Let it snow...

Posted with LifeCast

Elbow for Radio 2

Thanks to my mate Darrin for the heads up to this wonderful ELBOW concert... available in the UK via Radio 2 website or "the Red button" on your TV...

In an exclusive concert for BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, Elbow teamed up with the BBC Concert Orchestra to perform the whole of their 2008 Mercury Award-winning album, The Seldom Seen Kid.

This concert needs shared wider... its truly an awesome sonic experience... set in the Abbey Road studios... and including the backing of a Radio 3 Choir of the Year. Beautiful.

Me and the Missus

Me and the Missus, originally uploaded by Headphonaught.

The story of the roadsign...

Wishaw ->, originally uploaded by COLIИ.

The pic above happened when one of my Flickr buddies saw one of my Project365 pics. He lives in the Netherlands now... he moved there from Wishaw (a small town near where I live in Motherwell).

He asked if I could provide him with a better resolution pic... he wanted it as a wallpaper to remind himself of Wishaw... and I was, unfortunately, unable to assist him. I had taken the pic on my iPhone... filtered it using Camerabag... and deleted the original.

Yesterday... as we drove to Lanark Loch... Olly took the Wishaw road (its not as bumpy for the dog... and me) and I grabbed the chance to snap another pic for my pal.

Its not my intention to recount this story to big myself up. Its more about helping out. Seeing an opportunity and making it happen. Its all part of the give-and-take of participation. We are all interconnected... and a key part of this interconnectedness is participation.

I believe its better to create than to destroy... to build up rather than rip down... to give without the expectation of receipt or reward.

As for me... and this wee story... I'm just glad I could have helped... and that gladness is all the reward I need.

Think about it...

Me and my girls (three out of four)

Me and my girls (three out of four), originally uploaded by Headphonaught.

Some pics from our wee day out to Lanark Loch

Lanark Loch Mosaic, originally uploaded by Headphonaught.

I've uploaded 79 pics from our wee day out / walk round Lanark Loch today... Go here to view the set.

My first 31 days of Project365...

My first 31 days of Project365..., originally uploaded by Headphonaught.

Miriam (31/365)

Miriam (31/365), originally uploaded by Headphonaught.

Took a break from the house today. Olly took the we'ans and I to Lanark Loch for a walk. I took my Nikon D60 and my trusty iPhone - I love the QUADCAMERA app and love this pic of Miriam on the swing. Glad to call this my pic of the day... beats another pic of me with a tee, I suppose. Bit of variety.

Tx

Because of Winn Dixie...

Just watched Because of Winn Dixie with Olly and the we'ans... and absolutely loved it.

I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't seen it... and I bet most of you reading this haven't seen it. Suffice to say... Winn Dixie... the dog... is a bringer-togetherer.

Winn Dixie inspires Opal... the wee lassie played by AnnaSophia Robb... to bring together a completely disparate group of people... to share the joy they are missing.

Its such a beautiful story... and one that has challenged me in the following ways:

1. There is such a spirit of unconditional love... both from Winn Dixie and from Opal. There is a real sense of acceptance of where people are at NOW and not where the WERE. The characters are disparate... each with their baggage... but when they come into contact with Winn Dixie and Opal they shine. They shine due to the unconditional love.
2. Both Winn Dixie and Opal reach out. They reach out because they are lonely but also because they recognise their lonliness in the lives of the people they encounter. In doing so... they connect with the people they reach out to... sharing stories and times in their lives. It doesn't end there, however, in that they connect the folks together with each other too. Winn Dixie & Opal become "hubs" that connect all the individual spokes together into the wheel. They are bringer-togetherers.
3. The "church" as experienced by "The Preacher" (the character played by the fab Jeff Daniels) is twofold - the one he works at (very "one-to-many" with him on the platform) and the one he participates in at the end of the film. Something organic grows from the unconditional love... something starts where the group (who are brought together by Winn Dixie & Opal) come together in the home of Gloria Dump (the blind recovering alcoholic) to share the joy... and its a beautiful sight to witness. Nobody was in charge. Nobody was on a platform. I could go as far as saying it was a great example of an emerging organic church... with the people coming together in Gloria's house... not Opal or the Preacher's.
   

It was a beautiful film... one that I am glad to have watched. It has inspire me and refreshed me. Thanks to all involved for making such a fab film.

Personally... I think this old world of ours needs more "characters" like Winn Dixie & Opal. In fact, with hyndsight, maybe you could see the Spirit of God as being represented by Winn Dixie... with him inspiring and creating opportunities for the kind of unconditional love and connectivity that Opal brings. Hmm...

U*P*D*A*T*E
The soundtrack is brilliant too with the likes of the Be Good Tanyas, Leigh Nash and Shawn Colvin. Super chilled and atmospheric Americana... lovely!

Picture posted with LifeCast... thoughts added later.

Awesome SIGUR ROS comp in today's Independent

So how would they themselves describe their music? "I think the words that come to my mind are, like, 'organic', maybe," Birgisson eventually concedes. "There's something quite natural about it, and we think a lot about soundscapes when we are doing it. Basically, when you strip everything away from the music, at its quietest it's normal pop songs; but it's the way that you produce it that puts the meat on the bones of what you do. But it's always hard for us to describe how we sound."

Sigur Ros in The Independent

The compilation :: we play endlessly :: has tracks from Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, Hvarf-Heim, takk... and Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do.

I have mixed feelings about covermount CDs but this is a good example of it done right... it showcases some wonderful music and allows folk to try in a risk-free manner.

They are truly one of my fave bands of now. If you missed it... you can order it here while stocks last.

Picture posted with LifeCast... quote added later.