Dripping wet

I'm half talking about the awful weather this morning and my washing that I had to put out. One of my housemates, I am yet to find out who, decided to pull my washing out after only spining it once. Now this wouldn't be a problem if our washing machine wasn't ancient and I hadn't filled it (but not over filled). So I went to lift my basket and almost broke my back doing so, tipped water all over the floor and was late for my lecture because I had to wring everything, and even then it was still dripping. I did text everyone to let them know my dilemma, and I'm so glad I cleaned the bathroom last week. I'm still majorly annoyed though. It takes five mins to spin again, the person who did it is lucky that I don't leave things to do at the end of the day!

I have decided to spend next year at Bristol. It's going to be a good place for me. A mixture of schools, church and student work (be aware all those at UWE!) that will give me some good experiences to help me get a proper job.

The course administrator emailed me this morning. Apparently I don't have enough knowledge of the curriculum in the surrounding area and of RE in general. This is down to a number of factors from my point of view. One - the school I was placed with didn't allow me to watch their classes. Two - RE syllabuses differ from LEA to LEA. And finally - I don't have a heart for it any more. I would love a qualification to teach, but not at the moment. Yet again I am taking a break from academia to learn fromn the Bible and experience.

Nick - what can I say, maybe I just don't promte my cause enough!

Back in Cheltenham...

and back to work. Trying my hardest to juggle amounts off work with time off, otherwise I will die.
This evening's fusion was about the Holy Spirit and gifts there of. There are many - found in 1 Corinthians 12 mainly and naturally we were asking God to bless us with the gifts. The version you have just read (or are about to read if you click on the link) is quite good, though obviously not exhaustive. The great thing is that verse 11 says 'He (God) decides who gets what, and when', they are there for a reason, for a moment, to be used, appropriately. I'm looking forward to discovering my gifts and asking for more over time. I know at the moment I'm lacking in certain areas.

I've come across a chart song that speaks volumes to me. It's a little weird when that happens cos I tend to read far too much into secular songs, when I really shouldn't! Anyway its from the new snow patrol album (which I am so tempted to buy!) and is called 'All I have is you'. Frame of mind is definitely a weird thing, but this speaks to me, in so many ways. I'll let you try to fathom what I'm thinking!

I'm lucky if I get 5, Nick - how do you do it?

Funeral

Today has been full of mixed emotions, understandably. Lots of tears, but also incredible amounts of joy and wonderful stories of my grandad and his life. I think I'm now old enough to appreciate family, close and far.

Thank you for all your messages and support.

Nick, thanks for the hits! It's nice to see numbers growing rather than shrinking - maybe I can do the same for you (even if it is in secret!)

Being in Bristol...

...Well actually Stoke Gifford. I was meeting someone I may work with next year, finding out what I would be doing if I went to work with them. St Micheals is a lovely church and I could see myself working there. There are a lot of opportunities for me, maybe even assistant youth minister in a few years.
I'll keep you up to date. I've not made up my mind yet, this is a tough decision to make.

The joy and wonder of a tracker

Have you seen my tracker? Its the little box at the bottom with a globe and a 'heartbeat' around it. Dare you to click it and see what you get!

Its a great thing - it gives me the numbers of people that visit my blog every day and normally where they are from. The best days are mondays (almost a quarter of the weekly total), with a majority of people visiting the site just after dinner it seems (between 5 and 6pm). Its all very interesting and gives me much joy knowing that there are people who regularly log on to have a read.

The wonder part of it comes from the web pages and IP addresses I get in the individual tracker section. In turn I learn a lot from it. I recognise some of the addresses but not others and when that happens I do a little bit of searching. You can probably guess which ones are the most intriguing and also who visits the most!

These little things - boy I'm glad we haven't got ID cards yet...can you imagine?

Wedding stationary and other things

Karen, wedding stationary was good fun, we've got some good ideas, but now we have to decide between that or some else, and we probably should see what other people can do for us, or even if we can do it ourselves! Eek. They were lovely though and will go in the book of ideas, which needs to be updated. About FLickr, the http it gives me for each photo doesn't have a .gif, .jpeg (blah, Blah) on the end of it so I can't do it that way round. More advice please!

I am going to start work in a bit after a very late start. No lectures because it's bank holiday. I was going to get up early and work hard but the rest of my had other ideas! Hence the late blog and being annoyed at self!

Someone has got to tell me of an easier way of doing this!! Can I change my profile pic without posting a new photo of myself every time?
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Oh dear!

What can be more boring than watching the final of the Snooker World Championship? For a start its being played by the two slowest professionals I've seen in a long time - Dott and Ebdon, as well as it being Snooker, nuff sed!
And secondly, what have the BBC decided to do? Show it in ultra slow motion using a special camera. Joy. Yes of course the wonders of technology, blah, blah, but please, wondering about what a ball actually does as it gets hit by a cue or another ball, seriously? Sad or what? Plus Channel Four have been well up on this for at least a year, if memory serves me correctly (and do correct me if my memory is crap!). They used it to show that some cricket players close their eyes when they are going for a big hit off a fast ball!

Rant over. (Very good illustration of how my mind works - I only watch when nothing interesting is going on, I couldn't tell you at this moment who is winning)

One exciting piece of news. I'm going for my first job interview, with Ben, to Bristol. I'll give you the details when I know more. Its on Wednesday, so I am looking forward to the beginning of this week, and less towards the end.

Final exciting piece of news, well a fact. Did you know that there are different types of coal in the Bible? Get your Hebrew out! The coal that is mentioned when Peter denies Christ, is different from other types of coal (because of what it is made from) and is only mentioned again when Peter and Christ become friends again on the beach after the resurrection. A nice little fact to impress your friends and don't ever say I don't educate you!

Updated my Flickr account - take a peek!

Weekend!

I have done pretty much nothing this weekend. Ok so I've not spent the entire weekend sleeping, I have done a few things. I played squash with Henry, which I lost, I am geting better though and I do enjoy playing. I am definately becoming a gracious loser, but thats because the person I am playing loves to gloat!
Watched Scary Movie 4 - which was ok, its not as funny as the first one, but thats because I haven't seen some of the movies that were included in the spoof. The new cinema in cheltenham is good, but stupidly over priced.
We went for lunch this afternoon, and played some pool. Henry won, but only by default. Now we're just sat around chilling, trying to work at the same time though!

Orange!

Well sort of red with anger actually. I sent my letter off this morning, with a little help from my housemates, and then got a phone call from my mum telling me I'd got something from Orange! Argh! Frustrating!

Work on the other hand is going well. I'm pacing myself, waiting to find out what student services can do for my severe lack of concentration at the moment.

Back to work I go!

Being at home

I'm in Essex for less than a day now, but I thought I'd blog because I've not got the mind capacity to concentrate on work. I have done a couple of hours this week, enough to get me started on various projects but I'm looking forward to going back to Cheltenham tomorrow to see everyone and catch up on things that have happened during Easter.

If you've read Karen's blog you'll know that my Grandad passed away on tuesday after fighting cancer for a year and a half. I'm going to be all over the place until his funeral. We've been chatting about him for a while now as a family and I realise how much fun we had with him during his life. He told me that my double chin was coming along well on sunday - the cheek of it! Any way we had a laugh. Bless him.

God's in all that we do, I know that now more than ever.

well apart from phone companies! I received a new phone last week and only this morning told them that it keeps rebooting itself. They told me that they couldn't do anything if there was nothing wrong with it because I'd passed the 7 day return period. SEVEN days! You've got to be kidding me. How am I supposed to make up my mind in 7 days? I've got to charge it for 3/4 of a day before I can even start using it, oh and I have to manually transfer my phone numbers over so thats a couple of hours work, and for all they care I might not be using it and find a fault after the 7 days! As far as I'm aware it only says about the 7 day return policy on the invoice, nowhere in the actual term and conditions does it say that. ARGH! Anyway, Dad got on the phone and threw in his two cents worth. Nokia and Orange have gone down in my list of good companies, etc, etc!

I was also going to unblock my old phone and give it to my mum, telling the customer service bloke that email was the way I wished to be contacted. What did they do? Send me a bleeding letter, to the wrong address. So thats useless! Technical support my a!!e.

Rant over with, go back to work!

Calm...

I have calmed down since yesterday, kind of. I've got another application form to fill in today to send before the 4th May. It's actually in Kent this time. Deal. Umm...I'm going to read the job description and fill in the application form.

I watched a programme last night that ended rather sadly and felt biased against young Christian couples. It was called Teens that tie the knot. I'm not sure if it was a one-off but when the final couple were introduced as committed Christians I was interested. Simon and Sarah had decided to abstain from everything before they got married. The programme was divided between three couples, the first couple who were madly in love and both 17 (and she was four months pregnant when they got married), the secound couple had a huge age difference and the final couple were, as I said, Christians with a 2 year age gap. It followed the before, during and after, from dating to marriage. The funny thing was that none of the mothers approved of the weddings, their daughters were to young, inexperienced and it wouldn't work out because of various factors.

For the Christian couple it didn't work. They struggled from the week they got married and seperated after filming finished. I don't know why, but there were things I could see that make me ask questions about my own relationship as I head towards marriage! Maybe even questions for myself that I haven't thought about since the start of my degree, like where do I see myself in five years? And all about my future.

Still through all of this I know that God is there looking over me, looking after me!

Don't panic, Mr Mainwaring!

Ok so I'm not in the same situation as the home guard, but I did almost hyperventilate. The first job I applied to, which is in London, have delayed making their shortlist becuase one of the panel is still on holiday! Oh my goodness, there was I thinking 'if I don't hear anything soon I will be disappointed', now I have a reason to worry. Have they contacted me because it's likely that I will be on the shortlist or have they just contacted everyone? I have a million and one things going around in my head and I still need to work! Argh. My head is all over the place.
Pray if you're inclined to, I have to!

She knows she loves me! This is Helen, the birthday girl at the grand old age of 23...well she's not that old...
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Complaining

Is something I tend to do behind closed doors...but when something really gets on my wick, I'm going to say something.

So extra housemate is paying bills even though proper housemate thinks I'm complaining about the fact that extra housemate is living here. Extra HM is fine, no problem, proper HM is the one causing the issue. O and no-existent HM has left me to find and sort out a problem that we should've told the Landlord about ages ago. Lets just say, there's no clean water in the toilet. So having phoned the landlord to sort things out and getting the answer machine I will now have to ask non-existent HM if she knew anything about said problem before she left, which I am not looking forward to because I may get angry.

La La La - not fusion to calm myself down, this can't be good!

Southampton!

I'm here for Helen's birthday, and a bit of a holiday as well as doing some work! Its all good fun. I've met most of her family since monday which has been a laugh. Not a lot else has been going on, I have been working but as always I can't do that 24/7 so we've been shopping too! I'm the proud owner of a new skirt and some flat shoes. The shoes are incredibly sparkley and will go with almost anything, umm I'm going to live in them for the summer I think.
Anyway we're off to Gunwharf Quays this afternoon for some more shopping!

When things explode!

My hair dryer when putp! this morning. Smoke every where and a nasty smell. Not nice. I'm hoping that God will bless me with a cheap and good hair dryer that will last!

Another thing that exploded was St Aidans and St Silas this morning! We went as Fusion to show that there are some young people in the parish! It was great, I am really impressed with those who turned up to play and read. Ben is a good preacher. We got a great reaction from the congregation.

Happy all over. I'm off to Southampton tomoro, so I have to pack at some time, but first I have to go to st Matts to speak to their congregation about being a Christian Student.

Things in places they shouldn't be...

Like food and girlfriends. One housemate moved her girlfriend in 4 weeks ago, and she's still here, and now they've taken over my freezer space too. So I crashed and banged this morning trying to get a piece of chicken out of the freezer, purely because I couldn't get to it. I don't like crashing around at 8 in the morning, but its not exactly my fault. And by the way, she hasn't asked if she could do either of these things. I have to feed two people too, on a regular basis, and fresh stuff is more expensive than frozen food.
ARGH.
Dinner with the Mattos's was good last night. They are awesome people, I realise that I'm a lot like the wife, we have more in common than I always thought.
This morning I got a good surprise (finding a full freezer draw is not a good surprise) - the secretary at the pre-school had brought me an Easter bunny! How nice is that? I also have henna on my hand, which got lots of questions from the kids, its cultural week, 'One World' for uni students, so thats where I got it from before you ask!
Grease just came on the radio, weird!

Volunteering

I'm not talking about next year but today. Once again working for CMS (I did lots 18 months or so ago), on their fundrasing project this year which is about sex slaves in India. Very moving and worrying that people are still being treated with such inhumanity.

I've also been filling in application forms and sending off for them too. Lots of fun and exciting things for me to e doing as well as working!

Isaiah

You know how I hate to brag, but... my Isaiah presentation went really well! Despite no sleep and a different lecturer. No questions at the end, stunned silence. Yeay, I have the knack of lecturing! One other thing to note I got a massive well done from the American student, who did brilliantly herself and nothing from the rest of the english students.

So now I am off to my very first private viewing of an exhibition taking place in Park. Its all good!

What to do?

So now I've spent time looking, there are a number of things I could do and a number of places I could be. Bristol, London, Essex, Kent, doing youth work, doing temp work, sitting on my backside (yeah right) or being a Teaching assistant somewhere.

The world is my oyster - but I don't like seafood that much! Ha ha.

So totally indecisive, with little knowledge of whats out there for me, and struggling with the fact that I know so many people who are looking for job after they graduate and aren't having any luck! It's tough and it's competitive! Yeay, eek! Definitely mixed about this.

Pray for me!

Closed doors

ho hum...maybe I'm not meant to be a teacher anyway. Cheltenham declined my application without interview. Kinda sucky really, and I am chasing up the uni to ask why they haven't given a place to one of their own students.
So I have spent the last day or so looking for a job that will last perhaps a year or more, spoken to a lot of people who feel exactly the same way as me. I've had offers of references from at least three people, Ben even wants to come along to an interview with me!
Above all I have to finish my degree.

God is awesome though, right from the beginning he's been looking after me, and as I turned the page of my journal - mid-rant - I was confronted with the obvious truth,

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Our God is an Awesome God. My faith and the love of those around me is all I have to keep me going - plus a degree to finish!

A game of two halves

I went to my first live football match for ages last night.Cheltenham v Wrexham. It finished 2-2, so not bad for £15! I still got really excited during the match and the coach in me still shouts! I take that from my Nan and Mum! I miss it, but I don't miss being so cold I cant feel my feet and hands! It was great fun, even if one of the girls did use the programme as a boy catalogue! The Birmingham didn't do too well but Liverpool scored a massive 7 goals! Billericay on the other hand a through to a cup final at last! I tell you League football is not much different from Non-league, from what I remember, however Premiership is totally different.

I've spent the day reading, Sexual Theology, in preparation for my tutorial tomorrow. I've also been doing something about the Isaiah presentation on Monday that I have to do. 35:1-10, anyone got any ideas?

Birmingham, Malvern, Cardiff, Cheltenham

I have been all over the place this week.

Tuesday and Wednesday I was in Birmingham with Henry. It was lots of fun, the concert was good too, and window shopping at the Bull Ring!

Wednesday evening I was back in Cheltenam surrounded by things to read and plan. By Thursday evening I was in Malvern, in the winning team at the quiz that Henry had written. I promise I had no help from him and I haven't touched the Easter egg that was my prize, though I have fallen in love with the fluffy duck I got!

Friday was spent playing (and beating) Henry at Thunderbirds Monopoly!

Saturday I was stood all afternoon in a dress shop in Cardiff, shortly followed by watching Karen wear dresses that suited her so well I'm worried she'll outshine me on my day. I met all of her friends and (still being on form from the previous day) made utterly stupid suggestions while we watched a movie called Hostage.

Today started off much the same as Saturday, I was in Church taking the mick and being incredibly loud. Lunch was fun and soo filling, I got to say grace, which I am starting to enjoy. We had some good discussions, about hell and people slating evangelicals, plus a bit of creationism. Why do people always think I'm not going to believe in the power and might, as well as existence of God when I'm doing Theology? Karen's colleagues were amazed that I was still in the Church after doing 2 and a half years of Theology!

This afternoon was taken up with the CIA Wedding Fair, I have changed my mind so many times, but now I'm set on ruby and silver, with white! So there you go, start planning your outfits! I also found the bouquet I want! But its on someone elses wedding photos!

It took me an hour and a half to get home, and then I rushed to Fusion only to be picked on, I was told my life was boring and that I needed to sing in front of everyone! It was great - we were talking about Salvation, so two questions for you - Are you saved? And if so, Do you care? Ephesians 2:10 says that we should!

Indian culture

'Just me and Him, that's all I need...we'll be fine'

Apparently what one Indian woman said to Ben, she was living on the street, as do many people. She was talking about Jesus of course. Amazing faith, it shows in the most dire situations but lets people live with such joy, something that is hard to grasp in the world we live in.

It seems almost separate, totally alien. Maybe that's what stops us from totally trusting God, possessions...

But it does happen, it is happening, maybe not on our front door, but in the world.

Amazing

All things bridal!

I took the evening off to sit with Hugh Grant and look at all things bridal and wedding-y. Lots of fun, though I'm not giving away the details! I've got a wonderful little book that tells me all of the things that are involved and how to save a bit of money! Best thing was that the Cheif Bridesmaid has to traditionally do 15 things in the run up to and on the Big Day. Yes Karen, there are a load of things for you to be involved in and to delegate!
Oh and in relpy to your (once again) helpful comments - I'll see what I can do! Do you want to fund me?

Mixed Emotions!

I have been in a state for a week now!! This Canterbury thing is really getting to me, I don't know why!
Also housemates girlfriend is annoying me, she keeps going on about buying me chocolate so I can calm down - only problem is I have given up chololate for lent! Argh! Have also given up crisps and anything extremely fatty! Which means I can't use my tesco vouchers, because they've given me points for butter, jams and spreads and other things I've never brought in my life! Stoopid!
See what I mean? I'm just posting so I can rant!

Theologically advanced!

What do you think of Theology? Is it out-dated, irrelevant? Or topical and useful for every day life? I was reminded today by my lecturer (for Radical Christian Theology) that a true theology is one that takes into account scripture, tradition, culture, reason and experience. So what I hear you say... So it can be done by anyone who has knowledge of each of these. Easy! Not so. A distinct lack of one of these breeds a form of fundamentalism. Theology has to be very careful.

We were discussing the spin-off from the Vatican II that we now call Liberation Theology, now that to me is out-dated. Liberation Theology didn't work, Latin America has not experienced a leveling out of wealth and a poor people revolution, why? I don't know, we discussed the basis of it, not how it effected the world. Yes a good grounding is essential, but the time we spend in lectures can facilitate us to learn from the reading, if we all did the reading (yes I am a geek!). Not re-learn things from previous years. There isn't a good 'modern history' of recent theology - at least not one that is written for dummies!

I did have a good time at Chapel - we had a discussion about some of the more controversial passages in the Bible. John 7:1-10 was the passage we had to discuss. Did Jesus lie? Did he change his mind? Did he have the ability to change his mind? By the way, it doesn't say in the 10 commandments 'thou shall not lie' so boo! to you who got that wrong!
1 Cor 8 was the next passage. Which is just Paul going round in circles - lol, funny man!
There were a few other passages, Matt 19:16-22, do we have to give up everything, or change what our idols are? Remember God is a jealous God! And finally - Propreity in worship - 1 Cor 11, the word for head here is different from further on in the passage, and the only time it is used...so what did Paul mean by it? Well no one is quite sure!! What is the relationship within the Trinity, the are no power differences - God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are equal!

One more thing - why can't we totally depend on God? What stops us?

Dissertation amongst other things....

I had a very, very productive day yesterday. I got the first chapter of my dissertation done! Now you're probably all thinking @an introduction can't be that hard' - well diss's are a funny thing, you don't write them in order. Therefore, I have done the main bulk of research and put it into my own words - all 2,930 of them! 430 words over the count (if divided equally) but never-the-less it is done! Well first draft any way! It will have to be changed, because I know my final paragraph is horrible! Now I just have to read it!

The other things...
I got a letter from Canterbury outlining the reasons for my application being declined , it was totally my fault. I'm not enthusiastic enough about teaching. Though would you be enthusiastic about anything if you'd spent more than 3 hours travelling for your interview? Kinda sealed NOT going to Lincoln for me really! So now I have to go through an interview here and hope my wonderful personality stands out in an interview!

I also got an email from the head of the Student Associate Scheme - it looks like I'm going to be moved if I don't get anything back from St Benedicts, which I really don't want. I know some of the students there and I've met with the head of RE who was more than keen to take me on!

Maybe teaching isn't for me? What else can I do though?

Working!!

Finally after a week with a horrible cold I'm back to my normal procrastinating and trying to work. I will get it done! Promise. If I haven't finished this chapter by the end of the week, I will start to worry, although, I'm 2000 words ahead of some people!

Being on the radio!

Ha ha! I'm slowly achieveing world fame! Well, no-one argued with me and apparently I id a good job. I don't know if there will be a sound clip of the show but it was good fun, and I'd do it again if I was asked!
I was really nervous and felt like I was not making any sense but it was good!

Ugandan elections

Guess what! I got nervous for no reaso, I wasn't on the radio, but the nice man did phone me and tell me that they wouldn't be able to talk to me! He wished me good luck!
I wanted to be on the radio though!! What do I do now?
I guess I have to go back to teaching RE!!

A debut

I'm going to be on the radio tonight! On BBC World Service, talking about RE in schools. I posted my views (being ill I have some time to surf!) on the BBC website and received a call from a very nice gentleman who asked me about what I'd written! I'm so excited!!

Have a look at what I've said!

Indecisive!

I've got a cold, I'm also way behind on what I wanted to do this week and I won't be going out on thursday! One of my housemates has gone out to get me som drugs and food, so I can eat and not die! I feel awful but I have managed to sit myself up to check my email amd blog! I'm not looking forward to the next few days, I know its going to get worse before it gets better, but I really don't want to spend all of my time in bed!

Some good news, well something I'm indifferent about. I had a phone call from Lincoln saying the interview date could be earlier. I'm still not sure if I even want to go that far. I'm meeting the admin lady at uni tomoro so I can get an idea of the amount of places there are here before I go travelling cross country!!

Bridal Shower...or baby shower?

No I'm not pregnant, but I bet you wondered, didn't you? No happier nws than that, the guy who is overseeing our wedding has just had a baby, well his wife did. We saw him at the Bridal show we went to, spent half the afternoon there, gathering ideas, and formulating plans for table decorations, favors, bridesmaids dresses and cakes! All wonderful things and great to get to know some of the faces I might be dealing with over the next year and a half! I'm keeping it all under my tiara, so that the day for most people will be a lot of fun!!

We were discussing Jesus the Son in Fusion this evenin as part of our trinity series. It's very hard to get anything out of a youth group if they're lectured (or preached, if you prefer) to, and that's how I understand the difference between youth workers and vicars. Vicars are very good at preaching, youth workers are very good at asking questions, both get responses, in different ways. Before you ask, I have no idea which I'm better at!

I'm still in two minds about lincoln.

Doing things for others

There is only so much you can do for someone before they start to over-step the mark. Like posing as them so they can do a stupid amount of modules for their final semester. If you haven't read my blog before you won't have the foggiest idea who I'm on about, if you have and you still don't know, shame on you! I've gone out of my way, so if she starts complaining about work load I will have to slap her.

And no, it's not the universities fault, its the stubborness of the person taking the extra modules.

Though having said that, is it my own fault for letting the person over step the mark? Sometimes I'm just not impressed with my own niceness!

Some forwards are too good to pass up!!

This is me all over!!! Very scary and incredibly funny!

How you know you experienced the 90's:
1) 10p Mr Frosty Ice Pops on long summer days!
2) Gordon the Gopher!
3) You could do or tried to do the Prodigy step. 'You're no good 4 me....'
4) You owned or longed for an Adidas three stripe tracksuit
5) You owned a compilation tape with TOP TUNES such as " Mr Vain", "What is love " and " Rhythm is a dancer " and 'How Bizarre, How Bizarre "
6) Girls thought Blue Mascara was cool!
7) Girls actually fancied Garry Barlow more than Robbie Williams
8) The Racoons! (nuff said)
9) You owned a pair of Nike Air Max, and wore them to death
10) Mr Motivator (What ever happened to him?)
11) Running on the spot dancing! (WAYHEY THE RUNNING MAN... )
12) You wore leggings/cycling shorts with long t-shirts
13) You owned a Bennetton, NafNaf, sweater shop jumper or waistcoat (or bag)
14) Girls owned scrunchies in an array of colours and tacky headbands with their names written on in thick glitter
15) You bought Smash Hits for the song lyrics and the immense amount of stickers that you would stick everywhere!
17) You had a pen pal
18) You could only watch the Simpson's on sky
19) On a Saturday evening you watched Catchphrase, Gladiators, Generation Game, Noels House Party and then Casualty
20) You taped the Pepsi Chartshow on radio one and tired in vain to pause the tape before the annoying guy talked and ruined the whole thing.
21) Cans of Coke were 25p
22) 10p Space Raiders Crisps
23) A grey Fruit of the Loom jumper was a must have
24) Sharkie & George were the crimebusters of the sea
25) Puffa jackets
26) You used the line " it's a free country " every day
27) The Sky Sports Blimp!
28) Impulse body spray for girls
29) Hooch Alcoholic Lemonade (where's it gone?!)
30) 'Don't forget your toothbrush', 'TFI' and Big Breakfast with Chris Evans
31) You had at least one troll
32) You know the dance to Macarena and Saturday Night. You also tried to scat like Scatman John! Bi bat ba ba da bo...
33) You watched Baywatch and longed for the day that Eddie & Sharni got together!
34) You watched Byker Grove 'ha ha ha whatcha laughin at!' (the Theme song ending), and saw PJ get shot in the eye with a paintball!
35) PJ and Duncan not Ant and Dec! Dodgy Pop Not Dodgy Presenting!
36) Shellsuits & bumbags!
37) You longed to live in Beverley Hills 90210
38) Home and Away was a prime time ITV programme watched by millions
39) You owned a Spice Girls album
40) Fruit salads and black jacks!
41) Strike it lucky on a sunday night with Michael Barrymore when he was straight & married
42) Chain letters
43) You had fake ID
44) You remember Todd Landers in Neighbours
45) You religiously watched Saved by the Bell on a Saturday morning!
46) You more than likely lost/nearly lost a wobbly tooth on a wham bar!!
47) CK one (probably the fake one from the market)
48) Going Live, then Live and Kicking was the place to be on a Saturday Morning - you know you remember the number 0181 811 8181
49) You knew every word to the theme tune from Fresh Prince of Bel Air
50) You collected Premier League Stickers and did swops at playtime
51) Girls wore crappy lipstick such as - coffee shimmer, heather shimmer and birthday suit!
52) You wore kickers and wallaby's with the tags hanging from them
53) You thought saying - " I know you are, but what am I " to every cuss that that came your way!
54) " love got the world in motion " with the John Barnes Rap
55) when you used to run away from some thing and shout ' leg iiiiiitt'

Drastic times call for drastic measures. Beware, hands off my spread!!
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I think I deserve a break!!

I've added over 1,200 words to my dissertation in the last day and a half, so I think I'm going to do some shopping. Of course I won't stop completely, I'm only on the 1930's. I've got at least 60 years to cover before friday!! The history of women in the Church of England and society is more complicated that I'd care to imagine! I'm still finding things I should mention!

What to buy?

I was wrong...

...but I still have my doubts.

Housemate has returned the 'stolen' items, claiming a mistake, having got up at 4am and never having seen the wash bag before. Lesson learnt? Don't assume, even at 4am in the morning. Still I haven't got an apology, nor did I get a text telling me housemate had found the wash bag. She jumped to her defence when I joked she had stolen my stuff, like she'd actually done something wrong, when she'd only made a mistake...

Had some sad news, but I'm not going to say anything here.

Ghosts and ghouls

Something is stealing my stuff and I don't know why. More chocolate spread has gone missing and so has my wash bag. There were three people in the house last night, two of which don't live here, so someone has moved stuff and not replaced it or stolen my things.

I don't feel safe in this house any more and that freaks me out. I'm meant to be able to trust everyone and not worry about it, because there are so many unwritten rules (please do not tell me they need to be written down) that everyone is aware of and having confronted each member of the house I know someone is lying, which leads me into an insecure place.

Who can I trust now? How do I find out who is lying and not get really angry about it? Do I just lock myself away til June and break all communications with my house?

Torn in half

Have you ever felt so divided you wish you could be in two places at once? Or even more than that? How about wishing that your brain could work on its own, while you had fun?

Thats how I feel. I'm elated that I've spent so much time with Helen and that I got the chance to share with a youth group who listen to my profoundness! I'm also elated that Henry is going to be here very soon.

Two 'buts' - I have been given a date for an interview at Lincoln, its the 4th May, which is too close to my dissertation deadline for me to even give it a second thought. Do universities think that third years have nothing to do 4 weeks before exams start? Hello! Its frustrating, but there is nothing I can do, other than decline or risk it, and I'm not a girl of risk. The other thing is my diss. I have loads to do for it. Nuff sed!

Anybody got a solution? Something that stretches time or gives me a change to enhance my brain power and typing skills (after all you're only as fast as your fingers!)

Southampton

I've been Wedding dress shopping in Southampton! It was a very brief experience, but I still enjoy standing in a white dress!! I only got to try on one, but it was a nice one!
The rest of my time here has been good, though I'd forgotten what it was like to rush around for a day! All fun, though I haven't done any work yet!
We watched Crash last night, weird but good, a little like love actually but more complicated and less love.
Back to Cheltenham tomorrow, and spending the weekend with Henry!

Mixed emotions

A fair bit has happened this weekend. Henry and I viewed a gorgeous place where we can get married if we chose to, then I got back on Sunday and was saying goodbye to Ben who is off to India today for 5 weeks, before I knew it. Then I found out that Canterbury hadn't accepted me, so I felt really gutted.
It was one of those moments when the world drops from underneath your feet. Though it isn't the only thing I can do or the only place I've applied to, it was my preferred choice so I'm not too happy. But life goes on and at some point Lincoln will call and I will have to trek across the country for another interview. Or maybe not. My sister told me a story about one of her friends not getting on too well with GTTR. We shall see what is going on...
I think I have over estimated my ability. I realise that trying to cram secondary and primary education in one year is too much for me. Difficult for anyone. Especially me...

Exam stresses and strains

Exams are going well, thank you to those who send their good lucks and ask how everything is going. I'm good, two down, one to go. Genesis tomorrow lunchtime and then I'm finished and off to Malvern to discuss wedding things and the such. I'm looking forward to a weekend off! :D

The chocolate spread saga

I have got a real problem with people who steal. It is a horrible habit and shows how petty some people can be. What kind of person steals chocolate spread and doesn't own up to it? What kind of person goes behind someone's back to use something that is not theirs?

Someone is lying and I have no way of finding out who, because I don't trust the people I live with. It may seem trival but its the kind of thing that gets to me. I need a CSI!!

It's happened before!

Nervous Laughter

This is the moment when I realise tomorrow is an important day. Just as I'm about to log off and shut down. There's not a lot more I can do. I have my first exam tomorrow morning and all I want to do is run away and hide!! The stress factor still gets me after years and years of doing this.

I hate the unknown. I can deal with stepping out in faith, but stepping into an exam room? That's where God really does hide His face. I don't know what's on that exam paper and hazarding a guess has got me in trouble before! There are a hundred things that could be on that paper. Argh! I have to stop! Though this is not the last time I will talk about exams it is the beginning of the trek towards graduation day.

6 exams, at least 15,000 words, 36 lectures (totalling 72 hours) and a Summer ball are ahead. I have 17+ weeks of hard work to finish my degree!

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8v38,39

This speaks to me, I don't know what it says to you, I don't know if you believe in God or that someone knew they would have to die to save a people that had turned away.
Would you lay your life down for someone? Someone you love, hate or don't even know? One person did.

What does love mean to you?
For me love is found in the things I do for others and what they do for me. Those who spend time with me when they know they have a few things to be doing, someone who speaks wisdom into my life, someone who makes me smile whatever is happening, someone who welcomes me with open arms no matter how stupid I have been, someone who forgives and forgets. All of this means the world to me, I know there are a few people that this applies to, I know one person who means the world to me, and they know who they are.

Love is mysterious, so is God and getting to know them is a journey. Unconditional love can be found, you just have to take the first step....

It's blurry but you get the idea!

Wedding dresses and exams

Thursday was wedding dress day - infamous, slightly crazy but a lot of fun. I understand what some women say when the find 'the right dress', you know you could live in it if you were given a chance! I'm not going to describe it because I am a traditionalist when it comes to things like that and I know Henry likes to read this! No he is not going to see me until I walk down the isle (some times I make myself laugh!).
Back to Cheltenham tomorrow and exams starting tuesday, the stress is increasing. I've got to pack today and do lots of work! Ekk! Going back holds a mixture of feelings. I get to see the people I've spent the last 2 1/2 years of my life with but I'm leaving my family. The next few months are going to be full of highs and lows. Elation from finishing my degree and sadness of leaving that part of my life behind. Umm... I don't know whether I'm looking forward to it or not.

Charlie's Angels! We're all grown up, we're much more stylish and definitly more insane now
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How pretty are we?

Christmas Day 2005. Henry, Andy, Karen, Jude, Mike, me and Eva

6 grandchildren plus one!

Revision, writing and a day in school

I'm trying to revise, I'm also trying to write my dissertation. But I can't do either when all I want to do is sleep!

I spent yesterday at my old school, looking around, and observing lessons. I was welcomed with open arms and remembered by more members of staff than I care to count. The weirdest thing was being talked to like an adult by my old Headteacher. She actually listened to me and I never once felt scared! Mr Berry, the head of sixth form is a gossip! Still exactly the same as I remember him! He managed to indirectly call me dull though! The RE department has moved and shrunk and apparently I'll have no trouble getting a job, and neither will Henry :D Hazzar!

I promise I will post some pictures of Christmas etc, I just have to get to Cheltenham!

7 things...

To do before I die...
Get married
Have children
Teach others
Learn to drive
Go to Rome
Run a holiday camp
Ride a motorbike

Things I cannot do...
Become a Bishop
Install double glazing
Get a first in my degree
Let go of the past
Look good in a poncho
Date another man
Tolerate rudeness

Things I say most often...
I love you
Henry
Will you shut up
Dude
Oi
Sorry
Yeh

Books I love...
The Bible
Introduction to the Old Testament
The shock of your Life
Man and wife
The Shining
The Stories we could tell
The time travellers wife

Movies I could watch over and over
The Lion King
Romeo and Juliet
Mulan
The Little Mermaid
Chicago
Moulin Rouge
Mary Poppins

All time albums...
Ultimate Kylie
X and Y
Take that greatest hits
OST My best friends wedding
Mariah Carey's Christmas Album
The Greatest Musicals
Kelly Clarkson Breakaway

People to do this next...
Dad
Mum
Henry
Ben
Mandy
Andy
Aimie

I challenge you!

And New Year!

Very very good evening! Much better than last year, and I can remember most of it! The band that played were well practiced, and the food was really good! I've got a massive blister on my toe from dancing too hard!

Of course it was better than last year because henry was there, kissing me at midnight! Yeay, then one of the members of my old youth group decide to tell me that I'm getting married next year - which got a really funny reaction!

Christmas!!

Oh 'tis the season - to be jolly, to go the wrong way down a one way system, to be offered an eye test on Christmas eve! Umm...how about NO!

Sorry there's been no picture, but once again my laptop decided to give up, as soon as the internet was turned off, so is in the process.

Dad, you did reconise me, but didn't say much about my hair!!

Sexy, everything about me's so sexy!

I've had a hair cut! Yeah! I'll put a photo up as soon as I've done some work!

Dissertation is going well, as well as procastinating can do!

The First of the 'lasts'....

There's a time in your life when you will do 'lasts'. Today that kinda hit me. As a house we've had our last christmas meal, which was good. Today was the last time I would tell the Christmas story to the pre-schoolers. Having done it three years in a row I have got very used to it, and they have got used to me. They sang me a christmas song, which was brilliant and I gave them chocolates! I cried on the way home - how sad am I?

One other thing happened today. Our landlord came over to fix a few things (very efficient!) and asked about Henry. When I told him that we were engaged he almost had a heart attack, as did I to his reaction! So he left with a smile on his face, he always enjoys seeing us!!

Christmas Dinner

One of four! The first was today, with my housemates, and it was gorgeous! Well done to Alex for cooking the turkey perfectly and bringing it altogether before henry had to leave! It was wonderful, I don't normally agree with using packets of food but this was good! Aunt Bessie, saviour for students!
The second one is happening on thursday with the girls from my course, if I can book it! The third is on sunday, with fusion, we're having X factor stylee kareoke, for which I am doing drinks (non-alcoholic) and the final one is on Christmas day with my famil and a very special guest - Henry :D. Oh and I'll add the last one on Boxing day, with close family, and Henry!

Yeay for Chirstmas!

A birthday worth celebrating!

Lisa with drink in hand, Alex with a smile on her face! Yes we dressed as builders! Says it all really!
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Birthday girl, Diane, how beautiful
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21 is an amazing age to be, we're pretty much all there at the moment. It has it's stresses but thats all part of life, and you deal with it in your own way! We tend to deal with it by celebrating a birthday....

The cake I made, with a little help from Alex... A mississippi mud pie that, although a little heavy, went down a treat!
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Do you want to go to University?

FCH in the snow! I'm not one to do advertising, but doesn't it look amazing?
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Here's a pretty good place! God said Wow at the same time I did, just as I walked on to campus, and saw the chapel in all its glory!

A wedding

Ewan and Rachel - 12th November 2005
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A Cheltenham youth worker nd a University friend. A good celebration of a wonderful couple! God Bless them both!

From a Different Point of View

I attended a very interesting lecture today. It was on the narrative of Joseph. I walked to the lecture singing every Joseph song I could remember.

Joseph is portrayed in the musical as being picked on by his brothers, but having done a course in the whole of Genesis, it looks very different if you read it with a little knowledge! In Chapter 37v3 it says about Joseph giving a bad report of the sons of the maidservants. Is he being deceptive, because he knows he's favourite, or is he telling the truth? Jacob's past isn't all that pure. Looking back at Chapter 27, Jacob poses as he brother to get his inheritance, after feeding Isaac! You can learn a lot about someones character by looking at their father! Next time you come across this story, look at it from a different point of view, you will be very surprised!

We also went out as a house last night for the first time in ages. We went out as builders and got lots of offers to paint student houses and do a bit of plumbing, surprisingly I was the only one who made it to lectures today! Bless them all!

What a weekend

Luton was really good, going home was good too. I got to talk about weddings all weekend, from chocolate fountains to dresses! (Sorry mike for boring you silly on saturday!) I managed to get everything I wanted except the thing I actually wanted, now I have to buy wrapping paper for christmas, with just proves how dim I acutally am.

Lectures and Lisa tomorrow. It's diane's birthday and we're in full preparation mode at the moment. We're dressing up as builders, and I will have photos of everything by the end of the week for you!!

Luton!

Back I go!! There are four places I'm very familiar with now, home, cheltenham, luton and malvern. Spending the weekend in luton without my sister is going to be really weird. I've almost got no one to follow round like sheep for a couple of days, for the first time I'll be Henry's fiancee rather than Karen's sister! WEIRD! It's going to be a lot of fun though, cos I get to go home while I'm over that side of the country. I'm going to see if the magic fairy still lives at number 24!

Saturday is going to be a long day, but a fun one too! I've got clothes and wrapping paper to pick up - all related to christmas in some way!

I'm enjoying Advent, its been a lot of fun so far. Yes I have finished my Christmas shopping, so I can enjoy the reason for the season now, with only my dissertation hanging over me!

Strange world

Something weird is going on in Cheltenham. Children are generally crawling the walls (three schools almost shut down because of 'riots') and the people living in our area are getting worse. Someone knocked in the back window of one of my housemates car today, just because she was blocking a track that leads to some houses. An over-reaction by any standards. That kind of thing is becoming more regular. Also we are getting mixed signals from lecturers in our department. The regulations for the university state that students must be within 10% of the word limit for any assignment submitted otherwise they face penalties, but lecturers are telling some students that they can go over the 10% and will not be marked down.
Pray for this town, it's becoming harder to live here. I'm definitely looking forward to going home..but then I always do!

Ebay-ing

Yes I know it's not a word, but I had my first experience of the world of ebay. You must've been locked in an cupboard for the last 5 years or so if you don't know what ebay is, but just to refresh the memory of those who can't remember it's an online auction site.
I had my first taste of it today, bidding for a friend, and I can't see the draw. Sat in front of a computer, bidding for an item you've never touched? Only a picture, from a source that you've never met. Some find it exciting, I only find it frustrating and a waste of time! Go shopping, not online, but get all touchy-feely with what you want to buy!!

Love

It's a strange thing. We were asked the question - Have you ever felt love in any way? It's surprising the amount of people who don't immediately put their hands up or nod in a satisfactory way. Society attaches love to relationship love, eros, for those of you studying greek. Boy/girl, can't keep your hands off them love. Ok so I thought of Henry first off and had to be reminded that my friends, my parents and my siblings all love me, in one way or another.

So in fact we are all loved, by someone (probably more than one person) at any one time. One of the chain emails that goes around is 'someone is thinking of you right now', and then it gets all soppy after that, but it is true. Ok, most people find that hard to figure, but I don't. I know God always loves me and is always thinking of me. Even when I'm in the darkest place, hiding from the lamp on the stand ("Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house" Matt 5:15). God is there, thinking of me, us. We are not alone (that is a tagline, but I don't where from). We ARE loved.

I was going to give my testimony, but there wasn't enough time, so maybe its not right for me to tell it just yet. There are things we all need to think about...

"You...may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" Ephesians 3:17-19

It's tough being in this world, but God loves us to the ends of the earth, and that's when we are closest to Him!

P.S. No I didn't hand write it all, click here to find out why!

A bad night's sleep

Umm... I was woken up at 2am and kept awake for ages last night. I had to be up at 8am this morning, which is the earliest I have to get up during the week, and not having any sleep the night before I was not a happy bunny!! Tomorrow I have to get up at 5.45 to go to bristol to do some paid work! It's going to be loads of fun if I get woken up tonight!

Genesis

Give an account of the themes and theology of the creation narratives (Genesis 1-3)?

I started today, and am taking a quick break before doing more. I know you're asking, how can she get two thousand words out of that? Well consider that I've got to look at other creation stories along the way and there are about four different takes on the theology of genesis that I've come across, I know there are more too. I could get an essay out of just 'Discuss the theology of creation in genesis'. Don't forget it also includes the Fall of Man!

Argh, here I go again.

P.S. No-one has owned up to the chocolate spread stealing, none has been stolen since I told everyone though...ummm...what do I make of that?

Chocolate spread, amongst other things!

Someone is stealing my chocolate spread... I thought I was safe, I was sure no-one else likes the stuff in my house, and generally people ask if they want something, but no. Someone has taken some and not owned up. I know I am unnecessarily stressing, but it is a luxury and I have lived with these girls for at least two years. I'm not angry, just upset that they didn't ask first.

It's all good otherwise. I keep getting asked what it's like to be engaged. It's like being asked how it feels to be older on the day of your birthday. I don't feel any different, because I've always felt like this. Ok happier than I've ever been before, but then I've felt that way since I started going out with Henry. So yeah, it's like normal.

I'm watching Taming of the Shrew, very good!

Giving Blood

I gave blood today, for the 5th time, though I actually have two donor cards so I probably won't get a new card just yet. Not that it matters, I always enjoy doing it and feel its the only worthwhile thing my blood can do (other than keep me alive)!! The staff are always wonderful and make the whole experience fun. Ok so if needles aren't your thing then you won't like it, but I promise you its a good feeling. Just remeber to press hard after the needles been taken out, otherwise you could have issues (like me, there's always one!)
Anyway, on with work!

Religious Education

What is Religious Education meant to do? What did it do for you? Can you remember what you learnt from time in Religious Education?

I'm ashamed to say I didn't learn a lot up to the age of 16 because it didn't make me think. GCSE RE, I found out today, is simple in comparision to Year 9 RE. How wrong is that? I feel very cheated! Ok so I only acheived a D but at least I turned up to the exam, which is more than can be said for some!

Macbeth on the BBC, worthwhile, I'll be tempted if they're going to bring out this series on DVD!

Annoyed

I'm ever so slightly annoyed at people who put up their defenses at the first mention of religion. Yes I have my view and so does everyone else, I'm not going to push you into believing anything, so stop assuming I will.

Christmas lights is another thing. I don't know if you've seen the winter lights thing thats been in the news. Crazy, Christmas has never been offensive, why should we worry about it now? Yes we are a multicultural country, but our roots are in Christianity (and Paganism a little) so lets celebrate it the traditional way!

Am I justified? I feel like i'm surrounded by sissies! People who won't stand up for their religion because they're worried about others, go far but don't go too far!

I totally realise it seems I've contradicted myself, but I haven't, think about it!

A weekend off

I'm chilling, I might do some reading if I get really bored, but I doubt that, actually I might do some out of the premise that I will feel awful if I don't do any. I'm going to have to do some reading out of the goodness of my heart anyway, I agreed to read the essay that was due yesterday (the one that led to the lack of sleep) written by my housemate. I'm getting in practice for becoming a teacher honest.

I'm going to see Saw 2 this evening, joy! Gore, gore, gore apparently. Umm...I'll let you know how it goes.

For all the wrong reasons

I'm tired because someone decided to do the washing up at 1.30am this morning, plus I was worried about finishing my essay. Dispite the rude awakening I have handed in my essay with a whole day to spare, now I'm going to spend the weekend relaxing and enjoying the wedding of rachel and ewan, with Henry and Helen. Its going to be fun. I'm going to do a little prep for the first chapter of my diss on friday and after that I'm stopping til monday!

Brain ache

I'm tired and upset, I'm also happy and overloaded with things to do. I've got an essay due soon and I'm more concerned about that than housemates who have issues and proof reading.

So as a prayer request (because its important)

Pray that the tiredness I am feeling disappears, that housemates communicate with each other effectively, that my essay flows from my brain and that I don't get ill cause I'm doing too much.

Thankyou

Fireworks

They can be dangerous, and they can be fun. Take my sister, she burnt herself (dummy) and the firework that fell over this evening and tried to beat the youth leader (though didn't get to far), on the other hand, the firework display we did have was great, i've not stood in the freezing cold for ages and it felt great. Ok I can't breathe from all the smoke because it was so windy, but the food was good and the company was better!

Thank you to all of those who have said congratulations over the last week or so, its slowly sinking it, and church was hilariously funny this morning, henry was doing the telling, to people I don't know. I got lots of admiring looks and a massive smile from his scout leaders, who then told cautionary tales of their own wedding. The next 18 months or so are going to be interesting, thankfully I don't know that many married couples (the number though is on the increase), so I can't hear that many stories about flowers, invitations, dresses, venues, parents, in-laws, bridesmaids...maybe i can!

new weblink to photos!!

You can now go here to see all of my photos!! (especially of my ring!!)

Word in edge ways...

Twice today I have struggled to get my words out because someone is talking over me. Its so frustrating because neither times were very productive i.e. most people talk over me to finish my sentences.

Good news is that my school placement is off the ground. I finally met the women I will be working with so I can gain some expeience in secondary school teaching.

Other than that, my day has been uneventful. I'm supporting two fusion nights and getting quite excited about fireworks on sunday evening, but before that I've got a graduation to attend and a fiance to spend the weekend with!!!

Unexpected!

Disneyland was amazing, Paris was even better. If you get the chance to visit, don't pass it by, I found something very special there and I would recommend it for anyone.

Paris holds a place in my heart and will do until I die. Why? I hear you all begging for an answer! I'm engaged to Henry Walker and it happened in Paris, on the third floor of the Eiffel Tower. 984 foot from the floor and some 343 km from home (well London at least) Henry got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

I said yes, without a moments thought.

So now I have a Ruby and diamond ring on the third finger of my left hand, to proudly show anyone who dares ask what my half term was like!

Smiles all around!

Fond memories

I've just been looking at my Dad's blog and he's got a photo of our time in Tanzania posted. Here's the link for the web page. There are some really interesting photos and my Dad has done a wonderful commentary as well!

I'm going to do some work now! And then I'm off to disneyland for a few days!

Interesting trivia

For those of you who know how sad i am and how much I love spotting random things. I'm watching Starship Troopers at the moment and one of the troopers, Anthony Ruivivar, is in Third Watch, which shows on Channel 4 some times!!

I also know that the body produces two litres of saliva a day. I have lots of other random pieces of info in my head, but you have to get me in quiz mode to get them all out of me!

P.S. The acting is awful!

RSC and trains

The Reduced Shakespeare Company are awesome!! I really enjoyed the eveing! They reduced everything from silent movies to Kung Pow! we even got a bit of the matrix!
I got pulled up on stage with Henry, we were told to do some shopping (walking across the back of the stage) and then a few were picked out for more specific roles. I was chosen for the role of Femme fatal! I've been cast as Sharon Stone!It was so much fun, the guys were really good!

Getting home was a nightmare! I know I've had worse journeys but this was ridiculous. I had to get two buses to get back to cheltenham. So stupid, and I had to pay over the normal price to. Complaining all the way home!!

Oxford

I've spent the day in Oxford, learning, hands on about the Oxford Movement (Victorian England). It was all very interesting, if slightly trying, stressed for all the wrong reasons. Over reaction is never a good thing, and I've seen a lot of that today.

Oxford is beautiful, if you every get to visit, if you have, you know what I'm on about. It's one of those places where you wouldn't dare kill a football or walk on the grass, for fear of spoiling the perfection. It's full of grand buildings and an incredible amount of history. I do love being a tourist, I've seen a side of Oxford most people don't.

I did feel stupid though, it has to be said. Oxford is not a place you can walk around without a few books in your hands!!!

Anyway, I'm happy and I will be out like a light in a few moments!!

Answered

Many things prayed, many more answered!

God is good, most people know that. Take my Dad, he knows and my sister knows too. I'm a stickler for finding God in everything, from my housemates to the news I read every day (even in Sunday match of the Day, the Holy Trinity has just been mentioned, no joke!). It's hard not to see Him in the world we live in, but it is hard to see Him in the natural disasters that we hear so much about. So where do you see God? Is He good to you? Do you thank Him for all the things you see?

I'm going to do some thanking!

Disneyland!

I'm going to Disneyland, Paris in 9 days, I am so excited! I'm going with Henry, so we will be like two big kids the entire week, and it's Halloween celebrations while we're there. Of course I will be praying for all the evil in the park!

I'm working, seriously, I've written something that resembles an introduction and now I just have to type it up!

Write a critical evaluation of two or more approaches to Religious education, showing their strengths and weaknesses

Joy! Any ideas!

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink
Originally uploaded by Colourfultshirts.

This is a picture of me at my 21st birthday party in Cheltenham. The celebrations lasted a little under 3 months!!

Internet at in the house...oh the joy....

... And the pain. Here come endless nights of blogging, shopping and needless searching, playing games etc.... Now where did the spongebob game get to?

The little things in life. I've spent the day in Lincoln, looking at a colloege, with Henry (see below) for teacher training. Mucho impressed, they have a free gym and a wonderful new lecture centre. Problem? There are only ten places for PGCE secondary Religious Education. Scary, but worth while. Its a tiny college, just outside of town, but the Chapel looks so appealing and the CU meet in the Common room - which is huge!! I'm looking forward to applying there though it takes some 3 1/2 hours from Malvern!

If we get in I'm open to anyone staying the night before they have to be in Skegness (Spring Harvest or otherwise!)!!

Pickies!

Henry, my boyfriend
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This was taken when we went to see Lee Evans. I like this picture so much, taken with my new digital camera. I promise I won't post too many pictures, most will go on Flickr!!!!

The first of many!

I am officially at the beginning of the end! Sounds dramatic doesn't it?

Well actually its a trifle scary. I had my very first dissertation meeting with my tutor (who else?) this morning! O my goodness! Am I going to go over my word limit or what! And when am I going to write it? I'm far too busy sorting out the internet for my house to care about writing a dissertation!!

We went out last night as a house, for a birthday celebration. But first of all we had jelly and angel delight (try it, you'll love it! Though I think its a 'marmite' food) plus presents and sparklers! Sooo cool! I have the best housemates in the world! Oo we also had pass the parcel! These guys can seriously read my mind! The theme was pink, and everything was pink, I'm not joking! It's a shame the nodding Jesus was dressed in white, but He does have a good excuse!

We got to the club and danced the night away! At one point I thought I'd lost some money, but God was gracious and gave it back to me! Forever Faithful.

One last thing (you know you love it when I ramble) a really cheesy but good thing (I know I can get the word for it, let me know please!)

Called to Relationship with God. God is a good
F aithful - God's loyalty to us is amazing
R ich - His love for us is fulfilling (not money - though He is!)
I ndividual - He calls us by name
E verlasting - Before and behind us
N ear - So close you can breathe Him!
D ispised - He doesn't always hang out with the 'right' people (think earthly, Pharisees and Jesus = lots of anger!)

Cool huh! Start thinking, How good a FRIEND can you be?

O my!

I am so annoyed. Once again my loan is floating in space somewhere, and its the second year in a row that this has happened, so now I have to draw on my savings to be able to live! Do you think God is teaching me a lesson in patience? The crazy university, my stupid (yes I'm from Essex) LEA and the SLC are all jointly to blame. It's got nothing to do with me, as the lady last year assumed it did. I've done my part. I've registered like a good student who wants her loan. I'm considering not paying back the money that the loans company have given me! Has anyone else had any problems? I doubt it! I know my house mates have got their loans, so why not me? Oh and I need an umbrella now, the weather is definitely autumnal which means getting wet more regularly than being dry! It's also dark all the time, it just makes me feel a whole lot worse than normal. I've also got fresher's flu. A nasty cough and trouble sleeping because of said cough. It's a head cold, great for when you're trying to concentrate in a lecture.

Speaking of which, I missed my first Genesis lecture on Tuesday cos I was sleeping...maybe I should mail my lecturer?? What a great way to start the year!

CU was good last night, loads of people. It's great when you put a positive spin on something. I got talking to loads of international students and there were loads of freshers, hopefully all will be at house party! We filled the end room in the chapel, which hasn't happened in a long time. I will be looking forward to this term so much. God is good. We've had visions of students filling the green outside the chapel and them all worshiping!

I'm ill but hey, I'm happy!

There are better things I could be doing!

Other than blogging, but I'm not so there. I had a nice chat with the Chaplin, calmed some of my fears about the year ahead and the fact that CU has changed to Fusion now. I'm still not going to do cell groups though, but I am going to help out as much as I can with everything, I need something to do during the week! The next few weeks are going to be interesting. Freshers fair and all. Making sure I get involved again, rather than wondering what is going on!

Unimotion

It's started. Uni is almost back in full swing. Just a few more days and I will be a fully fledged thrid year who is not too concerned about what lies ahead. I've got a God who will look after me when I need it the most, something that has become a great comfort to me since I began here not so long ago.
So how does it feel to know that I will be graduating in the next 14 months? Scary but theres the thought of 'yes I can do this' floating around. I'm not far off, I'm certainly closer than I was 2 years ago when I sat in my first lecture, unsure of what to think about what was going to happen.
I'm happy, I think thats the main thing. I've got a great house, full of people who love me and I love them back. I've got a boyfriend, someone who has shown his committment to me in many ways and at many times, who loves me so much and I know that I love him. I've got a family who support me and encourage me and of course I've almost got a degree. I'm on my way to finishing and I'm happy that I'm here rather than anywhere else. I don't think I could cope in a different place.

Thinking about it I've been incredibly blessed since I started here. I've got a church and a youth group to enjoy and life for so all is not lost!

Pray that I find a suitible place to do my teacher training!

A few things....

I've spent the last week or so just thinking! Good thinking, productive and questioning.

My first question, which has been bugging me for a good while, especially in my current situation, is where is God in your life? Now for Christian I can imagine the perfect answer being 'before me, with me and behind me, in all that a I say and do', but is this really the case. I can see in many people that God is something in the background, an after thought where 'I' comes first. In the world we live in it is difficult to say 'God and God only' - there are so many more tepmting things, friends, money, etc... It should be Bible, Church, Prayer and the Holy Spirit. I'm very blessed that I've spent a year understanding what God means to me, so I rely on him far more than some of my friends do and tend to go to him first when something is troubling me.
For non-Christians, or people of other faiths, I'm sure its a very different story, God is somewhat a mystery. Something they don't think about, something the are challenged by, something that plainly doesn't exist. What's your stance on God? I've been chatting about Alpha with some of my friends and one guy said 'I know I've got to sort my life out but....' I think God is important to him, but he's not sure how to go about finding out about Him! To everyone who reads this, what do you think God is and where should that idea fit into your life?

Secondly, Grace. My Dad and I have both read What's so amazing about grace? and he brought up a very interesting point. Does grace have a limit? If you get the chance to read the story of Ananias and Sapphira, you'll see that God was not too impressed with those two because they lied, He killed them because they lied. That was not long after Ascension Day, God was angry and he used force. What can we learn from this story? How can we learn? well the first is not to lie! And then look at the nature of God. Obviously that story is a one-off, but where are the limits of Grace? I know I lie, but I'm not dead, but I know I'm saved by Grace. Weird. Something to keep you going!

God Bless

Home Alone

What do you do when you've got a free house? My parents are away for the weekend, dropping my sister in her new foundland that is Cardiff and everyone else has friends or a job that they'll happily be doing and I'm sat at home, doing nothing. I was going to pack, but I did get a better offer. Moving chairs and the tv!

Moving chairs this morning took an age because the admin side of my home church has fallen very short of what is expected. In pure speculation, and tell me if I'm wrong, but surely thats what makes a Church run well. Organisation, a bit of love and a lot of wanting? Wanting to serve the Family as a whole, loving and being loved because you serve and oragisation so you can serve in the best way possible. A way that uses all your gifts and discovers more?

People who don't have to learn on their own are the luckiest people in the world. People who are discoving the Holy Spirit over and over are incredibly blessed. Those who can organise a church are amazing.

I know I am blessed, I got to see some long term friends in a church for the first time in a long time and I got so excited. It felt amazing and they were only there for a band practice!

Many obsessions!

I'm beginning to enjoy killer su doku. If you don't know what on earth I'm talking about where have you been for the past year? Buy a Times (at 60p, thats not a lot!) and look on the back of Times 2, you will be surprised and blessed by the abundance of su dokus and other puzzles to constructively waste all your time with!
I'm at home at the moment, but as I keep mentioning, only briefly! I'm going to Luton tomoro, to see my wonderful boyfriend graduate. I'm looking forward to spending time with him and his family. I got my watch back from Next, after it broke on the first day I wore it, lets hope it lasts a little longer this time! I also bought shoes and books, plus an awesome Cd, by Hillsong. I've resisted them for so long, but I had to give in when I heard
'Cause I know my God saved the day / And I know His word never fails / And I know my God made a way for me...Salvation is here'.
Although I've just bought it I know its going to grow on me!

One thing I'm going to share with you is something that I really should do something about. Matt 6 v 26 -
'Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.' (The Message)

There is a God looking after us who gives the birds abundance and wants to give us that abundance too! How exciting is that! I know is probably one of the first passages every Christian learns, but look at it! We don't even have to ask (though out of politeness we should). We can be careless in the care of God, there is nothing to worry about, God has a plan and He will provide.

All I need is you...All I need is you Lord...is you Lord...
All I need is you...All I need is you Lord...is you Lord....

Hillsong is taking effect!!

Knee surgery

Ummm... not me, thankfully. Helen had her knee cut open on tuesday and had her knee cap put in the right place! Hopefully that'll make everything a lot easier in the future. She's having to other one done in 6 months. I've seen the screws that came out of her sisters knee and would not want that done to me! Although now I'm well versed in the ins and outs of surgery and care (cue a family member braking a bone!). I've seen the video too! Bone is very white and scar tissue is very fluffy! (I'm sure helen would love that discription of the inside of her right knee!)

I'm in Southapmton until tomoro afternoon, then life returns to normal for two days! I'm seeing Holy Smoke's soul survivor pictures in all their glory tonight!