Wednesday 16 February 2011

Hmmmm ...

 The third (and final) experiment happened early this morning when the light was good and the wind low.  A mixture of match lengths was used with normal short ones at the beginning and end and cook's matches in between.  All in groups of five.
It was only afterwards that the background objects came into focus ... you should always check what is going to be in a picture ... too late now!
Should you be so inclined, you may watch the fifty nine second experiment which was captured on a video with one camera while I tried to get still pictures with the other!
Why the match pictures?
No particular reason at all.
The first one came as a result of just "playing" while my brain was "thinking" ... it just happened.
The second (yesterday) was inspired by a friend's comment - she said that she'd have been tempted to light the original arrangement.  That idea hadn't occurred to me but once it was mentioned ... well ... it was the obvious thing to do.  However, conditions weren't great with a light rain and strong wind ... so ...
The third set of matches became a "necessity"!
The whole thing is a sort of chain reaction that took on a life of its own.  The match surplus was the result of having bought a number of boxes for the Carols by Candlelight service at Christmas so they were just sitting in a cupboard waiting for an occasion such as this!
I hope it has amused somebody!  Eliot wasn't too impressed and he backed off into the house when the matches began to light off each other.
Meanwhile, in the words of someone with whom I had a conversation this morning, "Praise and Pray and Peg Away"!  That's not a bad motto for just getting on with life.
There will be setbacks ... there will be moments of joy ... and there will be a lot of just getting on with doing the next thing.  Some situations will drive us to our knees, others will lift us to the heavens ... but in it all, if we can keep sight of the One who has called us, and who empowers us, then we can "Praise and Pray and Peg Away" today, and every day.

Father, hear the prayer we offer;
not for ease that prayer shall be,
but for strength that we may ever
live our lives courageously.


Be our strength in hours of weakness,
in our wanderings be our guide;
through endeavour, failure, danger,
Father, be thou at our side.


Church Hymnal number 645
Maria Willis (1824-1908)

3 comments:

Curate Karen said...

I enjoyed watching that video. Not sure why, though. The sound, the brightness and action and speed of catching - it is compelling somehow. Interesting how none of the matches kept burning.

Rev Elizabeth said...

Hi Karen.... it amused me! I've watched it three or four times!! Was fun to do ...

Loey said...

I too enjoyed watching your video Elizabeth. It was interesting to note that none of them stayed alight.
Fun experiment :)
I may try that too :)