Diaries of Brown Town

Life so far.

2006-11-24T18:16:00.000Z

Well a fine hello to one and all. Again I will apologise for my long absence, you can all blame orange. But hatred and anger aside, I am here now. I know we talk about important stuff here but I thought I would give you all a quick update on me and then we can continue any other conversation you deem worth while.

I am tow weeks away from being a practicing ambulance man. If that wasn't scarey enough, I am officially qualified to drive with blue lights and sirens now. Officially its from the 11th Dec but my first shift will be the 15th so if I were any of you I would avoid the Putney area for a few weeks.

The picture is of my first ever ambulance (although admittedly a driver training unit, but it still had lights and sirens even if we weren't allowed to use them!). Anyway I am enjoying life in London, going to the fluffy, anything goes church that Jon went to when he was here.

Looking forward to seeing a far few of you soon and I will join the conversation now!

Still Alive!!

2006-11-09T14:08:00.000Z

Sorrt everyone, I am still alive honest I just don't have world web. Also I now own a bulletproof vest!! Far more exciting than all this nonsense. I will get back on it as soon as I can, hope you are all well. benny

Transportation

2006-07-26T18:19:00.000+01:00

From this day forth these are my two methods of transportation. I will be living in London using an oh so cool oyster card and driving a larger version of the van!! Make way everyone, its taken some time but I will finally be a member of the London Ambulance Service. My course starts on the 21st August and I think I'm moving up around the 14th so I will see some of very soon!! Winner.

Memories

2006-05-22T12:49:00.000+01:00

Just in case you all forgot what he looks like, I found this picture.

Brown Town this Month

2006-04-23T20:10:00.000+01:00

Picture: me and Oakes just before hurling ourselves from a plane.

Lost applications, boring jobs, red & black bank accounts, trips, DJing and skydiving. I thought I would do a bit of a diary entry for you all, self centred I know but you might like to hear it.

The postal service did loose my ambulance application, which has wasted a bit of time but I won’t say too much more for fear of reprisals from Jodie. That said, I sent another one off pretty quickly and just heard yesterday that I got short-listed, winner! I hope not all jobs as boring as box office work after 6 years, but answering the same phone calls everyday is getting a little old now. I hope scraping people off the street is more exciting.

I keep doing too many trips which makes my bank account go from black to red to often. However I did do a skydive a couple of days ago which was nice. Jumping out of planes is fun. Not as terrifying as you might think, actually quite calm, I recommend that you all try it.

I am sure you are all well aware that Swansea is about as close to God as one can live whilst here on earth, however, it will no doubt be shocking for you to hear but I am getting quite frustrated. I enjoy spending time with my family but perhaps living with them in a building site is too much. Shift work gives you good time off but if there are few people to spend it with it gets a bit boring. I originally intended only being back for a couple of months, 7-8 months is taking the piss! There is only so much daytime television one man can take.

I have been thinking the last day or so about success and failure. I did a little exercise with some teenagers, thinking about what makes people successful and what makes them failures. I’ve noticed that as I bump into old friends back here, we all seem so obsessed with what the other is doing. I ashamedly have to say I’m still in the same job, still bored, still in Swansea; and I judge them just the same. Do they have a good job, are they satisfied, wealthy, on the ladder, going places? I can’t believe these things are the marks of success, not just because I’m not that, but also because I don’t want that. Surely we are more than what we do, we are successful because of more than our pay-packets.

I’m sure we all agree that character should really be the mark of success. How and why should be more important than what, but why are these things still so important to us? Why do I still judge people so quickly by a standard I would hope people don’t judge me by?

Just some thoughts. I hope everyone is well.

Internet Shopping

2006-03-23T14:52:00.000Z

This was the first and I expect the last time my parents trust me with the weekly tesco's shop. Got onto the internet being all technological and ordered it all and somehow managed to order 19 bread items!

The full list is as follows:

5x white loafs
2x wholemeal loafs
1x mini loaf
4x mini baguettes
2x packs of 6 naan breads
3x packs of 4 muffins
2x cheesy rolls
2x garlic ciabatta
and a double pack or garlic baguettes

When I came to put the extra bread supplies in the freezer I then also noticed we had plenty of bread already!

On a more seriously annoying note, I found out yesterday that after waiting 4 weeks, my application to the ambulance service got lost in the post! Not too drastic just some wasted time and I have to do it again. What fun.

The Drums of War

2006-03-08T15:02:00.000Z

I read on the BBC website today that Iran has refused again to stop its nuclear research program and the UN seems on the way to imposing some form of sanctions. My question is are we on the path to war again?

I remember after the war in Iraq started the rumour was 'Iraq's next. Syria's next.' Maybe it is. There are plenty of big bad lefty conspiricies, but there is also the dramatic need for our western economies to secure stable oil supplies. Iran is the 4th largest exporter of oil and the new prime minister is certainly no friend of the west. There are many countries with nuclear weapons and nuclear power production, including North Korea who have long been trying to develop their nuclear program whilst the UN attempt to convince them otherwise. It strikes me that we aren't all up in arms about North Korea, at least not the same extent. Is the nuclear issue an ideal excuse for the USA, Britain and the west to again go to war in the Middel East and further its control over oil? Are the drums pounding!?!

Pic courtesy of http://cagle.msnbc.com

Lord Kanye

2006-02-24T12:33:00.000Z

I discovered a new religion the other night, the worship of Kanye West. What a concert! The man can certainly put on a show, however he has proved once again that he has an ego bigger than sting! He finishes with goldigga and then stands silhouetted at the back of the stage looking like Jacko for several minutes whilst 7000 people go wild and basically worship him. Pure arrogance and we love him for it! Legend

Truth and Fact

2006-02-06T20:31:00.000Z

I have a question. What is the difference between truth and fact?

For a little while this has confused me somewhat. In a couple of books I have read recently or discussions I have had, we seem quick to criticise the concept of fact or absolutes, questioning the philisophical foundations of science and modernist world views, but have been just as quick to claim truth, about God or life or faith with little or no explination of the difference. On one hand we seek to redefine our view of the world into one where the modernist principles of reason, rationality and fact are not principles that define us or faith, whilst at the same time we hold to the hope of truth and truth about God.

I don't think I am questioning whether there are truths about God or not, I just can't seem to grasp the concept when we have spent so much time and effort underminning the basis of our beliefs in 'facts' or absolute truths. The main book I found this in was 'foolishness to the greeks' by Leslie Newbigin, which Jon has talked about recently. This may not be so prenounced elsewhere but I think it is still something we are quick to do.

How do we make this seeming contradiction work?

PS 10 points I feel for the cross in the science lab picture!

The Strange Sayings of Jesus Christ

2006-01-09T12:24:00.000Z

Hello

I have recently been reading some of Luke and have stumbled across a couple of things that Jesus said that have completely bewildered me. They are no more than phrases often, seemingly off the cuff and not important to the parable or conversation of the moment. I thought I would put a couple of them up here and see what you all thought and if anyone knows of anymore, please do share.

The first of the two sayings for today is in Luke 17v37. This is a paragraph about the coming of the Kingdom, how sudden it will be, or perhaps about how most people simply won't be expecting it. Right up until that moment people will be marrying and farming and all the normal stuff. Then right at the end of the chapter the disciples ask 'Where, Lord?", perhaps on odd question, but then Jesus replies 'Where there is a body, there the vultures will gather.' And thats it. No explination, he doesn't lead into anything just that!

And the second is in Luke 19v11-27. This is the story of the three servants who's master gives them each ten minas and then heads off. When he gets back one has doubled it, one has added 50% and the other hid it in the ground scared of losing it. The first two get rewarded but the third has what little he taken from him for not making anything of it. The strange parts though are not about the servants but these odd verses about the master. Right at the beginning it says he went to a distant country to be made king. This may all be very normal back then, I don't know, but then it says "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' He was made king however and returned home." This just seems out of place. The last verse of the chapter goes ont to say 'But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them - bring them here and kill them infront of me.' Now its just weird. If there is a point in this it doesn't fit with the rest of the parable, does it?

Ok that is quite enough of that what do you all think.

Christmas Texts

2005-12-25T20:57:00.000Z

Happy Christmas everyone! I hope you have all enjoyed your days. Was a bit dissapointed this year, mum forgot she hadn't bought any mini sausages so we didn't have any 'pig in a blankets'. She did however cook the bacon in fried cheese so I was appeased!

I just got back from Australia a week ago. 4 weeks in the warmth, on holiday! It was lovely, thanks for asking. Goof friends good food and all that.

This post however is about christmas texts. It is around 9pm in the evening on Christmas day and I have recieved about 7 or 8 group texts from people saying all the happy chrismas' you could want or need. Don't get me wrong but do people expect a reply cos if they do it will cost me a fortune! Please tell me I'm not alone in finding these slightly annoying, and sorry of you send them.

Injury

2005-11-29T10:33:00.000Z

OK so this doesn't look very bad but believe me the guy was massive! I ended up playing a game of Aussie rules for my friends stag and towards the end of the game I'm getting a bit cocky and decide that I can take on this American guy who used to be a quater back and is definitely bigger than me. The ball is in the air and we are both running fully committed. We jump and as expected he gets the ball and I run full on into his elbow. I'm told it was poetry. I flew, landed and couldn't breath. The oither guy apparently slowed a little before running on and scoring a goal and the match ended. I should really learn my lesson!

Brown Town in Town

2005-11-22T03:20:00.000Z

Ok this is the first picture! I am here however I seem to have broken my camera before even taking a single picture (I had to use a friends camera for this one!) so I am not sure how many more there will be. I am working on a replacement.

Ok I am doing well, postcards soon if I can be bothered!

The eagle has landed!

2005-11-20T02:02:00.000Z

Alright kids, no epic blog aorry cos I am on holiday!! Thats right I am now in Perth but fear not I will get round to blowing your minds soon. Started to see some old friends, already had some bigger discussions about things I'd rather avoid for now! Anyway I will try and get some pictures today or tomorrow and post them up so you can all remeber what the sun looks like. By the way it got to 31 degrees yesterday!

See you all soon

What a weekend!

2005-11-01T12:17:00.000Z

Well I know I speak for more than just me when I say that the weding was amazing. It was a lot of fun to see everyone again and talk about rubbish for a couple of days! The rumour is something might be happening London way at New Years so if anyone knows about it, do share.

I feel obliged to tell you all that is just over 2 weeks I will be heading of to the ever sunnier Australia!! Oh Yeah! I'm going back to beautiful Perth to see some friends and see some of then get married. I am rather excited and hope you are all very jealous. I also have an important post to put up but I have to do somestuff and go to work today so I will do it later. Its somehting about selling all our possessions which I'm sure you're all very bored of!

Messing about with photos

2005-10-18T18:42:00.000+01:00

I have decided that what my blog needs, aswell as the flashy new look, is some pictures! Here then for all who know him, is a picture of Jared Percival in his prime. Captions are welcome or simply abuse. The best will be passed onto Jared. RESPECTA!

Help make me look clever!

2005-10-18T15:28:00.000+01:00

Ok I am doing a talk in about a week for some people here who work at the cafe, a youth project we run. Its on Jacob, they are all Christians on a year out type thing. I thought I would throw open the floor to see what people made of the story of Jacob (starts in Genisis 25).

I haven't gotten too much into it yet but I will give you my initial thoughts. I don't feel I have ever really understood Jacob, or more to the point why Jacob is any kind of hero. Just reading the first the first few verses of the story, he is born and immediately named 'deceiver' and within a couple of sentences is blackmailing his brother out of his birthright. The next bit doesn't get any better, he goes onto trick his father into giving him the 'blessing' and basically stealing almost everything from his brother. This was clearly not common practice cos Esau is mad and Jacob then turns tail and runs.

I know the story goes on and he has some admirable attributes, but essential he seems like a deceiving, thieving, selfish, greedy little runt!! And he goes onto to be one of the fathers of Isreal, infact he goes to BECOME Isreal and there doesn't seem to be any great life lesson learnt where he repents or even feels guilty. He is scared to come back to his brother but it seems like he basically buys him off by sending him loads of stuff just before he arrives in an attempt to not get killed.

In summary , so far I don't like Jacob very much, can anyone shed any light on this story?

Medicine lost by default

2005-10-16T22:03:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone, sorry to not be as regular as the rest of you! Also a think you for all your comments on the career choice, you all had significant influence on me. It is either cos you all think I am too stupid to be a doctor, or maybe you were onto something.
As the title suggests, I have decided to follow the paramedic/ambulance root. As it turned out I had made my decision just about, and then I failed to get the form in on time for medicine anyway!! (Not entirely my fault but mostly!).

Being a little more serious, I was suprised to see an almost unanimous response and it did make me think again. So thank you all. I have a serious blog to write but I might leave it till tomorrow cos I'm so behind on comments.

Busy busy

2005-10-05T22:46:00.000+01:00

Well it appears I have no where near as much free time as the rest of you for blogging. Unfortunately I know that simply isn't true so you all must be proper geek keeno's!!! You may not get much more than one blog a week out of me, with the occasional comment if I consider your site worthy.

Here's something I've been musing over, your thoughts as my frinds would be appriciated. I currently have the choice with what to do with my life and that choice seems to be falling one of two ways; either I reapply (after failing the first time on a technicality!) to the ambulance servive in March and follow that, start getting paid immediately and be basically trained in 3/4 years; or do a graduate medical degree which will make me better trained but would mean 4 more years in uni and arounf 7/8 mores years of being someones b***h before I could go and work somewhere else?

Decisions decisons

What I'm doing.

2005-09-21T21:53:00.000+01:00

I thought that since this is called 'the diaries of Brown Town' I had better let you know what is happening. For those of you who don't know, after I finished uni I sharpely applied to join the London Ambulance Service and was just as sharpely rejected! Not fun but it was for not having enough driving experience which is nothing I could anything about at the time. Reapplication is in March so until then I must continue driving despite the ever increasing prices of petrol and the continual damage I do to the environment. I am also considering doing a medical degree next september which would be a bit of a change of plan i know! I'm not sure I would even get on the course as it requires I have A-level standard chemistry, biology and physics, which they test in a 5 1/2 hour ordeal only once a year! I therefore have 2 months to get up to standard in topics I haven't studied in 7 1/2 years! I am also dragging myself through very expensive lorry training, failing tests and getting up early to do so!

Still I am having a lot of fun in the process. I am living back in Swansea, with mum and dad. They thought that there would only be my little sister in the house this year so they took on a lodger and them my brother and me moved back in! I think my poor mother has to go to Tesco almost twice a week. My currene employment is back in the old faithful Grand Theatre box office selling tickets for postman pat and panto, ant that brings you just about up to date in the happenings of the ben brown.

The money one

2005-09-21T21:48:00.000+01:00

Right I thought I'd start the conversation about money! I guess most of us have starting earning at least something and we have to start thinking about how to use it. Wages, tithing, giving; what do we all think. I think I'm becoming more and more socialist, I'm hoping I can spend what I need and give the rest away, but then fidning that oh so vague line is hard to do! That's certainly not a principle I live to at the moment, more something I aspire to.

Ok just to get it started, argue with me.

Dam hello!

2005-09-19T17:18:00.000+01:00

Right I have a blog and it has my details but I can't seem to load a profile picture. Please help me!

The Beginning!

2005-09-19T16:51:00.000+01:00

Ok I have now created 2 of these things, immeadiatly forgotten the username for the first so now have to do it again! And i can't figure out how to do my profile! What a start!