It isn't decided yet

And that's only the football. I'm looking forward to the last home league match at Christie Park on Saturday. Morecambe play promotion rivals Aldershot and one point would be enough to guarantee the Shrimps make the League 1 play-offs, which is quite an achievement for a club still fairly new to the League. It's great that the final match will have a cup-final feel. Morecambe are one of three Lancashire seaside towns with serious promotion hopes. Blackpool play Forest for a chance of Premiership football next season, and a bit further down the football hierarchy, Fleetwood are in the Blue Square North play-off final. Sadly Lancaster City FC lost their final to Colwyn Bay, having finished over 20 points ahead of them in the League.

Given the season has been full of surprises (who's have guessed Spurs 4th and Fulham in a European final?) I wouldn't want to make any firm predictions, but wouldn't it be great for the Shrimps to start their first season at the new stadium in League 1? I hope they make it.

This morning I also heard an item on the potential for the great British seaside to have a good season with the recession (not to mention volcanic ash) limiting people's ambitions to travel abroad. The reporter was in Skegness, which was the nearest seaside to where I grew up in Nottingham. When I was a kid, I remember Skeggy and Mablethorpe were full of Nottingham people, the shops sold the Nottingham Evening Post and the pubs sold Nottingham beer. In the same way, I gather that Morecambe was the resort of choice for some northern cities and towns, especially Bradford. Hopefully this trend for domestic holidays might bring new money, jobs and prosperity here this year.

Education, education, education

It's the time of year for much parental hand-wringing and anxiety about which schools their offspring should go to. This week involved two visits to school open days, which actually proved to be quite interesting.

To clarify, I ought to mention that Lancaster is one of the last bastions of grammar schools. Until I came here, I hadn't seen one since 1973 when Gene Hunt was on the streets on Manchester and James Blunt was in a club with someone. Now as an old leftie, ideologically I don't believe in grammar schools, but that's the system we are stuck with.

The only alternative to the 11+ lottery is to go down the Church of England High School route. In Lancaster we have an excellent C of E High School, Ripley St Thomas, which seems a bit of a cheat when as a clerge, you know you'll get your child in.

First time round, son was clear he wanted Ripley, and that is where he is and he thrives. This time round, we thought we ought to see the Girls Grammar as well, so that's been two evenings this week.

I have to say both schools presented themselves well, but the C of E High School just seemed more engaging and lively.Looks like the choice is made for Ellie, but I am very aware of the people who were sitting round me, especially those who wouldn't have enough churchgoing points to guarantee a place. Not an easy time for many I fear.

John Bratby

There's a controversial painting in the chapel on our Lancaster campus, painted by John Bratby. It's a crucifixion, depicted in what was then contemporary dress (early 1960s), with every person life-size . In fact, here is part of it © 2008 Andrew Whitehead:

It turns out that Bratby would have been 80 this year, so a book has been written about him. He was a 'Kitchen Sink' artist with a troubled life and there is clearly some interest in him again.

He's interesting to us, as he once taught at the art college in Carlisle (forerunner of our Brampton Road campus) and his Golgotha is in our Lancaster chapel.

It's not a picture you would want in front of you when getting married, or when celebrating some other joyful occasion in chapel. However, some people love it. I just think it should be in a gallery where people could appreciate it.

Identity

It's nearly a year since the University of Cumbria was born, but I am reliably informed by students that taxi drivers still need to be asked to go to St Martin's College.

Change. It's never easy.

Footie

Was starting to worry about Forest - slipping down from the top of League 1 after a number of off-the-boil games and a dispiriting cup run. At least they have returned to winning form today. Just need the competition to slip up a little to get the momentum back.

Meanwhile locally, it would be such a great boost to the area if Morecambe could get into League 2. They have been around the top of the Conference for a while now, and they may well make the play-offs again. I went to the last one against Hereford, and it was a great local event.

Lancaster City, however, seem to have lost all direction, and are heading out of Conference North, having lost 10 points due to entering administration. In understand some business people have a plan to revive the club, but looks like it will be a long journey back.

Lancaster Military Heritage Group Carol Service

Yes, that's what it is called! LMHG exists to foster good relations between the military and the community. I'm not quite sure of the origins of their carol service, but it alternates between Lancaster Priory (which has many military connections) and local churches. Because College campus was once a barracks, they wanted to come to Chapel. The congregation included the Mayor, various other dignitaries and Jimmy Armfield, one time England international, Leeds manager and currently 5 live commentator. I was impressed! Lots of Army and RAF cadets there too, of course.

Anyway, it all went off well. We had some biblical readings and a couple of wartime Christmas ones, and Mr Armfield read one chosen by me about the 1914 Christmas ceasefire. Almost feel famous by association.

I just think it's fascinating that all kinds of groups like this exist around the country and come together for events such as carol services. When they do, it's important that they experience some Christian hospitality and have an opportunity to hear something of the Christian message in an appropriate form. I have to say Bishop Geoff (new Bp of Lancaster) did an excellent job

Time Travel

I love Lancaster. They have panels on the lamp posts to promote productions at local venues - the theatres and the Platform and the Dome at Morecambe. usually it's choral societies and brass bands. However, we also get people who no longer tour the big venues, or who are towards the end of their career. A few weeks ago, as I drove down the A6, I was greeted by adverts for Lena Horne, Bernard Manning and Wishbone Ash. It was as if I had travelled to 1975. We have also had the Manfreds and the Hollies on other occasions.

On a different tack, I attended a recording of Any Questions at College this evening. Didn't get to ask a question, but fascinating. Hardly any students came, although it was recorded at St Martin's College. The process of putting people at ease, giving us confidence in the process, reassuring questioners, and in a relaxed way conducting the programme was a lesson. I wondered if we could learn a lot from them about how to start a church service.

Burning cross

Just drove past the church where our Roman Catholic chaplain is also parish priest. The crucifix outside the church was burned the other day. Here are a couple of images I took as I was passing.

It's obviously an awful thing to have happened, and I'm sure the people at the church are quite distressed, but there was something strangely powerful about the brokenness of the image

Birds in the hand

Currently monitoring the wildlife in our garden (well occasionally looking out of the window.)

Birds seen so far:

Robin, Sparrow, Blue tit, Great tit, wren, chaffinch, bullfinch, pair of doves, magpie, blackbird + something I couldn't identify without a book in front of me.

Nice to be in a place where there is some variety.

It never rains but it ...

Apparently there's a drought. At least in the south of England there's a drought. Up here in Lancaster a better word would be quagmire. Just to give you some idea, I walked my dog along the top of a hill just behind our house. The sun had been shining all day, but even at the top of the rise it was very soft going, and you could hear the water draining out of the soil with gentle clicks and gurgles. Any serious activity in a field round here, and it would be reduced to those scenes of mud on grainy photos from the Somme.

So if we have lots of water, and the south east has none, why is it beyond 21st century technology to move it from one place to the other? I suppose no-one has enough interest in the national picture to invest in pipelines or whatever else it requires. Time for lateral thinking here. How about sending spare water down the canal system? Mind you, would you want to drink it afterwards?

The moral of the story is, if you want a lush green lawn without the use of a hosepipe, move to the north-west.

Martyn Joseph

Went to the MJ gig at Lancaster University Chaplaincy last night. Despite not feeling 100%, he delivered the goods with all the passion and energy you might expect. This year he was maybe a little less angry than he was last year, but still very challenging. I first saw him back in more 'gospel' days in 1984, and I loved 'An Aching and A Longing' - originally a tape,, but now re-released in a box-set CD. He keeps the protest genre fresh and alive.

Great songs, great voice, great gig. Thanks, Martyn.

If you want to who I'm talking about, visit www.martynjoseph.com