Little boys and Bible study don't mix.
We have been a little irregular with bible study lately (sickness, visitors, being away etc) and Alex seems to have gotten out of the habit of how to behave when he is there. Up until recently he would play/chat for a short time, before (mostly) going to sleep in his pram. Last time was not so easy
he refused to sleep in the pram - he doesn't seem to like being strapped onto his back to sleep, and lately has been taking longer to get to sleep (even at home in the cot)
He played noisily when he was up - not content with books, or sitting quietly Alex then insisted on wriggling and playing (noisily) with cars through the study.
The effect of this was that instead of properly concentrating on the bible study I spent the time attempting to corral Alex with the following monologue running through my head
"Maybe I should just put him back to bed... but then he'll scream and distract everyone and wake the other children...maybe he should be disciplined and made to sit still... but that will not be quiet (at all) and will distract everyone even more...I'll let him play so long as he is quiet.... which he isn't....maybe I should just put him back to bed"
and so on and so forth.
The point of this is that I am now not sure what to do. I would really like to keep going to Bible Study, but there does not seem to be much point if Alex is going to be distracting the entire time. I could try bringing the portacot - but that will involve dragging extra stuff through the house, and may not work anyway. Or I could perservere and get Alex back to sleeping in his stroller (or at least until he is big enough to put into a bed).
I think that I am going to have to pray on the issue and reassess what else we do that day (maybe a visit to the park in the afternoon will tire him out...), but if anyone has any other suggestions/thoughts/ideas etc then I would love to hear them.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Immersed in Austen
This weekend I have enjoyed a feast of Austen (or more specifically Pride and Prejudice). I read the book for lunch (not literally of course!), savoured the 2005 movie version as an entree, feasted on the BBC 1995 production as a main course (at my husband's suggestion ;-)!)and then finished my Austen feast with the much more light hearted Lost in Austen. So here is my take on how these different mediums of the classic novel pan out.
(For the record I am a "Austenophile" - I have read all her novels (many times), own the DVD's and own/have read books on "The life and times of Jane Austen". Someone less immersed may have different opinions to me!)
The Book is still the gold-standard. Rereading the book I was reminded that the language and characterisation just sparkle - there is at least one quoteable wittisicm on every page, and the ability of Jane Austen to describe a character in one or two sentences is rarely paralleled. I enjoyed this reread so much that I have started going through the rest of my Austen collection this week.
The movie sufferes from condesing a long book into ~ 120 mins and therefore scenes are removed or concatenated, as are some characters. The effect of this is that some of the irony and sublety is missing (consider the "don't judge me Lizzie" scene after Charlotte Lucas agrees to marry Mr Collins - true to the sentiment but in the novel acheived over several conversations) and the timing of some of the plot is sped up. (Eg Lady Catherine turns up at Longbourn within hours of Jane's engagement to Mr Bingley, which was the event which precipitated her travelling to Longbourne). I think that the casting is generally excellent, Rosamund Pike is a fabulous Jane, and Brenda Blethyn and Tom Hollander bring an empathy to their characters of Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins respectively. The two characterisations which are the poorest are Mr Bingley - who comes across as more foolish, rather than amiable, and Mr Bennet, who suffers greatly from having his wittisicms cut short (I also cringe at the American Accent of Donald Sutherland). The cinemetography is also excellent - I especially like the scene at the Netherfield ball where the camera weaves through the crowd showing vignettes of the what is occuring. Overall the film does a good job as a cut down version of the main dish.
The 2005 BBC series at five hours long is indeed a feast of Austen (it takes me less time to read the book;-)). With the luxury of time, and a producer and director who wanted to be faithful to the novel. This means that most of the wittisicms and keen observations remain - with the authors voice being taken by Elizabeth or her father. Watching this again after the movie I did feel as if Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, were perhaps a trifle old for their parts, but the performances are excellent. The ending is a little more rushed than the novel, (Bingley's proposal occurs in the second visit rather than the fifth as in the novel), but that is because the chapters in question don't describe in detail the scenes but are more concerned with Elizabeths state of mind (I am reminded of one literary critic who writes that Jane Austen writes the comic romance rather well - the proposals of Darcy and Collins - but seems embarrassed to write the real thing (in the book it is merely glossed over with a Elizameth stammered a reply to the effect that her views were no longer the same!)
I finished off my feast with the second half of Lost in Austen. This really was dessert to the more serious courses with the modern day Austen lover (Amanda Price) somehow swapping places with Elizabeth Bennet and causing havoc with the plot. It is well cast and well written - although more than a few liberties were taken with the plot! (Wickham is apparently not the blackguard we thought) This was a very jolly take on the period drama/"fish out of water" genre. If definitely sped up the ironing!
So, for true Austen read the book(s), but either the movie or the miniseries will sate your Austen appetite - particularly if you would like to do something else (like mending or ironing) while partaking!
(For the record I am a "Austenophile" - I have read all her novels (many times), own the DVD's and own/have read books on "The life and times of Jane Austen". Someone less immersed may have different opinions to me!)
The Book is still the gold-standard. Rereading the book I was reminded that the language and characterisation just sparkle - there is at least one quoteable wittisicm on every page, and the ability of Jane Austen to describe a character in one or two sentences is rarely paralleled. I enjoyed this reread so much that I have started going through the rest of my Austen collection this week.
The movie sufferes from condesing a long book into ~ 120 mins and therefore scenes are removed or concatenated, as are some characters. The effect of this is that some of the irony and sublety is missing (consider the "don't judge me Lizzie" scene after Charlotte Lucas agrees to marry Mr Collins - true to the sentiment but in the novel acheived over several conversations) and the timing of some of the plot is sped up. (Eg Lady Catherine turns up at Longbourn within hours of Jane's engagement to Mr Bingley, which was the event which precipitated her travelling to Longbourne). I think that the casting is generally excellent, Rosamund Pike is a fabulous Jane, and Brenda Blethyn and Tom Hollander bring an empathy to their characters of Mrs Bennet and Mr Collins respectively. The two characterisations which are the poorest are Mr Bingley - who comes across as more foolish, rather than amiable, and Mr Bennet, who suffers greatly from having his wittisicms cut short (I also cringe at the American Accent of Donald Sutherland). The cinemetography is also excellent - I especially like the scene at the Netherfield ball where the camera weaves through the crowd showing vignettes of the what is occuring. Overall the film does a good job as a cut down version of the main dish.
The 2005 BBC series at five hours long is indeed a feast of Austen (it takes me less time to read the book;-)). With the luxury of time, and a producer and director who wanted to be faithful to the novel. This means that most of the wittisicms and keen observations remain - with the authors voice being taken by Elizabeth or her father. Watching this again after the movie I did feel as if Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, were perhaps a trifle old for their parts, but the performances are excellent. The ending is a little more rushed than the novel, (Bingley's proposal occurs in the second visit rather than the fifth as in the novel), but that is because the chapters in question don't describe in detail the scenes but are more concerned with Elizabeths state of mind (I am reminded of one literary critic who writes that Jane Austen writes the comic romance rather well - the proposals of Darcy and Collins - but seems embarrassed to write the real thing (in the book it is merely glossed over with a Elizameth stammered a reply to the effect that her views were no longer the same!)
I finished off my feast with the second half of Lost in Austen. This really was dessert to the more serious courses with the modern day Austen lover (Amanda Price) somehow swapping places with Elizabeth Bennet and causing havoc with the plot. It is well cast and well written - although more than a few liberties were taken with the plot! (Wickham is apparently not the blackguard we thought) This was a very jolly take on the period drama/"fish out of water" genre. If definitely sped up the ironing!
So, for true Austen read the book(s), but either the movie or the miniseries will sate your Austen appetite - particularly if you would like to do something else (like mending or ironing) while partaking!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Quick Takes unFriday
This is going to be quick, because I really don't have time to blog, but I haven't blogged for a while and I thought I had better post an update... just so that those who read this know I am still alive ;-)
Lessons from the last two weeks
1. Going away for consecutive weekends strains my ability to keep up with all the housework - hence the lack of blogging!
2. I still cry when I read Anne of Green Gables - I reread this when I was staying at my in-laws a week ago and even though I knew what was going to happen I still cried!
3. Alex needs to be supervised when he "helps clean". He decided of his own accord to clean the TV screen last week (after watching Daddy do it the week before) and managed to temporarily break the TV via over enthusiastic spraying into the electronic controls.
4. I really like card making. I made these cards from my new "Three for you" stamp set and punch.
5. "No Spend Month" would go better if we a) did not go away so often during that month and b) didn't plan holidays which need paying for that month either. (Other than that no-spend month was OK - I only went to the supermarket once, and if you deduct the holiday costs we did save money. The most important lesson was the need for delayed gratification. If you still want it/need it at the end of the month, then its probably an OK spend.)
6. It is better to sleep than to have a clean house. I suffer from the problem and inertia - I want to get up and do work before I go to bed (tidy, pick up toys etc), but am too tired to move so I just sit there. On Sunday I had a three hour afternoon sleep and I now have the energy I need to get through the rest of this week.
7. Alex is not yet ready to sleep in a bed. On Friday night we stayed at my parents and Alex slept on a mattress on the floor (having attempted to climb out of their cot on our last visit). Between when I went to bed and 2:30am he fell out of bed 4 times before we had enough and just put him to sleep between us. He then slept soundly (once he had reached preferred sleeping position of head near Mum and Dad's feet!) till 7am.
Well that is seven quick takes of our fortnight - hopefully I can get back here again soon.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Megan's Book Giveaway
Megan from Half-Pint house (whose blog I surreptiously read) is having a giveaway for
Through his eyes: God's perspective on Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs. She is apparently willing to ship to Australia so if you haven't heard about the competition and would like to enter you might like to do that on her blog post here
Through his eyes: God's perspective on Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs. She is apparently willing to ship to Australia so if you haven't heard about the competition and would like to enter you might like to do that on her blog post here
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Reflections on fiery matters
How the cattle moan!
The herds mill about
because they have no pasture;
even the flocks of sheep are suffering.
To you, O LORD, I call,
for fire has devoured the open pastures
and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.
Even the wild animals pant for you;
the streams of water have dried up
and fire has devoured the open pastures.
Joel 1:18-20
I have been reluctant to post anything for the last few days, because all the thoughts in my head seem so trivial compared with the suffering that those in Victoria have been experiencing. It is a good reminder that we cannot control the world around us, not matter how hard we try, nor can we escape the inevitable judgement.
I am however slightly annoyed at some of the surrounding events:
1.The media who ask people who have lost their family, friends or homes "How are you feeling about this?".
2.The fact the the media can get access to these people (to ask inane questions) when their family can't.
3. As there is little new "news" to report, and the enquiries will now take months to report, the news is that.... Australia made the news in the US and Australians have donated so much money to the cause.
4.Confidence tricksters who use the tragedy and people's generosity for their own gain.
and lastly, and perhaps most heartbreakingly, a Christian pastor claiming in a press release that the bushfire happened because of Victoria's abortion laws. While I don't support the laws in Victoria, I think that the application of a passage in Chronicles is very poor exegesis. A better application would be that of the tower of Siloam (Luke 13:4). Jesus asks his listeners if "those killed were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?". His answer to the rhetorical question is "I tell you no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
That is the lesson that we all must hear, that we all, poor sinners, must face death - and we never know when or how it will come.
The herds mill about
because they have no pasture;
even the flocks of sheep are suffering.
To you, O LORD, I call,
for fire has devoured the open pastures
and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.
Even the wild animals pant for you;
the streams of water have dried up
and fire has devoured the open pastures.
Joel 1:18-20
I have been reluctant to post anything for the last few days, because all the thoughts in my head seem so trivial compared with the suffering that those in Victoria have been experiencing. It is a good reminder that we cannot control the world around us, not matter how hard we try, nor can we escape the inevitable judgement.
I am however slightly annoyed at some of the surrounding events:
1.The media who ask people who have lost their family, friends or homes "How are you feeling about this?".
2.The fact the the media can get access to these people (to ask inane questions) when their family can't.
3. As there is little new "news" to report, and the enquiries will now take months to report, the news is that.... Australia made the news in the US and Australians have donated so much money to the cause.
4.Confidence tricksters who use the tragedy and people's generosity for their own gain.
and lastly, and perhaps most heartbreakingly, a Christian pastor claiming in a press release that the bushfire happened because of Victoria's abortion laws. While I don't support the laws in Victoria, I think that the application of a passage in Chronicles is very poor exegesis. A better application would be that of the tower of Siloam (Luke 13:4). Jesus asks his listeners if "those killed were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?". His answer to the rhetorical question is "I tell you no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
That is the lesson that we all must hear, that we all, poor sinners, must face death - and we never know when or how it will come.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
What we do on our weekends away, Part V
Visit Friends and socialise
Ok that explanation is really nor sufficient - what I really mean is travel away for the express purpose of visiting friends to socialies (attend parties or events of some description). Here are some photos of the more recent trips!
Here is our little family walking down the red carpet at our brother-in-law's recent birthday party.
This party was on Sydney harbour and had the theme of the "red-carpet". They had even arranged for a photographer and a reporter with a video camera to take photos as people arrived!
And here is Alex having a lovely time playing with his cousins at a family Christmas party in Sydney
(I should point out that at this point it was after 10pm and our sleepy little boy who is normally fast asleep well before 8 was still partying despite NOT having a sleep earlier in the day.)
Ok that explanation is really nor sufficient - what I really mean is travel away for the express purpose of visiting friends to socialies (attend parties or events of some description). Here are some photos of the more recent trips!
Here is our little family walking down the red carpet at our brother-in-law's recent birthday party.
This party was on Sydney harbour and had the theme of the "red-carpet". They had even arranged for a photographer and a reporter with a video camera to take photos as people arrived!
And here is Alex having a lovely time playing with his cousins at a family Christmas party in Sydney
(I should point out that at this point it was after 10pm and our sleepy little boy who is normally fast asleep well before 8 was still partying despite NOT having a sleep earlier in the day.)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Beating the Heat
Unless you've taken up residence in a cold-room for some bizarre experiment, or hail from the Northern hemisphere, then you would have noticed that it has been HOT. The only people who are not bothered by this are either
a) cold-blooded (these people can be identified in winter as they insist that the heating should be set at 25oC) or
b) have air-conditioning.
Unfortunately, the majority of our family fits neither of these two categories (and the one that does fits both when he is at work!) so we have spent the time working out ways to "beat the heat".
1. One of the effects of this warm weather is that no one finds it easy to sleep so there have been a lot more lethargic games played.
2. In the evening before dinner, Alex waters the garden (but not just the garden of course)
3. Playing with ice. (I discovered this one when Alex got into the freezer and pulled the tray of ice out and tipped it all over the floor
4. Not cooking, but eating salads, sandwiches and BBQs
5. Eating ice-blocks/cream
This is actually frozen yoghut that I made earlier this summer. It comes from The low GI Family Cookbook. I also made iceblocks using pineapple that had been blended. (better than juice as it retains the fibre)
Makes 10 iceblooks
250g fresh or frozen fruit (berries, mangoes work well)
600g low fat vanilla yoghurt
2 egg whites
2 tbspn honey
1. Blend fruit and yoghurt together in food processor until smooth
2. Whisk egg-whites until stiff peaks form. Add the honey, a tablespoon at a time,, whicking well after each addition until thick and glossy
3. Fold eggwhite mixture into fruit yoghurt mix until just combined
4. Either
a) Pour the mixture into 10 1/3 cup capacity moulds. Tap the moulds to settle the mixture. Freeze for four hours or until set.
or
b) Pour the mixture into an airtight container and place in freezer for 4 hours or until frozen. Break the mixture into chunks with a metal spoon. Blend again in the food processor until smooth. Return to the airtight container and refreeze for 3 hours. Serve in scoops.
a) cold-blooded (these people can be identified in winter as they insist that the heating should be set at 25oC) or
b) have air-conditioning.
Unfortunately, the majority of our family fits neither of these two categories (and the one that does fits both when he is at work!) so we have spent the time working out ways to "beat the heat".
1. One of the effects of this warm weather is that no one finds it easy to sleep so there have been a lot more lethargic games played.
2. In the evening before dinner, Alex waters the garden (but not just the garden of course)
3. Playing with ice. (I discovered this one when Alex got into the freezer and pulled the tray of ice out and tipped it all over the floor
4. Not cooking, but eating salads, sandwiches and BBQs
5. Eating ice-blocks/cream
This is actually frozen yoghut that I made earlier this summer. It comes from The low GI Family Cookbook. I also made iceblocks using pineapple that had been blended. (better than juice as it retains the fibre)
Makes 10 iceblooks
250g fresh or frozen fruit (berries, mangoes work well)
600g low fat vanilla yoghurt
2 egg whites
2 tbspn honey
1. Blend fruit and yoghurt together in food processor until smooth
2. Whisk egg-whites until stiff peaks form. Add the honey, a tablespoon at a time,, whicking well after each addition until thick and glossy
3. Fold eggwhite mixture into fruit yoghurt mix until just combined
4. Either
a) Pour the mixture into 10 1/3 cup capacity moulds. Tap the moulds to settle the mixture. Freeze for four hours or until set.
or
b) Pour the mixture into an airtight container and place in freezer for 4 hours or until frozen. Break the mixture into chunks with a metal spoon. Blend again in the food processor until smooth. Return to the airtight container and refreeze for 3 hours. Serve in scoops.
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