YOUNGSTERS STEP OUT TO HELP CENTRE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Dhamesvari Kathrani and Dhani Gajjar, both six

Youngsters step out to help centre

Youngsters dressed as Hindu gods walked, skipped and scooted around the city's Town Hall Square on Saturday.

The money from their sponsored walk will help pay for the renovation of the former HSBC Bank in Granby Street, bought by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) group.

The children made their way around the block 11 times, in a symbolic gesture of circling a place of pilgrimage.

The route began at the building's Granby Street entrance, up Bishop Street, by Town Hall Square, down Horsefair Street, and back to the entrance on Granby Street.

Temple President Pradyumna Das said: "It's lovely to see children and their parents come together to make their own valuable contribution to this very important project.

"The centre will not only help educate them, but is a great facility for their future. The site is perfect as a community hub."

The money raised will help transform the grade II*-listed heritage property, considered a jewel of Victorian architecture.

DOZENS EXPECTED AT CITY PEACE MARCH

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Dozens expected at city peace march

A peaceful procession to make a stand against extremism following the murder of Lee Rigby is to take place in Leicester tomorrow.

Dozens of people are expected to take part in a march from Town Hall Square to the war memorial at Victoria Park, where a two-minute silence and a wreath-laying ceremony will be held in memory of the soldier.

The event is being organised by Leicester Strong, a support group formed through Facebook, and will be followed by a family day to raise money for two forces charities – Help for Heroes and Scotty's Little Soldiers.

It is part of a nationwide campaign involving groups across the country and is being held to coincide with Drummer Rigby's funeral.

Co-organiser Julie Hogben, of Groby, said: "I come from a family of military people and when I saw what had happened to Lee Rigby it just devastated me. He had been to Afghanistan and survived then this happens on our own streets in broad daylight.

"We wish to invite people from all walks of life, regardless of colour or religion, everyone who wants to make this a safer place to live.

"We need to stand strong together against extremism and hate preachers.

"Our Government should be ensuring these people are off our streets."

Julie was hoping to see about 150 people taking part.

The family event will be held at The Donkey, in Welford Road, following the wreath-laying.

People who want to join the procession are asked to meet at Town Hall Square from 11.30am. The march will begin at noon, with the group set to arrive at Victoria Park for 12.55pm.

For more details, visit: www.facebook.com/ LeicesterStrong

HOMELESSNESS CAMPAIGNERS CAMP OUT AT LEICESTER TOWN HALL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Homelessness campaigners camp out at Leicester Town Hall 

Campaigners are sleeping out overnight in a protest at cuts to a council's homelessness budget.

Members of Streetlife Action Group are bedding down outside Leicester Town Hall to object to the city council's plan to cut £2.2 million from its £6.6 million homelessness budget.

The group planned to spend a third night in a tent tonight.

Spokesman Andrew Parsons said: "We are here to maintain our awareness campaign about the cuts in the homelessness budget.

"We are here to serve notice to the councillors that if they don't get it right this is a glimpse of the future.

"We hope the cuts do not take us back to the dark days in the 1980s, when we had up to 60 people sleeping out in shop doorways throughout the city."

The council announced this month it was to save £938,000 by reducing the number of hostel beds for families from 129 to 70.

It is yet to announce the second phase of cuts, affecting beds for single homeless people.

Mr Parsons said: "We fear the cuts could leave us in a situation where do not have enough beds for people who need them.

"Our aim is to make the council think and think again."

GO GO AMIGOS!

On the way from BBC Radio Leicester to the Welcome Centre early this morning, I come across some friends and colleagues setting up marquees, tables and tents in Town Hall Square. Its all for the benefit of the Leicester Masaya Link Group (whose Claire Plumb is holding the flag of Nicaragua in the photo above). Amigos Bike Rides is holding sponsored cycle events to raise money to help relieve poverty in Masaya, Leicester's twin town.

PEACE VISIT 2012

Today Leicester Council of Faiths is holding our annual Peace Visit. This is one of what might be called our "signature" events for the benefit of the general public in Leicester (the others being our exhibition in Highcross during Inter Faith Week at the end of November and Holocaust Memorial Day in January).

There are twelve of us when we set off by minibus from Town Hall Square (after a brief welcome from Cllr Manjula Sood, Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths). The size of the group varies at each stop; at its height later in the day, there are 13 of us. It's a pleasant, sunny and warm day and we have a nice mix of old hands and new faces among us today.

Stage 1: Jain Centre

Our first stop is the Jain Centre on Oxford Street. The itinerary for the Peace Visit has changed each year (as has the name of the event, which has occasionally gone under different titles). The Jain Centre, however, has been a constant: and no wonder - it's surely the most distinctive among Leicester's many places of worship. I've visited it at least a dozen times and each time I do, something new has been done to the place. There's a nice panel display in a long corridor that's recently been opened up, conveying the history, beliefs, principles and practices of Jainism.

Stage 2: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

This temple has been open to public worship for less than a year, but has already become a major attraction, not only for worshippers but also for tourists. We're shown around by Narendra Waghela, who is one of two representatives of the local Swaminarayan community on Leicester Council of Faiths. He explains a few of the technical secrets behind making the whole site function to award-winning standards. It really is a beautiful place, with something to delight all the senses as well as elevate the soul.

Stage 3: All Saints' Church, Kerrysdale Avenue

We emerge from Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, get into our minibus and cross the road to our next stop. The Church of All Saints serves Leicester's Asian Christian congregation. Originally St Gabriel's (the statue of the Archangel has been retained above the entrance, as you can see top right in the photo above), the church was closed due to falling number of Anglican worshippers and remained unused for two years until it was resurrected in June 2012 for this diverse community. I haven't been to this church today (in either of its forms). We're given a warm welcome (in what is a surprisingly cold building) by the Pastor, Sunny George, and a handful of the congregation.

Stage 4: Guru Ravi Dass Sikh Temple, Harrison Road

Final stop on our short tour is another place I haven't visited before. This temple is named for Guru Ravi Dass, a revered historical figure among Sikhs and Hindus, previously unknown to me. Guru Nanak is reported to have met him and some of his verses are included in the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. Today's been quite an education for me - as are most days in this job!

I reckon that, if we had the resources, we could fill a minibus on this kind of tour once a month. There's certainly variety among the places of worship that we could visit plenty of them with dreary repetition. With adequate promotion, we could surely get a dozen people on board, once a month. Ajay, who is Co-ordinator at Leicester Council of Faiths, organises our annual Peace Visit. I wonder how he'd feel about that ...

DOZENS OF PEOPLE IN VIGIL FOR US TEMPLE SHOOTING VICTIMS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury (with a decent photo, which hasn't been posted on the website):

Dozens of people in vigil for US temple shooting victims

Dozens of people from various faiths gathered for a prayer vigil in memory of six people killed at a Sikh Gurdwara in the USA a week ago.

The service in Town Hall Square, Leicester, on Sunday night, was organised by Leicester Council of Faiths chairman Councillor Manjula Sood and secretary Councillor Inderjit Gugnani.

They organised the vigil as a way to commemorate the victims of the attack, as well as a way for Sikhs and non-Sikhs to stand together to bring about healing.

Coun Gugnani said: "We pray it doesn't happen again. But it happened. All we can do is turn it into a positive message for our friends in the community."

A 40-year-old Army veteran with links to the white-supremacist movement entered the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin and opened fire. Six people ranging in age from 39 to 84 lay dead. The suspect, Wade Michael Page, reportedly killed himself.

I posted a comment on the Mercury's website, under my own name, as follows:

Glad to see the Mercury cover this, but, as a strong, positive story expressing good relations between the diverse communities of our city, I'd have hoped that it would have attracted more attention. I was there, among a considerable number of people who were not Sikhs, but wanting to show solidarity and sympathy. The Mercury report doesn't mention that Jon Ashworth MP was in attendance and gave a short speech. There were more like 250 attendees at the height of the event. There's more detailed coverage of the vigil on various social media outlets, e.g. the Facebook page of Leicesterhire Sikh Alliance (www.facebook.com/LeicestershireSikhAlliance), the YouTube channel of Civic Leicester (http://www.youtube.com/user/CivicLeicester?feature=watch), the video report posted by Pukaar News (http://www.pukaarnews.com/vigil-held-after-us-shooting/2806/) and my blog post (http://equalitydiversityofficer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/vigil-for-victims-of-wisconsin-gurdwara.html?spref=fb). 

VIGIL FOR VICTIMS OF WISCONSIN GURDWARA SHOOTINGS

This evening, in Town Hall Square, Leicester Council of Faiths hosts a vigil for the victims and survivors of the shooting at the Gurdwara in Oak Creek Wisconsin, which took place a week ago today. This has been arranged at short notice, without a lot of publicity, but a speedy response seems to have been the most important consideration.

Certainly, word of mouth attracts a decent turnout. At the height of the meeting, which lasts for just over an hour, there are at least 250 people gathered here. The majority are Sikhs, of course, drawn from the seven gurdwaras in Leicester. But there are also many friends, supporters and well-wishers from other faith communities in Leicester as well as observers and sympathisers from no particular belief or tradition. As well as Cllr Manjula Sood, Assistant Mayor and Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths, two other Assistant Mayors are here (Cllr Vi Dempster and Cllr Sarah Russell) and at least two other city councillors.

Representatives of Leicester's Bahá'í, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim communities spoke at the front of the gathering on the Town Hall steps, where a table was set up with commemorative candles. Jon Ashworth MP (Leicester South) spoke there too. There's no amplification so whatever they say is inaudible from even a few rows back. It's remarkable how loud the fountain in Town Hall Square can be, especially if you're trying to be quiet. But the fact that the speeches and prayers go largely unheard doesn't seem to matter to the crowd. There's a strong atmosphere of mutuality and solidarity, no posturing or rabble rousing. It's all very dignified, friendly and reflective.

I stay at the back, occasionally tweeting and being retweeted by others (e.g. @KaursCorner, @Masjidumar_Leic, @navrupkaur). I take the opportunity at the end to record a quick interview with a young Sikh chap for inclusion in my inter-faith programme on FMO Radio tomorrow morning, which is about how faith communities in Leicester, apart from Muslims, fast. Sikhs don't fast for spiritual purposes, like virtually all other faiths do in some way. Rather than just leave them out of the programme for that reason, I want to include a Sikh talking about why they don't fast. I strike gold with this fellow, who states clearly the reasons why fasting is not part of Sikh belief and practice, but why he himself fasts for reasons of health and fitness. That will make a good end to the programme tomorrow.

Pukaar News has turned out to cover the event: a three-minute video report is on their website. Ambrose Musiyiwa records a number of video interviews and posts these on Civic Leicester's YouTube channel, including interviews with Jon Ashworth MP, Cllr Manjula Sood, Surinderpal Singh Rai (Chair of Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara) and me.

FESTIVE DECORATIONS BEING TAKEN DOWN

This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Festive decorations being taken down

The Christmas decorations in Leicester are being taken down and put away for another year.

City council workers have started removing hundreds of bulbs strung across the city's busiest shopping streets. Work is expected to be complete early this week.

The council has, however, kept a Christmas tree in Town Hall Square illuminated for members of Eastern Orthodox churches who celebrated Christmas at the weekend.

A council spokesman said: "The Christmas tree in Town Hall Square will remain illuminated until January 10 for Eastern rites."

He said Horsefair Street would be closed for a period today so decorations could be removed.

I took the photo at the top of Gallowtree Gate, early evening, Tuesday 11 January.

THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN

After the Council of Faiths meeting is over this evening, I lock up and leave Pilgrim House then take a little stroll around Town Hall Square. The fountain looks very pretty in the late evening light and I take a few pictures. Walking round the fountain, I spot a young chap splashing about in the water, clad only in a pair of big shorts - his shirt, socks and trainers laid out beside the low railing. He's casting about in the pool (which appears surprisingly deep). What's he doing there? Is he having a paddle? It's a warm and balmy evening - but not that warm and balmy.

I go up to him and ask if he's taking money out of the fountain. Not in an accusatory way or anything. You can ask just about anything in a Glaswegian accent and make it either threatening or pally: it's a fine line.

He tells me he that is, because he's starving and he has to get money from somewhere to buy some food. He then asks me where I'm from (see, faithful reader, the accent thing works). When I tell him that I must have thrown a fiver's worth into that fountain, he asks me if I mean just today. What becomes of the coins that folk throw into the fountain when they make a wish? Can there be any better use of them than they should help feed someone who can't buy his own food? What's the world coming to when young, able bodied men have to resort to this sort of thing, just to get enough money to buy something to eat?

I tell the lad that I admire his ingenuity and give him some change.

OUR SHOP WINDOW

At last, we're making good use of the promotional opportunity provided by the windows in the ground floor office - well, one of them anyway. These windows look out on Bishop Street and Town Hall Square, a prominent and busy city centre location. We've never taken advantage of this position. This morning, I put up this A1 laminated poster (made by Printing.com, Charles Street, Leicester) in one of our windows, which should win us some favourable attention. We're working on another poster for the other window, which should go up shortly.

WAVE OF NOSTLAGIA

We receive an email from the Wave Club, which Harry and Grace occasionally attend on Saturdays at Phoenix Square Film and Digital Media Centre. There's going to be an outing apparently, though to where and for what is kept as a surprise. It's a Doctor Who weekend at the National Space Centre: my hopes are high.

But it's not only my hopes that are too high, it's also my expectations. The outing is to Town Hall Square (well at least it's easy to find and cheaper) to join in a session learning circus skills: no swinging on a trapeze or sticking your head in a lion's mouth, but plate-spinning, juggling, stilt-walking and the like. The kids enjoy it (though it wears off quicker for Harry). I pass some time in a dwam, lulled into a zen-like state by my speciality: the sound of one ball juggling. I'm reminded of one of my favourite Oor Wullie moments, where Wullie attend a variety show and one of the acts is called "Drapitaw the Juggler"! That's not as tenuous a link as you might think, faithful reader, if you'll only read on.

Across the square, there's another tent being set up in a quieter and less frenetic spot. I go over to have a look. It's staffed by members of the congregation at Leicester's Gospel Hall. I spend a few minutes chatting with two friendly fellows called Gordon and Matthew (left and right respectively in the photo below). I might even confess to hanging out at their tent a few moments longer than I intended, just to appreciate the peace and quiet. I introduce myself and the Council of Faiths and say a little about how we and Gospel Hall might do something of mutual benefit. Chatting about things spiritual, even briefly, is like a little oasis. I'm happy to give them - and Gospel Hall - some space here. Contributions to the soul of our city shouldn't go unnoticed or uncelebrated just because they're quiet and subtle.

When I ask Matthew's consent to take a few photos of the tent, he says I shouldn't miss what's on the back of it. Pointing away from the Square, but perfectly visible to pedestrians, motorists and bus passengers in Horsefair Street, is the Bible verse shown in the photo at the top of this entry. This is the one verse from the Gospels that I'm most likely to remember all my life. As a boy, growing up in Glasgow in the 1960s, I attended 260th Glasgow Boys Brigade (junior ones) which was based at Knightswood Congregational Church. Every boy had to memorise this verse and repeat it in front of the officers and whole company before he could receive his lanyard, the sign of full membership. So that verse has stuck in my mind since a very young age and it continues to have strong and positive associations for me.

The verse in question (for anyone unable to read it all from the photograph) is: "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). I get the impression that as long as people going about their business this Saturday afternoon get to see that, then those inside the tent are happy.

Vox popped by Rupal

Around 1700 this afternoon I leave the Welcome Centre, where for the past couple of hours I'd been listening to the local election results on BBC Radio Leicester. Walking down Every Street, by the side of Town Hall Square, I'm buttonholed by Rupal Rajani, who's out with a roving microphone, recording some vox pop about the election results.

She approaches me with, "Your face is familiar." I've seen Rupal at various events, functions and occasions locally although we've never been introduced. So when I do introduce myself properly she asks me to say a few words in response to the Labour landslide. I express the hope that elected members will be able to serve the whole city, rather than just those who are seen to have supported them. I say that, working for the Council of Faiths has shown me the need for social cohesion in Leicester and hope that takes pride of place rather than some sectional interest.

My older son Alastair is with me. I introduce him to Rupal as a musician, and she records a few words with him too. He says he hopes that the Mayor and councillors can give the proper attention to the development of the arts in the city.

CITY CENTRE'S FOUNTAIN AND LIONS STILL LOOK IMPRESSIVE

The "Sketchbook" column in today's Leicester Mercury has a very nice drawing by Olwen Hughes of the fountain in Town Hall Square. Since the fountain features every now and again in this blog (it's what I see when I look out the window of the Welcome Centre or of my downstairs office after all) I thought it appropriate to reproduce that piece here, faithful reader, so you can see her fine drawing and read her interesting historical summary.

I've also put this on here because the fountain is a very public mark of the significant and lasting contribution that the Jewish community has made to the city and people of Leicester. Alderman (later Sir) Israel Hart (1835-1911) is arguably the most prominent citizen of the modern Jewish community in Leicester. Sir Israel Hart was four time Mayor of Leicester (Leicester was declared a city in 1919, at which time the office of Mayor was elevated to that of Lord Mayor).

City centre's fountain and lions still look impressive 

I was on my way to Leicester market via Town Hall Square, and the elegant fountain, always attractive to small children, caught my eye.

It was an especially interesting subject to draw, for the rays of the setting sun made the lions look orange.

I always thought that this was because they were actually made of bronze, but I later found that they were not, but are of cast iron, painted to look as if they were bronze.

The Town Hall, and its square, of course, was the site of the cattle and horse market until the Aylestone Road cattle market was opened in 1872, and this incredibly valuable site became available.

The City Corporation had debated finding an alternative to the Guildhall for 25 years, because it had become so cramped, and the new Town Hall was opened in 1876.

The fountain was given to the city by Alderman Israel Hart in 1879, a major local benefactor, and four times mayor of Leicester, and cost him £2,000 at that time. He always had the best interests of the city at heart, and the gift was made on the condition that the Borough Corporation laid out the grounds left over from the construction of the Town Hall as a public open space, and did not sell them off.

We have all enjoyed the result of his vision and generosity.

The design is the same as the fountain in Oporto, in northern Portugal, and one has to assume that Israel Hart had been there, seen it, decided that it was a delight and that Leicester should have one too.

It was cast in Paris, for this is where the moulds for the statue must have been, and it was unveiled with great ceremony.

It certainly does have the feelgood factor, and is in a remarkably good state of preservation, given that the fountain received some careful maintenance work a few years ago.

CITY'S CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS HANGING ON

Nice piece in today's Leicester Mercury about the Christmas decorations still up in the city centre. My son Harry and I had been talking earlier today about how many of these are still up. We were wondering if the cuts on council spending mean that some of them might just be left up all year, but not switched on. I like the comment in the article below about the "Eastern Rights Christmas celebrations". That's what made me think it worthwhile to put it in the blog. The photo above was taken by James O'Malley in 2005 - but that sign on the front of the Town Hall is there today (not continuously for the last five years though!)

City's Christmas decorations hanging on 

Christmas decorations are still being removed from parts of Leicester city centre.

Although Twelfth Night – the traditional time to take them down – was more than a week ago, some of the city council's festive displays are still hanging.

Leicester City Council has yet to remove decorations from near the Highcross shopping centre, Humberstone Gate and Belvoir Street. Clear-up work also remained incomplete yesterday in the High Street and the Lanes.

A council spokesman said: "The majority of the city centre decorations were switched off on twelfth night – January 6, but we always leave some on in the Town Hall Square for the Eastern Rights Christmas celebrations.

"We are in the process of taking the rest of them down but, as they are put up over a two-month period, we can't take them down instantly.

"We are taking them down overnight or on Sundays to keep disruption to pedestrians and traffic to a minimum, and expect them to be all removed by the end of next weekend."

Yesterday, shoppers in the city centre were still noticing the decorations.

Glenfield resident Karen Edeson, 49, said "I suppose these things just take time. The council will probably get around to it eventually."

But Steve Brookes, 63, said: "It's completely inappropriate to have them up after the Christmas period. Some residents, however, have taken a much more patient view."

FLY THE FLAG

There's a flag over the door to Pilgrim House, 10 Bishop Street, Town Hall Square: the base for Leicester Council of Faiths. New English Design, who share the building, have just put up this big silver flag with a white "10" rising up from the bottom of it. The row of six windows above the flag belong to the Welcome Centre. I've got the use of all of that virtually all of the time, although my work station is behind the two windows farthest right. By the end of this month I'll have relocated downstairs, to the right of the door, in the office space where the windows are currently covered over with cardboard.

IDAHO DAY IN TOWN HALL SQUARE

Today is Idaho Day: International Day Against Homophobia, an occasion given the imprimatur of the United Nations. All day, the Rainbow Flag is being flown at Leicester Town Hall (photo above) and at County Hall, seat of Leicestershire County Council. At 1300, a two-minute silence is observed in Town Hall Square, with representatives and guests of Leicester LGBT Centre and Trade Sexual Health in memory of Matthew Shepard and all victims of homophobia and transphobia. Dennis Bradley (Community Development Officer at the LGBT Centre) welcomes us and speaks about the significance of the day, before the Town Hall clock strikes one and starts the silent observance.

To mark this day, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to Chief Constables and the Chairs of Local Criminal Justice Boards, Community Safety Partnerships and Primary Care Trusts, providing them with guidance on how they can play their part in tackling homophobic crimes and abuse. The Commission’s letters call on those responsible for tackling abuse to:

• increase the reporting and recording of homophobic hate crimes
• take concerted action to monitor and increase the arrest, prosecution and conviction rates and reduce reoffending rates of homophobic hate crime
• provide better support to victims and
• ensure frontline staff treat lesbian, gay and bisexual people with dignity and respect.

The Equality Act 2010, which recently received Royal Assent, will place a new obligation on public sector organisations to promote equality, eliminate harassment and foster good relations on the ground of sexual orientation. The Commission will continue to support public bodies in meeting these duties.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JC!

An invitation this evening to the Late Lounge (under The Quarter Restaurant and Bar, Halford Street) to celebrate John Coster's birthday. Those connected with Leicester and Leicestershire will know John as the prime mover behind Citizens' Eye Community News Agency. Here's a bit from the website of Citizens' Eye, saying what they do:

The Citizens’ Eye Community News Agency website has been established to enable community people in Leicester and Leicestershire to become "Citizen Reporters" and provide a news gathering platform for current and relevant news to the third sector.

We aim to provide a professional media outlet for community groups to promote their events and share best practice amongst their peers.

We aim to present the stories and photographs received in a professional and unbiased way, and to accurately represent all communities.

In our portrayal of the people and locations reported, we shall strive to dispel much of the ignorance that erodes community cohesion.

As a gift, I buy John a copy of William Morris's Useful Work Versus Useless Toil. I think that's appropriate, since John's birthday (I don't know the precise date) is only a few days away from Workers' Memorial Day (28 Apr), which was observed in Town Hall Square and covered by Citizens' Eye.

Always nice to get so many of the positive, active and creative (and amusing) people in Leicester under one roof. I'm glad of the chance to have a sit-down with Gill Buttery, Development Worker with Leicester City of Sanctuary. It still amazes me, the number of people I've worked with over the past three years or so, but still barely know. Thanks for the time and the chat, Gill. Only sorry that I have to leave after just an hour or so and miss Steve Beverley's stint as DJ.

LEICESTER COUNCIL OF FAITHS GENERAL MEETING

General meeting of Leicester Council of Faiths at the Welcome Centre, 1930-2100. This business meeting is scheduled six months after our Annual General Meeting. Twenty-two people in attendance, representing seven different faith communities. (The fountain in Town Hall Square is the most prominent feature of the view from the window of the Welcome Centre.)

Not only ... but also

I spend most of today compiling the monitoring report for the second and third quarters of 2009-10. This report covers not only our "Core Service" (which the Council of Faiths has been delivering for Leicester City Council for a number of years) but also our new duties to Leicester Partnership as one of its "Host Organisations" representing one of the city's "communities of interest" - for issues related to religion, faith and belief. To most people that will sound stupefyingly dull. Well, maybe it's a quirk of my nature, but I can find fascination just about anywhere in my line of work. Seems like a good time to do this monitoring report, so soon after writing my top ten countdown for 2009. The monitoring report allows us to gauge just what we've done and how we've done it over the year as well as what remains to be done. Striving for the sake of striving isn't very effective; if you don't get the chance to reflect then you can end up feeling like you're flailing about in deep water and losing your sense of direction. My conclusion, reflecting on our progress in these past two quarters: Leicester Council of Faiths has been punching above its weight!

Nice view of a wintery Town Hall Square there and the Town Hall, seat of Leicester City Council. The Welcome Centre, where the Council of Faiths is based, would be just left of this scene. But in this recent weather it's been too cold to work in there. Lovely view, that's for sure, but sitting at my desk, heavy leather jacket on, scarf tied up tight, I've never felt so cold indoors. In fact, I felt like I may as well have been sitting in the square with my laptop. The heating has given up the ghost: so have I. No choice but to retire gracefully (if you disregard the shivering) to work from home. *Brrr!*