Midnight in Paris

Saw Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris yesterday evening.

The film took me back to when I lived in the city of light;

such a beautiful place full of charm and character...

A star studded film evoking questions about where we live,

in the present or the past?

We can certainly learn from our past experiences but it's

not a place to hide in but to live fully in the present;

savoring each moment...

by the way...i'll be spending a week in Paris in August,

a great time to visit (it's when the Parisians go on holiday!)

The Kiss of the Lover... Now you can fly!

I took my 2 youngest daughters to see the animation Rio this morning.

It seemed strange because i normally go to church on a Sunday morning but because of different circumstances i decided to go to the cinema with my kids instead.

there's a great part in the film when the domesticated parrot (who can't fly) is kissed by his 'wild' lover...he's freed by the kiss, invigorated he starts to fly for the first time in his life.

He was created to fly, to be free and to venture out in the big wide world. But because of his domesticated up-bringing he couldn't; that's until he was kissed.

I've just reflected on this, and I guess we were all created for something...

and to be free from our fears...

It may need the kiss, the kiss of the Great Lover...the Spirit to give us life...

then, just maybe we'll spread our wings and fly...

Bruce Cockburn - Small Source of Comfort

Bruce Cockburn is an artist that I discovered a few years ago ( 30 ish at Greenbelt festival), he played an acoustic solo set in a small venue. The tent/marquee was jam packed; we were there to witness the Canadian guitar plucking maestro delivering an intimate repertoire.

A few years ago (3 I think), I got to see him in Brussels, once again a small venue, but the high caliber of the artist remains the same. He was then accompanied by julie wolf on keyboards.

I was only a few metres from the stage, what a great concert.

Small Source of Comfort is Bruce's latest studio album released 5 years after the release of Life is Short. On the CD liner notes Bruce explains that he was going to do a noisy, electric album but because he has dwelled in urban areas in the last few years his latest offering turned out to be more folky and acoustic.

The sound is much more like his early albums. The songs are well crafted and the arrangements are well formed. It's produced by Colin Linden who also plays guitar and bass on some tracks. There are 5 instrumentals...the album is jazzy, folky with lots of finger picking...

the subject matter ranges from Afghanistan to a beautiful tribute to the virtues of women...a track which sees Richard Dixon come back as Rose...2 songs co-written and duetted by Canadian guitarist Annabelle Chvostek (she's got a great voice).

An album worth waiting for!

Thanks Bruce and please come back and tour Europe (Belgium/France).

ONE VOICE IN PALESTINE ?

I've taken a short break from blogging, mainly due to Easter holidays and loads of work.

But I was compelled to post this after seeing the heading "With Accord, Palestinians look to battle Occupation" on the front page of the International Herald Tribune (Thursday May 5).

At last there seems to be a glimmer of hope for unity between the two main Palestinian rival factions, Hamas and Fatah. This recent development of an accord and consequently a reconciliation should help this tattered Nation state to get the rightful recognition it deserves.

Palestine can now hopefully concentrate on a peace process, seeing the departure of Israeli occupation and getting to govern their own state (at last).

It's a fresh beginning...

May God bless our brothers and sisters in Palestine who seek peace and freedom.