Every two years the denomination whom I am a minister in (The Salvation Army) hold a conference for the 1,400+ people in "full-time" ministry. While my wife and I work as partners in ministry only one of us could attend because of our young children. I drew the short straw...and had to go.
My dad was also attending so I took the opportunity to fly over to Bournemouth and drive with him up to the conference centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire. I enjoyed the drive for a couple of reason. First, because I am rarely the passenger in long car journeys so I was able to sleep a little. Second, it was a nice opportunity to learn a little family history - particularly my dad's childhood.
We took a break on the way up and stoped at a motorway service area to get a cup of coffee. As we walked in, who should be walking out but my brother-in-law also on his way to the conference! (Are you sensing a family business?)
I won't bore you with the details of what I thought was a disappointing conference. I don't tend to use this blog to evaluate particular areas of ministry within The Salvation Army - if you're interested in people who do you might find some here. Suffice to say, for me the best part was skipping out of an evening session to go out for coffee (and treacle pudding) with my dad and brother-in-law where we spent a couple of hours evaluating particular areas of Salvation Army ministry.
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Thursday, 11 October 2007
They're Back
Most coffeeshops nowadays will have even a small selection of syrup flavourings to put in your coffee. I can't abide them. Partly because they promote the creation of very strange flavours of coffee - I was once in an M&S Cafe Revive with my dad and he was persuaded by a very persistent coffee girl to add a shot of orange flavour syrup to his cappuccino (yuck! yuck! yuck!) - but also because I don't have sugar in my coffee so I don't like any sweetener added. (I also went through a phase of no milk either, but I'm over that now except for the occasional early morning kick start).
However, I will happily have a sweet accompaniment - a danish, a cookie, or a muffin. Of course, you can't beat a bar of chocolate, and for years, in my opinion, you couldn't beat a Cadbury's Wispa. Then they just disappeared from our shelves. Just like the Gambit bar (half milk chocolate, half dark - anyone remember that?), the Wispa seemed destined to never be enjoyed again.
I bet you can guess where I'm going with this.
A few days ago as I was walking down the street my eye caught a glimpse of a dark blue wrapper with red and gold lettering. A Wispa? Can't be? Where did that come from? Has there been a whole in the space-time continuum (whatever that means) and an empty wrapper has floated into existence? Rushing to the nearest sweet shop (a much better word than convenience store when reminiscing about childhood things) I scanned the racks of chocolate in the vain hope that something wonderful should appear. Alas, no.
I thought it best to explain to the shopkeeper what I was searching for so I didn't look stupid. And then - joy of joys - the reply came that indeed Cadbury's had come to their senses and relaunched the Wispa! Their stock had sold out within hours and it would be a few days until they returned.
Today was that day. Wispa was in stock. I bought three just to be on the safe side.
Immediately my mind went back to my schoolboy days of the mid eighties. Coming home from school I would make a cup of coffee (I guess I did start young) and enjoy the Wispa that I had bought from the school tuck shop. (I bet they don't even have tuck shops in schools anymore, tut). The whole experience being rounded off with some watching Philip Schofield in a broom cupboard.
By the way, Wispas also work well with tea.
By the way again, Cadbury are only dong a limited run to see if this most excellent of chocolate bars is still viable. Perhaps tomorrow I'll buy three more. Maybe you should too.
However, I will happily have a sweet accompaniment - a danish, a cookie, or a muffin. Of course, you can't beat a bar of chocolate, and for years, in my opinion, you couldn't beat a Cadbury's Wispa. Then they just disappeared from our shelves. Just like the Gambit bar (half milk chocolate, half dark - anyone remember that?), the Wispa seemed destined to never be enjoyed again.
I bet you can guess where I'm going with this.
A few days ago as I was walking down the street my eye caught a glimpse of a dark blue wrapper with red and gold lettering. A Wispa? Can't be? Where did that come from? Has there been a whole in the space-time continuum (whatever that means) and an empty wrapper has floated into existence? Rushing to the nearest sweet shop (a much better word than convenience store when reminiscing about childhood things) I scanned the racks of chocolate in the vain hope that something wonderful should appear. Alas, no.
I thought it best to explain to the shopkeeper what I was searching for so I didn't look stupid. And then - joy of joys - the reply came that indeed Cadbury's had come to their senses and relaunched the Wispa! Their stock had sold out within hours and it would be a few days until they returned.
Today was that day. Wispa was in stock. I bought three just to be on the safe side.
Immediately my mind went back to my schoolboy days of the mid eighties. Coming home from school I would make a cup of coffee (I guess I did start young) and enjoy the Wispa that I had bought from the school tuck shop. (I bet they don't even have tuck shops in schools anymore, tut). The whole experience being rounded off with some watching Philip Schofield in a broom cupboard.
By the way, Wispas also work well with tea.
By the way again, Cadbury are only dong a limited run to see if this most excellent of chocolate bars is still viable. Perhaps tomorrow I'll buy three more. Maybe you should too.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Lessons in Community
This afternoon I managed to get away to a coffeeshop for an hour to do some studying. I'm on the last leg of my (procrastinated) distance learning degree in Theology. All I have to work on now is my dissertation. I've chosen for my subject, 'What does it mean to be a community church in the 21st Century?' No doubt you'll hear more about this between now and the February deadline.
So I sat at my preferred table at the back with a latte and a four berry muffin and worked my way through a stack of books, dipping in here and there for sections that would be helpful to return to and read more fully. At one point I stopped what I was doing and looked around at the other cafe dwellers - this is why I have a preferred table - and noticed an interesting phenomenon. Almost all the tables were occupied, but it was all people on their own. What was more interesting was that everyone had sat on the side of their table where they could face everyone else. No one had their back turned to another.
So as I and my company sat there reading books, doing newspaper crosswords, texting, and drinking coffee I was struck by the question, why are we here? (Not an existentialist examination of life of course. I'm talking about our presence in the coffeeshop). Everything that was individually going on within that space could have easily been done elsewhere in complete solitude.
I wondered if what I was experiencing was a desire for community. Perhaps, collectively, we sensed some sort of connection with one another, a common act of being together and drinking coffee, a type of communion - all be it a false, unrealised one.
I wondered if there were others present who, like me, would have been happy to put down their book/newspaper/phone to interact and talk about something. Anything! But that would have taken effort.
So I learned my first (obvious) lesson about community without reading it in a book, but experiencing it in life: in order for community to occur it needs more than just desire. It needs inertia.
So I sat at my preferred table at the back with a latte and a four berry muffin and worked my way through a stack of books, dipping in here and there for sections that would be helpful to return to and read more fully. At one point I stopped what I was doing and looked around at the other cafe dwellers - this is why I have a preferred table - and noticed an interesting phenomenon. Almost all the tables were occupied, but it was all people on their own. What was more interesting was that everyone had sat on the side of their table where they could face everyone else. No one had their back turned to another.
So as I and my company sat there reading books, doing newspaper crosswords, texting, and drinking coffee I was struck by the question, why are we here? (Not an existentialist examination of life of course. I'm talking about our presence in the coffeeshop). Everything that was individually going on within that space could have easily been done elsewhere in complete solitude.
I wondered if what I was experiencing was a desire for community. Perhaps, collectively, we sensed some sort of connection with one another, a common act of being together and drinking coffee, a type of communion - all be it a false, unrealised one.
I wondered if there were others present who, like me, would have been happy to put down their book/newspaper/phone to interact and talk about something. Anything! But that would have taken effort.
So I learned my first (obvious) lesson about community without reading it in a book, but experiencing it in life: in order for community to occur it needs more than just desire. It needs inertia.
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Mist and Mellow Fruit
For some time now we, as a family, have been meaning to go back to St Annes's Park. So today, waking to a blue October sky, we headed across to the north side of the city. We were not disappointed.
Within the Red Stables courtyard of the park a Farmers Market is held every Saturday. I love farmers markets. There are always little pieces to try for free - cheeses, fruit cakes, olive oils, pesto... And there is always a coffee stand set up. As I queued for a drink I had time to savour the smells of the various coffee beans for sale. There were about eight half-barrels containing beans from around the world inviting me to plunge my hand in and retrieve a handful of beans to savour the smell. Intoxicating! (I wondered if the people behind me thought that I should use the scoop provided, but that would be missing out on half of the sensory experience.) I've told you before that, if available, I will support coffee growers from Ethiopia so I opted for a fairtrade blend that did just that.
As my young children looked at the stall with the handmade wooden toys I feasted my eyes on the fruit and veg stalls - carrots with dirt on, apples of all hues, red onions, purple cauliflower and varieties of pumpkin I have never seen before, all combining to form a deliciously sweet smell that you could taste in your nose and throat. (I should have got a bottle of the pressed apple juice.)
Leaving the courtyard, laden with coffee, pear and cinnamon muffins, and the prospect of returning for lunch, we strolled through the trees to a really excellent wooden playground.
Across to my left a church bell struck its chords from within its fire-red ivy-clad tower. Ahead of me a mid-morning haze caused the golden, autumnal sun to cut through the trees in visible shafts.
This is why I love the Autumn best.
(John Keats does a better job of describing it than me.)
Within the Red Stables courtyard of the park a Farmers Market is held every Saturday. I love farmers markets. There are always little pieces to try for free - cheeses, fruit cakes, olive oils, pesto... And there is always a coffee stand set up. As I queued for a drink I had time to savour the smells of the various coffee beans for sale. There were about eight half-barrels containing beans from around the world inviting me to plunge my hand in and retrieve a handful of beans to savour the smell. Intoxicating! (I wondered if the people behind me thought that I should use the scoop provided, but that would be missing out on half of the sensory experience.) I've told you before that, if available, I will support coffee growers from Ethiopia so I opted for a fairtrade blend that did just that.
As my young children looked at the stall with the handmade wooden toys I feasted my eyes on the fruit and veg stalls - carrots with dirt on, apples of all hues, red onions, purple cauliflower and varieties of pumpkin I have never seen before, all combining to form a deliciously sweet smell that you could taste in your nose and throat. (I should have got a bottle of the pressed apple juice.)
Leaving the courtyard, laden with coffee, pear and cinnamon muffins, and the prospect of returning for lunch, we strolled through the trees to a really excellent wooden playground.
Across to my left a church bell struck its chords from within its fire-red ivy-clad tower. Ahead of me a mid-morning haze caused the golden, autumnal sun to cut through the trees in visible shafts.
This is why I love the Autumn best.
(John Keats does a better job of describing it than me.)
Thursday, 4 October 2007
On the Radio
I was a special guest on a local radio show today. I say 'today', but it was recorded live to be broadcast on Sunday.
I've done some stuff on radio and TV a couple of times before with other people, but it has always been with a script. Today was just me and the presenter with no script so I was a bit nervous. Fortunately there was a Starbucks just meters away so I was able to grab a coffee before we got started. I also blatantly ignored the signs and took the drink into the studio with me. It helped.
It was just a half hour piece where I was interviewed about The Salvation Army and my role in it, and also about my Christian faith. I was also asked to choose three songs to play. For various reasons I chose:
The Hymn, 'Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven'
A track by Coldplay, 'A Message'
And finally, 'You led me to the cross' by Matt Redman. We only got about 45 seconds of that one before it was faded out because of time. Never mind.
Unfortunately the radio station is only a small, community based project that doesn't have the capacity to listen online. So unless you are going to be somewhere in the region of south Dublin on Sunday at 5:30pm you won't be able to hear it. If I can get a copy of the programme I'll try and podcast it, but don't hold your breath as I have no idea how to do that! (Suggestions, anyone?)
I've done some stuff on radio and TV a couple of times before with other people, but it has always been with a script. Today was just me and the presenter with no script so I was a bit nervous. Fortunately there was a Starbucks just meters away so I was able to grab a coffee before we got started. I also blatantly ignored the signs and took the drink into the studio with me. It helped.
It was just a half hour piece where I was interviewed about The Salvation Army and my role in it, and also about my Christian faith. I was also asked to choose three songs to play. For various reasons I chose:
The Hymn, 'Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven'
A track by Coldplay, 'A Message'
And finally, 'You led me to the cross' by Matt Redman. We only got about 45 seconds of that one before it was faded out because of time. Never mind.
Unfortunately the radio station is only a small, community based project that doesn't have the capacity to listen online. So unless you are going to be somewhere in the region of south Dublin on Sunday at 5:30pm you won't be able to hear it. If I can get a copy of the programme I'll try and podcast it, but don't hold your breath as I have no idea how to do that! (Suggestions, anyone?)
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Oh, To Be in Tullamore in September
I regularly go along to a couple of our homeless centres to lead morning prayers. This morning I headed for the Granby Centre which is across the other side of the city from where I live. If I'm in anyway organised I leave with plenty of time to get through the notorious Dublin traffic. Today was one of those days - but for some reason the traffic was lighter than usual.
(I suspect everyone is in Tullamore.)
Approaching my destination I passed a Spar convenience store and a sign outside for Tim Horton's Donuts caught my eye! I've told you before that I'm a sucker for donuts and Horton's are a great import from Canada. For me, they rank up there with Dunkin' Donuts, but still just a smidge lower than Krispy Kreme - these later two currently unavailable in Ireland :-(
Noticing that time was on my side I swiftly pulled over and went for a Boston Creme. There was also an automatic coffee machine with the selection of sweet, sweet nuts of dough. Naturally, I pressed the button marked 'Regular Latte'. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the coffee was - better than some served by so called baristas, especially the ones who where a long black cloak and where a silly wig!
I returned to my car a sat for a few moments enjoying this unexpected delight. The world just seems a better place when you have coffee and donuts in the car.
Turning on the car radio I listened to a news article from the popular National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Attendees were being asked why they come to the show yer after year. Here's my favourite answer: "I like tractors. And cows."
:-)
(I suspect everyone is in Tullamore.)
Approaching my destination I passed a Spar convenience store and a sign outside for Tim Horton's Donuts caught my eye! I've told you before that I'm a sucker for donuts and Horton's are a great import from Canada. For me, they rank up there with Dunkin' Donuts, but still just a smidge lower than Krispy Kreme - these later two currently unavailable in Ireland :-(
Noticing that time was on my side I swiftly pulled over and went for a Boston Creme. There was also an automatic coffee machine with the selection of sweet, sweet nuts of dough. Naturally, I pressed the button marked 'Regular Latte'. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the coffee was - better than some served by so called baristas, especially the ones who where a long black cloak and where a silly wig!
I returned to my car a sat for a few moments enjoying this unexpected delight. The world just seems a better place when you have coffee and donuts in the car.
Turning on the car radio I listened to a news article from the popular National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Attendees were being asked why they come to the show yer after year. Here's my favourite answer: "I like tractors. And cows."
:-)
Sunday, 23 September 2007
Preparing for Take Off
Chemical asked for advice about where to get a good cup of coffee while traveling through Dublin Airport. Great question.
Airports can be stressful, highly-strung locations. You'll need to relax. The only thing that helps in a situation like that for cooling you down, lowering your heart rate and stopping you from needing to use the on board facilities mid-flight is a large cup of fully charged caffeine. Wait. Scratch that idea. That's useless advice. Try this:
Let's start with getting to the airport. If you're driving down the motorway from Northern Ireland (don't forget tolls in euro only) there's actually no where on the road to stop. The ever expanding route of the M1 is great, but as of yet no motorway services. I travel this road quite frequently and have yet to find somewhere decent to stop, occasionally opting for the Half Door just at the border (ROI side).
If you are travelling by train I'm not much help. I've only done it once and was served instant coffee - bleh! However, the train does take you into the city centre (practically) and there are loads of coffee shops around. I might recommend O'Brien's Coffee on Abbey Street (The LUAS from the station will take you there) although there a plenty of independent cafes hidden about - seek and ye shall find.
At the airport there are a few choices. On the mezzanine floor above check-in there is an O'Brien's, but I find it a bit hit-and-miss. Probably the best option is the Bewleys Cafe on the mezz although that whole area is always really busy. (I'm not sure if there are any dedicated Bewley's Cafes left anywhere else. Shame. I kind of miss the Oriental on Grafton Street - it's now a restaurant.) There are a collection of Cafe Ritazzas scattered around the airport, but they always seem to make the coffee incredibly hot which means you either can't finish it before going through security or take-off! I think there is a Nude cafe somewhere (dress code optional). They serve Fairtrade coffee.
After going through security (will you have to remove your shoes today?) you could try out Butlers Chocolate Cafe. I have a friend who raves about Butlers. I wasn't quite so impressed with the over priced latte, but I shouldn't really judge their whole chain by one visit to an airport branch. That said, you do get a "complimentary" hand made chocolate with every drink so that may swing it for you.
If you are one of those people who gets to the airport with loads of time to spare (beware - security at Dublin can be long and slow) you could always pop down the road to the Inca Coffee Lounge at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, or the brand new Bewley's Hotel. I dare you to risk taking the shuttle bus just for coffee!!
As for drinking coffee on the plane I've yet to have a decent cup of coffee at 30,000 feet anywhere in the world and I certainly would not bring myself to pay for the privilege - rip-off no frills airlines.
So anyway, I could have made this all a lot simpler by just posting this link to the list of cafes in Dublin Airport, but it has been fun thinking about the different options.
Let me know what you choose when you're there and if it was any good. I have a very early flight in a couple of weeks and will certainly need a reliable fix.
Airports can be stressful, highly-strung locations. You'll need to relax. The only thing that helps in a situation like that for cooling you down, lowering your heart rate and stopping you from needing to use the on board facilities mid-flight is a large cup of fully charged caffeine. Wait. Scratch that idea. That's useless advice. Try this:
Let's start with getting to the airport. If you're driving down the motorway from Northern Ireland (don't forget tolls in euro only) there's actually no where on the road to stop. The ever expanding route of the M1 is great, but as of yet no motorway services. I travel this road quite frequently and have yet to find somewhere decent to stop, occasionally opting for the Half Door just at the border (ROI side).
If you are travelling by train I'm not much help. I've only done it once and was served instant coffee - bleh! However, the train does take you into the city centre (practically) and there are loads of coffee shops around. I might recommend O'Brien's Coffee on Abbey Street (The LUAS from the station will take you there) although there a plenty of independent cafes hidden about - seek and ye shall find.
At the airport there are a few choices. On the mezzanine floor above check-in there is an O'Brien's, but I find it a bit hit-and-miss. Probably the best option is the Bewleys Cafe on the mezz although that whole area is always really busy. (I'm not sure if there are any dedicated Bewley's Cafes left anywhere else. Shame. I kind of miss the Oriental on Grafton Street - it's now a restaurant.) There are a collection of Cafe Ritazzas scattered around the airport, but they always seem to make the coffee incredibly hot which means you either can't finish it before going through security or take-off! I think there is a Nude cafe somewhere (dress code optional). They serve Fairtrade coffee.
After going through security (will you have to remove your shoes today?) you could try out Butlers Chocolate Cafe. I have a friend who raves about Butlers. I wasn't quite so impressed with the over priced latte, but I shouldn't really judge their whole chain by one visit to an airport branch. That said, you do get a "complimentary" hand made chocolate with every drink so that may swing it for you.
If you are one of those people who gets to the airport with loads of time to spare (beware - security at Dublin can be long and slow) you could always pop down the road to the Inca Coffee Lounge at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, or the brand new Bewley's Hotel. I dare you to risk taking the shuttle bus just for coffee!!
As for drinking coffee on the plane I've yet to have a decent cup of coffee at 30,000 feet anywhere in the world and I certainly would not bring myself to pay for the privilege - rip-off no frills airlines.
So anyway, I could have made this all a lot simpler by just posting this link to the list of cafes in Dublin Airport, but it has been fun thinking about the different options.
Let me know what you choose when you're there and if it was any good. I have a very early flight in a couple of weeks and will certainly need a reliable fix.
Friday, 21 September 2007
Return to Malahide
I went back to Malahide today to do the street collecting on the right day this time.
Last week when I wasn't meant to be there the sun was shining and someone gave me three umbrellas. This week when I was meant to be there....
Anyway, I took a coffee break in an independent cafe and sat at a table outside. My latte was nicely presented in a tall glass cup with a handle (I don't like it when they put coffee in a glass that could otherwise be used for a coke. Unless of course they do that fancy thing of tying a serviette around the glass so you don't burn your fingers). Unfortunately it wasn't very tasty.
However, there did seem to be a tasty bit of gossip going on at the table next to me. Complaining about someone and how they work. Or something like that. I couldn't quite make out everything they were saying and I think pushing my coffee away then leaning to the other side of the table to reach it was starting to look obvious. I left them to it safe in the knowledge that they probably were not talking about me.
So here's an ethical/moral/spiritual question: If it is wrong to gossip about someone, is it just as wrong to listen to it even if you don't know any of the people involved? (And, um, is it wrong to listen in to someone in a public place anyway?)
Last week when I wasn't meant to be there the sun was shining and someone gave me three umbrellas. This week when I was meant to be there....
Anyway, I took a coffee break in an independent cafe and sat at a table outside. My latte was nicely presented in a tall glass cup with a handle (I don't like it when they put coffee in a glass that could otherwise be used for a coke. Unless of course they do that fancy thing of tying a serviette around the glass so you don't burn your fingers). Unfortunately it wasn't very tasty.
However, there did seem to be a tasty bit of gossip going on at the table next to me. Complaining about someone and how they work. Or something like that. I couldn't quite make out everything they were saying and I think pushing my coffee away then leaning to the other side of the table to reach it was starting to look obvious. I left them to it safe in the knowledge that they probably were not talking about me.
So here's an ethical/moral/spiritual question: If it is wrong to gossip about someone, is it just as wrong to listen to it even if you don't know any of the people involved? (And, um, is it wrong to listen in to someone in a public place anyway?)
Saturday, 15 September 2007
Malahide
Every year The Salvation Army does a stint of collecting funds from the public to help run its social service work. Here in Dublin the money is raised for our four excellent homeless centers. We work together as a group to do collections in some shopping areas around greater Dublin. One of those areas is a lovely little town called Malahide just to the north of the city, an hour or so from were we live. Every year I go to Malahide I think to myself that I should come back again one day just to visit and enjoy one of their cafes.
Arriving in the town today I parked the car then made my way to the post where we usually stand. No other collectors were around so I searched a few streets, but to no avail. A quick phone call to one of the people organising the collecting revealed that I wasn't supposed to be there until next week!
Eejit!
I figured there was no point in jumping straight back in the car for another hour long drive across heavy traffic so I went in search of coffee. I soon noticed a new addition to the outlets of caffeine. Can you guess who it is?
Part of me thinks it is particularly sad to want to boast the claim of visiting all the Starbucks in Ireland - and yet I'm drawn in. (10 of 13 so far. Cork airport is going to prove a little tricky)
While I sat and enjoyed a latte and flick through the paper one of the staff was doing the rounds of the tables with a handful of umbrellas. It would seem that a number of people had left their brollys and hadn't returned to claim them so he was giving them away to whoever wanted them. Everyone said no. (Out of embarrassment? Afraid of where it's been? I'm sure some interesting sociological study could be done to explain people's reaction). Anyway, the guy finally got to me and I said I'd take them for our homeless centres thereby justifying my premature trip to Malahide.
Another opportunity to try a different cafe next week!
Arriving in the town today I parked the car then made my way to the post where we usually stand. No other collectors were around so I searched a few streets, but to no avail. A quick phone call to one of the people organising the collecting revealed that I wasn't supposed to be there until next week!
Eejit!
I figured there was no point in jumping straight back in the car for another hour long drive across heavy traffic so I went in search of coffee. I soon noticed a new addition to the outlets of caffeine. Can you guess who it is?
Part of me thinks it is particularly sad to want to boast the claim of visiting all the Starbucks in Ireland - and yet I'm drawn in. (10 of 13 so far. Cork airport is going to prove a little tricky)
While I sat and enjoyed a latte and flick through the paper one of the staff was doing the rounds of the tables with a handful of umbrellas. It would seem that a number of people had left their brollys and hadn't returned to claim them so he was giving them away to whoever wanted them. Everyone said no. (Out of embarrassment? Afraid of where it's been? I'm sure some interesting sociological study could be done to explain people's reaction). Anyway, the guy finally got to me and I said I'd take them for our homeless centres thereby justifying my premature trip to Malahide.
Another opportunity to try a different cafe next week!
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