Saturday 31st May 2008

Happy Birthday Grandad!

I'm writing this just before I get ready to go out with a friend for a meal and then to the cinema to see 'Sex And The City'. I haven't seen any of the series on television so hope I like it. The film has had good reviews and was premiered in London. Graham has gone to see Bruce Springsteen with my friend's husband ( and Harry) so we are leaving the children home alone.

Yesterday was spent at home setting up my new laptop and I have managed to add a few new pieces to my blog including the brilliant 'shelfari' which I love! It is a great way of remembering which books I've read this year. A friend popped round in the afternoon and Rosie went to her friend's for a sleepover along with four other girls. They all returned later with the dog they were taking out for a walk. Molly is a beautiful Labrador but after her being here for half an hour in the back garden and escaping several times onto the road and pooping on the grass and weeing on the shed and trampling over my strawberry plants I was convinced that we don't really need a dog just yet.

Graham took Harry for a haircut this morning which he wasn't very happy about (they both weren't). It still looks pretty long to me but Harry feels he has been scalped and has worn a hat all day!

We then went to Graham's parents for lunch as it is Graham's Dad's birthday today (84). He is looking so well since he has started on the heart medication.

Thankful Thursday 29th May 2008

Today I thank God for the following:



The beautiful warm sunny day. It is amazing how the sun transforms the appearance of everyday views. Our garden is looking particularly lovely today with so many bright and vivid coloured flowers now in bloom.



The day ahead. We are going to Cambridge to see our friends. Our friends' son is playing cricket at Gonville and Caius so we will watch the match first before having a wander around the town centre and then we are going back to their house for a take away.



My family and friends. We're having such a lovely week at home spending much needed quality time together. We had a great day yesterday at Southwold. The weather was cold and windy and overcast but at least it didn't rain. We had a long walk along the prom and had fish and chips on the pier before walking to the town centre where we went to The Swan for tea ( Graham and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary there almost 17 years ago)



I have an interview for a PhD studentship. I received the letter today which outlines the presentation I have to give about my proposal and two areas for discussion. I thank God for this opportunity (even if I am not successful.)

Tuesday 27th May 2008

We had a fantastic day yesterday. We drove through the rain and arrived at China Town just before midday. We hailed a taxi and went to the Imperial War Museum. The Bond exhibition was very informative and was more about the life of Ian Fleming than the actual books and films.



We then bought some sandwiches from the cafe and then wandered around the rest of the museum, visiting the First and Second World War exhibitions including the Child at War section and The Blitz. The Holocaust exhibition was extremely moving, particularly at the end where there were rows and rows of shoes from Auschwitz victims. My gaze caught on a small sandal obviously belonging to a child.



We left the museum and caught a bus back to Westminster. We walked for some time and saw Downing Street, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Regents Park, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly, Nelsons Column, Trafalgar Square before arriving in Soho and China Town.



We went to Wonk Kei for a meal. The staff appeared to have mellowed over the years and were very polite to us. The food was great. After eating we walked again for some time and stopped for coffee at Starbucks. By now we looked like drowned rats as the rain was coming down even more heavily. Just to add to my damp appearance I spilt a whole cup of coffee down my front as the lid wasn't put on properly!



We then walked to the theatre. Couldn't believe it as the people in front of us in the queue were a family we knew from our old church in Cambridge! I have also bumped into the woman on three other occasions at Henlow Grange It is a small world.



Joseph was totally amazing! Lee Mead was sensational and looked particularly fetching in his loin cloth- was worried he may have caught a chill though! The music was brilliant.



We then drove home getting back at 11.30pm.



Today the weather is dull and overcast but at least the rain has stopped. There is a JCB outside in the road digging it up. The whole road is being resurfaced which is a good thing as it certainly needed it.



I'm off to the hairdresser's shortly. Graham has gone to the gym and Charlie is about to start revising. Rosie is at a friend's and Harry is on the trampoline. We are going to have a lazy day at home, although have to do lots of tidying up as the cleaners are coming tomorrow.

Sunday 25th May 2008

After a few days of nice weather the rain has returned. Graham and Charlie are off to Wembley soon ( well if Charlie gets up)!

Had a good day yesterday. Took Rosie to her friend's for a party and sleepover. Her friend lives in Bushmead Priory which is a 12th century church owned by English Heritage. Graham played golf and then we went into town to buy a new camera as our old one had broken. I'm hoping to take some photos which will be uploaded on here. Graham wants to take some today of the Mighty Whites at Wembley.

We went out for an Indian last night with four friends from church. We went to Indiya in town. The food was delicious and we had a great time. We had some really good conversations which were centred around what is going on in Florida at the moment. I had printed off some stuff from the internet about it and also Terry Virgo's blog entry. I have concluded that as God is everywhere (omnipressant) and accessible by faith and a personal relationship with His son Jesus we don't need to travel to a certain destination to receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we can receive it right where we are . Amen. However all the miraculous signs and wonders which are happening at Lakeland can't be denied.

http://www.janga.biz/terryvirgoblog/?p=149

Why does it always rain in England during Bank Holiday week-ends?

Friday 23rd May 2008

The first part of my day hasn't gone to plan. I had to stay in all morning to wait for a special delivery ( Leeds tickets at Wembley ) so was unable to go to the gym. Whilst I was in an engineer from Siemens came round to change over the electricity meter which meant I had to clear out the big under the stairs cupboard. So the morning was spent ironing and cleaning. The tickets arrived at 1pm ( we were told any time between 8am and 1pm ) which meant I was late for the Cornerstone management meeting. I did manage to catch up with my bible reading which was good

I made it just in time before the meeting started and was able to have some lunch. The meeting was productive and we talked about starting an Alpha, or 'just looking ' course in September. I feel really excited about this and have volunteered to help organise it. We did think that we would just invite people in to give their testimonies and have discussions based round those as our clients may find it difficult to follow a structured course.

I collected Rosie from school and took her to church but unfortunately couldn't get in the building as the door was locked and the secretary is on holiday. Nobody heard the bell or the phone so we came away and collected Harry and his friends from school. Never mind one less car trip tonight! Rosie was really excited as she has been elected on to the Head Girl team and has to write a manifesto. She said she could either be a waitress, author or president when she grows up !

I spoke to Charlie who had gone to his friend's. He has had a good day at school and has thankfully remembered his school books to revise from.

I'm just about to take Harry and his friend to church, then Rosie to ballet. Hopefully Graham will be back to collect both Harry and Charlie from church at 8pm and 10pm. Graham has been to Malvern for a meeting today.

Looking forward to tomorrow and the Bank Holiday weekend and rest of the week. We're going to London see Joseph at the Adelphi on Monday starring the lovely Lee Mead. We're also going to The Imperial War Museum to see a James Bond exhibition.

Anyway time to go

Thursday 22nd May 2008

I felt much better yesterday after a good night's sleep but needed all my energy to cope with the day I had. I was in County Hall for an extremely sad and complicated child protection conference for over 3 hours! They usually take about one hour. Thankfully some evidence provided by the grandparents backed up my report. The plumber arrived when I got home and sorted out the blockage. When he unscrewed the u bend water went every where completely soaking the floor and cupboard. I didn't care as long as it was fixed.

Graham was in Paris for the night so missed the big match. Charlie was texting him the scores. Man U won after penalties. I went to my prayer meeting but left early enough to catch the end of the match. The meeting started off well and I thought the worship was really great. There were over 40 of us in the house. I have mixed views about the evening though and still find some aspects of what I witnessed difficult to understand.

Today has been a good day. Firstly I went to the gym and worked out for 50 mins. I then went to the drop in centre. The girl who was really struggling last week appeared better today. She had skipped bail but a friend took her to the police station first thing. She turned up later and gave me a thank you card . I was really moved by that as she has so much on her mind at the moment including a drug problem and domestic violence. Her partner is in prison and she is finding it difficult to manage the children.

I spent the afternoon mopping the floor and cleaning the cupboard underneath the sink before collecting the papers for Harry's round. I made up the papers for him and then collected Rosie and Harry and his friend from school. Harry did his round and Rosie went to a friend's, Charlie arrived home after his detention and then spent the evening revising for his exams which are after half term.

I collected my friend and then we went to fat club. I have lost another 1.5 lb which is great. I think it's the combination of putting more effort into the gym and eating very sensibly during the week(not the weekend )which is helping.

Can't go to the gym tomorrow morning as have to wait in for a special delivery. Graham has managed to secure tickets for the big Leeds play off game on Sunday which are being delivered tomorrow. He is taking Charlie and it is at Wembley so Charlie is really excited as he hasn't been there before.

I will finish with a link to a song I love. Last night I was told to bring along my favourite worship track. I have so many that I couldn't decide but took this along. It didn't get played in the end but I listened to it in the car on the way home. It is an awesome song. Nicole Mullen has an amazing voice.

Unfortunately I can't find ' On My Knees' on you tube, but 'My Redeemer Lives ' is another great song :http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=nicole+c+mullen+&sitesearch=&start=50

Jacqui Velasquez also sings 'On My Knees', although I prefer Nicole C Mullen's version.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=nicole+mullen+I+get+on+my+knees&sitesearch

Tuesday 20th May 2008

What a stressful day I have had so far. In no particular order:

The sink is blocked and after spending a fortune on Mr Muscle, Domestos and 3 bags of soda crystals it still won't shift. I'm having to bail the dishwasher waste out of the sink as it back tracks up into the basin which suggests the blockage may be lower in the dishwasher waste pipe. Unable to get a plumber until Thursday as I am working tomorrow.

I had a major child protection issue today and had to attend a meeting first thing. I cannot take on any more cases.

My colleague is on holiday and I have yet another conference tomorrow where the mother's partner challenged something I had written in the report which I will have to back up.

I'm so tired today and feel like I have to start all over again once I come in from work. I still have a mountain of ironing.

However, I'm not going to grumble any further. I'm going to have an early night which I'm sure will help.