Really digging this Local and Regional History vibe! I could have gone to New York! I could have gone to Ibiza! I could have gone to Thailand! But no on Saturday I went to Armley! Keep It Real!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
If you want to get a hat get a head
This is actually a top hat not bad for a self portrait. Well if I didn’t take pictures of me nobody else would. I am actually hard at work on a field trip to Armley Mills.
Really digging this Local and Regional History vibe! I could have gone to New York! I could have gone to Ibiza! I could have gone to Thailand! But no on Saturday I went to Armley! Keep It Real!
Really digging this Local and Regional History vibe! I could have gone to New York! I could have gone to Ibiza! I could have gone to Thailand! But no on Saturday I went to Armley! Keep It Real!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Magick, Freedom and a Sense of Power!
"'People doing it say "there is something magical about this lifestyle
to me... because it is living an alternative, it's living a
contradiction to all the standard programming and the way that
everyone expects you to be. Whenever you are doing something that is
different from the norm, there is a magic to it, a freedom and a sense
of power."'"
to me... because it is living an alternative, it's living a
contradiction to all the standard programming and the way that
everyone expects you to be. Whenever you are doing something that is
different from the norm, there is a magic to it, a freedom and a sense
of power."'"
(from Loving More: The Polyfidelity Primer by Ryam
Nearing quoted by Gyan Nisarg in article Communal Sex Lib in turn
included in "Sexyouality - Challenging the culture of Monogamy" edited
by Merrick and published by Godhaven Ink)
Indifference Is NOT the Same as Caring
The article below is published in the April/May 2007 newsletter of Carlton Hill (Leeds) Preparative Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (the not so pecular people called Quakers).
In December 2002 an attender at Carlton Hill was severely ill. A small group of Carlton Hill Friends, I being one of them, did what they could to help. This resulted in a state of rather messy conflict between me and the said attender, which, is still ongoing, (read permanent). For this reason I felt unsafe to attend meeting for worship, and was only attending when on door keeping rota, once every 8 weeks. The meeting was not initially unsupportive. The small group of Friends helping said attender were of some support initially. Some later proved to be broken reeds (Isaiah 36:6 if you must)
What really hurts, however, is the reaction, or rather lack of any reaction I have had since I first became infrequent in attendance at Carlton Hill, and then began a prolonged period of not attending Meeting for Worship or any other activity in the Meeting House.
What is really shocking is that, I understand that I was on the door-keeping rota and there was no reaction for 3 months to my not turning up to do door-keeping (the reason being that I did not have a copy of the door keeping rota). Does Carlton Hill PM not even value Friends prepared to be on the door-keeping rota? It hurts that Friends went out of their way NOT to get in touch with me. Likesay nobody phoned, nobody wrote nobody emailed. My contact details were in the yellow book. So much for being a Society of Friends!
Then in January 2004 I passed a Friend in the street outside the Meeting House who said “Bluebell we missed you”. This really really hurt! and just as I was considering a return to Carlton Hill…. I know when I am being bullshited! Quit the hypocrisy Friends!
I came to Carlton Hill wanting to belong. For 3 years I tried everything, I did not turn away anyone who reached out to me, though I could name Friends who I reached out to and did not reach back to me. Friends! It would seem that while professing to be Friends we do not befriend the person in the next pew. Especially not if they are “different”. So much for being a Peculiar People!
Likesay, I will be back to Meeting for Worship, but Friends! when I do return, don’t tell me how much you care when you do not, or you will get a bit of good old fashioned Quaker plain speaking from me. Likesay, indifference is not caring.
Britain Yearly Meeting’s Epistle 2003 said that we should ask the question how much community we have in our local meetings and how open and welcoming we are. The level of true community at Carlton Hill is disgracefully low. On the whole, Carlton Hill PM is a false community. Don’t get me wrong, probably better than most meetings in BYM. Why is it as Quakers that we are, probably quite good at building community at national and international level, and pretty lousy at local level?
Conflict within Carlton Hill has been badly handled. There is a bulging carpet because too much has been swept under it. This is again a sign of false community. Again, there is a myth that messy conflict is the worse place to be, when it is often, probably always, healthier than false community.
One Friend described the Plymouth Brethren Assembly that he had attended as a student as outwardly welcoming but rigidly hierarchical underneath. Sounds a lot like Carlton Hill (apart from the outwardly welcoming bit). Another thing I have learned about how Carlton Hill seems to work in practice is that a Committee is a group of individuals who all believe that nothing can be done who resolve to take no action. That is of course if it actually meets. Ah commitment problems...
And don’t get me wrong. In this ocean of snow, there has been, if not a sea of palms, at least some moving signs of hope, such as the card sent by one Friend after I was badly attacked (resulting in head injuries and a broken skull). Also my overseer has been supportive through my prolonged accommodation crisis (though I have had to badger him to be so, and I really do not have the energy). I feel I have been tolerated in my time at Carlton Hill. But tolerance is not enough. Indifference is not caring. We are a worshiping community insofar as we are a true community and no further.
Bluebell Eikonoklastes
Indifference Is NOT the Same as Caring
In December 2002 an attender at Carlton Hill was severely ill. A small group of Carlton Hill Friends, I being one of them, did what they could to help. This resulted in a state of rather messy conflict between me and the said attender, which, is still ongoing, (read permanent). For this reason I felt unsafe to attend meeting for worship, and was only attending when on door keeping rota, once every 8 weeks. The meeting was not initially unsupportive. The small group of Friends helping said attender were of some support initially. Some later proved to be broken reeds (Isaiah 36:6 if you must)
What really hurts, however, is the reaction, or rather lack of any reaction I have had since I first became infrequent in attendance at Carlton Hill, and then began a prolonged period of not attending Meeting for Worship or any other activity in the Meeting House.
What is really shocking is that, I understand that I was on the door-keeping rota and there was no reaction for 3 months to my not turning up to do door-keeping (the reason being that I did not have a copy of the door keeping rota). Does Carlton Hill PM not even value Friends prepared to be on the door-keeping rota? It hurts that Friends went out of their way NOT to get in touch with me. Likesay nobody phoned, nobody wrote nobody emailed. My contact details were in the yellow book. So much for being a Society of Friends!
Then in January 2004 I passed a Friend in the street outside the Meeting House who said “Bluebell we missed you”. This really really hurt! and just as I was considering a return to Carlton Hill…. I know when I am being bullshited! Quit the hypocrisy Friends!
I came to Carlton Hill wanting to belong. For 3 years I tried everything, I did not turn away anyone who reached out to me, though I could name Friends who I reached out to and did not reach back to me. Friends! It would seem that while professing to be Friends we do not befriend the person in the next pew. Especially not if they are “different”. So much for being a Peculiar People!
Likesay, I will be back to Meeting for Worship, but Friends! when I do return, don’t tell me how much you care when you do not, or you will get a bit of good old fashioned Quaker plain speaking from me. Likesay, indifference is not caring.
Britain Yearly Meeting’s Epistle 2003 said that we should ask the question how much community we have in our local meetings and how open and welcoming we are. The level of true community at Carlton Hill is disgracefully low. On the whole, Carlton Hill PM is a false community. Don’t get me wrong, probably better than most meetings in BYM. Why is it as Quakers that we are, probably quite good at building community at national and international level, and pretty lousy at local level?
Conflict within Carlton Hill has been badly handled. There is a bulging carpet because too much has been swept under it. This is again a sign of false community. Again, there is a myth that messy conflict is the worse place to be, when it is often, probably always, healthier than false community.
One Friend described the Plymouth Brethren Assembly that he had attended as a student as outwardly welcoming but rigidly hierarchical underneath. Sounds a lot like Carlton Hill (apart from the outwardly welcoming bit). Another thing I have learned about how Carlton Hill seems to work in practice is that a Committee is a group of individuals who all believe that nothing can be done who resolve to take no action. That is of course if it actually meets. Ah commitment problems...
And don’t get me wrong. In this ocean of snow, there has been, if not a sea of palms, at least some moving signs of hope, such as the card sent by one Friend after I was badly attacked (resulting in head injuries and a broken skull). Also my overseer has been supportive through my prolonged accommodation crisis (though I have had to badger him to be so, and I really do not have the energy). I feel I have been tolerated in my time at Carlton Hill. But tolerance is not enough. Indifference is not caring. We are a worshiping community insofar as we are a true community and no further.
Bluebell Eikonoklastes
ENFP
ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population. |
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Androphage Attenborough moments (or Shag it! Kill it! Eat it!)
Did text my brother
“Gr8 Attenborough Moment with mail spider of 1 species trying 2 pull female 10 times his side who mite mistake him 4 dinner (there’s female intelligence 4 U!) & mite eat him anyway.. our chap succeeded nicely & red hot arachnid nookie ensued and he still got eaten so every1 happy the calories will come in handy & he won’t b able 2 cheat on her our chap has passed on his jeans which I am told is the meaning of life think of his big androphage daughters b x”
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Naughty Naughty!!
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| Wannabe Naughty You scored 50 Naughtiness! |
| Pretty average |
My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:
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Tuesday, March 13, 2007
In taberna quando sumus
Yet another portrait of Bluebell. This time in the alehouse with Professor Papadopoulos. Hi Fotis if you are reading this! Cheers for the camerawork. Did take pictures of the Prof but I am sure he is much to shy for me to publish them on the internet.
Look at all that hair! I need a haircut mega urgent! Hi Janet if you are reading this love you!
Look at all that hair! I need a haircut mega urgent! Hi Janet if you are reading this love you!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
The School Bus
I was waiting for a bus home to Armley at a bus stop on the Headrow in Leeds. At about 2230 hhrs. And this School Bus stops at the next stop. It would appear to be a school bus, but I didn’t want to go to school….. Perhaps it is the night school bus…. Or maybe the big scholars who got out were in detention….
Delivering safe transport to schools….
Delivering safe transport to schools….
The Wee Room
A friend (hello Chris 93) popped into the house for coffee. I gave him very good directions to the throne room but alas he nearly lost his way. So verily I put up a sign, future visitors will be in no doubt.
Here the sign in close up
Here the sign in close up
Quaker Smarty-Pants
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| Quaker Smarty-Pants You scored 97 in QuakerKnowledge! |
| You are either a Quaker, you know one personally, or you're just a good guesser. Either way, give yourself a pat on the back - you deserve it. I don't need to tell you that the answer to the "Who is not a Quaker" question was "John Lennon," since you probably already knew that. To learn even more about the Quakers, check 'em out on Wikipedia: Wikipedia's Quakerism Entry And, if you have any suggestions for more questions for this test, send them my way. Thanks for taking the Quaker Knowledge Test! Not that you need most of them, but here are the official answers (feel free to debate me on my scoring - I'm always hoping to improve the test): 1. Who is the founder of Quakerism? George Fox – there is little debate that George Fox (July 1624 – January 13, 1691) was the founder of Quakerism, or at least a major figure in the beginning. 2. Are quakers historically good at making oatmeal? It depends on the Quaker – this is a question that refers to similar questions that Quakers get asked all the time implying a link to the company Quaker Oats, which, rumor has it, took the image and name of Quakers because they were known to be fair and trustworthy business people. There is no association with real Quakers. The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia.org’s entry on Quaker Oats: “Quaker Oats has no connection to the Religious Society of Friends also known as the Quakers. The company chose its name because Quakers are reputed for honesty in their dealings. The antiquated image used by Quaker Oats looks nothing like a modern Quaker as that form of dress has been abandoned by the religious movement for quite some time. Many members of the Religious Society of Friends do not approve of the name usage by the company as the company was not founded by Quakers and does not follow the same codes of behavior Quakers follow. They believe the company's use of their name is dishonest behavior and, at best, causes public confusion, even to the point that many people assume they are similar to the Amish in their customs and beliefs.” 3. Quakers generally worship in... Meeting Houses – Quakerism was founded with the belief that god could communicate with people wherever they were, and people did not need a special place to hear god within themselves. Many “meetings for worship” were held in open fields or in nature. Quaker meeting houses bear little resemblance to churches – they are simple and without religious adornments. 4. You can tell if a person is a Quaker just by looking at them because... They cannot necessarily be identified from the outside because they dress just like anyone else – See above question about Quaker Oats for a possible reason why people still believe that Quakers dress like the Amish. In fact, Quakers became known for dressing in black and white and grey because they were protesting the vanity of fashion and were maintaining simplicity according to their interpretation of Jesus’ teachings in that regard. Most Quakers do not dress like this any more, but some Quakers make an effort to avoid clothes made in sweatshops. 5. Quakers believe in... God Jesus Christ The Inner Light Who knows? It could be all three – I gave this the top score of the four because there is significant diversity within Quakerism about what they believe, even some who identify as both Quaker and Atheist. 6. Quakers are allowed to use electricity... Any time they want – Again, this addresses a popular confusion relating to the Amish. 7. Did a Quaker start the company Quaker Oats? No – Not to put to fine a point on it, but most people who don’t know a Quaker personally think they are similar to the Amish because of this company, which, as stated above, was not started by anyone associated with the Religious Society of Friends. (Side note: Cadbury’s Chocolate Company was founded by Quakers). 8. The Quaker testimonies are... Ever evolving general statements of belief Peace, Equality, Honesty, Simplicity Both the previous two answers – I gave this answer top scoring. There are variations on the four mentioned, but they seem to be the main and mostly consistent Quaker testimonies. 9. Unprogrammed Quaker worship is... A group of Quakers sitting around in silence until they are moved to speak out from it – Ideally, Quakers are supposed to wait in silence, listening to “that of God” or the “Inner Light” within themselves, and only speak out of the silence if there is something the spirit wants them to say. In practice, Quakers are not always speaking from such a deep place within themselves, but the ideal is there. 10. Who from this list is not a Quaker? John Lennon – Musician – though Lennon’s ideas about and promotion of peace is consistent with Quaker testimonies and general consensus about peace, Lennon was never a Quaker. Richard Nixon, however was raised as an Evangelical Quaker, which is pretty far removed from the kind of Quaker I am talking about in this test (i.e. Unprogrammed Friends). 11. The official full name for Quakers is... The Religious Society of Friends – “Quaker” was a term that a judge used to mock George Fox and his followers before Fox was imprisoned for Blasphemy in 1650. Fox had said “tremble at the word of the Lord.” 12. According to Quaker beliefs... There is "that of god in everyone." – this is a pretty fundamental belief for most Quakers, and the root of their emphasis on fair treatment, honesty, non-violence and respect for all people. 13. A Quaker who commands a lot of respect among other Quakers is called... A Weighty Friend – I’m not sure of the origin of this, but it is still in use to this day. 14. Quaker decision-making process is... Inclusive Consensus – Quaker business meetings are essentially consensus based with the belief that all those who are to be affected by a decision should be allowed to be a part of making that decision. Business decisions are supposed to be “spirit-led”, and usually there is an attempt to have significant stretches of silence to help people in the meeting get in touch with the Inner Light to help guide them while making decisions. 15. Quakers have been controversial in the past because... Some of them have conducted same-sex marriages They were involved in the Underground Railroad to help free the slaves They did not follow the social rules of addressing people (Sir, Your Honor, etc) All of the above – this was given the top score out of the four, but these are only a sampling of some controversial Quaker events. Quakers tend to be very motivated by social conscience and thus have been involved in many struggles to end oppression or war. 16. Quakers have a tradition called... Ramspringa Ordnung Shunning None of the above – the above are all Amish-related. 17. Quakers are allowed to eat pork... If they feel like it – there is no inherent rule about what one can and cannot eat as a Quaker. 18. It has been said that Quakers were the inventors of... The penitentiary Price tags Both the first two answers – Price tags were supposedly invented by Quaker business owners. At the time the practice was to barter for what you wanted from the store, but Quakers believed in fair business practices, which meant having the same price no matter who you were. The Penitentiary was part of Quaker prison reform, and was actually a step up from the conditions of the prisons of the time, making an emphasis on rehabilitation instead of capital punishment. 19. A Quaker marriage ceremony involves... People speak out of a silence about the people who are getting married – They usually also include all the people present at the wedding ceremony signing a certificate. 20. Now a hard bonus question: Quakerism began in... The mid-1600s – the exact date isn’t really known, but it’s somewhere in there, and certainly not any of the other three choices. |
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| Link: The Quaker Knowledge Test written by MovieBuffJesse on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Llamas and Textual Harrasment
Good to see the lovely Gael blogging again. The Llama Song got me giggling (cheers Pixie!) so I did text a few friends with the first 160 characters. Perhaps though half the humour is in the speed of the Llama Song. Anyway perhaps this did result in some confusion so here is the Llama Song.
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/llama.php
Hello Barbara and Rachel if you are reading this.
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/llama.php
Hello Barbara and Rachel if you are reading this.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Porn Brokers Through The Ages
Cash Converters of Armley was mentioned in the Doomsday Book but it was to be another 900 years before a peasant underclass would emerge to provide a market for their services. Still plan ahead.
it certainly seems to tower above the high street from every direction… Wish they had the 3 hanging balls.
it certainly seems to tower above the high street from every direction… Wish they had the 3 hanging balls.
Essential Academic Research
I have always believed that the Union Bar is the soul of the University or indeed any college. Here I am with an old friend doing some essential academic research.
Ethical Slag YAY!
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| The Ethical Slut You just scored 89 % on being open to having an open relationship! |
| (Title taken by the book by the same name, that I highly recommend you read if you're in this category!) Thanks for taking this test and for being so openminded. It seems you are a pretty confident individual, who knows what they want out of relationships, or is at least open to the discussion. If you're considering opening up an existing relationship, make sure you have a strong relationship to start with, and be prepared to learn some amazing things about yourself and your partner, and yourselves as a couple. Also, be prepared to deal with jealousy, but don't let that stop you on your discovery. It's a part of every relationship, and learning to recognize it and deal with it only makes us stronger. If you are single / dating and thinking that monogamy may not be right for you, you're not crazy. Just make sure to be honest with any potential partners you have. You don't want to get trapped into a relationship and then feel the urge to cheat because you weren't honest about your feelings from the get-go. |
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Sans Hair?
here i am looking blonde again
On the left you will notice the lovely Pumpkin Ted a very generous gift of Becky a London Paramour (hi Becky if you are reading this Love you!). Alas lost the label in transit when hitch hiking to Bristol for Young Friends National Gathering. It said "Born in Hell! Made of Fluff.." just like Bluebell really.....
On the left you will notice the lovely Pumpkin Ted a very generous gift of Becky a London Paramour (hi Becky if you are reading this Love you!). Alas lost the label in transit when hitch hiking to Bristol for Young Friends National Gathering. It said "Born in Hell! Made of Fluff.." just like Bluebell really.....
Monday, February 19, 2007
January 2007 Self Portrait
Herewith my latest self portrait
As you can see I am naturally blonde. So s p e a k s l o w l y
A naturally amerikan friend (hi Janet! LovE YOU!) thought I was going bald….
As you can see I am naturally blonde. So s p e a k s l o w l y
A naturally amerikan friend (hi Janet! LovE YOU!) thought I was going bald….
Thursday, February 15, 2007
World Class Phallic Architecture!
Today took a picture of Parkinson's Tinkerbell. Thanks to Frank Parkinson the University of Leeds not only boasts world class phallic architecture, but Parkinson's wanger is the greatest and most recognisable landmark on the Leeds skyline.
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