Mike's musings

My first ordination - and a first Eucharist

(backposting) Yesterday I attended my first ordination as a priest. I've gone to lots before, including my own, but this was the first time that I was attending and involved in the laying on of hands. Sally, my fellow- (if you will) curate and two other people who I know a little were ordained priest in Stansted Mountfitchet Church. It was a fantastic service, and the choir sang the Hallelujah chorus after the act of ordination. I brilliant day (apart from the football afterwards, obviously.

And then, this evening, was Sally's first Eucharist. We had incense, I sang in the choir (alto, actually), read the Gospel and the whole service was amazing. I had an amazing realisation whilst I watched her during the Prayer of Consecration, she looked so human, and so priestly. She was the Everyman/EveryWoman that each priest should be, and the truth and reality of Christ as human was made so obvious to me. I felt really sad for those who can't accept women's ministry.

I've always been a proponent of women's ministry - don't get me wrong - but this was one of those flashes of realisation that make things appear so right.

When Sally and I processed out to the side-door, we had a bit of a cry on each other. Tears of absolute joy.

Labels: joy, ordination

Good work, bad work

So, a fab day in terms of the work for Australia: all the problems seem to be fixed. This means that subject to some testing by the customer on Monday, I'm likely to be heading off to Australia around the 22/23rd July for a couple of weeks. I'm so relieved - it's been really hard work getting this sorted, with lots of dead ends, so thanks to everyone who's helped me.

On the embarrassing side, it looks like I've managed to destroy a Windows 7 installation on my new laptop. I've never managed to destroy a partition by putting Linux on the same machine before. Well, I've told our main IT guy, and we'll see what he says.

Labels: geekery, work

Programming

Actual programming in Java. And it works, and I'm rather proud of it. It's for work, and using a new interface with which I've not played before.

Oh, and Moo and I are watching "The Thick of It": it's just, just genius.

Labels: humour

Cycling and coding

Got some good Java written today: something that I've been thinking about for several months, and started on my trip to Australia the other week. But it's close to working now, and I'm rather pleased with it. Not much to do, hopefully.

And, deciding that I need some exercise, I went for a nice ride over lunchtime. Great to get back on the bike: just headed over to Sible Hedingham to get some money out of the cash machine, and then back via Castle Hedingham, got got the muscles working, and the heart pumping.

Labels: bike, exercise, geekery

Australia?

Well, it looks like I'll probably be heading back mid- to late- July, and getting back in time for my 40th birthday. Need to finalise a few details, but it's looking good.

Labels: travel

Back to London

(backposting) Haven't been back to the office since I headed off to Australia, and decided to pop in for the day, partly to see my boss.

He really should tell me when he's not going to be in.

I was absolutely on my knees when I got home: I'd slept very badly last night, and over the last week, I was up early to get into the office, it was a busy day, and I always find the travel hard work.

Labels: sleep

Church - and home

(backposting) Got to the 0800 at East Leake - it's been too long. Hervé came to lunch, and we had a good discussion about liturgy, theology, the Jesuits and the rest. The girls were shattered, and it was no surprise that when we headed back home, Miri fell asleep within about 10 minutes. On the other hand, the fact that Jo managed to stay awake in Moo's car for the entire journey, and even took a while to get to sleep when we got home.

Labels: communion

Theatre

(backposting) We took the girls to Blunderbus theatre company's "The Dragon's Daughter". The kids loved it, and it was quite fun for the adults, too. I'd heartily recommend the company, who really captured the audience's imagination.

Labels: theatre

Holiday

(backposting) So I actually got to take today off as proper holiday. And I have to say that I think that daddies should reclaim paddling pools. Not for just for themselves, but as a shared activity. Lots and lots of splashing with the girls, and much fun was had. The longer I'm a dad, the more I realise that the things I enjoyed as a child, and which I never expected to be doing - or enjoying - again, are brilliant to do as an adult. Partly because they're fun to do anyway, but mainly because they're such fun to do with children. Paddling pools, kites, rock pools: the list grows.

I also got to attend a Roman Catholic mass at which Hervé, whose ordination Kate and I attended in Brussels, presided. I wasn't able to receive Communion, but I enjoyed the service, and he preached well. I'd disagree with some of his theology and doctrine, but he was very good. The only major difference between the service and what I'd normally be celebrating is the lack of a General Confession and Absolution. Interesting.

Labels: family

Corpus Christi

(backposting) Today was Corpus Christi. I find much of the ceremonial - and devotion - that goes on around this feast very difficult. In fact, it was at a Roman Catholic Corpus Christi service that I first started to understand my Anglican sensibilities. So, I won't be attending any services. But recent conversations and discussions - on this blog, as much as anything else - are helping me to understand a little more about other people's theologies and my own.

Labels: theology

Sunshine

(backposting) A beautiful day today, and I managed to get out with Moo and the girls for a few hours - though I ended up taking a number of calls and when I got back, had lots to do. So, worked a little later, but that's fine.

Labels: weather, work

Windows embarrassment

(backposting) I've been taking Windows machines and dual-booting them with Linux for something like 10-12 years. I've _never_ ended up not being able to boot back into Windows. Before this time. In fact, I'd be happier not to be using Windows at all, but I do need to have access to it for work. And it's a work laptop, of course. What a pain.

Oh, and here's a video. More embarrassement?

Labels: geekery, humour