Being at home...

I've been at home since Sunday and tbh I haven't done a lot. I've slept, seen a few friends and stayed with my sister for two nights in Luton. I've met her babies too! They're simulation children, so they cry, get hungry, get cold and properly scream if you do anything to neglect or harm them. Very realistic, and once you hold one the instinct is to treat it like a real child. It's all part of teaching teenagers the responsibility of parenting when they are young. The lady Karen lent them out to was doing Romance Academy with her teenagers...

Today I have watched my brother play on an Xbox360 game called F.E.A.R. so I've spent the morning getting scared by a computer game...the less I talk about it the better. later on we're going shopping and then eating lots of food at my Nan's.

I have really enjoyed my week so far, it didn't get off to a great start, but its getting better. Tomorrow I'm going to hopefully see where I'm going for an interview in a few weeks time. Then on Saturday its back to Bristol for the last leg of the year... :(

It has been busy...

Lots going on, so just a quick one.

I went for a job interview and didn't get it. Wise words from those around me assure me that God's got better things planned for me.

I helped out on Saturday at Wiz's wedding, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. I was exhausted though!

I traveled home on Sunday and did something stupid...more about that at some point...

And today I cleared out my room, with the help of my sister (yes, we share)...and it feels great!

I'm off to Luton...

Radio 1

They just love it don't they - themselves I mean. I've been listening to it all of a good week now, and the music is good (keeps me up to date with pop culture) but they do have a tendency of drawing things out. The Big Weekend happened and they are still harping on about it. Now if you weren't there, or don't know anything about it, it gets a little sickening after 2 days of hearing the same live sets. Which is part of the reason why I love local radio, the music ins't just from the top ten - it spans decades usually (which leaves some people going 'eh, whats this trash?') and they don't harp on about things for days after.

Forgive me for ranting, I love music, don't get me wrong, its a great medium for getting people together, always, but do our musical achievements need to be talked about forever? (Jo Wiley on stage with the Fray (who are awesome))

How's everyone feeling about the current series of Doctor Who? Is it good, bad or just ugly?
I'm enjoying it, I've always said I'm more frightened of the 'human sized' monsters than the CGI monsters - just because the graphics are a little lacking somehow. I've also been watching confidential afterwards, which is a brilliant insight into the world of The Doctor. This weeks episode had me on the edge of my seat!

It's Monday...

Very much so. Its also a day for birthdays, Dad doesn't like to be reminded of his age, so I won't be mean. Check out his blog though, and the comments, its very interesting. It's also Jess' birthday today. She was quite excited in church yesterday evening - today she's 21. So Happy Birthday to you both!

This also means that its less than 2 months til I turn 23. I certainly don't feel 23. What I had planned for the summer, way back in September, isn't happening any more, so thats a little weird, even now. It was one of the things that would propell me almost definitely into independence and adulthood, but like I said, plans have changed. I'm about to go for a job interview, one that may possibly take me further away from home than all of my previous jobs. I still don't know whether this is where I'm meant to be. I hope that it will all become clear very soon. Till then, pray with me.

Looking back, but not that far... last night was a St Mikes Youth Service...more and more of the evening is being planned and run by the young people. It's really encouraging that they are taking the responsibility for the service. Dan's talk was really encouraging. Sex and Sexuality is a difficult subject to talk about! It was great though. He's an excellent speaker...and I've got to follow him, I'm speaking in July...

P.S. (but I know you're going to read this first)

Trev and I are having a conversation about the music in the office. I think we've both come to conclusion that I probably shouldn't attach my laptop to the beast!

Job interviews

This morning I got confirmation of two interviews that I've been invited to, one happening next Thursday and the other in a couple of weeks. I want to go to both, the problem is that they are both at the end of nowhere. So a nightmare to get to. Both on the coast however, which I think I will enjoy! Watch this space for more news, even if it is a very short entry, from a very tired me.

I've still got a cold. Its all in my nose at the moment, which I hate, because it inevitably leads to an ear infection. So I could be facing days of pain and a course of antibiotics if I'm not careful...all I really want is to stop sneezing...

Ok, so two posts in a day...

Isn't it funny how some of the things we feel keep cropping up time and time again, even when situations are different, there are words or phrases, or feelings that are continuous.

For my life its been two things that I know are always going to keep me, (and make me cry in the process) one is the verse in Jeremiah -

For 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.

The other is a verse in Matthew

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Which also appears in a song that keeps cropping up again and again. The last time it was mentioned was here, when I had just found out that my grandad was suffering from cancer. He's been gone for over a year now, but still, God is faithful and I am trying hard to listen.

Writing prayers is hard...

Thats it, that's all I have to say today. Just thought that I'd keep you interested, after all there's no point in having a blog and not writing on it. So I'm taking a very short break from attempting to write the prayers for Sunday morning to blog.

Ok, one more thing. I have a job interview, in Herne, in June. It's ages away but I'm hoping to hear all about it shortly.

Pray for me...

The internet =

The bain of my life. This morning it has decided that it doesn't want to work on the non-admin account, despite gleefully logging into MSN first thing. I don't know why, I really don't care (because there is always a way round these things) but it makes life just that little bit more difficult.

Technical support anyone?

I'm currently sitting in a quiet office, because the boys are at a meeting, so I've got some time to sort out posters, tickets and flyers for the Live Band Night which is coming up in two weeks...

Knocked for 6...

No, I'm not talking about the beginning of the Cricket Season (Sorry Ant). It's more about my entire self giving up for a whole three days... A sore throat that escalated (and probably wasn't helped by the cheering done on Sunday night) to a full blown cold by Monday morning...yes I spent Bank Holiday in bed, grumble...lets hope the next one is a little happier and the next couple of days don't completely wipe me out again, as I'm not 100% just yet.

So I'm catching up on things...

P.S.

I know you'll read this first, but it really is an after thought.

Something's going on with the nerves in my body, my index finger on my left hand has been tingling since I got up. I know I've got a trapped nerve, but I'm a little worried that it's taking so long of the tingling to go away!

And pray for the job applications that have been sent this week, this is really important for me, as (like I said last week) I'm feeling a lack of direction.

That's all, now we all must get back to work...

The Internet...

Is now better than it was before. Chris, who is amazing, has updated all of the boxes that carry the internet around the building so hence the internet now works and can cope with having two laptops downloading web pages. Which makes my life a whole lot easier, and means it doesn't take 45 min to check emails in the morning! Thank you Chris!

I've been watching Ant dance and sing in the office - the joy of iPods!

I text my little brother this morning for an update on his friend who was involved in a car crash on Monday night. He's ok, but in pain, still in hospital, waiting for an operation. However, my brother (and Trev) is on top of the world after seeing Liverpool go to the Champions League Final last night, after beating Chelsea on penalties (yes they couldn't do it in normal time). Now we've just got to wait and see if Man U can hold their own tonight against AC Milan, which would mean an all English final! Totally going to have to watch that!!

You have got to be joking...

Having fun with the internet this morning... The only thing that is loading is my page...funny that!

When I find the person who said 'exercise is good for you if you have stomach cramps' I'm going to tell them they got it WRONG. I tried it yesterday and it didn't work, I even took prescribed (to me) drugs, and that didn't help. Absolutely ridicluous, this kind of pain stops you from sleeping as well, so after a rough night, I'm feeling very delicate. Today is not going to be a good one.

One more thing... What is with the BBC's 'opening credits' for the snooker? I've seen it a few times now, being the couch potato that I am (and probably the reason why the running didn't work). I stil haven't figured it out though. Its a white horse and a bull, surrounded by other snooker balls... Sure, I can understand that the horse is the cue ball and the bull is the black, but why those tow animals? Any ideas?

The radio is playing up too, which means listening to Tree 63 so I don't end up throwing the Beast out the very small window!!!

Warning:Do not get on the wrong side of me today!!

Searching...

For a lot of things, but mainly for direction... It must be the time of year, or the fact that I have just come back from Spring Harvest that means I'm doing a lot of thinking right now as to what I'm meant to be doing, over the summer and beyond.

I'm currently sat in the library above a busy coffee shop, which is quite nice really, and it means I get to sit on a sofa!! I'm seriously going to see how far the wireless stretches when it gets hot enough to sit outside...

Yesterday evening we held a social for Youth Alpha+ (Mettle group C) to start off the term, we ate and played Pictionary...a game I never thought could get quite as competitive as it did last night! It was really good fun though, I do love spending time with this group, they are so random and lovely at the same time...

Back to Bristol...

Back to earth with a bump...after being at Spring Harvest. I'd forgotten the 'bubble' effect that such an event has on me. For 6 days, I'm away from home, at work, but on holiday, surrounded by people who are serious about being 'One People', who are Christian in every sense of the word. People who are committed to showing God's love to each other and the world.

It's really strange. It was good fun though, I must say I learnt a lot, about the people around me and myself. The whole atmosphere of the week was brilliant, the worship in the Big Top was awesome and the bible teaching each day gave me something different to process.

But we're back in the world now, and praying for God's comfort for those who have lost relatives or were injured in Monday's shootings in Virginia. I'm quite taken by an email that was read out on BBC News 24 which said that this is not a time for a political debate about the rate of gun crime across America, nor the ease of purchasing a gun...it is a time for mourning, a time to allow people to grieve what has gone on. I agree.

What do you think?

Bank Holiday Madness

No, I am not talking about Sofa sales, kitchen price cuts or hours of discount cars - but trains. Yes, trains. Trains and platform staff, both of whom (yes I know trains can't think) don't seem to have a clue what is going on.

Today I was amongst the 100's of people travelling from Paddington station who were sent away when some kind of incident happened on the tracks just outside the station, causing first great western to cancel all trains going out of paddington, instantly. Leaving me and a few hundred others stranded.

We were told to head to Ealing Broadway where we were promised trains would be starting from to take us the rest of the way. So we finally arrived enmasse at Ealing Broadway, to find only two platforms working, and a serious crowd control problem. The staff at the station did not have a clue how to deal with big angry mobs, who kept seeing first great western trains speed by - knowing that they could be on them, getting to their destinations without a worry in the world.

I finally got to Reading and waited another 50 mins to get a train to Bristol Parkway... of all the times I have been travelling 'cross country, why did the worst journey (so far, and I am not holding my breath!) have to happen the day before Spring Harvest?

So I've filled out a form and I'm sending it off in the hope that I'll get the full price of my ticket refunded because I was delayed for a whole 2 hours 30 mins. And if the train company phone me and say they can't refund my money, I will not be happy!

Any way, Spring Harvest tomorrow, and despite my tiredness, I am looking forward to it...

Being at home...

Comes with all little bits of excitement...

The excitement of Billericay Town Football club being top of the Ryman Premier League, for 4 days in a week!

The excitement of celebrating mt cousins 16th birthday, and realising that the next 5 years are going to be spent celebrating more milestone birthdays and anniversaries.

The excitement (and wonder) of family photos that have been sent to us. Photos that as children in the current family, we've never seen before, time spent spotting various family traits, facial expressions, body language, that have been passed down to my parents and siblings.

You can see the family resemblence! I've seen my grandparents on their wedding day and seen where we get some of it from...


There is a photo of my Grandad and his brother-in-law sitting in a back garden somewhere the day before I was born. Which holds some strangeness and sadness. My parents can't understand why its so weird.


One moment, captured forever, where I existed, but I wasn't born.


My grandad in the garden, with his brother-in-law, enjoying the sun and within a few hours my Gran had passed away, and I was born, my other grandparents celebrated their wedding anniversary too...That was almost 23 years ago.

Its been a little bit of a weird day...but Sunday's a comin'. I'm looking forward to seeing the gang together tomorrow...

Good Friday

Yes, it's that time of year again...

Good Friday is far from good, I don't know where it gets the name, but I'm sure my Dad will explain it at some point on his blog...He's sat next to me, reading over my shoulder! RUDE! (But you've gotta love wireless Internet, sat watching the TV whilst blogging - bliss!)

So today I've been to church and walked through the town, as part of the Walk of Witness, which seems to be 'an Essex thing' as far as I'm aware. We wander through the town, behind three crosses with banners that say various things about what Jesus went through before the was put on the cross. Its a very public statement, and a time for reflection. It ends with a service in one of the two churches at the end of the high street.

Definitely a solemn time for the church across the world, but as my vicar said (and a guy called Tony Compolo apparently) 'Sunday is coming' - there is a time for celebration on the horizon, even when we're at our lowest, there is always a time for celebration.

Off to check whats going on at SH while I'm online (and before I fall asleep)...

Catching up

I have spent the evening with a very dear friend, catching up on whats going on in her life, and, obviously, sitting in my local (in Billericay) means that I'm going to see people I know, and talk to them too.

Ah, being back at home...I could go into a million cliches about how home is like... but I'll spare you, bacuse I'm nice like that.

I have also been catching up on the forum...lots to say and think about right now. Spring Harvest is just around the corner and I'm away from Stoke Gifford right now, so it's kind of a life line to work!! Sad but true, you've gotta love it. I have a feeling it'll go very quiet while we're on holiday...

Among other things...

Yes I know I should probably go home for a bit...or at least for a walk. But instead I'm sat listening to the radio, trying to focus, whilst getting annoyed at my jumper falling apart. Everything I pick up at the moment seems to fall apart in my hands. Not good really...The seem at the sleeve has unravelled, leaving me with a cold wrist.

Man, I'm tired....