HAPPY BLOOMIN' CHRISTMAS!!!!

woohoo!!! It's christmas day! as I sit here in my parents house the famous christmas clock has just struck 11am and played We Wish You a Merry Christmas! Which I want to wish anyone reading this blog right now!


You may or may not be interested to know that the Santa toilet seat I talked about in a previous post does not play music - much to my great relief! Here is a picture of it:

Have you ever seen anything like it? Mum got it from the Keeneze catalogue - I'd be interested to know how many of these toilet seats they actually sold. I can only imagine my mother buying one! It feels a bit like someone's watching you there I feel a bit uncomfortable with that!

so far we've only opened a couple of presents each and I seem to be taking after my mum coz I left the price on my dad's present - doh!

Anyway, since my last blog post, as always for everyone at Christmas, I've been really busy and all over the place. A couple of weeks ago I went to Copenhagen with my parents, Richard and Heidie and my auntie Anne. We stayed in a new youth hostel (which was a contradiction in terms with the old fogies!) - all 6 of us in one room!! Now as ridiculous as this may seem, it was actually ok. The youth hostel was really lovely (and cheap which is unique in Copenhagen!) and the room, despite having 6 of us in it was spacious enough. We did a lot of shopping (woohoo!), we went to "The Tivoli" as mum calls it which is the botanic gardens/amusement park and at Christmas time they also put in loads of christmas stalls as well. It's really beautiful at night with all the christmas lights.

We saw the statue for Hans Christian Andersen the famous storywriter who wrote The Little Mermaid - a statue of which we also saw:

They've also made a modern-day statue of The Little Mermaid which is really ugly and scarey - I did not like it!

It gives me the creeps yeah?

Anyway, we also went to Malmo in Sweden for the day. Mum wanted to go into some of the "attractions" such as the Guiness Book of Records Museum and the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum. I'd already done the Ripley's one in Blackpool so Richard went in with the oldies whilst Heidie and I did some shopping. Anyway, I'd prewarned Richard that there was a bit in the museum about gurning:

It encourages people to look in a mirror and have a go at gurning for themselves - unbeknown to them, the mirror is two-way so people who have gone on before can watch you gurning away from the other side of the mirror and making a complete fool of yourself! Apparently, mum and Auntie Anne (just as I thought) fell for it hook, line and sinker - I only wish I'de been at the other side of the mirror!

Since being back, there's been the usual christmas celebrations. Every year at work I've organised a little christmas party to do with the nativity story. The first year it was an Angel Party, then a wise men party and this year we had The Nativity Party. Everyone had a special part to play and dressed up. We had a little carol service with a little quiz and a thought and then we ate some speciality food from the mangerscene - such as manger cakes, straw (chipsticks), sheep droppings (chocolate raisins) and donkey doo (chocolate truffles). We had some lovely Angel punch to wash it all down.



Bless everyone at my work for joining in! I love them lots for the way they humour me and go along with my hairbrained ideas. I'll really miss them when I've gone.

So, I've also finally been ice-skating. Didn't get round to doing it in Winchester, didn't get round to doing in in Copenhagen. Finally got round to do it in Southampton - which was fairly disappointing because the ice rink was probably no bigger than half a gym hall so it was a bit crowded. However, there were some spectacular falling over from Liz (which I missed - bummer!), Helen and Matt. We then went back to Suz (top host) for a fantastic feast. I had everything nicely set up for the guests to get a really christmasy welcome. I pretended that we would surprise Suz with our carol singing when she answered the door. So I got them all to sing "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas" and when Suz answered, we'd set the snow machine up to send snow out of the bedroom window and fall on them! Aw it was lovely!!!

So that's it just about. I'm now down at mum and dad's with Richard. Heidie's in Denmark with her parents but will join us on Thursday. Dad's off visiting some of The Salvation Army centres in the division. Mum's making the lunch and ironing Richard's pants and socks (WHAT????) Richard's playing with my new ipod nano coz he can't play with his new ipod until he buys his laptop (which i reckon he'll do tomorrow coz he can't wait!) and I've managed to sneak onto someone else's wireless network (thanks mate whoever you are!) so I can finally update my blog which I've strangely very much missed doing. Just another normal christmas day in the Bradbury household which is the fact that there's nothing normal about it! Every year it's different in some way so you don't get bogged down with traditions. It's really chilled out and just lovely. Thanks God for an ace family who I love so very much.

Whatever you're doing this christmas I hope it's not too stressful and that you just take time to relax and enjoy the company of the people you're with. Don't get bogged down with the tradition unless it brings joy! I really pray that you really enjoy the gift of hope that God gave in Jesus. Remember that this gift was the gift of a Wonderful Counsellor, a mighty God, an everlasting father and prince of peace which brings hope and all you need for all you face.

take good care

laters
cx

Jesus Goes Shopping

I think I'd like to go shopping with Jesus - he'd be cool fun! I have no problem being like Jesus after watching this! He's wicked man!
laters!
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Oh No! Not the Nativity!

Today I went to my first carol service which is pretty good going considering carol services down this way started at the end of November and it's now the 10th December! Anyway, it was a lovely one. It was a children's carol service. One of the little girls sang as a solo Away in a manger no bed for the crib - bless her and she sang it so well - no hesitation. Well if you're gonna get something wrong, you might as well do it confidently! Last year Mary got stage fright and locked herself in the toilet! They had to quickly find a substitute Mary - who incidently did very well all things considering!

Now my next comments are not in anyway related to what I've experienced at the carol service today but just some random thoughts I've recently had. It's funny how every year it's expected that the children will do the nativity in all the carol services and it is lovely but I also keep thinking about a line in a poem called If which says this: "if you give your worship and people think it entertainment then you're a child". I wonder, do we have the children doing the nativity because it really add to our worship or is it because they are just entertaining us and it's a token way of involving them. When we laugh because they make mistakes, forget their words, sing louder and more out of tune than the others, start to undress, have a fight over the cuddly sheep, wave at someone they know in the audience etc... how are we making the kids feel about what they have prepared to give to worship? This is the greatest story ever told yet we wanna see how cute and funny it can be. It's certainly something I'm challenged about now. Having said that, Jesus told us to be more like children - in their simplicity and authenticity. Therefore, when they make mistakes, forget their words, sing louder and more out of tune than the others, start to undress, have a fight over the cuddly sheep, wave at someone they know in the audience etc... in the middle of the nativity - I guess we should be happy because they are being just as God wants them and made them to be.


Am off to Denmark for the week with my family early Tuesday morning but am travelling to Chelmsford after work tomorrow so that we're nearer the airport. Hopefully, I'll get there in time tomorrow to catch up with my dear friend Rach and Christina and Julia and have a bite to eat at the Foxy Loxy - one of our favourite eating establishments (mmmnnn Hunter's Chicken!). Suz is also up there at the moment looking after her dad - Geoffrey - who is back in hospital. Geoff has a rare disease that affects the muscles - a bit like MS but it gets better, but very slowly. Geoff has had this now for 3 years and has remained so unbelievably optimistic about his situation in all that time. He has been such an inspiration to everyone who knows him and has been to see him but I think it's all getting a bit to him now - which is perfectly understandable. So whoever's reading this blog - can I ask you to pray for him and Suz as she supports him. Life has not been easy for them both and they're not the sort of people to make that a big thing. Every trial they have faced they have dealt with so positively and so strongly. God has been their support and strength in those times. I know that he doesn't give us anymore that we can handle and gives us all the resources we need to deal with each situation but seriously now - enough is enough! This is one of those occasions where we don't know the answers and are dealing with the loose ends often involved in following God's will. I just pray and would ask you to pray that God will continue to comfort and give both Geoff and Suz his peace and strength right now. At the beginning of this illness, Geoff really struggled with the step into my block of flats - it's his nemesis. When he conquers his nemesis - there will great celebrations on that final day! I thank God for them and the massive love and support they have given me. God bless 'em and God bless you all!

laters
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I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 01

Oh Jesus be thyself to me a living bright reality yeah?
laters
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Elastic Band

Right! Everytime I watch this it makes me laugh so much. It reminds me of my office!
laters
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Brassed Off!

Well Richard and Heidie have finally arrived and it's so good to see them! We've all be waiting for this day for ages! They had a great welcome home. Mum arranged for a little salvation army band to play carols as they arrived and she also got the SA chaplains at Heathrow to help out with getting R&H through customs quicky and getting permission for the band to play. As the plane was going to be late, we did a little bit of carolling beforehand and collected some much needed funds for the chaplaincy service at Heathrow. Anyway, bless Ian (Scott)! He organised for a few bandsmen from Chelmsford SA to come along and play (Matthew, Keith and Andy) plus a couple of odd players (emphasis on the 'odd' as it was Nick and I!) Mum decided that she wanted the band to wear red festival tunics! Now when I heard that I may be needed in the band, that was one thing but then to be told that she wanted me to wear a red festival tunic well, I was not best pleased! Neither was Nick. Nick who at his own candidates farewell to go into the college for officers wore his shorts and army polo shirt! and what made me laugh was that she thought I would moan about it more than him! At least i still know where my uniform is in my cupboard! At least it gets an airing about once a month! Nick's has probably got mothballs! Anyway, my mum bribed me to wear the red tunic - yes bribed! This is meant to be a lady of God! She is corrupting me, her young impressionable daughter! Needless to say, I'm not going to look a gift-horse in the mouth! So I agreed to wear it and mum agreed to pay for a third of the cost of my new MP3/MP4 player! That is a very good deal if you ask me! Anyway, we finally got back to Southampton where Suz had bought in food from the chip shop. Richard was very excited about having a sausage and chips and a can of iron bru. He ate it down like he'd not seen food for a long time - bless him.

They've now left to go and catch up with all their friends starting with Nick and Lisa in Stratford. We've spent the past couple of days shopping pretty much all the time! I never need an excuse to go shopping so I've been in my element really and Heidie's always very good for encouraging the shopper in me and I in her. She bought the same coat as me today so we were walking around West Quay this afternoon like twins - we also bought the same skirt yesterday (of course the only difference is that she buys the size loads smaller than me because I'm a fat rat!). Today I also managed to do something which you dread doing in a shop. I picked up an ornament to show mum as a suggestion for a present she could buy for someone but I unfortunately dropped it and broke the hands off of it! Thankfully, my mum liked it so bought it and I bought the superglue to fix it! I was very embarassed!

Yesterday, we went to Gunwharf which is one of my favourite places to shop. We went to the Water Margin for lunch which is a chinese buffet. It's like a massive canteen but the food is excellent and this time it was Heidie's turn to eat like she's hasn't seen food for ages! Yesterday, I also bought a new suitcase for my holiday to Zambia next year and any other journeys where a considerable amount of clothes are going to be needed. It's a very exciting case and very good value! Last night, Heidie and I were doing some investigations to see if we could fit in the case! We both did very well but we did feel like we were suffocating so couldn't stay long inside.


As you can see the case is quite bright. I left it in the shop whilst I looked around the shops some more and went back to collect it when we were finished. Mum told Richard to shout when he saw me but when he did see me, he told mum that he didn't need to shout because I was shouting loud enough with my new case and that was without speaking because it's so bright! Oh well, at least there'll be no mistaking it in the luggage reclaim bit!

So the parents have left and I'm getting ready to go back to work tomorrow for a couple of days before I'm off again! What a life! I have a good job!

laters!
cx

Praise God! I'm Healed!

This is me! Praise God I'm healed! I LOVE SHOPPING!!!! After writing my last post, Suz was concerned and felt that she needed to help me find myself again and find my love of shopping. So she suggested a quick visit to some shops this afternoon. Now it was touch and go for a few minutes because we did choose a very busy time to go to the centre of Southampton shopping (Saturday afternoon - 1st weekend of December!) but I coped and all of a sudden ..... Just as I entered Accessorize ... I found me! and from then on in it was easy! We shopped and shopped as if no identity crisis had ever befallen me. However, it was coming to the end of the shopping spree and I was becoming slightly disappointed because I had bought nothing for myself. Suz had bought me a coat but this was my Christmas present from her so I still hadn't bought anything for myself. We went into M&S as the last shop before the carpark and the disappointment was growing. I was just browsing around, and then I saw it and took it to the counter almost immediately. This was when I knew that I had been healed completely - because I bought a bag!! It's just so good to be myself again!

So tonight, I have put up my christmas decorations. I'm not sure my flat looks particularly christmasy though. I thought I'd put them up now for when my brother and his wife (Richard & Heidie) come home from Zambia on Tuesday. They don't really celebrate christmas in Zambia although it is meant to be a predominantly christian country. Seems strange, therefore, not to celebrate probably the most prominant christian festival! but hey - never mind! Richard & Heidie will make up for it when they arrive back home to all the palava we get caught up in, although I'm really not quite sure what some people here in the UK think they're celebrating at christmas anymore. Every year we say it's all getting a bit out of hand but every year it seems to get worse. My mum loves christmas and goes a bit mental mickey with some of her christmas decorations. One year she got a mat so when you walked in the door you stood on it and christmas music played. Another year she got a clock which plays christmas music on the hour. This year, she has bought not only a doorpull - you hang it over the door and pull the cord and it plays music (I'm very honoured because she also bought one for me! Luckily, or unluckily it doesn' fit over my front door so is on my living room door instead) and apparently, she's also managed to acquire a christmas toilet seat cover which I think might even play music as well not sure if it's sensor operated or if it plays in time to "noises" - one things for sure, it will be interesting to see how it works so watch this space! It would seem that mum is looking for as many christmas music playing novelties as possible. It's very funny and endearing really. The other thing my mum does which has become a family joke is the fact that she always seems to leave the price on her presents! This year Richard and I will probably be watching closely to see how many presents we find out the cost of.

Christmas brings with it so many different emotions for so many different people. It can be so stressful to make it a happy occasion because of many reasons including family situations, past memories of bad christmases, loneliness, debt, living up to so many expectations with presents and relationships and so the list goes on. For me, it just makes me so grateful for what God have given to me in my wonderfully understanding family and friends and the best gift he gave to me - Jesus and the peace and joy that he brought. Wouldn't it be great if in every household this Christmas Jesus enters so that the tension and negative emotions disappear and people celebrate the real peace, joy and love which was God's gift to us in Jesus.

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!

laters
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