Heroic Failures

Had an interview this morning over in Lincoln for a possible new consultancy, so even though my iPhone satnav told me 105 miles and just over 2 hours, I left myself 3 and a half. Set off 06:30 for a 10:00 interview. Bags of time I thought, but guess what? Made it to Lincoln with just 20 minutes to find the venue, and no time to stop at all for my leisurely coffee and bacon buttie in Bakewell (too early for a tart I thought). Couldn't even check out the unique breeding population of Rainbow Trout for the River Derwent Fly Fishing opportunities. Tragedy!

Enroute I had downloaded a Desert Island Discs Podcast of the Aussie comedian cum musician Tim Minchin and have to say he was great. His memorable quotes include: "Some people don't know what to do with their Saturday afternoons; So what do I want with Eternity?" Don't normally like his Sit-down Stand-up, but he was funny and off-beat. Worth checking it out - but then I am addicted to the show and podcasts. Been pining for Kirsty whilst it has been off.

So, with all that secularism sentiment was planning a blip in Lincoln at the Cathedral, but had of course forgotten the imperfect beauty of Chesterfield's very own Crooked Spire on the way. How could I not use this instead? The spire, added in 1362 is according to Wikipedia is both twisted and leaning (twisting 45 degrees and leaning 9 feet 6 inches from its true centre, it says). In common folklore, it seems there have been numerous explanations for this. One is that the spire was so shocked to learn of the marriage of a virgin in the church that it bent down to get a closer look!

Someone stopped me to ask the way to the station as I was taking the picture. "I think I may have missed my way", I thought afterwards, and the spire seemed to sum things up nicely. Saying that, Charles Rennie Mackintosh once said "There is hope in honest error, none in the icey perfections of the mere stylist".

So let us celebrate such gloriously heroic failures as the crooked spire. Indeed, I would like to think I am one myself (heroic failure that is).

On my way now to Sheffield to meet daughter Jadine and Nahida (MrsB) for some lunch. Jay was meant to be celebrating after an English Lit exam, but with about 6 of her classmates turned up in the wrong location so missed it completely. Re-sits in August it seems. Atta girl - Her fathers daughter most definitely!