Can't believe that three quarters of 2010 has passed. Time flies by. Tomorrow will be the first day of my (hopefully) final year as a PhD student.
It is a beautiful day today and I'm sat in my usual position, in the conservatory overlooking the garden. The sun is shining and I want to sit outside. But I can't. I have so much work to do and the deadline approaches. I will be working for a lot of the week end too. Apart from work we are going to Cambridge on Saturday to see some friends which I'm looking forward to.
Today I'm thankful that God never leaves me and is by my side in everything that I do. I'm thankful for my church and for the ladies event tonight. I'm thankful for Graham and the children of course and my health and for my many interests. I'm thankful for the apartment opportunity in Interlaken and pray we can use it for God's glory. I'm thankful and appreciative that life is good, very good and it is only by God's grace that it is.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Autumn
I'm sat writing this in the garden. It is lovely and sunny and hearing the birds singing in the trees the weather is almost Spring-like instead of Autumnal. It was the first day of Autumn yesterday and I'm noticing the shorter days already. As I spend so much time in the car from 4pm onwards transporting the children to various activities the darker evenings are very apparent. A new season is definitely here in more ways than one in my life.
Almost finished interviewing my participants and am preparing for 3 months of intensive data analysis which will take me up until the end of December.
Our Saturday morning church group has started back with the possibility of 4 more people joining us. Praise God.
We are almost the owners of a Swiss apartment and Graham flew out there on Monday to sign the contract. We plan to visit Interlaken for a few days during half-term so we can decide what furniture we need before we take ownership of it on the 1st Jan. Interlaken is our piece of heaven on earth and has been for over the last 20 years. We plan on sharing this piece of heaven with family and friends once it is furnished.
The children are busy with their new seasons too. Charlie is enjoying the sixth form and is working so hard. Harry has started his GCSE coursework and continues to songwrite and play his guitar. Rosie is back in the routine of hockey, swimming, lacrosse, badminton, church groups and being full-on with everything she does. There seems to be party after party and friends here there and everywhere. We had to make some decisions during the week about the HPV vaccine which I'd gaily signed the consent form about without putting much thought in it. However, the day before she was due to have it I just kept thinking she was too young at the age of twelve to have it and after researching the incidence and risk factors of cervical cancer and taking into consideration that I would hope Rosie will have regular smear tests and won't be sexually active for a long time yet we decided to postpone it. I sometimes feel that financial health service targets coupled with the invested interest of drug companies pressurise us parents to subject our children's immune systems to drugs that have not been around for long enough to guarantee their safety 100%.
Well, we were in the minority with our thinking as the majority of her year had the immunisation. However there were a few girls who didn't. As it turned out Rosie was unwell with a cold and cough that day and although she didn't have a temperature I wouldn't have felt happy with her having an immunisation that day. She is still unwell but has gone to school.
God and church continue to be my raison d'etre and on Sunday 5 people were baptised and a couple of healings were also witnessed! The Alpha course was launched last night with an Alpha Grill where we ate a bbq followed by a questions and answer session where 4 Christians were 'grilled'. It was an excellent and innovative way to launch the course.
Looking forward to the week-end already and a quiet one is planned after a hectic one last week where we had a dinner party followed by attending Rosie's friend's baptismal lunch after church which was really lovely and such an honour for us to be invited. Family XFactor night on Saturday followed by roast dinner on Sunday are the only things that are planned.
Almost finished interviewing my participants and am preparing for 3 months of intensive data analysis which will take me up until the end of December.
Our Saturday morning church group has started back with the possibility of 4 more people joining us. Praise God.
We are almost the owners of a Swiss apartment and Graham flew out there on Monday to sign the contract. We plan to visit Interlaken for a few days during half-term so we can decide what furniture we need before we take ownership of it on the 1st Jan. Interlaken is our piece of heaven on earth and has been for over the last 20 years. We plan on sharing this piece of heaven with family and friends once it is furnished.
The children are busy with their new seasons too. Charlie is enjoying the sixth form and is working so hard. Harry has started his GCSE coursework and continues to songwrite and play his guitar. Rosie is back in the routine of hockey, swimming, lacrosse, badminton, church groups and being full-on with everything she does. There seems to be party after party and friends here there and everywhere. We had to make some decisions during the week about the HPV vaccine which I'd gaily signed the consent form about without putting much thought in it. However, the day before she was due to have it I just kept thinking she was too young at the age of twelve to have it and after researching the incidence and risk factors of cervical cancer and taking into consideration that I would hope Rosie will have regular smear tests and won't be sexually active for a long time yet we decided to postpone it. I sometimes feel that financial health service targets coupled with the invested interest of drug companies pressurise us parents to subject our children's immune systems to drugs that have not been around for long enough to guarantee their safety 100%.
Well, we were in the minority with our thinking as the majority of her year had the immunisation. However there were a few girls who didn't. As it turned out Rosie was unwell with a cold and cough that day and although she didn't have a temperature I wouldn't have felt happy with her having an immunisation that day. She is still unwell but has gone to school.
God and church continue to be my raison d'etre and on Sunday 5 people were baptised and a couple of healings were also witnessed! The Alpha course was launched last night with an Alpha Grill where we ate a bbq followed by a questions and answer session where 4 Christians were 'grilled'. It was an excellent and innovative way to launch the course.
Looking forward to the week-end already and a quiet one is planned after a hectic one last week where we had a dinner party followed by attending Rosie's friend's baptismal lunch after church which was really lovely and such an honour for us to be invited. Family XFactor night on Saturday followed by roast dinner on Sunday are the only things that are planned.
Friday, 10 September 2010
Prayer and fasting
Almost at the end of a week of prayer and fasting. As a church we are doing this in anticipation that God will become closer to us, change us as we seek to get closer to Him. It hasn't been easy and most of the time I've found it difficult to remember to pray, read my bible etc in place of the things I'm fasting from. For example, I haven't been on Facebook at all and I'm not eating junk food. I know I have lost weight which is a good thing and I know that too much Facebook is not good for me, and perhaps God is telling me not to go on it all, as it is just wasting time.
There have been extra praise and worship times at church during the week, including a 6am prayer meeting which Graham went to before work. We will go to the 8am service in the morning. All this is making me think that this is how we should be living our lives at all times.
Looking forward to the week end with the village show on Sunday. Harry and his band are playing which is great. Rosie has a hockey match tomorrow at Graham's old school and Charlie is starting to help out at youth club tonight. But most of all I'm looking forward to a Saturday night in as we haven't one for absolutely ages. Staying in is definitely the new going out for me! Perhaps I'm just getting old.
I've had a busy week work wise and will have interviewed 6 people by the end of tonight! I now have 19 participants which means I'm running to schedule. If I write about 500 words a day for the next couple of weeks I'll be on target to finish a piece of work before the end of the month.
Our flat in Interlaken looks set to go ahead which is so exciting. We have paid the deposit and have secured the mortgage at a very low rate of interest. Graham flies out next week to meet the notary and a completion date has been set for the 4th Jan. Ikea here I come, but won't be able to rent it out for a while.
There have been extra praise and worship times at church during the week, including a 6am prayer meeting which Graham went to before work. We will go to the 8am service in the morning. All this is making me think that this is how we should be living our lives at all times.
Looking forward to the week end with the village show on Sunday. Harry and his band are playing which is great. Rosie has a hockey match tomorrow at Graham's old school and Charlie is starting to help out at youth club tonight. But most of all I'm looking forward to a Saturday night in as we haven't one for absolutely ages. Staying in is definitely the new going out for me! Perhaps I'm just getting old.
I've had a busy week work wise and will have interviewed 6 people by the end of tonight! I now have 19 participants which means I'm running to schedule. If I write about 500 words a day for the next couple of weeks I'll be on target to finish a piece of work before the end of the month.
Our flat in Interlaken looks set to go ahead which is so exciting. We have paid the deposit and have secured the mortgage at a very low rate of interest. Graham flies out next week to meet the notary and a completion date has been set for the 4th Jan. Ikea here I come, but won't be able to rent it out for a while.
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Shuttleworth 10
We returned from a camping trip to Shuttleworth yesterday. 2000 people from the Eastern region of New Frontiers churches gathered together to worship God and listen to David Stroud and Steve Tibbert preach about where we are in God's story of time and how to live out our faith courageously. The worship was wonderful with all songs being my favourites! What I have brought away from the week end will be hopefully character building and changing. God met with me in a deep way this week-end and I just so loved spending time in His presence.
The camping experience was one of endurance due to the weather conditions. It was so cold and rainy. However, spending time with my church family made up for it and we managed to have two bring and share teas where about 50 of us congregated in a marquee in the middle of our allocated pitch. The children thought it was wonderful and all said it was the best one they had been to out of the last three years.
Typically that we are back home and the weather is glorious today with bright sunshine and a blue sky. Definitely got that end of summer feel to it though with dew on the grass and a slight chill. Today is Charlie's last day of the summer holidays before he starts sixth form tomorrow. My baby looks so smart in his business suit! We are immensely proud of him achieving mostly a stars in his gcses. It is such an achievement for him and he wouldn't have reached his potential without God and with all his growth group and leader praying for him, as they did for all the boys in the group everyday during the exam period.
Rosie has lacrosse training for two days and then back to school. I need to take Harry to town today to buy him school shoes. I know I have left it a bit late in buying school shoes so hope we find some for him. He also wants to read The Hobbit and I plan on a trip to Waterstones as we can't find our copy.
I have a busy week ahead of me work wise with 3 or 4 interviews lined up plus I need to start thinking about a piece of work I need to send off to my supervisors before the end of September.
The apartment in Switzerland looks set to go ahead. We have paid a deposit and Graham needs to fly out to Interlaken the week after next to sign the contract. Not sure when it will be ours, but hope we can visit it in October half term to decide what furniture it will need. Don't think we will be able to rent it out for awhile but plan on letting family and friends use it.
Anyway must go and start the day
The camping experience was one of endurance due to the weather conditions. It was so cold and rainy. However, spending time with my church family made up for it and we managed to have two bring and share teas where about 50 of us congregated in a marquee in the middle of our allocated pitch. The children thought it was wonderful and all said it was the best one they had been to out of the last three years.
Typically that we are back home and the weather is glorious today with bright sunshine and a blue sky. Definitely got that end of summer feel to it though with dew on the grass and a slight chill. Today is Charlie's last day of the summer holidays before he starts sixth form tomorrow. My baby looks so smart in his business suit! We are immensely proud of him achieving mostly a stars in his gcses. It is such an achievement for him and he wouldn't have reached his potential without God and with all his growth group and leader praying for him, as they did for all the boys in the group everyday during the exam period.
Rosie has lacrosse training for two days and then back to school. I need to take Harry to town today to buy him school shoes. I know I have left it a bit late in buying school shoes so hope we find some for him. He also wants to read The Hobbit and I plan on a trip to Waterstones as we can't find our copy.
I have a busy week ahead of me work wise with 3 or 4 interviews lined up plus I need to start thinking about a piece of work I need to send off to my supervisors before the end of September.
The apartment in Switzerland looks set to go ahead. We have paid a deposit and Graham needs to fly out to Interlaken the week after next to sign the contract. Not sure when it will be ours, but hope we can visit it in October half term to decide what furniture it will need. Don't think we will be able to rent it out for awhile but plan on letting family and friends use it.
Anyway must go and start the day
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Back in Bloggyland!
So much has happened during my month away from Bloggyland that I don't know where to start. So, in summary, I am thanking God for the following during Summer 2010:
1. Our wonderful two week holiday in Switzerland. It is like returning home each time we go. We have been to the same place for the last 22 years. We are thinking of buying a very small apartment in Interlaken as we know we will continue to visit this beautiful area to walk in the glorious mountains twice or more a year. The first few days were strange without Charlie- I felt bereft at times! He had an amazing time in Rome and did so much during the 5 days he was there. Graham and Harry went to meet him, but his flight was delayed by 51/2 hours so they missed the last train back to Interlaken and had to stay in Basel overnight! Highlights of the first week's holiday included a boat trip on Lake Thun, Trotti-biking down the Niederhorn and walking up Harder Kulm. A family from church were staying on the same campsite for a few days so we had several enjoyable evenings with them, playing games, bbq-ing marshmallows, and eating chocolate fondues. The second week was spent in Grindelwald at Hotel Bodmi, in an apartment at the very top of the hotel. The weather wasn't brilliant, but we still had a good time and did the usual walks, including the 6 hour hike from Kleine Sheidegg to First which was amazing. We swam most days and played several games of tension-filled Monopoly with Rosie reigning as our new family champion. So, Graham is flying out on Saturday to meet the estate agent and view the property. We are praying for wisdom and guidance in making the right decision here as we will have to borrow the money. Hopefully, we'll be able to rent it out during the skiing season and times when we know we won't use it. We would be able to go for week-ends as flights are inexpensive, and we will drive for longer trips.
2. All the children have been with 7,000 other 12-18 year olds at Newday for the last 5 days. It is the first time ever that Graham and I have been without all the children for a period of time. It has been so strange and I have missed them so much. They return today at 1pm and I can't wait to see them. Both Rosie and Harry took friends from school and we have been praying that God will have met with them in a life-changing and tangible way. So, during this time away from my taxi-driving job, I have a relatively clean house, I have blitzed the boys' rooms and have taken 4 bin bags of clothes to charity, I have worked on my project, Graham and I have been out for a couple of nice meals. On Saturday evening we drove to Cambridge and went to Browns and had such a nice meal. We were going to go away walking in the Dales for the week-end which leads me on to the next point.
3. A lesson learned from God about trusting Him, and not avoiding his promptings, which thankfully we didn't. We kept putting off booking our week-end away and in the end I just ran out of time as we were too busy organising Charlie's trip with his friend and our own holiday. On holiday we had a text message from Graham's mum to say that she had a date for her hip replacement op which was last week-end. So we knew that was the reason why we hadn't booked anywhere. We have been able to take Beryl to the hospital, visit everyday and take Graham's dad to see her and look after him too. He is 86, walks unsteadily with a stick and we have been able to discourage him from driving so far. I will set off after I've written this to bring her home. The operation has been successful and she is recovering well. I feel I am really living my project at the moment and will have to see how they get on during the next few weeks as it will be difficult for me to drive over every day when we are back at school and the routine of a new term. They live 30 minutes away, and I'm just praying that Beryl will be ready to go home when I get to the hospital so I will be back in time to collect the children!
3. I am so thankful for changes, the new season which is ahead of us, a new term for the children, a new stage in Charlie's life with sixth form. I had supervision yesterday and in order for me to complete this PhD in three years, I am going to have major deadlines each month and will be extremely busy during the next year. Less coffee and lunch time with friends I think. But with God's help, I will do it. We did talk about me having some time off ( suspension) if Graham's parents need more help, so we will see.
4. I am thankful that we have a new baby nephew and cousin for the children in the family. Baby Henry was born 2 days ago to my sister-in-law and brother and is doing well.
1. Our wonderful two week holiday in Switzerland. It is like returning home each time we go. We have been to the same place for the last 22 years. We are thinking of buying a very small apartment in Interlaken as we know we will continue to visit this beautiful area to walk in the glorious mountains twice or more a year. The first few days were strange without Charlie- I felt bereft at times! He had an amazing time in Rome and did so much during the 5 days he was there. Graham and Harry went to meet him, but his flight was delayed by 51/2 hours so they missed the last train back to Interlaken and had to stay in Basel overnight! Highlights of the first week's holiday included a boat trip on Lake Thun, Trotti-biking down the Niederhorn and walking up Harder Kulm. A family from church were staying on the same campsite for a few days so we had several enjoyable evenings with them, playing games, bbq-ing marshmallows, and eating chocolate fondues. The second week was spent in Grindelwald at Hotel Bodmi, in an apartment at the very top of the hotel. The weather wasn't brilliant, but we still had a good time and did the usual walks, including the 6 hour hike from Kleine Sheidegg to First which was amazing. We swam most days and played several games of tension-filled Monopoly with Rosie reigning as our new family champion. So, Graham is flying out on Saturday to meet the estate agent and view the property. We are praying for wisdom and guidance in making the right decision here as we will have to borrow the money. Hopefully, we'll be able to rent it out during the skiing season and times when we know we won't use it. We would be able to go for week-ends as flights are inexpensive, and we will drive for longer trips.
2. All the children have been with 7,000 other 12-18 year olds at Newday for the last 5 days. It is the first time ever that Graham and I have been without all the children for a period of time. It has been so strange and I have missed them so much. They return today at 1pm and I can't wait to see them. Both Rosie and Harry took friends from school and we have been praying that God will have met with them in a life-changing and tangible way. So, during this time away from my taxi-driving job, I have a relatively clean house, I have blitzed the boys' rooms and have taken 4 bin bags of clothes to charity, I have worked on my project, Graham and I have been out for a couple of nice meals. On Saturday evening we drove to Cambridge and went to Browns and had such a nice meal. We were going to go away walking in the Dales for the week-end which leads me on to the next point.
3. A lesson learned from God about trusting Him, and not avoiding his promptings, which thankfully we didn't. We kept putting off booking our week-end away and in the end I just ran out of time as we were too busy organising Charlie's trip with his friend and our own holiday. On holiday we had a text message from Graham's mum to say that she had a date for her hip replacement op which was last week-end. So we knew that was the reason why we hadn't booked anywhere. We have been able to take Beryl to the hospital, visit everyday and take Graham's dad to see her and look after him too. He is 86, walks unsteadily with a stick and we have been able to discourage him from driving so far. I will set off after I've written this to bring her home. The operation has been successful and she is recovering well. I feel I am really living my project at the moment and will have to see how they get on during the next few weeks as it will be difficult for me to drive over every day when we are back at school and the routine of a new term. They live 30 minutes away, and I'm just praying that Beryl will be ready to go home when I get to the hospital so I will be back in time to collect the children!
3. I am so thankful for changes, the new season which is ahead of us, a new term for the children, a new stage in Charlie's life with sixth form. I had supervision yesterday and in order for me to complete this PhD in three years, I am going to have major deadlines each month and will be extremely busy during the next year. Less coffee and lunch time with friends I think. But with God's help, I will do it. We did talk about me having some time off ( suspension) if Graham's parents need more help, so we will see.
4. I am thankful that we have a new baby nephew and cousin for the children in the family. Baby Henry was born 2 days ago to my sister-in-law and brother and is doing well.
Monday, 19 July 2010
Summertime
Counting down the days now until our holidays. So looking forward to it! Feeling quite excited as we've decided to drive across Europe through the night which we haven't done since before the children were born.
Feeling apprehensive about Charlie having five days in Rome with a friend and his family and then flying on his own to Basle where we will meet him. I'm just praying that God will protect him. I know this is a sign of things to come the older he gets and it won't be too long before he flies the nest.
I have three interviews to do this week as well as fitting in a busking trip to Cambridge with Harry and his band.
Rosie went to Dorset with a friend this weekend and I drove to meet her in Newbury yesterday. I was so pleased to see her. She had a great time and had been swimming in the sea and out on a pedalo.
My car has been repaired after it rolled down the drive and crashed into the wall as I hadn't put the handbrake on properly! We walked to the garage in Kempston to collect it on Saturday morning. The walk was lovely through the village and along the river. In the afternoon we met some of our home group at the river festival. We found a lovely 'afternoon tea' tent and stayed there for the afternoon drinking tea and eating scones away from the hustle and bustle of the festival- think I'm getting old but there were thousands of people there and we couldn't move and had to queue to cross the bridges!
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Holidays
I've had such a busy week work wise, but have achieved a lot and am now thinking about our holiday in a couple of weeks, whoop, whoop!
I presented a poster at the BSG last week and presented a paper at the International Carers Conference at the week end. I was so nervous beforehand, but God took my fear away! Lots of people were praying for me and I could sense that God was with me throughout the weekend.
So, my second year as PhD student is almost over and I am ready for a holiday before I start my final year. The children have broken up from school. As I write this I'm looking out onto our garden with four children asleep in two tents. Both Harry and Rosie had friends over yesterday and they decided to camp out. Tonight Harry has his first gig with his band Sel Zout at a local nightclub. It is a school competition. Charlie is half-way through his work experience which he is enjoying.
I have two people coming to house/Lily sit when we're away which is great. I really didn't want to put her in a cattery for two weeks.
So, life is very good. I have so much to thank God for, including the much needed holiday where we can re-charge our batteries and have some quality family time together.
I presented a poster at the BSG last week and presented a paper at the International Carers Conference at the week end. I was so nervous beforehand, but God took my fear away! Lots of people were praying for me and I could sense that God was with me throughout the weekend.
So, my second year as PhD student is almost over and I am ready for a holiday before I start my final year. The children have broken up from school. As I write this I'm looking out onto our garden with four children asleep in two tents. Both Harry and Rosie had friends over yesterday and they decided to camp out. Tonight Harry has his first gig with his band Sel Zout at a local nightclub. It is a school competition. Charlie is half-way through his work experience which he is enjoying.
I have two people coming to house/Lily sit when we're away which is great. I really didn't want to put her in a cattery for two weeks.
So, life is very good. I have so much to thank God for, including the much needed holiday where we can re-charge our batteries and have some quality family time together.
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