...is never edifying. The Cameron team is looking particularly silly at the moment. All running around in circles, unable to cope with the economic woes, ghastly situation for our army in Afghanistan, a growing sense that people know that things are going badly, they suddenly shrieked that they'll be rushing through a law to force same-sex marriage on the nation. Uh? What? You can almost smell the oh-gosh-whatever-shall-we-do? about this. The polls are showing that people re abandoning the Tories in large numbers - the worst worry was the realisation there weren't going to be adequate numbers at the Party Conference and there had to be a phone-round to try to drum up some support...it's all looking very, very bad for the next election. Why the attempted rush to redefine marriage? I'm guessing that it's money. A couple of Very Big Donors are insisting on this crazy policy, and the thinking is that the money is desperately needed for the election...
Won't work. Chuck, it Cameron, and get on with the job for which you were elected. You can't win an election if your policies are the same as those of the Opposition: same-sex marriage comes massively into that category.
Read here for more on this.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
and further...
...to my post below, the prize for an inane and possibly slightly sinister remark goes to some one called Mr Tony Baldry who told the House of Commons today that:
"If the Church of England wants to be a national church, then it has to reflect the values of the nation."
The more you think about that statement the more horrid it seems. Values of the nation? Drunkness. Acceptance of pre-marital sexual relationships as the norm. Wide use of pornography. Greed - to the point where obesity is a national disease.
The idea of a National Church that reflects the Values of the Nation is actually quite sinister. The whole point of the Church is surely that it is not national, but is over and beyond all nations.
Undeterred by such spiritual realities, campaigners are now urging that Parliament forces the C. of E. to create women bishops. So any last notion that the C of E is a spiritual entity, resting on the word of God and subject to Christ's ordinances, must give way to the understanding that it is simply a British institution run by British law.
"...and on this rock I will build my Church. In addition, some day some one may invent a parallel body in a small and rather beautiful island, and pretend it is a Church too. It isn't a Church. But there will be some fine and good people caught up in it. Your task will be to help them on their way home to the true Church, encouraging them to bring with them anything and everything of value and beauty that is theirs to bring."
"If the Church of England wants to be a national church, then it has to reflect the values of the nation."
The more you think about that statement the more horrid it seems. Values of the nation? Drunkness. Acceptance of pre-marital sexual relationships as the norm. Wide use of pornography. Greed - to the point where obesity is a national disease.
The idea of a National Church that reflects the Values of the Nation is actually quite sinister. The whole point of the Church is surely that it is not national, but is over and beyond all nations.
Undeterred by such spiritual realities, campaigners are now urging that Parliament forces the C. of E. to create women bishops. So any last notion that the C of E is a spiritual entity, resting on the word of God and subject to Christ's ordinances, must give way to the understanding that it is simply a British institution run by British law.
"...and on this rock I will build my Church. In addition, some day some one may invent a parallel body in a small and rather beautiful island, and pretend it is a Church too. It isn't a Church. But there will be some fine and good people caught up in it. Your task will be to help them on their way home to the true Church, encouraging them to bring with them anything and everything of value and beauty that is theirs to bring."
Well, who would have thought it?
...The C. and E. has turned down women bishops. I must admit to a sense of satisfaction. I am so glad that the Synod - which had seemed to be a seal and stamp on everything politically-correct and tiresomely ill-considered - turned out to have some people who thought outside the usual box of cliches.
I do not accept the theological thinking behind the "men are meant to be leaders, women not" idea, since women can certainly lead and teach. Priesthood is different from that, and it is this precise thing, the priesthood, that has not been fully explored and grasped. But at least there has been some sort of ability to understand that there are some theological issues involved.
Given the tragedies and miseries of the world - some of which (war, hunger, injustices of various kinds) get raised at the C of E Synod - it was rather ghastly to see comfortably-off ladies weeping inconsolably and seeking help and speaking of their agony, because they can't be made bishops. Dear ladies, please be assurred that you will survive quite well, and may even one day think about all this quite differently.
I do not accept the theological thinking behind the "men are meant to be leaders, women not" idea, since women can certainly lead and teach. Priesthood is different from that, and it is this precise thing, the priesthood, that has not been fully explored and grasped. But at least there has been some sort of ability to understand that there are some theological issues involved.
Given the tragedies and miseries of the world - some of which (war, hunger, injustices of various kinds) get raised at the C of E Synod - it was rather ghastly to see comfortably-off ladies weeping inconsolably and seeking help and speaking of their agony, because they can't be made bishops. Dear ladies, please be assurred that you will survive quite well, and may even one day think about all this quite differently.
Back in business...
...with my mobile. Same number. Family and friends please note. ALL IS WELL.
Went to a mobile-phone shop. Felt bleak. Lots of screens and gadgets. Lots of giant plasma TV screens to dominate the home. Lots and lots of smaller plasma screens to dominate the car, the office, the bus, the Tube, the train, the school, the park, the street, the doctor's waiting-room, etc. Laptops and must-have handy-sized carry-around-with-you-at-all-times things so that you are never, ever, free from emails and Skype and Facebook and texting and tweeting. Cute unreal computer-generated figures in a children's soap-opera on giant screens mesmerising small customers. Stacks of gadgets on shiny shelves mesmerising older customers.
Stared at display of mobile phones. Some modestly priced. Talked to helpful young assistant. Human voice - sudden real communication: Auntie explained that she wanted something useful and simple, to make and recieve calls, take photos as required...showed shattered remnants of previous.
He removed the SIM card from my old phone, and talked about an Upgrade, explained that, mirabile dictu, I could keep the same number. We got chatting "You're Polish?" Yes, he was, and I told him I'd written a book about Bl. JPII. "A great man" he said "All Poles love him. But now is history. Not so many young Poles now go to church. Now we think next Pope will be last one and then the end of the world."
Oh dear. Anyway I got my shiny new 'phone and he wrapped up the old one in a box with the new charger and instructions and things and I paid with plastic and left the shop. Odd times, these.
Went to a mobile-phone shop. Felt bleak. Lots of screens and gadgets. Lots of giant plasma TV screens to dominate the home. Lots and lots of smaller plasma screens to dominate the car, the office, the bus, the Tube, the train, the school, the park, the street, the doctor's waiting-room, etc. Laptops and must-have handy-sized carry-around-with-you-at-all-times things so that you are never, ever, free from emails and Skype and Facebook and texting and tweeting. Cute unreal computer-generated figures in a children's soap-opera on giant screens mesmerising small customers. Stacks of gadgets on shiny shelves mesmerising older customers.
Stared at display of mobile phones. Some modestly priced. Talked to helpful young assistant. Human voice - sudden real communication: Auntie explained that she wanted something useful and simple, to make and recieve calls, take photos as required...showed shattered remnants of previous.
He removed the SIM card from my old phone, and talked about an Upgrade, explained that, mirabile dictu, I could keep the same number. We got chatting "You're Polish?" Yes, he was, and I told him I'd written a book about Bl. JPII. "A great man" he said "All Poles love him. But now is history. Not so many young Poles now go to church. Now we think next Pope will be last one and then the end of the world."
Oh dear. Anyway I got my shiny new 'phone and he wrapped up the old one in a box with the new charger and instructions and things and I paid with plastic and left the shop. Odd times, these.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
To Parliament...
...to arrange presentation of prizes for Schools Bible Project by Lord Alton. To CTS Bookshop to buy 40 prayer-books as souvenir gifts for the choir singing at Towards Advent on Saturday. To a celebratory evening organised by T! magazine...I have been involved with helping to run the Journalism Course sponsored by the magazine and it was a real pleasure to present the Certificates to the young people who have completed the course and shown such enthusiasm and dedicatiion.
Family and friends please note...
...my mobile phone has broken and I am about to get a new one! So my old number is now DEFUNCT.
The 'phone dropped on to the pavement today in London...parts scattered everywhere, some crucial bits broken. Passers-by all started to help and picked bits up... offered consolation, advice, goodwill...Auntie settled down with cup of tea to try to piece the thing together...to no avail, will be buying a new one.
The 'phone dropped on to the pavement today in London...parts scattered everywhere, some crucial bits broken. Passers-by all started to help and picked bits up... offered consolation, advice, goodwill...Auntie settled down with cup of tea to try to piece the thing together...to no avail, will be buying a new one.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Our Lady's Convent School...
...in Loughborough welcomed Auntie this morning to present prizes won in the Catholic Young Writer project, run by the Catholic Writers' Guild and the Catholic Union of Great Britain. Joint winners this year were two delightful young ladies, twins Cara and Iona McNeill, pupils at Our Lady's Convent School.
It meant an early start for Auntie...kind friend Amanda Hill, who earlier helped with the administration of the Project, had offered to give me a lift to Loughborough and collected me at 5.30am, and with a brief stop for breakfast we arrived in good time for the school's Morning Assembly in the beautiful chapel. A lovely school, with a happy and confident feel to it, clear about the Christian values it seeks to transmit. It was real pleasure to talk to the girls, to present the trophy and prizes, and to meet the parents of the winners and runners-up. A family atmosphere. We all chatted over coffee and pastries, and Amanda and I were made to feel so welcome and were given a tour of the school (fabulous 19th century buildings, links with Ambrose de Lisle, Pugin, etc) before I addressed an RE class tackling the Scriptures and ethical issues. It was beautiful and moving to hear a strong affirmation of the value of every human life from a teacher, sharing a personal story. It was a delight to talk about great issues in an atmosphere or respect and reverence for God, for marriage, for human life and for faith. It was grand to be with an RE teacher who relishes teaching the Scriptures and engaging young minds in philosophy and discussion of large and interesting ideas...
A happy morning. We had planned, before travelling back to London, to visit Mount St Bernard Abbey nearby, and when we mentioned this, the headmistress arranged for us to be given a packed lunch to enjoy as a picnic...so we chose sandwiches and drinks from the (excellent!) school refectory and went off in a holiday mood. Mount St Bernards is a magnificent Cistercian Abbey, in the most glorious countryside, and the monks - a good-sized community from the sound of them - were singing the midday office as we arrived, the great Abbey bell having tolled out to announce the timing. We prayed with them in the Abbey church - a fine building, with a great central altar and a sense of strength and of prayers soaring up to God - and later walked up to the Calvary shrine on the rugged pathway, and then enjoyed our picnic...
It meant an early start for Auntie...kind friend Amanda Hill, who earlier helped with the administration of the Project, had offered to give me a lift to Loughborough and collected me at 5.30am, and with a brief stop for breakfast we arrived in good time for the school's Morning Assembly in the beautiful chapel. A lovely school, with a happy and confident feel to it, clear about the Christian values it seeks to transmit. It was real pleasure to talk to the girls, to present the trophy and prizes, and to meet the parents of the winners and runners-up. A family atmosphere. We all chatted over coffee and pastries, and Amanda and I were made to feel so welcome and were given a tour of the school (fabulous 19th century buildings, links with Ambrose de Lisle, Pugin, etc) before I addressed an RE class tackling the Scriptures and ethical issues. It was beautiful and moving to hear a strong affirmation of the value of every human life from a teacher, sharing a personal story. It was a delight to talk about great issues in an atmosphere or respect and reverence for God, for marriage, for human life and for faith. It was grand to be with an RE teacher who relishes teaching the Scriptures and engaging young minds in philosophy and discussion of large and interesting ideas...
A happy morning. We had planned, before travelling back to London, to visit Mount St Bernard Abbey nearby, and when we mentioned this, the headmistress arranged for us to be given a packed lunch to enjoy as a picnic...so we chose sandwiches and drinks from the (excellent!) school refectory and went off in a holiday mood. Mount St Bernards is a magnificent Cistercian Abbey, in the most glorious countryside, and the monks - a good-sized community from the sound of them - were singing the midday office as we arrived, the great Abbey bell having tolled out to announce the timing. We prayed with them in the Abbey church - a fine building, with a great central altar and a sense of strength and of prayers soaring up to God - and later walked up to the Calvary shrine on the rugged pathway, and then enjoyed our picnic...
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Marriage...
...is the lifelong union of a man and a woman. The Church knows that marriage between baptised Christians is a sacrament - Holy Matrimony - a source of grace, a rich and living reality linked to Christ's union with his Church, a mystery at the heart of our Faith.
If the Government wants to impose on Britain the notion of marriage as a union between two people of the same sex, it is going to be neccesary to explain that there can be no question of this ever involving any sort of event or ceremony linked to the Church. The most efficient way to do this would be simply to break the link of the Church with any form of legal marriage: the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in Church would be unconnected with any civil ceremony taking place in a local registry office. A Catholic man and woman marrying in church might or might not choose to go through a legal ceremony too: as far as the Church is concerned, only the Church's sacramental marriage is valid anyway.
Until now, the Church has sought to co-operate with the civil authorities because it makes sense for the Church to act as legal registrar for marriages that take place in church. But this will change if the civil authorities redefine marriage.
There are a number of practical advantages in simply de-registering churches, and it will of course also save the clergy the bother of extra paperwork. The Church's own paperwork already neccesarily keeps them busy: each bride and groom have to show evidence of baptism, of being free to marry (ie not married already, not under a vow of celibacy etc), and so on.
In the past, some people sought to marry in church who were not eligible to do so - eg people who were divorced and whose previous spouse was still living. But when the Church gently explained that this was not possible, they did not sue. Under planned legislation, and in the current climate, the Church could be vulnerable to legal challenges unless it is made clear that there can never be any offer of any form of legal marriage in a Catholic church, and that all that the Church can offer is Holy Matrimony, on the terms God offers.
A Church-married-but-not-state-married couple might feedl they had some legal need to consolidate their status by going through a legal procedure, eg for tax purposes, and the Church would not prevent them from doing this. If they wanted to divorce, that would not alter their being married in the eyes of God. With today's divorce practices, which are often unjust (fathers denied the right to see their children, etc) , the Church does well to remain unconnected with the tangles of it all.
Freedom for the Church is going to be a major issue in the years ahead, both in Britain and in other Western nations. For a useful comment on the position in the USA, read here.
If the Government wants to impose on Britain the notion of marriage as a union between two people of the same sex, it is going to be neccesary to explain that there can be no question of this ever involving any sort of event or ceremony linked to the Church. The most efficient way to do this would be simply to break the link of the Church with any form of legal marriage: the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony in Church would be unconnected with any civil ceremony taking place in a local registry office. A Catholic man and woman marrying in church might or might not choose to go through a legal ceremony too: as far as the Church is concerned, only the Church's sacramental marriage is valid anyway.
Until now, the Church has sought to co-operate with the civil authorities because it makes sense for the Church to act as legal registrar for marriages that take place in church. But this will change if the civil authorities redefine marriage.
There are a number of practical advantages in simply de-registering churches, and it will of course also save the clergy the bother of extra paperwork. The Church's own paperwork already neccesarily keeps them busy: each bride and groom have to show evidence of baptism, of being free to marry (ie not married already, not under a vow of celibacy etc), and so on.
In the past, some people sought to marry in church who were not eligible to do so - eg people who were divorced and whose previous spouse was still living. But when the Church gently explained that this was not possible, they did not sue. Under planned legislation, and in the current climate, the Church could be vulnerable to legal challenges unless it is made clear that there can never be any offer of any form of legal marriage in a Catholic church, and that all that the Church can offer is Holy Matrimony, on the terms God offers.
A Church-married-but-not-state-married couple might feedl they had some legal need to consolidate their status by going through a legal procedure, eg for tax purposes, and the Church would not prevent them from doing this. If they wanted to divorce, that would not alter their being married in the eyes of God. With today's divorce practices, which are often unjust (fathers denied the right to see their children, etc) , the Church does well to remain unconnected with the tangles of it all.
Freedom for the Church is going to be a major issue in the years ahead, both in Britain and in other Western nations. For a useful comment on the position in the USA, read here.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Important...
...words on the subject of Catholics and Jews here...
and I draw the attention of some of my readers to this...especially the chap who wrote offering to send me a copy of an anti-Jewish diatribe. Please note: the Church specifically denounces material of that kind. In this Year of Faith the documents of Vatican II are being given renewed attention and invested with renewed and long-term significance. Read the link just given, and also here...
and I draw the attention of some of my readers to this...especially the chap who wrote offering to send me a copy of an anti-Jewish diatribe. Please note: the Church specifically denounces material of that kind. In this Year of Faith the documents of Vatican II are being given renewed attention and invested with renewed and long-term significance. Read the link just given, and also here...
Monday, November 12, 2012
Wisdom...
...from Papa Benedict, visiting a set of homes for the elderly run by the S. Egidio community. He spoke about old age as a blessing.
"One who makes room for the elderly, makes room for life. One who welcomes the elderly, welcomes life.”
"One who makes room for the elderly, makes room for life. One who welcomes the elderly, welcomes life.”
for British people...
...like me who need to know a bit more about this whole Obama/religious freedom thing: here is a good piece to read.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
"O God our help...
...in ages past..." We gathered at the War memorial in Borough High Street to observe Remembrance Day. The War Memorial there is particularly poignant, as it depicts a First World War soldier in full kit, gallantly going forward, in the mud of the Western Front - and because it was erected just months after that War ended, it is accurate in every detail. This particular Memorial has become familiar since I started going to Evensong and weekday Mass with the Ordinariate group at the nearby Church of the Precious Blood. It seemed the right place to observe Remembrance Day. Under a clear sky, a crowd gathered, the bugle notes of the Last Post rang out, the police stopped the traffic, and we were silent.
It's an utterly different country from the one for which the men of the Great War fought and died. In the crowd, a number of young men failed to remove their wolly hats or baseball caps. The crowd was adequate but not huge. When we prayed the Our Father, many people didn't join in: they all too evidently simply didn't know thre words. The singing was good, led by the excellent Ordinariate priest and congregation in fine voice. The bugler was superb. The wreaths were laid, the dead honoured, the tribute to our history paid. And the young men like the one on the fine monument before us will never grow old, and we will remember them...we will remember them.
It's an utterly different country from the one for which the men of the Great War fought and died. In the crowd, a number of young men failed to remove their wolly hats or baseball caps. The crowd was adequate but not huge. When we prayed the Our Father, many people didn't join in: they all too evidently simply didn't know thre words. The singing was good, led by the excellent Ordinariate priest and congregation in fine voice. The bugler was superb. The wreaths were laid, the dead honoured, the tribute to our history paid. And the young men like the one on the fine monument before us will never grow old, and we will remember them...we will remember them.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Ordinary...
...life goes on, even though somehow the knowledge that America has voted for same-sex marriage and compulsory funding of abortion through insurance schemes, and that our Govt is busy with similar horrible ideas, covers everything a slightly unreal feeling. While keeping up with the news on such things, Auntie spent recent days at various events and meetings. An excellent day-conference of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, culminating with a Mass at which the liturgy was in the particular Anglican-rite form. If you are an Anglican reading this, and you long for familiarity and good English worship, you should have been at this Mass. Echoe and echoes of 1662 plus dignified chant and resounding hymns...
In the evening I went to a friend's house in Chelsea for supper and we watched the extremely good film Karol . Haven't yet seen it? You simply must.
And on Saturday I was giving a talk to a Marriage Preparation group at St Mary's, Cadogan Street. Lots of delightful young people, great atmosphere, a sense of great joy and hope. Walked back through Chelsea with Father Innocent, a priest from the diocese of Lagos in Nigeria who is currently studying in London and has joined the parish team for a year, and with a student from Allen Hall who had been on a placement in the parish for a week or so...we spoke of St Thomas More as we walked along where he once lived, and stood by the great Thames, his river and ours...Allen Hall is thriving at the moment, good numbers of young men training for the priesthood. In the Spring my Catholic History Walkers will be making their annual visit there for the now traditional history-tour, and tea, and joining the men for Benediction...
Interested in carol-singing in central London? Contact me, by sending a Comment to this Blog, with an email address at which I can reply to you. Date is Monday dec 17th, time: 6.30pm...
In the evening I went to a friend's house in Chelsea for supper and we watched the extremely good film Karol . Haven't yet seen it? You simply must.
And on Saturday I was giving a talk to a Marriage Preparation group at St Mary's, Cadogan Street. Lots of delightful young people, great atmosphere, a sense of great joy and hope. Walked back through Chelsea with Father Innocent, a priest from the diocese of Lagos in Nigeria who is currently studying in London and has joined the parish team for a year, and with a student from Allen Hall who had been on a placement in the parish for a week or so...we spoke of St Thomas More as we walked along where he once lived, and stood by the great Thames, his river and ours...Allen Hall is thriving at the moment, good numbers of young men training for the priesthood. In the Spring my Catholic History Walkers will be making their annual visit there for the now traditional history-tour, and tea, and joining the men for Benediction...
Interested in carol-singing in central London? Contact me, by sending a Comment to this Blog, with an email address at which I can reply to you. Date is Monday dec 17th, time: 6.30pm...
Friday, November 09, 2012
PLEASE...
....would the kind correspondent from Australia write to me again with an EMAIL ADDRESS TO WHICH I CAN REPLY written into the actual text of his Comment?I would love to be in touch!
PLEASE NOTE: if you write a Comment to this Blog I have ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF REPLYING TO YOU UNLESS YOU GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS.
PLEASE NOTE: if you write a Comment to this Blog I have ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF REPLYING TO YOU UNLESS YOU GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS.
Deeply, deeply worrying...
...and things are going to be horrible. The election results in America are very bad news.
Courage and wisdom are needed for the future. Read here for a good analysis.
Courage and wisdom are needed for the future. Read here for a good analysis.
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Vatican II...
...and a discussion group at the home of a lovely, lively London Catholic family. An excellent presentation on Dei Verbum. A delicious supper (platefuls of Polish bigos with creamy mashed potato. Wine. Choc cake). Much talk: thoughtful,challenging, analytical, positive. A strong sense of a desire to seek Christ. A chorus of young voices in prayer. A busy priest (hospital chaplain, tough job) who had joined us for the evening. A senser of a Church alive and missionary. The Year of Faith.
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Women ...
...meet at a Christian group called the Wives Fellowship. Auntie has been invited to give various talks, and yesterday's , at a Surrey gathering, was about Hallowe'en. Explored the story: pagan ideas about death as Autumn comes, the Christian message, All Saints, All Souls...
A friendly group, with women sharing Christian values and ideas...
A friendly group, with women sharing Christian values and ideas...
Sunday, November 04, 2012
The latest MAGNIFICAT
...by which I mean the excellent monthly prayer-manual that arrives by post and is a joy to use and handle - has a feature in it by Father James Tolhurst. Fr Jim is a family friend - he married Jamie and me at St Elphege's, Wallington, back in 1980. He is the author of a number of books, and something of an authority on Bl John Henry Newman...
Magnificat is a must-read: it always carries a particularly beautiful work of art which is discussed and explored by a good art historian - the Nov. writer is Elizabeth Lev. It has Morning and Evening Prayer for each day, information about the feast-days of the various saints as they come up (with lots of interesting snippets about obscure saints from long ago, or local saints in particular corners of Britain or the world), the Mass texts for each day, and some good features, meditations, and extra prayers...
Magnificat is a must-read: it always carries a particularly beautiful work of art which is discussed and explored by a good art historian - the Nov. writer is Elizabeth Lev. It has Morning and Evening Prayer for each day, information about the feast-days of the various saints as they come up (with lots of interesting snippets about obscure saints from long ago, or local saints in particular corners of Britain or the world), the Mass texts for each day, and some good features, meditations, and extra prayers...
Pouring rain and a crowded cathedral...
...on a November morning. I went to Westminster Cathedral for Mass because I thought it might be useful to hand out some leaflets about the Towards Advent Festival to people as they left (Saturday November 24th, Westminster Cathedral Hall: BE THERE!). I certainly chose the right day - it was the annual Catenians' Mass (all Catholic groups and guilds etc have All Souls Masses for deceased members etc at the Cathedral in Nov.) and there were hundreds and hundreds and HUNDREDS of them, all with their wives and families, packing out the Cathedral. The Catenian Association is a main supporter of the Festival, really its backbone and our excellent chairman Brian Towler is a Catenian...the Mass was glorious, with the choir in excellent voice...
I handed out all the leaflets to people as they poured out after Mass, and could have handed out more, wished I'd brought twice as many...and then went round to the Cathedral Hall, which was jammed with Catenians swapping news, and was welcomed by many friends. They are a super bunch, among them several who are v. active with the Catholic Union: much talk of current events, religious freedom, the Govt's ghastly plans for new law on marriage etc.
Sent off FINAL corrected version of my latest book to the publisher. Computers have changed the whole relationship with publishers: chatty lunches, the excitement of the arrival of the first proofs, the skills of printers, all gone, and now it's emails back and forth, and the author doing all sorts of techno-things herself...this book will perhaps be among my last to emerge as a book at all, as over the next years it will all be downloads and read-it-on-your-ipod. It feels bleak, like getting a voucher at Christmas instead of a parcel, or chatting to a friend on the phone instead of meeting over a drink.
I handed out all the leaflets to people as they poured out after Mass, and could have handed out more, wished I'd brought twice as many...and then went round to the Cathedral Hall, which was jammed with Catenians swapping news, and was welcomed by many friends. They are a super bunch, among them several who are v. active with the Catholic Union: much talk of current events, religious freedom, the Govt's ghastly plans for new law on marriage etc.
Sent off FINAL corrected version of my latest book to the publisher. Computers have changed the whole relationship with publishers: chatty lunches, the excitement of the arrival of the first proofs, the skills of printers, all gone, and now it's emails back and forth, and the author doing all sorts of techno-things herself...this book will perhaps be among my last to emerge as a book at all, as over the next years it will all be downloads and read-it-on-your-ipod. It feels bleak, like getting a voucher at Christmas instead of a parcel, or chatting to a friend on the phone instead of meeting over a drink.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)