Art that made us

Last night before going to bed I took a preliminary look at next Thursday's Morning Prayer texts, and then started wondering what I could make of the Exodus passage I'd have to reflect upon. Then I looked at the opening chapters of my novel, still complete in first draft but untouched for more than a year, lacking the motivation to continue. Unfortunately this re-awakened my interest in it, so I had a night of broken sleep with my brain buzzing. I posted today's link to WhatsApp at seven thirty, then dozed until nine. When I got up, I felt as if I'd hardly slept at all.

There were eleven of us at the St John's Eucharist this morning. By the end of it an idea was taking shape to write a reflection for next Thursday, so I didn't stay for coffee, but went straight home and started work on the idea until it was time to cook lunch. After eating I went out to shop for veggies, and took with me a plastic disinfectant bottle to buy a refill from a bring-your-own container bulk buy store. I also bought some dried butter beans, as we don't have any at home, and I enjoy cooking with them. Other kinds of beans are on sale there too. next time, I get something different. The bulk buy store is in the refurbished Corp building, a pub converted into multiple retail units plus a bar. The venture seems to be working well, though I haven't seen it really busy yet.

After an hour's siesta, Clare and I went for a walk in Llandaff Fields. The vacant plinths that were briefly occupied by the Snoopy figures have now disappeared. For good it seems, as I read a news item on-line stating that some of the figures were being re-located to places where they were less likely to be abused or vandalised and five were damaged within days of installation. Altogether, there are forty Snoopys across South Wales. I'm not in the least surprised the Llandaff Fields ones have gone, as they were sited in places with many people passing through, but no CCTV, police patrols or park wardens. Just perfect for mischief makers. 

This evening I watched episode three of 'Art that made us' on iPlayer in the hour before episode four live. Three was about the sixteenth century and impressively gave prominence alongside Shakespeare to Welsh Bible translator Bishop William Morgan as a literary innovator. Da iawn! 

Four was about the seventeenth century, and highlighted architectural innovations plus the remarkable drawings of Robert Hooke who reproduced in fine detail tiny things observed under a microscope, an innovation in his day, opening a new chapter in observational science, looking into the microcosm rather than outwards into the heavens, like Galileo and Newton in the same era. 

I'm loving this insightful exploration of all dimensions of creativity that have been part of the history of Great Britain and Ireland since the Romans left. I missed last week's episode only because we had Kath visiting us. This is telly really worth watching. 

We went to bed late and I was last down for breakfast. After going out for a mid-morning coffee at Coffee #1 for a change. walked around Pontcanna surveying the changes in local shops, signifying the continued gentrification of the area. Before returning for lunch, we ended up having a look around the newly redeveloped 'Corporation' pub, as it now seems to be fully open for business and publicizing this in style. A good job they're making of it.

It was cold and windy when Owain and I did a circuit of Pontcanna Fields in the afternoon - the shape of things to come. The trees are stripped of the last of their golden leaves now, a dramatic change in the landscape. 

When we got back we had a go at trouble shooting an issue Owain has with getting his website server to back up all the site content. We weren't successful unfortunately as the ftp password wasn't recognised to allow access and run the backup process. His security notes are all at home so we gave up after an hour of trial and error. It'll have to wait another day. This evening he went out to visit friends locally and I drafted Sunday's sermon before turning in for the night.

Pub conversion

I uploaded my Morning Prayer video just after Thought for the Day, then got up for breakfast. I was happy to sit in the congregation for the Eucharist at St John's - unusually, only four of us were there with Mother Frances. 

After the service I went and had a look around 'The Corporation', the Victorian pub/hotel on the corner of Canton Cross which has been redeveloped as a small indoor market for sole traders selling books clothes, cards, wine, Italian pastries. There's a bar at the centre of it all, and in the yard outdoors I believe there are street food stalls as well. 

It's been fitted out very simply, with each retail space apportioned off using the kind of heavy gauge steel mesh used in re-enforced concrete structures, clever as the spaces can by adjusted in size if needs be. It has an entrepreneurial hip style to it and is a splendid enhancement to the mix of small shops which still distinguishes Canton as an urban village.

Home then to cook lunch, and afterwards a walk in the park up to Llandaff weir and back. After an early supper we went to choir practice at St Catherine's. At the end I learned that the Advent Carol service for which we were rehearsing is to take place at five a week Sunday, which rules me out for singing as I have an Advent service to take at four over in St German's, so won't be able to do the final rehearsal or turn up on time. Ah well.

Another two part adaptation of a P D James novel in the Channel 5 series 'Dalgleish'. It's quite good, but I'd prefer a two hour movie on one night, rather than having to block time two nights in a row, as seems to be the fashion nowadays.