Herefordshire

Ok, that last post wasn't very interesting. But I had to get it off my chest. On more appropriate blog matters: we're now on half-term break. Yes, it doesn't seem that long since we were on Christmas holidays. That's what happens when Easter comes this early.

Things to report:
Stephanie had fun at the Birmingham ThinkTank science museum on Monday, and enjoyed the planetarium part. They also expanded their friction study in an entertaining way, with teams making different types of cars to race.

Helen was a Rat (in constume) in the Chinese New Year activity at school on Friday.

Yesterday we went for a drive to Berrington Hall, a National Property place in North Herefordshire. The building wasn't open, but the grounds were, to show off all the flowers given the early spring we seem to be having. I seem to have a personality flaw that doesn't allow me to get properly excited about large numbers of snowdrop flowers and the odd daffodil.

We delivered Stephanie to a school-friend's place at Yarkhill for a slumber party (although reports indicate that there was very little slumber to be had, especially for the Dad who had to go and sit in the bedroom at 1am to encourage silence).

Having one child away was a perfect excuse to get a takeaway Thai dinner - our first since being in the UK. The Indians must outnumber Thai restaurants by 10:1 or so - nothing like Australia. The food didn't seem as tasty as in Brisbane, but I feel we may need to have another try.

Herefordshire beckoned again this morning. After collecting Stephanie, we wanted to go to another National Trust place, keen to exploit our annual membership purchased the previous day. But the Weir Garden wouldn't open until 11am, so we popped into Hereford city for morning tea. We walked around in the 0° fog looking at the close-up sights, and then found our way to a Marks and Spencer cafeteria for morning tea - more scones, jam, and cream! The fog was slightly thinner (if you're optimistic) by the time we got to the garden. I thought it was a very nice place: a relatively steep bank with paths meandering through flowers, trees, and shrubs, past a fast flowing river Severn. I think the fog added to the atmosphere, although I think the majority opinion was contrary. I was a bit of a party-pooper and sat in the car to review some work papers while the others explored more at leisure.


We made it home just in time for me to disappear Gloucesterwards for a Howells feature evensong. The Gloucester Service, with Like as the Hart and Take Him Earth for Cherishing, a psalm chant, and even a Rhapsody in C Sharp Minor postlude. Far too rapturous for lent, but as Rupert pointed out, Sundays aren't really part of lent. Maybe I should go and have some chocolate before it gets too late! The sermon (not a regular feature at evensong) concerned Archbishop Rowan Williams and the furore over his Shariah remarks. The Dean suggested that most of the commentators who were complaining about the remarks could not have read or understood them - and he compared this to people who derided Jesus for dining with tax collectors and sinners.

I find the whole debate very interesting, and it reminds me of Barry Jones presenting a complex science policy about 15 years ago. It was labelled the "spaghetti and meatballs policy" after the complex diagram that he showed off. It seems to be very dangerous for an academic to try to present a complex idea to the masses. I suppose that even if the reporters understand the issue, they will have to make headlines that sell, and the competition is probably a "race to the bottom". I wonder if there's a way for society to avoid this...

The BBC seems to have a huge number of interviewees with "moderate" points of view, talking about how Jewish and Islamic arbitration already happens in the UK. But it doesn't hose down the problems. Some of the church people making the most inflammatory remarks (can you tell which side I'm on yet?) seem to have prior record of disagreeing with Williams.