WRITING
At the beginning of the month I finished off my book ‘Daily Prayers from the World’s Faiths’. I visited Gulu Anand, a director of the Hindu Council UK, at his ‘Brilliant Restaurant’, who was very complimentary about my account of Hinduism. I completed the starting and ending pages and corrected typos picked up by my friend David who had proof-read it for me. I sent it off to Nat my trusty designer friend on the 9th after a bit of a struggle with emails, finally using wetransfer.com – highly recommended! Final tweaks, including a photo of a teaspoon, and it was ready to send off to the printers for some promotional copies on the very last day of the month.
The only other writing was a short blog on how I gathered the prayers together for the new book. My main focus this month has been marketing.
MARKETING
I actually started – just started – to doing some marketing. I spent a day in the National Arts Library in the V&A drafting letters to send to the great and the good in the hope that they might say something nice about the book. I had thought of emailing them an electronic copy, but I will wait until I can send them the proper book.
(I discovered the new Photography Gallery at the V&A. It is amazing – it just goes on and on like walking through a wardrobe into Narnia).
I made a failed attempt to do fliers for the launch in October, largely because I didn’t include the eventbrite address. More haste, less speed!
I spent the last day of the month with my friend Kizzie, a social media trainer, see her website www.socialfireworks.co.uk. I now feel confident in creating effective posts on Facebook and Instagram.
CHURCH
I took a service at Holy Trinity Twickenham, a very ordinary local parish church, with quite delightful people. The reading was Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on water followed by Peter’s attempt to do the same. I explained why I believed the first but think the second is an example of Matthew’s editorialising. No one was put out in the slightest. I find that if you explain carefully why you take a particular positions, people appreciate it.
A few days later I had coffee with Jennie Sharpe, the new vicar of the church where I had taken monthly services over the last three years. I was very impressed with her and her ideas for bringing new life to the church. The actual launch of ‘Daily Prayers from the World’s Faiths’ will be there, on Thursday 19th October, in co-operation with Imperial College Multi-Faith Centre (tbc).
On 30th I went as chair of Music At Hill to Holy Sepulchre, by the Old Bailey, to discuss our use of that church while our regular venue is closed for building works. The priest-in-charge and I really hit it off. I hope we meet again soon.
MUSIC & FILM
August of course is the Proms! I heard Tchaikovsky’s Fifth; Sibelius’ First; Brahms Second Piano Concerto – quite wonderful; a concert with Elgar, R Strauss, Chopin; Stevie Wonder; Schumann’s ‘Das Paradies und die Peri’; and Handel’s long oratorio ’Samson’.
However, the stand out concert was of 1940’s music: Hindemith – really enjoyable, R Strauss’ Last Songs’ and Copland’s Symphony 2. But what was extraordinary were the encores. The first was the South African soprano doing a gospel version of ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands’, with the entire orchestra as an African backing choir! After the Copland the NYO became a jazz big band with brilliant jazz solos from all parts of the orchestra. Amazing!
I went with my friend John to Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘Ruddigore’ at the `Holland Park Theatre. The most remarkable thing about this is that the heroine, ’Mad Margaret’ is actually mad – and very sympathetic.
Only two films this month: Oppenheimer & Barbie. I found Oppenheimer quite confusing; loud and not very good, but I did see it on the right day – Sunday 6th August, the anniversary of Hiroshima. I have been watching the BBC 1980 series which is very interesting indeed. The scientific, technical and ethical problems are all portrayed well.
A week later Linda and I saw ‘Barbie’ at Picturehouse Central, great fun, and we had a pink gin and a rosé after.
WEEKENDS AWAY
Linda’s aunt Joan had a surprise 90th birthday party in Sonning by the river Thames. Linda drove her father up from Plymouth and our Peter came. I enjoyed spending time with Linda’s wider family. On Sunday we watched the Women’s World Cup together, though Harvey the whippet was not impressed.
And the last weekend of August was of course Greenbelt! Marvellous talks, music and worship such as: interview with the CEO of Humanists UK; Gordon Brown; Harry and Chris – brilliant singers/entertainers; discussion of the crisis for L’Arche following the revelations about Jean Vanier – quite painful; AI and religion; and a Palestinian on the problems of reconciliation amid settler colonialism. The outstanding talk was by Kathryn Mannix, a palliative care doctor for 30 years, taking about the process of dying. Fascinating and consoling. Her book is ‘With the End in Mind’. Recommended.
I also met lots of interesting people over coffee, such as a man who was diagnosed as autistic as an adult, plus the editor of the URC journal Reform who recommended I send the book to potential magazine reviewers electronically. I also met a friend Lesley with whom I have been to Israel at least three times. What came out of that is that we may possibly lead a trip to Israel together next year. Exciting!
Beer and Hymns at the Jesus Arms
So on to September, traditionally the start of a year of activity, but I feel that for me it started in August.
God bless.
Andy