Chennai India....a True Experience

I've not posted in a while, but thought it about time to, having just returned from Chennai, visiting St Georges Cathedral there, and a number if other deserving projects that both Rochester Cathedral and other local charities may be involved with in the future.

If you follow the link below you can see my many (!) photos taken during the trip.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31073310@N02/sets/72157626076236770/

I also plan to put some of my videos on you tube.....

It was a really great trip and a real eye opener....I shall always remember the warm welcome from our link Cathedral and the many people we met whilst there.

My Year at the Cathedral.

Whilst I sit here taking a 5 minute break on Boxing Day Evening, I sit thinking about the hustle and bustle of the last months.....

When I was in the Cathedral I thought about all that has happened recently that I have been involved in, all the fun things that Sunday Club got up to,Filming Annie's Wedding, Rebecca being Confirmed and Pip Being Baptised, both great days, Installing a new Sound Desk, CCTV cameras and woodwork ( twice !) into the Cathedral, the way that Planning the Big Screen Coverage of Bishop James' Enthronement took over my life for 2 1/2 months, the Showing of the Alternative Nativity to the Public at the Crib Service on Christmas Eve, slightly unsure of the response we would get ( It was all positive !) and many other great times I have had there.
There have been quiet times too, times when I have nipped in quickly to have 5 minutes of quiet lr see what goes on, to light a candle and reflect on what being part of the cathedral community means to me.

I think it means all things and everything and I am grateful for that !

It's all Go, but I feel remarkably Calm...

Just returned from covering the Lib Dem Conference in Liverpool.....great city and great people, long mad hours but really enjoyable, especially when things were going wrong and we were faced with a telly challenge.

Now before I head back up to Machester to do it all again at the Labour Party Conference, I have driven back home and managed to have 2 days with rebecca and pip, done some chores and caught up with rob for a chat and checked out the cathedral.....( yes it's still there !)

I have been rushing around lately, but today I really feel a sense of calm and wellbeing , something which I can only explain as being at peace with the world, with god and with myself...

It's quite nice really !

It'd be nicer if it lasts into next week....

Last Chance Wednesday TEXTUS ROFFENSIS !

The Textus Roffensis , an Ancient book over 900 years old has been on display in Rochester Cathedral Crypt this week and Wednesday 28th July is the last day you will have a chance to study it for a while ! I saw it within an hour of it going on show and was amazed by it's condition, and the fact over 100 people had visited it during the first hour.

The book is the earliest example of written english in existence and is actually two books bound together. The book is that old that the Magna Carta was modelled upon it !
If you have an hour spare go and have a look, or study Rochester Cathedral's website by following the link..

http://www.rochestercathedral.org/textus/

You Know What ? He's Up and About !

How Cool is that ?

This is the meaning of Easter.......

We have had one of the Best Days, when we got up at 4am to take part in the early Service for Easter when Rebecca was confirmed at the Cathedral By the Bishop ! Followed by a champagne Breakfast and then I snatched an hour at home sitting reflecting.

Then a particularly busy 10:30 Service and a nice lunch with the prospect of friends round for tea, all topped off by a tickling match with Pip, something we havent done for years ;-)

A Panorama or Two

Finally got round to checking out the great Panoramic shots taken from various places around Rochester Cathedral.
I am really impressed with the Clarity,Detail and Smooth way the Images run when you pan around them. Also some lovely little still shots that pop up when you click on them.
If you fancy a quiet minute and cannot make it to the Cathedral, just click the link below !

http://www.rochestercathedral.org/pano/

Public Showing of the Frogensian Christmas Tale !

It was a great success showing the film to Parents and other members of the Cathedral this weekend, Thanks to Sugina and Phil for organising, Simply Italian for the Pizzas, Andrew for help with playback and of course to all the kids and their families and friends who came along to support it. A total of £400 was raised for the Chennai Community Project and a great time was had by all. And do you know what ? It was a truly all age affair.

Thanks Everyone !

A Year at the Cathedral

A bit self indulgent, this post, but Rebecca, Pip and I have had a great year being part of the Cathedral in Rochester.

We have developed more friendships, more thoughts about the bigger picture and had more fun together being part of a fantastic church that there are just too many special people who share in our lives with God. You know who you are, and so does He !

We have been involved with some great things, Rebecca helping with Annie and the Interpretation, Darren and Pip helping Sugina and Phil with The Sunday Club, the Nativity DVD, the Interpretation Launch, Peter Lock's leaving do and all those Forum meetings with the rest of the congregation and the Dean and being part of such a strong fellowship.

One of the things I never expected was to become friends with the three Priests who have appeared on GMTV, and whose concert we went to see in Hammersmith I suprised them by giving them DVDs I had edited of Beautiful shots of the Cathedral put to their music.

I have to say I really enjoy on so many levels the Taize prayer on the first Sunday of the month, And did I mention hanging out with Rob....?

here from the last year is a picture of the interpretation play which I filmed, I'm at the bottom right....

Darren :-)

75% there on the Nativity Dvd Front.

Only One more saturday shooting for the Frogs modern take on the Christmas Nativity Story.

Not only has it some unusual twists on the Characters of the Story we all know of old, but it, like many of the best productions, has been beset by wind, rain, tempest, bell ringing and choir practice !
The edit is well underway and all we have to do now is the very start, and of course the happy ending ( which will be even happier as it is all to be shot indoors ! )

Find out about Frogs Here

Ancient Stones Untold Stories

Had a great time At Rochester Cathedral This weekend as the New Interpretation Project had its official Launch.

Henry the Eigth cut the Ribbon , and we were treated to a promenade style play by Acclaimed author Alis Hawkins (http://www.hawkinsbizarre.blogspot.com/) which took part in a number of areas inside and outside the Cathedral truly bringing it's history to life.

I recorded it on Camera and hopefully we might be able to put it on disk for a wider audience.

Rebecca has been helping Annie Harvey( who has been project managing the whole thing for the last year and who has done a great job, I think it's taken over her life somewhat ! )

And now visitors can be welcomed in style, and take one of three audio tours of the cathedral and also watch the Video Installations too.

http://www.rochestercathedral.org/

21st Sept Off We GO !

Lets have another attempt at starting off this Blog Thingy...

What have I been up to over the last few days, I hear you say ?
Well, At work we had Michael Bolton in on the show and we have just recorded two Mica numbers which were quite fun. We're getting ready to pack some bits and pieces up for the Party Conferences over the next two weeks, and Hopefully it will all come back again unlike the last few times I've sent gear out and about.....we seem to have lost a fair few bits, either on jobs, lives or at airports, which can be a bit of a pain....In fact I am still missing a camera light that dissappeared on the Talented Family OBs a few Months ago.

Plans are afoot for the Sunday Club Christmas Film, I think we will have to plan it with military precision, and were looking forward to the Official Launch of Rochester Cathedral Interpretation Project on Saturday 26th at 10am. Its been hard work for quite a few people and althought the New Cathedral West and North Glass Doors arent in yet, it will be great to try out the Hand Held Guides which will be up and running in three different versions.
This Sunday is Cake Sale Day and we have a devious plan to withold the Biscuits during coffee so that everyone has to buy a cake instead hahahaha :-)

SO that's it for today Unbeleiveably whilst Ive been writing this blog, and popping off for a bit of dinner in the meantime we have had 3 calls and visits from people trying to sell Gas, Electricity and St Johns Ambulance ( ! ) Either someone has sold our details or Companies out there are starting to get desperate....thats all for now !