Saint Augustine x Saint Paul x Saint Erasmus [a.k.a. past few days]

Yesterday, I attended services at the local church, St. Augustine of Canterbury. It was an interesting experience and the first time I've actually seen an incense swinger in a church. As it happened, it was the priest's last Sunday after five years in this parish and he gave a fascinating sermon about change, using passages from the Bible to show how God changes his mind and that we shouldn't be afraid to change ours, too. Overall, I think I actually enjoyed it more than Evensong at Westminster Abbey, partly because it was less touristy, partly because the priest seemed friendly and intelligent, and partly because there were hymns for the congregation to sing in addition to a church choir.

After services, I worked on researching my paper until dinner. In the evening, almost all of us Swansea students went out to the Thames River Festival to catch the tail end of the parade and watch the spectacular fireworks. I was hoping to start my paper when we got back to the flats, but the wireless - which has been increasingly instable since last week - was down, so I read some of the 1953 The Charioteer instead.

Today, we visited St. Paul's Cathedral, which was actually less impressive than I thought it would be, though we did walk all the way up to the top -- around 400 steps each way, I think. Afterwards, we took a ride on the London Eye and ended our day out with most of us eating dinner at Wagamama, a Japanese restaurant; I ordered yaki udon.

Tomorrow is the British Museum, which I'm very excited about; among other things, it's supposed to have a good collection from ancient civilizations and a scene from Maurice took place there. However, I think I shall leave early and walk up Charing Cross Road; there are supposed to be some good used bookstores around there and I'd love to get a non-electronic copy of Renault's original 1953 The Charioteer.

Now for Dunkirk . . .

engines burn in glowing rage
high above the clouds
where bullets reign,
and metal bleeds
as smoke comes streaking out
now limping back sad victory
its wings are losing flight
& down it goes
this fireball
it's etched into my mind

look up now child
to the sky
and hear the titans'
fateful cry
for you, these mortals
now become
an offering to life
and all the men
who will not die
even though
they give their lives
return to us
and in our hearts and minds
as heroes will survive