Daffodils & procrastination

I've had a two-day work week. I took a couple of days annual leave and I kept putting off making plans to go anywhere or do anything during this long weekend. So, I find myself on the second day of my long Easter weekend at home and in front of the computer. I've procrastinated. That's alright though, I will book my travel arrangements right after this post.

I told myself late last year that I would finally get fit by the summer. Without fail every week since that initial thought of commitment I assured myself that I would start the following Monday. Now it's spring and I've postponed it until now. I'll start right after Easter I guess.

And yes, speaking of spring...from the kitchen I could see the gorgeous bright daffodils my flatmates so dutifully cared for. Fortunately they were in someone else's care as I probably would have put off watering them until the last possible moment.

Gosh...am I really that unreliable??

Abortion - is it an issue to debate about?

The Independent had this on the front page today. Abortion - is it an election issue or not?

embarrassment

Some days on my way home I start sensing this embarrassment. As though I did or said something that I shouldn't have (or if I'm feeling particularly optimistic - an experience I could learn from I guess). Today is one of those days...

Well, I guess I could learn from it once I nail down what dopey thing I got myself into today.

where in the world is africa?

The past week is what I would call my Intro to Africa week. It was an emotional roller coaster ride. It started fun, light and entertaining with a ticket to the West End musical version of the 'The Lion King' on Tuesday, remained hopeful but a little more subdued when I attended a fair trade reception at the church.co.uk waterloo centre where a coffee bean producer from Ghana spoke on Wednesday. I was uplifted by Africa's hypnotic rhythms with a visit to the Salon Afrique in the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday followed by such a bitter crash after watching the horrific reality of the Rwandan genocide as portrayed in Hotel Rwanda on Saturday. Even Sunday proved to be both hopeful and angry as I wandered through the Hayward Gallery's Africa Remix exhibition.

This year is Africa 05. It is a year Britain is celebrating Africa. A range of events and activities planned nationwide coupled with a political push to address development issues in Africa will mark this year's efforts. Africa is on the agenda of the G8 conference in Scotland this July, which might prove to be a pivotal point in the move towards reducing poverty by half by 2015, particularly in Africa. Hopefully.

Maybe a read through Our Common Interest - Report of Commission for Africa (a little ambitious for me I know) which was published on Friday, 11 March would lift my hopes. I do wonder where it is in the world's scheme of things. But also, where is it in my heart's scheme of things?

why whistling?

I've been asked by someone smart and perceptive why I'm whistling (yes shelaine, i'm talking about you). A quick search on Google will lead you past a song by the group 'They Might be Giants', past an online game, and a 1941 black and white movie among others to a book by Frederick Buechner called 'Whistling in the Dark', which is where I get the title from (is that plagiarism? Intended to be a tribute of sorts...).



Frederick Buechner is one of my most treasured authors. His humour, sincerity and insight have guided me through both mundane and challenging times in the past two years. 'Whistling in the Dark - A Doubter's Dictionary' is a collection of everyday words with, in the Buechner way, an injection of insight and mystery. He describes faith as 'a kind of whistling in the dark', which was a pertinent analogy for me, at least certainly for my faith.

Whistling in the dark to me is about enjoying, appreciating, and living in the mystery of 'I AM'. Perhaps it's about creating music amidst the questions and uncertainty; and further to that, it's about seeing the grace and beauty in the uncertainty - not because I am denying an apparent disaster, but because what lies ahead is not mine to worry about.

So, in Buechner's words:

I think of faith as a kind of whistling in the dark because, in much the same way, it helps to give us courage and to hold the shadows at bay. To whistle in the dark isn't to pretend that the dark doesn't sometimes scare the living daylights out of us. Instead, I think, it's to demonstrate, if only to ourselves, that not even the dark can quite overcome our trust in the ultimate triumph of the Living Light. Hence the title.

Angela Trivia: I learned how to whistle only a few years ago. I was so intent on learning that as I was practising I apparently annoyed those around me because I had distracted them during a church Christmas celebration. My whistling is flat and in no way musical so clearly all this remains a metaphor.

London Bridge

A conversation between a young boy of six and his mom in the train on my way home about a week ago:

Boy: Mum, is this where we get off?
Mom: No, this is Blackfriars. We have one more stop.
Boy: [singing] London Bridge is falling down, falling down...
(a minute later, singing stops)
Boy: Mum, what bridge is this?
Mom: This is Blackfriars.
Boy: So Mum, is it true that London Bridge hasn't fallen down? [looking confused]

Time to celebrate

“Woman,” he [Jesus] said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Today is the internationally recognised day to commemorate women and their (of course I mean 'our' although at this point I haven't done a whole lot) efforts and achievements in advancing women's equality in the world. March 8 as International Women's Day was first established in 1977 by the United Nations but it was a full sixty eight years earlier that the first women's day was recognised.

I am aware that there are Women's day events in London but I generally felt as though today was somewhat of a non-event. I confess that if it wasn't for my reliable 'Far Side Daily Calendar' I probably would have forgotten today's significance. I am disappointed that there was little in the way of reminding in the papers. In the Metro all I saw was a picture and its caption of Filipino women celebrating with masks and 'vagina hats'. The front page screamed of how two police officers were jailed for taking advantage of women while on duty and subsequent articles described how little girls of five worry about body weight and how Future Foundation researchers found that although men are more proficient in technology, women exceed men when it comes to using the washing machine! Of course in defense of the Metro, they also included a number of information articles about pregnancy and motherhood. Hmm...so much for hearing me celebrate!

But I also know we have come a long way. I am deeply grateful for the many women who have fought for what I now often take for granted. I can now vote. I can go to university and get an education. I can work and have children. I can have an opinion and speak my mind. I know that I am higher on the equality scale now than a woman not many years ago. We are doctors, mothers, judges, lawyers, aid workers, engineers, writers, athletes, filmmakers, care givers and many others.

And yes, we do have a way more to go. We still have myriad issues that affect women primarily (although not exclusively) - violence against women including domestic violence, trafficking & prostitution, feminisation of poverty, less access to training and educational resources, occupational segregation and the lack of recognition of women's non-trade work among some of the issues. The list is discouraging and overwhelming and perhaps even disheartening. Yet I do know that our struggle isn't one that's lost. We have women who continue to challenge the status quo. We have women with faith that could move mountains. And we have a God that is fighting with us. We have a God concerned about our dignity, liberty and equality.

So woman, keep your head up. Let us continue in the struggle because I know there are still better days ahead.

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

Friday night

Tonight is a Friday night at home. After an eventful week, the comforts of a warm and peaceful home is so satisfying.

I've made more of an effort this past week to engage with the cultural energy in London. I've been living in London for about 18 months, spending the first few in a cultural blitz but finding my enthusiasm for all things new eventually fizzling into uninspired intentions to continue exploring. But this week was different. I visited the National Gallery, Greenwich, and a disappointing Douglas Coupland exhibit on Canadian identity. I also went to see a Rodrigo y Gabriella guitar duo concert in the Jazz Cafe, and sat in two evening lectures at the LSE - one by Body Shop founder, the inspiring Anita Roddick and another by Dr Ordonez on UNESCO's Education For All programme.

So this week has been stimulating - music, art, faith, politics and economics. And to top it all off, I woke up to such a picturesque morning. From the kitchen window, the snow kissed trees looked glorious. Times like this, I look out the window satisfied. Doubts about London seem strange and even inappropriate.

Meanwhile, back in Canada, it's a sad day; the flags are flying at half mast. It's tragic and my thoughts and prayers will be going out to the families of the four Mounties. God speed.

Cyber lingo

As proud as I am to have started something so technical as a blog (I know that sounds a little pathetic, what can I do, I'm a little bit of a technophobe) I realise that I am also somewhat behind with the lingo of the techno-times. Thanks to today's Canadian Globe & Mail I might be as good with my techie lingo as I am with my hip hop.

Being dooced: "In the strange world of urban slang, being dooced means losing your job for something you wrote on your blog or website," says Britain's Independent newspaper.

Cyberbangers: "As authorities crack down on gang activity on the streets," reports The San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, "self-proclaimed gangsters are going on-line, turning portions of websites . . . into virtual turfs where rivals exchange threats and 'throw up' their numbers and neighbourhood names under the anonymity of the Internet."

Facebooking: On many North American campuses, says The Kansas City Star, "facebook" is now a verb, as in "I facebooked you last night." It's not an insult. Students post their profiles and photos on the website http://www.thefacebook.com, then choose the amount of access they want to give other students. It was created by Harvard students at first. Students need an ".edu" e-mail address at a Facebook-admitted college to register.

Modders: Computer "modifiers," who enjoy revving up a PC's performance and dressing up computer cases much as an auto enthusiast would customize a car.

blinking and blogging

I've been watching many conversations on blogs grow in scope and depth, addressing, challenging, mocking, celebrating, questioning and just plain observing many facets of life and I suppose this is my modest yet hopeful (perhaps a bit self-indulgent) attempt to be a part of this conversation. It might also be a good way to keep in touch with people all over the world...and perhaps to also find out if it's as fun as bloggers claim it to be. Welcome.