Autumn burblechore

Studying another OU module as of 1 October, this time Essential mathematics 1. Have finally, after some dithering, have decided on a qualification I want to aim for: am going for the DipHE in Computing & IT and Statistics. Can count My digital life, the module I did last year, towards it, but sadly am obliged to do a maths module as the next compulsory module at Level 1. Very glad I studied the slightly easier Discovering mathematics a couple of years ago, as otherwise I’d be pretty at sea – prior to that, hadn’t formally studied any maths since doing my O-level in 1985. Have submitted my first assignment and done quite well, but now struggling rather with Unit 3 which is about functions - not something I ever remember doing before, but with a whole slew of baffling notation.

‘Give It 100’ walking challenge going well, with 40 consecutive days now done. Pics being posted on Instagram. And they may be appearing in a feed to the right of this text, if I’ve done the widget thing right.

Also started trying to use the Headspace meditation app, at the same time as I started the walking exercise. Finding it quite useful, and Andy Puddicombe's voice is quite soothing, though I don't agree with meditating with the eyes closed (too much like sleep) so am ignoring that instruction. More often than not find myself drifting onto thoughts about the day ahead, rather than managing to follow Andy's guidance, so effectively it's usually just sitting still in a chair for 10 minutes. Still, maybe that's useful.

Continuing with T’ai Chi. We have just done embracing the tiger and returning to the mountain, and are now fending off the monkey.

Went with Ruth on 20th October to see the Apollo Theatre Company’s touring production of Round the Horne, at Stantonbury Arts & Leisure. I’m not particularly familiar with the original radio show, though Ruth has some episodes on CD that I did listen to once. The bulk of the audience were considerably more familiar with it, given the enthusiastic welcome they gave to the various different characters. It seemed very well done – the young chap playing Kenneth Williams seemed very good; not being familiar with any of the other actors in the original, I couldn’t say whether they were well portrayed or not.

This was only the second time I’d been to the theatre at Stantonbury Campus, the first being to see an amateur production of Footloose during my first week working at the OU in 2011. The school opened in 1974 and apparently initially adopted a policy of no uniform and allowing pupils to call staff by their first names. Ah, the liberal 1970s. This Daily Mail article from 2012 reported that Stantonbury was introducing a dress code, apparently in response to parents' concerns.

Attended baby Emily's christening at the end of October, at the church of St Catherine Bearwood, where Gail and Rob were married. Emily charmed everyone by applauding herself after the ceremony was over. She coped very well with being lumped into the vicar's arms and having water poured on her head - I'm not sure I would have done. Here's a picture of Emily with the parents and godparents - not sure what happened with the light but Emily looks cute. We went back to Gail and Rob's house afterwards for sandwiches and cake.

Having made the decision to have Emily christened, Gail and Rob seem to have had a certain amount of trouble finding people to be godparents, as evidently the majority of the people they approached had not actually been christened themselves. Gail managed to prevail on her cousin Norman to be godfather – Norman had also never been christened but was evidently willing to undergo christening for the occasion. They did seem to have located a suitable friend to be godmother, as there was a godmother present at the ceremony, although only one and I gather that in the CofE you’re meant to have three godparents, two of the same sex as you and one of the opposite. Gail did invite Ruth to be a godmother as she at least met the initial entry requirement of having been christened herself, but Ruth refused on principle, on the grounds of not being willing to agree that she’d assist with bringing the child up in the Christian faith. As neither of the child’s parents are regular churchgoers as far as I know – and quite likely neither of the godparents either – the whole ritual seems bizarre to me, but there you go. If Ruth had been in any doubt about her decision, the order of baptism contains a number of things the godparents have to say, along the lines of renouncing evil and submitting to Christ as Saviour. Jesus. As it were.

Here's a picture of me at what I believe was my christening in 1968, though I don't remember it myself, with Mum, Auntie Anne and Gran. I'm not sure what Mum's hat was about.

Ray came up for the evening of 31 October to celebrate Samhain, bringing some gin purchased at the Dyfi Distillery during a recent white-water rafting trip in North Wales with friends. Also some remarkably nice non-sweet tonic water. Gin and tonic isn't something I drink regularly, but we had one for a bit of a novelty and it was really quite nice. We lit candles for various deceased friends and family, including Uncle Dan and Ray's cousin June's daughter Janine, who have both died this year.

Sharing two ridiculous news snippets that I've had in storage for a while but I don't think shared yet. The first is from the BBC News website's 'Most Popular', which frequently comes up with some gems. Re the second: it would be difficult to imagine a scenario in which this wouldn't be regarded as suspicious.