Roll on World Cup 2010!

It is exactly fours years to the day since Senegal beat France 1-0 at the start of the last World Cup. Since I’m not the kind of ‘stato’ who would usually remember such a detail it also means its four years to the day since Lisa and I got married – it’s our 4th anniversary today!

In many ways it’s flown by and yet it feels like we’ve always been together - I love being married!


The Biscuits of Love:

Their LOVE for each other does not diminish.
Instead it grows STRONGER and more BEAUTIFUL as each year passes.

We'd echo the eternal truth of Mr and Mrs Biscuit!

Scotland are off to the World Cup!

It's a sight every Scotsman has been waiting years to see ... Scotland setting off for the World Cup.

Despite failing to qualify, the nation has sent a one-man team left for Germany.
Our brave lads...sorry, lad... faces the slightly tricky task of taking on the might of England. But at least Scotland's name will be represented at the finals for the first time since 1998.

The man carrying the nation's hopes? St. Johnstone and Trinidad and Tobago striker Jason Scotland!

As the Zambian Staff Bandsman at Charlie Chikankata is proud of declaring:

'I only support two teams. Scotland and whoever plays England'.

I would never be so vitriolic - I'll be happy to cheer England all the way to the final. Whether or not I'd actually want them to win it or not?! I can't say!

De Botton and the ‘Architecture of Happiness’

A ‘beguiling tour through the philosophy and psychology of architecture’ its actually just a good read with wisdom and insight that is certainly not limited to the world of bricks and mortar or any of the other innumerable materials you might think of constructing with!

Much of his writing, as the title obviously suggests, is concerned with the kind of environment our buildings create. The premise being that buildings – and the objects we fill them with – affect us more profoundly than we might think. To take architecture seriously is to accept that we are, for better or worse, different people in different places. And I reckon he’s got a point, but what particularly struck me was much of what he wrote about beauty.

For instance, quoting some bloke called Stendhal he writes ‘beauty is the promise of happiness’.

Stating that ‘a lump rises in our throat at the sight of beauty from an implicit knowledge that the happiness it hints at is the exception’ he goes on to contend that ‘it is in dialogue with pain that many architectural things (in life?) acquire their value. Acquaintance with grief turn out to be one of the more unusual prerequisites of architectural (life?) appreciation. We might, quite aside form all other requirements, need to be a little sad before buildings (life?) can properly touch us.’

Examining the paradox of beauty further he shares his belief that a perplexing consequence of fixing our eyes on an ideal is that it may make us sad. The more beautiful something is, the sadder we risk feeling.

For De Botton the sadness isn’t of the searing kind but ‘more like a blend of joy and melancholy: joy at the perfection we see before us, melancholy at an awareness of how seldom we are sufficiently blessed to encounter anything of its kind. The flawless object throws into perspective the mediocrity that surrounds it. We are reminded of the way we would wish things to always to be and of how incomplete our lives remain.’

As the medieval thinker Hugh of St.Victor put it ‘when we admire the beauty of visible objects, we experience joy certainly, but at the same time, we experience a feeling of tremendous void’.

Anyway, that’s enough of an advert(!) – if you fancy reading something a little different this would be one to read.

Conversational caveat

Aware that when debate ensues and passions are ignited, intent and motives can sometimes be misconstrued or misunderstood I always like to echo Winston Churchill's reassuring words to Stanley Baldwin...

'I pray that my chaff did not vex you. My shafts, though necessarily pointed, are never intentionally poisoned. If they cut, I pray they do not fester in the wound.'

If the 'shaft' fits! Or should that be hits?!

Institutional (r)evolution

In arguing that institutions take on a life of their own that readily becomes self-serving Jacques Ellul observes that ‘there is a certain logic in the evolution of institutions which is easily discernible.’ The inference being that institutions tend to possess some common characteristics. While these characteristics can certainly be used for good, they can unfortunately also be used for evil.

As Charles Ringma states, ‘because most institutions are centrally controlled, they are frequently resistant to change from the periphery. Most institutions develop a particular culture. They have a certain history, expectations, way of doing things, and set of goals. These are sometimes jealously guarded even when the stated goals are no longer achieved.’

Moreover, Ringma goes on to suggest, rather worryingly, that institutions can develop a morality that weakens personal responsibility and integrity. ‘Because no one in particular is responsible for what happens in the institution, values can be weakened. Institutions, therefore, must be kept open to change and to be held accountable. Women and men of courage are needed to keep institutions honest and to work for their transformation.’

I’m thankful that I can count as friends such ‘women and men of courage’ who can and do work for transformation.

To change or not to change,
That is not the question,
Rather, on whose terms?

While talking about his forthcoming new book ‘On the Road to Kandahar’, Jason Burke argued that Islamic fundamentalism is a struggle to modernise rather than an often perceived struggle to return to the past. He contends that while most understand there is a need to modernise the struggle results from various factions ‘competing’ for influence. Modernising is unavoidable, but on whose terms? The clerics who favour a religious development? The men who wish to maintain their control? The women who seek more freedom? The struggle ensues.

I would argue that it’s not only the Muslim community that are faced with the challenge of change. An ever-changing world demands constant change, it’s unavoidable, but on whose terms?

[Incidentally, if you’re interested in getting to grips with and understanding radical Islam it sounds like a book worth looking out for – when it’s eventually published.]

Beware being 'booked'!

Long aware of the need that some have to ‘box’ or ‘label’ those around them it would appear that there is seemingly no end to the various ways in which we categorise and inevitably divide one another.

Politics, faith, music, films, hobbies, the cars we drive, the clothes we wear are all ways in which we try to 'understand' and define each other.

Perhaps this frustrating ‘cultural convention’ is why I have an aversion to being so easily pigeon-holed. As a perceived ‘non-conformist’ (there’s a label!) I generally (and this will obviously come as no surprise to those with even a casual knowledge of the blogger!) prefer to mix it up, keep people guessing, buck their simplistic attempts to stereotype and consequently limit. But yesterday I was made aware of a new danger – being ‘booked’.

As a new friend was perusing our book shelves he noticed ‘The Downing Street Years’ Margaret Thatcher’s autobiography. For fear of being unfairly ‘booked’ and ‘boxed’ and wishing to avoid the political associations inferred by Maggie’s presence I was quick to point out that I no more subscribed to Thatcherism than I did to the views of Chairman Mao, or Adolf Hitler (some of Maggie’s neighbours on the self). As someone from the ‘left-hand side’ (labels come so easily!) of the political spectrum he appreciated the link between the three!

As well as not judging a book by it’s cover, perhaps we shouldn’t judge each other by our books.

The New Mr and Mrs Hanover and their incredibly edifying friends!

Had a crackin’ time at the weekend witnessing and celebrating the marriage of my brother (affectionately known as ‘Weeman’) and Katie. I can confirm that the deed is done! And despite persistent predictions of gales and torrential rain the day went really well.

Mind you, one bit of advice I would offer for any future best men is to avoid the use of the church bells directly after the service if the plan is to take photos around the church! Trying to get the right people for the right photos at the right time is not made any easier by the deafening accompaniment of century old bells!

Highlights included meeting new members of the family (Gareth, Laura and Donna); discovering that my cousin is about to have a book published… on Company Law! (the ‘brains’ of the family!); having the opportunity to ‘avenge’ the mess made of our car four years ago! seeing the astoundingly entertaining Choriwe – a magician who’s performing art has to be seen to be believed! being reminded that marriage is (or should be?) a snapshot of who God is and the love He has for all of us. And that as such when we look at those who are married (specifically in this instance Simon & Katie) and see the kind of relationship that is enjoyed, we should be convinced of the existence of a loving God; but perhaps one of the most impressive things was just how encouraging and appreciative the friends of the Bride and Groom were (who'd have thought a Lionel Richie song would go down so well?!) – I’ve never met such an edifying bunch of people!

Thanks for a great day. Our prayer for you both is that you would trust in God and in each other, hope unswervingly and learn to love extravagantly.

P.S. – Keep the encouraging friends!

The dying 'Art of Conversation': bizarre questions

I met Christine today.

Having shared fleeting greetings (gestures, smiles) on a number of occasions, the good weather afforded us an opportunity to stop and learn one another's names and to share a little of who we are and what we get up to. It was nice, but at times a little bizarre! Here's a snapshot of our conversation...

'Where are you from?'

Pleased she could tell that my accent was not indigenous, 'Scotland, originally.'

'Oh, do you know Sue.'

Hoping to tease out a little more info about 'Sue', 'I know a lot of Sues.'

'She's from Wales'

A little unsure as to the connection 'Oh, does she live round here.'

'No, she still lives in Wales.'

Grasping for some link, however tenuous 'Does she have links with the Salvation Army?'

'Not that I know of, she just lives in Wales and I thought you might know her.'
'Oh, right.'

(NB:You need to know that this was a serious conversation!)

You can probably imagine the kind of chat we went on to have about the election and politics?!

Sawubona, Ei Je, Namaskaar

Three words that you may need if you ever pop in to our fledgling Little Acorns group.

In case your languages are a little rusty we're talking Zulu, Bengali and Hindi.

Two newspaper headlines. Same day. Same tube journey.

15,000 children a day killed by hunger

Eriksson: Rooney needs a miracle



Now I like my football as much as anyone, and I share the disappointment of my English friends at Rooney's plight - you want the best players in the world playing at the World Cup (especially when their 'yours'!), that said I wouldn't mind if every now and again they allowed 11 Scotsmen to have a go as well?! But if we're going to 'spend' a miracle I know where I'd rather see it going.

the dying 'art of conversation': too many questions

We continue to get to know the local 'kids' (most of whom are young adults). 'Kids' who hang out on the green at the centre of our estate. 'Kids', who sporadically let off fireworks, race their scooters around the streets and regularly terrorise pizza delivery men. 'Kids', most of whom have been excluded from school and are slowly beginning the often irreversible slide downwards as society gives up on them. Here's a snippet...

'They think you're Police.'

'Why, are the Police handsome too?!'

'Yeh right, na, you dress like an undercover officer (many would suggest that's what we are?!), it's the car you drive(!) and you ask lots of questions.'

'But have any of you ever moved to a new area? How else do you get to know about people and the story of the community?'

'Oh, so you're not Police then?'

'No, but you think I look more like a policeman than a vicar?'

'You're a vicar?!'

'Amongst other things.'

Stirred and surprised by this revelation an enthusiastic question and answer 'session' ensued without a policeman in sight! As far as I know!

I'm still going to be asking questions, but perhaps I need to get a new wardrobe!

thought food...

‘You rarely defend the things you love. You enjoy them and tell others about them and invite others to enjoy them with you.

Have you ever seen someone pull a photo out of their wallet and argue about the supremacy of this particular loved one? Of course not. They show you the picture and give you the opportunity to see what they see.’ Rob Bell: Velvet Elvis


I wonder what kind of picture my life paints?