We were discussing giving E a lift to her end-of-school Ball, and debating who was going to drive. Remember that S is also now learning to drive …

S: I could drive you

E: But you haven’t even got beyond 2nd gear yet

S: You don’t need more than 2nd gear …

Clearly something to remind S of in future …

What the world really needs is another blog. With only 175,000 created every day, there is clearly a gap in the market.

Indeed. Still, a quick look at Mark Easton’s new blog, made me subscribe. Here’s how he describes what he’s trying to achieve:

Since 2004 I have been BBC News’ home editor, a title which has some strange consequences. I get sent samples of “premium quality laminate floor-coverings”. I have been asked to review hammer drills. And offer opinions on Italian furniture design.

But my interest and certainly my expertise is not in the world of interiors. In a way, it is quite the reverse. I try to look at Britain from outside, endeavouring to make sense of the dramatic and rapid change affecting the UK by standing well back.
…
What I want to do, (and what this blog is really about), is join some of the dots left by the dozens of stories we report each day. I want to understand our country, to see which direction we are heading in and what challenges lie ahead on our journey.

The one that caught my eye was his commentary on “So have we got our response to child sex abuse in proportion?” Unfortunately he ultimately ducks the question, but he does at least bring out the complexity of the debate.

“Unleash your inner slob”

Probably an unfair quote to lead with from this book by Stephen Cotterell, but an arresting one. This book was a surprise; I thought it was making the case for reducing busyness and generally downsizing life. Which it was, but only partly. More than that, Cotterell makes the case for real fulfilment coming through community, as emerging from God. And more specifically a God whose substance is Love – the Christian God.

Late on he mentions occasions where we land up “just killing time” – for example, hitting delays at stations or airports. Even if its just semantics, his suggestion to think of it differently, instead “redeeming time”. And “time wasting” should become “enjoying time”. One practical suggestion is to sit in a chair for a few minutes not thinking of anything, but being aware of your breathing. He suggests this as a way of allowing hidden thoughts out, as well as awareness of God to appear. A more orthodox Christian view would be to call this “meditation” and make it directly Christ- or Bible-centred. (To the point that the next book I’m going to read is on Lectio Divina – praying ‘into’ Bible passages.)

I didn’t find it amazing, but it’s a new mixing of ideas, and should have something to say to almost anyone.

We admired art in various galleries in Tenby, St.David’s and Narberth. I particularly liked Gary Llewellyn’s shorescape photographs, and the fused glass work of Steve Robinson and Liza Burk at the Narberth Gallery.

But the best was found at the Little Wedlock Gallery at the home of Anne & Malcolm Gregson. We landed up spending an hour there, including having coffee with them, and chatting about her paintings. We bough a few prints, which we hope to get framed. We much admired the Sea Fantasy original but we don’t have a 1m x 1.5m space to hang it. We felt quite a lot of her art was spiritual — perhaps why we like it? — for example seeing The Creation in the Sea Fantasy. It seems others agree as some has been used on various Christian book covers. Anne doesn’t seem to have that in mind as she created them, partly because the paintings have something of a life of their own as she creates them.

On the last full day, as our car had its rear springs replaced, we had a couple of happy hours over lunch in The Creative Cafe in Narberth. As we walked in, Martha’s face lit up in real joy … she saw a combined tea-pot-for-one-with-cup just waiting to be painted. The rest of us also painted various pieces of pottery. I can’t post any pictures of those here, as it might give away what certain readers might be receiving as presents, but here’s how Martha decorated the teapot …