Favourite Wallpaper: January 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Full Moon at Dark wallpaper and photo

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Black Dark Railway wallpaper and photo

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Black Dark City wallpaper and photo

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Final Fantasy Girl wallpaper and photo

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Green Velvet wallpaper and photo

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2007 Honda Civic wallpaper and photo

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2006 Ford GT Tungsten wallpaper and photo

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Ferrari 360 Modena Spider wallpaper and photo

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Valentine Wings Heart wallpaper and photo

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Sounds of Nashville at Otterton

Otterton's historic mill just a few miles upstream from Budleigh Salterton has arranged a lively series of concerts and exhibitions for 2010. This Thursday 4 February sees American singer-songwriter Robby Hecht performing at 8.00 pm. "A truly original voice of new America with thoughtful songs blended with glorious melodies" is how he is described on the Mill's website.

Raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Robby Hecht first began writing and performing while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, developing and pairing his soulful voice and unique finger-style guitar. After spending time living in Paris and San Francisco, including a period fronting the band AllDay Radio, he eventually returned to his home state, settling in Nashville.

A 2008 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Winner, he has played folk/roots festivals across the country, sharing the stage with such legendary artists as Richie Havens, Greg Brown, and Patty Griffin, and garnering comparisons to early James Taylor, Paul Simon and Amos Lee.

Tickets are £9.50. To book, call 01395 568521 or visit the craft shop in the mill building. For more information see http://www.ottertonmill.com/

Megan Fox wallpaper and photo

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Audi Sport 2009 wallpaper and photo

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Great Love Heart wallpaper and photo

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Emma Watson

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Horses Running wallpaper and photo

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A serenade with soap at new Budleigh Farmers Market

This banjo-player was giving a musical welcome to Budleigh Farmers' Market when I went to see how it had settled into its new location in the Rolle Mews car park.

Last Friday 29 January marked the town's first Farmers' Market of 2010, and it was fitting that the new decade should begin on an uplifting note for producers and customers, with a change of venue which seemed to be universally approved by everyone I met.

Gerald Sweetland, from Bovey's Down Farm near Colyton, couldn't have been more pleased in the new surroundings. "In the old location at the Brook Road car park we were stuck next to the public lavatories. There's no comparison," he told me.

Clive Gammon, from Tracey Mill trout farm in Honiton, was just as happy. He'd noticed lots of new customers that morning. "In the old location even many of the locals didn't know where we were," he said.

Dave Johnson, who runs Norsworthy Goats dairy products with his wife Marilyn near Crediton, told me a little of the background: "Where we used to be we felt the Budleigh Farmers' Market was going downhill. Many producers were feeling 'If it doesn't buck up we'll have to reconsider our position in the town.'" So he's a lot more optimistic now. "It's taken a long time but it's been well worth it."

At that stage I meant to chat to the banjo-player, but my eye was caught, as was my friend Annie's, by the delicious-looking range of soaps manufactured by Ishbel Ramsay, from nearby Woodbury.

They included these cup-cake soaps that really do look good enough to eat.

Like the other market traders she hadn't been impressed by the former Brook Road location. "The old site wasn't exactly one that you'd stumble across, being rather hidden away. This one's more more user-friendly," she told us. "I've noticed there are more elderly people coming because they can park their cars more easily now." She went on to enthuse about her soaps, marketing ideas pouring out of her like... well, like soap bubbles really. Ideas for Jurassic Coast fossil soaps, for complimetary soaps for B&Bs, for Valentine one-for-two-persons-in-the shower soaps... There was no stopping her. Not only does she use Blogspot like Norsworthy Goats, but omg she's on Facebook!

I was so carried away by Ishbel's enthusiasm for her soaps that when I turned round to check out the banjo-player he'd disappeared along with the soap bubbles. And I saw suddenly that enthusiasm and passion for their products are what drive the Farmers' Market traders and make it such a pleasure to buy their produce. And they obviously enjoy coming here to Budleigh Salterton, some of them from many miles away, just as we enjoy seeing them at the Farmers Market. It would be a shame to lose it.

More information about the producers I spoke to is on the following websites:

http://www.sweetlands.co.uk/
http://www.traceymill.co.uk/
http://norsworthydairygoats.blogspot.com/
http://www.thecheeseshed.com/norsworthy-9-p.asp
http://www.naturallymadesoaps.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ishbel-Ramsay/1008478219

Kareena Kapoor wallpaper and photo

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Hayden Pannetiere wallpaper and photo

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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Time to Re-Program My Mind

Yesterday was my last day at my prior employer. It was an enjoyable and rewarding 13 year career, yet I am ready to move on. Colleagues, co-workers and executives gave me a very nice send-off, quite generous accolades, in fact. I am deeply appreciative. Yet I cannot dwell in the past. I must begin to look forward. To do so I must "re-program my mind". Thirteen years anywhere is a long time, and I owe it to my new employer to come to work fresh, energized and sharp. When I walked out of my office building for the last time as an employee, I let out a deep, heavy sigh. It was symbolic in a sense but was necessary. Sheldon and Duncan were at my side, and both looked up at me as if to say, "What's wrong?" Their tails wagged, and they opened their mouths and smiled at me. It felt great. Before we drove off, I logged onto Twitter and Facebook from my blackberry and entered the simple phrase: "It is finished." Later I was surprised to see the comments from folks who responded knowing, to what I was referring. My decision to leave was driven by an interesting opportunity elsewhere, and it wasn't a decision I made lightly. Although looking back, my subconscious knew I was ready for something new. As I drove home to Palm Springs, my mind was filled with thoughts. I remembered a quote of artist Vincent Van Gogh, who said: "I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process" Very fitting, I thought. It's not intended to be negative, just meaning that my mind was all about the last 13 years and it took over who I am.

I decided I needed a quick celebration. So I stopped off at Cold Stone Creamery, ordered the largest cup of chocolate ice cream they offer, and gobbled it up. This weekend is important for me. I must begin to re-program my mind. Release myself from old habits, thoughts, limitations and prepare for a new adventure. Visualize what I want to become in my new role, and "reboot" my systems. It may include a trip to a day spa, and most certainly a nice dinner with close friends to celebrate. Those would be much needed distractions. But in the background, will be a mental de-fragmentation of sorts. I really need it.

FYI, if you are just catching up, here is the background to all these work changes:
The News...Part I
The News...Part II
-Rick Rockhill

Friday, January 29, 2010

Aishwarya Rai wallpaper and photo

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Golf Field wallpaper and photo

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Amazing Blue Town wallpaper and photo

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Sport Car wallpaper and photo

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Adriana Lima wallpaper and photo

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Avoiding clerical errors

I enjoy noting similarities – and the occasional striking difference – between the way things are done here in Budleigh Salterton, and across the Atlantic in our sister-town of Brewster, Massachusetts.

So, knowing that the vicar of St Peter's parish church will be retiring in April this year, I was interested in an item that I came across in the November 2009 newsletter published by Brewster's First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, part of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

In Brewster, it seems, they've been looking for a new minister for some time now, and it's a quest which has involved much heart-searching.

Above: Brewster's First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church

Picture credit: http://www.firstparish-brewster.org/

"Our survey and small group meetings showed that we are fairly open to our next parish minister being from any category of gender, race, age, class, sexual orientation, religion, or other classifications (with the exception of political conservatives)," state the members of their Ministerial Search Committee.

http://www.firstparish-brewster.org/MonthlyAngle.PDF

I'll return to that matter of political conservatives in a few minutes.

I'd say that the field is not just "fairly open", but wide open thanks to the approach taken by the Committee. On November 8, they invited church members to attend a sponsored programme which included the Sunday service, lunch, and an three-hour afternoon workshop. The aim was to persuade the congregation to move "Beyond Categorical Thinking" in the search for a new minister.

For it seems that "a surprising number" of members questioned in the survey had revealed some narrow-mindedness. "One survey respondent honestly reflected, 'Wow – I must say I need to look at some leftover prejudices I still may have...'" noted the Committee.

The newsletter itself contained a questionnaire with the following introduction. "Ministers come in different shapes and sizes and with a variety of characteristics," it explained. "The search process should be as free as possible from biases. However, sometimes we find it difficult to accept or feel comfortable with ministers with certain characteristics."

Respondents were asked to consider the list of characteristics and reflect on their feelings about having a minister with this characteristic, and then to consider what the congregations's response would be.

The characteristics covered just about everything.

How would you feel about having a white male minister aged between 30 and 55? people were asked. Or from a different age group? Or female? Or a male/female of color? Or an individual with a visible physical disability? Or blind/with a speech impediment/deaf/or with hearing impairment? With English as a second language? A married/single/individual who has been or is in therapy/on anti-depressant medication/recovered or recovering from an addiction? A gay or lesbian, partnered or otherwise? With Christian/Humanist/Muslim theological perspective? A smoker or obese individual with long hair and earring(s)/with visible and/or multiple tattoos? From a moneyed/blue collar background? Even "an individual not in UUA ministerial fellowship"?

And, more surprisingly, even a minister with a "conservative political perspective," in spite of the Committee's earlier expressed distaste for such an individual. For it's pretty clear that this church is proud of its open and friendly attitude.

The 'rainbow' flag for gay/bi Americans
Respected by Brewster's UU church

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

It has, according to its website, a Welcoming Congregation Committee (WCC) which is "committed to maintaining First Parish Brewster's unique status as the first church in the Unitarian Universalist denomination to be officially recognized as a congregation intentionally welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people."

Seeing the splendid building in which the UUs gather for their services and meetings, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is a church of neatly ordered theology, conservative outlook and rigidly enforced rules.

I learnt from the Wikipedia article about UUs that this religion is far removed from the rather illiberal Roman Catholicism in which I was brought up, which included suffering at the hands of the Irish Christian Brothers.

"There is no single unifying belief that all Unitarian Universalists (UUs) hold, aside from complete and responsible freedom of speech, thought, belief, faith, and disposition. They believe that each person is free to search for his or her own personal truth on issues, such as the existence, nature, and meaning of life, deities, creation, and afterlife. UUs can come from any religious background, and hold beliefs from a variety of cultures or religions.

Above: The Unitarian Universalist Church logo

Concepts about deity are diverse among UUs. Some believe that there is no god (atheism); others believe in many gods (polytheism). Some believe that God is a metaphor for a transcendent reality. Some believe in a female god (goddess), a passive god (Deism), an Abrahamic god, or a god manifested in nature or the universe (pantheism).

Many UUs reject the idea of deities and instead speak of the "spirit of life" that binds all life on earth. UUs support each person's search for truth and meaning in concepts of spirituality."

I also read that the English clergyman Joseph Priestley (1733-1804), more widely known as the scientist who discovered oxygen, became a leading figure in the founding of the church in the US. That was after he was forced to flee from England when his anti-establishment thinking and support for the American and French Revolutions led to his home being burned down by a mob in 1791.

He settled in Pennsylvania, on America's East Coast, where so many refugees settled after fleeing from prejudice and persecution in Europe, hoping for freedom to practise their various religious beliefs.

The statue of Joseph Priestley in Birmingham UK. The city was obviously trying to make amends for having ill-treated him during the 1791 riots.

Picture credit: Ian Britton - FreeFoto.

Brewster's First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, with its idealistic desire to leave prejudice behind in its search for a new minister, is clearly inspired by that liberal tradition which was part of the same centuries-old search for freedom.