tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257556292024-03-08T05:04:13.345+13:00pensées"Vous dites que je suis hérétique. Cela est-il permis?"
(Blaise Pascal)melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-41985565817537098712016-05-19T09:25:00.000+12:002017-07-04T11:25:43.551+12:00Charting the Way Home<span id="goog_1997094160"></span><span id="goog_1997094161"></span><br />
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This month I contributed some thoughts on journaling and Luci Shaw's excellent little book 'Life Path: Personal & Spiritual Growth Through Journal Writing' over at She loves. Here's a little snippet:<br />
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<strong>'</strong>...By charting as we go we are able to look back on where we have been with greater clarity. <strong>When we journal regularly we become more attuned to the rhythm and movement of our lives.</strong> When we come to the page and life seeps out, bleeding black and blue on white, we feel each moments weight, allowing them to bruise and heal. <strong>The gentle fingerprints of God become magnified as our experiences find form in words.'</strong></blockquote>
<a href="http://shelovesmagazine.com/2016/red-couch-life-path-introduction/">[If you want to read more, head on over to the Red Couch at She Loves Magazine]</a>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-68987634968037073922014-08-08T17:20:00.000+12:002017-07-04T11:19:54.059+12:00Chipped<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a love hate relationship with our living room.<br />
I dream of having one those living rooms on a Pinterest board, where the furniture is not old, but vintage. Couches beautifully restored, scattered with colour co-ordinated cushions with no tufts of stuffing escaping from the seams.<br />
Instead I live here amongst a messy eclectic collection of second hand or hand-me down furniture, kids toys and artwork and the general mess of lives lived.<br />
Each piece of furniture tells a story; they have been a part of other lives, and now those stories live in our midst, and become a part of our story, just as we become a part of theirs.<br />
The divan couch in our lounge had a previous life in the home of my grandparents. The fabric is now old and stained and grimy, a shadow of its former self. But some days when I look at it, I don't see its imperfections, instead I am drawn into the story of its former life. I remember the place where it resided in the hallway of Nana and Pops house, I remember stretching out on it in that sunny hallway. I remember Nana in the final months she spent at home choosing that spot, close enough to the sunny windows to feel warmth without being consumed by it. Within reach of the phone, at the heart of the hustle and bustle of the house. I remember sitting with her there talking.<br />
Now it is finding new life as a couch, a bed, a hut, a castle, a canvas.<br />
It's not going to find its way on to a Pinterest board any time soon.<br />
It bothers me that I find myself so drawn in to our cultures obsession with the appearance of perfection, even when achieving it renders the function and purpose of a space, object or person obsolete. Just do a search for 'Mud Rooms' on Pinterest and you'll know what I'm talking about.<br />
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<strong>But the life that we live in this room is not an interruption. It's what this room is all about – living.</strong></h4>
We of chipped and broken pieces, we of peeling paint.<br />
In this space we live and move and have our being.<br />
And it is beautiful.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-28373360153977846802014-04-16T15:42:00.000+12:002017-07-04T11:17:19.922+12:00Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One night I dreamt that I was drowning; a sudden uncontrolled descent into deep, cold darkness.<br />
Arms and legs search in vain for something solid; lungs burning, desperate for the relief of air.<br />
A single thought echoes across the abyss: Where are you? Why have you abandoned me here?<br />
Out of the silence truth presses in against my skin.<br />
“My child, don’t you know?<br />
[I am] water.”<br />
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<em>This post originally appeared as part of the Taonga Wesleyan Community Lent 2014 Gallery: In His Steps which you can find <a href="http://taongawesleyan.org.nz/galleries/#in-his-steps">here</a></em>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-19455991730743328412014-03-05T15:19:00.000+13:002017-07-04T11:14:15.796+12:00Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's not the fire that kills you.<br /> It's the smoke inhalation.<br /> A creeping poison, slowly destroying the lungs.<br /> Choking out the air.<br />
<i>not good enough...not attractive enough...not smart enough...not successful enough</i><br />
The incessant drip of acid, burning all in its path.<br /> Destroying life.<br />
<i>"No-one will ever really accept you."</i><br /> <i>"You don't belong"</i><br /> <i>"What makes you think you can be forgiven?"</i><br />
Airways closing.<br />
A gentle whisper courses through this broken body.<br />
[I am] enough.<br />
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<em>This post originally appeared as part of the Taonga Wesleyan Community Lent 2014 Gallery: In His Steps which you can find <a href="http://taongawesleyan.org.nz/galleries/#in-his-steps">here</a></em>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-12642663110039193802014-02-21T20:59:00.000+13:002017-07-04T11:11:45.747+12:00Treasure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A small face appears before me. Eyes wide with delight and anticipation.<br />
“Mumma, I have something for you”<br />
Tiny hands delicately cup their treasure. A secret hoard mined with great care and precision.<br />
A shy hand is outstretched, offering up its precious gift.<br />
“What’s inside sweetheart?”<br />
My eyes lock with hers, smiles creeping across both our faces.<br />
“It’s from my nose.”melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-20048159561686689832014-02-20T13:15:00.000+13:002017-07-04T11:08:32.113+12:00Circles<br />
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A great deal of my time these days is spent engaging with the very ordinary and mundane. So much so that I sometimes feel like I am just walking the same circle over and over.<br />
I walk the same path, morning after morning to drop off the girls at school and kindy then again to pick them up in the afternoons. We walk the same route along the same footpaths, past the same houses, often seeing the same people and animals along the way.<br />
We greet each other like old friends now.<br />
With each footfall I wonder what mark we leave behind. Is it good or bad? Will it last? Does it matter?<br />
Is it enough simply to be present in this circle?<br />
A moving particle in the flawed beauty of this moment.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-6049511561401067682014-02-18T16:14:00.000+13:002017-07-04T11:05:50.334+12:00Afternoon Meditation<br />
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It is half an hour until dinner time and I am sitting at the dining room table drinking the lukewarm remains of my belated afternoon coffee.<br />
Miss 3 and Miss 5 are energetically playing 'jumbo jets' with toy cars in the lounge. I am torn between enjoying the sound of their laughter as they make their 'planes' 'fly' and concern for the safety of our wooden floors.<br />
Stop. Be still. Breathe. This moment here.<br />
Where we are.<br />
Where you are.<br />
The steady rhythmic buzz of cicadas drifts through an open window. The distant rumble of a plane flying overhead. A screech of brakes somewhere in the distance. The gentle scrape of pencil on paper as words take shape. The sudden heavy thud as an object hits the ground. An explosion of ecstatic giggling.<br />
Stop. Be still. Breathe. This moment here.<br />
Where we are.<br />
Where you are.melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-11259299544680127442014-01-15T15:12:00.000+13:002017-07-04T10:59:51.522+12:00Delilah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You think you know me.<br />
You think you know.<br />
But you are wrong about me.<br />
So many years have past, and here I am still holding the smoking gun.<br />
But I was not the fatal flaw in his judgement.<br />
No, his sleep began long before he lay his head in my lap.<br />
I’m not going to pretend that I am an innocent in all of this.<br />
I am not.<br />
But if things go on as they are, you’ll never understand what really happened, those fatal judgements that led him to take his own life.<br />
Yes, his suicide. Or did you forget?<br />
We tend to gloss over that bit in the stories we tell our children.<br />
No, the real flaw lay in the answer to a question:<br />
“What makes your strength so great?”<br />
He told me it was his hair.<br />
And for a long time, I believed him.<br />
But he was wrong you know.<br />
And that’s why it’s so important that you understand.<br />
Because we all need to know how to answer the question:<br />
“What makes your strength so great?”melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-4052056964948965312009-10-27T09:38:00.010+13:002009-10-27T10:16:50.227+13:00Take this Bread<span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Yesterday I walked out into our Kitchen and proclaimed that </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >everyone</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >must</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> read this book: </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://saramiles.net/">Sara Miles 'Take this Bread'</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I haven't found myself quite so taken with a book in a long while. I keep having to stop and catch my breath to try and take it all in.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is fascinating, challenging, offensive, affirming, confusing and profound all at once. And all wrapped up in some achingly beautiful prose.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Loving every minute.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A taste:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">'I still can't explain my first communion. It made no sense. I was in tears and physically unbalanced: I felt as if I had just stepped off a curb or been knocked over, painlessly, from behind. The disconnect between what I thought was happening - I was eating a piece of bread; what I heard someone else say was happeing - the piece of bread was the "body" of "Christ," a patently untrue or at best metaphorical statement; and what I <span style="font-style: italic;">knew</span> was happening - God, named "Christ" or "Jesus" was real, and in my mouth - utterly short-circuited my ability to do anything but cry. All the way home, shocked, I scrambled for explanations. Maybe I was hypersuggestible, and being surrounded by believers had been enough to push me, momentarily, into accepting their superstitions...Yet that impossible word <span style="font-style: italic;">Jesus</span>, lodged in me like a crumb. I said it over and over to myself, as if repetition would help me understand. I had no idea what it meant; I didn't know what to do with it. But it was realer than any thought of mine, or even any subjective emotion: It was as real as the actual taste of the bread and the wine. And the word was indisputably in my body now, as if I'd swallowed a radioactive pellet that would outlive my own flesh.'</span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-15287576914676767852009-07-23T21:03:00.003+12:002009-07-23T21:18:51.793+12:00what really happens in a year anyway?<span style="font-family:verdana;">wow - it has actually been almost 1 year since I posted anything here!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">oh well, life goes on much the same really doesn't it?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">July 2008 - July 2009 the short version</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">pregnant. gave birth. slept. fed baby. slept. fed baby. slept. fed baby. slept. (repeat x 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000) worked. slept. fed baby. worked. slept. fed baby. worked. slept. fed baby. (repeat x 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In all seriousness, life has been good. Emily is wonderful. But there hasn't been time to think about much else. Maybe this year will be different. We will have to see...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For pics of Em see </span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/powellwhanaualbum"><span style="font-family:verdana;">here</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-27135511538910909792008-07-31T08:24:00.001+12:002008-07-31T08:31:22.265+12:00Jacob Reviews the New Zealand International Film Festival 2008<span style="font-family:verdana;">Kia ora film types,<br /><br />I was asked about my reviews at work so I thought I should get the list together in case people were interested. I mean, hey, the festival may be finished but there’s always the cinematic run and DVD…<br /><br />Be aware of typos and the like. This is mostly speedy late night work,<br /><br />JP.<br /><br />Reviews for </span><a title="blocked::http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/" href="http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Lumière Reader</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1767" href="http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1767"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Boy A</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> English drama: a jailed child killer is released back into society as a young man. Will society accept him? Can he accept himself?<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1769" href="http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1769"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Homegrown</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (Programme 1) A selection of NZ short films from the past two years covering such themes as subverting cultural stereotyping, the evocation of memory and loss, survival and the loss of innocence, and breaking cultural and social isolation.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1783" href="http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1783"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In Search of a Midnight Kiss</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Lo-fi indie romance set over a day on the not so sparkling streets of LA<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1785" href="http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1785"><span style="font-family:verdana;">To Each His own Cinema</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Over 36 three minute short films made by many of the world’s greatest living auteurs expressing their passion for experience of movie-going at the behest of the Cannes film festival panel.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1790" href="http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1790"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Let the Right One In</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Haunting Swedish vampire thriller cum adolescent romance<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1813" href="http://lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1813"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rubbings From a Live Man</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Florian Habicht’s docu-theatrical exposition of the life of flamboyant NZ thespian Warrick Broadhead<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1808" href="http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1808"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Escapist</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and </span><a title="blocked::http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1808" href="http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1808"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Timecrimes</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (double capsule review)Gritty, tightly constructed prison escape thriller and a trippy surrealist Spanish time travel headspin.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1818" href="http://lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1818"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Dear Zachary</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Emotionally wrenching and unpredictable cinematic ‘letter’ to the son of the documentary’s dead subject, as well as a memorial from the director who was his childhood friend. Be ready to shed some tears…<br /><br />Still in the queue to be posted:<br />- Frontier(s)Ultra-gorefest Gallic splatter horror replete with psychotic rural inbred neo-nazi family, and more torture and maiming than you could shake a stick at. Funnier than it is scary if you have a strong constitution.<br />- Waltz with BashirSublimely animated docu-drama of an Israeli filmmaker’s journey to find his lost memories of his life during Israel’s ill-fated war with Lebanon in the early 80s. Harrowing.<br /><br /><br />Reviews For </span><a title="blocked::http://www.filmguide.co.nz/" href="http://www.filmguide.co.nz/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">FilmGuide</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/14/in-bruges-2/" href="http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/14/in-bruges-2/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In Bruges</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Broadly appealing Irish crime dramedy in the vein of Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels. Clever dialogue, great unexpected plot twists and some truly reinvigorated performances by some recently tired looking A-Listers. Does trade on a lot of inappropriately un-PC jokes as has some graphically violent moments.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/14/somers-town-2/" href="http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/14/somers-town-2/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Somers Town</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Beautifully observed veritè story of an unlikely pair of wayward young lads in London (a teen from the Midlands and a Polish immigrant who lives with his father). Director Shane Meadows is adept at capturing the realities of the English working class and also the fleeting innocence & emotional instability of male adolescence. This is his most optimistic film to date.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/23/note-by-note-the-making-of-steinway-l1037/" href="http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/23/note-by-note-the-making-of-steinway-l1037/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Note by Note: the making of Steinway L1037</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Documentary tracing the fascinating production process of a handmade Steinway concert grand, juxtaposing the worlds of those who make them and those who use them and finding connection in both music and the meditative beauty of age old process.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/25/donkey-in-lahore-2/" href="http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/25/donkey-in-lahore-2/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Donkey in Lahore</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">An Australian filmmaker films several years of the trials and tribulations of his 28 year old friend who, after an 8 day trip to Pakistan to attend a puppeteer festival, proposes to a 17 year old Pakistani girl. Wistful romanticism is slowly crushed beneath looming weight of the bureaucratic process, cultural/age differences, and the simple reality that they do not actually know each other.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/25/a-gentle-breeze-in-the-village/" href="http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/25/a-gentle-breeze-in-the-village/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A Gentle Breeze in the Village</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">A Japanese film that is not dark and disturbing! Director Yamashita Nobuhiro subverts the idealised romance of a popular schoolgirl manga by producing an acutely observed drama about a Tokyo boy moving to a small rural village and the effects that this has on the small group of children who live there. Some of the best cinematography in this year’s festival without overtaking the film – outstanding.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/26/silent-light-2/" href="http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/26/silent-light-2/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Silent Light</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Slow-burn existential musing about the nature of love played out in a Dutch/German Mennonite family in rural Mexico. Well shot and quite well constructed if a little over long and pretentious at times.<br />- </span><a title="blocked::http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/27/standard-operating-procedure-2/" href="http://www.filmguide.co.nz/2008/07/27/standard-operating-procedure-2/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Standard Operating Procedure</span></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Errol Morris documentary about the notorious Abu Ghraib prison photos from the USA-Iraq war. Morris does not so much focus on the overarching war on terror but on the specific details of the photos – the context in which they were taken, what was going on outside the frames and the like. Very compelling viewing that does not exonerate the perpetrators but makes clear that they have been scapegoated by people up the chain of command. As one of the soldiers say, if the photos had never been taken – or gotten out into the wild – then they probably wouldn’t have been investigated by the army…shocker.</span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-52773530283071213792008-07-08T16:25:00.003+12:002008-07-08T16:56:06.338+12:00Formation Friday - Embracing Simplicity<span style="font-family:verdana;">On Friday of last week (the 4th of July), we had our 3rd Formation Friday event of the year - 'Embracing Simplicity'.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">We looked at what it means for us as disciples of Christ to think about how we live out our lives in a way that is shaped by and mirrors the lifestyle of Jesus. In particular we considered the value of the discipline of 'simplicity' and the challenge inherent in many of the teachings of Jesus to radically alter our social and economic activities in response to his call to follow him.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">As part of our discussion we looked at 5 different ways which we could consider simplifying both our inner life and our outward practice:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Stop</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Slow</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Grow/Make/Build</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Share</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Disposable vs. Non Disposable</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Below you will find 5 posts which summarise the discussion on each area. The discussion was relatively organic so some of the ideas cross over or might seem like they belong better under one category than another - I've tried to just compile things as we discussed them rather than re-organise them too much.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The ideas we compiled on Friday are just the tip of the ice berg - I would love it if we could continue the discussion we began here by continuing to pool ideas and point one another in the direction of other helpful resources. If you weren't able to be there but would like to join the discussion then please feel free to do so.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Please use the <strong>comments</strong> option at the base of each post to add further ideas to the mix.</span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-47421197881553597252008-07-08T16:00:00.004+12:002008-07-08T17:02:40.058+12:00Stop<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/2/1510724_a3e146557d.jpg?v=0"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/2/1510724_a3e146557d.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/2/1510724_a3e146557d.jpg?v=0"></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Questions to Consider:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What do I need to <strong>stop</strong> doing now?<br />What are the attitudes I see in myself that I want to <strong>'cease'</strong> from?<br />What are the practices in my life which keep them rooted in my behaviour?<br />What <strong><em>disciplines of stopping</em></strong> do I need to employ in my life in order to help me become free?<br /><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Ideas explored:</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Stop to eat</strong><br />Take time to stop and enjoy eating with family/friends rather than rushing from one thing to the next.<br />Sit down, eat more slowly and engage in conversation with those you care about.<br />Eat around the dinner table not in front of the TV<br /><br /><strong>Stop and make time to exercise</strong><br /><br /><strong>Stop and think before you spend</strong><br />Questions to ask before making a purchase:<br />Do I really need it?<br />Do I need to upgrade or is what I already have sufficient?<br />Where did this product come from? (e.g. Is the cultivation or production of this item contributing to the oppression of other human beings? Is the cultivation or production of this item causing unnecessary/disproportionate harm to other animals, plants or eco systems? How far did this product travel to get to me? Are there other options that have less negative human/environmental impact?<br />Is this the best use of money I have?<br /><br />If you don't already have budget - <strong>stop and make one!</strong> </span><br /></div><p><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Helpful websites:</span></strong><br /><a href="http://www.fta.org.au/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Fairtrade Association of Australia and NZ</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></p><p><a href="http://www.tradeaid.org.nz/Home"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Trade Aid NZ</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a href="https://www.marketplacers.co.nz/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Marketplacers International</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.wisemoney.co.nz/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wise Money</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></p>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-46952737942585478882008-07-08T15:30:00.000+12:002008-07-08T16:45:43.925+12:00Slow<a href="http://www.nyclondon.com/blog/images/slow_city.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.nyclondon.com/blog/images/slow_city.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong> Questions to consider:</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In what ways do I need to slow down?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What inward disciplines of 'slow' do I need to cultivate?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What outer disciplines of 'slow' do I need to consider taking up?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Ideas Explored:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Slow Travel</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Use the stairs instead of the lift</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Don't just jump in the car - ask yourself; Am I in a hurry? Can I walk there? Can I use public transport to get there?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Slow Food</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Buy locally made</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cook twice as much and freeze the extras to use at other times</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cook for a week or a month in one sitting and freeze to use at other times</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Reorganising your time so that you can bake instead of buying pre-made items</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Eat/consume food slowly not in a rush</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Slow Time</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">How much of my 'free time' do I waste watching TV, or in other tasks which don't really slow me down/relax me?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">How could I use this time differently?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Slow activities</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Take time to engage in activities which defy acceleration (e.g knitting, painting, model building etc.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Helpful Websites:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.carlhonore.com/">Carl Honore - 'In praise of Slow'</a></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-62613563822452088792008-07-08T15:02:00.004+12:002008-07-08T15:06:38.745+12:00Grow/Make/Build<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2557902502_d1e5c1d310.jpg?v=0"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2557902502_d1e5c1d310.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong></strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Questions to consider:</strong> </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Can I grow it?<br />Can I make it?<br />Can I build it?<br />Can I fix it?<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Ideas Explored:</span></strong><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Growing Things<br /></strong>Growing vegetables etc. when you have limited space options:<br />Potatoes can be grown in a garbage bag<br />Using pots on a deck/windowsill/balcony to grow herbs (e.g. basil, rosemary etc.) or smaller vegetables (e.g. tomatoes/chillies/capsicum etc.)<br /><br /><strong>Making Things vs. Buying Premade</strong><br />Baking vs. buying premade biscuits/cakes etc.<br />Making your own pasta sauces etc.<br />Preserving fruit/Jam etc.<br />Making/Sewing cloth nappies yourself<br />Making christmas presents<br /><br /><strong>Learn new skills</strong><br />Learn to sew/bake/cook etc.<br />Go to a course or ask a friend to teach you<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Helpful Websites:</span></strong><br /><br />Fabrics and patterns to make your own cloth nappies:<br /></span><a href="http://www.greenbeans.co.nz/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Green beans</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">; </span><a href="http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz/index.php"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Nappy Network</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/gr_fruits_vegetables/article/0,2029,DIY_13846_4463475,00.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">How to grow potatoes in a bag</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.adventconspiracy.org/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Advent Conspiracy</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Preserve-Fruit"><span style="font-family:verdana;">How to Preserve Fruit</span></a></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-67040700314267929632008-07-08T15:00:00.003+12:002008-07-08T16:50:45.964+12:00Share<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2087352290_7336d23b17.jpg?v=0"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2155/2087352290_7336d23b17.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Questions to consider:</span></strong><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Are their resources or skills I have that I can share with others?</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Is there someone I know who can teach me something new? Or someone who can help me to complete a project?</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Is there a resource I have (e.g. a vegetable or herb or fruit tree) in too greater abundance to use it all myself? How can I share my excess with others?</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Is there a skill I have that I could teach someone else?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Ideas explored:</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Get to know your neighbours</span></strong><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">How can you share resources with the people living closest to you?</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Are there ways that you can save money/power etc. by sharing your resources creatively?</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">(e.g. Meal swaps - take turns at cooking double the amount. This reduces power usage, saves money on food costs (economies of scale!), and saves you time by reducing the number of times a week you cook)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Communal Living</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Fix me days</span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Swap it</span></strong><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Furniture swap</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Clothing swaps</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Borrow it<br /></strong></span><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sharing/borrowing maternity clothes</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Hand me down clothes/borrowed shared clothes for young children</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Is there something you have two of where you could lend the extra to someone else?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Make use of your public library!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hire it</span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hire a handbag</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cloth nappy hire kits - check it out before buying to test out what you want/need in order to avoid buying too much or the wrong thing</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Hire options for items only needed for a short period (e.g. some baby related items only used for a few months like bassinets/carry cot attachments for prams</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Share it</span></strong><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sharing tools</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sharing DVDS</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Sharing books</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Helpful Websites:</span></strong></div><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz/index.php">The Nappy Network</a></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-67682256582594200392008-07-08T14:30:00.001+12:002008-07-08T16:51:38.010+12:00Disposable vs. Non Disposable<a href="http://www.jumnakao.com.br/images/ci-001.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.jumnakao.com.br/images/ci-001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Questions to consider:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Do I need to throw this away or can it be reused by me or someone else?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Is there a non-disposable option of this item?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Do I need to throw this away and get a new one or can it be fixed?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Is there a way that I can avoid excess packaging?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Can it be recycled?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Is there are a recyclable/non-disposable option?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Ideas Explored:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Reduce or eliminate packaging on grocery items</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Buying from farmers markets</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Buying fresh from fruit and vege stores and butchers </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bring bags or boxes with you to the supermarket/fruit and vege store/butcher etc.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Practice Saying: <strong><em>"Thanks, but I don't need a bag"</em></strong>, as often as possible!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Bulk Buying</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Buy goods in bulk from bulkbins in supermarkets or specialist bulk bin stores:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">You can do this with lots of dried goods like pasta, flour, sugar etc. You can also do it with herbs and spices. Some specialist stores also sell things like cooking oil, laundry powders etc in bulk by the litre or kg and most bulk stores will let you take it away in your own container/packaging - so you can keep re-using the same container. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Bulk buying also tends to be cheaper than pre-packaged options - especially when buying from specialist suppliers or wholesalers who sell to the public.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Buying meat in bulk and then freezing in smaller portions</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Making wise use of excess</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Freezing excess of items in season in order to have all year round</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">This works well with: Beans, Chillies, Capsicums - all of which can be frozen whole directly after picking. They maintain colour and flavour if frozen in well sealed containers with as much air removed as possible.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Lemon juice, grated fresh ginger, garlic that has been diced/chopped/minced in food processor can be frozen in ice trays to create small frozen portions which can be defrosted and used as needed. Once frozen the cubes can be stored in bags or containers in the freezer.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Some leafy herbs (e.g. coriander, parsley) can be roughly chopped or frozen whole (Kaffir lime leaves, Curry Leaves) in bags or containers in the freezer.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Explore Non-disposable options</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Use a handkerchief instead of tissues</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Try cloth nappies instead of disposables</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Helpful Websites:</strong></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rubbishfreeyear.co.nz/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rubbish-Free Year</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.freesetbags.com/">Freeset bags</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Cloth Nappy Options: <a href="http://www.snazzipants.co.nz/">Snazzipants</a>; <a href="http://www.realnappies.co.nz/?gclid=CPbg6r7ik5MCFQuYggod4lRZ2g">Real Nappies</a>; <a href="http://www.ecobots.co.nz/index.html">Ecobots</a>; <a href="http://bumbles.co.nz/store/cloth-nappies-c-146.html?zenid=cac1ed5ba4a358d75ba644e8ce95850e">Bumbles</a>; <a href="http://www.thenappynetwork.org.nz/index.php">The Nappy Network</a></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-4681112644215915322008-02-18T16:55:00.006+13:002008-02-25T11:31:59.640+13:00Day 6<span style="font-family:verdana;">I have just completed my first weekend of Lent 2008 and I was entirely unsuccesful in maintaining my Sabbath day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I spent Friday afternoon/early evening working on the cessioncommunity Lent devotional journal and preparing for our leaders gathering on Saturday. The leaders gathering was great, and I did know it was coming up. I had intended to try and take some extra time out on Sunday morning and Monday morning. However, I didn't quite manage to do this.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I was reflecting on an exercise that we did together on Saturday and I've decided I might need to downsize my goal a bit -not because it's a bad one - it is still where I want to get to. But I seem to have developed some bad habits about carving out down time for myself, so I need to start unlearning these in order to be able to maintain my bigger goal.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">So I am going to start making some 'dates' for myself which I will book into my diary like appointments. <a href="http://my-faith.blogspot.com/">Jonathan</a> has been telling me for some time that I should put imaginary appointments with people in my diary. I guess this isn't too dissimilar - just that I'm not actually imaginary. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://www.henrinouwen.org/">Henri Nouwen</a> suggests that we should diarise appointments with God for prayer and spiritual reflection so that we don't allow our relationship with God to become sidelined by other commitments. This is certainly part of the goal for me too. By being so busy I get little time to reflect on how the different threads of my life are working together, and where God is at work in me. I also find it means that I stop enjoying both my work and the simple pleasures of life and the world around me, as I am so caught up in the busyness of getting things done.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">So, I will still keep working on the goal of keeping a sabbath day, but I am also going to schedule some appointments with God, or simply for time out also.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Arohanui</span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-13743195532603139882008-02-13T16:38:00.003+13:002008-02-23T13:59:22.431+13:00Lent 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52Cr6dZEKakXSpKIs_kDHdT2bPDnHY4kwC45pvWNuamecjzNjWMN6NP3fblH26Z6L3WOhkdYhj61ONCiWSMxvI_OXsOo4OFot4OcxZBv_HAG1eTx7RCoZBf7xwZ_nixUp3DYS3g/s1600-h/DSCN2422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169644292746779874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52Cr6dZEKakXSpKIs_kDHdT2bPDnHY4kwC45pvWNuamecjzNjWMN6NP3fblH26Z6L3WOhkdYhj61ONCiWSMxvI_OXsOo4OFot4OcxZBv_HAG1eTx7RCoZBf7xwZ_nixUp3DYS3g/s320/DSCN2422.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;"><em>'first clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean'</em></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">One of the things we encourage our community to do at cession, is to consider making a 40 day goal over the Lent period that will aid you in working toward a bigger spiritual growth goal that you have set your self for the year.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">This year, my Lent goal is to abstain from overwork. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In order to try and achieve this I have set myself a goal of taking Friday afternoon (from around 4pm) till Saturday Evening bedtime as a 'Sabbath' day. I used to be really great at doing this but in past year or so, my time off has become less and less frequent and often Saturday - my one day off - ends up becoming another work day.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I'm not sure how successful I will be. I am already painfully aware of how busy my schedule looks between now and Easter Sunday, and I am appalling at ensuring I make time for myself (and for Jacob!). But, I am going to try!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(For info on making goals for Lent go to the <a href="http://www.cession.org.nz/">cessioncommunity</a> website and you will find a <a href="http://www.cession.org.nz/Connect/LentPreparationPack2008.pdf">Lent preparation pack</a>)</span></p></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Arohanui</span><br /></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-19124375665214143582007-12-15T07:38:00.000+13:002007-12-15T08:28:01.871+13:00More Musicals<span style="font-family:verdana;">Back in late November Jacob and I had the unexpected treat of going to see </span><a href="http://www.goldenhorse.co.nz/index.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Goldenhorse's</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> album release gig at the 'Hallertau'. If you're interested you can read his review </span><a href="http://lumiere.net.nz/reader/arts.php/item/1426"><span style="font-family:verdana;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Also Darren has written a lovely (if slightly gushy) review of </span><a href="http://www.foxsearchlight.com/once/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Once</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> which was high on my list of the best films I have seen this year. Despite being termed 'the new musical' once is anything but the atrocities that such a comment brings to mind and is well worth a watch. You can read Darren's review </span><a href="http://lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/1422"><span style="font-family:verdana;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-45058167481125334972007-12-11T08:10:00.000+13:002007-12-11T08:36:41.737+13:00Lease<span style="font-family:verdana;">Hey Kids,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A bit of frivolity for you. Here is the Grand National Winner of this years 48 hour film festival. A musical called Lease. It contains my all time favourite line in a musical: </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">"I wish the lawn was emo too, then the grass would cut itself"</span><br /><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sPi8_NmkFxM&rel=1&border=0"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sPi8_NmkFxM&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This post is dedicated to <a href="http://www.rhettspect.blogspot.com/">Rhett Snell</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">arohanui</span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-56307605580659972852007-12-01T18:22:00.000+13:002007-12-05T18:31:06.561+13:00December 1st<span style="font-family:verdana;">Here is your last chance to view the mo up close and personal - until movember rolls around again...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">'Too Much Mo for One Man'</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjw2MxprvkZ5jiZWJK9qbWLLKLQ_RRdJ73NKg5BOWHJd9ZZyfv_5EloF4HcIR6Nocx1JpEZVz4Arm9zmktBfNEUY1BBRwqJU2eH5XUXLXkWMOB7yORRcf-7AZ0Ltig8dRJ-CYJRg/s1600-h/P1000703.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140355939351969298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjw2MxprvkZ5jiZWJK9qbWLLKLQ_RRdJ73NKg5BOWHJd9ZZyfv_5EloF4HcIR6Nocx1JpEZVz4Arm9zmktBfNEUY1BBRwqJU2eH5XUXLXkWMOB7yORRcf-7AZ0Ltig8dRJ-CYJRg/s320/P1000703.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">'Uncle Bully Mo</span>'<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1cKSHJVB6rGeLWYRAMhgsJOqh8wNR0fTblbH_wKrJPXwZvBYNRsLczQddwtzSCiRbtZANwqIxcpWR4JZzNqbhnRslDWTspLFZDsPoDLRwgZzxxsNigQtzMzNX6vS0L0AM0BJig/s1600-h/P1000706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140355947941903906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1cKSHJVB6rGeLWYRAMhgsJOqh8wNR0fTblbH_wKrJPXwZvBYNRsLczQddwtzSCiRbtZANwqIxcpWR4JZzNqbhnRslDWTspLFZDsPoDLRwgZzxxsNigQtzMzNX6vS0L0AM0BJig/s320/P1000706.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">'Close-up Mo' - the final edition</span></p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDCXxiVJwYAHWond4X9CN-SSXgzVAM9Vc52W0gnQyluS8BzfiU1F1v9WG6a6raYx6YC-GmpZaCGacnt9yxee9IDcb5J_t9IfXSYgSg8XNvANGkdEJ0eKQVz0A5SHHkUL05HC87w/s1600-h/P1000707.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140355952236871218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDCXxiVJwYAHWond4X9CN-SSXgzVAM9Vc52W0gnQyluS8BzfiU1F1v9WG6a6raYx6YC-GmpZaCGacnt9yxee9IDcb5J_t9IfXSYgSg8XNvANGkdEJ0eKQVz0A5SHHkUL05HC87w/s320/P1000707.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-19784069888715177652007-11-24T18:14:00.000+13:002007-12-05T18:21:25.992+13:00Movember 24th<span style="font-family:verdana;">Every morning it's like waking up and finding yourself stuck inside a nightmare that you just can't wake from...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Outpatient Mo</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo1TGZuCdryBiqzyfQGVBGsMDQJn_LnNC3ipBbz64Gw4mneIiwdDVkPVftJWNnX1I1pqY0bpHb2fbV3AmN7rhlhMWGsxLOENEmLctY1GBMX5E_ZWrkrK0qOkFtmgFhf0I0jSW7A/s1600-h/P1000697.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140353508400479730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvo1TGZuCdryBiqzyfQGVBGsMDQJn_LnNC3ipBbz64Gw4mneIiwdDVkPVftJWNnX1I1pqY0bpHb2fbV3AmN7rhlhMWGsxLOENEmLctY1GBMX5E_ZWrkrK0qOkFtmgFhf0I0jSW7A/s320/P1000697.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Close-up Mo</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEY3CswXzoi7qU_XIgn5yrxNgla_LDvH_zV6HN3blmRpiuaELRKK_5TBq3A1vbddQc7QZPwEc_EM8CMuS8dIJuJbuLcRhy3_oOjPyl0iHwi-NRO4xD3LDgeT-1zAaDfIfg_ctfw/s1600-h/P1000698.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140353512695447042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEY3CswXzoi7qU_XIgn5yrxNgla_LDvH_zV6HN3blmRpiuaELRKK_5TBq3A1vbddQc7QZPwEc_EM8CMuS8dIJuJbuLcRhy3_oOjPyl0iHwi-NRO4xD3LDgeT-1zAaDfIfg_ctfw/s320/P1000698.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">December just can't come fast enough!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Arohanui</span></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-64698098174483015402007-11-13T09:27:00.000+13:002007-11-13T09:35:03.273+13:00Movember Day 13<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"> Mo<br /></span><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJ3__TlBMm-KFuQ55NiRhl5C45zMTPKO2CkAsUH0k0_209HqbcD7wJ17-pnyWQSAR_AuOJTskpi9CfKolCb7XdbksqndTJrN5YIePMDqpvRpTauxlHUIk9Cg5IvuEyt5jLgRvDA/s1600-h/P1000689.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132053669296344722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJ3__TlBMm-KFuQ55NiRhl5C45zMTPKO2CkAsUH0k0_209HqbcD7wJ17-pnyWQSAR_AuOJTskpi9CfKolCb7XdbksqndTJrN5YIePMDqpvRpTauxlHUIk9Cg5IvuEyt5jLgRvDA/s320/P1000689.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Mo [pukana]</span></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132053982828957346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLjcWRBj-2V0s5djRsB4k_9xaxMKHhwmgA9W5qON3EiLq1rEnsXrHaEVgdptWNok8PoS3Uc092FqX4PMc10VQq8325SrZ41bsgHlDBEk31iTxBZH326EIK-aRU5jQgjExQ_tzxw/s320/P1000691.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Mo [closeup]</span></div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132054571239476914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHM8GW2LxcSZ359UqtgZP9vc5c9UMx48993T8tLmusYG5Z3Y6EC1qaoH-5ATn-PjyD33v8aczoMSNpcnHbjRjVO6RD1EhMEdx7BIKlUf-Vg2LhGuStkcemOGkwnTMeU7A4XSfDlg/s320/P1000694.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Arohanui<br /></span><div></div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25755629.post-40149939652426721532007-11-02T09:03:00.000+13:002007-11-13T09:26:08.482+13:00Movember Day 2<span style="font-family:verdana;">Kia ora koutou,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is that wonderful time of year again...</span><a href="http://www.movember.com/nz/home/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Movember</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We forgot to do a before shot, but here is Day 2.</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132050615574597218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIrv-FdRqNfi0u_JJg5J0mNb-9X4Ip3nAwEFCof_bcKyaM4ZvbhzM4e2C0ucdIpI2lyUlIgPhGt2GwXNfLOMgnJ9durQblVAWZGCDI6gO3s8dkFbOhdBLPHgK101klIZnnYMvzg/s320/P1000684.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFKVDJSffscXsKUKmPkpORMTut9OWkAkHpzJ0dm2nnNJHtCbucr4rNvnwcEsAtlMMofFrDtRVqRj8GubAyb3P0CDQg5NZYGZ4p6FiBOvhl1JHWeuVO-oteDgtvA2HzkG5_gyrHw/s1600-h/P1000685.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132050864682700402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFKVDJSffscXsKUKmPkpORMTut9OWkAkHpzJ0dm2nnNJHtCbucr4rNvnwcEsAtlMMofFrDtRVqRj8GubAyb3P0CDQg5NZYGZ4p6FiBOvhl1JHWeuVO-oteDgtvA2HzkG5_gyrHw/s320/P1000685.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132051126675705474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0iOOX1cyp2ghDmGGciP9RtQlDpce-8a8kY6CJ0YSQosUjOfD0XWNfwY58v8R9tutjBbgYVHAqtXFG7j2DUiP5B1MVYBd9-gJL_uVQdhD1uA5nlwjMrtip135U7MRy2Iw5qbsiw/s320/P1000687.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div></div></div>melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862354494972960304noreply@blogger.com0