Still half-term and the children are having a great time. My mum came to stay last week and went home on Thursday . We went to Center Parcs on Friday and enjoyed it. We did so much ( well the kids did- I managed to sit around a lot, drinking coffee ). They swam at least three times a day, played badminton and laser quest a couple of times. I went to the gym twice which was my total amount of exercise for the week-end.
We came home on Monday and I am trying to catch up with over a week's washing due to a broken washing machine. The engineer came yesterday and mended it so it has been on constantly since.
Yesterday we went to London. I went to a workshop on Ageing at the Institute of Physics and then met up with Graham and the children in Regents Park when it had finished. We then walked to Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street and found a Pizza Express. We had a lovely meal there and I used my £50 voucher . We then walked to the Palladium and went to see Sister Act. It was OK, not brilliant. The music, visual effects and choreography were amazing, but the storyline lacked something and we just kept comparing the show to others which we have seen over the last few years which were far superior. Never mind. It was a good thing to do as a family. We had an awful train journey home and didn't get back until 12.30pm.
Plans for the rest of the week include housework- lots of it, as so behind and final adjustments to participant information sheets. Looking forward to not doing much this week-end.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Wednesday 21st October 2009
2 Samuel 22
1 David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn [g] of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.
4 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
5 "The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave [h] coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
8 "The earth trembled and quaked,
the foundations of the heavens [i] shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared [j] on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his canopy around him—
the dark [k] rain clouds of the sky.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
15 He shot arrows and scattered the enemies ,
bolts of lightning and routed them.
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
21 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
24 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness [l] in his sight.
26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop [m] ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
What amazing words these are.
Having a good week after a brilliant time at the Breathe ladies conference. Felt also that God spoke to me about the future- all very exciting and we are praying into it.
I drove to Bolton to collect my mum on Monday. Thankfully it was a really good journey despite driving almost a 400 miles round trip in a day. She is going home on the train tomorrow as my brother is able to collect her from the station in the evening. Haven't done much with her though as we seem to have spent most of the time ferrying the children around. Graham's parents are coming today for lunch which will be nice. We are going to Center Parcs on Friday with friends for the week-end which we are looking forward to.
1 David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn [g] of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.
4 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
5 "The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave [h] coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
7 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
8 "The earth trembled and quaked,
the foundations of the heavens [i] shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
10 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared [j] on the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness his canopy around him—
the dark [k] rain clouds of the sky.
13 Out of the brightness of his presence
bolts of lightning blazed forth.
14 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
15 He shot arrows and scattered the enemies ,
bolts of lightning and routed them.
16 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at the rebuke of the LORD,
at the blast of breath from his nostrils.
17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
21 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
23 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
24 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to my cleanness [l] in his sight.
26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You are my lamp, O LORD;
the LORD turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop [m] ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
What amazing words these are.
Having a good week after a brilliant time at the Breathe ladies conference. Felt also that God spoke to me about the future- all very exciting and we are praying into it.
I drove to Bolton to collect my mum on Monday. Thankfully it was a really good journey despite driving almost a 400 miles round trip in a day. She is going home on the train tomorrow as my brother is able to collect her from the station in the evening. Haven't done much with her though as we seem to have spent most of the time ferrying the children around. Graham's parents are coming today for lunch which will be nice. We are going to Center Parcs on Friday with friends for the week-end which we are looking forward to.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Week-end ahead
Haven't blogged for awhile- no particular reason. Highlights of the last couple of weeks include:
My friend's baptism- what an amazing testimony.
Great cell group meetings- learning about Paul's letter to the Galatians-and I really have learnt a lot.
Family photoshoot- haven't seen the proofs yet.
Getting into my project- starting a new literature review- the effects of policy on caregiving. Have to give a paper at Oxford University in December- nervous already. Awaiting feedback from the ethics committee.
Feeling proud of my children for nothing in particular- just because they are my children! Charlie is working hard and enjoying his free time. He is turning into a mature young man. Harry did well with his recent tracking grades and is making us laugh. He got Charlie to write a note to his teacher today to try and get him out of games. He wrote that Harry was unable to do games as his leg was injured from being in a car accident ! Rosie's parents evening this week- all good apart from maths-takes after her mother I think. She is over the moon as I bought her a Jack Wills hoody ( not cheap) which was meant for Christmas, but I couldn't resist giving it to her today.
Graham is stressed ( work) but trusting God. Our bible notes were so apt for today ( Don't fear, don't be anxious etc).
Soooooooo looking forward to the week-end. I'm off to Cambridge for a ladies conference. This will be my 5th one and I always come back feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated in the Lord. Margaret Stunt is one of the speakers and she is so funny. She is like a stand-up comedian preacher. My friend who recently became a Christian is coming with us and I know she will enjoy it.
Our new cat Lily is adorable. She is a 4 year -old persian rescue cat. She is so pretty but quite docile and hasn't quite got the hang of using the litter tray yet. Apparently she was bullied in her last home which might explain her toileting mishaps. She is going out for a couple of hours during the day but we are not letting her out of the garden which we have Lily-proofed.
The children break up tomorrow for two weeks. Can't wait for relaxing mornings with no school run. We are going to Center Parcs for the week-end and have a trip to London planned including a theatre trip- Sister Act. My mum is also coming down at some point and Graham's parents are coming over to see her.
My friend's baptism- what an amazing testimony.
Great cell group meetings- learning about Paul's letter to the Galatians-and I really have learnt a lot.
Family photoshoot- haven't seen the proofs yet.
Getting into my project- starting a new literature review- the effects of policy on caregiving. Have to give a paper at Oxford University in December- nervous already. Awaiting feedback from the ethics committee.
Feeling proud of my children for nothing in particular- just because they are my children! Charlie is working hard and enjoying his free time. He is turning into a mature young man. Harry did well with his recent tracking grades and is making us laugh. He got Charlie to write a note to his teacher today to try and get him out of games. He wrote that Harry was unable to do games as his leg was injured from being in a car accident ! Rosie's parents evening this week- all good apart from maths-takes after her mother I think. She is over the moon as I bought her a Jack Wills hoody ( not cheap) which was meant for Christmas, but I couldn't resist giving it to her today.
Graham is stressed ( work) but trusting God. Our bible notes were so apt for today ( Don't fear, don't be anxious etc).
Soooooooo looking forward to the week-end. I'm off to Cambridge for a ladies conference. This will be my 5th one and I always come back feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated in the Lord. Margaret Stunt is one of the speakers and she is so funny. She is like a stand-up comedian preacher. My friend who recently became a Christian is coming with us and I know she will enjoy it.
Our new cat Lily is adorable. She is a 4 year -old persian rescue cat. She is so pretty but quite docile and hasn't quite got the hang of using the litter tray yet. Apparently she was bullied in her last home which might explain her toileting mishaps. She is going out for a couple of hours during the day but we are not letting her out of the garden which we have Lily-proofed.
The children break up tomorrow for two weeks. Can't wait for relaxing mornings with no school run. We are going to Center Parcs for the week-end and have a trip to London planned including a theatre trip- Sister Act. My mum is also coming down at some point and Graham's parents are coming over to see her.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Monday 28th September 2009
A great week-end. Visited Cambridge twice and toured some of the colleges. The first photo is of Magdalene College Chapel where we got married in 1991. The safari supper was good fun- everybody had made an effort with their fancy dress. Off to look at a persian rescue cat in a minute. Hoping she's the right one for us.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Friday 25th September 2009
Having a good week. The sun has been shining and I actually sat outside and sunbathed yesterday afternoon. I am full of a cold though and two of the children I take to school have been ill and off school this week.
I have been working from home for most of the week and just need to finalise my ethics form, work plan, consent forms and other appendices today before my supervisors see it and then hopefully I can submit it on the 1st Oct.
We have a busy week-end ahead. I am going to Cambridge to attend a seminar on ageing tomorrow. It is Cambridge University's 800 year anniversary and we were all supposed to be going but due to a lack of interest from all of the family, I will nip over there for a couple of hours on my own! Graham and the others are going to see MK Dons play Leeds United and Rosie has a hockey match first thing.
Tonight we have been invited to friends' for a barbecue whilst the children are all at church. Our Friday evenings have taken on a whole new dimension. For the first time ever since before the children were born we have a 11/2 hour slot all to ourselves! So we have started to make the most of it by spending the time together before we start the taxi service at 8pm!
Tomorrow evening it is our annual 'safari supper' in the village. The fancy dress theme is 'emergency services' which would have been great if I could have fitted into my old nurse's uniform- which I couldn't! So, I have bought some disposable scrub gowns, gloves, masks and hats off eBay and just hope they arrive in time. Otherwise we will have to wear fluorescent jackets and go as the AA!
On Sunday Graham is welcoming at church, so I will have to take Charlie to rugby and drop him off. We are now realising how difficult it is to take part in sport on Sundays without our 4pm service.
We are thinking about getting another cat and there is a possibility of one arriving at the local Persian rescue this week-end. Apparently she is a 4 year old Persian tortie, so will look like Lulu. I don't know whether that is a good idea though, so am waiting for a photograph before we make our minds up.
I have been working from home for most of the week and just need to finalise my ethics form, work plan, consent forms and other appendices today before my supervisors see it and then hopefully I can submit it on the 1st Oct.
We have a busy week-end ahead. I am going to Cambridge to attend a seminar on ageing tomorrow. It is Cambridge University's 800 year anniversary and we were all supposed to be going but due to a lack of interest from all of the family, I will nip over there for a couple of hours on my own! Graham and the others are going to see MK Dons play Leeds United and Rosie has a hockey match first thing.
Tonight we have been invited to friends' for a barbecue whilst the children are all at church. Our Friday evenings have taken on a whole new dimension. For the first time ever since before the children were born we have a 11/2 hour slot all to ourselves! So we have started to make the most of it by spending the time together before we start the taxi service at 8pm!
Tomorrow evening it is our annual 'safari supper' in the village. The fancy dress theme is 'emergency services' which would have been great if I could have fitted into my old nurse's uniform- which I couldn't! So, I have bought some disposable scrub gowns, gloves, masks and hats off eBay and just hope they arrive in time. Otherwise we will have to wear fluorescent jackets and go as the AA!
On Sunday Graham is welcoming at church, so I will have to take Charlie to rugby and drop him off. We are now realising how difficult it is to take part in sport on Sundays without our 4pm service.
We are thinking about getting another cat and there is a possibility of one arriving at the local Persian rescue this week-end. Apparently she is a 4 year old Persian tortie, so will look like Lulu. I don't know whether that is a good idea though, so am waiting for a photograph before we make our minds up.
Monday, 21 September 2009
Autumn
First day of Autumn today and there was a significant nip in the air this morning when I took the children to school.
Had an enjoyable week-end which went far too quickly. We went out with friends for a curry on Saturday night which was good fun. The children were busy with friends and sport. Charlie played rugby twice and all had friends over.
In an attempt to be better organised I arranged for a Sainsbury's home delivery today to free up some time. It did work, but the free time was spent having coffee with a friend this afternoon instead of working. Never mind. I went to the gym first thing and didn't find the 25min on the treadmill as arduous as I did last week.
Read some of 'Family Practices in Later Life' ( my new book on ageing )this afternoon and hoped for some inspiration for another literature review I need to write. I think I will either focus on gender or grandparents, both themes which I have touched on before but need to be further elaborated upon.
Must go and make tea before I start my taxi service which include 2 trips to church.
Had an enjoyable week-end which went far too quickly. We went out with friends for a curry on Saturday night which was good fun. The children were busy with friends and sport. Charlie played rugby twice and all had friends over.
In an attempt to be better organised I arranged for a Sainsbury's home delivery today to free up some time. It did work, but the free time was spent having coffee with a friend this afternoon instead of working. Never mind. I went to the gym first thing and didn't find the 25min on the treadmill as arduous as I did last week.
Read some of 'Family Practices in Later Life' ( my new book on ageing )this afternoon and hoped for some inspiration for another literature review I need to write. I think I will either focus on gender or grandparents, both themes which I have touched on before but need to be further elaborated upon.
Must go and make tea before I start my taxi service which include 2 trips to church.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Back to work
I attended my second funeral this year yesterday. Both had similarities. Both the deceased were neighbours ( who were good friends ), both took place in the same village church, both services were conducted by the same minister, some of the congregation attended both funeral services and both friends, as far as I know, had no faith. Life is harsh, and I don't know whether it is because of my age, but there is a lot of sadness in many friends' lives at the moment in terms of ill-health, marital break-down and job redundancy. God said ' I will never leave you or forsake you' (Joshua 1:5)and I pray that these people will know God's peace and strength in their lives.
I had a slight wake-up call today during a supervision session when discussing my timetable for the next three months. I have so much work to do and need to be better organised. I must start to focus on my project. I feel quite excited about it however, and am looking forward to getting out into the field.
Looking forward to the week-end.
I had a slight wake-up call today during a supervision session when discussing my timetable for the next three months. I have so much work to do and need to be better organised. I must start to focus on my project. I feel quite excited about it however, and am looking forward to getting out into the field.
Looking forward to the week-end.
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