The Passion

Joseph Mawle as Jesus - 2007

During Holy week our vicar is showing the BBC2 production 'The Passion', first shown at Easter 2007 and not to be confused with Mel Gibson's story of the same title which caused so much controversy in the cinema. This one is being shown in Church over three nights, and discussion invited afterwards, a bit like a Bible Study evening with a film, and it ends tonight. I didn't see it when it was shown on television, but some interesting discussions have arisen and it is fascinating to hear other peoples viewpoints on those times.

This portrayal of Jesus, by Joseph Mawle, is very good in my opinion, but not necessarily so by others watching. The story itself is rooted in the tangled and chaotic world of the city of Jerusalem during Passover week. This production tells the story from three points of view - the religious authorities, the Romans and the Jews.

It is stimulating and thought provoking for this time of year and I would thoroughly recommend anyone to watch it if it is repeated again on television, it puts a human face on Jesus, brings him more in line with modern thinking, someone we could rely on in these troubled times of ours, not a vision in white, well groomed and always perfect. I applaud this production and wish I had seen it the first time around.

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Beautiful Bruge?

Today's photographs are of the lovely city of Bruge mentioned in yesterdays blog entry. They are typical of the architecture, well preserved, in this region. There are palaces, Churches, market squares and lovely old town houses all existing side by side in this lovely place. The Groene Rei (the Green Quay) is where tourists board a boat which will give you an inland waterway perspective of this charming city. (see photograph below)

It is because the city is so lovely that I was saddened to experience this, my fifth visit, to the city with some distaste. It has become so commercialised, it is almost unbearable to think back twelve or so years, when it had a magic all of it's own. Now all the eatery's are using the same menu's and everything is served with chips! There was litter being dropped and blowing around the lovely market place and it had a feeling about it that was created just for economy tourism - economy of the most expensive kind, £16 for Flemish stew and chips. Waiters harassing you as you pass by to eat at their place, trying to show you to a table if you stop to examine their menu. I know we are in a recession in Europe, but that is not to be blamed for the lack of individualism and enthusiasm that the Belgians once had for the pride in their lovely city, seemingly lost, in their drive to compete with tourism.

Even the chaple of the Holy Blood which is of Romanesque origin is shrouded in a white waterproof covering whiles repairs are being carried out; a programme that is scheduled for completion in ten years time!

How complacent we become when we are entrusted with such a lovely national treasures, in whichever country we live, as we strive to maximise import and expenditure at the cost of disrespecting our heritage.

Mr. Amazing and Beautiful Bruge.

Having been a divorcee for some time now I am used to this status in life. All the hurt and the bitterness out of way, I am getting on really well with life. This weekend saw me on a cruise to Bruge, but I couldn't begin to start talking about that adventure without mentioning my first trip to Bruge.

It was about twelve years ago; I was with my then partner who wanted to show me this amazing part of Europe, this unique little place tucked away in the Low Countries that had preserved its appearance in such a striking way. The market square, indeed the whole town, is dominated by halls and belfries dating back to the 13th century. It was a magical weekend and we stayed at the hotel pictured above. I passed this hotel again last weekend and for the first time I thought about Mr. Amazing for while.

Why do I call him that, well - he was amazing to me, an amazing courtship, life together, marriage and a spectacular divorce on the grounds of his adultery with a close friend. You see, he didn't do anything un-amazing, even down to sleeping with a friend. But this weekend I thought about him and the good times and then about him with her now and reflected on how shallow he is. It's me who is amazing, amazing to put up with his philandering, amazing to move around the country at his whim (career prospects) amazing to have survived a bout of heavy drinking during and after his betrayal, and amazing to realise that life is more emotionally settling without him.

So thank you lovely Bruge for allowing me the little indulgence of pondering on the past for a while and bringing me to the safe conclusion that I am better off where I am!