Waterfront Project update -shameless promotion

As some of you may know, I'm currently involved in a music project with some friends - Glyn Collinson and Ben Clayton , as well as a couple of others who have been known to join with us for sessions. Collectively the project is known as "The Waterfront Project", and recording of our album is currently underway.

We have a myspace (see link on the right) where you can listen to all our recorded tracks so far - bearing in mind that there aren't necessarily the finished versions yet. If you're on facebook, come and join us on the facebook group page ! We also now have some more space on Glyn's website thanks to an update he's done. He's promised to keep updating it more regularly from now on, uploading new tracks as we go along. There will also be regular news posts, from all of us not just Glyn, and there's space for you all to join in and comment. So come on over and let us know what you think ! Today for example, we have just uploaded a new recording (made last night) of our version of the Trad. song "The Blue Cockade".

Upcoming gigs...

I've been busy. There are several upcoming musical events at which I am playing...
- If anyone is free tomorrow and would like an evening of music in Cambridge (see flyer above)... This event is to raise money for this year's Romanian summer camp, of the variety I helped with last summer.

- Also, if anyone fancies a trip to Leicester in a couple of weeks, then I am accompanying a friend of mine at the Big Session Folk festival (See: http://www.bigsessionfestival.com) !!! We have a lunchtime slot on the Saturday in the Marquee Stage ! Exciting stuff...

Chapter 4

And so, the time has come to fill you all in briefly on what is happening and has been happening in the world of Ro - although, apart from one or two people I'm aware of, I'm not entirely sure who reads blogs still; Facebook seems to have taken over from Blogger now really as the trendiest method of communication, but oh well...

Anyway, tomorrow is the day I move to Cambridge (well, when I say MOVE, it's complicated). For those who I haven't gotten round to telling yet, I now have a job there, working in a lab. I start this coming friday. I now also have a place to live - I am renting a flat, but the contract only begins on monday so I am staying overnight in a hotel tomorrow night, so I can get to work on friday. I also now have a car (which I love driving), which I somehow have to get up to Cambridge during the course of the next week or so, I think the plan atm is to drive it up at the weekend. It feels like there is a lot of change going on in my life at the moment, with everything happening at once - so many new things I have never had to think about before. But although I will miss everyone at home and in Bristol, and I'm really sorry that I won't be around to be a support to certain people, and although I feel nervous about starting somewhere new (although, not completely from scratch this time) I nevertheless do feel good about the move - it's a bit late to get out of it now anyway (!) I think it's the right thing for me at this time, if such a thing exists. I will feel a bit less hastled though and will be able to think about things more once I have moved and settled in ! I will be back, both to home and Bristol, to visit people and I would love it if anyone wanted to come to visit me, once I'm a bit settled.

Anyway, that's the short version of the story as it's all I have time for at the minute. I have things to go and sort out before tomorrow. (No more of this spending every waking hour on the internet - not that I have ever done that, but hey...) I hope everyone is well whatever they are all up to. I shall still try to post occasionally on here about how I'm getting on in Cambridge. But until the next time, so long ! Tomorrow chapter 4 officially begins...

Trip to Romania July 2007

At the end of our year on year team, 5 of us from the team are going out to Romania next sunday (8th) for 9 days, to help with a kids camp and to visit some families. We are going as part of a team of 25ish. It's so soon! (We had a training morning yesterday). It's exciting but also fairly daunting too. I am just in the process of sending out a prayer letter, about the end of year team and more details of our trip and some prayer points. If any of you don't receive a copy (either because I forget to put you on the list or I don't have your correct details) but you would like a copy then please do let me know and I'll e-mail one to you !

You can find out more about the work of Eurovangelism, the Bristol-based organisation who have organised the trip and who do a lot of work in Eastern Europe, either on their website or their prayer blog

Google bombs

I learnt many things over this last weekend. One of which, is that you should go to google, type in french military victories, and click "I'm feeling lucky". It's quite amusing. I won't tell you what happens as it will spoil the surprise !

In other news, this weekend is the Bristol Festival of Nature. You may remember me mentionning it about this time last year. It's a great event; great for a day out. Do go check out the website and this year's programme. I'm not sure whether I'll make it down this year, but I'm sure it will be good as always.

p.p.s. 2) New Root Comeback gig !

As most of you reading this will know already, The New Root's comeback gig is this coming saturday (7th). 8pm at the Louisiana, all ready with some of their new songs and two new musicians. Do go, I'm sure it's going to be amazing ! I'm gutted I can't really go :-( But I'm looking forward to future gigs. Check out the website for more details and to join the mailing list for cheap(er) entry !

That really is it for me now, for a while. Have good Easters everyone ! Make the most of the time to reflect on what Easter is really all about - more than just chocolate eggs (although, anything with chocolate in can't be all bad!)

Theory and Livesoc

On a slightly lighter note however, I passed my driving theory test yesterday afternoon ! I am glad I passed, but I can't help feeling annoyed about the 3 questions I got wrong ! Just practical test to go now, and according to my instructor, we're going to book that in a few weeks !

Also, I'm hopefully playing keyboard and singing at Livesoc next tuesday (13th). I have a set of 3 songs. Do come along to listen if you'd like. It'll be at the Bristol student union, Mandella bar/AR2, about 8.30 til 11 - I'll probably be on fairly near the beginning but if you come do hang around for a friend of mine's band who'll be playing towards the end of the night; Pondlife - they are amazing ! (Pondlife website; Pondlife Myspace ). If there's someone on the union door on tuesday, give me a ring when you arrive and I'll come a let you in. (Leave a comment and your e-mail if I don't have it if you need my mobile number.)

New blog layout

Well, kind of. When I tried to add labels, I didn't realise how complicated it would be ! I probably didn't do it the most efficient way, but it seemed that once I upgraded to the new type of template, blogger lost all my links ! So, I had to put everything in again. My links needed an overhaul really anyway, and I hope I haven't forgotten anything ? (I didn't have a list of my links anywhere even !) I still don't like the new font it's give me, but not much I can do. Hopefully I'll get used to it !

Had so much fun tonight at Devotion - we had Devo-ke-oke. (I.e. Karaoke at Devotion). I sang "Complicated" with a fellow musical Devotee and then the leaders all sang YMCA at the end. Other highlights include a duet of "If you're not the one" between two Devo leaders and another leader getting slightly carried away with "Kung Fu Fighting". (For a few pictures see the new Devo blog!) After that and then sorting my blog I'm now exhausted. Bedtime now. Will post properly another day :-)

Switchfoot !!! and another genius video

I have another genius video for you all to watch ! At Christmas a friend of mine who read physics at Bristol uni told me about this, where a picture of Dr. Emmett Brown from Back to the Future had been added to the photos of physics staff in the department. Apparently it stayed up there for well over a year before any of the staff noticed it ! But this video provides photographic evidence for all those who don't believe that this was actually done. :-)

Also...I'm getting really excited now ! I'm going to Swansea tomorrow, with a couple of the other year-teamers, to go and see Switchfoot play, it's part of their UK tour promoting their new album "Oh! Gravity". It will be an experience as I've never been to such a big gig before, and I am anticipating a late night with not much sleep (as I need to get up early thurs morning) but it should be amazing !!! Will post saying how it went after I get back and have had some sleep !!!

I did have some more serious stuff to blog today, but am not with it enough now. Will go get an early night in preparation for tomorrow and will try to hang onto the thoughts to post on another day.

p.s. This friday I am taking part in the 24-hour famine, to raise money for the work of World Vision in Zambia. I'm doing this together with several others from Devotion, but have been being very disorganised about getting sponsers together. The plan is to have a meal on thurs night (at pastorate for me), then go without food until the friday evening. This is going to be really hard for me, as fasting food is something I find really difficult. But if anyone would like to sponser me, then please get in touch. Thank you !

The Truth?

Just a very quick post (as I don't have time for a proper update right now) to plug a couple of things. Most importantly...this week and the week after the Bristol University Christian Union are hosting a range of events to help people explore the meaning of life, look at what Christianity is really about, and trying to provide a Christian viewpoint on some of the hard questions in life. I'd recommend going along. The programme of events is here, (you will also be able to download the talks from here.) There are talks every lunchtime in the Powell lecture theatre (in the Physics department) and evening events spread between various locations, as well as other events going on in halls. Ask me if you've got any questions.

Also, Livesoc tonight. Ar2 (aka Mandela Bar) in the Bristol Student Union if anyone in Bristol is interested. An evening of live music, provided by some very talented musicians. Doors open at 8, music from 8.30 and is only £1 to non-livesoc members.

Lastly, a couple of rather amusing videos on youtube - one of which I was passed the link to, the other I randomly found while watching the first: "Title of the song" and The ebay song
First, quality of the singing and video isn't amazing (as you'll see), but the song itself is very amusing. Ebay song is a take-off of I think a backstreet boys song. Enjoy and do come along to some of the Cu talks ! :-D

Last few days of holiday...

Going back to Bristol this sunday for the start of another term (my first job is stewarding at the Mix on sunday night). And, although I haven't even come back yet, I'm already starting to feel homesick ! It will be good to see people but nevertheless, very strange to come back.

I do also have a fair few things left to do before then, however I did still make time to go to see the film Eragon yesterday with my brother. It's a good film; worth seeing if you like films of that genre (fantasy, action, involving dragons...) I was glad we did go to see it. But it wasn't a patch on the book. They had messed around with the storyline so much and cut out or changed major parts, so much so, that I'm not really sure how they'll be able to do the next part of the trilogy. But although that disappointed me slightly, I can see why they did, as it was always going to be a challenge getting a book of that kind into a 1hr30 film, and they were obviously trying to leave enough time to do justice to some of the big battle scenes (= special effects). It could have done with being LOTR length really. I think I need to see the film a couple more times (probably get the DVD when it comes out), now that I know the basics of the film, so I can appreciate it more for what it is, rather than always be comparing it with the book. And don't let me put you off. Go to see it, regardless of whether you've read the book or not (I think the story just about hangs together even if you haven't). And I'm already looking forward to seeing the film of the second part !

One more thing...I have in the past mentionned a band called Starfield. Well, I also purchased their second album, "Beauty in the Broken" yesterday (with Christmas money). It's a good album. Very different feel to the first one, which I loved immediately, but I think it will grow on me. There are some (in my opinion) good songs and some not so good/not very memorable or original ones, but all in all, worth the £8 I paid for it I think ! And the sentiments expressed in the words are good ones. Gives me more ammunition for quoting song lyrics at whoever reads this blog still :-)

"Happy Feet"

Saw the film 'Happy Feet' at the cinema yesterday afternoon (a year team trip). Basically, (not spoiling the story), it's about Penguins, and how this one Penguin is different from all the others. Instead of having a 'heart song' (i.e. being able to sing well, and having his own song), he loves to dance and his feet move when he's feeling deeply. But he finds he can't be himself (as it goes against 'what makes a penguin a penguin') and is always being told to try to sing/stop singing - as his voice is awful - and to stop dancing. He's told that what he is isn't natural, and is made to feel like an outcast, and finally banished from the emperor penguin colony. But it all has a happy ending, when he ends up coming back and saving the whole penguin colony. A very sweet and in places very funny film, (although a little bizarre in terms of how the storyline moves). But it also has a lot of thought-provoking stuff in there. (This is the point where my housemates of last year would tell me I think about films too much again...) It makes you think about being different - how it's really hard to be different from the crowd, and also not to be able to be free to express who you are. But the film implies that ultimately it's people who dare to express who they really are and to be different, despite the costs, who will make a difference ! Very challenging. It also brings up a whole load of environmental stuff, about how fishing in the antarctic is disrupting the Penguins' food chain and even outrightly killing some of them by the waste left behind by the humans. Although slightly unrealistic in it's portrayal (for example, I wish all our environmental problems could be solved as easily as this one seemingly was in the film), it nevertheless makes you think. I came out in an odd mood - having enjoyed it, and laughed a lot, but also been very provoked. Anyway...food for thought.

Sorry my blog has become a bit of a diary of events recently. In some ways this reflects my state of mind, that I have been kept very busy and with hardly any time to take time and think about stuff. (And when I have wanted to post recently on more thoughtful things, blogger has been being annoying). But as I have said before, I will try to make it less of a diary - as that isn't the reason I originally started writing on here. But it might take me a while.

Now to have something to eat and try to get a bit of rest before what is shaping up to be a very good but very manic day tomorrow - looking forward to the morning family service and the carol service in the evening (the first one at Woodies I will ever have been to) - the church is currently looking amazing with all the Christmas decorations up ! Oh, and one last thing...you may have noticed I added a couple more links to the sidebar. Do check them out. Most of them I already look at/read, just hadn't gotten round to putting up links before now !

p.s. Another last thing...I am now on blogger beta ! Very strange. Another set of features to get used to. *Sigh*

Guitars and other things...

Just saw this post by a friend of mine on his blog. It gives a link to a short piece in Inside Worship (a magazine produced by Vineyard Music) which he wrote, about "The guitarist's guide to effective mistake". All musicians, but especially guitarists, will find this highly amusing. So have a read.

And while we're on the subject of guitars...if anyone in Bristol is free next tuesday night (28th), then you'd be welcome to come see me play a short set (probably 3 songs now) at the next Livesoc event. It'll be me with guitar and singing. The evening should start about 8 as usual and finish around 11. There'll be a band headlining (not sure who yet) and the evening should be great fun. I'll probably be playing nearer the start of the evening, but I'm not entirely sure. It'll be as usual in AR2 in the Bristol Student Union, so if you're a non-student wanting to come, you'll have to phone me or something when you get there on tues so that I can let you in or get someone else to let you in ! (I know I'm not a student either...but I happen to have gotten an associate membership of the union for the year, knowing that I'd want to still be involved in Livesoc and use union facilities this year !)

Best dash now...need breakfast before going shopping for student lunch. My next post will be my 100th ! Not sure what I can do to mark the occasion, but I'll try think of something :-)

p.s. the song I posted in the last post, is one which I will be playing next tuesday and one of whom the lyrics are quite relevant for me at the moment.

Update and new caption competition !

Hi everyone, yes I'm in the internet cafe again. Have had an interesting week. I really loved helping out with creches on wed and thurs this week at Henleaze over lunchtime - the kids are great, and as Rhys can testify I had great fun dressing up as a ladybird for them yesterday ! On wednesday though I hadn't previously been aware that it was possible to feel quite so exhausted ! (I imagine that it's going to be a common feeling this year). I was at Henleaze all morning (left the flat at 8.20am) got back about 2ish (?) and straight away we went to help with set up for the Alpha supper. I then got back to the flats at about 11.30ish pm, and the only break I had was about 45 mins at 5.30 to have a shower to try to de-greasify myself after having been stripping chickens a lot of the afternoon ! I slept well that night !!! Looking forward to fresher's week next week, having friends back for the start of term and also being able to welcome new students. Don't ask me how Steve managed to rope me into agreeing to play some songs as part of the 'live music' though !!!

Just before I go, may I point your attention towards a new caption competition by Rhys. I await the suggestions with interest !

Oh, and one more thing...I'm about to send out the first of my 'gap year' 'prayer newsletters'. I there is anyone reading this who doesn't receive it who would like to then let me know, praps in the comments section. Thanks.

I'm still alive !

I survived my first week and a bit as a year teamer :-) Am sitting in this internet cafe again (hopefully we'll get internet at some point !) and thought I'd therefore better post a quick post ! I'm fairly tired, and there are certain challenges already presenting themselves, but am enjoying things too. I do feel like I know the other year teamers a bit better now, especially after our retreat last week (- for some reason, chocolate brownies taste better when eaten off cocktail sticks, not sure why!) And I'm enjoying spending lots of time with them. The flats are getting a bit busier now, with more people moving in. I also start my placements this week, one of which is helping at Devotion (yaaay !) and we start the Mullers theology course tomorrow. So it's all going ok...just some more sleep is required at the moment, so this post is gonna be short (not sure whether it's that sweet) so I can go and get some food and then some sleep ! Longer more rambly posts will follow once I'm more awake :-)

p.s. anyone around in Bristol tomorrow evening, we're having a pirate party in the woodies student flats (to celebrate 'national talk-like-a-pirate day!) So feel free to drop by - 7.30 onwards, fancy dress optional but preferred !

"A head for trouble"

Before I get into this blog post properly, can I just ask: does anyone like my new and updated myspace profile ?!! (I know the guys may not be a huge fan of the colour but it kinda matches my blog now, which is what I wanted.) Also, it now has a proper URl, to make finding it slightly easier.

Anyway...the real reason for this post, is to ask whether anyone else read the above titled article in last week's Sunday Times Magazine ? I read it, and was a bit confused by it, and if anyone else has read it I would appreciate comments/thoughts/opinions etc. It's one of those articles which when you read you know that there is probably some truth in but there also feels to be something not quite right either but you can't put your finger on it...or at least that's how I felt.

Do have a read (I hope the link works). Basically it's saying are we really responsible for our actions or is what we do already predetermined by the wiring of our brains ? To further expand, I have chosen a few select quotes from the article:

"The laws of most societies assume moral decisions are made in the conscious, rational mind. But an influential number of brain researchers disagree. They point to cases like that of Mr C to argue that it is not people, or minds, that commit bad acts, but their brains."

"Arguably, liars, thieves, murderers and paedophiles and Good Samaritans, are not bad or good - just 'different', their brains having disposed them to behaviour outside the moral norm."

The religious doctrines of original sin - meaning that we are prone to prefer wrong by nature - conscience and free will have been eroded by rationalism, science and secularism over the past two centuries, yet a powerful belief in responsibility for our actions remains".

"Philosophers, too, have long suggested that personal responsibility is an illusion"

"'Some of the seven deadly sins' claims Tancredi, 'have already been shown to be affected by biological factors in varying degrees, and in some cases, the individual may have little power or free will to prevent them from happening.'"

"'Your sense of personal identity and free will are in fact no more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules.'"

Now, I have no doubt in my mind that God can and does use the natural laws He created, and that it is possible (tho this may be a contreversial thing to say) that this brain wiring thing is correct, and that when we come to God and become "new creations" he changes something in our internal wiring? Maybe spiritual blindness is not merely a picture but also has a basis in physiology ? Perhaps this is merely the debate about science vs religeon in a new form, which people are only just beginning to think about, and that it is again an issue of their being no real conflict, but that this new neuroscience and what the Bible says are just saying respectively how and why. (These are only my current thoughts on the subject btw). But however, this is coming at this issue from the side of already believing in God. If, like many scientists, they are coming from the other side...I just think something's back to front here. Help me out here: What does anyone else think ?

Update and plug

I've been busy the last few days. First there was the excitment of watching Casualty filming last week, then I jammed with a friend in the Union for 3 hours on friday morning (we lost track of time a little ! I was playing bass, so my shoulders and fingers didn't let me forget it in a hurry, but it was well worth it !) Then met up with another friend for coffee. Rushed to pack and went to Dartmoor for the weekend with the Christian Union. We had an amazing weekend. I learnt lots, had lots of fun, met some new people, took too many photos, played more bass...we did have a slightly interesting time on the way when as soon as we started encountering big hills in Dartmoor, the coach started struggling, and eventually broke down due to the radiator busting ! So we had to start walking to the place. It was a 'half hour' walk - it actually would have taken much longer than that had we had to walk the whole way, but in the end we just walked about 40minutes and then got picked up by the car shuttle that they'd started to run between the house and us. Was good though, because we wouldn't have appreciated the beauty of the countryside as much otherwise, and it was a good bonding exercise !

We did get back safely on sunday evening in the end (after a slight panic that the coach had broken down again!) And I went to church on sunday evening. This evening went to the CU clifton BBQ, which was really fun, but I'm quite tired now (a bit of barn dancing during the evening!)

Am looking forward to all the things which are coming up in the next few weeks, going round to friends house, Wills ball, graduation ball, more BBQs and picnics...but at the same time, it is all tinged with a bit of sadness, that this is the last time for a while if not forever that I'll see some people. Even if I do eventually decide to stay in Bristol next year, things still won't be the same. I would no longer be a student-e.g. I couldn't be involved in Union Societies or with Student Pastorate...plus some of my good friends are moving on. I think it was brought home to me more after the CU houseparty, which was my last one (after having been on every one since being at uni. I.e. that was number 6!) and when a friend who was going on holiday the next day had to say goodbye. I got a little overwhelmed in Church that evening. I know that I will keep in contact with people, but it won't be the same. But then, I do trust God, that whatever He's got in store for me in the future it will be good.

That wasn't really what I was originally intending to blog on...but that's I guess what happens when I don't plan and just write and am tired (rambling I guess).

Anyway...the plug bit: If anyone in Bristol is free TOMORROW (wednesday) evening and fancies a bit of LIVE MUSIC, then come down to the Bristol Student Union. LiveSoc is holding their last event of the term and year. It should be good - 5 bands and I'm opening the night with a short acoustic set. STARTS AT 8 PROMPT. AR2 (aka Mandella Bar) Be great to see anyone there who's able to come !

P.s. I highly recommend the band Starfield. I just got their first album last week and love it ! It's exactly the kind of music I love - can't believe it's taken me so long to get their music (it wasn't a spontaneous purchase, like many are, but I'd been wanting this for a good long while). As you can see, the current quote is from one of their songs - it's one which really struck me. And if you want to check out their music more, I currently have one of their songs on my MySpace profile, and from there you can also access their myspace which has some more of their music on !

Right...time for lost (the TV programme, I'm not actually intending to get lost, don't worry) and then bed. Early rise required tomorrow. Maybe see some of you tomorrow ?