The Marriage between Florence & Peter

May 13th, 2012

What a day – what a beautiful couple and to meet all their friends who laid it out clear and simple.

  • They are/were witnesses to the solidarity between friends -between suckling brothers.
    And in no uncertain terms they presented us with a feast of  information in such a beautiful way
    by camera (a big thank you to Cyril and his team including Thibaud, Antoine and ALL the gang )
  • by gesture and organisation (Bao Thy, Diana, Dan and all the family of Roger and Kim)
  • by food and wine ( a delicate red , Thanks Roger  - delectable)
  • the clothes, the costumes, the decoration, the planning, the attention to detail – a credit to everyone and a big thank you
  • thanks to the camera man AND his able assistants
  • thank you for the staff of the Doux Marais
  • Thanks to the the site of Peter and Mai’s marriage for getting us there.
  • And the amazing thing is all those people who travelled from Paris, Vietnam, England, Australia, America, as well as some places I have forgotten AND if you will update me I put the INFO: in this blog.

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Orly Aeroport

May 1st, 2012

Well, here we go against – this time back to the mattress and a 7 day slog at work in the foothills in the South of France.

Actually we have a nice studio overlooking Sophia Antipolis (not too expensive) and with a 5 minute drive to work – its not that bad. Coupled with Nice aeroport, one of the best in the world for size, locale and quality and using Orly (I still like Orly) to arrive at Paris  means I get to see Steve & William twice / month. And Marie Line too, God bless.

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Democracy

April 15th, 2012

Democracy (Demokratia,  ?????????? ) gave Rule (kratos,  ???????) to the Demos ( ?????).
As you may already know, Demos is the Athenian word for village.

So rule over the village it is, then.

(See Athenian Democracy: a brief overview )

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Why politics and friendship don’t mix

March 11th, 2011

The trouble with embarrassing friends

I took this directly off the BBC and were I suppose quoting Oona King,  Labour peer and former MP – this needs checking out meanwhile …

It’s not just difficult to balance a normal social life with a political career, it’s almost impossible.

You inevitably become more guarded, and stick closer to the politicos who “understand”. Slowly you lose your “normal” friends – the ones who keep you normal.

In terms of striking a balance between duty to the public and duty to your friends, the public virtually always come first.

The public probably get the politicians they deserve, because our system forces politicians to “do” politics day and night. It forces them to give up friends and family.

The result is a country run by people who don’t put family first, and forget the meaning of friendship. I’d like to see the system change.

Yeah, me too. Richard Bramwell, 2011.

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Education

August 5th, 2009

The start page for this free service is http://www.BennetYee.org/http_webster.cgi.
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup

Hypertext Webster Gateway: “education”

Usage: Education, properly a drawing forth, implies not so much the communication of knowledge as the discipline of the intellect, the establishment of the principles, and the regulation of the heart. Instruction is that part of education which furnishes the mind with knowledge. Teaching is the same, being simply more familiar. It is also applied to practice; as, teaching to speak a language; teaching a dog to do tricks. Training is a department of education in which the chief element is exercise or practice for the purpose of imparting facility in any physical or mental operation. Breeding commonly relates to the manners and outward conduct. [1913 Webster]

Want to know more …

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English Education

August 5th, 2009

English Education

In case you have not realised it, yet, there are guidelines for Teachers and Parents.
National Strategy for Primary Want to know more …
The National Strategies Annual Plan Summary 2009–10

The National Strategies have been successful in transforming the standards of teaching and learning in schools and settings throughout England. The period between now and 2011 is important, as we complete key programmes, develop local capacity and embed best practice.

The Annual Plan Summary 2009–10 contains details of achievements and key developments from 2008–09, as well as our priorities, aims and planned developments for 2009–10.

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Be Masterly

August 5th, 2009

The Art of Peace
O’Sensei blended various martial arts to develop aikido. He also integrated a philosophy to go with this new martial art. At left are some links to biographical information, poems (doka), and other observations by O’Sensei.

The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.
The Art of Peace Want to know more …

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The ethnics of self – know thyself

August 2nd, 2009

Aikido, a Japanese martial art based on the ethics of defence and self improvement is a sound way to develop a personal level of fitness and is an enjoyable pastime which can fit in with work, social and family life.
Aikido (The Art of Peace and Harmony)

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Home again – North Strand, Portmarnock, Eire

May 11th, 2009

Mum was finally laid to rest in May 2009.
Our thanks to Dad, Margaret [Jean] Hinckley, Michael & Margaret.
The village of Portmarnock is located just north of Howth. The strand affords views of Howth Head, Lambay Island and the little offshore island called Ireland's Eye.

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Flowers, and nothing that we know

March 29th, 2009

Jarmain, John (1911-1944)

El Alamein

There are flowers now, they say, at El Alamein ;
Yes, flowers in the minefields now.
So those that come to view that vacant scene,
Where death remains and agony has been
Will find the lilies grow“
Flowers, and nothing that we know.

So they rang the bells for us and Alamein,
Bells which we could not hear.
And to those that heard the bells what could it mean,
The name of loss and pride, El Alamein ?
- Not the murk and harm of war.
But their hope, their own warm prayer.

It will become a staid historic name,
That crazy sea of sand !
Like Troy or Agincourt its single fame
Will be the garland for our brow, our claim,
On us a fleck of glory to the end ;
And there our dead will keep their holy ground.

But this is not the place that we recall,
The crowded desert crossed with foaming tracks,
The one blotched building, lacking half a wall,
The grey-faced men, sand-powdered over all ;
The tanks, the guns, the trucks,
The black, dark-smoking wrecks.

So be it ; none but us has known that land :
El Alamein will still be only ours
And those ten days of chaos in the sand.
Others will come who cannot understand,
Will halt beside the rusty minefield wires
and find there, flowers.

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