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Archive for January, 2009

Pigeons – a rant

Posted in Inner city, tagged , , , , , , on 28 January, 2009| Leave a Comment »

The other morning I got really aerated about pigeon food. As I’ve mentioned before, people put food out to feed the birds in our local shopping precinct. Unfortunately, they overcater, so this was the sight that greeted me on the school run. This food will either turn to mush for folk to slip over on or will be snaffled by greedy rats.

Overcatering for the pigeons

Overcatering for the pigeons

It’s such a nice touch the way that the food is laid out beneath the sign which reads ‘THE FEEDING OF PIGEONS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED’.

Pigeons not interested in the food

Pigeons not interested in the food

And here is a shot of pigeons taking no notice of the food but making a lot of noise for the occupants of the house opposite.

Then yesterday morning, on my way back from my mums’ coffee morning I noticed a not-so-delightful pile of torn chapattis and chips, also intended for hungry birds, just by the church hall entrance. This encourages the massive rats that we sometimes see lurking around the infants playground.

I felt like roaring at the bird feeders rather than the birds themselves. But I couldn’t see them so instead I’ve just ranted at the internet. I feel a bit better.

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A Strange Thing

Posted in Family, Food, Kids, tagged , , , , , on 27 January, 2009| 2 Comments »

The Joker started crying at tea tonight because I gave some of his extra broccoli to his brother.

Some yummy broccoli

My children are unusual (the Curate says I can’t call them ‘strange’).

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More on Matthew’s Begats

Posted in Fun, Kids, tagged , , , , , , on 20 January, 2009| Leave a Comment »

My copy of Behold the Lamb by Andrew Peterson arrived a few days ago and since then we’ve been enjoying the album, even though it’s really for the Christmas season.

Of course, we are particularly savouring Matthew’s Begats and the Queen loves the song so much that she keeps on nicking the lyrics sheet and trying to sing along. Just in case you wanted to aswell, I’ve found the lyrics on the web.

I’ve also found a Matthew’s Begats book which I’m considering buying for the kids (and my godchildren), which comes with a cd of the song and the story of the people in it.

If the Queen cracks the lyrics I’ve promised I’ll upload her singing it onto YouTube. Watch this space….

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Complaining Works!

Posted in Kids, Lads mags, tagged , , , , , , , on 13 January, 2009| 4 Comments »

Asda logo

I had a letter in the post today which cheered me a little. It was an apology from the manager of the Asda store which I’d shopped in for the first time on New Year’s Eve. He wasn’t apologising about the shocking queues in there, but then I’d not actually complained about that.

I had complained about their magazine displays.

We were hurtling around the shop trying to find a few sandwiches for lunch after a morning trying to sort out things in the vicarage we’ll be moving to at half term. We took a short cut down the magazine aisle and I was horrified to see the display of ‘Lads’ Mags’.

The store had a full shelving stack of FHM, Nutz and the like, with their glossy covers of buxom naked women. Because they had so many of these mags, they had them handily diplayed right at the height where my kids could get a full eyeful.

Now, I would really prefer it if these magazines were not produced, sold or desired by their readers. However, given that this is the case, I feel strongly that they should displayed out of the eyesight of the under-18s. Hence my complaint to the manager of Asda. The over-sexualisation of children in our society is a worry to many and surely this sort of display must make a contribution.

So I was pleased that he wrote to me, apologised and told me that he has arranged for ‘the magazines in question to be moved up to the top shelf to avoid any other issues’.

Seems like it’s worth complaining. Maybe I should start a campaign?

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The Beautiful City

Posted in Inner city, tagged , , , , , on 7 January, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Beautiful City 1

Beautiful City 1

The Curate remarked that my artistic shot of a beer can might give you the wrong impression of the lovely place where we live. Empty beer cans are a fact of life here, where excess alcohol is the cause of many troubles. But you mustn’t think that discarded beer cans are all there is to life in the inner city.

The picture above was taken in our local country park on New Year’s Day. We can get there in ten minutes in our car and you can see our church spire from the top of this hill, if you look in the right direction. About twenty of us from church climbed the hill and enjoyed seeing our breath in front of us and feeling our legs beneath us as we walked off some Christmas calories.

Beautiful City 2

Beautiful City 2

This shot I took last night from my kitchen window as the light faded on a bright and cold snowy day. This magnificent tree lifts my heart when I do the washing up (so that’s nearly every day).

There is much beauty where we live, as well as brokenness. And not just in the scenery.

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A Snowy View

Posted in Alcohol, Inner city, tagged , , , , , on 6 January, 2009| 1 Comment »

Here’s a snap I took in the snow on the way home from our mum’s coffee morning today.

Snowy Days in the Inner City

Snowy Days in the Inner City

You may not be able to read the strapline across the pale blue at the top of the can: ‘Enjoy Extra Cold’. I guess the drinker who deposited this with the fag end was probably extra cold. Not sure about the enjoyment part in this weather though.

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