It won me over

I so wanted to avoid it. I really didn't give a monkey's and was relishing the time when it would be all over. I even went out to avoid it.

But it was on the big screen in the pub. I ignored it to begin with, but it drew me in. What were they doing? What did this all mean? Then I realised exactly what they were up to. They were forging the rings. That was the point where Danny Boyle's opening ceremony won me over.

I left when the athletes stated to come into the stadium, but the main show had been amazing. And hats off the the Queen for being up for being collected by James Bond. That was sooo cool. Well done ma'am.

Though I didn't see it, the final touch of the lighting of the torch. By 7 future heroes. Not past, not present, but future. What a brilliant symbol of what they have been telling up this is all about since it was won - to create a future for sport and where people all over Britain of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy taking part in sport. I hope that my cynicism about that will be proven wrong too.

Photo shoot in The Up! House

As a HUGE fan of Pixar's Up!, I thought this was sooo cool and just had to share.

Wedding anniversary shoot at the Up! House

Warning, if you have watched the film, the picnic scene and old couple chairs may bring a tear to the eye. Certainly did with me.

Switch the Christmas lights on!

I saw this on Fail Blog and, although probably highly inappropriate for a Christian blog, just had to share...

Now, that brings the real meaning of Christmas home, doesn't it ;-)

Star dust

As I was walking through Holyrood Park this morning, it was still dark o'clock. As it was a clear morning, in the sky I saw the stars rising above Arthur's Seat and thought wow.

Around 4.5 billion years ago, a star began forming from a cloud of dust, which had been formed from the death of another star. As the star formed, and gravity started to act, the dust cloud swirled around this new star, condensed and formed the planets around that star, bringing our solar system into being. So I and all people are made from star dust. Now, that's pretty cool.

Stop and listen

A couple of years ago, spotthegerbil and I were in York. Sitting having a cuppa watching the world go by and this guy walked past with a trolley containing an amp and various other electronic music-related items. I commented something along the lines of "He looks like he's the roadie from hell who's just making his way him from last night's gig". How wrong was I. Ed Alleyne-Johnson is AMAZING!

We sat and listened to him for ages - maybe an hour or so. As we listened, many, many people just stopped and listened. No matter what he was playing and there was a great variety of musical styles. Which goes to prove two things. Don't judge a book by its cover and no matter what someone is doing, if they are good and passionate about it, people will stop and listen. I hope I can be as a good a Christian as this guy is a violinist!

And here's one for the guitarists.

If I could, I would

Going batty

The other night, quite to my surprise, a bat flew past me in our back garden. Then, lat night Spot spotted a bat flying around our block. Cool - that means we have bats feeding and living nearby.

I love bats - no idea why, but I do., I think it's pretty cool discovering something like bats living in a place you really wouldn't expect.

So, in honour of our new discovery, we are now proud owners of a bat box. With a bit of luck, they might take up residence. It may take a while. Bats are fussy where they live and tend to return to the same roost, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, so to speak. Besides, if they are around, the midges better watch out!