19 years ago today, Michaela and I were married.
The years have been kind. Full of blessings.
Michaela is the window through which I see the world. She is the quietness that settles me in the evening, and the warmth at the fireside that I draw to.
Were did the time go?
Here is a picture taken whilst camping this summer…
Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2009
For those of you in Scotland- check this out!
It brings a whole range of the arts to bear on one of the biggest social justice issues of our times- that of the effect on people of mental illness, and more particularly, our societal response to this.
This is what they are about-
CHALLENGE PERCEPTIONS:
What mental health means, stigma and recovery, inequalities in mental health, exploring our history of mental health.MAKE CONNECTIONS:
Connecting the community, public, arts, academic and voluntary organisations.DEVELOP AUDIENCES:
Reach those who are often missed by traditional means of engagement.PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT:
Encourage participation in the creative process by those who have experienced mental health issues, but also the wider community as a well-being initiative.PROMOTE CREATIVITY:
Creating great art and events.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Ali phoned to tell me to watch this documentary tonight…
It is remarkably effective- telling the story of the fool-french prince, who thought he could take back the English throne by divine right, and by the blood of Highlanders.
And of the last land battle fought on British soil, in 1746, on a field near Inverness called Culloden.
The film tells of Highland brothers fighting on opposing sides, of how more Scots fought against the young Prince than with him, and of the terrible aftermath…
Well worth watching again- in case the version of Scottish History you subscribe to needs a to connect with the messy reality.
You can watch it again via the BBC i-player here.
Thought it time for a change of banner.
A bit mournful, but I like it.
It came from this photo, taken in Eriskay on a soft Hebridean evening…
And in the other direction-
Vodpod videos no longer available.
I came across some short clips of films made by The Work of the People who are a collection of artists, poets, theologians and film makers in the US. They have loads of great resources that you can buy from their site if you are looking for loops or visuals…
I have picked one of their pieces as it resonated with thoughts about our relationship with the simpler parts of what we are as humans- based around relationships-
Relationships with one another.
Relationships with the land that sustains us.
And perhaps particularly, relationships with those who have been, or would be, our enemies.
The voices of indigenous people have lots to teach us about all of these things. I have posted before about the work of Bob Randall and the concept of Kanyini. You can watch Bob’s wonderful hope filled film here.
But back to the Work of the People clips.
This clip is from Richard Twiss, author, speaker and member of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux Tribe
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Back to work tomorrow. I wonder what is waiting for me?
Say a few prayers for me friends…
Right, we now leave luxury and head off down to the Uists, Benbecula and Barra- camping on beaches in small tents.
We expect very mixed weather, and very strong wind, but this kind of camping is the very best (as well as perhaps potentially the very worst!)
No internet- so the blogging will cease for a while!
So here we are, on Bernera, a little island connected to Lewis by a causeway. The last time we were here will was one year old, and took his first unaided steps on the ferry. Here he is as he was, and where we now are (if you see what I mean.)
We are staying in a holiday cottage with wide open windswept views in every direction. Funny thing is, when we checked out the guest book, we saw the name of some old friends from England, Mark and Joy Headley, who stayed here in 2006. Well I never…
Bernera has a lovely community feel about it- and they have a new play area for the kids near the community centre.
The first thing we did was cycle over there and Emily and Will (and mum and dad too) became monkeys for a while.
But faced with a rather scary pole slide thing, Will became a rather timid monkey. Step forward Big Sister…
(Click to enlarge.)
this fragile tent 