Despite Steve’s cajoling I didn’t buy a copy of the Sunday Times today. Somehow, I couldn’t quite do it. The brands have me. There’s little escape from my routine of buying a copy of the Observer or Independent on Sunday. So it works well for me that I can avoid handing money into the mits of Rupert Murdoch by making use of the internet. Anyone else who wants to see what Martin had to say about Steve can do so here. The experience has set me to wondering what my life would have been like had it not been for the internet and wondering whether I should be worried that I can’t quite work that out. When my daily routine involves checking a dozen or so websites, checking e-mail and engaging in some light instant messaging before an optional break for breakfast, it’s difficult to imagine none of that being available. Perhaps I’d get more sleep. I’d certainly need a different source of income. But then I’d probably buy less books, CDs and DVDs. Cliche though it probably is, I’d have to say that it is the community I’d miss the most. If we put aside the fact that I’d never have experienced it to miss it.
Grace was good last night. The set-up was the “Arable Parable” worship installation guiding us through some self-discovery courtesy of the “Parable of the Sower”. I enjoyed it and Phill and Laurence who accompanied me appeared to too. Or so I guessed from the plans for similar installations they began to throw around on the journey back to Reading. It was a good day all round, with memories of this summer’s visit to Iran flooding back as we shared some recollections with the Friends of the Diocese of Iran meeting near Earl’s Court. And the obligatory monthly trip to Waterstones at Piccadilly to check out their latest sale. So the reading material increases.
Essay done, it’s fortran programming I must now return to. I’m not a fan of fortran.