Malvern

The joys of the boyfrined! I'm in Malvern, keeping my dear henry happy! Its all fun, I love staying at home for the weekend and just flaking out, I didn't get up til 6pm yesterday, summer school exhausted me so much. I had a good week and I'm having a very good weekend.
Church was fun this morning, St Andrews in Malvern is fun, they've had holiday club (80 children - very impressive!) recently, so we had action songs and lots of stories about the mighty God Sword - or Mighty God's word (by the end of the week - can you tell I've done this before!?) I really enjoyed the whole thing, some people less so!
Anyway, back in 'ricay tomoro, so no doubt I'll fill you in more fully on my adventures!!

Summer school

40 kids, in their home town, meeting students who are doing or have just completed their degrees and having a whale of a time whilst learning that they can go into HE no matter what their circumstances. These guys and girls are under-achievers, but they are clever kids, funny, on the ball and constantly winding us (staff) up! They al have potential, they all have their lights on upstairs, but the teachers (and the parents probably) have labelled them as no-hopers, guys and girls who would be better off as a shop assistant or mechanic, in a dead end job. Thats so not true, these kids have the intelligence and the ability to arugue their way to the top. Some many of them are intersted in the Uni, its unbelievable. That attitude is thanks to the team around me, we're all so positive and enjoying oursleves, even though the tiredness kicked in on monday afternoon and we're running on adreniline most of the time! We've only really got to know each other since monday but we're working and acting like we've known each other for years!

I would recommend doing AimHigher events to anyone who is currently doing a degree, we need to be aware that we can give teenagers hope, even if the government don't!

Just a brief aside (I'm being dragged kicking and screaming away from this!) Be careful what you publish on the web, you can hurt people without knowing what you are doing.

Results Day

Just a little bit of fun! I've passed everything which is good news, but I know I have to work harder next year to get my average up by a couple of points. That means reading everything and not rushing the writing of an essay.

But for now I'm happy, safe in the knowledge that I can't do worse than a 2.2 unless I completely stop working! I'm just waiting for other important people to get their results and then I'll be even happier!

I have to pack today otherwise I don't get to go to summer school with my head on my shoulders. I'm going for a week so shouldn't have to take too much stuff with me but you really never know with these things!

Burrff day!

Or Birthday as they say every where else.

Man, it has been hectic since I last wrote. The London bombings have happened, my boyfirend turned 21 and so have I now, I've been to two different churches and been across the country twice. I'm so tired but I've enjoyed myself. There's no end to the things I've been thinking about and I can't possibly write them all down in the 40 mins I've got before I go and lead a cell group (something I haven't done for a very long time).

Loyalty is one of those things, and so is worry. I'm loyal to many things, ideas, traditions, people. I've been thinking a lot about love too. These three things seem to be my life at the moment. And it makes me wonder what others a driven by. I know these three aren't in balance in my own life, but I'm pretty certain Love is at the top, by maybe an inch!

Things are good at the moment, really good, and I'm looking forward to the summer lots more than I was before! The 'main event' is out of the way and with one holiday camp cancelled I can concentrait on other things that are happening.

At home...

Ok so now I am back at home, at least until Saturday morning when I begin my jet set lifestyle by traveling to Malvern! I'm looking forward to the next week or so, I've got plenty of things planned. Dinner and drinking mainly! I'm going to see INME next week, which will be good fun, though I know I'll stick out like a sore thumb - a little white girl, who knows only the pop culture that she's been brought up in standing at the back hoping she won't get crushed by bouncing boys! They are a good band, it just makes me wish I didn't have to see them with hundreds of boys who know how to mosh! But spending time with Henry over his birthday is the main thing - then he gets to come here and complain about my music taste whilst drinking! Birthday parties are the best things in the world! I am looking forward to all of it. It kinda of makes living worth while, knowing that I'm going to be surrounded by those people that I have made friends with over 21 years of life, and having that one special person stood next to me while everything goes on around me! I'm going to have a great time this summer and I'm going to do some reading for my diss too!

Funny life...

Ok so I thought that this training would be more practical than chatty, but I was very wrong! We are being taught classroom management more than anything else amd how to plan lessons rather than planning them. It's very difficult to listen to training that is not subject specific, how on earth can I put a maths example into an RE context...I guess I need a PGCE for that! And by far the most annoying thing - I can see from a mile off who could be a secondary school teacher and who can't! And who the most annoying people are! They are all lovely but Gloucester accents really get me!

Manchester

We got to Manchester easily, its getting around Manchester in the car that was the hard part! It's ok though, not like we're in reading or something (those of you who know Rob will know the story well, those of you who don't will just have to ask!). It's cool being this high up though, 4th floor, tiny windows (supposedly so no drunk or depressed people can chuck themselves on to the street!). Its nice and a bit of a maze, but fun none the less. I'm going to see where the nearest cinema is and we're going to see Batman Begins!

Financial stability . . . God works

My prayers have been answered in the most obvious way - I have been given so much cash its unbelievable! I know that faith works - my friends received the exact amount of money that they'd sent to Africa. To the pound! It will be used to do Gods work in the most awesome way - a place for homeless people will be secure and free from the worries of looters - something that happens regularly.
I'm also thanking God for putting a housemate in a foreign country with the Salvation Army. She needs to realise God again and be brought back to faith - I'm prayng this summer will be the time!
My exams went really well, so thankyou for all your prayers, keep praying that the summer will go as planned, some things are still up in the air!

I'm going home....

For less than a day, but its the thought that counts! There are so many people who want to see me its not funny! I've got some cleaning to do before I leave so I'll blog when I've got some time this weekend!!!

Stress takes its toll

I am not sleeping properly - I was so tired that I slept through an hour and a half of my alarm this morning! There is something very wrong about that, incredibly wrong! I'm far too stress abou my last exam tomorrow, I shouldn't be, I've seen the paper (at least thats the excuse that some people are making for me - you know who you are!). Thats not the case though, the exam becomes a lot harder when you know what the questions are - from my pov. 250 words is what I'm allowed to take in to the exam with me, which means I have the spend the time doing notes and then cutting it down into the final piece. It sucks really. And because I'm not getting the sleep and over sleeping I can't do everything I need to do before I make my trip back to essex on thursday!

ARGH! that seems to be a feature in my life too much at the moment, but how else can I describe tiredness and shock all in one? I'm also trying to cope with knowing that I will be here on my own next year! No third years to tell me how to do things! Just a bunch of guys who think that a smile (and a prayer) will solve everything! Sadly that is not the case!

Yawn....

Revision is sooo boring, but I know I have to do it!
I have been doing it all day so I figure I can rest, I just want to get my next exam oer and done with, its one of those exams that anyone with any sort of Christian knowledge can pass, simple really. I've got to spend two hours tomoro evening writing about Christian ethics on various subject. I feel totally ill-equipped to do that but thats ho I've been feeling for the last few days about exams, God work in my weaknesses - He was really gracious in unlocking the information I needed yesterday! I was relaxed by the time I sat at my desk and the paper wasn't too hard!

So one down, two to go and then a whole load of packing to do, the summer is so crazy, but again God has been really good in giving me time when I need it!

I'm happy but bored with waiting. Patience is a virtue! (along with prudance, courage, temperance, justice, faith, hope and love)

Toilet roll

ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Why can't people just take responsibility for things? Why can't they just get over themselves? As my Dad used to say 'Get off your high horse and drink your milk' Please Please Please! I've just about had enough and will be glad that I'm moving out in a week! Back to revision!

I'm bored.com

I drew a personality pig!

It is truely amazing what you can find on the web!

I'm happy

God has really touched me ths weekend. He has spoken to me so much through everything - He is Big, He can be trusted, and there is a Kingdom that everyone is invited to! We watched King Authur and Bruce Almighty, I'd forgotten how funny the second one is!

I've sorted out my summer, right up until the start of September, but first I have to concentrate on my exams which start on Wednesday! I'm doing so many things over the next couple of weeks, I have to actually remeber to buy tickets for the journey home! Tum te tum....

I can tell you its not telling fibs!

Or revision!

I was told today that one of my housemates 'dobbed me in'. Apparently during the busiest weekend I've had since Easter, I didn't do any washing up. I seem to remember that I was out most of Saturday and Sunday, and on Monday I was finishing an essay that had to (but wasn't due to the same house mate) be handed in. When I was told all of this incriminating evidence I struggled to remember what I'd done over that weekend that meant I couldn't do the washing up! How wrong is that? I couldn't remember because I was that busy. The certain housemate was in an emotional stress of her own, so the washing up wasn't going to be done by her or the person comforting her (uh ummm...me!). The other person she blame wasn't even in the house (and hasn't been due to family commitments!).

My goodness, its like living in the Big Brother house! Who on earth would want to fight over the washing up and changing the bin? I know we all moan (and I know I do it particularly well!) but just get on with it, and don't think that someone else will do it just because you haven't!

AND finally (I promise), to add insult to injury, she's the one that creates the most dishes!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Any way I can defuse the situation without going 'Oi don't tell lies, B@!*h!'??

Bank Holiday

I've managed to do the bear minimum this weekend, and I'm not joking! Its been great - I wasn't bored either!
We went out on friday evening with some of the girls from my course to 'That Mexican Place' and ended up in the Frog, after eating the nicest tuna steak ever!! We did some shopping on Saturday and he went yesterday afternoon.
I've got to find sometime to do some revision, currently I've got tomoro afternoon and the whole of wednesday, and thats it. I've filled up my reading week with things I really want to do - mainly entertaining others who are on half term! Its funny how things fall - the 5 weeks at Easter makes everything coincide!

Blast from the past

My ex-boyfriend - with stupid floppy hair!
I handed in my last assignment today! I wanted to be out celebrating, but no-one else is, though I have been promised by Jamie that he will make it up to me! I'm looking forward to Bank Holiday, but before that Henry is coming to visit! :D I haven't seen him for three weeks so I'm really excited and seen as he's nearly a graduate and I've almost finished my second year we've got some reason to celebrate!
Definitely looking forward to the next couple of weeks!

Me
Posted by Hello

One rather wet weekend

It has rained for the best part of 48 hours, I hope the river that runs past the end of our road doesn't flood (I doubt it but wonder!).
Its been a horrible weekend anyway. I didn't start Saturday particularly well. Woken up 10 mins before my alarm went off to a sobbing housemate - she'd done something incredibly stupid the night before whilst drunk. I had to calm her down and spent ten minutes in the shower praying for her.
Training was good. The people I'm working with are really nice, they've all got really good ideas of how we can get the children we're working with in July to understand how much fun university is. Came home and watched the second half of the FA Cup final - C'mon Arsenal! Penalties always get my so wound up!
Found out that my housemates great nan had died - quite a shock for me and her.
Dinner and then the Path, I'm not being really challenged by anything that is said, though Jamie (of Quench fame) did a really good worship session.
I had to leave early due housemate and her stupidity.
Sunday was good - two really good meals, one pub and one roast - I've eaten too much today and it shows! Now I'm just sitting back and reflecting on the weekend. One thing that struck me as I was walking though town after a long day on Saturday was the rainbow - read this to find out why
Genesis 9
12 And God said, This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:
13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,
15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.
16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.
17 So God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.
(NIV translation, thanks to BibleGateway)
It hit me that we're loved and have been in a very special relationship since the very beginning - no matter when that was - it started and it hasn't finished!
We went on to talk about Covenants at the Path!!

Question - How much do you give? This week has been Christian Aid week and we've been considering how much Fusion (as a group and individuals) give as a sign of commitment to God. He gives back in abundance when you give! So think about it! Where can you give (to a charity or organisation) and how much can you give this week? This month? This year?

And the point of that was....

Some random has made a judgement based on what I study at university. I hope I bump into his sorry arse so I can show him how interesting and great I actually am! Have you ever made a decision based on what someone studies? I know that I try my hardest not to, not everyone fits the stereotype you give them - thog I have a feeling that guy does!
Anyway, back to my essay, I will get it finished - just 75 words until I'm inside the lower word count! Though I will probably ramble for a bit more than that! Just like I'm donig now in fact.....