Day Off Week 4 2024

After a funny old start to the year, I'm trying to get back into a routine so I took the day off on Tuesday in my ususal manner, as best I could. I had an annual check up at the doctor's to start the day and then I spent some time blogging and writing in connection with various projects I am currently working on. I also spent time reading Matthew Roberts' very worthwhile book Pride whcih we are due to discuss next Monday at the Pastors Academy. In the evening I watched some TV. Fool me once is a flawed Harlan Coben thing with a crazy plot but it kept us watching. 

Day off Week 21 2020

This week's day off was okay but a bit bitty. I am trying to finish this Tom Holland book Persian Fire but didn't get too far. It was very warm yesterday. Another distraction was radio podcasts done by Louis Theroux. Fairly interesting, I guess. See here. At some point I read an obituary for Astrid Kircher at 81 (part of the Beatles story). In the evening we watched the last part of a Netflix series Unorthodox, which was interesting and quite moving. See here. I also began an assault on a manuscript I am hoping to make fit for publishing on Amazon. As for the book contribution I mentioned last time two good things - the cover is now prepared - see here. I was also notified that the first seven volumes of the Transactions of the Congregational Historical Society are online. They contain eight articles on my subject. Nice providence. See here.

Two Welsh Popes

I enjoyed The Two Popes film recently on Netflix with my son. The film looks at the relationship between the present Pope, Pope Francis from Argentina, and his predecessor who retired, the German Cardinal Ratzinger,. Put aside the fact that these men are antichrists and that there is no way of knowing how accurate the story is, the film is still an enjoyable and well acted piece worth watching. The way the film has it Ratzinger is a cultured, remote academic, quite other worldly and humourless in many ways while the Argentinian is much more a man of the people, down market and a football fan. We get the back story of Francis and Argentinian politics but not that of Ratzinger. The success of the film is down to the consummate performances of the two Welshmen given the main roles – Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. Hopkins is particularly good. I liked the way he kept the German element very soft but definitely there. Worth seeking out. Expect oscars.