pellucid

Off to Tumblr...

2010-10-30T15:56:00.001-04:00

http://tjahope.tumblr.com/

The Jesus Storybook Bible

2009-11-11T20:16:00.001-05:00

The Missus and I were in a bookshop this afternoon and stumbled upon the Jesus Storybook Bible. We were looking for a bible for Reubs, who is turning two in a few weeks. Although this Bible is clearly for ages 4 and above, we thought we'd get this one anyway and all grow into it.

The first thing that caught our eyes was the tag line - every story whispers His name. This simple phrase drew us in - what a joy to have that emphasized throughout the whole book. The second thing was the book is gorgeous to look at. The cover is simply a picture of Jesus, a delightful foretaste of the style used throughout the rest of the book's illustrations.

Those two things along were enough for us to take a punt on it. (We plumped for the 'deluxe' edition, which comes bundled with the audio version of the book - narrated by David Suchet.)

When we got it home Reuben took no time in insisting that we unwrap it and read it to him. Well, he quickly tired of it (being only small), but we were rapt. In no time at all we were playing the audiobook and falling in love with Jesus all over again as we heard the old familiar stories in a new way. The book is actually a paraphrase of key Bible passages, and covers the whole sweep of the Biblical narrative. It is beautifully illustrated, and I can't wait to explore the images with Reuben as his attention develops. The audiobook is a great accompaniment; a good narrator can highlight facets of the text that you might not see, and this is exactly what Suchet does. In summary, these adults are pretty impressed with this children's version, and it's going to be our real pleasure to introduce Reuben to the Great Big Story in this way.

Every story whispers his name.

An old favourite

2009-11-09T21:28:00.001-05:00

Disobedience by A. A. Milne

James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James Said to his Mother,
"Mother," he said, said he;
"You must never go down
to the end of the town,
if you don't go down with me."

James James
Morrison's Mother
Put on a golden gown.
James James Morrison's Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James Morrison's Mother
Said to herself, said she:
"I can get right down
to the end of the town
and be back in time for tea."

King John
Put up a notice,
"LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES MORRISON'S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY:
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN
TO THE END OF THE TOWN -
FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!"

James James
Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming him.
James James
Said to his Mother,
"Mother," he said, said he:
"You must never go down to the end of the town
without consulting me."

James James
Morrison's mother
Hasn't been heard of since.
King John said he was sorry,
So did the Queen and Prince.
King John
(Somebody told me)
Said to a man he knew:
If people go down to the end of the town, well,
what can anyone do?"

(Now then, very softly)
J.J.
M.M.
W.G.Du P.
Took great
C/0 his M*****
Though he was only 3.
J.J. said to his M*****
"M*****," he said, said he:
"You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-
if-you-don't-go-down-with-ME!"

Talk-ing

2009-11-09T09:56:00.001-05:00

Two days ago, as we sat eating our breakfast, Reuben gestured with his fork and declared he was 'fork-ing' a morsel of food. I thought this was pretty cool, since neither Nic nor I use the verb 'forking' at all and he must have come up with it by himself.

It's amazing to think how quickly he has developed in just under two years.

Barry Pumpkin

2009-11-08T21:45:00.001-05:00

Our dentist surgery takes Hallowe'en very seriously - on the Friday before Hallowe'en all the staff were in fabulous fancy dress. They had also decorated this squash with a cute smily face. Reuben noticed it straight away and, since they are lovely people, they gave it to him. (I actually suspect that since it was the day before Hallowe'en they going to get rid of it anyway, but hey, who's going to turn down a free squash?)

We named him Barry, after our dentist.

A rainy weekend's walk

2009-11-07T18:03:00.001-05:00

Reubs and I had some father/son time last weekend. We took a stroll around Kinder Farm Park in the rain, watching some football (boys) and some soccer (girls) on the way around. I thought it was a pretty miserable day to be out and about, but it didn't phase him one bit as he galumphed through puddles and driving drizzle.

Tower

2009-11-06T14:30:00.001-05:00

Reubs discovered the joy of stacking blocks last night (thanks to his mate Abi, who emptied the box of blocks all over the floor). I thought this attempt (his first) incorporated some unorthodox shapes quite inventively.

Mighty mouse woes - update

2009-09-30T15:15:00.001-04:00

It is not totally repaired. The scroll-ball is no longer able to act as the third mouse button, although as a scroll-ball it still operates perfectly.

I seem to remember the third mouse button being over-sensitive, and triggered by a lazy left- or right-click, so I disabled the function many moons ago. However, I did check it today–opening the whole thing up again to see if any ribbon connectors were out of place, and to see if the internal support was wrongly positioned/reshaped. Despite fiddling with the tiny metal arm, and reshaping it ever so slightly, the scroll-ball firmly refuses to work as a button now.

One less thing to worry about I suppose.

Mighty Mouse woes and warnings

2009-09-29T21:20:00.001-04:00

The Apple Mighty Mouse is famous for its 3D scroll-ball which is, in turn, infamous for getting gunked up, jammed, and useless.

The common remedies to free the scroll-ball prescribed on the interweb involve rolling the gunked up scroll-ball around, either with mouse upside down on a sheet of paper, or with some saliva or rubbing alcohol in the palm of your hand as a 'gunk-solvent'. This remedy does work; my mouse is a few years old and has been un-gunked in this manner at least three times.

More recently, I carried out this un-gunking exercise - first rolling the scroll-ball around on a bit of paper as well as then using some rubbing alcohol in my palm. And the process worked well, at least for the un-gunking. The scroll-ball was free and easy in its socket, scrolling smoothly in all directions. However, I began to experience some odd behaviour with the normal left-click: the mouse would become unresponsive to a light click, but a firm (almost rough) click would restore its normal functionality for a few minutes. I also saw some odd tab-opening behaviour in Safari, with the left-click causing tabs to open behind the current tab.

Then I saw that I had, in my familiarity with the un-gunking exercise, pressed too hard on the scroll-ball and bent its tiny internal support out of shape. My suspicion was the scroll-ball, which normally sits proud of the mouse's upper shell, was now slouching in its cup. While the scroll-ball would still scroll smoothly, its weight would cause the internal support–which seems to double as the switch for the third mouse button–to register a constant click, hence the irregular left clicking (and perhaps the Safari tab issue).

Taking a deep breath, I searched out a video tutorial on how to open up a Mighty Mouse, knowing that opening up the scroll-ball mechanism would be the only way to confirm my suspicions. Taking a craft-knife to my mouse, I dug inside and confirmed my hunch was accurate. The rubbing alcohol had left the rollers clean, but the internal support was crushed into the base of the cup. Using two small screwdrivers, I reshaped the support, and am pleased to say that, on reassembly, my mouse is working fine.

Next time, I'll definitely use some gunk-solvent, and less pressure.

Flickr Uploadr: 2.3.1 vs. the Rest of the World

2009-08-09T20:53:00.001-04:00

'Write when you're inspired' is the advice; it's a shame that I'm currently inspired by an irksome piece of technology rather than some wondrous facet of creation that deserves praise.

So, the gripe I have is with Flickr's desktop uploaders: they just haven't worked since version 2.3.1 for the Mac. Further, since I invariably feel excited by the prospect of an updated piece of software, each time a new version is released I get duped into trying it out (the current version is 3.2.1). The final straw is that they have also now removed version 2.3.1 from their web site.

This evening I spent half an hour hunting through the Help Forums for version 2.3.1¹, and fruitlessly trying out the later evolutions up to the present 3.2.1.

I'm still using 2.3.1.

In case I forget, 2.3.1 is still available for downloading here. ↑

Paddling pool

2009-06-02T10:18:00.001-04:00

Two weeks ago, we bought an inflatable pool for the sun-deck at the rear of our house. After hyperventilating, breaking a bicycle pump and hyperventilating again, we managed to get it inflated.

Last week, the water was finally warm enough to get Reuben to get in. We had a nice hour or so splashing around in the sun; I spent a while snapping away with the phone and the set is now up on Flickr.

The boy done good

2009-04-26T19:21:00.001-04:00

Giggs got it.

Pills

2009-04-24T18:03:00.001-04:00

- 0930: hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/500mg + penicillin

Hard to swallow; changing swabs every 15 minutes; deep ache around lower jaw, moving from back to front and occasionally to roof of mouth; raw feeling of holes; inside of cheeks feel very bruised; chin and tongue still numb (no drool though)

- 1130: 800mg ibuprofen

Incredibly uncomfortable; can't get away from pain and thinking 1330 is really a long time to go; ice packs helping slightly

- 1330: hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/500mg

Ache dissipated after ibuprofen and appetite returned; still painful to swallow and to open mouth - managed some yoghurt and mashed banana (Reubs would've been proud); totally spaced out on hydrocodone and decided to watch House (the first two episodes of Season 3, so I had more Vicodin than he did); the Wife came back from a run and was a silent comforting presence

-1630 penicillin

love that I'm warding off infections with penicillin

- 1730 hydrocodone/APAP 7.5/500mg

I could get used to this stuff - feeling slightly more chipper, though very drowsy; optimistic that I could get through to 1900 or later without ibuprofen and pace myself through the night; desperately want something savoury and that doesn't taste of yoghurt/blood/cotton swab mixture

Giggs is a legend

2009-04-24T16:46:00.001-04:00

And Fergie is Old School with a capital O and a capital S.

"We gave Ryan all the accolades in Moscow [last May]," said the United boss. "The players' presentation was very emotional and it was a great representation of how the players feel about the boy.

I just love that he refers to the 37 year old Welshman as 'boy'.

The Paradox of Choice

2009-04-15T16:26:00.001-04:00

I got this book out of the library yesterday (it was a rainy Tuesday afternoon, what else is a guy to do when he's shirking work, eh?).

This video is a great opener - can't wait to get through my Batman comics to pick it up.

Wisdom teeth

2009-04-14T11:22:00.001-04:00

In ten days' time I will have all four of my wisdom teeth extracted. Three are impacted, the fourth is a 'tricky' one.

I'll have it done under general anaesthetic - after talking with the surgeon he recommended it and, even if he hadn't, I think I would have asked for it.

I think I'm scared about the pain. I know it's coming, but don't know exactly what it will be like. I know there will be a needle for the IV drip - I hope that's the only thing I feel until after the surgery. The only thing is the surgeon said that I'll need to take pretty much the whole weekend off - the kind of pain is the kind that 'will have you rocking back and forth' and 'give your tail a good kicking'. Hmmm.

The nurse warned me to not choose a light coloured t-shirt, just in case - when they extract a tooth (or tooth fragment) - they drop it on me and I have a blood stained shirt to worry about as well.

The risks outlined in the brief consultation (other than the pain, which is guaranteed and therefore not a risk but a certainty) were nerve damage or a hole in the roof of my mouth. Nerve damage would be to the nerve running along each side of my lower jaw, just near my wisdom teeth as it happens; damage would result in the loss of feeling around my chin and lower lip, so I would have to watch out when shaving. A hole in the roof of my mouth would mean food or drink coming out my nose, but this can be repaired with a few stitches.

I am a little nervous about going under a general anaesthetic too. Mrs Hope has had three operations which required going to sleep and each time I have seen her fears of how she will react to it. Not that I have ever been around her when she did wake up - but she said she was sometimes overcome by sadness, or the groginess was disorientating. Perhaps it will be like being drunk?

So after the operation I will be watching what I eat - apparently nothing too hard (obviously) or anything that can crumble into little bits and get stuck in the four gaping holes in my jaw.

What's most worrying to me is that nothing has been mentioned about whether they will give me any pain medication to take home and use over the weekend.

Oh, and the ice-pack (please let that not be all I get to take home) costs $20.

Some sites to spend time on

2009-04-09T12:01:00.001-04:00

Have enjoyed two or three videos from these sites, and look forward to finding more new content on them in the future.

Fora.tv (Typinator keeps correcting it to 'For a tv' but it's Fora really) was something I stumbled on (from Lone Gunman) this morning. I watched this interview with Jonah Lehrer on his new book; bit brainish, but good if you've got the time (certainly some great stories in amongst the big sciency words).

The other site is TED, which I was pointed to a month or so ago, and more specifically this video about what wisdom is. Again, some cracking stories to illustrate the points made.

The Story of Stuff

2009-04-07T19:31:00.001-04:00

Well worth a watch, and some time to think about it.

My commute from hell

2009-02-23T21:26:00.001-05:00

I cycled to work today. It was all of 3 miles - probably less. That much, and only that, was on my side. Arrayed against me were my naivety regarding the weather, poorly set-up front brakes, and a sorry lack of fitness of any sort whatsoever, of which I was only dimly aware of the latter.

So the weather was 33 degrees when I set out this morning, but the wind - nay, gale - that I found myself cycling into must have come straight from the Canadian hinterland. Within 30 seconds of pulling out onto the main road, I lost the feeling in my windward parts. By the time I was at work, despite the 'windproof' gloves I was wearing, I had chillblains in the tips of my thumbs and fingers, and in the darker moments of utter exhaustion and pain (I'm really unfit, okay) I honestly wondered whether it was possible to get frostbite while cycling...

My front brake cable was set too tight. Although I did check over all my equipment yesterday (and even pumped up my tyres this morning) I hadn't done a thorough job with the brakes. All I did was balance out the tension of the springs - whereas I really needed to slacken off the cable. I found this out by cycling to and from work with the front brake 'on' the whole way there and the whole way back. Into a headwind, with the brakes on, and no fitness whatsoever... not the best way to get back into cycling.

My fitness was so bad, and the conditions so inclement, that my legs started to burn while I was going downhill. By the time I got to the junction of Benfield, Veterans and the bridge over the I-97, I had nothing left - they were agonising apendages with all the resistance and tone of gruel. I was utterly spent, demoralized by the cold, frustrated by my ineptitude with my brakes. Thankfully, when I made it to work, the wind (now behind me) took me the length of the parking lot (faster than I was cycling the other way) which allowed me enough time to recover the ability to stand upright.

I think I'll do it again tomorrow.

Things I've learnt this weekend

2009-02-10T09:29:00.001-05:00

New Hampshire is really, really far away from Maryland.

A nine hour drive according to the sat-nav is more like eleven when you take into account breaks for food, coffee and gas.

An eleven hour drive quickly lengthens when your infant son develops a tummy-bug on the day of the journey.

Vomit runs off Ikea painting bibs like water off a duck's back. This is good in a rest stop (it just falls to the floor); this is not good in the car (it pools in the car seat).

Dunkin Donuts make pretty good donuts but terrible coffee.

Terrible coffee is still coffee on a twelve hour drive in a car with a puking infant.

A tummy bug is over, not when the vomit stops coming out, but when the nappies return to normal.

When your son vomits over your shoes, it is a good thing to have washable shoes, like Crocs. Except when your Crocs are the ones with holes in them, because then the vomit pools in your shoes.

The place you absolutely do not want your son to vomit on is the pile of clothes you have just washed yesterday's vomit off.

When he smiles and calls you 'gagga' none of the above matters one jot.

Adjusting

2009-02-02T10:44:00.001-05:00

Adjusting to the lashings of 'Mac-goodness' that abound on the study desk in the form of a new unibody MacBook Pro. The Wife agreed (for work purposes) that we could buy a new laptop, and so I've been adjusting to the new machine for the last week.

Most adjusting has been positive: it's quicker than any machine I've ever used; runs much cooler than the previous laptop (which is reasonably important when you consider Apple laptops are essentially blobs of aluminium with a portable computer secreted wonderfully inside of them; the old G4 Powerbook ran really hot); the screen is crisp, brighter and turns on instantly; the keyboard and trackpad have a much better feel than I anticipated.

Some adjusting has been a pain: the wi-fi 'just does not work', perhaps due to issues with our Verizon router (Actiontec MI424WR) and only a day of frustrating fiddling around with the settings (by using WPA instead of default WEP, and by increasing the TKIP group key interval, we've maintained a steady connection for now).

Other adjusting has been fun and unexpected: the keyboard has square black keys on an aluminium background, so creates an optical illusion of black dots at the corners of the keys.

And a small amount of adjusting has been harder than expected: apparently putting new Macs into old laptop bags work about as well as putting new wine in old wineskins. So the Wife and I embarked on an unexpected review of our household's fiscal policies with regards to the differing husbandly/uxorial stances on what exactly constitutes a 'necessity'. And while there were no harsh exchanges during that review and it ultimately came to a good conclusion (both parties satisfied with the new policy, and still favourably inclined to working together in the future), it was a reminder that we do have to work at our relationship, even on a Saturday afternoon when we were both trying to relax and have some downtime.

Good tears to cry

2008-12-30T19:44:00.001-05:00

Mrs Hope and I just sat down and watched a slideshow of our various pictures from Reuben's first year.

A lot of memories and emotions stirred up, but it is good to look back and cry.

Thanks be to you, Jesus, for all that has come our way in 2008; help us be thankful for 2009.

Pic update

2008-12-22T17:46:00.001-05:00

This is from Portugal, a trip we undertook just before coming out to the States.

Oh, and Reubs is walking now.

Cold today

2008-12-22T09:45:00.001-05:00

Low 20s this morning, but the wind is making it feel even colder. The bird bath is, most wonderfully, frozen solid. I shall see if I can find time to nip outside and snap a picture.

I feel a bit of a wuss saying this (especially when the northern states are even colder...) but I am used to the west of England, constantly warmed by the Gulf Stream.

Mince pies anyone?

2008-12-21T21:51:00.000-05:00

When we lived at our old house, one of the ways we got to know people was through our lovely neighbours, the Coles. (Actually, at that stage they were more properly our 'pre-neighbours', as we hadn't arranged a lease with the landlords of our old house.)

But Tim and Jules threw their usual Christmas party for their street: mulled wine and mince pies all round. We met our old landlords and the rest is history.

So when we moved into our new digs here in the heart of suburbia, we decided to follow in their footsteps and throw a house-warming/Christmas party for our new neighbours.

And so Mrs Hope baked all Saturday and produced 60 (delicious) mini mince pies, and then mulled and spiced wine and fruit juice respectively this afternoon. Having made and delivered our invitations two weeks earlier, our lovely neighbours turned up promptly at three this afternoon and tactfully left as Reuben tucked into his tea at five.

I can probably only remembered half a dozen names, as our sitting room was packed; there were kids playing pool downstairs and shouting through the intercom system or messing around with Reuben's toys and we ran out of both glasses and mugs. All in all it was a great afternoon.

But we've got still got half the mince pies left...

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

My wife: the pizza-crust-mouse

2008-12-19T12:32:00.001-05:00

Image posted with LifeCast
[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

iBlog too

2008-12-17T22:35:00.001-05:00

So this is from another app - sorry for the rather dull technical interludes.

Although I probably shouldn't get into the habit of blogging just before we go to bed, another thing Mrs Hope forgot to mention in her list is the credit/debit dialogue that you go through whenever we use our checking (Brit. 'debit') cards. Apparently 'debit' let's you get cashback and you validate with your PIN, while 'credit' doesn't allow cashback and you have to sign to validate.

Oh, and on the bank cards we now have, the images on opposite sides of a card are inverted (i.e. if you rotate it on the vertical axis, the card image is upside-down). It is the small things that get to me, like I said earlier.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Testing Times

2008-12-17T21:45:00.001-05:00

This is my first post from my phone, to see if this app (LifeCast) works or not. Part of me is idly wondering why I'm even toying with the idea of blogging from my phone, as my blogging has been rather sporadic (at best!) lately. Still, I am a chap who enjoys gadgets, and my phone is definitely a gadget and a half.

Today I was asked if there were any "major" differences between living here in the US and living in the UK. I actually think the smallest differences can be the most unsettling: they tend to creep up ok you when you're unaware, and occur more frequently than the 'big shocks'. For me, the subtle changes in vocabulary has been what has caused the most disorientation. To whit, a conversation I had tonight with Reuben and Rachel, a friend of his:

Me: Hey, Reubs, you've found a fireman's helmet!

Reuben: ...

Rachel: No, it's a firefighter's helmet.

Me: Oh, yeah, that's what I meant Reuben, a firefighter's helmet.

Reuben: ...

Posted with LifeCast

Ever painted a snail?

2008-12-04T17:33:00.001-05:00

Well, we did at our street party this summer. And we raced 'em too.

I have finally got round to uploading some pictures on Flickr (been having trouble with the latest uploader, so went back to the old one and it works).

Now I need to go and make my birthday boy some tea. Hurray Reubs - happy birthday!

First steps

2008-11-28T19:45:00.001-05:00

Reuben took his first steps yesterday, aiming for a better position from which to empty a shelf of its pots and pans. He has been able to stand up unaided, and to cruise around furniture, for a month or so and we have dreaded/anticipated this moment in equal measure. It was lovely to see his pleasure in his new ability as he tried it out yesterday and again today.

We spent the whole morning in a social security office in Glen Burnie, applying for a social security number. I'm not sure of the extent of what it will empower us to do, but it's required for our Maryland state drivers licence, health insurance and credit card applications. Thankfully we have been able to open a bank account without one.

My application was accepted - my card should arrive in two weeks or so. Mrs and Master Hope were not so successful. As dependents on my 'R1' category visa, they hold 'R2' visas. The US Immigration services were (crystal) clear that persons holding 'R2' visas are not allowed to work. So they both indicated this on their application for a social security number (i.e. the ticked the box saying they were 'legal aliens not allowed to work'). But we need to get further confirmation that they are not allowed to work, that is we need an employment authorization declaration stating that they are not authorized to work. Even Reuben. Who is one next Thursday.

But we're going to take our lead from him, who with the wisdom of youth has thrown himself (all too often literally) into living our new lives here. We shall celebrate any successful steps with gusto and shrug off the inevitable set-backs. See you in the Glen Burnie social office in a few days then, right after we get a car that works!

Key transitions

2008-11-17T15:16:00.001-05:00

Ever since I went to university (way, way back in the mists of time now... 1996 I think) I have had a set of keys on me. At uni these were the keys to my accommodation block (Unit 3, Badock Hall) and to my room (I forget now.. 217?). Then I had house keys, work keys, and car keys.

A key in my pocket has always been a solid reminder that I have somewhere to go that is mine. A base. Space, to which only I have the (sometimes shared) access. After all, I have the key.

But last Tuesday we gave our (borrowed) house keys back to Kate and Doug, got in a car (thanks James) and were driven to a hotel (and they gave us a swipe card for our room). It was 24 or so hours later, in Severna Park, when we were given our new (borrowed) house key.

In that 24 hour period, I walked around without a key in my pocket and felt it.

Bye for now...

2008-11-11T05:38:00.001-05:00

We leave Bristol this afternoon, stay in an airport hotel at Heathrow tonight, and fly to Washington D.C. tomorrow morning.

Thursday morning we'll wake up in Severna Park, MD.

An easy mistake to make?

2008-11-01T08:31:00.001-04:00

Welsh language road sign

Lull

2008-08-13T10:12:00.001-04:00

There's been a bit of a lull in the posting in the last two months. I just haven't been in front of the laptop as much as I used to, hence the lull.

We're still waiting to move to the States. On good days we feel so blessed to have the adventure still stretching out in front of us, the chance to enjoy a break with friends and family, and the amazing support from folks here and there.

On bad days we find ourselves double-guessing at whether we're making the right decision, we feel scared of leaving our very good friends behind, and we worry about what people will think of us if it doesn't work out.

Waiting is tough. But everyone who's anyone does it.

Portugal pictures

2008-06-28T14:31:00.005-04:00

Just uploaded a bunch of pictures from our recent holiday in Portugal with my parents.

On books, genealogies, and batons

2008-06-21T05:11:00.000-04:00

We spent last week in Portugal with my parents. It was one of those occasions when my sense of time was most fluid - three generations were together under one roof and old remembrances and new experiences were shared and equally celebrated, regardless of whose they were. The things of my childhood surrounded me, but now from a distance: I read one of our old books to Reuben with adult eyes.

We flew back to Bristol on Thursday, and drove up to Edinburgh yesterday. We're now in my parent's flat in Edinburgh; the same sense of the weight of generations is being impressed on me (and it's not just because we're in a sub-basement of Moray Place) as this is the area in which my grandparents spent a long chunk of their lives, my father grew up and I grew up as well.

This morning we read the first chapter of Matthew's gospel and had a similar feeling of 'being part of something that's been going on for a very long time' as the familiar and unwieldy names of the genealogy rolled across our lips. Again, the contrasting sense of scale as 42 generations bumped up against one dream and Joseph took a firm hold on the baton for his leg of the race.

On door-bouncers

2008-05-29T12:58:00.001-04:00

We often put Reuben in a door-bouncer in the mornings so we can have a few moments without one of us having to hold him. In the past two weeks of packing this time has become increasingly precious as we labour to box up our possessions and shift into a nomadic state of existence.

It struck me yesterday that we, as a family, are being put though a similar experience to little Reuben's: we are suspended, between one room and the next. We can make plenty of noise and bounce up and down, but can't go anywhere. However we are safe, we do have the attention of the One who Watches, and we know that we will be swept up in HIs embrace before too long... but for now we'll just bounce.

May days

2008-05-21T11:44:00.001-04:00

A quick pic round-up for you:

On the first May bank holiday, Nic and I helped out in clearing Uncle David's back-garden. Lots of chopping, shredding, lopping of limbs, sawing and chain-sawing.

This critter was bold enough to slither onto our butter dish whilst we were eating a barbeque.

We had a lovely day out with Charlie and Juliet at Hanbury Hall; after lunch we gave Reuben an opportunity to rest in his pram, but for some reason all he wanted to do was wave his feet around...

He's now eating 'solid' food quite happily, although we're not convinced he derives any nutritional value from whatever passes (fairly quickly) through his system. But eating is a fun, and social, affair, and we all enjoy the event.

Photo update

2008-05-05T16:00:00.001-04:00

Last Thursday, Reuben met his Grandpop for the first time:

Last week, we had our first barbeque of the year (on my birthday bbq):

Last weekend, our God-daughter Taya, celebrated her third birthday (don't worry, she was excited when the cake and presents arrived!):

Fearful thinking - pt. 2

2008-04-26T06:53:00.001-04:00

"If you want to discover the difference which Jesus made to mankind, and go to New Testament to find out, the answer given is the casting out of people's lives of fear.

Fear, in the New Testament, is considered to be the root of all evil. It is fear which makes men selfish, it is fear which makes them hate, it is fear which makes them blind, it is fear which makes them mad.

Fear casts out love, as love casts out fear. Which of the two, therefore, am I going to choose?"

H. A. Williams, in The True Wilderness.

Fearful thinking - pt. 1

2008-04-26T06:52:00.001-04:00

"When I reflect deeply on my life and what I really want, it is not to be afraid.

When I am afraid, I am miserable. I play it safe. I restrict myself. I hide the talent of me in the ground. I am not deeply alive - the depths of me are not being expressed.

When I am afraid, a tiny part of me holds captive most of me, which rebels against the tyranny of the minority.

When I am afraid I am a house divided against itself.

So, more than anything else, I want to be delivered from fear, for fear is alien to my own best interest.

Or, to put it positively, I want to give myself generously, magnanimously, freely - out of love. I want to be able to take risks - to express myself, to welcome and embrace the future.

I want to see what it is to be most deeply me."

Elisabeth O'Connor, quoting Gordon Crosby, in Cry Pain, Cry Hope.

The Farthest Shore, by Ursula Le Guin

2008-04-25T05:45:00.001-04:00

"Try to choose carefully, ... , when the great choices must be made. When I was young I had to choose between the life of being and the life of doing. And I leapt at the latter like a trout to a fly. But each deed you do, each act, binds you to itself and to its consequences, and makes you act again and yet again. Then very seldom do you come upon a space, ... , between act and act, when you may stop and simply be. Or wonder who, after all, you are." Sparrowhawk.

This breaks my heart and fills me with hope all at the same time. It is heart-breaking that people can be so easily ensnared in a vicious circle because of their earlier choices; yet I know there is hope because one can be equally 'ensnared' in a virtuous circle because of one's earlier choices.

Thank God for God.

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." Matt. 11:12

Thought provoking

2008-04-25T04:52:00.001-04:00

A thought provoking article here (via Daring Fireball).

Reminds me of the 'unconsciously incompetent, consciously incompetent, consciously competent, unconsciously competent' progression of learning (or, if you're familiar with the language, the Square: D1, D2, D3, D4). Also contains a cutting observation, and Tolstoy quote, about pride being an obstacle to learning/change.

A mouthful of eye-candy

2008-04-17T16:49:00.001-04:00

Although I have never been tempted to skin OS X's GUI in the same way I would a Windows theme, I am always on the lookout for a good desktop image.

So, say hello to a beautiful little app called Desktoptopia; yes, it's a bit of a mouthful, but it's a joy to use. It grabs stunning desktop images and puts them on your desktop - fairly simple, eh? You can set it to automatically change the image at any interval you want, or you can manually browse through the ever-growing collection, selecting your genres as you go.

It's smart enough to work with whatever resolution best suits your screen (although I know of at least one reported problems with a bigger screen). There is also a ratings function, should you wish to feed back to the site.

Oh, and it's free too.

Eat less, walk more, by George!

2008-04-15T06:44:00.003-04:00

We're running our cars on bio-fuel in an effort to reduce our carbon emissions (why don't we just drive less?).

We're making that bio-fuel out of our surplus grain while the rest of the world starves.

Maybe George has got it right?

Family photos

2008-04-11T14:31:00.005-04:00

Our friend Ben very kindly used us as practice for his portrait photography hobby last week. Which was great, because we got some lovely shots of the three of us for nothing! I've stuck a few of our favourites on Flickr but, because I'm all about instant gratification too, here's one for free:

There are more shots on Ben's site as well.

Familiarity breeds...

2008-04-10T15:01:00.001-04:00

A conversation with Mrs Hope over a coffee this afternoon:

Me: "So I was thinking about why I was fasting today and-"

Her (interrupts): "What?! Farting?"

Me (after a short, slightly disappointed, pause): "f-a-s-t-i-n-g"

Her (completely non-plussed): "Oh, carry on."

Things I find funny that no-one else does.

2008-04-09T06:10:00.003-04:00

The other day, we ran out of staples in the office.

A bit less of a bill

2008-04-06T13:59:00.003-04:00

So we did follow up our previous electricity bill with our supplier... and here is the result:

Amazingly, we've actually got credit with them, even after winter. But they still want some cash from us.

Where are you?

2008-04-03T05:33:00.007-04:00

For the past month or so our community has been wrestling with the idea of being together. Last night, at our housegroup, Phil put out some words and ideas that neatly defined the problems we are facing, not only as people, but also as a community of believers.

As people, we tend to avoid one another's pain. It is embarrassing, it is awkward, it is uncomfortable. We might be unable to help (and helplessness is so embarrassing and awkward) or worse, we might be reminded of our own pain. We rarely linger in the presence of someone else's pain - strangely denying them what is possibly the only effective salve we (as people) might have to offer - our attention.

As believers, we often gather together as the 'devout' (although in recognition of what we all actually are, we should more accurately be described as the 'devout-in-progress'). However, gathering as the 'devout' means we gather as those 'masked before men' (as Phil tellingly put it). And yet our masks, in a bitter twist, only serve to isolate us from one another and make it harder to unmask ourselves - pretending to be normal becomes normal.

'Hey... how are you?'

'Good thanks - and you?'

'Oh fine'

You know how it goes.

Reading this and looking through this today raised this again in my mind. The partying friends who, in doing their best to be lively and fun, avoided that which could have helped the most. The wife who died alone - unable to bear her husband and children being with her. The man who died in silence - yet diligently recording his football team's progress.

But if suffering causes isolation, and an antidote is to suffer together, how do we bear this? Can we bring ourselves to utter the words 'Here I am... where are you?'

A bit of a bill

2008-03-28T10:21:00.007-04:00

Our electricity supplier (begins with 'nP' and ends in 'ower' if you're wondering) sent us this bill today:

What normally happens is that they send us an estimated bill (usually over-estimated) which then prompts us to go and dig around in our basement to read the meter ourselves. We then call them up and correct their meter reading and they send us an accurate bill.

So this was a bit of a surprise - over £2500 in just four months. Even taking into consideration a) winter, b) a baby, and c) rising fuel costs we figured it was an impressive use of electricity. However it all turns out to hinge on Mrs Hope's enthusiasm for accuracy with figures - she included the decimal point in the meter reading - and our supplier gratefully (delightedly) accepted the figures.

We will be calling them to let them know of the correct reading shortly.

Photo update

2008-03-25T03:11:00.004-04:00

I've added some new photos of Reuben, his grandparents, and our recent visit to the States. Click on the picture of grandson and Grandad Alan for more at my Flickr site.

I'll take the low road

2008-03-16T14:18:00.001-04:00

We arrived back in Bristol on Saturday morning, after a long day of traveling and too short a night's sleep.

We left Maryland via BWI Airport on Friday. Our flight to EWR (Newark) was just after 1pm, and our connection to Bristol left just before 9pm. I think there is an art to traveling which has been lost in our modern consumer approach to life - that old devil 'hurry' rides our backs mercilessly given half a chance. And there, but for the grace of God, we went, for our first flight was heavily over-subscribed (it being the first day of Spring Break).

1pm is also Reuben's lunch time, but we wanted to feed him as close to take-off as possible to help him adjust to the changing cabin pressure. The gate-agent began to ask for volunteers to give-up their seats, travel plans permitting, for those passengers who had to catch the 1pm flight. We tsk'd as Reuben grew hungrier, trying to decide whether we should try to board first and stretch him out until take-off. One passenger took up the offer of taking a train to EWR as we continued to wrestle with how best to feed Reuben. The gate agent then repeated the call for volunteers - did I mention that $350 worth of travel vouchers were offered in compensation as well? - and we decided to take up the offer.

The gate agent was so grateful (they got all their confirmed passengers on board in the end) she gave us lunch and dinner money too. Reuben was happy because he ate while they sorted our train tickets out, and Mrs Hope was happy because she didn't have to fly up to EWR. And I love to take the train and see the world from the unique perspective that it offers. It wound its way up the East Coast, taking us through Baltimore, skimming through Delaware and Pennsylvania before dropping us off in New Jersey in plenty of time to catch our Bristol plane.

The hardest thing about the whole affair was giving away our spare meal voucher at EWR - only $12 so not much at all - but hardly anyone wanted to engage in conversation about it.

Moving

2008-03-13T15:23:00.001-04:00

So we are moving to the States in June. We'll be in Severna Park, a suburb of Annapolis, in Maryland.

The state slogan for Maryland is (as listed by the unimpeachable Wikipedia): "Seize the Day Off". This I like.

The official state motto is taken from the state's official seal and was written in Italian thusly: "Fatti maschii, parole femine." The commonly accepted translation is 'strong deeds, gentle words'. This, too, I like.

We're just coming to the end of a preliminary two-week visit - I'm currently writing this from a house just nearby where we'll end up in June - and it's enabled us to get a flavour for what's ahead. First impressions are that it's very similar to Dubai - big roads, big cars, big food, big shops. The physical geography is completely new to me - certainly unlike anything I've known in the U.K. We are by the sea, but it's the Chesapeake Bay, and there's a mild tidal reach and almost no surf, so it's an odd beach environment. (A nice touch is that we're on the Severn River.) People here are very open and friendly - shop attendants will greet you as you enter their shop (and of course, bid you to 'have a nice day' when you leave), and we've freely exchanged words of greeting to people in the neighbourhood. And the people in the church here have been true to the state motto - welcoming us into their lives and bending over backwards to help us.

On Friday we go back to Bristol, which I have called home for the past ten years, to begin the process of packing up memories and possessions and saying goodbye.

Big Country

2008-03-10T21:33:00.003-04:00

So we have been visiting Maryland for the past week and a half. We've met so many lovely people here that, despite our British reserve, we've almost been provoked into an emotional response.

We've visited the neighborhood and the house where we'll be staying for the next year - and it's all big! We even figured out that we could walk to the local shops (as there was a pavement, or 'sidewalk', along the road) - and on the way back we were recognised, by virtue of our pedestrian nature, as being the visiting Brits!

Mall-culture has been experienced and, to some extent, enjoyed. On the positive side, there is an Apple Store in the Annapolis Mall. On the puzzling side, we saw people exercising in the Mall.

This week we had the pleasure of sampling Maryland's famous blue crabs, which are actually pinkish when they get to your table. And, thanks to Mrs Hope, who dismembered her first crab very enthusiastically, I am now wearing some blue crab, but I am told that this is acceptable behaviour for round here.

Ethics: They’re like cooking (but different)

2008-02-27T18:38:00.003-05:00

By ethics, I mean principles by which you might seek to live your life by. Examples would be telling the truth, not stealing, always showing kindness to others. Equally I would consider only telling white lies, or stealing from the government, or being able to hurt another if they did not share your values to be ethical principles - perhaps of a differing standard.

By cooking, I mean the activity of preparing food for the purpose of eating it - but frame the word ‘activity’ widely. Hence personally purchasing ingredients and making a pizza from them is ‘cooking’ just as much as purchasing a pre-prepared frozen pizza is, or ordering a take-away pizza is. Again, it just involves a different standard.

So, ethics are like cooking. To some extent they are common to all - one person might choose to tell the truth as much as another might permit lying in certain situations. One person might eat their steak medium-rare, the other well done. I’m sure another wiser person has more to say on the general characteristics of ethics.

What I do want to think out loud is whether or not ethics are generally perceived as good. More particularly, the ethics set out in the Sermon on the Mount (I know, you’re thinking ‘can - worms - all over the floor’). Seriously though, consider the exhortation - ‘be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect’. Does that strike you as good news - something encouraging? I think it should, but I know that most people would consider advice to tell the truth at all times rather naive or quaintly old-fashioned, if not unhelpful. I’m gutted that the subject of ethics has been allowed to accumulate negative associations in people’s minds over the years.

Ethics - they’re like cooking. Jesus lived a three Michelin-starred life. He knew how to wrest the freshest flavours from life’s gristle. He knew what a pinch of ‘this’ or sprinkle of 'that' would do in any given situation. He had impeccable taste. He truly knew the good things in life.

So, while I pick moodily at my microwave-meal habits, should I be surprised if they don’t satisfy me? What is it that keeps me coming back to a fast-food burger pastime, when I could be eating finer meat and drink prepared with care at home?

Select highlights

2008-02-21T11:11:00.003-05:00

Hartman's Law of Prescriptivist Retaliation — Any statement about correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling is bound to contain at least one eror.

Hlade's Law — If you have a difficult task, give it to a lazy person; they will find an easier way to do it.

Stigler's Law — No scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer, named by statistician Stephen Stigler who attributes it to sociologist Robert Merton.

I am a snob

2008-02-18T06:10:00.003-05:00

At least, according to a survey reported (indirectly) here, that has unearthed an amusing collection of stats about Mac-users vs. PEE CEE users.

Scarily, I have to admit to having perfectionist tendencies, owning a notebook (laptop), driving a station wagon (Puegeot 406), paying for downloaded music (use iTunes), and caring about "green" products and the environment.

And whilst I have gone to Starbucks, and used teeth-whitening toothpaste in my lifetime, I can honestly say I don't own a hybrid car, or buy five pairs of sneakers in a year (although Mrs Hope would be happy to give that last one a go).

I'm not only amazed that someone came up with these questions to ask computer users (do you use teeth-whitening products/drive a station wagon/buy five or more pairs of sneakers per year?) but also to then deduce that there are 'cause-effect' links with the computer they use...

Getting along well

2008-02-10T15:50:00.007-05:00

Just updated my Flickr site with a few new photos of Reuben. Here's one for free.

With my day off on Fridays I've been able to take up the responsibility of Friday dinners. Found a new pasta recipe in Jamie's Italian book last week (I would sound slightly contrite for mentioning Jamie, except it's utterly delicious and now my second favourite pasta recipe) and did a pretty decent toad-in-the-hole this week. Then, whilst ad-libbing on Saturday, found that creme-fraiche on hot pasta has almost the same 'sour milk' aroma as Reuben's nappies after a No. 2. Sorry. But we still ate it.

Tales of Mystery and Imagination

2008-01-29T13:19:00.001-05:00

Recently I have been able to play a part in feeding my eight week old son. After a long day of caring for Reuben, Mrs Hope now clocks off gracefully at 10pm, and is usually able to be in bed earlier due to Reuben's propensity for sleep. So, between the hours of 10pm and 5am, I am on duty: both input and output. I have thoroughly enjoyed this time with him, sometimes before midnight but more often in the 'wee small hours'. I like it - it's private 'us' time.

He feeds well from a bottle, but prefers his food at body temperature rather than room temperature which requires a trip downstairs to the microwave prior to a meal. We aim to move away from this temperature preference, and so we're gradually working our way from warm to cool (and aiming for 'tepid' tonight).

And so I came to find myself groggily making up a bottle of formula at 3.30am Saturday morning. Actually, it was one of the ready-made cartons we'd bought to test his affinity for the bottle. Having carefully sanitised the various components of the bottle earlier, I carefully unsanitised them as I assembled it. Eventually I decanted the appropriate measure of formula into the chosen vessel, warmed it painstakingly in the microwave and trudged upstairs to my audibly-hungry son. He got his chops working furiously on the bottle in no time at all and was quaffing away eagerly when I felt a slight trickle of liquid on my ankle.

Despite being slightly un-focused by the hour, I quickly ran through a list of possible explanations: drip from baby's nappy (answer: no, baby was wrong way round for that), drip from baby's chin (answer: no, muslin was securely in place, and not at all saturated), drip from bottle (answer: most likely yes, given the complex ritual for preparing the meal and the weary state of the labourer). The conclusion I arrived at was that it was a splash of formula from earlier activities, and I was feeling the chill of it slowly drying in the air. Satisfied, I dismissed the trickle from my mind and returned my (limited) attention to my guzzling son. Then the 'trickle' moved up my calf, and all possible explanations vanished in an instant.

There are times when I feel it is appropriate to wrestle with mystery but I was suddenly keenly motivated to inspect my calf and resolve it. My hurried inspection revealed none other than my recently documented nemesis - a slug.

Thankfully, Reuben is too young to remember his father's ungainly reaction to this turn of events; I shall elaborate no further on the matter but simply leave it to your imagination.

Taking on the North Face

2008-01-22T16:29:00.001-05:00

Oh yes, the slugs in our house are a brave and fearless bunch, as these pictures testify. They* crawled all over my favourite Nuptse vest, both inside (shudder) and out.

*Okay, I admit I don't really know if it was a gang of slug vandals, or just one inquisitive slimeball, but I think 'they' sounds better. And I did feel violated.

January tales

2008-01-22T15:17:00.001-05:00

The Wee Man has kept us busy this month: enchanting us and exhausting us in equal measure as he learns how to live in his little body. It's been tough to share his frustrations and be unable to step in and solve his problems in the main.

His Granny came to visit, and helped us out in all sorts of ways, for which we were all most grateful.

Last week, we were referred to the breast-feeding specialist at Southmead Hospital. Reuben was born with a small tongue-tie which had proved, over the last few weeks, a regular source of frustration for both mother and child at mealtimes. As the tissue anchoring the base of his tongue to the bottom of his mouth was preventing him from moving his tongue freely, he wasn't feeding easily. So, through the wonderful NHS, our health visitor quickly referred us to the hospital in just a few days. Although the wonders of the NHS didn't extend to convenient parking, on Friday morning we ended up in the office of the specialist who - after the briefest of brief inspections - said she would be prepared to snip the tissue right there and then.

Barely five minutes later, Reuben was swaddled and his head stabilised by an assistant. A pair of sterile scissors were produced and the specialist pried Reuben's mouth open and made two quick snips. It was over with only a drop or two of blood and a small (and rather muted) protest from the Wee Man at the fingers in his mouth. He was scooped up and returned to his mother for a feed, which was immediately noticeably improved.

Credit where it's due?

2008-01-08T04:54:00.001-05:00

This is a great story about what lengths we go to in order to avoid uncomfortable situations. And I love the ingenuity of children.

I never went as far as glueing my hand to a bed to get out of school, but I did try faking a fever and heating my thermometer up over my bedside lamp. As I, being only eight, had no idea of the normal temperature of the human body I ended up going (rather grumpily) to school anyway; mercifully the glass thermometer hadn't fractured during its mishandling; and (rather gracefully) my mother hadn't blinked as I registered a temperature of only 30 Centigrade.

I like to think it showed some aptitude for creative thinking and problem solving, despite the rather self-interested motive.

Early adopters pt. 2

2007-12-28T14:45:00.001-05:00

Following from Andrew's post that Dyson Airblades are being rolled out across the US, I can now report that they are now being seen across the 'Mild West'.

However, I'm not sure that everyone in Bristol quite 'gets' the Airblade, as this sign, found in the Gents loo at Cribbs, attests. I've also seen people try and dry their hands in an Airblade as if it were a regular 'blow-dryer' - needless to say it took them ages, and they probably got their cuffs wet.

And we're all working on our grammar too... presumably when one uses the dryer, one's hands come out drier?

Early adopters pt. 1

2007-12-28T14:24:00.004-05:00

People who try brand new things can sometimes run into teething problems with said products, simply because they are so new and the products have not been tested in all the situations that life can throw at them.

Unfortunately for Reuben, his parents a) have cameras (or friends with cameras), and b) aren't ashamed of capturing his early attempts to figure out how to live in the world with grace and poise. Having said that, he's so adorable, that he shouldn't be too worried about this picture (thanks Ralph) of his latest escapade in his Moses basket.

... the time came for the baby to be born ...

2007-12-17T10:32:00.001-05:00

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the Christmas story has taken on new meanings for me this year. I first became familiar with Chapter 2 of Luke's gospel when I had to read it at my school's carol service, or perhaps our church nativity service, in Nairobi. Which was a long time ago. And it was fitting that as a child I suppose I related most to the childish sections of the story: the hard-to-pronounce-words; shepherds "washing their socks" and "tuning to BBC"; sheep and cows.

And growing older, my focus hasn't shifted further than digging into the more esoteric details of the story: how shepherds were ranked in the first century Jewish society; how Luke nailed this story into the timeline of history with mention of Caesar and the census; how angels maintain their 100% record in Scripture of being absolutely terrifying to behold; how the shepherds got 'in' on the kingdom by being a bit cheeky.

But then the time came for me to become a parent - a father to a son - and changed this story forever.

A new life

2007-12-09T16:45:00.001-05:00

Reuben came home on Thursday afternoon, and since then we have all been adjusting to our new lives. We've had an amazing amount of support from family and friends, and it has made a huge difference in the last few days, so thanks to all who've sent good wishes, said prayers, made yummy food, and given gifts. We've been so inundated with flowers that we've even got a beautiful bunch of flowers in our bathroom (which we both quite like actually).

We had our first family outing on Friday - to the Southmead Hospital Registry Office - and Reuben is now 'legal'.

Saturday was a day of rest and friends popping in. We also 'fine-tuned' the nursery a bit more, now that it's had some proper use; Myrtle the Bear had a close call during one nappy change, so we now have some tissues close to hand for any spontaneous water-features.

Today was a leisurely Sunday. Having brought the Christmas tree in from outside (thanks Matt), we've begun decorating it, and I've also found time to blog and post some new photos.

Reuben Jack Arthur Hope

2007-12-04T16:24:00.001-05:00

7lb 11oz at 12.46 pm. Both he and his mother did exceptionally well, and are comfortable in hospital right now.

(edited 09.12.07 with correct birth weight)

We're still waiting...

2007-12-03T05:42:00.001-05:00

2007-11-28T13:42:00.001-05:00

Response and recognition

I love this simple explanation of what worship is: a never-ending flow between these two states. I'm not sure where it comes from (I heard it on Sunday in Andrew's reworking of Mumford-on-Nathan-on-Revelation, if you follow) but I'm certainly going to use it from now on.

Response and recognition:

Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

2007-11-25T08:35:00.000-05:00

How to invite yourself round for dinner.

1. Talk with friends (in person) about arranging dinner, but leave things tentative (because your wife always has the final say).

2. Leave your mobile unanswered, so that said friends have to leave a voicemail invitation.

3. Forget to delete voicemail.

4. After suitable passage of time, lend mobile to wife.

5. Sit back and watch her resurrect the old message by responding with a hearty "Why yes, we'd love to come round!" to slightly bemused and very lovely friends.

6. Enjoy your dinner.

2007-11-22T04:56:00.000-05:00

Choc-tatics

Ethical dilemmas come in a sorts of shapes and sizes, but a particularly chewy one to resolve is whether or not it is acceptable to take your favourite chocolate from the lower tier of a chocolate box before the upper tier has been eaten.

Top tip: take from the lower tier anyway, but transplant a chocolate from the upper one as a replacement! I suppose one has to be reasonably careful to ensure that the replacement chocolate 'fits' the gap, but who says that ethics aren't good news?

And just in time for Christmas too, eh?

2007-11-15T06:51:00.000-05:00

The road to Hull

Mrs Hope and I drove to Hull yesterday to be with some good friends from the States and Ukraine. As Mrs Hope is now two and a half weeks off her due-date, we made sure she had her hospital bag with us in the car. Actually, she made sure she had her hospital bag in the car. She also made sure she packed the car seat. (I'm still figuring this stuff out, as you can see.)

So I went to strap said car seat in - to get some practice at it. But I couldn't.

So - aware of not being aware of what is about to happen, but unable to do anything tangible to address it, but actually ignorant of everything but the car seat - I got cross with the car seat. Thankfully my wife gently guided me through not throwing it away, and took the wheel as we drove to Hull.

Reflecting on this later, I realised the issues below the surface of the car seat. I don't feel in control of being a parent. It brings up a whole bunch of fears about being a 'good dad' and a 'good husband'. And a 'good dad and husband' ought to be able to fit a car seat, right? Funny how a device meant to keep a baby safe and secure in a risky environment brings this up.

So now I am trying to figure out how to fit two car seats...

2007-11-12T16:02:00.000-05:00

In memoriam: Anne Hope

My dear Granny fell asleep today. I was able to say goodbye to her a few weeks ago, in a few precious minutes of her still being with us. She was delighted to see me, Nic, and my big bro' Charlie, but she was so close she was almost transparent. Mercifully, she was quite comfortable right until the end.

We would stay at her flat in Edinburgh at the beginning and end of every holiday (as well as almost every half-term), book-ending our journeys to see our Mum and Dad in Kenya, and then Dubai. She went to all our 'Parents Evenings', keeping a close eye on how we did at school. She did the best afternoon teas.

Bye Granny - lots of love, and see you soon!

2007-11-10T08:42:00.000-05:00

What a great idea!

I love everything about this game:

- that it feeds hungry people
- that it's about words
- that it's sponsored by big multinationals (inter alia, iTunes)

So far, in about three minutes of playing, I got to vocab. level 43. I'm okay if the words have a latin/greek root, but normally stumped by other types. Great fun though!

If you're an individual - play it.

If you're a company - advertise on it.

2007-11-05T16:47:00.000-05:00

How much tax do we pay?

One Holsten-Pils-branded bottle of beer at a certain hotel bar on Pembroke Road cost me £3.20.

Six bottles of Becks alcohol-free beer at Oddbins on Gloucester Road cost me £3.00.

How much is a pint these days?

2007-11-01T09:15:00.000-04:00

Brownie roulette

There is sometimes a need to clarify what a statement does not mean, as occasionally even a careful and thorough explanation as to what it does mean will not cancel out the fantastical and oddly-fascinating imaginings that were sparked initially. But I won't do it in this post.

Last night was Hallow e'en, and gangs of miniature witches, ghouls, ghosts, and serial killers roamed the streets of Bishopston in search of free sugary snacks. Normally we don't like to participate in the 'celebrations' of Hallow e'en but, Bishopston being Bishopston, you'll never meet more polite or well-groomed creatures of the underworld than can be found in our neighbourhood. Growls and snarls were clearly and crisply enunciated, threats were followed by 'please' and booty carried off with 'thank-you-very-much-have-a-nice-Hallowe'en' and I'd venture to say that even the dirt under their fake fingernails was clean.

Mrs Hope prepared a tin of chocolate brownies for the marauding hoarders, and made a tiny pumpkin into a lantern to indicate that we were open to receiving visitors. To spice each visitation up (but more likely a feeble attempt restore some sort of balance in the power struggle that I experience when held to ransom by kids on a sugar-high), we decided to trick our 'trick-or-treaters'. Each time the tin of brownies was raided, we gave a warning that one brownie had been laced with pepper. Without fail, the once-eager hands became more wary, and one or two of the smaller nightmarish visitors flat-out refused (until they gently reassured that there was nothing to worry about).

But on one occasion, a ghastly warlock gagged and choked that his brownie was indeed peppery; shortly afterwards we heard a gentle thump of a 'peppered brownie' being thrown back against our front door in disgust. Such is the power of suggestion.

2007-11-01T09:07:00.000-04:00

Strawberry Lips and Candy Kicks

This news warrants a post all by itself! The wonderful Casey Odean has begun blogging here. Credit is due to the unsung sister who persuaded her to graduate from LiveJournal to Blogger.

2007-10-25T17:11:00.000-04:00

Just one of her many qualities

Not only is she's a cracking cook, but she gets home before me and also needs to eat more often than me. (And whereas I can't do anything in a messy kitchen, she excels at cooking around, on, and in mess.)

She makes me packed lunches - I am so spoiled!

She's got a great belly-laugh. I've really begun to notice how often she smiles (and not just her crinkly eyes, because when she smiles, all of her smiles), and how much she laughs (and how it infects others too). Of course, right now she's got a great belly too, but that's because of the wee man.

She is a much better driver than I am - she asserts that in an alternate reality, she would be a drift-racer, but I think it's not happening because we drive a 10 year old diesel estate. (*ahem* - Speed Choice workshop notwithstanding.)

She is definitely an 'early' person: early mornings and early evenings. She goes to sleep to me reading, and I am often woken by a belly-laugh induced by her reading.

She's stuck by me through all the stupid things I've done, laughs at my clowning around, doesn't mind that the tide of my hairline is definitely on the ebb and even thinks I'm handsome.

She adores shoes (wears her latest purchases in bed sometimes), has a great sense of style, lets me iron my shirts (because I'm fussy) but is always ready to lend a hand (because she's kind).

She's also one of life's 'spillers'.

She's my lovely wife of four years next month.

2007-10-11T10:26:00.000-04:00

Ladybirds

There seems to be an enormous number of ladybirds around at the moment - which is fun, because they are beautiful, and look funny when they fly around. I fear for them with the approach of cooler weather, but I'll enjoy them while they're around. Once or twice a day one flies into my office and requires some assistance in getting out again. My favourite has been a black variant with two large red spots, but have seen orange/black dots and yellow/black dots too.

2007-10-10T14:18:00.000-04:00

She

... beat me to it.

It was rather funny.

2007-10-09T13:58:00.000-04:00

Update

Belfast was great, the wedding was great, the England result was great (for the English) and poor New Zealand are wondering where it all went wrong. My hunch is the Frenchies grew wicked facial hair and the ABs just couldn't deal with it. Continuing the rugby analysis: Fiji were outstanding in their exit, whereas Scotland were largely ineffective in theirs; SA were brutally efficient in their victory, whereas Argentina strangely hit and miss in theirs.

Mrs Hope continues to blossom, the Wriggler continues to live up to his moniker, and I've taken to walking into work (rather than cycle on my 'good-as-new-bicycle'!) to make use of the time by listening to podcasts. Flavour of the month - Dallas Willard on Leadership and Spirituality.

2007-10-05T12:19:00.001-04:00

Le Weekend plans

We're off to Belfast for the wedding of our dear friends Estelle and Jon on Saturday. Hurray!

We're going today and coming back Monday to make it a long weekend. Hurray!

It's the quarter-finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Hurray!!*

Mrs Hope will be thirty-two weeks pregnant after the weekend. Hurrah!!!

* subject to suitably sympathetic wedding/rugby arrangements, of course.

2007-09-26T13:38:00.001-04:00

Apricots

I've uploaded the last batch of photos for last year's Via course - covering the third term after the trip to Ukraine, through to the end of year retreat (when it just rained) and the final party.

2007-09-24T11:34:00.001-04:00

You know work's going slow when you blog twice in a day...

As prompted by my wife's ultra-keen competitive edge, did you see that Wabbadabba was featured on Radio 2 recently as Steve Wright's web-site of the Day. (The actual article can be found here.)

The premise of Wabba is very simple: just search and win, then refer friends from your account and win what they do (a la pyramid scheme). With the recent surge in popularity, prizes are expected to increase in volume. Tips from the Wabba-blog are:

1) get into the habit of using Wabba as your normal search engine,
2) search in the morning (when less users are on the site), and
3) get referring; not only do you boost your chances of winning, but as more and more people use the site, the bigger and better the returns all round. Apparently, some users are reaping the benefits of having a hundred or more referrals...

So, here's Mrs Hope's referral link to get you started... (oh, she owes me now!)

2007-09-24T06:05:00.000-04:00

What is wrong with a broom?

There is a guy outside my office with a leaf-blower. The ground is wet because it is a) England, and b) late September. Leaf-blowers do not work on wet leaves that are stuck to the ground. How do I know this, you may ask, as I do not own and have never used a leaf-blower. I know this because he has been going over the same patch of car-park outside my window for the last three-quarters of an hour. What's wrong with a regular broom?

2007-09-23T16:35:00.000-04:00

Back-to-school blues

Have been feeling a bit down now that summer is over and there is a bit of an unbroken stretch of work until Christmas. It could be something to do with both Mrs Hope and me being poorly over the last week - sickness in the body does affect the spirit - and neither of us sleeping well (Mrs Hope due to her 'condition' and me, in turn, due to Mrs Hope's insomnia).

I do remember that BTSB always wore off once one got into the rhythm of term: school work, friends, sports and other activities. There was also the novelty of being one year older (after summer holidays that is), and working that out in the complex hierarchy of school. I'm not sure any of that now applies, but here's hoping that some sort of rhythm develops so I can fall in with it. A small step in that direction is the reinstatement of Sunday nights being devoted to ironing shirts - a ritual seemingly as old as time itself. There is comfort in the sight of smooth, crisp cotton shirts neatly arranged in the cupboard, the smell of steam, an hour devoted to the familiar routine of 'collar, cuffs and sleeves, right panel, back panel, left panel, yoke', a chance to catch up on a podcast or two. So away with you, BTSB, and pass the collarbones, I've finished the last one.

2007-09-20T17:06:00.000-04:00

On-line

We’ve now got broadband at home. Mrs Hope changed our landline carrier to TalkTalk, and they offer a package of free calls (including free international calls) and free broadband. So I am revelling in the novelty of surfing the web from my bed (though it's more tutting in frustration at the creaking pace of the iTunes store at present).

So will I see you on Skype soon then? Perhaps not. TalkTalk provide a ADSL broadband service over the copper wires installed by BT. Broadband speeds are "upto 8 Mbps", depending on local usage levels and proximity to the 'local BT exchange.' Perhaps we're miles away as it's crawling tonight. Roll on the promised crackdown on broadband suppliers being woefully inaccurate with their purported high speed access.

2007-09-18T06:38:00.000-04:00

'Mum' is no longer the word

My Apple addiction was not helped by the announcement today that the iPhone is coming to the UK in November.

Small comfort is found in that I switched to O2 this summer, so there is a minute chance that I could 'upgrade' my handset at the end of my contract. I doubt it though.

Also of note are Steve Job's comments at the end of the Macworld article announcing that they are already working on the 2nd and 3rd gen iPhones, and planning for the 4th gen already. So while November will be a fantastic opportunity, perhaps there is some benefit in (being forced) to wait a while.

Delayed gratification is just too hard.

2007-09-16T16:09:00.000-04:00

How low can you go?

The sweet chariot is swinging pretty low after England's weekend's loss to SA. Even my magnanimous gesture of support wasn't enough to ward off a pretty humiliating loss for the English. My tuppence is that what happened on Friday evening was the result of something that had been going on for a fairly long period of time and, no matter how earnest efforts might be in the present, they typically aren't enough when the weight of three years' worth of habits come to bear. Just like the rest of life then. I love sports metaphors.

2007-09-14T13:53:00.000-04:00

Gotta love it, sports fans!

There's a whole weekend's worth of international rugby on this weekend, so I'm looking at one game tonight (Eng v SA), maybe all three tomorrow (NZ v Por, Wal v Aus; Ire v Geo), and then possibly just the one on Sunday (Fra v Nam).

I think I might support the underdog tonight - yep, I'll be rooting for the depleted English team to upset the confident South Africans. Only this once, mind.

2007-09-11T15:48:00.000-04:00

Skipping...

hand in hand down the street in the dark with your pregnant wife is a great way to cheer yourself up after a crappy day.

She is a wise and selfless woman (and just a trifle out of breath).

2007-09-08T17:12:00.000-04:00

Salcombe to Falmouth (Road) in two days

Mrs Hope and I have just returned from our week in Salcombe. It was week of fine weather, comfortable accommodation, and great friends. We preferred South Sands to North Sands, but loved Mill Bay most of all. The house we were in had all kinds of beach gear imaginable, the pick of the crop being (for me at least) a skim-board. The final day at the beach proved a good day skimming - I now sport a bruised knee and toe (a real first for me) as testaments to my efforts.

Returning to home in Falmouth Road (oh what a joy it is to sleep in one's own bed!) and we have just had our annual street party. Although the road was only cleared of cars by 10am, the kids were zipping up and down on scooters, bikes and trikes well before then, and have only just stopped now, at 10pm. It's been lovely to get to know people a little more, and I'm certain that there'll be a few more occasions to stop and chat now that the ice has been broken. It's funny how we're often wary of striking up conversation in the city, even with people we live in close proximity with. Having said that, I only knew half a dozen people by sight before today - maybe we really all just come home and close the door on the world outside.

Oh, and the Rugby World Cup has started too. Fantastic.

2007-08-30T16:39:00.000-04:00

A new lease of life

For the past four weeks or so my trusty old bike has been below par. However, £100 on repairs later, and it’s as if I have a new bike to play with!

I bought it from a friend (not a good start you might think!), but it was heart over head. Both us hail from Edinburgh, and the bike is from the Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative (although it was just a 'shop' when I was last there...). So I was won over by the discreet ‘edinburgh bicycle’ logo on the frame, a nice reminder of my roots, and fairly distinctive down here in Bristol.

I am no mechanic, and my mechanical steed bore seven years of labour with the minimum of maintenance done on her. I have shared some memorable moments with her; most notable perhaps when I had her stolen, and had to steal her back. As time took it’s inevitable toll, the teeth on the front chainset (the cogs where you pedal) had worn down to such an extent that the chain was slipping when I pushed down too hard. Which made it slightly tricky to move off quickly at junctions: push down and - slip - nothing!

A day in a repair shop and I have replaced almost all of the transmission - new chainset, rear cassette, and chain - plus new gear and brake cables. My tires are also inflated to the correct pressure - no more dragging around the roads for me - and the gears change sweeter than I’ve ever known. Now, if only I had the legs and lungs to go with it!

2007-08-28T10:57:00.000-04:00

shiny metal objects

one of the joys of surfing the internet is that you can stumble across minature worlds you previously didn't know were in existence. the danger is that you become so engrossed that you can't leave that world... before you think this is getting weird take a second to remind yourself of the title of this post - shiny metal objects.

so, passing through the wardrobe of the gadgeteer, took me to the narnia of edc reviews (edc stands for every day carry btw) and the holy grail of the atwood prybaby. this is just the tip of the edc iceberg, which is linked to other icebergs, each with their own strange, yet fascinating, take on what's really important in life.

so if you too are wholly devoted to custom-made knives, tools, sheaths, etc. you might want to visit the amusingly named moore cutlery. and if your devotion borders on obession, perhaps the ever so slightly alarming t.a.d. gear is more your cup of tea.

so, does anyone have a prybaby i can try out?

2007-08-28T10:29:00.000-04:00

crossing the bar

we're off to salcombe for a week's holiday this saturday. a new acquaintance of mine mentioned this tennyson poem in passing and i looked it up just now. i like it.

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

2007-08-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

with friends like these...

on tuesday we received a postcard from seven friends of ours, comprising three separate families we know. each family wrote a message (some managed two), and one family's correspondent didn't even bother with writing anything, but did some colouring instead.

is there a better feeling than that of knowing your good friends are also good friends?

2007-08-21T08:11:00.001-04:00

fed up of facebook?

mind how you go with this one - those more easily offended may wish to just stay on the digg page, as there's a gentle nod towards toilet humour through the link.

2007-08-20T13:40:00.000-04:00

odd ads

there is an advert around bristol at the moment (noticeably on bus stop shelters) for shower gel of some sort. it features someone enjoying themselves as they're splashed with water and segments of limes. which is odd, not only because limes can hurt, but also because the shower gel is supposed to be scented with lemongrass.

they do taste/smell different, right?

2007-08-19T14:18:00.000-04:00

does your left hand know what your right is doing?

we're dipping our toes in the freecycle waters. our ikea t.v. table (or t.v. storage 'solution' according to the manufacturers) has been loafing in the general-dumping ground that doubles as our study, and mrs hope has had enough. since we moved the t.v. to the cellar last winter, the table has been taking up a large area of floor space, gathering lots of dust, and doing nothing more useful than being somewhere to put our cheeseplant.

our message will hopefully appear on the bristol group's message boards shortly.

if it works out, we also have a t.v., DVD player, and VCR player sitting quietly in the cellar...