Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat as they say and we've just about reached the stage of being ready for Christmas and being able to settle down to enjoy the festivities. We're off out tonight for the last bits of food and then we can come home and hole up. Tomorrow we can spend the day wrapping presents to put under the tree.
What I'm really looking forward to is the nine lessons and carols service at church. This year it's being held on Christmas Eve for the first time which is really good. I always find that it sets the scene for Christmas and brings home the real meaning for the season. All I need to do now is prepare the prayers which I'm leading....best get my finger out with that then.
Tuesday 23 December 2008
Sunday 21 December 2008
Why is it...
that the day before I'm due to finish work for the Christmas holiday I come down with laryngitis? It's not the first time this has happened - the year before last I had the flu over Christmas... I mean, there's loads to be done, our house still hasn't recovered from the new boiler going in and then with the garage being burgled we had an influx of boxes which had been stored in the garage move into the dining room....
Robin's still not up to much, I've spent most of the last couple of days asleep, in bed or sitting pathetically on the sofa when my intention was that I would use this two weeks off to go through the house like a whirlwind and sort it out from top to bottom so that it was all clean and tidy ready for the new year. As it is, we're going to be lucky if we can get to the dining table for Christmas dinner...
Still, I shouldn't complain, we do at least have a roof over our head and food to eat. We had a visit at church recently from an organisation called Compassion who enable sponsorship of children in third world countries to give them education and food etc. It's a really good worthwhile scheme, although I'm leaning more to Tearfund because more of the money goes to the child rather than scheme admin although you don't sponsor a child individually with them. (Other similar schemes are done by Worldvision and Plan - UK , ActionAid and SOS Children for those who are interested.) But just reading about what those children go through on a daily basis puts everything into perspective and makes you realise just how lucky you are. Ok so I've not won the lottery, I don't have a mansion and drive a flash car... but I'm loved, cared for, have plenty to eat and drink and don't have to walk miles to get it. Neither do we have to worry about rains which wash meagre crops away or invading armies who raze villages to the ground... all in all, actually, I'm really rather blessed... and hopefully the cold etc will be gone by Christmas day!
Robin's still not up to much, I've spent most of the last couple of days asleep, in bed or sitting pathetically on the sofa when my intention was that I would use this two weeks off to go through the house like a whirlwind and sort it out from top to bottom so that it was all clean and tidy ready for the new year. As it is, we're going to be lucky if we can get to the dining table for Christmas dinner...
Still, I shouldn't complain, we do at least have a roof over our head and food to eat. We had a visit at church recently from an organisation called Compassion who enable sponsorship of children in third world countries to give them education and food etc. It's a really good worthwhile scheme, although I'm leaning more to Tearfund because more of the money goes to the child rather than scheme admin although you don't sponsor a child individually with them. (Other similar schemes are done by Worldvision and Plan - UK , ActionAid and SOS Children for those who are interested.) But just reading about what those children go through on a daily basis puts everything into perspective and makes you realise just how lucky you are. Ok so I've not won the lottery, I don't have a mansion and drive a flash car... but I'm loved, cared for, have plenty to eat and drink and don't have to walk miles to get it. Neither do we have to worry about rains which wash meagre crops away or invading armies who raze villages to the ground... all in all, actually, I'm really rather blessed... and hopefully the cold etc will be gone by Christmas day!
Wednesday 17 December 2008
What will they come up with next?
I get a daily round up of stuff from the Baptist Union which often has interesting and quirky things, today was no exception.
The latest thing to come out is an electronic reader called the eBible. Click the title and you'll see what I mean.
Not only does it let you load up several different electronic versions of the Bible, it's also a perfectly good pda and all for about £7!
Wow is all I can say, I'm off to write to Santa and tell him what a good little girl I've been and can I have one in my stocking..... I wonder if he'd like smoked salmon canapes instead of mince pies too?
The latest thing to come out is an electronic reader called the eBible. Click the title and you'll see what I mean.
Not only does it let you load up several different electronic versions of the Bible, it's also a perfectly good pda and all for about £7!
Wow is all I can say, I'm off to write to Santa and tell him what a good little girl I've been and can I have one in my stocking..... I wonder if he'd like smoked salmon canapes instead of mince pies too?
Monday 15 December 2008
Advent Calendars
A bit late into Advent I grant, but I found this really cool online Advent Calendar today - it's got everything you need to sit and meditate on the real reason for Christmas so you are prepared for the coming of Jesus this year.
As you all know, I knit and crochet, so for those of you who are that way inclined too, check out this Advent Calendar - not religious in any way, but some lovely patterns which don't take long to do. I've already done some of the snowflakes and a bell and am half way though a candle mat thing which they call a beobeche?
Hopefully I'll get some pictures posted on Ravelry, but that rather depends on hubby and the camera as we all know I'm hopeless with one!
As you all know, I knit and crochet, so for those of you who are that way inclined too, check out this Advent Calendar - not religious in any way, but some lovely patterns which don't take long to do. I've already done some of the snowflakes and a bell and am half way though a candle mat thing which they call a beobeche?
Hopefully I'll get some pictures posted on Ravelry, but that rather depends on hubby and the camera as we all know I'm hopeless with one!
Thursday 11 December 2008
'Tis the season
For oiks and other undesirables, to break into houses and outbuildings.... in particular ours and those of a couple of neighbours.
Thankfully, for some reason best known to them, they didn't take very much. Even more thankfully all of our bikes are still there, even though one of our darling daughters didn't lock them back up again the last time she had hers out. Our neighbour likewise only lost a few batteries and some nails? One can only assume that they were planning on building something but the mind boggles really.
I was about to go on about 'don't these people have any respect for other people's things' and so on, when I realised that actually, they don't. I suppose we should be sorry for people who believe that it's ok to steal and break in to houses/garages etc. I'm trying hard to find Christian forgiveness, but to be honest it's hard.
The last laugh is however on the burgulars who took the golf clubs and train bits from the garage - they had been in the garage last year when it was flooded - and covered in sewage!
I hope the rest of you out there are having a better run up to Christmas than I am at the moment.
Thankfully, for some reason best known to them, they didn't take very much. Even more thankfully all of our bikes are still there, even though one of our darling daughters didn't lock them back up again the last time she had hers out. Our neighbour likewise only lost a few batteries and some nails? One can only assume that they were planning on building something but the mind boggles really.
I was about to go on about 'don't these people have any respect for other people's things' and so on, when I realised that actually, they don't. I suppose we should be sorry for people who believe that it's ok to steal and break in to houses/garages etc. I'm trying hard to find Christian forgiveness, but to be honest it's hard.
The last laugh is however on the burgulars who took the golf clubs and train bits from the garage - they had been in the garage last year when it was flooded - and covered in sewage!
I hope the rest of you out there are having a better run up to Christmas than I am at the moment.
Tuesday 9 December 2008
Christmas is coming
so they say, the trouble is that I can't get into it this year. Perhaps I'm too worried about Robin and how he is, or perhaps I'm just getting fed up with they cynical commercialisation of the event. There are children nowadays who think that Santa has a part in the nativity story and have no idea who the baby Jesus really is. No wonder our country is on the road to a moral decline.
I know I'm generalising and there are many children who do know about the true meaning of Christmas... but they are so much in the minority now they should be preserved before they become like the dodo.
Now, I don't know if this will work, but have a look at this aim lower : it certainly made me stop and re-think about children when I saw it. I'll confess I got it from a friend's blog, but it's worth sharing to as many people as possible.
I know I'm generalising and there are many children who do know about the true meaning of Christmas... but they are so much in the minority now they should be preserved before they become like the dodo.
Now, I don't know if this will work, but have a look at this aim lower : it certainly made me stop and re-think about children when I saw it. I'll confess I got it from a friend's blog, but it's worth sharing to as many people as possible.
Monday 1 December 2008
Some good news
I went with some trepidation to see my boss today, fully expecting not to have a job at Christmas - only to have the opposite happen.
It turns out that the lady they have appointed has to work her 4 month notice period so she can't start until the end of March.... which means that they are going to extend my contract through to the 27th March. :)
I'm so happy, it means that I don't have to worry about finding a new job for a month or two and we will have money coming in until the end of March. I shall keep looking but it really takes the pressure off. I've been clinging to God and the belief that He's got something in mind for me but I was really starting to find the way ahead impossible to see. I feel now that God has opened the pathway up ahead a little bit and I can work with that. I just need to pray that things go as well with Robin and the doctors now :)
It turns out that the lady they have appointed has to work her 4 month notice period so she can't start until the end of March.... which means that they are going to extend my contract through to the 27th March. :)
I'm so happy, it means that I don't have to worry about finding a new job for a month or two and we will have money coming in until the end of March. I shall keep looking but it really takes the pressure off. I've been clinging to God and the belief that He's got something in mind for me but I was really starting to find the way ahead impossible to see. I feel now that God has opened the pathway up ahead a little bit and I can work with that. I just need to pray that things go as well with Robin and the doctors now :)
Sunday 30 November 2008
An odd week
Well, what a strange week it's been... firstly my friend finally had her baby on Tuesday - a little girl (well, not so little at 9lbs 3oz!) and both mother and baby are doing well.
Then we spent two days travelling so we could attend the funeral of my Step-Grandmother (for want of a better description). It was a difficult event to get through - the shortness of time between diagnosis and her death came as a bit of a shock to the family. Having been through the lingering death of a good friend who bravely fought cancer for 3 and a half years, all I can say is that it was the best thing for Pat. She died at home, with her husband and had enough time to sort her will and stuff out and died with little pain. The downside is that everyone is still struggling to come to terms with it all.
I know I shall miss her - they were both very good to me when I arrived in their family as an awkward 17 year old, fresh from her parents divorce. I was always touched by how they welcomed me into their family and then when my children came along, how they treated them like the rest of the grand/great grand children. My girls will miss Pat a good deal but I'm glad they were able to know her. Derek is still there but he's 82 and had aged a good deal when I saw him last week. I just pray that he is ok in the weeks ahead.
On top of all this, Robin's been getting more and more weak as the effects of this pituitary tumour become more pronounced. It's scary really to see this huge man who used to be active and had trouble keeping still, being reduced to laying on the sofa or bed for most of the time and walking with a stick when he has to go out. I just pray that the scan and operation happen sooner rather than later.
On a work front I'm currently doing a fill in job to cover until the permanent person is able to start. They've interviewed and appointed and I've got a meeting with my boss on Monday so I think she can start sooner rather than later. I just hope I'm working through till Christmas as we could do with the money with Robin not working.
Then we spent two days travelling so we could attend the funeral of my Step-Grandmother (for want of a better description). It was a difficult event to get through - the shortness of time between diagnosis and her death came as a bit of a shock to the family. Having been through the lingering death of a good friend who bravely fought cancer for 3 and a half years, all I can say is that it was the best thing for Pat. She died at home, with her husband and had enough time to sort her will and stuff out and died with little pain. The downside is that everyone is still struggling to come to terms with it all.
I know I shall miss her - they were both very good to me when I arrived in their family as an awkward 17 year old, fresh from her parents divorce. I was always touched by how they welcomed me into their family and then when my children came along, how they treated them like the rest of the grand/great grand children. My girls will miss Pat a good deal but I'm glad they were able to know her. Derek is still there but he's 82 and had aged a good deal when I saw him last week. I just pray that he is ok in the weeks ahead.
On top of all this, Robin's been getting more and more weak as the effects of this pituitary tumour become more pronounced. It's scary really to see this huge man who used to be active and had trouble keeping still, being reduced to laying on the sofa or bed for most of the time and walking with a stick when he has to go out. I just pray that the scan and operation happen sooner rather than later.
On a work front I'm currently doing a fill in job to cover until the permanent person is able to start. They've interviewed and appointed and I've got a meeting with my boss on Monday so I think she can start sooner rather than later. I just hope I'm working through till Christmas as we could do with the money with Robin not working.
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Excitement
As an only child I never grew up with the expectation of being an aunty and despite being married twice now I'm still not really one.
So, when my best friend from school told me she was expecting her first baby I was really pleased for her. Now, said best friend and I have had our differences along the way - mostly caused by our mutual stubbornness and different stages in life, and have had patches where we've not spoken to each other. But when all is said and done she's someone I still consider to be a good friend.
So, for a while now I've been knitting baby bits for her and waiting .... she's now two weeks late and due to be induced any time now, so hopefully the baby will arrive safely in the next 24 hours or so. .. and I'm so excited :)
My girls are past babyhood by a long way now - the eldest turned 12 recently, so all things baby have been banished from our house. We now have raging pre-teen hormones to contend with, but I still look at all the little clothes on sale in Tesco and think how cute the accessories for babies are. Don't get me wrong, I'm not broody and don't want another one thank you, but I do like some of the nifty things that have come out since my girls were tiny. This impending birth is bringing back many memories of my own girls babyhood - some of which I'd blanked out in the horror of those early years and the difficult marriage, but on the whole, it's been a nice trip down memory lane.
And as for my friends baby - it's still hanging in there and I'm dying to know what colour yarn to knit with!
So, when my best friend from school told me she was expecting her first baby I was really pleased for her. Now, said best friend and I have had our differences along the way - mostly caused by our mutual stubbornness and different stages in life, and have had patches where we've not spoken to each other. But when all is said and done she's someone I still consider to be a good friend.
So, for a while now I've been knitting baby bits for her and waiting .... she's now two weeks late and due to be induced any time now, so hopefully the baby will arrive safely in the next 24 hours or so. .. and I'm so excited :)
My girls are past babyhood by a long way now - the eldest turned 12 recently, so all things baby have been banished from our house. We now have raging pre-teen hormones to contend with, but I still look at all the little clothes on sale in Tesco and think how cute the accessories for babies are. Don't get me wrong, I'm not broody and don't want another one thank you, but I do like some of the nifty things that have come out since my girls were tiny. This impending birth is bringing back many memories of my own girls babyhood - some of which I'd blanked out in the horror of those early years and the difficult marriage, but on the whole, it's been a nice trip down memory lane.
And as for my friends baby - it's still hanging in there and I'm dying to know what colour yarn to knit with!
Thursday 30 October 2008
All change....again
Well, where to start really? On the job front I've been doing a maternity cover back in the same office at the University where I was last year. I really enjoyed working there last year (a different maternity cover) and this year has been a similarly good experience. But I'm down to my last week next week and it's time to move on again.
The good news is that the University has a re-deployment list (which I'm on) and for the short term I've got an extension of sorts to work in a slightly different department but still reporting for the same person I'm working for at the moment. There's a permanent position coming up in the same department I'm covering in so I'm applying and fingers crossed I might even get an interview!
I know that I do have the skills for the job and I've got the qualifications.... it's just that it's a few grades above the one I'm on at the moment, so the trick will be to convince those interviewing that I can do it.
However, not one to have all my eggs in one basket, I've been applying for other jobs at the University too. I've got an interview next week in the Business School there but I'm not sure how I feel about the position. I'll go and do my best at interview and see what happens from there. I've also applied for a job in HR which might lead to other things but given that the HR department is notoriously incompetent I'm not sure I really want to work in it!
So that's three jobs in the fire which is all good, I trust in God that the right one for me and the family will happen, so I'll go in and do my best for all three and see what transpires.
On a domestic front Hubby's latest contract finishes in two weeks after some pretty nasty office politics and backstabbing directed at him. Shades of when he worked at Cattles which is a bit worrying as Cattles left him in a bad state mentally. The good thing is that this time he's got me to support me and its been over and done with in a short space of time. Working his 4 week notice is proving to be a bit of a trial though and I'm really proud of him for sticking it out.
I watched a Baptism at church the other Sunday and was surprisingly moved by it. It was the first one I'd seen since I was Baptised myself back on Mothering Sunday. The testimony was simple and 'ordinary' - no blinding road to Damascus conversion. But it was immensly reassuring for all of that. I pray that the Baptism may be a real blessing for the family involved.
I've not been to church myself for a couple of weeks for fairly valid reasons - not being a home being the main one - and I'm finding myself missing it. Nice as it was to have a bit of a lay in on a Sunday morning and a leisurely read of the papers... something was missing. So this Sunday I'll be back in church and I'm looking forward to it.
Well, that's all for now, although I've probably got more I can add. I hope someone's reading this! Let me know if you are and I'll try and write more.
The good news is that the University has a re-deployment list (which I'm on) and for the short term I've got an extension of sorts to work in a slightly different department but still reporting for the same person I'm working for at the moment. There's a permanent position coming up in the same department I'm covering in so I'm applying and fingers crossed I might even get an interview!
I know that I do have the skills for the job and I've got the qualifications.... it's just that it's a few grades above the one I'm on at the moment, so the trick will be to convince those interviewing that I can do it.
However, not one to have all my eggs in one basket, I've been applying for other jobs at the University too. I've got an interview next week in the Business School there but I'm not sure how I feel about the position. I'll go and do my best at interview and see what happens from there. I've also applied for a job in HR which might lead to other things but given that the HR department is notoriously incompetent I'm not sure I really want to work in it!
So that's three jobs in the fire which is all good, I trust in God that the right one for me and the family will happen, so I'll go in and do my best for all three and see what transpires.
On a domestic front Hubby's latest contract finishes in two weeks after some pretty nasty office politics and backstabbing directed at him. Shades of when he worked at Cattles which is a bit worrying as Cattles left him in a bad state mentally. The good thing is that this time he's got me to support me and its been over and done with in a short space of time. Working his 4 week notice is proving to be a bit of a trial though and I'm really proud of him for sticking it out.
I watched a Baptism at church the other Sunday and was surprisingly moved by it. It was the first one I'd seen since I was Baptised myself back on Mothering Sunday. The testimony was simple and 'ordinary' - no blinding road to Damascus conversion. But it was immensly reassuring for all of that. I pray that the Baptism may be a real blessing for the family involved.
I've not been to church myself for a couple of weeks for fairly valid reasons - not being a home being the main one - and I'm finding myself missing it. Nice as it was to have a bit of a lay in on a Sunday morning and a leisurely read of the papers... something was missing. So this Sunday I'll be back in church and I'm looking forward to it.
Well, that's all for now, although I've probably got more I can add. I hope someone's reading this! Let me know if you are and I'll try and write more.
Tuesday 12 August 2008
Summer Holidays
Well.. the dust has settled and the course is complete and the children have finished school for the summer... but somehow I've still not managed to find time for writing.
Part of me feels like my whole life is one long list of 'when XXX is done with I'll do YYYY' but really and truly, deep down I have to wonder if they are not just excuses.
I do know that I'm tired, bone achingly tired. I've been working full time now for 9 months and I've not really had a good break. Thankfully I've only got tomorrow at work and then I've got 10 days off followed by a few days working but on my own, then a weekend with hubby before the children come back from their visit to Granny's. What I'm hoping is that I'm going to be refreshed and relaxed by the end of it all... just in time for September and the new school year.
I have also been looking at my bible more... and looking forward to Spring Harvest next year which I've decided to take the children to. I think they're old enough to get a good deal out of it now and I certainly need a booster on the spiritual front.
Oh well... suppose I'd best head to bed, last day for a bit tomorrow!
Part of me feels like my whole life is one long list of 'when XXX is done with I'll do YYYY' but really and truly, deep down I have to wonder if they are not just excuses.
I do know that I'm tired, bone achingly tired. I've been working full time now for 9 months and I've not really had a good break. Thankfully I've only got tomorrow at work and then I've got 10 days off followed by a few days working but on my own, then a weekend with hubby before the children come back from their visit to Granny's. What I'm hoping is that I'm going to be refreshed and relaxed by the end of it all... just in time for September and the new school year.
I have also been looking at my bible more... and looking forward to Spring Harvest next year which I've decided to take the children to. I think they're old enough to get a good deal out of it now and I certainly need a booster on the spiritual front.
Oh well... suppose I'd best head to bed, last day for a bit tomorrow!
Thursday 26 June 2008
Finally published
So this week I finally got my work published... Ok so its in an anthology of writing that my University creative writing course has had published, but it's still my work in print. Lets just hope that it's not the last time I get something published. And of course the next time it would be great to be paid for it!
I'll write more but for now I need to go and see why dd2 is upset on her return from Guides.
I'll write more but for now I need to go and see why dd2 is upset on her return from Guides.
Monday 5 May 2008
Beginnings
Well, a new blog, a blank page, a new beginning.... so where to start? Feeling a bit woozy today as I was up late last night but at least its a bank holiday!
I thought I'd share with you a piece of writing I wrote a little while ago when I was struggling to think of something to write.
Writers Block
I sit here and listen to those all around,
Whose words captivate, completely profound.
A profusion of prose all written and rounded,
Like nothing before has ever been sounded.
And yet in my corner no words outpour
Feels like I’ve never done this before.
Some years ago my family I astounded,
The long-standing critics I completely confounded.
I passed my ‘A’ levels with a ‘B’,
Then went on to complete an Honours Degree.
Rich words were tucked under my belt
Enough to write prose till the arctic melt.
Strange it is then, that I find,
No words at all spring to mind.
Yet when I glance down at the paper,
My mind has been on its own jolly caper.
A complete poem has simply appeared
No block for me, as I’d long feared.
So... let me know what you think, polite answers only. I'm off out now to do some shopping for a birthday pressie and enjoy the remainder of the Bank Holiday which looks to be quite sunny out there.
I thought I'd share with you a piece of writing I wrote a little while ago when I was struggling to think of something to write.
Writers Block
I sit here and listen to those all around,
Whose words captivate, completely profound.
A profusion of prose all written and rounded,
Like nothing before has ever been sounded.
And yet in my corner no words outpour
Feels like I’ve never done this before.
Some years ago my family I astounded,
The long-standing critics I completely confounded.
I passed my ‘A’ levels with a ‘B’,
Then went on to complete an Honours Degree.
Rich words were tucked under my belt
Enough to write prose till the arctic melt.
Strange it is then, that I find,
No words at all spring to mind.
Yet when I glance down at the paper,
My mind has been on its own jolly caper.
A complete poem has simply appeared
No block for me, as I’d long feared.
So... let me know what you think, polite answers only. I'm off out now to do some shopping for a birthday pressie and enjoy the remainder of the Bank Holiday which looks to be quite sunny out there.
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