m4sure's connections: March 2009

Tuesday 31 March 2009

Some Olde Kiddie Pix

© m4sure

Just found these adorable pictures of me as a small kid many years ago...

In my Grandparent's garden (I still have the plastic fish)

My 1st ever bike. (remember being terrified of it at 1st)

I wont tell you what year(s) these pictures were taken. But I will give you a small clue. I am 10 days younger than Samuel West. Now go work it out! haha! ;)

Thursday 26 March 2009

Ode to Joy ~ Beaker style

Brilliant! haha! ;D

'Snooping' powers used 10,000 times

.."Surveillance powers designed to tackle terrorism have been used by local councils more than 10,000 times - for "crimes" as minor as littering"..

∗ I've had problems with my bank too. Not happy at all. ∗

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Wishing You Were Here

© Alison Moyet

∗ simply love this song ∗

Sunday 22 March 2009

A Dream within a Dream

by Edgar Allen Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet, if Hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it, therefore, the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

Friday 20 March 2009

Little Herbert

© m4sure

I was looking at my old picture files today and I came across this adorable photo of my maternal grandfather as a small child. It is his branch of my family that I am doing research on at the moment. There is mystery, and a tragic turn of events as well. Herbert was the same grandfather who later served in the Eighth Army during WW2 in North Africa and the middle east. He was one of the "desert rats" there as well...

Little Herbert...

Thursday 19 March 2009

BBC Singers Live performance on Radio 3 March 19th 2009

This evening I attended a live performance from the BBC SINGERS at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge. Here's the order of preceedings...

STABAT MATER

BRUCKNER Locus iste; Ave Maria; Christus factus est

MENDELSSOHN Three Psalms, Op.78 - No 3: 'Mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen?'

BRAHMS Geistliches Lied, Op.30

DVORAK Stabat Mater (UK premiere of original 1876 version)

I've never been to a live recording before and thought this evening's show was amazing. They are such brilliant singers. My favourite parts were BRAHMS and DVORAK. The interior of St Pauls Church was pretty cool as well.

New Doctor Who Theme

∗ Get ready to cover your ears...I'm being serious here! lol ∗

Tuesday 17 March 2009

Happy St Patrick's Day

In honour of my 8th Irish genes (on my maternal x2 side)...

Might get out my family research stuff later to count how many Donnelly's there are. Believe me there are a lot! lol ;P

Sunday 15 March 2009

Time is Out of Joint ~ Hamlet

Ethan Hawke as Hamlet (2000)

Let us go in together,
And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.
The time is out of joint—O cursèd spite,
That ever I was born to set it right!
Nay, come, let's go together.

Saturday 14 March 2009

Desiderata (latin for Things to be desired)

© Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Red Nose Day ~ the Aftermath

I managed to finish my sponsored cycle event in just over 3 hours. Most of the time was taken up by trying to find the parts of the THAMES PATH which believe it or not are now being occupied with private property! Crazy really. Anyway thankfully I made it to the finish line, (without too many aches and pains) which so happened to be inside the Greenwich foot tunnel which felt quite eerie when at one point I was the only person in there with the sounds of dripping water (no Zombies thank god) and the mechanisms of the lift at the far end. I'm really pleased that I've achieved this quest for charity. I've seen some amazing scenery along the way, especially on the south bank of the Thames. Like the Rotherhide village and Pageant Wharf. Wonderful stuff.

Here's a couple of unusual pix I took...

A huge bugger of an Anchor near Tower Bridge (south side)

The spooky looking Greenwich foot tunnel

My next charity event will probably be in August when I'm going to take part in a very spooky vigil in Manchester (with possible media interest) along with my fellow 'Ghostie Crew' members who are a group that are attached to the Pathfinder Guide Dogs charity. As well as many other things, we are also paranormal investigaters. And we often do other charity events to raise money as well.

Thursday 12 March 2009

Red Nose Day 2009 Tomorrow

Just getting my bicycle ready for my solo event I'm doing in the morning for Red Nose Day. A big thanx to all those you sponsored me and help raise £100 for a great cause. Just hope I don't get lost, or get a puncture and don't encounter any other crazy people along the way. I was going to wear my medieval dress (yes you heard right) but it might get caught up in my wheels. So might opt for the googly eyes and red nose instead. Taking my camera along as well. Am I insane, well yes. But who cares. It's all relative after all. ;) So wish me luck guys. I think I'm going to need it! ;P

The Marx Bros in Duck Soup

HAHAHAAAAAA-A-A-A!

Wednesday 11 March 2009

The Legendary Marx Brothers

Been watching a couple of the Marx Brother's movies today. Have one of their box sets. Was in fits of laughter at some of their antics. They were so talented in their own crazy way. My favourite film by far at the mo is 'Duck Soup'. I've liked the Marx Brothers since I was a kid with my favourite being Harpo. And even though these films are really old, they're still extremely fun to watch. My favourite quotes by Groucho so far include... "Go and never darken my towels again!" Classic.

Here's another pic I like...

Harpo and those scissors! That mischievous look on his face when he snips everything in sight is just so hilarious.

My Family Research Mystery Deepens

I've been doing my family history for many many years. And having investigated most of my branches up to a point, I'm now kind of stuck. I don't seem to understand how to use Parish Registers. It's like being asked to read a passage of Latin, it just makes no sense. I know I will at some point have to drag my *** down to the National Archives here in London and ask them. One family line in particular there's a family mystery and a bit of scandal which involves some wealthy Freemason ancestors, secret families, some disinheriting, and resulted with one of my great grandmothers killing herself when her child was removed from her by in-laws. The plot could be something straight out of a Catherine Cookson story. Maybe I should write a book about it. Just need to do a bit more investigating first. The TV Genealogist Nick Barratt gave me some good advice so I will try his suggestions, and kick start my quest for the truth. I owe it to my genes.

Tuesday 10 March 2009

The Dog, The Cat...and The Rat

∗ This has got to be one of the most adorable videos I've seen in a long time ∗

This is a video of a homeless man in Santa Barbara, California USA and his pets. They work State Street every week for donations. The animals are pretty well fed and are mellow. They are a family. The man who owns them rigged up a harness for his cat so she wouldn't have to walk so much (like the dog and himself). At some juncture the rat came along, and as no one wanted to eat anyone else, the rat started riding with the cat and, often, on the cat! The dog, will stand all day and let you talk to him and admire him for a few chin scratches. The Mayor of Santa Barbara filmed this clip and sent it out as a holiday card.

Tibetans rally 50 years after uprising

© AFP

.."Tibetan exiles kicked off worldwide rallies Monday outside of the White House with two minutes of silence and cries of "Free Tibet!" 50 years after an uprising forced the Dalai Lama into exile"..

Sunday 8 March 2009

Cardinal blunder: Paris priest scoops 'macho' award

© AFP

.."A French feminist group on Friday awarded its "Macho of the Year" to the archbishop of Paris for his remark that women needed not just a skirt but "something between your ears as well"..

Saturday 7 March 2009

The Young Victoria

"Her Destiny belonged to an Empire
But her heart belonged to one man"

::::sighhhhhhhhh-h-h-h::::

I can't wait to see this movie!

Gazans seek end to bitter split

© BBC News

.."Most Palestinians are desperate for results from talks between the two main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, in Cairo aimed at ending their bitter political split"..

Thursday 5 March 2009

m4sure 2004 movie

© m4sure

∗ my attempt at film making ∗

In 2004 I entered a competition to make a little movie with the theme of Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' at a London Festival I attended. I chose to base it on my favourite character from the story and movie version which was Aragorn. My film made it to the shortlist but alas I didn't win :(

But at least it was still shown on a big screen at the Festival!

which was very cool but a little scarey. I hope you like it. lol ;)

Newfound Black Hole Duo Could Make Space-Time "Ripples"

.."Two newfound black holes on the verge of crashing into each other could be creating "ripples" in the fabric of space-time, astronomers suggest"..

The Sea of Galilee 1942

One of my Granddad's was a member of the Eighth Army "The Desert Rats" during WWII in North Africa & the Middle East. As well as acquiring a few medals along the way including a mention in dispatches, he also spent part of his time taking some spectacular pictures of the places he visited. Here's a few images he took in black & white while at Galilee in 1942.