2.3 Work and Wonder

This week started with a bit of a shock. Not long after leaving our Birthday/Burns’ Night party on Saturday night my Texan classmate Brad got hit by a cab. He fractured his skull, damaged his face, shoulder and collarbone, and ended up in hospital. I could barely believe it to begin with. I know it’s bad but after my initial shock I couldn’t help wondering what had become of the haggis I’d given him to take home and which he’d put in his pocket… Thankfully he made a pretty speedy recovery with no major permanent damage.

I went to the theatre right next to the school to see a play called ‘The Trial of Ubu’. It was stylistically interesting but beyond that it was a little bit boring and not especially meaningful. One cool thing was they achieved the effect of fast forwarding using lighting and sound while the actors moved really jerkily and quickly, even breathing really fast. That was kind of impressive and very effective.

This Wednesday was a milestone in my time at Central. After much contacting and pushing and emailing and organising I finally found myself hosting the first meeting of Central’s Christian Union. It was just me and two girls, but it’s a start! And I know there are other Christians who will hopefully start coming along. There had been a Christian Society last year but since I’ve been here nothing has happened and I really needed it. When part of an institution it’s so important for Christians to meet together, within that environment, to firstly encourage one another and secondly to be equipped for being more effective witnesses in that place. We had a chat, did a quick Bible study and prayed. It was small, straightforward and simple… and immensely exhilarating.

For our first project this term we’ve been working on the screenplay for the Keira Knightley film The Duchess. Much as I dislike her, and it, one of the perks has been that we get to dress up in period costumes and prance around as if we were in the Georgian era. One of the common misconceptions about this time, I’ve discovered, is that the people were all cold, rigid and stiff. In reality they were actually a lot better at socialising, and physically more relaxed and comfortable than we are now. They simply understood the importance of manners, and posture and lack of tension. Interestingly the physical alignment and relaxation work we spent most of our first term painstakingly learning would already be habitual to folk back then.

Something magical happened on Saturday. I got home at 6pm after doing some shopping and my flatmate Amy and I were getting ready to go out to a house party. Just before we left, at about 9pm, we looked out the window and it was white. The world was covered in a thick layer of snow! It had been chilly throughout the day but there was no sign of a snowfall. It was so sudden and it was such quality snow that I could hardly believe it. The picture below was taken that night on the street outside my house. As it turned out the actual party was pretty rubbish but getting there and back was a wonderful wintry adventure. London freaks out in wild weather of course so public transport was a bit sketchy. Sadly the snow left as quickly as it had come and within three days no one could have guessed that the city had been completely white not long ago. Then again, perhaps that’s a good thing as it made me feel very Christmassy and it’s FAR too early for that. I’d like Spring next please.