Union with God

Latest edition of the SNCF Society magazine arrived today.

Amongst other things, the society organise trips to sites of railway interest in France and reports upon them. This month some of the members visited the Technicentre Villeneuve-St Georges.

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Currently listening to:

The Light 3000 by TM Schneider

Schneider TM is the name used for the solo electronic music projects of Dirk Dresselhaus, a former member of several German indie rock bands, most notably Hip Young Things and Locust Fudge. He released his first single under this name in 1997, but his most notable piece to date was a track named "The Light 3000". The track is an electronic music cover of "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" by the Smiths and was recently voted by The Wire magazine as one of the best cover versions ever recorded. (from Wiki.)

I was under the impression that I had first come across the words, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" on the last page of Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited" referring to the Sanctuary lamp in the house's chapel. But when I looked for the sentence just now, I couldn't find it.

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Last night's dinner:

Melted some Brie

Sat some Spanish black pudding in the Brie and served with bacon and haddock

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Currently re-Reading:

One often hears it extolled that one should seek "union with God"; perhaps through meditation or some kind of devotional practices.

But on p 37, Irwin quotes a specialist in eastern religions who, "pointed to the arrogance of ascetics. He argued that, in seeking Union with God, a misguided mystic might come under the delusion that he actually was God."

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Miscellany:

Waiting patiently on cycle at the lights in Dumbarton Road this morning

Essex - summary

Many highlights from this visit - will begin with model railway related ones.

Visited a pottery at Barleylands, near Billericay, called Hazle's Pottery Barn. They produce a huge array of ceramic model buildings similar in tone to those on my layout. Also, they are more or less built to HO scale ie 1/87.

Although they are based on English buildings, they can, I believe be adapted to a French situation. I purchased two but they have yet to be customised to my French requirements, as it were.

Firstly, a theatre:

Instead of the words "Royal Theatre etc ......... ", Hazle will customise it to "L'Opera de National de la Rive".

Secondly, a church tower which has a French feel to it - in my opinion.

The Union Jack will be replaced with a generic Coat of Arms.

Probably take a couple of weeks to be completed and posted up to Glasgow.

Here are a couple of other buildings Hazle make - they produce dozens of different designs.

And here is a link to their website:

http://www.hazle.com/numbered-ceramics/limited-edition-ceramics/

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Currently listening to:

On Blackberry (plus earphones) whilst away listened to:

Clifford Curzon playing Schubert.

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Several Essex meals - didn't photo all.

From an Italian restaurant:

Mozzarella, avocado and tomato

Seafood risotto

Made by my sister - just one of several excellent dishes.

Penne plus roasted veg.

At Harry's Tapas Bar:

Harry's was mobbed.

The place to be in Billericay

Fried chicken livers

Roasted artichokes

Sun-dried tomatoes

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Reading matter:

My brother-in-law gave me two excellent text books that are relevant to my philosophy of mind studies - both Open University publications.

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Miscellany:

Another highlight was cycling around the Essex countryside that surrounds Billericay whilst my brother-in-law jogged. Just managed to keep up with him.

Left Glasgow Airport in cold and windy sunshine

Llamas

A pink house

A new build mock-Tudor

Another pink house

Hunners o' leaves

Hunners 'n' thoosans o' leaves

Stansted Airport on way back

Another resume.

Still away in Essex - so some more extracts from previous episodes of blog.

Gluing down the track onto cork mat.

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A much listened to combo from last 2 years:

Eels

Another much listened to combo from last 2 years:

Hot Chip

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A favourite meal:

Scallops, cous-cous and mushrooms

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A favourite book:

Hugely affected by this book in Summer of 2012

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Miscellany:

Greatest investment of 2013 - the Thule cycle rack

Away in Essex 1

May not have time or facilities to write blog over next three days so here are some random extracts from previous  episodes.

The original plan from November 2011

Earliest attempt to lay down track.

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One of my most listened to musicians from last 2 years:

Alex Smoke (from Glasgow)

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A favourite meal:

Poached eggs, artichokes and rice

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A favourite book:

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Miscellany:

The bike that has transformed my life since July