Weekend again

It is Friday, and I've had a good week so far with many things to be thankful for including:



Family- Graham has been unwell with a cold and actually spent most of yesterday in bed. He is better today and went to London today for a meeting. He told me it was much worse than man flu! Not convinced though. Rosie was also ill, but was desperate to go to school for the end of term parties and fun stuff so I let her. She was fine. The boys have gone away with church for the week-end. They almost missed the coach though as we thought we had to be at church for 5pm. We set off about ten to five and then I received a call from a friend to find out where we were as the coach was leaving! Apparently the coach was leaving at 5pm. Thankfully it waited for us. So the boys are away until Sunday. Rosie has been to a bowling party and to watch her friend in a play this evening.



Good health. I'm taking echinacea, vit c and zinc and acai berry in an attempt to boost my immune system.



Harry's musical gift. He played in a concert on Wednesday evening and did a solo in front of over 500 people!



My work- I enjoyed a Christmas lunch this week, and am also enjoying my fieldwork.

We have a lovely week-end ahead. The children broke up from school today and are off for over three weeks. Tomorrow we're going to a Christmas party, and on Sunday we have two services to look forward to. the morning service is the Christmas giving service where we donate our hampers to be distributed to the needy families in the area. In the afternoon we have an outdoor Carol service in Bedford Park. We have invited several friends to it and then we are going back to the golf club for a drink.

Tomorrow morning we have our group. Last week was so good!

Bought the Christmas tree today. The guy who sold it to me said I should win the prize for being the quickest person ever to decide on which tree to buy! I laughed and told him that life was too short to be spent on decisions involving Christmas trees!!

Wonderful week-end

It is early on Saturday and I've just dropped Rosie off at school as she is playing in a Lacrosse match in Berkhamstead. Feeling a slight disappointment though, as I wanted to go and watch her and we can't as we have our church group this morning.

The boys are still in bed and Graham is playing an early round of golf and will be back at 9.30am for our group.

I've had a busy week, and I'm so delighted that I've got the whole week-end at home and an evening in. Plans include Christmas cake baking and starting my new knitting project ( cardigan in a beautiful sage Rowan Tweed wool ).

Charlie has a rugby match at Stowe school this afternoon and Rosie a party later.

Yesterday was a good day despite feeling nervous about giving my presentation. I really do need to update my PowerPoint skills though as they let me down towards the end of the presentation when the slide show reverted back to the notes page and the audience could see what I had written! Never mind. It's good experience and just before I stood up to present I recalled the scripture ' I will never leave you or forsake you' and my nervousness vanished. A friend came with me to Oxford and went off to meet her friend for lunch whilst I went to the conference. Afterwards, we went to Bicester Village and did some Christmas shopping which was a nice end to the day.

The weather is milder today and the sun is shining. I'm hoping to get outside in the fresh air this afternoon.

Ist day of advent

Now I must start to think about Christmas, but I can't as I have so much on at the moment. The week-end was memorable with a lovely meal at L'Escargot and then jazz at Ronnie Scotts.
I felt so tired on Sunday as we didn't get back until 4am. I can't remember when I had such a late night.

I am busy thinking about my presentation on Friday, and really can't focus on much else at the moment. I've had my hair cut today into a bob- very short for me. Got to dash to take Rosie swimming. Back later.

Monday 23rd November 2009

What a hectic few days we've had. It was Charlie's birthday on the 19th and we took him to Pizza Hut after school. The next day I took Rosie with a friend and her daughter to see The Jonas Brothers at Wembley Arena. I realised I am getting old as I was far too tired the next day. Charlie had his party on Saturday night. He went out to a restaurant and then the cinema with friends before coming home with four of them for a sleepover. Think they played on the playstation for most of the night, but I was good and didn't get too involved and allowed them to have fun! I was so tired yesterday though. The weather was awful so didn't go out after church. Church was amazing as usual, probably because God is!

Today I have been to the gym- ran/walked for 50mins today, and felt good afterwards. Worked, transcribing my interviews for a lot of the day, broken up by a lunch out with a friend which was nice.

Just about to start my taxi driver role. Charlie has cell group and Harry band practice. Several challenges ahead during the next two weeks including supervision on Wednesday, data analysis and then I am presenting at Oxford University next week. I will look forward to next week-end. Although we have a lovely week-end planned this coming one with, a Delirious? concert on Friday and then a party in London ( L'Escargot and then Ronnie Scott's).

Faith building week-end. Sunday 15th November 2009

Galatians 5

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

My bible notes for today include the above. Having just heard someone on the radio say they couldn't be a Christian because of all the rules I thought it was apt. How wrong they are! We do not live under law.

Had an amazing day yesterday at church. Julian Adams, a guy with a prophetic teaching gift is here for the week-end and God has been ministering to us through him. What a morning! I can't take it in yet what was spoken over Graham and myself. Sooo looking forward to church this morning. I felt so blessed yesterday and full of the Holy Spirit. I also feel I learnt more about prophecy and how God uses ordinary people to prophesy.

Other stuff which is happening right now include: Charlie's 16th birthday next week and Rosie's school merging with the other girls' school in town- lot's of decisions to be made, particularly as the school is the other side of town and will add another half hour onto the journey.

I have started my pilot study and realise I'm a rubbish interviewer as I became too emotionally involved in what I was being told and ended up in tears with the participant!! Other work is due in tomorrow and I am still only a third of the way through.

We've had storms and gales here but they appear to have subsided today and the sun is shining. i must get out and get some fresh air. Graham wants me to walk around the golf course with his buddies this afternoon, but I'd rather not.

Wednesday 11th November 2009

Forgot about the 11th hour on the 11th day ! At least we remembered in church on Sunday.

Having a good week. The decorator is here painting the hall, landing and stairs which haven't been painted since just after we moved here!! Work is going well and I have my first interview for my pilot study set up for tomorrow. Still researching caregiving and UK policy which needs to be submitted on Monday. Why am I always so last minute?! If I didn't have deadlines I wouldn't get anything done.

Looking forward to the week-end and visiting speaker Julian Adams at church both Saturday and Sunday. Praying God will use him to edify the church.

Friday 6th November 2009

Have had a good week. Work has gone well. I've now contacted 2 people for my pilot study and plan to visit them next week. Busy writing about policy and care giving as well.

We went to a local fireworks display on Wednesday which was great, particularly as it was free. Charlie and Rosie are going to another one tonight with friends and then we're all going to a party tomorrow night following a school concert Harry is playing his guitar in.

The nights are really drawing in now and it's getting cold as well. Still mustn't grumble!