, The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce.

Anyway, the lecturer this year was given by Greg Dyke, currently unemployed of Peckham. His last job was as director general of the BBC. Prior to that, he had worked in television.

So, likesay, Greg resigned as DG in the wake of the Hutton Report. Amazingly, there was then a walkout at the BBC. So, was there something right about Greg’s style of management? Well tonight he went as far to say, amongst other things that a leader should care about those he or she leads. Sounds rather reminiscent of Robert Greenleaf’s “Servant Leadership”. YAY! In terms of management theory, I don’t think I heard anything new this evening, which is not to knock Greg Dyke, oh contraire! I was impressed by his passion and belief and that he might just have made it happen (anyone working for Auntie care to confirm or deny this?). He described a “climate of fear” in the BBC when he took over, which sounds just a bit like my previous employer Babylon Foods, but let’s not go there.

After the said lecture, delivered in the Great Hall, we adjourned to the Parkinson Court for drinks, YAY! First and no doubt last time I get a drink on the University. And then meeting some members or Union Council and a member of the University Court who used to be on Senate as a student representative and is now back at Uni as a member or the Court of Governors (as representative of the regional TUC), to the Old Bar for a pint. We did indeed neglect to invite Greg Dyke to Fruity, the Friday night at Leeds University Union’s award winning in house night club, but that was not my job it was Mitchell’s’ since he is going to be FCS officer next year. And I am not up for Fruity, I am an ancient relic who finds clubbing a crushing bore and all that.

Baa!

Cheers Class War!

Certified!

Here it is folks I been certified yay!



Well, the bidding notice for the presentation of certificates said kick off at 1730 100hrs was milling about with Nikki and her partner Farran from 1705 only to learn that the actual kick off would be at 1800 100hrs. Would you believe it on the list of certificates or certificatees (persons to be presented with a certificate) I at first thought my name was spelled right, something I had worried about as every letter I get from the School of Continuing Education is Mr Bluebell New Jerusal Eikonoklastes or similar. Then I noticed that yes New Jerusalem and Eikonoklastes where spelled right but they had missed the first l in bluebell. Or rather Nikki did. And the nibbles where good, I feel quite full indeed. And there was orange juice, coffee and wine! YAY!

I was number 21, 32 certificates where dished out. A round of applause was given for the friends, family, partners, etceteras of all the students and teachers in the school. Many thanks to Nikki and Farran, and indeed my erstwhile housemates at Cornerstone. Who (cornerstone not Nikki and Farran) when I explained that I was doing an essay on the Spanish Civil War and Spanish Revolution (or more correctly the Great Revolution in the Spanish State of 1936 ce) had never heard of it. Now that’s what I call Anarchy!

Now to put the finishing touches to my workbook. Ah in “Doctor in the House” (the film not the series) there is a lovely quote, viz, “an education can last a lifetime, if you want it to”. But that was then.

Will post the photo when it is developed and all that.

Scarecrow is presented with a certificate by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Right. Just got a few administrative tasks before certificate presentations. The School of Continuing Education of the University of Leeds is presenting me with a certificate in historical studies. YAY!

Charity Spectacular!!!

It is that time of the year again. The Cornerstone November party at number 16, except it is December.

Traditionally the number 16 party is fancy dress, arguably it has declined in recent years. Anyway, the theme is “Charity Spectacular”. At last minute, viz this afternoon I was tearing round the charity shops of Headingley. The only thing I could find in anything near “fat bastard” size was a size18 grey skirt covered in silver thingies… I can just about get into it but it shows that the bumps are now firmly in the wrong places, viz that my attack of road protestors sickness (too much special brew) has got out of hand. What the hell, tomorrow I go on a diet. Yes I have had a shot of whiskey before blogging this. No generally charity shops are not a good place to shop if you are outsized….

Anyway, the Cornerstone fancy dress party is my once a year opportunity to wear a skirt so I am up for it. Carpe Diem!

Pleasant weekend one and all! Party on!

And for a brief moment life seemed more beautiful

Perhaps history is rarely tidy. Perhaps it should be untidy at times. The truth, after all is usually, probably always in fact, paradoxical.

In 1610 in Utrecht there was a disturbance, the militia asked the city council to resign, which they did, funny how the council where unwilling to argue with men with guns. Prior to Emperor Charles V’s “reforms”, the city council had been chosen by the guilds (allowing some popular choice in local government), Charles decided to appoint them instead. So, it was an appointed council which was overthrown, the militia choosing instead a council more in line (at least in the view of the militia) to be acceptable to the citizens of Utrecht. So, the militia are overruled and the old appointed city council is restored.

But I digress. It turns out at the time that there was controversy in the Dutch Reformed Church between highly disciplined orthodox Calvinists and a more tolerant “libertine” group. For a moment, life seemed more beautiful, to know that once there had been “Libertine Calvinists” a most fascinating concept. But no, perhaps I misread my source documents. But oh to have some grim Calvinists drinking, smoking and fornicating. For a moment life seemed more beautiful.

Once walking between Headingley and Chapeltown in Leeds I passed a “Strict and Particular Baptist” church. Went to their Sunday service once. All the sisters where in gothic black, and all the men where dressed as penguins. I am still looking for some Lax and Unfussy Baptists. Let me know if you find any.

La Reyne le vault! Tally Ho!

Tally ho!

it cannot be controverted that the Hunting Act 2004 is, just, righteous, progressive, unprejudiced and fabulous! It is just 100 or so years overdue! It is also for me a silver lining on a lot of clouds.

Of course the Countryside Alliance are talking a load of bollocks. Grow up! OK it is not going to happen. But Game Over guys!

Oh and civil disobedience. No there is not a basic human right to torture animals for pleasure. Hunt with dogs in 90 days time in England and Wales and you are a common criminal. Ok, you might well get away with it, you probably see the Old Bill as your private security firm. But bloodsports have always been immoral, and from 18th October hunting with dogs will be illegal too.

I wonder if they really are shagging sheep when not torturing foxes… It would explain a bit of mental impairment. Britain’s ruling elite has been riddled with it since time immemorial. But I dirgress.

So celebrate everyone. Crack open the champagne Countryside Alliance! The nation rejoices! Join us!

Tally Ho!

Whitehouse Cigar anyone?

Found on Girl Friday’s blog

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

social chameleon me? Well, said test is dependent on honesty of person who took test. Hmm. Well, I don’t think I have been known on Union Council for reflecting prevailing currents of opinion….. Whitehouse cigar anyone? Do you spit or inhale?

Re: muppet spectacular

Likesay, feel moved to publish this one. Hi Shelly if you read this! Likesay another one posted to faceparty.

Hello new readers of this blog. Don’t forget to read everything in the archive.

***********************************************************

Re: muppet spectacular

Hi Shelly

> Who is Richard Bach?

a false preacher of feelgood daffodil spirituality. Famous for "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull" well worth a read and "Illusions - the adventures of a reluctant messiah" which is inspiring, but likesay pretty crass daffodil feelgood spirituality. I do agree with him that your one obligation in this lifetime is to be true to yourself (as, you cannot be true to yourself and crooked with your neighbours, loved ones and God)

> 58% wow think Ive talked to at least 58% of women having extra marital affairs lol....Ive never cheated on a partner while in a relationship ...but had a few flings with married and attached guys over the past few years.

kool! remember folk song matty groves. never consort with a married woman. and if you do make it your place not hers in case her hubby comes back with a Kalashnikov. why do people get so jealous...

> I can see women cheating if the husbands not very good in bed or satisfying them .

hmmm interesting. my problem with having monogamy as a compulsory ideal is that what if, there is not for one person, one other person who will satisfy all their needs and desires. a lot of mono relationships go down the pan of co-dependency where one or both partners give up too much viz their friends, career, education, hobbies, friends, sex life. and yes, my best friend is mono and is in an exclusive relationship.

likesay, how often I wonder can one other person satisfy all one other persons physical needs and desires alone. Many a letter to the red top tabloids agony aunts has a man written about how he and his wife are so much in love but she is insatiable physically..... it happens

love and liberation

bluebell xxx

Almost persuaded…… (Acts 26:28)

Hangover free day number one. Fancy a Christian?



http://www.wherechristiansmeet.com

My current condition. I am feeling very lonely. I have more than a few practical theological issues to deal with. Mostly an ex friend who has had a few psychotic episodes, one of which was prolonged, and I was there for her throughout. I would feel bad about myself if I terminated a friendship on the grounds of a friend’s severe mental health difficulty. And to be honest, I think most people I know would have. Was chatting to a Friend last night who pointed out that yes, this friendship died, or was killed due to said ex friend’s character flaws. Hmmm. Yes I know, it would be wrong to terminate a friendship on the grounds that said friend had character flaws/was a sinner. I would have very few friends if I did. True enough I have very few friends, but no. This was a case of constructive dismissal. This was a close friendship and in close friendships we risk pain as well as well as finding joy (Advices and Queries 21 QFP 1:02). I took risks, too many perhaps, came away terminally hurt. And yes down to her character flaws, but more importantly her failure to repent. No I would not end a friendship on the grounds that said friend was a sinner. And yes, last year I learned that being ethical is not just about doing the right thing, it is about taking the flak for it. And yes, at the end of the day, I made the mistake of assuming that our friendship meant something to her. You cannot make someone love you, and a friend, pace any English dictionary, is someone you love and loves you.

Funnily enough, there seem to be very few “Fuck Off out of my life forever!” songs, despite popular music’s obsession with romance. The one that sort of springs to mind is “It’s too late baby” by Carole King. Thing is there is no we in it for me. I was trying she was not.

Now. Back to Christians. Just occasionally spam amuses me. The more I look at this site the more I giggle. Firstly, no, “Christians” hardly inflame passion down in the basement, nothing quite fells my timber like a “Christian”, which of course is the whole point innit? “No sex please we are Christians”.

Next. Funny how it seems to be Amerika only. Some personal columns seem to be restricted to Amerika because of the software design, viz having a required field of zip code or state. And of course us non Amerikans have not been given a zip code yet. And the 51st state never gets listed under Amerika. Still I chuckle. I am sure many non Christians would love for Christianity to be confined to Amerika. Far be it from me to wonder if some Amerikans are so insular and Chauvinistic as to consider all Non Amerikans as to be beyond salvation, and perhaps in need of conversion to Amerikanism before conversion to “Christianity”. Cue Landover Baptist Church where the worthwhile worship, the unsaved are unwelcome, and the unsaved include foreigners ipso facto.

Further. I am a little shocked that they don’t ask for relationship type. I am sure this is just an oversight on their part. After all I am sure they sincerely wish every Christian to find a respectable mono relationship and would not wish to indulge in the sin of homophobia. Perhaps if I emailed them they would put this one right.

Next. Must confess I do agree with them setting the minimum age at 25. Ooops I secretly believe that no one should marry too young, or do a marriage relationship under the age of 25. If only the under 25’s would stick to fun sex and loving poly relationships. If only the over 25’s would as well but that is another story. Fornicate to the glory of God young person!

Finally. Curious that this site has a minimum income of 25 000 USD but no maximum income. Have these guys not read the bible?

Almost persuaded? Not in my case but don’t be taken in! BEWARE OF FALSE PREACHERS!!!! You have been warned.

Knickers and socks

It is 0511 hhrs, I have not slept. Finally catching up (much too late, sorry Seb) with minuteing a committee which I accidently got myself elected secretary of. To wit SEC. Now if all goes to plan, bearing in mind this is Leeds University Union, we are talking about, transport to NUS extraordinary conference leaves 0630 hhrs. So HASTA!

Friday bought myself some new knickers and socks. Oh and a sweatshirt. Saturday went to Bradford and bought t shirt, jogging bottoms and fleece jacket from market. Today did my laundry. Just as I was running out of clothing.

Cue Part of the Union by the strawbs. Yup I know, more male orientated that woody guthrie's original union maid. I just remember it from childhood. But then when I was a lad there was such a thing as unions....

Keep on dreaming!

George Bush drives me to drink!

Bloody hell! They re elected that twit in the Whitehouse! Is Amerika a nation of Homer Simpsons!?!?! You plonkers! Oh well, that’s democracy. I remain a radical democrat.

Got lost on the way to Kabal’s temple. Would not have been so much of a problem except, had another 8 Kabalistas with me, and it was my responsibility to get them safely into the temple…. Thankfully another member of the Kommittee saved the day. Hope being route marched by Bluebell has not deterred anyone from attending future Kabal events. I really am a plonker!

After short Samhain ritual, did adjourn to John T.’s cottage to watch the coverage of the Amerikan Election. Cheers John for the goldstrike!

Currently hitting the special brew and praying for George Bush.

I blame John Kerry. Come back Bill Clinton, all is forgiven. Well maybe not and God bless the 2 term rule. At least he had the balls to see off Bush the Elder.

Yes, I have been living down a pothole in Patagonia for the last 2 decades, so my analysis of Amerikan politics is based on limited info. That said. It strikes me that alas, Kerry did not sell his vision of Amerika in the way that say, Clinton, Reagan, or Bush the younger did. Indeed, alas, I don’t think he really has one. He is too wet. It is no good that Bush the Younger has a credibility gap, a challenger with balls was needed. Cheers John!

Agree with John T. Why did not Kerry, or Dukakis for that matter, when accused of Liberalism say, “Yes! I am a Liberal. Amerika is a Liberal republic. The opposite of Liberalism is bigotry and tyranny. Amerika rise up and overthrow the tyrannical regime of George the Fifth with your votes!”

YES I AM A LIBERAL!

All The Leaves Are Brown

…….. and the sky is grey. Alcohol free day number 19. Great fun no doubt to be had at the Kabal Samhain ritual. It is raining, the sky is grey, it will be dark before 1530 hhrs, but thankfully I won’t be doing site preparation as it clashes with a committee meeting, my role is to round the godly people up on the steps of the Union and lead them in an exodus to our temple in a green wood. Somewhere.

Oh, and message for anyone reading this in Amerika. Please don’t re-elect that twit in the Whitehouse. His presidency so far has been an unmitigated disaster. In any other part of the world he would not be elected even onto a parish council, he has a credibility gap.

Welcome to my private diary. It might as well be. Although. One thing I agree with Richard Bach in my current condition is, live never to regret if something you write is published somewhere in the world. Also, may I add an expansion. Write, caring not if anyone reads it.

“but what canst thou say? Art thou a child of Light and hast walked in the Light, and what thou speakest is it inwardly from God?" George Fox 1652 (Quaker Faith and Practice 19:07)

hey it is 1637 hhrs GMT and it is dark. The joys of living at higher latitudes (same latitude as Southern Alaska).


Hasta!

Monogamous Society? I think not!

Female Reader’s poll, New Woman magazine March 1994

58% had had sex with a man other than their husband
86% had thought about having an affair
84% of those who had affairs did not tell their husbands
60% of those having affairs also described themselves as “happily married”.
54% of those having affairs did not feel at all guilty about it
58% believe their marriage is the same or better since having an affair
46% of those having affairs stay married to their husband because they still love him.

Quoted by Merrick in “Sexyouality- challenging the culture of monogamy”

Samhain

Alcohol free day number 17. Well, 18 really. Like despite not drinking, feel rough as shit. Still here. Not complaining. All will be well again.

Happy Samhain one and all! Did an early early Samhain last night at Niki and Gaz’s house warming party. Nothing like doing a ritual at a party. Kabal’s Samhain ritual is on Tuesday, in a green wood. It might rain.

Species of Blogger?

Hangover free day number 14. Blatantly ripped off from Human Oddities and Mishaps. Time I had a counter to see how many people are not visiting this blog. Am I paranoid or what?

You Are a Pundit Blogger!

Your blog is smart, insightful, and always a quality read. Truly appreciated by many, surpassed by only a few.

What kind of blogger are you?

I tell you no lies! ;)