Personal Blogs

So, on my way back home to Hereford, after a week walking and cycling in the mountains around Xabia. It was so good to be in the sun again, even though some days, and certainly in the evenings, was chilly. Blue skies are the key!

Had a burst of work last night, and somehow, within about 30 mins, managed to get 500 words down on my Faustus assignment. Not perfect, but just seemed to be able to write it. I think after studying it for three weeks, and thinking I was stuck, it just seemed to burst out! A purple patch!  Gives me something to edit now, as I have another week before it has to be submitted.

Going over the Cezanne section again and may take my time a bit more as I want to get a really good look at some of the paintings. I know Cezanne is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve got a weather eye on the future, and may think about studying Art History... depends on where I want to go with my studying….

Just finished reading The Bone Clocks, by David Mitchell, a fascinating and mundane book, that displays both normality and complete fantasy. Certainly, an intelligent book, that has you thinking and a bit of a Tour de Force on your thoughts. Loved it though, even though some of the fantasy sections are hard going. Will certainly read some of his work again, but not just yet! I’m now a fan!!

Being a member of a book club does that though. The books selected to read, not by me, are often those that I’ve never heard of, or wouldn’t choose from a library. But they do seem to be worthwhile reads, and have included Howards End (E.S. Lewis), A month in the Country and The Wine of Angels by Phil Rickman.

Have managed to fit in Goldsworthy Antony and Cleopatra as well, interesting, but heavy going...did enjoy it, but takes a lot of concentration, and quite hard to process the time scales involved. Seems to me that the Roman Empire was a momentous time, but then it was a long time, and we only ever read about the elite, and the famous, never what it was really like to live at the time. Love the idea that if you were a Roman Citizen, peasant or not, you had some rights

One of life’s true pleasures… reading

So now sat at Alicante Airport (AeroPuerto) people watching and drinking tapas coffee. Reading and thinking about Cezanne and wondering if there is an art expert amongst the thousands here, I doubt it, as most are fat drunken brits, but I’ll bet there is…. Somewhere

Trying to keep a schedule for my retirement. I think it’s important to have goals and aims, and for me these needs to be both long term and day by day.

I have about 9 weeks before heading to my apartment in Spain, so lots to do, but next week want to get back to my gym routine (kept very fit during my weeks away), complete my TMA assignment due in on Friday, go to the cinema at least once. Planning a trip to the Ashmolean in Oxford one day this week, and will attending a discussion group session at some point!

Obviously, my weeks are busy! Planning a visit to the North East of England in March, as a friend of mine works on Holy Island and has promised to show me around the land of St Cuthbert. Can’t make my mind up whether or not to drive or get the train. Will be dependent upon costs and do I need to have a car for my visit.

Hoping to get a glimpse of Hadrian’s Wall on my visit too

Still staying news free, as far as I can, and don’t feel like I’ve become a bad person, more that I feel like a viewer, or spectator, in a great game, with those in Facebook land having these sure-fire entrenched opinions which must be right, and everyone either agrees, or disagrees in an outrage of personal abuse….

I am diluted by my non-participation, and it is a great thing, and brings me peace… but I do have a view always, but somehow feel that not sharing is the way, and brings strength to my convictions… I’ve become a watcher, an observer, of this great shambling minstrel show that is my home country….

So spent most of the last two days in the skies of the world.. travelling from Birmingham to Adelaide to see family for four weeks...

This means Ill be on the other side of the planet when this course starts, which I am seeing as an interesting dynamic, but not off putting. Probably, to be realistic won't make the early tutorials but Ill manage somehow.. all worth while to be in blue skies and sunshine, and all of my family whom I only see once a year if Im lucky..

Spent the flight listening to Faustus (which meant i slept a lot!).... only joking. Took the opportunity to listen and read the whole play. I can thoroughly recommend this way of studying. Being able to read the script whilst listening to the performance made the whole thing much more interesting and fascinating, because you can listen to the nuances and tempo of the spoken words....

Completely jet lagged now though.... so a bit stuffed until my brain turns from the mush that is..

Im in Adelaide, in fact Seaford, a town to the south, and have been here many times. Getting used to the Aussies can take a while bit always great fun.. and I love it here 

.Its hot, Im jet lagged and all over the place. Will try and get my notes down on Faustus tomorrow, maybe when Im thinking a bit more clearly...