I'm Shopped Out!!

I was in Southampton shopping at West Quay again today. This time doing some shopping with mum for our trip to Africa. We had with us our lists from Heidie of things to get for them both. We left home about 9:30am and didn't get home until about 6pm! My feet were aching! I do love shopping but I don't think I'll be doing it again for a wee while - I've shopped myself out I reckon!

I never saw the christian hotdog man today - I wanted to show him to mum. I was a bit sad about that.

So Heidie's list was quite big because she needs to get some clothes for her anticipated growth. I have never in my life bought maternity stuff and neither mum or I had any idea what we were looking for so we hope that what we got will be ok for her. We bought a few tops for her from Primark (my new favourite shop!). It's good because the sort of tops in fashion at the moment are long or really bouffant ones from the 60's and 70's so you can get a normal top knowing that it will be fine for HB to wear. Heidie wanted a skirt but we couldn't find one so I had a bit of a brainwave - I saw a summer dress in Primark which had an elasticated bust and so we decided that HB could use this as a skirt with the elasticated busty bit acting as the elasticated tummy bit for the baby growing and then when the baby's born she can use it as a dress again! Perfect!

So anyway, we also bought some cheeky baby clothes - not very much - just a wee bit of cuteness. I bought a giraffe:


Oh my word! How cute is that? I'm excited about my new nephew or neice cuddling up to it. I just can't wait!

So the day is over. My feet are still aching and I'm looking forward to getting into my bed with the electric blanket on. I've had a nice day and it was lovely to spend it with my mum. We had lovely chats and lovely laughs and lovely bargains!

laters
cx

Are you Amazed?

Everytime I watch this and listen to the words of the song it just really stirs me and blesses me. Here are the words - be blessed and be amazed!

My faithful Father, enduring Friend
Your tender mercy’s like a river with no end
It overwhelms me, covers my sin
Each time I come into Your presence
I stand in wonder once again

Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
Your grace still amazes me
‘Cause Your grace still amazes me

Oh, patient Saviour, You make me whole
You are the Author and the Healer of my soul
What can I give You, Lord, what can I say
I know there’s no way to repay You
Only to offer You my praise

It’s deeper, it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
It’s deeper it’s wider
It’s stronger, it’s higher
than anything my eyes can see

Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
Your grace still amazes me
‘Cause Your grace still amazes me

What an amazing God! I am overwhelmed with love and thanks to God for all the grace he gives me.

laters
cx

Hotdog Selling and Music Playing ...

Saturday - how funny. Fi and I went to the shops in Southampton - I was looking for some cheap bargains for my holiday to Africa (which incidently is in just over 2weeks). Suz joined us a wee bit later and we started to check out some mobile phone shops for Suz who was looking to get a new phone. So we went into Phones 4 U - I love going in there because the sales men are always so friendly! Anyway, Suz went to have a chat with the man about a phone and Fi and I then started having a chat with another man - the end result: both Fi and I ended up getting a new phone - the same one. Suz left the shop empty handed! However, she did get a phone from another shop a wee bit later. So the three of us got new phones.

Anyway, On the main shopping street in Southampton - just outside West Quay shopping centre is a hotdog vendor. Here he is:

Now I know he doesn't look anything out of the ordinary but to me he is and I always look out for him when I go shopping in southampton. The reason I look out for him is that his little cd player which sits on the top of the hotdog stand plays christian music! Almost everytime I've been there it's been playing My Jesus, My Saviour which is a fabulous song but also my ultimate favourite song "What a Faithful God". What a blooming great witness! He goes about his everyday work witnessing every minute of it. I'm reminded of what the bible says in Paul's letter to the Romans: "Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him." (chapter 8:1) alternatively, "take your everyday hotdog selling life and play your christian music before God as an offering...."

This is constantly a challenge to me .... I want that my whole being and doing be about worshipping God. May I be a bright star shining yeah?

laters
cx

Just a bit of randomness

Firstly, I'd like to share with you my tea:

I really did enjoy it - Fritata and potato wedges - mmnn! Now I generally hate cooking but sometimes I make something I really do enjoy - and tonight was one of those nights so I thought I would record it.

Secondly, I'd like to tell you that I spent the afternoon with Nic and the beautiful little Zach. Zach is still in hospital after having his operation on Monday. Whilst I was at the hospital today Zach was finally taken off the morphine. He also managed to have milk and has poohed - all very good signs. Nic was saying today that the poor boy is going to be so embarrased when he's older and finds out that most of the first month of his life we were talking so much about his pooing habit! god bless him! Anyway, Zach really is a beautiful little boy and was very smiley today which I reckon shows what his character will be like as he grows up.



And finally, there is a random person in my office who when they finish the toilet roll, they don't put a new one on. This really bugs me! It's not brain surgery to do this is it? Really! If everybody does a little bit, somebody doesn't need to do it all!!!! If nobody does anything, somebody's left to change the toilet roll - plus everything else!

well... bed

laters cx

The dreaded Lurgy ....

I have had a cold now for over a week! I've had enough. I have currently got a cold on top of a cold! I thought it was going but as that was fading a new one crept up on me. My nose is stinging with all the blowing. Tissues are sore on your nose aren't they. I hate cold - it's evil.

Next thing to say is that my flat is on the market. It went on sale on Friday and today I had my first viewer. I wasn't able to be in when they came so the I had to leave it in the hands of the estate agent. I wonder if the viewers liked it. I had a little weird moment on Friday when I phoned the estate agent - Kevin - to tell him to go ahead and put it on the market. He asked if I had a set of keys to give him because he reckoned he knew some people who would be interested. So when I got off the phone I started driving home and you know that when about 20 million thoughts go through your mind in one minute? Well all in the space of about a minute I thought 3 major things:
1. When I told dad about me selling the flat, he said that was fine as long as i was sure that I was doing the right thing with regards to going into training. When he said this to me it kind of took me aback. I never thought that I wasn't sure about it! So I started thinking about that.
2. Kevin mentioned that he may know some people who maybe interested in the flat. So then I thought how strange and funny it would be if the first person who saw my flat decided they wanted to buy it straight away and make an offer on it!
3. All the things I have done up until now with regard to my future and going into training haven't really affected me - I'm still living and doing the same things in the same place - there has been not great cost. Putting my flat on the market is like - now it's serious, now there's no going back.

So this all freaked me out and kind of excited me at the same time. At that moment Marilyn Baker began to sing on my pod these words:
May the blessing of the Lord your God rest upon you day by day
May he keep and guide you every step of the way
And may you know his peace, deep within your heart
And may his love control all you do and say.

It was a real God moment. A moment when God spoke to me directly and said - don't worry, don't stress, it'll be ok, and I truly believe that and have done all along but I think I just needed God to reassure me and say that to me. God is brill - he knows exactly what we need before we even know it ourselves.

And finally ... little Zach, the baby I dedicated last Sunday, is back in hospital. He was puking all Saturday and Sunday so Nic phoned the hospital and they told her to bring him in. When he was in hospital, the sick started to go green - eugh! - which would suggest an infection somewhere. He has just had an operation tonight which found that some of the bowel was dead and looped around itself after his earlier operation which was causing the green sickness. They have sorted that but he may take a wee while longer to get over this. Keep praying for him please. God bless him.

Bed!!!!

laters
cx

My Mum

(aka: Lady Rosa Jean, Wee Jeannie)

Seeing as it's Mother's Day I thought I would dedicate today's post to my mum. I know that many people would say that their mum is the bestest mum in the world - but mine really is!

My mum is the most kindest, gracious, selfless, wisest, generous, loving, beautiful, funniest, craziest, weirdest, godliest, caring, gentle, strongest, cutest, patient, thoughtful, encouraging, reliable, constant, creative, reliable mum - and person I know.

She is my best friend.




Some of the things I love about her:
I love the way she loves dad, Richard, Heidie and I with an unconditional love.

I love her for the way she listens to my incessant drivelling on and really listens and has the right thing to say when I'm finished.

I love the way she is so wise and knows the best way to deal with every situation.

I love the way she leaves the price on presents and cards.

I love the way she wears the most weirdest combinations of clothes and gets away with it.

I love the way she is so selfless and will so go out of her way to help people and not let it show in anyway that she's bothered.

I love the way she is so crazy and makes me laugh.

I love the way she always sees the good in me and encourages me.

I love the way she supports everyone - especially those who often people don't have the patience to support.

I love the way she's brought Richard and I up.

I love the way she never fights our battles but supports us and equips us to fight them ourselves.

I love the way she's exposed us to things which have really broadened our horizons.

I love the way she's protected us from things until we were able to handle them.

I love the way she gives me money for "bed and breakfast" when she comes to stay!

I love the way she comes out with the most weirdest/embarrassing ideas yet somehow seems to pull them off and people love it.

I love the way she phones me everyday.

I love the way she gets alongside people and encourages them and moves them forward.

I love the way that anyone is welcome in our house anytime.

I love the way she laughs at Richard and I when we're having a go at dad.

I love the way she hardly ever gets angry.

I love the way she loves looking at my pictures

I love the way she just says one word when she's going to do something eg: "coffee' (for making a cup of coffee) or "toilet" (when she's going to the toilet)

I love the way when she's says she's going to do something - she does it.

I love the way she knows me better than I know myself and anticipates what I'm thinking and how I'm feeling.

I love the way she gets her prayer mat out for you when you need it and gets all her friends to do the same and you know you're completely held up in prayer.




I love her.

I love her infintely.

I am immensly proud of her.

I am immensly thankful that I am her daughter.

I am immensly honoured and proud when people say I am so very like her - I tell them that next to Jesus I couldn't be like anyone better!

Thanks mum! I love you!



laters
cx

Mpower

Today was Mpower - this is a training/retreat day I organise for children's workers in the division. I've called it Mpower because the aim of the day is to empower workers in the Ministry with children - hence the name Mpower - get it? Anyway, it seemed to go well. People responsed well and the feedback has been helpful.

My good friends Lee and Richard came and helped with the sessions. Lee did a session on developing Children's Spirituality and Richard did a session on All-Age Worship. I topped and tailed it with some collective worship and my theme was You're Worth It! I wanted to explain to those present that if we want to be effective in developing children's spirituality and all-age worship then we've got to be authentic. We've got to just be our real selves. Who God has made us to be. Ruth Tracey writes in one of her songs in the army song book - "only as I truly know thee can i make thee truly know. Only bring the power to others which in my own life is shown". When we truly know God and take on board how worth it we really are to him and all that he's done for us then we can achieve great things. In Daniel 11 it says this "the people that know their God shall be strong and do great things" (paraphrased).

I love this day. I love that nearly 50 people give up their Saturday to come the training. I love their willingness to come and get involved. I love their responsiveness. I love their encouragement. I love them. I am so grateful to Richard and Lee also for giving up their busy time to come and support me. They are so busy - I think Lee was going home to write a sermon for tomorrow. God bless him. They are cracking friends to me - a real encouragement and a real laugh and I love them! So I'd like to toast the Children's workers in my division and I'd like to toast Lee and Richard ... Cheers!


laters
cx

Do you know what's happened to his Toot????

Quickly! Someone help this poor child!

Ha ha! That made me laugh!

laters
cx

The new addition to the Bradbury Weirdness...

This is the new baby Bradbury! oooh I'm so excited! Isn't it such a clear photo? Normally I can never tell what I'm looking at in these scan pictures and I pretend and tell whoever that it's so cute - you know what I mean. Anyway, I can actually tell this is a baby! I can see the head, the hands and the feet - all three of them - only joking! But most of all, I think I see a big cracking great smile! Can you see it? What a cheeser! God bless it! I can tell s/he is going to bring a lot of happiness. Anyway, as you can see, the scanman is called Joseph. Richard sent him on a special course because he was rubbish and but he most definitely is not rubbish anymore! He's cracking! Top marks to Joseph! Cheers!

So yesterday's new thing - I went to my first school governors meeting! yes I am a governor of a school - Governor Bradbury that's me - to add to my list of titles: Cando Bradbury and now this. Anyway, it's all very interesting and it's a real privilege and responsibility. This governing body is for a new school which hasn't been built yet. So we're starting from scratch. The decisions we make now will determine the success of the school.

And now today... I've been preparing for Mpower. This is a training/retreat day which I am organising for the children's workers in the division. There are about 45 people coming which is great. My good friends Richard and Lee are coming to help. They are doing seminars on The Spirituality of Child and Creative Worship for Children and All-Age. So it should be a good day.

Mum stayed with me last night because she was getting the plane to Aberdeen this morning from Southampton to see her good friend Kathleen. Kathleen has been unwell for some time and has been in hospital for the the last wee while. Up until a few days ago the doctors and nurses had told her sister that they anticipated her coming home but they told Rachel on Wednesday night that actually Kathleen only had a few days left to live. When mum arrived at the airport she was told that Kathleen had died earlier this morning. So unfortunately she had not been there in time to see and speak to her before she died which I think she's sad about. In many ways it's good for her to be around for Rachel now because she'll be a good support to her in arranging the funeral and other decisions that have to be made. I know that mum will miss Kathleen very much. She was such a beautiful, gracious, elegant, discreet, gentle, and generous lady. My mum often talks about the support Kathleen gave her when we lived in Aberdeen and dad had his quaruple by-pass in Glasgow. Kathleen would travel down with her to see dad in hospital. They have been great friends ever since that time and have spoken on the phone just about everyday for the past 20 years. I know that mum has found great joy and support in her friendship with Kathleen over the years and will miss her greatly. I am really grateful to God for Kathleen; for the support she has been to our family and for friendship she has given mum and the rest of our family over the years. God Bless her!


Laters
cx

I ate Bambi! ....

.... It's the truth! Tonight I ate a Bambi! All these fanfares of the day I should be getting for things I've done for the first time recently! Life is cool - all these new things I'm doing.

So tonight for the first time I ate Venison. Is it really unclassy to say that it tasted just like Beef? It was really lovely though - very tender. It was all just very nice. Attempts were made to make me feel bad about what I was eating, you know the "you're eating Bambi" comments but it didn't really make much difference to me seeing as I never seen Bambi! The next meat I'm going to try is either Kangaroo or Ostrich. There is an australian restaurant in Hamble where you can have this - so I'm blooming going to! I'm into trying things for the first time - Life is so much more cooler and exciting when there's loads of new things things to experience. What an exciting world God has created!

well i'm gonna go to sleep now - I don't want to be too tired to miss the new things God has got planned for me tomorrow!
laters
cx

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

So I was browsing someone's blog (like you do) and found this - the soundtrack to your life. Here's what you do:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)

2. Put it on shuffle

3. Press play

4. For every question, type the song that's playing

5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

Here are the questions and here's the soundtrack to my life. Some are a bit weird but some are very fitting. This is when you get a glimpse of my crazy music collection:

Opening Credits: You Make me Feel Like Dancing (Leo Sayer)

Waking Up: Rock of Ages (Songs from Amazing Grace)

First Day At School: Everyday (Buddy Holly)

Falling In Love: All I Have to Do Is Dream (Bobby Gentry & Glen Campbell)

Fight Song: Let it Be (Elvis)

Breaking Up: End of the Road (Boyz II Men)

Prom: I Only Want To Be With You (Vonda Shepard)

Life's Ok: It Must Be You (Barbra Streisand)

Mental Breakdown: Beautiful

Driving: Created (Soul Survivor Sampler CD)

Flashback: I Feel Like Praisin’ Him (Govan Songsters)

Getting Back Together: Okey Dokey (Duggie Dug Dug)

Wedding: The Rose (Westlife)

Birth of a child: Lord You’ve Been Good To Me (Graham Kendrick)

Final Battle: This Thing I Know (Nik & Emma Pears)

Death Scene: I Believe in You and Me (Whitney Houston)

Funeral Song: Put on a Happy Face (Tony Bennett & James Taylor)

End Credits: Perfect Day (Children in Need Song)

DVD Main Menu: Lollipop (Mika)

So there it is. Interesting! Off to have to some lovely toast (one of my favourite smells! I would like to congratulate whole-heartedly the person who created toast!)

laters
cx

And another thing ....

I've spent the day with Liz, Amanda and Nic and I just want to take this opportunity to thank them for being ace mates! There are so many things I want to thank God for especially since taking up this job in November 2003. He has blessed me abundantly! I can't even begin to tell you how much. He has blessed me with loads of great friends. Liz and Amanda and now Nic are amongst the many who have been there to support, encourage and tell me the truth - which is a very important thing to look for in friends! And we have a great laugh which is increasingly at my expense!!!

I love them dearly ...

To Liz, Amanda and Nic ... Cheers!


laters
cx

In dedicating this child to God ....

Well it's a very special day. I deserve another fanfare of the day because I did something for the first time again today - I conducted the dedication (the SA name for Christening) of Zachary Christopher Best to God. It was an absolute awesome and beautiful honour and I thank Nic and Pete for allowing me this priviledge and having faith in me to make this special for them and for the responsibilty!

Every child is special - there's no denying it. But Zach is really special! Nic and Pete have been on such a journey to get to this point today and Zach's short life already has been one miracle after another! I'm sure that Nic and Pete won't mind me sharing with you a bit of their story because it just is a great example of the beauty, power and the grace of God!

About a year ago now Nic and Pete were about to start IVF treatment. A number of people were aware of the situation and were praying regularly for them. At Mpower (divisional children's workers training/retreat day) about this time last year, Liz (nic's twin sister), Lee and myself went to a corner with Nic and prayed specifically over Nic about this situation. We prayed that God would get rid of anything which was stopping this from happening and would fill her with his power and peace. We also prayed that if this was not what was right for her and Pete that God would give them the wisdom, guidance and strength to know what they should do. Nic tells me that it was around about this time that she fell pregnant! Wow God! What a miracle and answer to prayer!!!!

Nic had a relatively stress-free pregnancy - she even managed to come to both NRGize (our adventure camp) and MaM (children's summer camp!) and survived both very well. Zachary was due about the 2nd or 3rd week of December but was born a few weeks early. Things were at first fine but then Zach wasn't poohing. He was taken to Poole Hospital and then Southampton General Hospital where was given a wash out and things seemed to be ok. However, he soon developed trouble again and so underwent some tests. I'll never forget walking into the children's intensive care unit at the SGH and seeing him for the first time lying in this little incubator cot - he was so beautiful and so perfect and you would have never have thought all this was going on in his tiny body. Liz and I were there when he sneezed for the first time! Nic was in the process of changing his nappy. His Auntie Lizzie and I were standing at the end of the cot cooing at him when he sneezed. You've never seen Liz and I move so quickly as we were right in the firing range for any bowel explosions should they have happened!! Thankfully all was well.

Anyway, tests revealed that little Zach had Hirsprungs disease. This is basically when a bit of the bowel doesn't communicate with the brain which was causing Zach not to poo. Zach needed to have an operation to rectify this problem. Between the time the disease was diagnosed to the time of the operation which was about a month or so, nurses had to come to the house everyday to wash out Zach and his parents had to take him to hospital at the weekends to have this done. Eventually he had the operation. I remember going to see them in hospital the day of the op. When I arrived Zach wasn't there as he was just coming out of theatre and was in the coming round room. But I got a chance to see Nic and Pete. Bless them, as parents you don't expect to have to go through this especially considering all they'd been through to have him. The time they had to wait seemed like eternity!

Well Zach has come through all that. He will always have the disease but hopefully they will be able to control it so it causes no or little discomfort or embarrassment for him.

So you can see that their journey has been a long eventful one and you can see why today was such a special day for them. Zachary means"not forgotten, God remembers. Renowned by God" we thanked God today that He did not forget Pete and Nic in their desire to have a child and he did not forget Zach as he went through such an eventful first month in this world. He is very loved and very known to God and to his family and friends as well.

So thanks again to Pete and Nic for the priviledge of today. You are beautiful parents and I will watch with great love and interest the rest of Zach's journey.

so lift your glasses and toast Zachary - the one God remembered and Nic and Pete. God bless them all!






I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands

HE KNOWS MY NAME
HE KNOWS MY EVERY THOUGHT
HE SEES EACH TEAR THAT FALLS
AND HE HEARS ME WHEN I CALL

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

laters
cx

Forgive Me....

Right! I've not been able to sleep. My brother has made me feel guilty... You see when I was at university I borrowed a tenor horn for some music stuff I was doing for one of the classes. I left uni quite abruptly at that time and never got round to giving the horn back.

Anyway, Richard sent me a text yesterday to say that he's been reading The Herald (a scottish newspaper) and it reported that Jordanhill Concert Band (the college I went to) came second in a big competition and apparently they would have won it but were missing a horn!

I don't believe that is a truthful story Richard - well it might be about them coming 2nd in the competition but the rest isn't, However, he has succeeded in making me feel guilty enough to get up early on a Saturday morning and confess to all who are reading this blog - but not enough for me to travel back up to Scotland to give it back.

It's not like it's not been put to great use and blessing since I've had it! If I hadn't had it I wouldn't have been able to bless Rich and Heidie with my playing on their arrival at Heathrow at Christmas! So stick that in your pipe and smoke it big brother!

I am sorry though!

Brothers are such a wind up - well especially mine! He makes me doubt myself - I'm sure he's trying to send me loopy. He also says that when we lived in Glasgow, nearly 20 years ago, we went to see the film ET. Now I am sure I have never seen it - ask me what it's about ... go on.... The answer, I DON'T KNOW!!! Other than it's about a little alien. He even mentions the cinema we went to on Paisley Road West. WE SO DIDN'T SEE THAT FILM RICHARD!!!!! So if he tells you otherwise or you hear him trying to wind me up - I just want to make it clear: WE SOOOOOO DIDN'T SEE THAT FILM RICHARD!!!!

Right, I feel alot better now.

may i be a bright star shining yeah?

laters
cx

I'm soooo excited ....

I am so excited that I might stop breathing! I can't quite believe it.... I'm going to be an auntie! Yes, Heidie is pregnant! She and my brother are going to be parents - actually, that's quite scarey! nah, it's lovely and I'm very chuffed. Raise your glasses and toast to Richard and Heidie ....

They told me on 2 Feb. It was 7:30am and I'd just got out of the shower. It was mum's birthday so when I answered the phone Richard said that he'd just phoned mum to tell her what her birthday present was - that she was going to be a granny. My eyes began to leak! I wondered what this strange phenomenon was. Suz says that it's much more easier to get Richard to cry than me - I've become quite hard in my old age - and sure enough, both Rich and Heidie were crying at the other end of the phone. Then Rich became all macho and told me that he wasn't paying for a phonecall just to hear me cry! Aw bless him!

Anyway, It's due on 26 September which has made me even happier because most of the best people are born in September! As we are going out to see them next month, we probably won't see them again until next May unless we can wangle some cheap flights so I won't get to see my new nephew/neice for ages!

I'm also really chuffed for mum and dad because I know they will make fab grandparents. I think they might be known as the crazy ones! Mum and I were discussing what she should be called and we reckon Grandma or nana - she doesn't want to be called Granny. I think my dad might go for Grandad. For myself, everytime I hear Auntie Clare I think anti-christ and I don't want to be thinking that. Perhaps I should be called Auntie Clarey or Auntie Clarebear - we'll see. I hope that I am a big part of my new niece or nephew's life. I don't want them growing up hardly knowing me. I guess a lot will depend where in the world we all are.

So I've finally got my little baby back - yes my puter's back and working. I needed to have a new hard drive so all my stuff on the puter was lost. Thankfully I managed to back up most of it but not my music (I'd built up quite a collection over the years!) but I have a lot on my nano and I've still got my CD's so it'll be able to get a lot of it back on and in some ways I'm quite happy because I had accumulated alot of rubbish. Anyway as my mum often says, It's not brain surgery. What is brain surgery is that when they installed the new software and gave the computer my name - they spelt my blooming name wrong! IT'S CLARE WITHOUT AN 'I'!!!! for any favours! I ask you!


So here I am in bed typing. I have a cold. It has very cheekily gone into my chest but I'll survive. I have to try and get rid of it by Sunday as I'm leading my first dedication. I'm nervous - can you pray for me please? I'll tell you how it goes afterwards. I'm excited as well though.

I'm just generally blooming excited!!!!!!!!!

take good care!
cx

Oh Mr Darcy ...

Oh my word! Yesterday I had a Pride and Prejudice afternoon and evening. Steph lent me the videos of the BBC adaption of this novel after me telling her how much a I liked the recent film with keira Knightly. All I can say is "Oh Mr Darcy..." He makes my heart skip a beat and actually takes my breath away! He's beautiful! I have heard many people go on about the Colin Firth Mr Darcy before but never got what they were going on about until I actually watched the whole series and now I get it. Cheers Mr Darcy for giving me a lovely Saturday afternoon!
A toast to the beautiful Mr Darcy ...


So anyway, the ongoing saga with my puter ... I took it to the Apple Store in Westquay shopping centre yesterday. I went in and was firm but nice. They dealt with me straight away and signed it in to be looked at properly. They asked me if I wanted to back up the info stored on it. Thankfully, Nigel had already backed most of it up apart from my music. So I enquired into them backing this up but they were going to charge me another £35 to do that! Blooming swizz! I hope they sleep well at night! The bad news is that the apple man phoned me later to tell me that my puter was very poorly (aw bless it!). The hard drive is crunching away and needs sorting to the cost of just under £200. Oh flip! So what started out as a little software problem turned into a lot more.

So here I am on a Sunday evening watching CSI - New York in my jym-jams. The world could not be much better! I've had a good day worshipping at the Gap. Linda did our meeting this morning. I enjoyed what she spoke about. She talked about when in the book of Exodus the Israelites were building the Tabernacle under the direction of God via Moses and how Moses asked for them to bring their gifts, skills and talents to help build the Tabernacle. The people gave loads of gifts willingly until eventually Moses had to tell them to stop it. Linda asked us if we'd ever heard our minister telling us to stop bringing our gifts because they had too many! Not blooming likely is the answer! But because the Israelites all gave their gifts so willingly the glory of the Lord came down and shone on them. Wow! It's true what they say: "God loves a cheerful giver!"

This afternoon I watched Happy Feet with Lesley. I've never seen it before but it was lovely! There were a number of themes flowing through it about being an individual and respecting and making the most of each others talents and skills. Also about perseverance and about being tolerant and understanding towards other people and their views and ways of living. Plus a whole load of laughs! It's good - watch it!

Then finally, the Gap again tonight. Whenever I play the piano, no matter how confident or practised I might be I always make mistakes and they're really obvious mistakes and quite frankly, it sucks! Tonight, we were getting to the end of the chorus of one of the songs so i shouted out the first line of the 3rd verse to sing it again but I was too late and everyone started singing the chorus again whilst I played the verse! In the end I just stopped had a little laugh and the then joined in with them. I must learn that I cannot lead worship and play the piano at the same time - one or the other! I may be able to multi-task cleaning the bathroom and cleaning my teeth at the same time (no I don't use my toothbrush as the toilet brush or vice versa!) but I obviously need to learn my limits! Perhaps I'll get training in the college on how to be a better multi-tasker!

laters
cx

A funny thing happened to me ...

At a recent funeral I attended of a friend's father I was wearing my uniform. During the "thoughts on the word" bit I had my legs crossed and looked down at my foot and thought to myself (whilst listening to the preacher) "I never put those shoes on this morning." So then I uncrossed my legs and recrossed them the other way and looked at my foot again and thought (whilst still listening to the preacher) "I did put those shoes on this morning!" The startling realisation came to me that I had put two different shoes on - both black court shoes but one with quite a chunky heel which I wear when I'm going to be jumping around and one with a bit less chunky heel - more ladylike. Well there are two ways you can deal with this. You can pretend you hadn't noticed - as no one else seemed to or you can draw attention to yourself and your stupidity! Guess which one I chose? Yes the later - well you know me, always up for a laugh. But that's not the end of my stupidity. Yesterday morning, I'm getting dressed - I think with my eyes closed - I put my trousers on and didn't recognise the fit to be any of my usual navy blue trousers - I have a couple of pairs which are tight and a couple of pairs which are loose - this pair was inbetween so I just thought I'd put on weight and my loose ones were no longer loose. Anyway, thought nothing more of it until I'm sitting in a little meeting with Steve and Diane at Bulford Red Shield (Bless them!) and realise that I had a pair of black trousers on! Now maybe not that big a deal for you but the thought of wearing black trousers for me with a whole load of navy blueness was not making me happy. I am concerned that I am regressing in my behaviour and am beginning to develop an inability to dress myself appropriately - or maybe I'm just becomming my mother who often just puts on anything in the cupboard she likes the look of regardless of whether or not it goes! Which is very endearing really. Sometimes she does it because she knows no better and other times she does it out of sheer cheekiness - you can usually tell the difference because she comes downstairs with a cheeky grin on her face anticipating my reaction! I can tell I'm going to have to watch myself. This morning I'm going to take great care and and attention to what I put on.

As I often say in this blog I'm so very grateful to God for the people he has placed in my life and today I would like to pay tribute to two special ladies firstly because one has just celebrated her birthday and the other we have just found out is going to be moving to London in July.

Linda has just celebrated her birthday. On Thursday night some of us gathered at the good old Bold Forrester for a meal to celebrate the occasion. Linda has been like my second mum whilst living in Southampton. She's looked after me - bringing me supplies when I have been ill (thanks for the paracetomal and toilet roll!), had me around for lovely meals, gone shopping with me and forced me - no I'm only joking - encouraged me to realise and follow my calling to officership. I will never forget for as long as live the actual day I decided that I would do it. Linda had just come back from being an assessor at an assessment conference and in my mind this conference was one of the things that was really making me nervous about going through the whole process. So throughout the day i was asking her loads of questions about it. Then at night we had a little jaunt to Matalan in Waterlooville and then to the big Asda Hypermarket in Leigh Park and as we were walking around the shops I was still asking her questions. On these little jaunts we usually have our tea in Asda (steak pie normally because it's lovely but I don't think they had any that night) anyway, right there in that cafe in Asda, in the biggest council estate in Europe (apparently I think) I decided that I would do it - I would start the process towards officership. Right there and then Linda prayed with me and it was just a really special and unforgettable time. Thank you Linda for persevering with me! Linda is one of those people who generally says what she thinks which is sometimes helpful but at other times not so helpful! I like it because you know where you stand with her because of the honesty and it makes me laugh (you've got to really!) when she says her none helpful comments like "you'll never be beautiful!" She also makes me laugh by the way she pronounces some words - you know like the policeman off of 'Allo 'Allo who doesn't pronounce his words quite correctly? Like when she says baguette - just as it's spelt not as it's pronounced. Linda is a very generous, caring and strong person with a beautiful faith and someone who I love and thank God for regularly. I know that God has placed her in my life for such a time as this and I look forward to her coming to visit and help me out with my home leagues when I'm in my appointments.

Chris is moving (boo hoo!). She and Ian are moving to London to work on THQ. When we were told on Thursday I had mixed emotions because I will miss them both very much but I'm happy that Neil and Chris Webb are moving down here to take their place. I then realised that I would have the best of both worlds because I will be around for a couple of months with the Webbs and then will go off to the training college in London and so will be near Chris again so we can still meet for coffee! Perfect! Chris is a beautiful lady. She's another one who has been like a mum to me. I love going into Linda and Chris' office (I call them the diddy men because they're both so tiny!) and having a chat and concocting another little scheme or outing. Anyway, Chris is crazy and she hums alot but that's very endearing and if you want to chat anything through with her she comes up with a good and helpful way of seeing things. Chris is beautiful example of a godly lady and always has something encouraging to say. She always cares for you and remembers stuff that's going on in your life and follows up on that. I love the fact that she's often just like a little girl - with her excitement and enthusiasm - which is probably why I get on with her! I know also that God has placed her in my life for such a time as this and I look forward to meeting her for coffee and stuff when I'm in London.



So in case I don't get a chance to say it again - thanks Linda and Chris for your friendship, for your fun, for putting up with my hairbrained ideas and humouring me! Thanks for telling me how it is and how it should be and thanks for encouraging me to be the person God has made me to be. Be blessed beautiful ladies!

Well, I suppose I'd better get up and face Westquay and get my puter fixed. They better beware at that Apple Store - I am not happy and not in the mood! May I be a bright star shining yeah? ....

laters
cx