Friday, May 24, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Savagery in the name of religion
A soldier, Drummer Lee Rigby, hacked to death in a London street. The murderers, purporting to be Muslims, talking to anyone who would film them on their mobile phones. The blood of the victim still on their hands and weapons.
The vicious killers waiting around for the police to arrive (some say 20 minutes later, even though the police station is just around the corner; even the police say 14 minutes) so that they could advance on them and get shot. Women passers-by approaching the victim hoping they could help or protect him, but he was already dead, almost beheaded.
Really, who wants to live in a world like this?
I am even more certain that religion is only ever, ultimately, a force for evil. Let's leave the caves and acknowledge that we no longer need this mythology to make sense of the world. Because on days like this, it clearly only makes nonsense of the world.
The vicious killers waiting around for the police to arrive (some say 20 minutes later, even though the police station is just around the corner; even the police say 14 minutes) so that they could advance on them and get shot. Women passers-by approaching the victim hoping they could help or protect him, but he was already dead, almost beheaded.
Really, who wants to live in a world like this?
I am even more certain that religion is only ever, ultimately, a force for evil. Let's leave the caves and acknowledge that we no longer need this mythology to make sense of the world. Because on days like this, it clearly only makes nonsense of the world.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
I haz a blankie!
JaeJae has a new comfort blanket. It looks to me like the fleece from the recently shorn llamas.
He loves it.
I'd really like to snuggle up next to him. Even if it cost an arm and a leg...
He loves it.
I'd really like to snuggle up next to him. Even if it cost an arm and a leg...
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Winner
Phillip's such a loser.
Vincent is a giant playing a little weed. Brilliant acting. But that hair...
Vincent is a giant playing a little weed. Brilliant acting. But that hair...
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Is it time to rest yet?
Another b****** of a week.
Monday was a wash-out because of the weather. Up at sparrow fart in case of a last-minute job, of which there was none, so spent the day faffing around and dozing.
On Tuesday I got the call to go to the Sixth Form site of an autistic school I often teach at. Edgy but nice. They are only two weeks into their new building and are still settling down. Maybe tomorrow it will be sunny and I can go to a zoo or something.
But no. In the late afternoon a call from an agency set me up for a day's work on Wednesday, at a Pupil Referral Unit in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. (A PRU is for the kids expelled from mainstream schools for chronic behaviour problems.) Spent hours agonising on which of about five routes would be best.
On the day, almost every route was clogged with traffic jams, so I kept ignoring the Satnav and eventually arrived in good time...to find the promised street parking was residents only. Sent to a nearby road and all was well. Spent two big chunks of the day sitting with a reasonably well-behaved boy while he took an exam. Finished just after 2.30, which was lucky, as I just had time to do a supermarket shop on the way home, before taking myself off to a local meeting, followed by a farewell drink for our co-ordinator, who has lost his job due to cuts.
Thursday had already been booked for the school where I do my regular Fridays. A couple of the kids were hyper, and the day ended I headaches for all staff. Wanted to go straight home for a relaxing rest, but pet supply shopping came first.
Friday was a bit less fraught than Thursday, but the evening was not very relaxing as I kept remembering my Saturday afternoon concert.
The theme was Spring (wishful thinking) and the accompanist had found a copy of the song I wanted to sing (Tulips From Amsterdam) but had forgotten to bring it with him. Then I discovered that my alternative (Here Comes The Sun) was down as an "also", so I ended up singing both.
More shopping on the way home, collapsed in front of the TV to find...nothing much worth watching, as I'd already missed the LOCI Season 10 reruns.
Hey Ho.
Monday was a wash-out because of the weather. Up at sparrow fart in case of a last-minute job, of which there was none, so spent the day faffing around and dozing.
On Tuesday I got the call to go to the Sixth Form site of an autistic school I often teach at. Edgy but nice. They are only two weeks into their new building and are still settling down. Maybe tomorrow it will be sunny and I can go to a zoo or something.
But no. In the late afternoon a call from an agency set me up for a day's work on Wednesday, at a Pupil Referral Unit in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. (A PRU is for the kids expelled from mainstream schools for chronic behaviour problems.) Spent hours agonising on which of about five routes would be best.
On the day, almost every route was clogged with traffic jams, so I kept ignoring the Satnav and eventually arrived in good time...to find the promised street parking was residents only. Sent to a nearby road and all was well. Spent two big chunks of the day sitting with a reasonably well-behaved boy while he took an exam. Finished just after 2.30, which was lucky, as I just had time to do a supermarket shop on the way home, before taking myself off to a local meeting, followed by a farewell drink for our co-ordinator, who has lost his job due to cuts.
Thursday had already been booked for the school where I do my regular Fridays. A couple of the kids were hyper, and the day ended I headaches for all staff. Wanted to go straight home for a relaxing rest, but pet supply shopping came first.
Friday was a bit less fraught than Thursday, but the evening was not very relaxing as I kept remembering my Saturday afternoon concert.
The theme was Spring (wishful thinking) and the accompanist had found a copy of the song I wanted to sing (Tulips From Amsterdam) but had forgotten to bring it with him. Then I discovered that my alternative (Here Comes The Sun) was down as an "also", so I ended up singing both.
More shopping on the way home, collapsed in front of the TV to find...nothing much worth watching, as I'd already missed the LOCI Season 10 reruns.
Hey Ho.