Thinking

I just popped out for a swift half

There is something wonderfully eccentric and humourous and generous about the English character at it's best; mad even. Today I ran the White Peak Half Marathon, and you couldn't ask for a more lovely route or bunch of people. Yes, I managed 1.54.27 if you are into these things and it is my first half for nearly twenty years, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

What struck me though, as a few hundred people turned up in a beautiful Derbyshire valley to run in not the best weather, was that we are all very slightly mad and love being that way. As we drank tea before the race we joked about how gels taste like warm snot and how Ben had a bacon cob for his pre-race fuel. Sure, we admire the sub 1.30 runners, but not more than the old guy who just about mananged to get round. We also constantly mock. Everything. Constantly. Good or bad and enjoy it: and when it comes to being laughed at we laugh too, because it's not really that serious. And that's the point; we were all about to do something pretty tough, but no one bragged or moaned - because although it's tough, even to the 'serious' runners, we don't allow ourselves to take it too seriously. 

In the rugby club showers afterwards, there was more congratulations for the fat guy doing his first half, than for the guy dissappointed with his 1.34.

Britain is in the pits. Our country is in a mess. Our economy is rank and our politicians have all been caught with their snouts in the trough. Unemployment is rising and we have a hard time ahead. But...

I have found a new love for this place, and for it's people. 

Philosophy of the environment

 Mankind needs a new workable philosophy of our relationship with the earth. I have been thinking about this and so will try to pin down some of my thoughts in posts. 

To begin with we must agree where we are: that our current way of life - as western culture - isn't working as far as the earth is concerned. Latterly this has exhibited itself as global warming or climate change. Recently I have been through a period of scepticism about whether man has caused this, but I am now firmly convinced. During this period of reflection I have also become convinced that we are ruining the earth in myriad other ways also. If we don't begin to sort out these problems pretty quickly, then we will leave an unconscionable mess for our children. That our lack of respect for the earth is killing us. 

I am convinced that at the heart of this problem is our relationship with God, our spirituality, and that God, the earth and man are interlinked in a triangular relationship - with dependencies! 

10k

Lincoln 10k today - fantastic atmosphere and beautiful weather. I did 00:50:35 and came in 1532th out of about 4100 finishers. It really is a very long time since I have done a road race and forgot how much fun it is. Sorry no pics as I decided that the Nikon was a bit heavy to carry around...

Hats off to the organisers - a really superbly organised and run event. 

The Dark Side

So, were you dark for Earth Hour?

I went to some friends and we ate - nettle soup, game pie followed by apple and blackberry pie - by candlelight. Lovely

What did you get up to?

Complicated

Complicated, originally uploaded by DavidBole.

At Magna recently, the kids planted cress in a paper cup which they had decorated. Ella drew flowers, Jacob drew a house... When I asked Lawrie (4) what his picture was he said 'a man falling in the sea!' Check out the expression!

John Williams

I heard today of the sad death of John Williams, Head of the Oasis Academy, Bristol.

For a few years John and I were good friends and did some mad things together, climbed mountains, drank coffee, played worship sets and exchanged music loves. Karen looked after Ella when she was little. We really missed them when they left Ludlow. 

John was larger than life, infectiously optimistic, madly impulsive and like me found his peace in the mountains. We did many trips to Snowdonia, mid Wales, the Lakes and Scotland together. He was always up for a challenge and usually pushed us a little further than was comfortable. Being with John was fun and he was the sort of person who always made you feel better about being yourself. 

The very first time we went out he took me up the northern shoulder of Crib Goch - between Cwm Uchaf and Cwm Beudy Mawr, climbing straight up from the road - and then up onto Snowdon. I'm sure this is not the hardest route up, but it's the hardest I've done. It was blowing a gale and I was worried that I would be blown off - I wished we had roped up. But even when things were going really badly, John constantly told you how well you were doing and somehow it got you through. 

One time we set off for Snowdon on the rumour of snow and finding no snow at Shrewsbury he persuaded me to head for the lakes. When at Penrith there was no snow either, he talked me into Scotland and it was afternoon before we hit the Ben. I ended up nearly carrying him down in the dark as he'd forgotten to drink enough but he still managed to keep talking madly encouraging words all the way. We slept in the car on the way home and eventually made it for Sunday morning service!

We did Crib Goch in four feet of snow; we sat in a bivvy bag in the pissing rain on the Rhinogau - that time it was him who saved me; we did two of the Three Peaks with a load of amatuers from his school and ended up helping some footballers down Scarfell Pike at dawn: we waltzed up Siabod in the evening sun; we did every peak in the park and he even tried to talk me into Mont Blanc. We led worship together - I loved playing with someone who gave something back musically, we had many barbecues with them, drank Bud with ice in and listened to Counting Crows and Jars of Clay. Driving in the VW bus with the Porsche Boxter engine; being dismayed at another new motorbike coming home; driving miles to find the nearest Starbucks for a real coffee. 

It was hard when they left Ludlow. As a fellow PK (Pastor's Kid) John understood many of my frustrations with the Church but they moved on to bigger and better things. Like typical blokes, we failed to really keep in touch once they left apart from the odd card. He lived like he knew he only had 40 years. He had a deep unshakeable faith and like me, found real spiritual peace and clarity in the hills. 

The world will be a duller place without him. I will miss him. 

My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Karen, and his three children Noah, Hope and Gabriel. 

Turkish Delight

I let them come

and whilst I ate

bind my eyes

The sweetness momentary

the bitterness stinging still

I gave up my loyalty

for a taste

But after the aftertaste

is grace

Green Roof

, originally uploaded by DavidBole.

I thought I would blog this, because I looked for something similar and couldn't find anyone else's experience blogged. This is the roof of my lean-to woodshed. I have made the roof entirely out of reclaimed wood and so has cost me nothing but the nails.

I have always loved wooden shingles - in fact many Forestry Commission offices have shingle roofs so I have often worked under one. But shingles are expensive, so I thought I'd try making my own. These are made from fence panels (fairly new but broken). Taking them apart was not hard, it was harder not to break the boards in the process. Once apart I cut the boards into 12 inch lengths and cleaned them up a bit. It doesn't matter too much if a board splits long ways as you need narrower pieces to achieve the stagger.

The frame is fourBtwo that the builder left. The batons are the batons off the fence panels. To achieve water proofness you need to have three layers of shingle at the free end. I spaced the batons at five inch centres which achieved this nicely. I pre-drilled holes in the shingles for the nails otherwise they are likely to split, but you can drill about 10 in one go. I also put two nails (half inch galvanised clout) in each shingle, so that if they split in future they will still stay roughly in place. I didn't line it but if you wanted a really water-tight finish you could.

Bang bang bang - it took a bit longer than I expected, but really enjoyable to be creating a roof which cost nothing and looks way better than felt.

I am surprised at how well it keep the rain off. Being a woodshed it wasn't crucial that it was 100% water tight, but we have had some pretty hard rain and though the underside of the shingles get damp it hasn't dripped.

Still here

Good to have a break from the blog. Things have been a bit of a struggle, lately. Still here and for those of you who keep checking back, I'll be back soon.

Ariel

My friend Kieth has a song on soundclick. Like all his stuff it's fab and it really is about time he did a proper album.