Quite some time ago I wrote about a lovely couple of hours at The Village Cafe with someone I came to know. I had been meaning to meet again with D. and each time we saw one another we reminded each other that we must get together again.
I got the news yesterday that D., who had been suffering with cancer since before I knew him, had died. Now that opportunity has passed.
This afternoon I attended D.'s funeral. I was pleased that there was a good turn out, but I came away unsatisfied with the experience. While the priest made an effort to include a very brief biographical outline, the speed with which the prayers and readings flew by betrayed the fact that this was a ceremony that had been performed countless times before, and the half-mumbled recitations of the congregation seemed to be spoken out of habit - a good luck charm? I just wish the priest had slowed down to give us time to reflect on the life of D. and the supernatural transition which was being presented in the homily. I would have liked to have heard the beautiful and poignant words of John 14:1-7 read with much more grace and drama - much like D. would have done should he have been reading it for someone else.
So, following the service I went back to The Village Cafe, ordered a coffee and sat, where we had sat previously, taking some time to think about D. and the conversations and encounters that we shared.
My wife asked me if I felt guilty that I never got around to meeting up with D. again. I don't feel guilty, but I do regret it. I mustn't let opportunities and important moments like this pass by me again.
God bless you, D. Grace and Peace to you.
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Smell the Coffee
My wife returned from the USA with a packet of one of my favourite coffees - Millstone Hazelnut flavour.
I also picked up a bag of coffee last week from the Farmers Market that is held on Saturdays in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar. It was from a small Irish roasting company called Ariosa. I think this might have been the most expensive bag of coffee I've ever bought (9 euro!), but as it was supporting local business and ethically sourced I didn't mind so much. Plus, it is a delicious blend. I think I'll grind some for church tomorrow.
Anyway, there is quite a collection of coffees in my cupboard at the moment which, combined with a couple of teas, makes for a really, lovely smell when you open the door. Mmmmmm.
I also picked up a bag of coffee last week from the Farmers Market that is held on Saturdays in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar. It was from a small Irish roasting company called Ariosa. I think this might have been the most expensive bag of coffee I've ever bought (9 euro!), but as it was supporting local business and ethically sourced I didn't mind so much. Plus, it is a delicious blend. I think I'll grind some for church tomorrow.
Anyway, there is quite a collection of coffees in my cupboard at the moment which, combined with a couple of teas, makes for a really, lovely smell when you open the door. Mmmmmm.
Starbucks Closes
I guess someone doesn't like Starbucks and is prepared to do something about it:
Forbidden City Starbucks closes
Forbidden City Starbucks closes
Monday, 9 July 2007
Living in Tension
I wonder if you, like me, find yourself living in tension of who you are, what you believe and how you put those beliefs into action. I would guess that most of us experience this tension. I'm sure it's part of being human and doesn't just relate to those viewing life through the window of religion and spirituality. In fact, I'm sure there are multiple areas of tension in our lives - issues and standards that pull us one way or the other. Yes, the more I think about it there are definitely multiple areas. I wont list them all, but I will mention one.
If you haven't picked it up by now, let me confess something to you:
I like Starbucks.
For all I want to see justice and fairness in the world and maybe even take small steps away from globalization (certainly consumerism...he says, as he types away on his brand new computer), I do like Starbucks.
Just as an example of my paradoxical ways, yesterday I visited a local church because one of its members lives on our street. As I drove home I noticed a new Starbucks that had opened. I made a point of pulling a U turn (both in reality and symbolically?) and went in for some coffee. The store is located in one of the "more-well-to-do" areas of Dublin on the banks of the Grand Canal and, I have to say, I think I would class this as my favourite Starbucks store in Ireland. (I have a feeling that I'm just about keeping up with the small collection).
It's a good size, the usual comfortable chairs and wasn't too busy. They also have a basement area which would be a great meeting space for a discussion group or the occasional Brunch Church - I must ask my friends about that.
To give Starbucks some credit, they do sell Fairtrade coffee and seem to have some involvement in the local community. I wonder if I used Starbucks for some positive means (aside from personally enjoying coffee) whether that would help to ease the tension?
If you haven't picked it up by now, let me confess something to you:
I like Starbucks.
For all I want to see justice and fairness in the world and maybe even take small steps away from globalization (certainly consumerism...he says, as he types away on his brand new computer), I do like Starbucks.
Just as an example of my paradoxical ways, yesterday I visited a local church because one of its members lives on our street. As I drove home I noticed a new Starbucks that had opened. I made a point of pulling a U turn (both in reality and symbolically?) and went in for some coffee. The store is located in one of the "more-well-to-do" areas of Dublin on the banks of the Grand Canal and, I have to say, I think I would class this as my favourite Starbucks store in Ireland. (I have a feeling that I'm just about keeping up with the small collection).
It's a good size, the usual comfortable chairs and wasn't too busy. They also have a basement area which would be a great meeting space for a discussion group or the occasional Brunch Church - I must ask my friends about that.
To give Starbucks some credit, they do sell Fairtrade coffee and seem to have some involvement in the local community. I wonder if I used Starbucks for some positive means (aside from personally enjoying coffee) whether that would help to ease the tension?
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Black Gold
Yesterday my wife went off to the USA for a holiday with our two small children to visit family. I say 'holiday', but I'm sure the flight with two children under 3 years was anything but a holiday! (God bless you, J. I love you!)
That means that for the next two weeks I get to live the bachelor life again (more or less). The house is already a mess and I've eaten pizza for the last two evenings. I'm planing to watch a whole load of movies too - mostly ones that J. would find REALLY boring. (I have my eye on a Russian black and white classic from the silent era - Battleship Potemkin). So far I've watched four movies. Tonight's one was excellent.
I went to the Irish Film Institute to watch a movie called Black Gold. It's a documentary that highlights the plight of coffee growers in Ethiopia. These people work so hard and get paid an absolute pittance for their labours while we sit back and enjoy the coffee experience in some high market coffee establishment...or even a jar of instant (bleh!) at home. One kilo of coffee beans sells for less that $1, but by the end of the product (ie. that steaming espresso) that same kilo is worth over $100! Unfair trade rules mean the poor get poorer.
The documentary followed one man's struggle to sell the produce of his farmers co-operative in order to get a fair price for the beans. I've been a supporter of Fairtrade for some time now, but this movie made it more real. I'd like to get a copy of the film so if you don't get a chance to see it you'd be welcome to come over to my place, put a pot of coffee on, and watch it with me. It may stir your conscience. It made me cry.
The biggest reason for my wife to travel to America is to see two beautiful boys, A. and B., who have recently been adopted by my sister-in-law and her family. The boys are from Ethiopia which made tonight's film a little more poignant for me.
That means that for the next two weeks I get to live the bachelor life again (more or less). The house is already a mess and I've eaten pizza for the last two evenings. I'm planing to watch a whole load of movies too - mostly ones that J. would find REALLY boring. (I have my eye on a Russian black and white classic from the silent era - Battleship Potemkin). So far I've watched four movies. Tonight's one was excellent.
I went to the Irish Film Institute to watch a movie called Black Gold. It's a documentary that highlights the plight of coffee growers in Ethiopia. These people work so hard and get paid an absolute pittance for their labours while we sit back and enjoy the coffee experience in some high market coffee establishment...or even a jar of instant (bleh!) at home. One kilo of coffee beans sells for less that $1, but by the end of the product (ie. that steaming espresso) that same kilo is worth over $100! Unfair trade rules mean the poor get poorer.
The documentary followed one man's struggle to sell the produce of his farmers co-operative in order to get a fair price for the beans. I've been a supporter of Fairtrade for some time now, but this movie made it more real. I'd like to get a copy of the film so if you don't get a chance to see it you'd be welcome to come over to my place, put a pot of coffee on, and watch it with me. It may stir your conscience. It made me cry.
The biggest reason for my wife to travel to America is to see two beautiful boys, A. and B., who have recently been adopted by my sister-in-law and her family. The boys are from Ethiopia which made tonight's film a little more poignant for me.
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Sorry, Naomi
A few years ago a Canadian author named Naomi Klein wrote a book called No Logo. I managed to get through most of it.
Basically it is an in depth look at the crazy way that most of the West (and growing beyond) has become obsessed with stuff. Mostly high priced stuff. Mostly high priced stuff with a label on it that is supposed to make you feel good. Klein points out that many of the goods manufactured under a particular logo (not just clothes) are produced under exploitation of the workers. But, for Klein, the exploitation doesn't stop there. It continues on to exploit the consumer of the logo. I would tend to agree with her.
However, this weekend I think I probably put myself in Naomi's bad books.
In order to keep up my visitation of all Starbucks in Ireland - (I'm not sure how long this will last. There's a couple that have opened near me since I last wrote about my project. Starbucks tend to have an aggressive marketing policy that involves opening loads of stores in order to push out local coffee business. I know this because Naomi told me.) - I went into a clothes store in the city centre, BT2, that had a Starbucks upstairs...in its children's department.
Being in this store did start to make me feel uneasy. There were logos everywhere! As I had my 1 year old son with me I had to find a lift to get my coffee. Now, fair play to the staff. They were very helpful in taking me to a lift which involved going back outside and through another door with the use of a security card. Once upstairs I bought my regular latte and had a quick look around the children's clothes. This made me feel even more uneasy. Ralph Lauren, Timberland, DKNY, Burberry, Ted Baker, Bonpoint...for kids!!! One very brief glance through some baby clothes revealed a 75 euro shirt for a six month old. I guess someone is going to buy it.
On the way back down another helpful staff member chatted with me. Ironically, despite there being a Starbucks store 15 feet from where he was standing when I asked for help with the lift, the young sales assistant told me he had never been to Starbucks. We were already at the ground floor before I was able to ask him if this was his ultimate dedication to the No Logo cause.
Not ironically, I didn't buy anything from the clothes store. Partly for the cause. Mostly for the money.
Basically it is an in depth look at the crazy way that most of the West (and growing beyond) has become obsessed with stuff. Mostly high priced stuff. Mostly high priced stuff with a label on it that is supposed to make you feel good. Klein points out that many of the goods manufactured under a particular logo (not just clothes) are produced under exploitation of the workers. But, for Klein, the exploitation doesn't stop there. It continues on to exploit the consumer of the logo. I would tend to agree with her.
However, this weekend I think I probably put myself in Naomi's bad books.
In order to keep up my visitation of all Starbucks in Ireland - (I'm not sure how long this will last. There's a couple that have opened near me since I last wrote about my project. Starbucks tend to have an aggressive marketing policy that involves opening loads of stores in order to push out local coffee business. I know this because Naomi told me.) - I went into a clothes store in the city centre, BT2, that had a Starbucks upstairs...in its children's department.
Being in this store did start to make me feel uneasy. There were logos everywhere! As I had my 1 year old son with me I had to find a lift to get my coffee. Now, fair play to the staff. They were very helpful in taking me to a lift which involved going back outside and through another door with the use of a security card. Once upstairs I bought my regular latte and had a quick look around the children's clothes. This made me feel even more uneasy. Ralph Lauren, Timberland, DKNY, Burberry, Ted Baker, Bonpoint...for kids!!! One very brief glance through some baby clothes revealed a 75 euro shirt for a six month old. I guess someone is going to buy it.
On the way back down another helpful staff member chatted with me. Ironically, despite there being a Starbucks store 15 feet from where he was standing when I asked for help with the lift, the young sales assistant told me he had never been to Starbucks. We were already at the ground floor before I was able to ask him if this was his ultimate dedication to the No Logo cause.
Not ironically, I didn't buy anything from the clothes store. Partly for the cause. Mostly for the money.
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Rainy Day Idea
Yesterday, two people happened to comment about my blog, making me feel guilty that I wasn't keeping up to date. I'm sorry. I've been quite busy recently and any spare time I've got has been used for studying (and sleeping). I've still got lots of study to do, but in order to make amends here's a quick thought from the coffee shop I was in this afternoon. Actually it was on the way to the coffee shop, but that still counts in the strictish rules I place upon myself for this blog.
It was pouring down with rain as I walked, but fortunately I had an umbrella. Unfortunately for quite a few other people I passed they didn't. I did offer to accompany a young lady with my umbrella, but she was going the other way (she said).
Anyway, here's an idea I had for promoting your organisation/business/club/church/whatever: You could have umbrellas made with your logo printed on it plus some words like, "This umbrella is given to you for free. Please pass it on to someone else who may need it after you." That way you're not only promoting your organisation, but generally being nice too.
My studies at the coffee shop were for an essay about atonement theories - ie. why did Jesus die? But that's for another post.
On my way home I was stopped by a Jehovah's Witness. We talked about atonement theories. I think I might have confused him. Likewise, that will have to wait for another day. I took the guy's number and said I might call him to meet for coffee sometime.
Right now I've got to study...
It was pouring down with rain as I walked, but fortunately I had an umbrella. Unfortunately for quite a few other people I passed they didn't. I did offer to accompany a young lady with my umbrella, but she was going the other way (she said).
Anyway, here's an idea I had for promoting your organisation/business/club/church/whatever: You could have umbrellas made with your logo printed on it plus some words like, "This umbrella is given to you for free. Please pass it on to someone else who may need it after you." That way you're not only promoting your organisation, but generally being nice too.
My studies at the coffee shop were for an essay about atonement theories - ie. why did Jesus die? But that's for another post.
On my way home I was stopped by a Jehovah's Witness. We talked about atonement theories. I think I might have confused him. Likewise, that will have to wait for another day. I took the guy's number and said I might call him to meet for coffee sometime.
Right now I've got to study...
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
Bookending
I've just spent a really great bank holiday weekend - in Yorkshire. My wife and I, along with our two children, flew over to England to spend a couple of days with some good friends of ours, A. & H. There was lots to talk about, which meant lots of coffee. In fact the weekend, in coffee terms at least, was sandwiched between a couple of regular lattes at arrival and departure from Leeds/Bradford airport, both times activating the use of my second motto in life: 'Never say no to donuts.'
A. & H., along with their two children of a similar age to ours, are developing areas of creative ministry within a town called Tadcaster - so we have lots in common. It was really great to spend some quality time talking about family issues, Christian mission and theology along with a good dose of laughter (all related to the above, and more) and just pure fun with our kids. We challenged each other in our spiritual development and searched for answers to why we do what we do.
Thanks, guys. I can't wait to get together again.
The sweet taste of a donut made me feel good while checking-in, but having to surrender my coffee at the security check before I finished left me wanting more.
A. & H., along with their two children of a similar age to ours, are developing areas of creative ministry within a town called Tadcaster - so we have lots in common. It was really great to spend some quality time talking about family issues, Christian mission and theology along with a good dose of laughter (all related to the above, and more) and just pure fun with our kids. We challenged each other in our spiritual development and searched for answers to why we do what we do.
Thanks, guys. I can't wait to get together again.
The sweet taste of a donut made me feel good while checking-in, but having to surrender my coffee at the security check before I finished left me wanting more.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
One Year On
In an attempt to visit every Starbucks in Ireland, do you think it counts to visit refreshment stands that "proudly serve Starbucks coffee?" I've decided no.
However, I was at one such place today - a coffee stand in Dublin Zoo. The regular latte that was served to me was only half-full, but I decided not to complain. Not just because I think of myself as an optomist at heart, but because I was spending a lovely day at the zoo with my wife and two children, celebrating my youngest's first birthday. I'm not sure that he was overly impressed with the animals, but he did seem to enjoy his first taste of cake. (Who wouldn't?)
Anniversaries of special dates always seem to make you reflect on why that date is so special and what happened to make a particular number and month standout anytime you see it somewhere. On 1st May last year I definately could of done with a rereshment stand that proudly servered any decent coffee. But I can't complain. All I had to do was hold my wife's hand. (Everything else was just amazing.)
Anyway, I love you, Little Guy. But you are going to have to wait untill you're at least three before you can have some coffee with that cake.
(When did I start drinking coffee.....???)
However, I was at one such place today - a coffee stand in Dublin Zoo. The regular latte that was served to me was only half-full, but I decided not to complain. Not just because I think of myself as an optomist at heart, but because I was spending a lovely day at the zoo with my wife and two children, celebrating my youngest's first birthday. I'm not sure that he was overly impressed with the animals, but he did seem to enjoy his first taste of cake. (Who wouldn't?)
Anniversaries of special dates always seem to make you reflect on why that date is so special and what happened to make a particular number and month standout anytime you see it somewhere. On 1st May last year I definately could of done with a rereshment stand that proudly servered any decent coffee. But I can't complain. All I had to do was hold my wife's hand. (Everything else was just amazing.)
Anyway, I love you, Little Guy. But you are going to have to wait untill you're at least three before you can have some coffee with that cake.
(When did I start drinking coffee.....???)
Sunday, 1 April 2007
Background Music
I've yet to see in a record store a section entitled, 'Coffeehouse Background Music.' So I'm not sure where cafes get their selection of music. I usually quite like it in a sort of unnoticeable-but-there kind of way.
But the other day, while I was in Insomnia, a track came on which caught my attention. Maybe it was the slightly sensual French(???) accent or perhaps it was these words of the refrain:
This is my life.
I can't live it twice.
All I can give is a piece of my heart.
I'm not sure who was singing. Perhaps a quick google will reveal something. Excuse me a moment...............Ok, I'm back. I didn't find anything conclusive. Just a few quotes of the song on a couple of Russian sites. (Maybe it was a Russian accent). I've left a comment on someone's blog and I'll wait to see if I get an answer.
Anyway, I wrote the words down in my pocket notebook because I thought it was quite profound...although I'm not so sure now.
But the other day, while I was in Insomnia, a track came on which caught my attention. Maybe it was the slightly sensual French(???) accent or perhaps it was these words of the refrain:
This is my life.
I can't live it twice.
All I can give is a piece of my heart.
I'm not sure who was singing. Perhaps a quick google will reveal something. Excuse me a moment...............Ok, I'm back. I didn't find anything conclusive. Just a few quotes of the song on a couple of Russian sites. (Maybe it was a Russian accent). I've left a comment on someone's blog and I'll wait to see if I get an answer.
Anyway, I wrote the words down in my pocket notebook because I thought it was quite profound...although I'm not so sure now.
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