Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Alison Lees' LiveJournal:

[ << Previous 20 ]

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
11:35 am	St Cecilia A virgin martyr, named in the First Eucharistic prayer, and for some tenuous reason declared the patron saint of music and musicians. So today is a good day for music and music-making of all types. This year, John is attending a Yes concert, and I am appearing (second violins again) in the Oldham Symphony Orchestra concert. Tchaikovsky's 4th symphony, Haydn's Cello concerto in C, and a bit of Borodin. Current Music: yes, and lots (Comment on this)
Monday, November 16th, 2009
1:32 am	Ratatouille pasta For which, Sam chose macaroni, and John picked a tin of taste the difference posh tomatoes, and a tin of taste the difference posh cherry tomatoes. I served it with grated vinatage cheddar.John said the two types of tomatoes were a mistake, but I thought it an excellent idea. Sam and Hannah wouldn't look at the ratatouille, even though I explained carefully that it didn't have rats in, but ate the pasta and cheese. It was very nice. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
1:06 pm	St Martin of Tours The Roman Soldier who saw a beggar cold, and in order not to be told off for not being in uniform, cut his cloak in half, so they each could have some. It does now begin to feel more wintry and less autumnal, and Martinmas has become more significant in places than perhaps you might expect. In my German heritage, children would make lanterns and parade with them singing, and at this time of year, making lanterns is a fun thing to do. Decoration: lanterns, candles, torches, open fires. Drink: wine with Chenin Blanc, apparently: for more details, see the Wikipedia page. Hooray for: warm clothes, sharing Prayers: almsgiving for the poor, and such like. (Comment on this)
12:58 pm	Armistice Day On the 11th day of the 11th month, some people signed a piece of paper that was going to signal the end of the war that 'would end all wars'.  There was a belief, as I understand it, that the horrors of twentieth century were so great, that noone would be tempted to start another.  Since then?  Even more horrific wars, and hardly any time at all when someone somewhere was not at war.  We cannot commemorate armistice day with any integrity until warfare is seen to be uncivilized and barbaric: something they did in the old days but we don't do know. (Comment on this)
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
3:10 pm	I know someone famous Charlotte from our church has started University, and written a diary about her first month for the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/minisites/2116/fact/charlotte_s_diary_disabled_student_diari.shtml (Comment on this)
2:40 pm	Remembrance Sunday This year, I am merely quoting some words of Harry Patch: "It wasn’t worth it. No war is worth it. No war is worth the loss of a couple of lives let alone thousands. T’isn’t worth it …" [War is the] “calculated and condoned slaughter of human beings". "War is organised murder and nothing else”. Current Music: The Last Post (Comment on this)
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
9:31 am	Bonfire Night Some people say this is about religion, and is antiCatholic.  Certainly some traditions are.  But generally, it is about democracy, and the houses of parliament not being blown up.  The bonfires, by the way are not specially for Guy Fawkes, but were adopted as suitable.  Bonfires are usually built this time of year, partly to clear garden rubbish, partly to make a bright warm fire in the cold dank days, partly because people used to burn heretics and such like in those days.  Of course, we're much more civilised now.  Fireworks are all very pretty, too, and cheer things up now that it is dark and cold and horrid.  As for making noises, our cat and children have never minded, although I wish Oldham had a municipal fireworks display. We usually look out of the window, and see a lot of fireworks coming from different places instead. Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot, I know of no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent To blow up the King and Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below, Poor old England to overthrow; By God’s providence he was catch’d With a dark lantern and burning match. Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring. Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King! Hip hip hoorah! Time for: making the guy (penny for the guy), burning the guy, fireworks, bonfires, toffee apples, cinder toffee, parkin, baked potatoes. Hooray for: democracy, an elected parliament. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
10:36 am	All Souls A nice quiet reflective day.  A good time to remember those who died in the past year.  Etc. Prayers: May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Trip to cemetery. Etc. Hymns: there used to be some really dirgelike hymns, but we don't seem to sing them any more.  Some were just dreary, some wallowed in it. Current Mood: contemplative (Comment on this)
Sunday, November 1st, 2009
1:45 pm	All Saints Now, we are ready to be good again. Music: For all the Saints (the 9:30 lot did, the 11:30 still won't learn more than the barest minimum of songs); Oh, When the Saints go Marching in (which both lots did, but the 11:30 lot nearly chickened out, as one said he couldn't do that either). It's become a football song nowadays, but we did it anyway, for fun. Anything with the beatitudes in Prayer: the litany of the saints, I suppose, but I've not heard it recited on All Saint's day. (Comment on this)
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
10:35 pm	Hallowe'en I don't know why suddenly nobody spells it with an apostrophe: I'm sure I learnt to spell it with an apostrophe.  Anyway, a day full of ghosties and ghoulies and things that go bump in the night.  John and I went to the Halle Hallowe'en concert.  Lots of lollipops, but that didn't make it easy: every piece of music was chosen to evoke certain pictures and feelings.  Mars at the beginning, lacked edge, dynamic surges didn', bitey staccato notes became cosy and legato, and the loud was too quiet.  However, the pieces gradually picked up as the orchestra (suitably dress up) got into the spirit, so that there were moments of breath-catching.  Everything by John Williams was fantastic. And special mention should go to Carl Davis's super Ghostbusters (who you gonna call? Ghostbusters: he ain't afraid of no ghost), and to the Halle's expert portrayel of the drunk Tam O'Shanter (it seems, that the Halle can 'do' drunk.).  A boo to the idiots who left as soon as the last piece had finished. We spotted a musician come on with instrument (euphonium, or tuba) for an encore, which turned out to be a jewel. Decorations: pumpkin lanterns, anything skeletal or witchy, or scary Food: pumpkin pie, stew or soup, if you have made pumpkin lantern (we didn't) Drink: yes, there is Hobgoblin, and Wychwood, and Boggart Current Music: Hallowe'en pops. (Comment on this)
Sunday, October 25th, 2009
12:54 pm	Clocks going back Finally, and at last, even though the equinox (12 hours light) was more than a month ago, and there hasn't been any daylight to save, the clocks are permitted to go back.  I am not against BST in principle, I just don't see the point of waiting until after I have to get up in the dark before the clocks go back.  They should go back to GMT within a week of the equinox, so people who get up at six can enjoy a longer period of daylight in the morning, so people with SAD can stay happy for longer, and so that people get used to it being dark at going home time more gradually, rather than it was light yesterday, but now I can't see if the children are playing on the street or not.  If there was a gradual transition, you wouldn't get idiots moaning about it suddenly being light at home time and an increased risk of accidents. Here endeth the rant. As I told my son (seven), today we are constitutionally obliged to have a lie-in, and that's a nice thing as well. Time to: change clocks and watches, buy new clocks and watches that change automatically (using radio signals) decide once and for al that it is completely unnecessary to have clocks on the oven, microwave, kitchen timer, and mini-hi-fi in the kitchen, and stick to just the one kitchen clock (unless you use the oven timer to cook dinner automatically, in which case that should be the default clock). (Comment on this)
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
8:46 pm	Vegetable burgers These had carrot, potato, sweet potato, red onion (pre-fried), sweetcorn (the frozen kind), eggs, tomato puree, herbs, breadcumbs, and yoghourt, and were fried. The mixture was very soft and wet, even when I added more mashed potato, and it was quite tricky to shape them into burgers in the hand (approx. floured), but they cooked okay (after half an hour in the fridge).  I served with buns, ketchup or HP sauce and mature cheddar cheese.  They were very delicious, and would have been even nicer in buns with crisp bacon. Sam ate some, and seemed to enjoy it.  Hannah wouldn't look at hers. (Comment on this)
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
9:32 am	cheesy fish We used cod loin for the fish, which you then added pre-fried baby sweetcorn and courgettes, and added halved cherry tomatoes and torn up basil leaves, topping the lot with breadcrumbs and fresh grated parmesan and shoved in the oven. I served it with potato waffles, and offered ketchup and mayonnaise. It could have done with a little longer in the oven; also there was not enough cheese, and it might have worked better with a sauce element.  But it was tasty enough.  We actually bought real (top notch) parmesan, and John discovered that it is so completely different from the sweaty feet tubs you can get that it was in fact delicious. Sam and Hannah also like parmesan.  Hannah ate the fish and potato waffle, Sam ate the fish and potato waffle and probably not much else, but they wouldn't look at the rest.  At least they like proper fish. Current Mood: accomplished (Comment on this)
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
7:36 pm	Fish stew This one had tomatoes, passata, peppers, onion, thyme in it.  I used pollock (frozen white fish fillets from Sainsbug's), and dried thyme.  The recipe had for more fish than was perhaps necessary, and added water with the passata, which was not necessary so I left it out.  It was very extremely yummy, as were the home-made bread rolls I made to serve it with.  Sam dunked the rolls into the stew, but otherwise ignored the stew; Hannah would only eat the bread.  I definitely think home-made bread is worth the effort.  It is not very much effort, after all, and I like the smell, and kneading dough is very therapeutic (I do not use a breadmaker; I don't think breadmaker bread is as good as the real thing) (Comment on this)
Saturday, October 10th, 2009
8:34 pm	Real fish fingers Using some very nice cod; the breadcrumbs were toast processed down and flavoured with garlic powder.  Sam did most of the coating, and the finished product was grilled.  The didn't look quite right, but Sam and Hannah both liked and ate them.  Which is a big plus. Current Mood: gratified (Comment on this)
Friday, October 9th, 2009
3:01 pm	The Ig Nobel prizes, 2009 This year's IgNobel prizes have been awarded.  The following is shamelessly nicked from the Mini-Air newsletter: The 2009 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded on October 1, at the 19th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony, at Harvard's Sanders Theatre. Nine Nobel laureates were on hand, physically presenting the Ig Nobel prizes. Here are the winners: VETERINARY MEDICINE PRIZE: Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson of Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK, for showing that cows who have names give more milk than cows that are nameless. WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY: Peter Rowlinson. Catherine Douglas was unable to travel because she recently gave birth; she sent a photo that showed herself, her new daughter dressed in a cow suit, and a cow. PEACE PRIZE: Stephan Bolliger, Steffen Ross, Lars Oesterhelweg, Michael Thali and Beat Kneubuehl of the University of Bern, Switzerland, for determining - by experiment - whether it is better to be smashed over the head with a full bottle of beer or with an empty bottle. WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY: Stephan Bolliger ECONOMICS PRIZE: The directors, executives, and auditors of four Icelandic banks - Kaupthing Bank, Landsbanki, Glitnir Bank, and Central Bank of Iceland - for demonstrating that tiny banks can be rapidly transformed into huge banks, and vice versa - and for demonstrating that similar things can be done to an entire national economy. CHEMISTRY PRIZE: Javier Morales, Miguel Apátiga, and Victor M. Castaño of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, for creating diamonds from liquid - specifically from tequila. WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY: Javier Morales and Miguel Apátiga MEDICINE PRIZE: Donald L. Unger, of Thousand Oaks, California, USA, for investigating a possible cause of arthritis of the fingers, by diligently cracking the knuckles of his left hand - but never cracking the knuckles of his right hand - every day for more than sixty (60) years. WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY: Donald Unger PHYSICS PRIZE: Katherine K. Whitcome of the University of Cincinnati, USA, Daniel E. Lieberman of Harvard University, USA, and Liza J. Shapiro of the University of Texas, USA, for analytically determining why pregnant women don't tip over. WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY: Katherine Whitcome and Daniel Lieberman LITERATURE PRIZE: Ireland's police service (An Garda Siochana), for writing and presenting more than fifty traffic tickets to the most frequent driving offender in the country - Prawo Jazdy - whose name in Polish means "Driving License". WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY: [Karolina Lewestam, a Polish citizen and holder of a Polish driver's license, speaking on behalf of all her fellow Polish licensed drivers, expressed her good wishes to the Irish police service.] PUBLIC HEALTH PRIZE: Elena N. Bodnar, Raphael C. Lee, and Sandra Marijan of Chicago, Illinois, USA, for inventing a brassiere that, in an emergency, can be quickly converted into a pair of protective face masks, one for the brassiere wearer and one to be given to some needy bystander. WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY: Elena Bodnar. MATHEMATICS PRIZE: Gideon Gono, governor of Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank, for giving people a simple, everyday way to cope with a wide range of numbers - from very small to very big - by having his bank print bank notes with denominations ranging from one cent ($.01) to one hundred trillion dollars ($100,000,000,000,000). BIOLOGY PRIZE: Fumiaki Taguchi, Song Guofu, and Zhang Guanglei of Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences in Sagamihara, Japan, for demonstrating that kitchen refuse can be reduced more than 90% in mass by using bacteria extracted from the feces of giant pandas. WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY: Fumiaki Taguchi Winner details and links: <http://improbable.com/ig/winners> Ceremony details: <http://improbable.com/ig/2009> Video of the ceremony is (or soon will be) online at: <http://improbable.com/ig/2009/webcast> Current Mood: amused (Comment on this)
Monday, October 5th, 2009
9:37 am	Sam's birthday Sam is seven. So definitely not a baby any more.  He looks quite good, except he has another wonky took (because it's getting ready to come out).  We make a party. John cleans the house (I help).  I make a cake, and another, because the first went wrong, and we decorate it.  Sam didn't bring all his replies back, and only two children come.  Fortunately, our house is so small they still have an excellent party anyway.  Perhaps we should have more parties, and deliberately make them small. Current Mood: giddy Current Music: Charlie and Lola CD (Comment on this)
Sunday, October 4th, 2009
11:30 am	Church parade Sam's first church parade: He is in the Beavers.  The Beavers sit together at the front, and the cubs behind them, while the rainbows sit together at the front, with the Brownies behind them, possibly a guide as well.  The Brownies had readings prepared, but  because of a technical hitch they didn't get read.  There are flags brought up at the beginning and taken up at the end.  I look up, and it is Sam with the flag.  I have lost it (where's my handkerchief).  Even though I know Sam is taking the flag back after, he holds it so high, I lose it again. John is playing the guitar, he didn't see, and wonders what is wrong.  Nothing is wrong, but I still want to cry. Current Mood: proud Current Music: Our God Reigns (Comment on this)
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
10:35 am	John's birtthday John is 50.  So he is both a golden boy, and middle aged.  Perhaps I should have bought him a cardigan and slippers, but I will get him something more exciting than that. Probably.  I could get him something for his mid-life crisis. Celebrate? Why not?  Even if you don't know John, it shouldn't matter.  Try real ale, progressive rock music, and tasty food. (Comment on this)
Friday, October 2nd, 2009
9:06 am	Family Fast Day Instituted as a fund raiser for CAFOD, the Catholic Fund for Overseas development..  Actually, it's changed; it's now the Catholic Agency for Overseas development.  Apparently it began in 1962, after the first family fast day in 1960, which was arranged by Catholic women to help a need in Dominica.  I never knew this before, because I never thought to ask. (Comment on this)