Monday, November 26, 2007

weekend

I don't think there are many regular readers of this blog (not that there is a whole lot to read most of the time) other than friends I have known a long time (hello Karin!). I also appreciate I am not the most interesting writer nor do I have unique material.

So I feel in a way I am recording these words for myself, perhaps to read at another time. I stand at the brink of a decision which could have a large and/or unknown impact on my life and my family's life. It is not about my marriage nor is it about illness. But I cannot record here easily what it is about - it is an urge to do something I feel must be done and to take the consequences of that decision. It feels a bit silly talking in that way when others are experiencing tumultuous times in their lives, whereas mine is fairly stable. Anyway, more about it nearer the time, or possibly afterwards.

To things to record about the weekend just gone. On saturday we watched the beautiful yet heart-wrenching Oscar winning film born into brothels, a story of hope and struggle from the slums of Calcutta in India. Zana Briski, a young American photojournalist went to the Red-light district of Calcutta in 1995 to live with the prostitutes to understand more about their lives. Eventually she saw the need to try to do something - anything - to bring hope to the children who lived in that situation. She was not a teacher or a social worker. She had no experience in development. She was a photographer, so she began a photography class in the middle of the slum. Eventually gathering a bunch of kids who showed interest and commitment, Zana spent several years working with the children, developing their skills until they got to the point where the pictures were displayed in American galleries and the funds used to improve the childrens' lives. It is an amazing story, I really recommend anyone who reads this get the video and watch it.


Then, to totally change the tempo, we went to see the Coventry Blaze - our local ice hockey team - playing in an exciting game which went right up to a last minute over-time shootout. Much shouting caused sore throats, but we went home pleased.

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Monday, November 19, 2007

bomb bomb bomb iran