Same But Different

In many ways the results of this study state the obvious - that on both sides of the Atlantic services for sufferers of eating disorders are inadequate, but the reasons for this differ.

I can be cynical about the benefits of such research. If all that happens is that those interested in the subject read it and continue to despair, and those uninterested never realise that it existed in the first place and wouldn't care if they did, what's the use?

Except that without proper evidence, if necessary repeating itself over and over, scientists and activists alike won't be able to change or improve a thing. So, researchers and scientists, keep going, even if you are being asked to prove the obvious. One day someone will listen.

Rememberance

I started my blog three years ago.

Some things have changed, some things remain much the same.

My own memories of the last three years are as individual and distorted by my own prejudices and preconceptions as the next persons and will no doubt be contradicted by those I love most if I quote any of them here.

All I can say is that November is always a month for bringing back memories. We've probably really forgotten what we're supposed to remember on 5th, but we still enjoy the fireworks. We're all encouraged to remember the fallen in ceremony and silence this month. Each year as the Christmas cards come on sale we think of writing to friends and family and work out what we're going to say even if we don't actually get round to saying it. And always, as the tinsel shops open, I remember poisoning a dear friend in broad daylight by giving her medications meant for another - don't do it I say!

Unlucky for some

Friday 13th! Might be going to be a little fraught at times but I'm not superstitious and I don't think it's going to be any worse than any other Friday. Might be a bit better than the last couple as I am finally getting over my non-swine flu.

OK so this is cheating

But as I can't think of anything I can say quickly enough now to make up today's post, I'll thank the people from NaNoBloMo for reminding me that I don't have to post. In fact I could just comment on other people's blogs - so watch out, I might just do that.

Possibly not the ideal job for me then....

I actually quite like doing admin within the NHS. I particularly like doing it part-time (although that description of my hours is sometimes a joke) because it means that I can also do other things like occasionally being there for my children and washing the cat.
Even if I WAS looking for another job, I don't think psycho-sexual counselling would be for me. During my only ever brief attempt at it, I smile sweetly, tried to give the other person my full attention and asked "did you have an organism?" Luckily she also found this very funny but I don't think I'll try it again.

The effects of the economic situation and popular psychology on the activities of Father Christmas

Father Christmas' lowest ebb in our household was the year when he gave me a banana. That's it. One banana. Even before I'd read any self-help, show love to yourself type manuals, I realised that it was a bad message for him to give to my daughters, and I've remembered to remind him to give me at least a little something every year since.

In fact, for the last couple of years, he's been thinking of me throughout the year, and has often given me more than anyone else in my stocking.

This year however, the economy is in recession. As a family we are lucky, we are not experiencing the worst of the economic misery, but we have had two lovely holidays this year and we're not getting pay rises, so Father Christmas is conscious of the need not to be too extravagant. The influence of our trip to Vermont and the emphasis of friends and family there on green issues has also had an effect on him

So this year, I'm getting socks like the rest of them, and, if he remembers, chocolate pennies, a sugar mouse, a bar of soap and yes, a banana - fair trade of course.

Evensong

When looking for links to my Friday post, I came across an article about how to make Evensong more attractive. Since I can't find it again, I can't guarantee it, but I suspect it was about how to get more bums on the evensong pews. I have nothing interesting to add to that debate. What I can comment on is how to make Evensong more interesting for ME as a participant.

I can highly recommend walking 15 miles, preferably through less than spectacular scenery, to get there. However that might be somewhat hard work every week.

Another solution is to take a 5 year old.

I agree taking ANY five year old wouldn't do. Many would be frightened to go out to a strange large building after dark and might cry through the whole thing. Some, particularly the "Manse brats" children of the kind of people who are always dragging their children to church, would whine and find devious ways of disrupting the service. Still others, the intelligent, over-sensitive sort, would ask awkward questions on "why won't you tell me what "general ecclesiastical" hymns are?" and would get genuinely distressed at the discord between preaching about a Jesus who loved everyone and singing "I vow to thee my country".

But a 5 year old like E is ideal. It's a real treat for her to come out after dark to something exciting and grown up. She really doesn't bother about the complicated words of the service preferring to delight in spotting the words like "God", and "Love" that she can read, and in learning new ones like "Forget". She loves to hear the choir because her sister is in it, and she loves to smile at the vicar because he always smiles back. She hardly ever distracts with questions during the sermon, as that is the part when she usually falls asleep. Most of all she likes to do the practical tasks round the place and has a particular interest in the verger's job, although she quite fancies a Church Warden's stick too.