Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The iPod

Possibly the worst invention in the world if you don't own an MP3 or iPod yourself, and you're sat on a bus next to someone who is playing theirs so loud you can hear the words to sing along to. Not only once, but twice today...on the way to work and on the way back! Justin this morning, and Backstreet boys, Another Level and Westlife (old skool!) this evening...only made better by the Subway roll I consumed.

The other thing that actually made me chuckle was that a particular weight loss organization was having an open evening for new members - with wine and nibbles! Umm...great way to start losing weight ladies!

Exciting news: I get my permanent pass tomorrow after lunch and I get to meet the guy who is at the top of our particular department!

Right, off to outreach training and a chance to meet the lady vicar in the parish!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Smashing!



Just a few pictures for you before I go to bed for a well earned rest. Yes I have spent the last two days watching tennis (10 hours in total so far!) but, as always, with any British team, it's not been straight forward.

The rugby and football scores kept me on my toes too! Shame we lost in the women's word cup, but a 5-0 trashing by Arsenal brightened my smile.

So 2-0, what will day 3 of the Davis cup hold?

Facebook has a selection of photo's from the last two days - and will have the third day when I get back tomorrow!

Night!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Take it all...

The joys of Hillsong, from 'Take, take, take it all' to 'I will worship you for who you are'. These are the songs I've been singing for the last few days at work. A good lyric can just get me, and will not get out of my head for days on end. I'm quite surprised that no-one has told me to shut up yet!

Now I just have to figure out how to turn the bass down on the computer speakers!

If you get a chance - check out the link on Ant's blog (below and to the right) for the new look St Mike's web address. A whole mixture of feelings for me at the moment. The start of a new term and I'm not in Stoke Gifford, full time youth work is not my job any more. Pray for the full-time youth team (Ant, Trev and Cath) as well as the large group of extra-timers who are involved in a huge on-going ministry. You don't know how much I miss you all.

A bit of a glum moment.

This week at work has been a tough one. I think I've figured out that being in charge of two areas is not a one person job, or a two person job, it's one and a half almost. I felt absolutely swamped on Wednesday, but today I got through emails that weren't urgent. Having two people takes the pressure off a lot. Still getting an email today for transport tomorrow at 3.30pm today is not funny.

But this week will end on a high (of sorts). Tomorrow is a day off (yeay) which is to be filled by watching the Davis Cup (umm..). I also got my very own stapler and hole punch today! Woot! The exciting life of Liz!

Pictures of tennis and a weekend sports commentary to follow...

Friday, September 14, 2007

Loving Live


Ricky Gervais, everyone!

Yes, live and loud, and saying things to shock...a good laugh, but there are times when I want to hit him.

I'm understanding the concept of a weekend now. I didn't get away from work today until 5 and it absolutely sucks getting out late! Looking forward to not getting up until a sensible time tomorrow!

Just time to grab a drink and settle in for the rugby...I have a feeling I'm not going to like the score! (I'm not liking firefox right now, its playing up big time!)

Sunday, September 09, 2007

You First

What a week! It started with the car and continued in a similar crazy fashion.

My lickle brother turned 18 on Thursday so now there is a house full of adults...which has its ups and downs as always. We had good fun celebrating and after the disappointment of Tuesday night (the boys lost their 5-a-side football match 9-5) we needed some cheering up. I'm still really trying to get over going out on Friday - I think that bad nightclubs are the reason why I don't enjoy myself when I go out. Essex just doesn't have the same idea as some of the nightclubs I've been to. I won't rant about it, cos I will just bore you, but its got a lot to do with dance music and having one big room rather than lots of floors for different music.

Yesterday was spent with the extended family, where I got the mick taken out of my constantly. Not good. And quite annoyed that I let it get to me so badly.

Today was the day of 101 things to do at church. Dad was preaching (is sermon - which was really good is here) and serving, Mum was down for drinks after the service and doing the projector during... as Mum always does, she panicked before asking if I wanted to help! D'uh. So I was on the projector this morning and helped with drinks too.

The majority of the afternoon was spent in front of the TV - watching F1 and the rugby! Then it was off to church again to see what Mark's idea for alternative worship is. I really enjoyed discussing the questions he had asked us about the beattitudes in Matt 5. The Message version is a lot different from the NIV and the questions that Mark asked where:

Which beattitude describes you best?

Which beattitude challenges you the most?

Which beattitude can change the world?

Now you might find those questions easy or really difficult (the first one for me is the hardest to answer), but how ever you feel about them, you should feel inspired that God is calling us to be a people that isn't 'me first'.

Who is God calling you to be? Another question that is filling my head. At 22 I thought I knew who I was, what I was meant to do, but God has shown me otherwise and now I have to find who it is that God is calling me to be. At 23 I'm a little lost, those who know me well will know that the last 12 months have been a struggle, hopefully the next 12 will help me to find my feet.

This week pray 'you first' and see how you get on.

Monday, September 03, 2007

One for the road...

You know it had to be done! And I promise this will be one of few rather than one of many...but why 'One for the road...', well it's because of this...


Isn't it beautiful! A pink mini cooper - possibly the car of my dreams! I'll have to see how much it costs and start saving. First I have to learn to drive...

Also one for the road because I've being running. Three times a week, fingers crossed (with or without my younger brother running alongside 'encouraging' me), I'm hoping to get a little fitter by Christmas and lose some of the fat I've gained by drinking too much.

And one for the train...last time I went to Bristol I was some what scuppered by a closed ticket office! So I am mid-flow (well finished now) writing a letter to 'one' railway complaining about the poor service...They will reimburse the tickets that I had to purchase to get myself across London and hopefully try to explain why the ticket office was closed in the first place. As ever I'll keep you updated.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

One for the traveller!

Karen...this one is specifically for you as international calling is a little too expensive!

Dad making a complete hash of lunch today...

Camera phones can be so useful!

He thought he was being clever by using the microwave to heat the spaghetti, he didn't give much thought to how hot the bowl was going to be when it came out, so half of it ended up on the work top, with me in stitches! I then proceeded to use the oven glove that is available, like every other sensible human being!


Work this week has being interesting. I'm currently working for the education transport department, doing call backs to parents/carers who are concerned about their/a child's transport to school. The last week and the next two are the busiest for the department apparently, what with school and college starting during September. I'm trying to get to grips with a system that I have very little knowledge of and also fit into the office way of life.

I have never worked in an office with regular hours before, but I'm getting used to it. There is a lot to learn and ideas to get to grips with. Essex County Council is a very busy place. I'm having to learn to listen with both ears separately - those who have worked in the office for just a few months have the amazing ability to listen to the conversation that is going on in the office and have a conversation on the phone too!

We went out of drinks yesterday, so I'm getting to know them all slowly but surely. I have realised really quickly that its an office that changes constantly - the only really fixed element is the system that the council uses!

The rest of life is just that! I get home and theres not a lot to do! Once term kicks off though, I'm sure I'll be able to fill my evenings - the boys have football on Tuesday, alpha on Wednesday, I'm going to start exercising to just so that I start sleeping properly! Its driving me nuts waking up in the middle of the night!

Anyway - Karen I hope the rest of your time in Canada serves you well. I suggest sleeping for the 18 hour bus journey! Or have you picked up any good books while you've been out there?