Something I've been meaning to do for a while - more Italy photos, as it's a bit quicker with broadband. For the record, the only reason there are no photos of Monica is because she doesn't want them to be on the web.

[P]articipation in the Liturgy of the Word (reading, singing) is to be distinguished from the sacramental celebration proper. We should be clearly aware that external actions are quite secondary here. Doing really must stop when we come to the heart of the matter: the oratio. It must be plainly evident that the oratio is the heart of the matter, but that it is important precisely because it provides a space for the actio of God. Anyone who grasps this will easily see that it is not now a matter of looking at or toward the priest, but of looking together toward the Lord and going out to meet him.
[...]
Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment. Such attractiveness fades quickly — it cannot compete in the market of leisure pursuits, incorporating as it increasingly does various forms of religious titillation. [...] Liturgy can only attract people when it looks, not at itself, but at God, when it allows him to enter and act. Then something truly unique happens, beyond competition, and people have a sense that more has taken place than a recreational activity.

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

Slightly disappointed to discover that my housegroup won't really get going again until September, but there a couple of housegroup-related things in the meantime. I've offered to work out some visual-aid based talks for the housegroup. I think I'd enjoy preparing a few with examples borrowed from Dad's Southwood "children's" talks. At present I have a few ideas involving my rock collection, but I'll need to work on them.

It's been very busy in the shop for me, more noticeably so due to the hot, humid weather, I can't complain about not having enough to do any more, not that anyone with sense complains about being underworked to ones employer. We now have the air-conditioner up and running in the shop, which makes things much more pleasant, so it's a good time to visit the shop for new watch batteries and general clock or jewelry repair.

I finally got a good view of a thunderstorm from my room, however the reality of rain, lightning and thunder, doesn't agree with the weather forecast of "7am to 10am sunny"I just checked. Still, there's nothing better to watch than a thunderstorm that you don't have to go out in.

I think I know where I went wrong with the gluten-free bread recipe. I got the weight of milk and the weight of gluten-free flour mixed up. Doh! Hopefully it will work this time.

After going to Exeter College's open day to ask about the teaching assistant course, I came to the conclusion that it's probably not worth pursuing that career idea. At least this idea hasn't wasted as much time as Pharmacy.

Mum suggested I find something to stimulate me and stop me getting bored, one idea was to write up an autobiography for the edification of other aspies. Seemed an interesting idea so I started working out a timeline, if anyone's interested in contributing info, feel free. Obviously I will check with all family members before publishing anything, so Adrian can breathe a sigh of relief.

I couldn't remember the road name of the first place we lived in Farnborough, found it in the end, "West Glade" but in the searching I came across a site with very damning views of both Farnborough and Aldershot.
With one excerpt on the Farnborough College of Technology followed by "[Critical comment on FCoT has been removed because of threats by FCoT against the ISP]"; it reads like an issue of Private Eye. http://www.heureka.clara.net/surrey-hants/index.htm

Well.

Monica has got a job up until roughly term-time. Better pay, walking distance. Monica's been accepted for a part-time degree at Exeter.

Huzzah! Thanks for any prayers you've been sending our way.

Good morning. Today's the day I'm coming home. Should be back before 9, all being well.

S'been nice.

I should be going back to my job with the NHS, but I'm not sure - I probably have a voicemail about it on my mobile, but I think Italy's confusing it. Monica appears to have a job up until approximately the start of the academic year, which is close to ideal.

See you Exeter people in a little while.

I decided since the World Cup was present (infesting) most channels I'd watch some recorded programs. I borrowed Angel season five on DVD from the library, included an episode where Angel gets turned into a living puppet and the reactions from the other characters are wonderful. Only problem is that Angel series seems to mostly be set in gloomy surrounds, so in order to see clearly I've had to close the curtains, not ideal in the current hot weather.

Went to my housegroup's barbecue after the Belmont morning service, sited at a static caravan outside Exeter, specifically near a large duckpond. Enjoyable conversations, good food, and gently letting down a very junior fossil hunter, (may have lumbered his grandfather with a trip to Lyme Regis.) An enjoyable bit of techno-chat until we agreed that we were confusing (and boring) the non-techies. Dragonflies, geese and ducklings on the lake pond. Great fun.

What have I been doing, I don't hear you ask:

Last time I remember blogging it was halfway through the day and I'd just finished watching The Incredibles with Monica. Owing to the huge post, I didn't mention that I thought it was good.

In Italy, the woodlice are bigger, and they call them the little pigs of St. Anthony. I have no idea why. They also have an exciting insect called, in dialect, a cavaocchi, which caused me no end of trepidation when I encountered one on my way to take a slash. I can't find the proper name for it, or I would have found out more about it, but cavaocchi means something like "one who takes out your eyes", which I recall Freud linking to fear of castration. It is really long, and looks like it shouldn't be able to fly, but it does. I thought it was two insects in the marital embrace, but apparently not. Yellow and black deal. I also saw a thing like a daddy long-legs which was black and yellow too. I've seen a couple of lizards as well - cool. The Zagaglias have an orchard, and they keep the car near it, and there are chickens near that. Chickens remind me of velociraptors.

We went to see Marghe at the convent in S. Angelo in Pontano t'other day. Was good. Did evening prayer as well. She says hello to my family, so there you go - hello from Marghe. She made a comment about God being a playboy, but always making you feel that you're the only one, which reminded me of this:

Show me dear Christ, thy spouse so bright and clear.
What! is it she which on the other shore
Goes richly painted? or which, robb'd and tore,
Laments and mourns in Germany and here?
Sleeps she a thousand, then peeps up one year?
Is she self-truth, and errs? now new, now outwore?
Doth she, and did she, and shall she evermore
On one, on seven, or on no hill appear?
Dwells she with us, or like adventuring knights
First travel we to seek, and then make love?
Betray, kind husband, thy spouse to our sights,
And let mine amorous soul court thy mild Dove,
Who is most true and pleasing to thee then
When she'is embrac'd and open to most men.

We also went to Offagna Rock Festival #2, which was an experience. Four bands, of which we saw the first two. They were both amateur, and one basically covered Rage, the other Metallica. The second lot could play their instruments, but their trouble was that they liked Metallica.

Went to an ordination yesterday. I like ordinations; I've decided. It's a good service, and a lot of singing, though I wasn't sure about the choir. [N.B. Monica has been assuring me that only in England can you see men in pink shirts who aren't patently gay. Italy? You must be kidding. I counted four in the one service and have been watching, with great success, for more since.*] I like the litany of the saints, I like the laying on of hands of basically all the priests in the diocese (not least because it's great to see loads of different priests all at once; fat, thin, old, young, grave, cheerful) followed by a really enthusiastic hug from all the priests in the diocese. It's a joy to see.

* A word from Monica: "I'm not responsible. Since I left this country's lost it's way."

A fair point and an interesting summary of the current state of the Catholic apologetics subculture, if somewhat long.

I think I'm more opinionated about the liturgy these days. Converts eh? I like apologetics, but I can only cope with so much or my brain hurts, and there are enough people who want to hurt my brain without me joining in.

I have a breadmaker now, quite pleased with the first loaf, still not square, but enough surface area to feel it's worth making into sandwiches, tastes ok (at last). I will try the recipe from my newly acquired gluten-free bread flour bag, next time.

Something I've been wondering about, how do I get a nice colour for my posts like my siblings? A pale blue (R:100, G:205, B:255) would be nice, I've never really been a fan of grey.