Snowdrops

Mum took us to Welford Hall.  This one is in Berkshire.
Here are some pictures taken by Joanna.

Antarctica

The Cold Heaven

Suddenly I saw the cold and rook-delighting heaven
That seemed as though ice burned and was but the more ice,
And thereupon imagination and heart were driven
So wild that every casual thought of that and this
Vanished, and left but memories, that should be out of season
With the hot blood of youth, of love crossed long ago;
And I took all the blame out of all sense and reason,
Until I cried and trembled and rocked to and fro,
Riddled with light.  Ah! when the ghost begins to quicken,
Confusion of the death-bed over, is it sent
Out naked on the road, as the books say, and stricken
By the injustice of the skies for punishment?
                                                                         W B Yeats

Quoted in Terra Incognita by Sara Wheeler

(Corrections supplied by Uncle James)

Sara Wheeler described an encounter that I enjoyed.  She said that seasoned Antarctic explorer remarked that for all the years of exploration, and discovery in the Antarctic, much of the work was meaningless. Wheeler sees this as a picture of life, set in clearer perspective in the cold vastness of the continent.  So much struggle, so much courage, for so little meaning.  I thought of Ecclesiastes.  And then she described the sight of azure blue glacier ice, and sastrugi...and she is entranced and inspired.

Berlin At War

Roger Moorehouse's book is fascinating.
This what particularly stuck me I list below.

1) The takeover of Czechia was in the context of it's long standing place as the vassal of an Empire. For Germany, it was natural for a neighbouring 'superpower' to move in, just as Austro-Hungary moved in the lands vacated by the withdrawing Ottomans.
2) Hitler's invasion of Poland was framed in survivalist terms.  "We need this land to survive as a nation.  Poland should only exist as part of  'super-powers', such as German or the Soviet Union.  What hypocrisy from Britain and France to object, given that they has invaded vast territories around the world."
3) Slovakia, newly recreated, joined Hitler as a puppet state in the invasion of Poland.
4) The argument went, "as France and Britain have declared war on us, we need to occupy Denmark and Norway for our own protection.  Why not invade France?  They have declared war on us so better for us to take pre-emptive steps to reduce the treat."
5) The black-outs in European city led to many more deaths due to accidents at night, and the greater ability for murders to use the cover of darkness.
6) Berliners were reassured when Hitler declared war on the Soviet Union, because they distrusted the previous pacts with Russia, and saw this as a political anathema.
7) Berliners had a number of false hopes for the end of war.  Before the severe winter of 1939, a rumour spread that the war was over.  Ration cards were ripped up.  Also twice in 1942 and 1943, meat rations were doubled, but this was only because the retreating German soldiers were killing all livestock in Ukraine to ensure the Soviets did not have access to it as food.
8) Ruthenia, (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenia ) the eastern part of Slovakia, was ceded to Ukraine after the war.  It is another interesting piece of Europe that I have never heard of before.  And yes, it has declared independence from Ukraine.

Ruthenia- or Carpatho-Ukraine.

9)  Where to the Nazi's get their oil to fuel the war?  Various answers.  Romania, an axis ally.  Also they developed synthetic oil from coal.  There is an unsubstantiated allegation that Argentina supplied them with American and Venezuelan oil. Norway.  I read that hitting oil depots, though seen as a necessary target, was not felt to be as effective as other targets, such as V2 launch sites.

10)  The account of the removal of the Jewish community from Berlin was deeply sad.  The account showed the steady and measured loss of all rights.  Eventually, the non-Jewish community had little contact with their neighbours.  They they were neighbours no more, being moved to ghettos.  Finally, the Gestapo even got Jewish leaders to organise the deportations from within their own communities.  Inventories of possessions were drawn up so that bombed-out Aryans could be given stolen items, much like charity. I felt the deep sadness as the Jewish community switched out it's own light.

11)  Hitler committed suicide on the 30th April 1945.  It is considered that the last day of the war in Berlin was the 6th May.  For the Soviets it was 7th May, because they went by Moscow time.  The War continued is several places areound Europe.  One place was the Dutch Island of Texel.  Here the Nazis had posted a battalion of Georgian POW's.  They felt they were the most disloyal to the Soviet Union.  See http://www.lomt.nl/Historie_Georgiers.htm and http://www.texel.net/en/about-texel/history/the-uprising-of-the-georgians/ for an amazing history of disaster.  The Georgians had to guess when to revolt against the Nazi's.  The got their dates wrong by opting for 20th April.  Although they killed perhaps over 800 Nazi soldiers, they were defeated by troops barricaded in strong forts.  Only 228 Georgians from 793 survived.  This small vinette from the end of the war illustrates perfectly the human tragedy of war.

Baked Fig Ball

Margaret gave me a Seggiano Baked Fig Ball for Christmas.  She knows me well.  It was wonderful.

Melvin Bragg in his book 'The Book of Books' mentions how David, saved an abandoned Egyptian slave of maurording Amalekites with part of a fig ball.

1 Samuel 30

12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

13 And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

King James Version 1611.

Book of Books versus Book of Nature

I am reading Melvin Bragg's 'The Book of Books', the story of the King James Version.

It was a bit of a surprise to me how poor Bragg's prose style comes across.  I am a great fan of his Radio 4 show 'In our time'.  I see him as infinitely talented.

Bragg feels that 'The King James' version, which rings though his book like a trade brand;  "take three verses from 'The King James Version', and repeat them 25 times.,." is the only version acknowledged as being of any value.  Also he believes in the dominance of the English translation, "did Shakespeare help compose those psalms before he died in 1616?"  I know that the bible has existed in numerous ancient texts from Armenia, to Egypt and Ethiopia with not a hint of English.

Bragg has no faith in Christianity, but notes that it has provided important 'continuity and substance' for our culture.  The King James version has provide a common cultural heritage for many generations. Bragg feels that sadly it's era has passed, and his book is its epitaph.  However he will not allow Richard Dawkin free reign to lay into the carcass, and would like to see it more reverently disposed of.

In the past the two books that were held as the authority over all in the English speaking world where 'The Book of Books' (The Bible), and the 'Book of Nature', or our experience of the world.  For centurys the two were seen in complete harmony.  This is now seen as a ridiculous assumption.

For me as a believer, I am left to square my argument with Bragg.  Firstly, the argument of science versus faith falls flat for me. I see this as the comparison between the 'land' and 'sea'.  Both exist, but saying one disproves the other in nonsense.  I am not convinced by the 'God of the Gaps' assertion.  Certain 'gaps' persist, for example life after death, and the nature of love.

Here are the conundrums that I feel are important to me.

Evolutionary theory reasons that human brain development was significantly facilitated by scheming duplicitous reproductive deceit and the selfish maximising of advantage. This implies that the 'good' creator works in mysterious ways.  However, one can argue that this brain development occurred whilst species development  pre-dated the rise of humanoids.  There is no evidence for current evolution of humanity.  people are not becoming smarter, or stronger. It is argued that the unique difference between humans and the rest of the natural world is the presence of a conscious, and the presence of morality.  Has 'guilt' every been observed in the natural world?  The story of the tree in Eden is the story that signifies this beginning.  It also helps me understand why deceit, avarice and selfishness are ever present human experiences.  Perhaps they are just under the skin (or cortex).  Dawkin would banish sin and guilt.  But it is easier said than done.

Bragg asserts that miracles are all to do with human imagination.  For me the presence of miracles are significant because they indicate that our scientific knowledge is limited.  This I understand is one of David Hume's central thesis.  As Bragg says, lots of Dawkin's assumptions are based on scientific thought that may one day be discredited, like much human thought in the past.  Let us remember this.  For me, my prayers are crucial to my faith.  If God does not appear to bring some resolution to serious issues about me, my faith is tested.  This does not mean prayer is magic.  It means I am asking for something meaningful to come out of the chaos I feel.  I have a number of person friends who live in great suffering.  I ask for their suffering to be relieved, but I want more, I want their suffering to be meaningful, not wasted.  Perhaps, just as evolutionary theory implicates deceit in the development of the complex brain, I am looking for something similar in the pain I see about me.

I also agree with Bragg that the biblical stories fit into a much greater human whole.  They are but one human experience, and must be seen in the context of all other human experiences, including the many we know nothing about.  For me, one creator, supreme over all creation, is not limited by one book. It is argued also that it has existed for only a fraction of human existence. Other human experiences do reflect the essence of human meaning, (or lack of it).  However, I experience the bible as of relevance to me, and note the same with fellow believers about me.  It provides the framework for belief that is necessary to create security and stability, much the same as 'house rules' provided by a parent help nurture secure relationships. For me, this is 'the truth', in the same way that I respect the 'truth' provided by my family.  The difference here is that my expectation of The Creator, is greater than it is for my parents.

The bible, as Bragg rightly points out, is famous for being on everyone side.  It does not provide us with a neat 'sown up' world.  In many places it deserves an 'x' rating.  In other places it can not fail to stir up annoyance and confusion (is this deliberate?)  We will still need to seek divine wisdom, invoke compassion, and stir up that grey matter.

Urban Circle

Leicester City Cycle Round

As the pedals turn, so churns a new line of thought; as with a dynamo, the motion provides the power.  Here is a record of my thoughts from today's cycle ride.

The First of 11 Leicester Parks

This first bit is the route is taken by Joanna and her friends everyday.  The pavement is worn.  Like Thomas Hardy, who walked the same routes over many years, so my girls have observed these street.  I turn down Linden Avenue.  In Jikin, Czechia, we walked down a linden avenue for two miles.  My thoughts returned to that lazy hot walk with Theo, saved for me by a cherry plum tree, as we had not brought water with us.

(1) Evington Park, like a number of Leicester Parks, was the estate of a grand house.  The Victorian edifice still stands and is used for council staff training.  Across the park I curl through a small estate on the edge of the General Hospital.  This hospital land was sold off some years ago to pay a bill; like a gently declining family, letting go of their Georgian teapot.

The route passes a large green expanse of one of the city's reservoirs.  I wonder why the top cannot be used as a football pitch.  Images come to me of the pitch giving way and players falling... and water being contaminated!  I remember a football pitch we visited in Hong Kong.  It was on a covered reservoir, though it did have big pipes sticking up though it, like ventilation shafts on old steamer.

Lily Marriot,
described as a Leicester radical

Next through (2) Lily Marriot Park.  I know the Marriots where special to Leicester.  It is nice to have a park named after a woman.  I wonder if she or her husband gave name to the primary school.  The road passes by the shadow of two once high and ghastly tower blocks.  I remember going alone into one tower block to retrieve a fourteen year old boy who had run away from his parent.  He lived with a feral community of boys.  As I was there, beer bottles were being flung from the windows, and the scene of dereliction in the flat was impressive.  No 'twin towers' when these came down.

No tears when these came down.

Next through the gap between an old embankment and the (3) Rally Park. This is a great park for dens and adventures as the old steam railway line is now 'open access'.  Across the main Uppingham Road, past the terrace where our Iranian friends first encountered slugs (no slugs where they came from).  Then up to the old mental hospital, The Towers.  This place still has an effect on the older population of Leicester.

A fine Victorian Lunatic Asylum

 One building was named 'Daisy Peak' after a former inhabitant who was perfectly well.  She used to make tea for all visitors, and although became institutionalised, remained a loving and delightful all her life.  The building is soon to become a state funded Sikh School.  It's grounds are now open to the public as (4) Towers Park

The route now crosses the estate of Northfields.  I did a community study of this estate when I was a student.  I remember meeting people who were some of the first to move in.  I was fascinated by the social history.  Fine houses with large gardens, but on the wrong side of the road.

Now the route passes through (5) Rushey Fields.  Across the Belgrave road, I took a path next to a brook, leading to the River Soar.  This is part of old Belgrave, and some of the fine old houses still exist, such as Belgrave Hall.

Then over the old bridge and through a soviet style housing estate up to the route of the old Midlands Railway.  The railway embankment is very impressive, even in winter.  A footbridge crosses over to the Steam Railway centre.  Lots of people have gathered, many retired men with cameras.  Two impressive, shiny engines are there to savour.  Cock O' the North, and Oliver Cromwell are warming up. The path banks high above the tracks before diving off into Bristall.  Bristall, that non-village; an estate for people who can not bring themselves to live in Leicester.

Leicester North Station

Next over to the top edge of Leicester.  Glebelands primary school, with is prison-like yellow roof, surely the cheapest in the catalogue.  I remembered how Margaret's own primary school, was rebuilt in Elswick, Newcastle.  They fitted a climb resistant unbreakable prison roof, knowing that anything else would be easily picked off.  However, intelligence reigns in equal proportion across all neighbourhoods.  Some children managed to break into the school.  They threw bricks up onto the roof to create dents in the metal.  Enough dents, and they had created a climbing wall.  Using the dents as grip holds, they scaled the roof, and were able to drop down into the school quadrangle.

The Northern end of Leicester is the growing tip.  Lots of road drive off to an abrupt end in muddy fields.

A bumpy though metalled track cuts straight through these new estates, on old right of way.  It crosses the (6) Castle country park, down past King William's Bridge, to Anstey.  The western By-pass roars, but is largely hidden.  This end of Leicester has fine views of Bradgate Park.

Bradgate Pak

I am in familiar territory.  My office is nearby, and I am into the lunchtime walking zone. With an increasing large number of colleagues I get out regularly for fresh air and  some lunchtime exercise.

Now past another covered reservoir.

The route crosses the locally famous Gilross Cemetery.  This is where most normal Leicester folk end up.  The graves speak of Leicester.  Not beautiful, but not boring, is my moto for our city.  Many have a variety of languages on them. I see a Ukrainian flag, and a Jewish star no the grave of a black woman.  Even in Leicester, Hindus are largely not represented here. Their dead having been disposed of through cremation, and a possible trip to the Ganges.  If you are not so well off, the River Soar sometimes has to do, and one can see floating boats of ashes and incense, like Chinese lanterns, heading off into the watery unknown. Muslims are not here.  They are over in South Wigston.

Gilross Cemetery from the air (not taken whilst cycling)

New Park Estate has not much of the park about it.  I eventually found the route that cuts though the playing fields of the once infamous New College.  It's building are so enormous, that parts of it seem to be derelict in rotation.  I did enjoy seeing the head of a ventilation shaft down to Stevenson's Glenfield tunnel, once the longest tunnel in the world (now bricked up and only opened once a year for enthusiasts).

Ventilation Shaft

Next come (7) Western Park, a fine Victorian Park, that lead straight into  (8) Braustone Park.  This park was the basis for the creation of the Braustone Estate, the Hampsted Garden Suburb of Leicester (in it's day).

In the centre of Braustone Park is the beautiful but neglected Braunston Hall.  Here Brauston has no 'e', as it relates to the village of Braunston in Rutland.  When the estate was built, the people of Rutland were worried that a confusion would be created, so the e was added.  I remembered working with a father whose life mission was to save the Hall from collapse.  It felt like a metaphor for his family, who were also in collapse through neglect.  Helplessness all round.

Braunston Hall

My route now cuts over the old Fosse Way, and on to the Great Central Way.  This cycle route we first used when visiting Lis, before our Leicester days.  Lis found us bikes and we headed into town, trying to keep up with her on the Great Central Way.

I now turn off at (9) Bede Park.  The old engine shed is now a Tescos.  We are disprove of Tescos at the moment as it is moving into our middle class enclave of Clarendon Park.  How dare they!

DeMontfort University has managed to get the road around their building closed to motorised traffic.  The cycle reigns, and our Mayor seems to be pedalling for them.

This is a route I use to cycle home from work.  It cuts round the fine brick walls of the prison, along the edge of the (10) Nelson Mandella Park (a name change vindicated), and up past Regent College, the Attinborough Centre for arts and disability, to Peace Walk, and the slow climb to the Luyten's war memorial.  I thought again of the war memorial opened by the German Kizar in 1913 to commemorate the end of War in Europe.
(11) Victoria Park, once a race course, during the war, a vegetable patch, now a fine open space, with one cycle path across it.  I moved from the footpath over to my designated area.

Peace Walk

Back home.  About 20 miles.

Post Christmas 2013