Serious snow.

St Philip's School singing carols in Islington Park

Burning bush

 

We had a service at Sacred Trinity, prepared by young people from St Philip's and St James', Broughton on the theme of light. After a brief introductory liturgy people explored different prayer stations, including this burning bush outside. It was all very good.

Wooden Shjips at St Phil's

Great sound and awesome visuals too from Sanae. I'd have loved to see Moon Duo afterwards at Islington Mill but I had to do a bit of tidying up at Church!

Dutch Uncles play St Philip's

The Tallest Man on Earth

2 Police helicopters over parliament.

 

The helicopters may look small on this photo but they were very noisy and there were lots and lots of police everywhere. All out in force to stop student demonstrators from getting out of hand.

Me in Westminster Abbey

 

Apologies that this picture is on it's side. I would put it right but I'm not sure how! Yes that is me wearing tabs that I had to buy at Wippells last Friday. I did look fairly ridiculous but then so did everyone else. Apparently the hood that I paid a tenner for, second hand, is a Manchester Uni MA hood that I am entitled to wear. The academic robe that I borrowed is almost certainly a specific one that I have no right to wear but nobody challenged me! The good thing about General Synod is that it does start with prayer even if there is a bit too much poncing about with it.

Assembly Hall of Church House

Lovely autumn day in Drinkwater Park

Quiet service at Trinity tonight.

 

Rebecca led the service tonight. It's alays really nice to settle into the bean bag and find some quiet peaceful prayer.

British Museum, Robert Smirke who designed St Phil's also designed this.

 

It took several years to build the quadrangle of buildings in very grand neo-classical style. Work started with the East wing in 1823 and finished with the south wing in 1847. The building on the right in this picture is Robert's design. His brother Sydney designed the round reading room in the centre of the quadrangle. The glass roof that makes it the great court was added in 2000.

2 minutes silence with the Deansbank singers...

 

A poster in a lift at Church House, Westminster. I was amused by the thought of the Deansbank Singers leading the two minutes silence!

Today's travel option in London

 

As I had to get from Euston to Westminster I thought I'd try out the new cycle scheme. It's similar to the ones in Lyon and Paris, and is certainly very convenient. I registered online and my key came very quickly. There is a bit of a trick to getting the bikes out - put the key in and once the green light comes on lift the back of the bike up and then slam it down releasing the front wheel (or just pull very hard). There are bikes available in a lot of places but it helps to know where and I downloaded an iphone app to help with this. The bikes are heavy and clunky but are fine for short journeys. It helps if you have an idea where you're going. The bike's are free, apart from the £1 per day access fee, for up to half an hour at a time, so it wouldn't be good to get too lost or you might start paying. It's a shame about the advertising but I suppose that helps pay for the scheme. For visits to London I'd recommend using the cycle scheme and I'm looking forward to getting something similar in Manchester & Salford. There's been talk about it for quite a long time and it would be good if it could happen. Having said all that it was lovely to get back to Piccadilly, climb on my own bike and cycle home fast!

Launch of revamped Islinton Mill

Bill makes a speech whilst Mark sees the light! It was a really nice event and the Mill looks good. What stunningly good people they all are. http://www.islingtonmill.com/

Restrepo film at Sacred Trinity

Fantastic off road routes in Prestwich Forest Park

 

I haven't cycled along this bit of route 6 for a while and I didn't realise that the Forestry Commission have out some really nice little routes in.  The surface of Route 6 has also been finished off and so it is much better.

Naming of Phoebe at her Pentecostal church

Whalley Abbey gardens

The view from my window whilst staying at Whalley Abbey. Very nice.

British Sea Power playing Man of Aran

A fantastic gig at St Phil's, part of the wonderful Unconvention. The band had the film, Man of Aran playing and they played along to it, sitting with their backs to us, watching the film with us. Truly a very special event.

Chocolate beer. Beer AND Chocolate. My favourite things combined!

British Sea Power at St Philip's

Tim Robbins at St Philip's

Art club at St Philip's

Beautiful new facilities at St Philip's school

Rainbow over Greenbelt

Sam & Jay, married today at St Luke's

Leavers from St Philip's school.

 

These are the school leavers from St Philip's CE Primary School this year. The leaver's Service on Friday was really emotional. They are all really nice kids and it is such a good school. I'm sure they'll all be fine in "big school" but it brings a tear to the eye to say goodbye. They all sang wonderfully too.

Not a happy car! But fortunately nobody was hurt.

Rachel & Alex, confirmed today

New Chaplain for mediacity

Rev Hayley Matthews has been appointed as Chaplain to mediacity. Hayley is pictured here on the left with Sandra Kearney the vicar of Ordsall and Salford Quays. Hayley will start work in September. There is more info on the diocesan website here: http://www.manchester.anglican.org/news/591/chaplain-to-serve-at-uks-first-media-city

Bombay Bicycle Club at St Phil's

Bombay Bicycle Club are doing two sold out shows at St Philip's. This was the start of their acoustic tour with a new album and a new live set. They perhaps started a little nervously but once they got going it sounded really good. The audience were very appreciative too. support came from Lucy Rose and Melocdica, Melody & Me.

Our Zoe with her new cousin, Phoebe.

Tonight's dessert

 

A quote from my daughter: "after a hard day at work, why don't you relax with an iced wine lolly?" Yes and that is it on the left. On the right is iced espresso lolly. Both very creative and i'm sorry to say utterly revolting!

Sharing the peace at our clergy conference

 

We've had a very good conference. Tom Wright was a very good speaker and there were lots of opportunities to chat to people. I was at the end strangely moved to be part of such a strange, varied, talented, committed group of people.

I'm about to get wet at the summer fair.

Cherry Ghost gig at St Phil's

Monday 21st June 1010. A really good gig. Very busy and very, very warm. usually the church is quite cool in summer but not with that many people in on a warm evening. Cherry Ghost seemed to really enjoy it. They had a small string section with them, which added a good extra sound. The new album is out soon and worth looking out for. There are more photos posted on Picasa here: http://picasaweb.google.com/the.andy.salmon/CherryGhostAtStPhilS?feat=directlink

The BBC Phil and Manchester Chamber Choir in St Phil's

On Sunday 13th June there was a live broadcast from St Phil's on Radio 3. This is a photo of them in action. I've posted some more photos on picasa here: http://picasaweb.google.com/the.andy.salmon/BBCRadio3LiveBroadcastFromStPhilS?feat=directlink
during this week you can listen to it on iplayer here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sq48s/The_BBCs_Big_Concert_Live_from_Salford/.
I'm not big on classical music but some of this was wonderful.
Bach: Cantata no. 159 (BWV.159) "Sehet, wir geh'n hinauf gen Jerusalem"
Haydn: Symphony no. 26 (H.1.26) in D minor "Lamentatione"
Bach: Cantata no. 21 (BWV.21) "Ich hatte viel Bekummernis"
Julia Doyle, soprano
Tove Dahlberg, mezzo soprano
Nicholas Mulroy, tenor
Halvor Festervoll Melein, bass
Manchester Chamber Choir;
Nicholas Kraemer, conductor

Live on Radio 3

BBC Phil rehearsal

 

The BBC Philharmonic are doing a live broadcast on Radio 3 on Sunday morning from St Philip's Church. 

Info here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sq48s

It was sounding really good in rehearsal today. There is going to be a small audience and I may be able to get hold of an extra couple of tickets if any one wants one. And that is a seriously big guitar... or is it a guitar?

Pete Roe

my brother, Pip at the camp fire

Camp fire

We've been camping in Llanberis in Snowdonia. The camp site allowed people to light camp fires. I'd forgotten how much pleasure there is to be had from sitting around a camp fire with friends and some bottles of wine. We had beautiful weather too.

Camping in Snowdonia - beautiful!

Guess who? A sketch by our Eloise.

Another Antlers photo

The Antlers at St Phil's

Michaela over a fairly scary drop

North along Deansgate

Looking South