Sabotage!

Right, well this year I've convinced myself to make some sort of sacrifice for lent- not because of any sudden religious impulse, but rather in solidarity with Bethie who each year appears to be suffering alone for a solid forty days.

Admittedly I'm not prepared to go to quite the lengths which she is. My self-denial will be that of chocolate, whereas Beth is abstaining from chocolate, sweets, in short practically everything except sponge cake. As I don't really eat sweets anyway giving them up seems a tad pointless and also deprive me of anything on which to binge in the case of an emergency.

Now roughly a week and a half in and I have been pushed to the edge of endurance. With no chocolate around my task is really quite easy, however people have been attempting to sabotage me right from the off.

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Wednesday (Day 1)
Percy and Dodie buy a Thorntons Chocolate cake. I am under the misconception that Lent does not being until tomorrow. It does not end well.

However since this is clearly the fault of Lent for starting before I was aware of it, I'm studiously ignoring this small discrepancy.
In short, it doesn't count.

Saturday (Day 4)
Percy buys a packet of Revels. I immediately exit the house, insisting that they be gone when I return. No fear on that score.

Wednesday (Day 8)
I return home from school absolutely knackered, only to find that Dodie has saved me a blindingly gorgeous chocolate chip cookie. I go to eat it, then realisation hits. Hard.

Sunday (Day 12)
Having walked c. 7 1/2 miles with the Ramblers I come in truly desperate. Dodie offers me the chocolate cake she has just baked, which Lyovka and some friends are halfway through consuming. I point out my problem. "Okay then, well have some Celebrations instead. Oh...". Yep 'Oh'.
I substitute with a scone. I am envied by no-one.

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Despite this I am resolutely holding firm. Only 28 more days....

On a historical note...

I've been neglecting writing; to be honest, it's just been too nice outside and sitting at at the computer hasn't appealed.
Anyhow, due to a sailing course that's managed to get itself scheduled all across next week (I'm not complaining) I doubt I'll get another chance to type for a while, so here goes.

I'm not in the least patriotic (only evidently incredibly Cool ;) ), but I just came across this song and remembered how much I like it (I was reading up on Bonnie Dundee- spot the references) so I thought I'd post it up.

I've also just finished (re-)reading this book;

'Troubadour' (which is better than the cover might suggest), a historical novel which gives an overview of the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) instigated by Pope Innocent III to erradicate the 'heretics' (Cathars- denied certain aspects of Catholic beliefs, but a pacifist people) in Languedoc (now southern France).
Definitely one of my favourite books. I find Mary Hoffman's style of writing to read effortlessly and the events of the period fascinating.
I always associate 'Troubadour' with 'A Tale of Two Cities'. The most glaring connection is that both are set in France, at a time of civil war aimed at persecuting minority groups (the aristocracy, the Credentes -Believers- or Cathars). As well as this, both books begin and end in a similar fashion - and both, in my opinion, take  a couple of chapters to really get going properly at the start.
Well... I really like it.

Which Church?

I'm not entirely Christian. In fact, I don't think I'm entirely anything, and I reckon a lot of people could probably say the same. It's the whole; "I believe in something... somewhere....".

That's not to say I'm not interested in religion.

But I figure all that has been said before, so, onwards.

This Sunday I decided to accompany my friend Beth to one of our local Presbyterian churches, the West Church. In a way I felt a a bit of a fraud; it probably has something to do with standing in the pews, surrounded by a sea of earnest, hopeful faces and singing praises to the Lord.... whilst becoming more guilty by the minute for not truly believing any of it.

This is not West Church by the way, it's a photo I took of Yorkshire Cathedral. I wanted something church-like but I haven't actually got any others. Apologies.

Still, standing there like a vegetable wasn't really an option and I feel it was only polite to follow their rules, whilst on their turf.

Everyone was very friendly, which of course, was nice, and Beth was very helpful in explaining what was going on, and what everything was for.

Back A Bit..

Ooooh, backtrack, I should perhaps have mentioned the reason for my excursion into the spiritually fulfilling. Simply this; as part of my curriculum this year I took up R.M.P.S. (Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies) and for the second part of the course we learn about Christianity, Christ etc.

Now that we're coming up to exams, and everyone is realising that yes, to pass you have to study (and 'oh dear, what happened to the rest of the year?'), I thought what better way to do so than to get some first hand experience?

I have been to church before, but again, the feeling of hypocrisy drove me out. I was loath to say that I did believe in their God whenever I was asked, as I hate bending the truth (particularly in church, not very respectful), but hardly felt I could continue to go whilst proclaiming I felt no sympathy for their beliefs. Awkward.

Anyway, I'm going back again next week in order to widen my experience. It was really quite pleasant overall and in a way I'm quite looking forward to it.