Radiohead: Environmentally Conscious

"But at the moment we make money principally from touring. Which is hard for me to reconcile because I don't like all the energy consumption, the travel. It's an ecological disaster, traveling, touring...We did one of those carbon footprint things recently where they assessed the last period of touring we did and tried to work out where the biggest problems were. And it was obviously everybody traveling to the shows." read more
~ Wired via Jason

In the Press: Sydsvenskan

I ended up getting interviewed briefly by a Swedish Newspaper yesterday lunchtime. This morning, when Christopher's paper came through the door, there I was.

Here's a sketchy translation for you non-swedish speakers:

How much would you pay to download a song off the internet?
About 3 kronor (just over 30p)

Do you download music?
Yes, I recently downloaded the new Radiohead album for £2

For those of you who think I'm a skinflint for paying so little, I assure you that they received more from me this way than they would if they were signed to a big record label.

Check out downhillbattle.org for more on this.
Click here for the original article.

Inspired by Keywords

Recently someone found my blog by searching for:

i want out of the labels. i don’t want my life crammed into a single word. a story. i want to find something else, unknowable, some place to be that’s not on the map. a real adventure.

I had forgotten that I'd ever written that quote by Chuck Palahniuk here, and was inspired once more by its sentiment.

My Christmas Gift to You

This one is for my readers (I know there are a couple of you)...
Instead of sending a tacky E-Card, or some other fairly generic, and thoughtless, way of wasting your time I thought I would point you in the direction of the following MP3:

Joy ~ by Rob Bell (click here)

Kick back and enjoy. Happy Christmas!

25 Years

So I've just turned 25! A quarter of a century. So far I've:

• had breakfast with Sofia (including Gingerbread Yoghurt (or Pepparkaks fil for you Swedes))


• had Stevie Wonder's Happy Birthday played to me by Christopher as he dashed out to work.


• As well as: experiencing the Facebook Enigma (more to follow...), and


• Spoken to my Mum and Zoe on Skype.

Nice.

The Bible According to Google Earth

"Scenes from the Bible have been imagined by countless artists over the centuries, but never quite like this... (read more)
Via Creative Review
and Kottke

Ryan Adams

When we took the train to Copenhagen on Thursday afternoon, my expectations were high. We were to see the artist who, as a 14 year old said:

"I started writing short stories when I was really into Edgar Allan Poe. Then later, when I was a teenager, I got really hard into cult fiction: Hubert Selby, Jr., Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac." (via)

He has inspired the likes of Elton John, who credits Heartbreaker as an influence to his Songs from the West Coast album, not to mention the many who have covered his songs (including Bono).

We were excited as we ate Thai food in Fredricksberg, picked up some salty licorice, and joined a long queue that took us into the Falconer Hall.

And we weren't disappointed.

From the moment Adams and his Cardinals entered the stage we were delighted with the skills of not only a great songwriter, but a band of skilled musicians. They are a band who, for me, redeem a genre (country), which is oft filled with hype, commercialism and a sickly glitz.

We marveled as Adams, who reported that he was going deaf, delivered some of his greatest songs (highlights included Nightbirds, When the Stars Go Blue, Goodnight Rose...the list goes on.) with everything he had.

Yes, I would have liked to have seen him in a smaller venue, but this was still one of the best gigs I have watched.

Overheard in our apartment

Me: So, what time are you going?
D: I'm catching a bus at 7. Then I'm catching the train to Copenhagen Airport. Do you know how much it costs?
Me: No...(raises his voice and shouts into the next room) hey! do you remember how much it costs to go to Copenhagen?
C: I think it's something like 180
Me: For a single?
C: I don't think they care if you're married or not.

Gift Vouchers or Cash?

Last year, more than $8,000,000,000 was wasted on these cards. Not in the value spent, but in fees and breakage. When you give a card, if it doesn't get used, someone ends up keeping your money, and it's not the recipient. People spent more than eight billion dollars for nothing... buying a product that isn't as good as cash.

Along the way, we bought the story that giving someone a hundred dollar bill as a gift ("go buy what you want") is callous, insensitive, a crass shortcut. Buying them a $100 Best Buy card, on the other hand, is thoughtful. Even if they spend $92 and have to waste the rest. ~ Seth Godin

I don't have the figures, but logic dictates that this doesn't just apply to gift cards in the US.

Last night: Niklas Hegfalk

I recorded this on my phone. That's why the quality sucks!

A note on Ringtones

When choosing a ring tone be careful not to choose a track by a band you really like. For the past month I've had 'The Well and The Lighthouse' by Arcade Fire. Now I associate the track with stressful moments when time is demanded from me without prior warning.

In Småland

This weekend we're in Småland. We arrived this morning and it just started snowing!

Don't Worry!

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Tonight we've been thinking about these words of Jesus. They sound so simple, but, as with most things Jesus said, they raise so many questions. Was Jesus serious? How do I "seek the Kingdom of God"? Where is my treasure at the moment? What would it look like to stop worrying?

The Great Firewall of China

Beijing has recently added a new weapon to its arsenal of surveillance technologies, a system it believes to be a modern marvel: the Golden Shield. It took eight years and $700 million to build, and its mission is to "purify" the Internet — an apparently urgent task. ~ Oliver August, Wired Magazine

Black Ox Orkestar: best musical discovery of the week

Black Ox Orkestar are linked with so-called "New Jewish music", resetting European Jewish folk ballads traditionally sung a cappella, by writing and performing new, political texts in Yiddish. ~Wikipedia

Their members also play in the amazing Godspeed You! Black Emperor Go listen!

I've been making boxes. This one symbolises a carrot.
~ Emma, 2 minutes after arriving at our apartment

Dear Reader,

Please forgive the state of my blog at the moment. After one and a half years with the same template I decided that it was time to change. Instead of sticking within my usual boundaries for design (photoshop draft-->static template-->blogger integration-->browser testing) I have decided to go old school and chip away until I am happy with the design.

Once I'm happy, I'll browser test (so beware, unless you're using Firefox things could get pretty funky.

Yours,
Jonathan.

Mark asked me the following question yesterday, so I thought I'd answer it here...

Q. Can you tell me why you so like the movie Fight Club?

I think it has a lot to do with the theme of loss of identity that seems so current in our culture. There's this sense that there has to be more that holds us together than what we own, our taste in furniture, or the daily grind.

The story has so many layers that I've found myself watching it (too?) many times and seeing new things. The idea of an antihero, whose dual personalities are both his salvation and his downfall, is far more convincing than any character Tom Cruise has ever played.

Father Figure
Father Greg Boyle wants to stop the causes of gang violence, instead of waiting to clean up the results... [read more]
~via Good Magazine

Early this evening I begin my journey back to Sweden. When I get there tomorrow morning I'm moving in with Dave and Christopher.

Assuming climate change hasn't taken it's toll yet, this will be my 3rd cold Autumn/Winter season in Sweden. Sucker for punishment?

A new era for ideals-driven politics?

Who says in ten years time, we will not have turned back the inexorable rise in global emissions?
Who says in ten years time every child in the world won't be at school?
Who says in ten years time, there can't be a democratic and respected Iran, cooperating with us and the international community against global terrorism?

I'll tell you who. The same people who say my generation doesn't care about politics. ~ David Miliband

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, delivered a cracking speech yesterday at the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth. The only thing that stopped me blogging about it immediately was that the transcript hadn't been published.

He demonstrated that there are still politicians out there who are driven by the ideals that surely lead most people to politics (after all, there are easier ways to make money). He is articulate, passionate and to my mind stands apart from the crowd as a leader in a country that apparently lacks authentic leadership.

I felt tingles in my spine!

Read the speech here

Some recent work:
Plymouth Vineyard website: www.plymouthvineyard.org.uk
Brain Team Consulting: www.braint.net

Deadlines Kill Inspiration

I sometimes have the feeling that some clients seem to have an idea in their mind that being a designer is just pressing some buttons on the computer and 'voilà' a work of art is born. If only it was that easy! Designing to me isn't something that can be automated to reach the maximum production. It's an unpredictable mindset that some days works well and other days it's just procrastinating and staring at an empty canvas. ~Veerle

Archbishop hits out at policy on Zimbabwe ~ The Observer

By the way, it's so nice to be writing again. In a previous post I mentioned the idea that blogging is somehow "pure". I think this is because it doesn't have the same orientation towards sound-bytes, or strap lines that characterise tweets, Facebook comments and status updates, or SMS.

Fessing up
I've been meaning to redesign my blog for almost a year, but just haven't gotten round to it. Part of it is down to time. I spend so much time working on the web these days that I should really go running instead of spending my non-work-time designing and coding.

The other part is that I'm such a perfectionist that I find it really hard to settle on a design for myself. Somehow it's easier to visually define someone else than to do the same for myself. Every day I'm inspired by different and apparently contradictory design work, so choosing a style I can happily live with is a nightmare.

I'm also hoping to relocate at some point. This might involve Wordpress and a non-blogspot domain name...we'll see. I do seem to have a strange feeling of allegiance to Blogger.

'At One With The Tide' by Niklas Hegfalk
Last week we finished the artwork for Niklas' new demo. If you want to get hold of the recording visit Demo Butiken by clicking here.

Here's the new video:

Things I want to write more about:
- Theological engagement with Science (Campolo)
- Turning away from an institutional faith
- Rabbinical discipleship
- Microfinancing and social responsibility (the modern West vs. the Wilberforce era)

Wow, what a hiatus! I wonder if there are any RSS readers (of the human variety) left on this blog?

People keep asking me if I've stopped blogging, or if I'm using Facebook instead. My answer so far has been "I don't know." I'm certainly not replacing blogging with social networking as I love the purity of the simple blog. Anyway enough of this. I know how boring it is reading people's "should I or shouldn't I's" on this subject.

Since I last checked in a lot has happened. I've been semi-holidaying in Sweden for almost a month now, two weeks of which was spent recovering from a chest infection in the beautiful countryside of Småland. It's a semi-holiday because I'm still working, just from somewhere different. You see I'm moving back to Sweden for the Autumn, so I'm breaking myself in gently.

I'm finally reading Velvet Elvis, a book that has been recommended to me more times than I can remember, and now I understand why. I love how Bell wrestles with issues that authors like Willard, Wright, Fee and Petersen have, but in a language that is far more accessible. There are a lot of ideas buzzing around at the moment that I might, given the chance, ponder on here at some point.

If you get the chance visit happybirthdaydenison.com, where the wonderful Denison Witmer recorded 30 of his songs acoustically, and for free download, to celebrate his 30th Birthday. I heard him at the Malmö Festival and loved every minute, despite the venue the Klaxons were playing in being far too close.

Have a nice evening.

Want to hear Easy Tiger, the new album from the magnificent Ryan Adams? Click here.

How children lost the right to roam in four generations
(via)

Update: Andreas found this article about a school without a playground...

Glasses selection
Thanks for all your feedback - much obliged. I finally made a decision, and it's the Terence Conran's - they feel comfortable and I like the look...

Apologies, Terence, for crediting your glasses designs to Jasper in my previous entry.

Sverige
Last night I arrived back in Cardiff after just over a week in Sweden. One of the main reasons for the visit was Helena and Christoffer's wedding in Kiviks, which is a small town in Skåne where a lot of cider apples are grown. The wedding was in a small, white chapel, filled with light and situated about 30 metres from the sea.

On Sunday I finally got to hear some tracks from Niklas' new demo (due out soon), and am really impressed. Watch his myspace for more info.

During the week I finally succumbed to a visit to the Kallbadhuset (cold bath house), where you get naked, sit in a sauna, and then jump into the sea. The experience was as strange as anticipated. We Brits just aren't used to being naked and comfortable, and especially not outdoors! Just when you start to relax (while discussing theology or some such) the thought runs through your mind "I'm naked," and inwardly you cringe. Thanks to Andreas and Peter for initiating me.

I also got to visit Packebo, where Sofia comes from, and spend some time with her family. It was so relaxing to get away from the city, to walk in the woods, and to enjoy the hospitality of The Family Carlbert.

I've posted some photos on Flickr (thanks Stina for loaning me your camera)...

The Last Kiss
The Last Kiss is a phase 2 coming of age movie. Phase 1 would be the "I'm coming up to eighteen years old and 'finding myself'." Phase 2 is the 29 year old, married, or almost married crisis of "is my life now one long episode of predictability?"

It could have been terrible (and I'd read elsewhere that it was), but it wasn't. Somehow, about three quarters of the way through, it switches from angsty nihilism to something altogether more hopeful. It becomes a tale of wisdom and long-suffering, of imperfect people living out love, instead of just speaking about it, and of young learning from old. (****)

This week began as one of the busiest in a long time. Being self-employed allows for bouts of unchecked workaholism. Working two jobs, one self employed, can leave you with little time for anything besides work.

There are two kinds of discipline you need when you're working 'for yourself': self motivation; and, self preservation. If you are not diciplined in your rest you will, at best, find yourself exhausted and stressed out, and, at worst, end up hating your work.

I spent most of today asking myself "what is a vote worth?"

It all began when I woke up and realised that:
a) It was voting day, and
b) That I hadn't received my ballot paper.

I was under the mistaken assumption that a ballot paper is required to vote. At some point during the night I had also dreamed that David Cameron (Conservative) had become Prime Minister. After this nightmare I was more eager than ever to vote, and to do justice to the people who have died in order that I might have the opportunity.

The truth is you can't really put a value on a vote. You can argue as much as you like that there's no point voting, because British parties all believe generally the same thing, or that it is a huge, lumbering mechanism that rarely produces something of value, but when deprived of a vote you soon discover the value of being able to vote against someone you don't want in power.

Andreas has just entered the blogging world. Visit his site for pithy ponderings on everything from theology to jazz.

"I think most of the time, most meetings should be held without chairs. People standing up think more quickly and get distracted less often. And the meetings don't last as long."
- Seth Godin on Meetings

Stop the Traffik
Over the past year or so, thanks to some friends of mine who are passionate about seeking justice, I've had my eyes opened to the world of Trafficking. This is effectively todays form of slavery, and it really matters that we don't just let the apathy of our consumer culture stop us from standing against it. Making a difference can be as simple as changing our chocolate buying habits.

Click here to learn more.

Thursday night Andreas showed up for a surprise visit. It was great to see him and amazing that those around me had kept it quiet for so long. It was a chilled Friday around the city centre. We took in some Leonardo Da Vinci at the Museum, Llandaf Cathederal, and caught up over coffee.

On Saturday we drove west to Rhossilli Bay and walked across the hills that overlook the sea. It was a warm day, but up on the hills the wind was strong and sapped our energy. The sea was cold, but we removed shoe and sock for the obligatory paddle. Once back in Cardiff we were brought to our senses by a great British tradition - curry and beer.

It was very nice to share some unexpected time with a great friend.

Smoking in public places became illegal today in Wales. From now on going for a pint will not mean damaging your lungs.

There was a common theme running through my rss feeds yesterday...

Eric Keck
"I can't stand being told it can't be done..." [read more]

Pud
"As long as you're being creative, taking risks, and making things happen, people will always think you're crazy." [read more]

It was nice to be reminded.

Please please me

"It is said that we are all three different people: the person we think we are (the one we have invented), the person other people think we are (the impression we make) and the person we think other people think we are (the one we fret about). You could say it would be a lifetime's quest to reconcile this battling trinity into a seamless whole." Read more (via)

Reading this article this morning I was reminded of this.

There is a game that we play among fellow human beings which screams simultaneously "I am desperately intelligent, stylish, suave and good looking," and "Please, please, please give me some value." It's a game that we barely remember because it becomes so deeply entwined with who we are. We so badly need others to tell us we are worth something that creating a fictitious self to get it somehow loses its absurdity.

Strangely, we are told by a somewhat marginal stranger, that the way to find rest, the way to "reconcile this battling trinity into a seamless whole" is to escape this unsatisfying game.

White Van Man
This weekend Dave and I took a trip down to Plymouth in a white van. It was fun to see Mr Henson again and to enjoy some Wagamama Yasi Katsu Curry once we were back in Bristol. We watched Identity and I fell asleep just as the plot was coming to a head. When I woke up it waas the end credits and I made Dave explain the entire film.

While I was away from Cardiff, Wales beat England 27-18 in the Rugby (watch it here) transforming my otherwise sport-dispassionate father into a huge fan...

Why Britain will not win the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

'Our' entry

In Britain no body keeps track of the Eurovision and its entrants. It fits comfortably in the category of 'crap music,' which, by British standards, means 'worse than X-Factor,' and therefore attracts little attention. The one reason why a few people tune in on the night of the main contest is seasoned radio DJ, and comedy genius, Terry Wogan, who, as UK compare, is paid to make a mockery of the whole thing.

There was one thing that drew the interest of the press this year and that was the involvement of Morrisey, who wanted to write and perform a song at this years event (I'm told that he loves the Eurovision, and cites a past Swedish contest entry as his all time favourite song, despite being clueless as to the words).

Sweden's Entry

In Sweden, on the other hand, Eurovision, or Melodifestivalen as it's known there, is serious business. It's an event that makes headlines and is carefully constructed to extract revenue from the 12% (upwards) of the population who tune in through every week of the preliminary selections.

Not only that, but it attracts 'serious' artists, such as this years' winner The Ark, who have toured with the likes of UK favourites The Darkness. Carola, who has represented Sweden twice (and here in English) at the Eurovision, is one of the most famous people alive in Sweden today.

Swedes have a word for everything, and the style of music at The Contest is no exception. Swedish artists are proud to rise to the challenge of writing a piece of 'slager' for the event.

What Church is not...

As I'm sure you've figured out by now I'm back in Cardiff. It's actually been an entire week and I'm just about getting used to it.

Leaving Malmö was as difficult as expected. The last few days were bittersweet, being with great friends, knowing that I'd soon be gone. However there was hope mixed in with it, the hope of growth and adventure.

The Sunday before I left I met up with Andreas for the last of our weekly catchups, and was just about to leave (about 18:00) when the doorbell rang. When Andreas opened the door there was a small collection of people, all of whom I knew, but was surprised to see together. It turned out he had organised a surprise leaving party. It was a great surprise - Thankyou to all concerned!

Designing
One of the things I've been working on recently is the Skapa website. For those of you who won't get much out of the site (it's in Swedish) Skapa is an organisation that exists to explore the overlap between faith and art. This is primarily expressed through an annual event, where these elements are brought together. The theme for this year is Black/White, Life/Death and contrast, and the site design reflects the idea of this contrast. It was a challenge working primarily in black and white (there is a hint of colour in the links), but an enjoyable challenge.

I found this in my notebook today and thought it would be ironic to post it here...

I do not write
for public consumption
Because I fear
the contrived

Originality has become
my captor
A kind of "End of
level guardian" to my
creative juices

(more posts to follow)

So the biggest news of my life right now is that I'm leaving Malmö on March 1st. The plan is to take a course in "Church Planting" (the buzzword for starting communities of faith centred around the life and teachings of Jesus) across the pond, starting in September. Before then I will spend some months in Wales, saving, and enjoying my family.

It's going to be so hard leaving this wonderful place, and even harder to leave the wonderful people I've come to know while I've been here.

My Weekend

photo (c) Emma Nordeborn

Beatbox
Here is a guy called Reggie Watts producing soulful, skatty, hip-hop with the use of just his voice and a small sampling machine... (via)


The clip below, from the same guy, made me smile too...

Last night Niklas and I had the pleasure of witnessing Plunge record their next album at Gula Studion. It was a great night of firsts, first time in a 'proper' studio (where the likes of Franz Ferdinand, The Cardigans, The Ark, Marit Bergman etc. have recorded), first time hearing Andreas play with his own band, first introduction to live, freeform jazz. Actually, I'm told that calling it 'freeform jazz' is really just a demonstration of ignorance. Plunge should apparently be discribed as (something like) "an experimental, existential, minimalist trio who express influences from the world of jazz along with other forms of improvised music..."

It was surprisingly relaxing and so inspiring to hear such great musicians and to watch their musical interaction. Now I have a sense of the "conversation" that Andreas has been trying to describe to me for so long.

The great thing about Sweden is there are still people who dress like Rupert the Bear - matching chequered trousers and scarf!

Last night I was chilling out with Christopher and Anna and we decided to play Scrabble. The strange thing is that in Sweden it's called Alfapet, and has extra letters Ö, Ä, and Å. I told them that I would play in English, but that they were welcome to use Swedish. They chose to play in English. The game was really strange when it comes to scoring and the making up of words - we decided that the extra letters would count as As or Os, but in the Swedish scrabble there aren't as many Es, and Cs are worth 8 points, instead of the usual 2 points (or is it 3?) Confusing.

Made to Mingle?
After eluding to questions of calling and purpose over passing weeks I thought I might unveil a tiny fragment of what feels like mine...

I think that one of the aspects of my 'calling' is the hosting of parties. This evening Peter, Ellen and I hosted a party at the apartment, which felt like a success. One of my passions in life is bringing together people from different walks of life, introducing them to each other, and seeing the interesting network of relationships that blossoms, along with the cross-pollination of ideas.

A couple of years ago I was at New Wine and I heard Mal Calladine teach this concept - that some people are supposed to be hospitable through the throwing of parties. I like the way it expands the concept of vocation. Living as something of a nomad in recent years (barely staying in one place long enough to decorate my room), I haven't had as many opportunities to throw parties as I would like. Whenever I have, however, I feel elated, kind of like I'm doing something I was made for.

Breakfast in Sweden is a serious business. Since I've been here I've gone through several favourite breakfasts...

1. Gröt med Lingonsylt (Porridge with Lingonberry jam)
I arrived last November to the coldest and longest winter I had ever experienced. Thankfully, unlike us Brits, Swedes keep the heating on all night. Anyway, for probably 4-5 months I thought there was nothing better than waking up to a warm, sweet bowl of porridge. However a few months ago I was mocked by a pastor for this porridge-preference, "Man, that is sooo Småland! You should try it with Äpplemos, that's WAY better..." I actually disagree, and I feel no need to apologise, as I was taught by a real life horse-riding, forest-dwelling Smålander...

2. Filmjölk och Müsli (Sour milk and Museli)
As soon as I tasted Fil, a product that is not available back home, and is like a cross between natural yoghurt and milk, I loved it. It gives a refreshingly sour flavour to the morning.

3. Frisk Bröd med Apelsinmarmelad och Ost (Fresh Bread with Orange Marmelade and Cheese)
It's not very British to eat untoasted bread for breakfast, or cheese for that matter (especially not with something sweet), but this ROCKS.

Now for my current favourite...

4. Mild Vaniljyoghurt och Müsli (Mild Vanilla yoghurt and Museli)
Where Fil is sour, Vaniljyoghurt is light and slightly sweet (though not too sweet for breakfast time). mmm mmm dee-licious.

Music
For me, Christmas, and the winter season, always brings with it a hankering for the mellower edge of my musical tastes. I was delighted to receive Johnny Cash's final contribution to the musical world, 'American V: A Hundred Highways' and also Sufjan Steven's 'Illinois' this year.

I love the rawness of Mr Cash's final recordings, which he made in collaboration with Rick Rubin, the guy who founded seminal hip-hop label Def Jam. There's a beauty and wisdom in his tired, old voice. I was also moved to read that, in the days leading up to Cash's death, Reuben and He were daily celebrating the Lord's Supper together...

As for Sufjan Stevens, I was delighted to hear that Mark Churchill's ravings were not in vain. Stevens really is a gifted songwriter and musician who seems to grapple with some of the intricate tensions of life with inspiring grace. My favourite track from this album is Casimir Pulaski Day, the lyrics of which you can read here.

Finally, while I've been aware of his existence for some time now, I've really only just began to appreciate Ray LaMontagne. He played at Jools' Holland's annual Hootenanny, and his voice was as rich as any recording I had heard. He also has an amazing beard.

As I sat in Dublin Airport on Thursday morning, awaiting my flight to Malmö, I listened to the Ricky Gervais Podcast. The show turned out to be so funny that I couldn't just sit there looking serious (as you're supposed to in an airport), but instead began to shake uncontrollably like a child in a classroom who can't laugh out loud because he doesn't want to get into trouble with his teacher. Eventually I paused the podcast, so as to compose myself, and hoped that when I turned it back on it wouldn't seem quite as funny. It didn't work, the show was just as funny and I was forced to continue with my muffled laughter.

Mmm mmm I just made the nicest Lentil Soup. It's the first time I've made a soup, and it marks me getting over a strange fear of lentils that I've had for a while. Fear is probably an over exaggeration, but I think they would be harder to use...

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
1 Onion (finely chopped)
2 cloves Garlic (crushed)
1 litre Vegetable Stock
300g Lentils
3 potatoes (sliced small)
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 pinches Curry Powder
1 pinch Salt
2 pinches Black Pepper

Instructions:
1. Saute the Onion in the olive oil until it goes transparent, then add the the garlic.
2. Place the Vegetable Stock in a large saucepan and heat until simmering.
3. Add the Onion and Garlic.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 45min-1hour, stirring occasionally.
5. Serve with fresh bread.

There are two adverts running on Swedish television at the moment that use the same background track - 'Hoppipolla' by Sigur Ros. One ad is for a nature channel (at least that's what I think) and the other is for movies on TV3 (Swedish channel). The strange thing is that they often appear in the same sequence...

While Christmas and New Year were lovely times of relaxing with family, eating lots, and having fun together, there was another, more serious side, to the whole thing. There was a sense of God calling me towards himself, reminding me who I am and asking me to put him first in everything. I've been reassessing and rediscovering my purpose - the one thing that I could say I was made for.

It says in the Bible that "Where there is no vision, the people perish," and I'm sure that this is true. Vision is the target that you can set your sites on, it is the context into which everything you do fits. It is the thing against which you can measure your priorities, and assess, out of all the potentially good things you could do, which you are supposed to do.

I'm told that while pursuing your calling won't always be easy, when you are doing it there is a sense of peace, a deep sense of happiness.

On another note, I'm loving Rob Bell's Nooma Videos at the moment. I like the way he uses such short clips to capture a single aspect of who God is, or how we relate to Him.

Challenging artwork

"I projected photographs of mutilated and dead Iraqis on American houses, supermarkets, churches, and parking lots. I was thinking of this new generation of kids who will be traumatized for life by growing up during wartime. It was a desperate gesture: my personal protest for the lack of interest for the non-american victims..."
Jean-Christian Bourcart