On listening to this beautiful music, a description comes to mind -
the music is, at once, heroic, beautiful, happy, thrilling, content yet immeasurably exciting.
It talks about love, passionate love- love that is secure, forever, triumphant and fulfilling.
The source of inspiration, the day-spring.
And all the more impressive when mutual.
I am grateful, and well satisfied with it.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Another gem from himself
None of these...
all of these
A raised voice, a scathing tongue
A lifted hand, a delivered fist
A closed door, a turned back
A silent word, a cutting retort
Marriage is none of these... as Love is none of these
A soft sound, a melodic tune
A palm open, a caressing touch
A lighted candle, a face approaching
A deep tongue, a steadfast breath
Marriage is all of these... as Love is all of these
laurence
all of these
A raised voice, a scathing tongue
A lifted hand, a delivered fist
A closed door, a turned back
A silent word, a cutting retort
Marriage is none of these... as Love is none of these
A soft sound, a melodic tune
A palm open, a caressing touch
A lighted candle, a face approaching
A deep tongue, a steadfast breath
Marriage is all of these... as Love is all of these
laurence
Friday, August 17, 2007
England
The Great Trek to the Home Country
Laurence took photographs of cloud then sketchy houses and streets appearing through the misting clouds and then a river with bridges... his first sights of London since he left there in 1958. What a moment for him. And for me too, just quietly.
So much happened. Everyday an exciting destination, or two, was scheduled. It was like going into fairyland, into the world found in the story books of my youth, all green with streams, and stones, so many stones and charm to wow us at every turn of our heads. And architecture and history almost too much to take in. And all seen in great company and, of course, the totally cute Timothy.
As you may already know we travelled to so many places but I don’t feel like doing a travelogue at the moment, so I’ll get to that later as the mood takes me.
The first afternoon there we took a punt up the River Cam under the able control of a student with a gorgeous, gorgeous accent. His commentary was interesting, but that accent!!! After this we spent some time in the first of many English pubs we were to visit, they are all over the place and all quite charming.
Thanks for making this possible guys!
Some of the 1500 or so photographs Laurence took with his trusty little digital and Ben and Eve’s beautiful Olympus, above... Kings College Cambridge with a cameo of Timmi (notice who is making him smile)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Musings for my Children and Others
Musings for my Children or Anyone Who Wants to Listen
I often ask the question; does this kind of relationship, this kind of love, this kind of passion, come to everyone? If not, why not and what have I done to deserve such an incomprehensibly valuable gift?
There is no doubt in my mind that it is not common, although I don’t doubt that many people know about it.
I guess, this is a similar scenario as why it is some of us are born into loving families, into prosperity, with good health etc, etc while a huge part of the world’s population are born into unhappiness, poverty, war, deprivation, bad health or handicapped in some way. Where is the logic, and who decides?
This rates with my persistent beef with God, as to how He allows the innocent, children, animals etc, to be at the mercy of uncaring, cruel and depraved humans. I realise that having this ‘beef’ is very courageous of me, just the idea of having a ‘beef’ with God, but I’m sure He knows my heart on this and realises the pain I feel when confronted with cruelty.
Paul says in the New Testament that now we see dimly, but THEN we will see clearly. So, nothing to do but be patient.
Now, where was I?
At the moment, I am completely obsessed with a Sting song ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith’, a song which I sing alternately to God and to Laurence. Well actually not to laurence's face, figuratively I mean. The sentiment is, that without faith, there is nothing for me. God, I have faith, is totally to be relied upon even though I don’t understand all that much about the way he works.
Laurence, I can say I have faith in because I know him so well. Ye ken what I mean? (The use of this Scottish idiom is my new fetish and helps me sense a connection with my past, so you’ll just have to put up with it.) I know him well and trust him to respond in a certain way.
Constancy, you see, is a very underestimated quality these days, but that doesn’t make it any the less valuable. Of course there are very bad kinds of constancy such as being cornered in a cruel, controlling relationship or stuck with something unpleasant ordisturbing in life, but that’s not what I’m talking about here.
Constancy of love, passion, devotion, trust and protection, is a precious thing to be treasured and appreciated. It is the product of a long, honest relationship and brings with a feeling of safety, something which appears to be a dwindling commodity in our modern society.
Well then, perhaps that is enough 'deepness' for today. Remember to be grateful.
I often ask the question; does this kind of relationship, this kind of love, this kind of passion, come to everyone? If not, why not and what have I done to deserve such an incomprehensibly valuable gift?
There is no doubt in my mind that it is not common, although I don’t doubt that many people know about it.
I guess, this is a similar scenario as why it is some of us are born into loving families, into prosperity, with good health etc, etc while a huge part of the world’s population are born into unhappiness, poverty, war, deprivation, bad health or handicapped in some way. Where is the logic, and who decides?
This rates with my persistent beef with God, as to how He allows the innocent, children, animals etc, to be at the mercy of uncaring, cruel and depraved humans. I realise that having this ‘beef’ is very courageous of me, just the idea of having a ‘beef’ with God, but I’m sure He knows my heart on this and realises the pain I feel when confronted with cruelty.
Paul says in the New Testament that now we see dimly, but THEN we will see clearly. So, nothing to do but be patient.
Now, where was I?
At the moment, I am completely obsessed with a Sting song ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith’, a song which I sing alternately to God and to Laurence. Well actually not to laurence's face, figuratively I mean. The sentiment is, that without faith, there is nothing for me. God, I have faith, is totally to be relied upon even though I don’t understand all that much about the way he works.
Laurence, I can say I have faith in because I know him so well. Ye ken what I mean? (The use of this Scottish idiom is my new fetish and helps me sense a connection with my past, so you’ll just have to put up with it.) I know him well and trust him to respond in a certain way.
Constancy, you see, is a very underestimated quality these days, but that doesn’t make it any the less valuable. Of course there are very bad kinds of constancy such as being cornered in a cruel, controlling relationship or stuck with something unpleasant ordisturbing in life, but that’s not what I’m talking about here.
Constancy of love, passion, devotion, trust and protection, is a precious thing to be treasured and appreciated. It is the product of a long, honest relationship and brings with a feeling of safety, something which appears to be a dwindling commodity in our modern society.
Well then, perhaps that is enough 'deepness' for today. Remember to be grateful.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Where
I arrived home after church a few weeks ago to find this beautiful missive Laurence wrote for me.
Where
Where is the excitement from the rolling ocean
without the sound of waves meeting the sand?
Where is the peace from a babbling brook
without the sound of movement between pebbles?
Where is the love from a heart
without the sound of a beat against a chest?
Where is the emotion from music
without the sound of notes reaching the mind?
Nowhere to be found if you are not playing.
Nowhere to be found if you are not speaking.
Nowhere to be found if you are not in body.
Nowhere to be found if you are not in thought.
Laurence
Where
Where is the excitement from the rolling ocean
without the sound of waves meeting the sand?
Where is the peace from a babbling brook
without the sound of movement between pebbles?
Where is the love from a heart
without the sound of a beat against a chest?
Where is the emotion from music
without the sound of notes reaching the mind?
Nowhere to be found if you are not playing.
Nowhere to be found if you are not speaking.
Nowhere to be found if you are not in body.
Nowhere to be found if you are not in thought.
Laurence
Monday, August 13, 2007
A Fabulous Weekend
Whoever said "nothing happens at Bathurst" doesn't know what he's talking about.
My nearest and dearest and I spent Saturday night watching a great ballet program (from the Australian Ballet) at the Entertainment Centre. A classical program featuring Les Sylphides, a Strauss thing, the Graduation Ball and the final act of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty. Sydneyites eat your heart out - we left home 25 mins before it was due to start, parked across the road from the centre and paid $45 for the tickets. And the ballet was excellent!
But, the best was yet to come... at the Sunday afternoon concert featuring world famous pianist Simon Tedeschi playing Grieg's Piano Concerto. This was a long awaited for event of great anticipation which did not disappoint. We went early so we could sit in the front row with a view of the keyboard. The experience was cathartic to say the least and I caught myself checking my pulse rate at the end of the first movement as it was so enthralling.
The performance was technically perfect of course, but also extremely powerful and sensitive. The guy is a talent and a half and the orchestra, a local one with help from some ring-ins, rose to the occasion under the baton of our wonderful Precentor, Michael Deasey. What an afternoon!! We got to talk to Simon after the performance courtesy of our friend Antonio Deasey.
Sorry, no photographs taken for this section, but Simon has CD's (check the iTunes Store).
My nearest and dearest and I spent Saturday night watching a great ballet program (from the Australian Ballet) at the Entertainment Centre. A classical program featuring Les Sylphides, a Strauss thing, the Graduation Ball and the final act of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty. Sydneyites eat your heart out - we left home 25 mins before it was due to start, parked across the road from the centre and paid $45 for the tickets. And the ballet was excellent!
But, the best was yet to come... at the Sunday afternoon concert featuring world famous pianist Simon Tedeschi playing Grieg's Piano Concerto. This was a long awaited for event of great anticipation which did not disappoint. We went early so we could sit in the front row with a view of the keyboard. The experience was cathartic to say the least and I caught myself checking my pulse rate at the end of the first movement as it was so enthralling.
The performance was technically perfect of course, but also extremely powerful and sensitive. The guy is a talent and a half and the orchestra, a local one with help from some ring-ins, rose to the occasion under the baton of our wonderful Precentor, Michael Deasey. What an afternoon!! We got to talk to Simon after the performance courtesy of our friend Antonio Deasey.
Sorry, no photographs taken for this section, but Simon has CD's (check the iTunes Store).
Saturday, August 4, 2007
From the Soapox Episode 1
This is a little scary as I am getting no professional help from my 'team of experts'... so here goes.
I just finished reading HP The Deathly Hallows; I know I'm a little late, but I have excellent excuses. Firstly, it was ordered for me from Amazon by my nearest and dearest and, of course, I couldn't get it on the release date. And, secondly, when a sympathetic librarian friend of mine dropped in a copy last Sunday, said nearest and dearest grabbed it and proceeded to hog it for the next few days. This was very strange indeed as it was the first time he has ever picked up a copy of the HP's let alone actually read one. Although he has been dragged to every single movie and forced to eat HP lollies and listen to HP movie trailers as I played them over, and over, and over... What a good sport my N&D is!
In any case, I loved the book and will probably do my usual trick of rereading it asap. Thank God JK restrained herself and didn't knock off everyone close to Harry; "Good on you JK! The world is thankful".
Today it is cold and mostly grey in Bathurst, but we have no complaints as we 've had a good amount of rain and the countryside is thankful.
We were busy last weekend putting some colour at the back door, nice and close so we don't have to go outside in the cold to see them. Pictures below. Laurence requires I put a disclaimer in. HE DID NOT TAKE THESE PHOTOS AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM IN ANY WAY OR FORM.
I can't understand the fuss, my shadow is there on purpose so one can see that a person has taken the picture, makes it more personal don't you think?
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