Explosion in Hemel Hempstead

It seems half of the South East of England all woke up at the same time this morning, at just past 6am. Why? A massive explosion in a fuel depot in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire could be heard across 3 or 4 counties.

I live about 15 miles away from the oil depot and I was woken by the sound, as were others in my family, scattered around the town. The sound of the explosion was so loud it was carried up to 40 miles away. There are even claims it could be heard as far away as Holland! Experts say the reason why the sound travelled so far was due to a 'temperature inversion,' which means because of the cold frosty weather, the cold layer at ground level is trapped by a warmer layer above it, and this acts like a cap, trapping the soundwaves, and pushing them outwards rather then upwards as would normally be the case.

In the industrial estate where the fuel depot is located, windows and fire doors were blown out, cars caught fire and roofs caved in. The police have advised those living in the area to stay indoors, such are the health risks from breathing in some of the smoke. The M1 is closed in both directions. Miraculously, it seems there are no fatalities.

Midsummer Murders

Yesterday, I finally got the chance to watch the television drama, 'Midsummer Murders.'

A television crew spent a whole week last year filming this particular episode in the village that I spend most of my time in. At one stage, I even remember being asked to stop and wait by one of the film makers as I accidentally had walked on set, because they were busy filming one particular scene.

The program makers had changed the name of the pub, filled the green with actors and actresses, put up stalls, and banners, and had remarkably transformed a very small strip of grass successfully into the space needed to contain a village fete, complete with carnival procession, using a careful selection of camera angles and close-ups.

After, they allowed me to continue walking, two or three of the actors, made comments to me as they sat and waited for the director to initiate and set up the next scene. I smiled and carried on walking, trying my best to appear unfazed by such an attention-grabbing spectacle, when all I really wanted to do was watch!

Little did I know the caliber of the actors in that crowd;John Nettles,Simon Callow, Sophie Thompson  (Emma Thompson's sister) etc

As I watched the video yesterday, I must admit I did slow down some of the scenes to see if they had accidentally left me in. Drat! Like so many bit-part actors before me, I had been cruelly cut. Maybe, it was my fluorescent jacket? Or my self-conscious smile? Or the fact that I was waving in the background, with a sign up saying, 'Hello Mum?'

Narnia

Yesterday, I finally went to see, 'The Chronicles of Narnia.' I have to confess I shed a few tears in the dark, safe confines of the cinema. It really is a beautiful film.

The clear parallels found in the narrative with Christianity emerge as the film unfolds; from the Divine scales of justice, that required a ransom to be sacrificed in place of Edmund (Sinful Mankind), which is provided by Aslan, the Great Lion(Jesus), saving Edmund from punishment, and allowing him the right to live, to the swooping birds in the final battle scene who give the humans below the support they desperately need, when all seems lost(Angels).

There's one lovely scene in particular, where Aslan's impressive forces who are made up of giant, mythical-looking beasts, are preparing themselves ready for battle, swords are being sharpened, armor is being fitted, battle strategies are being discussed, but everything comes to a stop as they hear the small sound of footsteps, belonging to four very small children approaching the encampment (Christians). Instead of looking down to the children from their horses and their high vantage points, they look up to these new recruits, and a respectful silence emerges, because for the armies of Narnia it was all foretold, this moment would come, where the light would triumph over the darkness, but it would be at the hand of the children that the battle for Narnia would ultimately be won, however weak in presence they seemed.

Each of the four children; Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter, are typical children, full of immaturity, insecurity, and fear, but they still manage to achieve the impossible by defeating the White Witch(Satan), because whatever limitations they have placed on themselves, Aslan the lion, has already seen right through to their hearts, and that supreme, overwhelming belief in what the children could achieve allows them to keep growing. In fact, from such diminutive stature and standing, they keep rising in strength and become so powerful, by the end of the film, when the battle is over, they're able to look down from their thrones at their subjects, having been taught the nature of love and faith and its depth-fully aware of the power and force that binds all things (holy spirit), and bursting with love for Aslan and his great sacrifice which makes it all possible.