Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Having a ball
Last week church held a ball. Why? Why not?!
It was a good excuse to wear pretty dresses!
It was a good excuse to wear pretty dresses!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Oasis for women, words from the Lord and too much cheese
Yesterday was another of the wonderful women's days at church. Theme this time - self esteem and body image. On arrival there was a warmly laid out room with artwork from previous days and church events, tables set out cafe style, soft drinks and chocolate. Oh and chocolate. There were two chocolate fountains and copious numbers of strawberries, grapes and marshmallows.
As the afternoon got underway the Oasis planning team sat down in a panel on comfy chairs at the front. Connie described it as looking like Loose Women... and so it was! We discussed power and weakness, children, women's roles, how we feel about our bodies, colonic irrigation (that was a rather unpleasant aside!) and watched a clip of How To Look Good Naked (also quite cringeworthy, I shudder at the very thought!)
After much discussion, laughter and chocolate eating (I ate far, far too much!) we broke up into groups of 3 to pray for each other. It was one of those pressurised times that I really hate. Sarah and I got split up deliberately which annoyed me somewhat, not allowed to pray with friends obviously, and another two ladies joined me at my table. We numbered ourselves 1-3 then numbers 2 and 3 prayed for number 1 for 2 minutes and then were given another couple of minutes to share with that person what they had heard from God for them. Now, call me a cynic (Cynic! Cynic! I hear you cry) but I'm not really sure God works like that... "alright, Lord, you have 2 minutes in which to give me something specific for this one person that will mean something to them or encourage them; nothing airy fairy please..." Anyway, as I was praying for the first lady I was desperately hoping for something wildly exciting to happen or well anything really that I could share with her after 2 minutes. Perhaps my mind was far too consumed with the pressure of having to think of anything at all that I'd probably lost a minute of praying time in fretting! As I was praying a tune appeared in my head, "hooray!" I thought, "A word from the Lord!" and so I sang it through in my head to work out what it was.... only to discover that it was the Clover advert... So not that holy then. I didn't bother to share it. It reminded me of a talk that Jeff Lucas gave at Spring Harvest once where he described obscure 'words and pictures' that he's received in prayer meetings before speaking engagements. "Bless you, love", he thought, "I think you've been eating too much cheese!"
Too much sugar in my case perhaps?!
As the afternoon got underway the Oasis planning team sat down in a panel on comfy chairs at the front. Connie described it as looking like Loose Women... and so it was! We discussed power and weakness, children, women's roles, how we feel about our bodies, colonic irrigation (that was a rather unpleasant aside!) and watched a clip of How To Look Good Naked (also quite cringeworthy, I shudder at the very thought!)
After much discussion, laughter and chocolate eating (I ate far, far too much!) we broke up into groups of 3 to pray for each other. It was one of those pressurised times that I really hate. Sarah and I got split up deliberately which annoyed me somewhat, not allowed to pray with friends obviously, and another two ladies joined me at my table. We numbered ourselves 1-3 then numbers 2 and 3 prayed for number 1 for 2 minutes and then were given another couple of minutes to share with that person what they had heard from God for them. Now, call me a cynic (Cynic! Cynic! I hear you cry) but I'm not really sure God works like that... "alright, Lord, you have 2 minutes in which to give me something specific for this one person that will mean something to them or encourage them; nothing airy fairy please..." Anyway, as I was praying for the first lady I was desperately hoping for something wildly exciting to happen or well anything really that I could share with her after 2 minutes. Perhaps my mind was far too consumed with the pressure of having to think of anything at all that I'd probably lost a minute of praying time in fretting! As I was praying a tune appeared in my head, "hooray!" I thought, "A word from the Lord!" and so I sang it through in my head to work out what it was.... only to discover that it was the Clover advert... So not that holy then. I didn't bother to share it. It reminded me of a talk that Jeff Lucas gave at Spring Harvest once where he described obscure 'words and pictures' that he's received in prayer meetings before speaking engagements. "Bless you, love", he thought, "I think you've been eating too much cheese!"
Too much sugar in my case perhaps?!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
My favourite time of year...
It has come to that marvelous time of year again. The time when I can no longer breathe in deeply and smile and thank God for the sights and sounds and smells of his beautiful creation. The mere sight of boys throwing handfuls of cut grass makes me sneeze!
This year I thought (hoped) that my hayfever would stay away. I have been driving home from work for the last couple of weeks thinking how I wasn't suffering yet and that maybe I had grown out of it as one is meant to in their twenties. But yesterday it arrived with a vengeance unfortunately and I'm beginning to remember what it feels like to desire to claw out my entire respiritory system with sharpened fingernails!
On a lighter note, optional SATs are done and marked, my reports are now written and out to parents and I've survived 'meet your child's new teacher/discuss your child's report' open evening. Marvelous!
This year I thought (hoped) that my hayfever would stay away. I have been driving home from work for the last couple of weeks thinking how I wasn't suffering yet and that maybe I had grown out of it as one is meant to in their twenties. But yesterday it arrived with a vengeance unfortunately and I'm beginning to remember what it feels like to desire to claw out my entire respiritory system with sharpened fingernails!
On a lighter note, optional SATs are done and marked, my reports are now written and out to parents and I've survived 'meet your child's new teacher/discuss your child's report' open evening. Marvelous!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Half Term
Half term is a time to attend to the things that have been ignored for a while. This is what I have been attending to today.
Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.
Tagged!
Mike tagged me, the idea is this:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five other people.
I'm sat on the floor planning a meditation and thinking about going for a walk in this wonderful February weather (not that I've got anyone who will go with me!!) So I have 2 books to hand... I'll go with the latter - Duncan's Pub Walks Lancaster to the Lakes, it has a sticker over the word 'pub' that my dad has written 'Christian Tea Shop' on so now it reads "Duncan's Christian Tea Shop Walks Lancaster to the Lakes". He's odd that one. So, page 123 is a walk from Silverdale to Arnside:
"The going can be quite tricky as you walk the last mile into Arnside, especially if it is a very high tide. However, there is always lots to see especially if you are a student of seaside flora: pink thrift, sea and buckshorn plantain, common gromwell, scurvey grass and black bryony can all be found in their time. For bird lovers there are always winged plover and redshank and over in the trees on your right you may hear wrens as they angrily announce ownership of their own piece of territory."
That made me chortle that did! Though I think it would have been better if page 123 had been one of the walks I hadn't done, I might have been inspired. I fancy walk 8 I think, Middleton to Sunderland Point. I've never been to Sunderland Point and I'd like to go and see Sambo's grave and all that. We studied the slave trade and the thriving Georgian port of Lancaster when I was a student and it interests me.
Anyway, rambling aside... I'm not going to tag anyone else because I don't think I know anyone who I could tag to be honest! So the link ends with me (again).
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five other people.
I'm sat on the floor planning a meditation and thinking about going for a walk in this wonderful February weather (not that I've got anyone who will go with me!!) So I have 2 books to hand... I'll go with the latter - Duncan's Pub Walks Lancaster to the Lakes, it has a sticker over the word 'pub' that my dad has written 'Christian Tea Shop' on so now it reads "Duncan's Christian Tea Shop Walks Lancaster to the Lakes". He's odd that one. So, page 123 is a walk from Silverdale to Arnside:
"The going can be quite tricky as you walk the last mile into Arnside, especially if it is a very high tide. However, there is always lots to see especially if you are a student of seaside flora: pink thrift, sea and buckshorn plantain, common gromwell, scurvey grass and black bryony can all be found in their time. For bird lovers there are always winged plover and redshank and over in the trees on your right you may hear wrens as they angrily announce ownership of their own piece of territory."
That made me chortle that did! Though I think it would have been better if page 123 had been one of the walks I hadn't done, I might have been inspired. I fancy walk 8 I think, Middleton to Sunderland Point. I've never been to Sunderland Point and I'd like to go and see Sambo's grave and all that. We studied the slave trade and the thriving Georgian port of Lancaster when I was a student and it interests me.
Anyway, rambling aside... I'm not going to tag anyone else because I don't think I know anyone who I could tag to be honest! So the link ends with me (again).
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Tiredness
I did think last night that I would probably be awake at school time this morning - for the last 2 days I have woken up before my alarm and so suspected I was at one of those points where I am getting the right amount of sleep (they normally last for about a week before I return to the impossible-to-get-out-of-bed stage). I even went to bed at a reasonable hour last night for a Friday - I was away by 11 and slept without waking (apart from to turn the heating off at 1 in the morning because it had been put on boost and the radiators were beginning to moan). I woke up this morning at 11. 12 whole hours of uninterrupted sleep. I must have needed that! Still shattered though... school is exhausting, honestly!
Friday, December 07, 2007
Dodgy lyrics
Sophie and I were just watching Max and Paddy which caused me to play some Cliff Richard... it did, really it did! In Wired For Sound I was convinced as a child that Cliff sang 'Cowabunga', too much Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles clearly. Listen, I'm sure you'll see I'm right:
Cowabunga needle to the plastic!
Makes as much sense as Sophie's convinced rendition of I've Had The Time Of My Life I think:
Now with passion in our eyes there's no way we could disguise chickadee.
Because chickadee's a word, obviously.
Any more classic mishearings out there?
Update: Couldn't remember Sarah's classic mishearing of I believe in Miracles when I wrote this but she reminded me for a giggle:
I believe in Milko!
Cowabunga needle to the plastic!
Makes as much sense as Sophie's convinced rendition of I've Had The Time Of My Life I think:
Now with passion in our eyes there's no way we could disguise chickadee.
Because chickadee's a word, obviously.
Any more classic mishearings out there?
Update: Couldn't remember Sarah's classic mishearing of I believe in Miracles when I wrote this but she reminded me for a giggle:
I believe in Milko!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
God's blog
I often sit wondering about my life and what I shall do with it and, more to the point, what God would like me to do with it. I sometimes think it would be helpful if God had a blog, or if I could type into google and ask what I should do... Unfortunately God seems to have this irritating habit of not being terribly prescriptive when I want him to be. Sometimes I even find him rather vague. I had an interesting picture of God once, wearing his Regatta waterproof coat and a pair of sturdy walking boots flashing an OS map in my face along with a cheeky wink and a smile and pulling me over a stile and through a field. Being the geographical map geek and (when it comes to navigation) control freak that I am I have an urge to wrestle the map out of his hands for a proper look myself, even if not to know the route we are walking on at least to know what the possible surroundings will look like. If God blogged... I think it would be a spraffy one.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Red Arrows
One good thing about living in St. Annes is the (fairly) regular visitation of the Red Arrows to Blackpool, even if only to use the airport. Many summer days are spent running out into the garden to see them fly by and land in a spectacular manner on hearing a loud aeroplane-like rumble. Today I saw them fly by in formation and ran to the front of the house in the hope of seeing them do a hoopla-loopla (which I have been assured is a loop-the-loop, but hoopla-loopla seems like a much better name), but they didn't, I think because it was cloudy. So they split off in a less impressive manner. The sad thing is that for the rest of the day, having seen them, at the even slight incling of a possible sighting I have to run to a window, only to see a passenger plane or a typhoon (grey and on its own - far less exciting). I did, however see them again - yey! And this time it was clear and they did a hoopla loopla to land! Our house is in a good spot for seeing them and one always flys right over our house after they split at the bottom of the loop. Fab.
Update: Just seen them again, 3 times in one day, I am indeed a lucky lady :) Sophie and I stood on the garden table and waved as 2 of them went right over the garden and over our heads. No photo though, there's not enough time to go looking for a camera!
Update: Just seen them again, 3 times in one day, I am indeed a lucky lady :) Sophie and I stood on the garden table and waved as 2 of them went right over the garden and over our heads. No photo though, there's not enough time to go looking for a camera!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Local news - got to love it
I was particularly amused by this article in the local newspaper this week... leads me to think "Only in St Anne's".On first reading I thought hmm.. Old man driver... and lo and behold.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Facebook and other musings.
It is taking over my life. I do seem to go through these phases... the only problem is that I don't ever lose the old phases, it just means that I have more websites to check and thus waste many hours of the day perusing them. Sad I know.
I have also been reading through my inbox today, some emails make me laugh so much :) I was intending on tidying up my inbox, particularly in Outlook which I no longer use and has over 1900 items in the inbox... failed miserably though and I still have 1955 items. I am sure I can probably happily delete 900 of them, but it will take forever and for really rather little purpose.
I took something off my shelf today and came across the cards for when I left Stanley last year. I really smiled at the card from the second naughtiest boy in my class and probably the most troublesome (though utterly lovable), he wrote "Miss you lots. To Miss Swarbrick I will miss your voice and your face. From Aaron". Bless. I've been to see the Boyds this weekend and it seems that it's still not a happy place to work - the farcicle permanent/temporary contract applications begin for them again. I saw the job advertised on the internet and had to remind myself that I'm not a masochist before I was tempted to apply. No, Emma, just no.
I have also been reading through my inbox today, some emails make me laugh so much :) I was intending on tidying up my inbox, particularly in Outlook which I no longer use and has over 1900 items in the inbox... failed miserably though and I still have 1955 items. I am sure I can probably happily delete 900 of them, but it will take forever and for really rather little purpose.
I took something off my shelf today and came across the cards for when I left Stanley last year. I really smiled at the card from the second naughtiest boy in my class and probably the most troublesome (though utterly lovable), he wrote "Miss you lots. To Miss Swarbrick I will miss your voice and your face. From Aaron". Bless. I've been to see the Boyds this weekend and it seems that it's still not a happy place to work - the farcicle permanent/temporary contract applications begin for them again. I saw the job advertised on the internet and had to remind myself that I'm not a masochist before I was tempted to apply. No, Emma, just no.
Look, I can teach :)
Friday, January 26, 2007
Fancy a laugh?
I have been for a second dentist's appointment today. Always fun! She took some x-rays last week and the results weren't good so she's numbed me up, drilled and scraped and filled. It isn't hurting yet, but if you fancy a laugh just give me a ring, I can't talk properly and I sound hilarious! I was planning on making a few phone calls today but I think I will have to wait for a few hours... I also took my phone into the shop to be unlocked yesterday and am suffering from phone withdrawal but can hardly go in and get it back with a saggy lip and an inability to speak!! I may have to send my mum!
Friday, December 29, 2006
A silly thing to do
Somebody said something very silly this week. That silly thing was "A little bit of rain never did anyone any harm!", she may or may not have been suffering from spent-far-too-much-time-all-together-in-one-house syndrome.
As a result we got up early this morning (far too early when you were still reading at 2 in the morning) and drove up to the Lake District. Arriving at Grizedale forest, a water main had broken (you would have thought this would have been warning enough) and so we couldn't use the toilets, but, heck, it wasn't raining so we went for a walk. At the top of the crag (or thereabouts) it began to mizzle. And then it began to drizzle. And then it began to rain. 'Why stop at rain' thought the clouds, 'when we can get rid of all the water in the world all at once?' and so the heavens opened.
At the drizzle stage we stopped off for coffee and chocolate biscuits in the forest, but we couldn't stay there for ever or we would still be there now, with hypothermia to boot. So we found a quicker route and made our way back down to the visitor centre. Absolutely. Completely. Utterly. Drenched head, coat, very soggy trousers, into the socks and down into the boots.
What a tremendous success of a day! Can't say it made me terribly popular though...
As a result we got up early this morning (far too early when you were still reading at 2 in the morning) and drove up to the Lake District. Arriving at Grizedale forest, a water main had broken (you would have thought this would have been warning enough) and so we couldn't use the toilets, but, heck, it wasn't raining so we went for a walk. At the top of the crag (or thereabouts) it began to mizzle. And then it began to drizzle. And then it began to rain. 'Why stop at rain' thought the clouds, 'when we can get rid of all the water in the world all at once?' and so the heavens opened.
At the drizzle stage we stopped off for coffee and chocolate biscuits in the forest, but we couldn't stay there for ever or we would still be there now, with hypothermia to boot. So we found a quicker route and made our way back down to the visitor centre. Absolutely. Completely. Utterly. Drenched head, coat, very soggy trousers, into the socks and down into the boots.
What a tremendous success of a day! Can't say it made me terribly popular though...
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Tagged
Righto, I have been tagged by Mike Peatman. It is a blogging kind of chain letter. As such I have to tell you all 5 facts about me that you don't already know and then pass it on to 5 more bloggers. I shall admit at this end, as I do with all chain letters, that I will not be passing on this tag to anyone else, though purely because the only blogs that I read have already been tagged by Mike. Alas.
So for 5 facts. Hmm, never easy but I shall have a go.
Oh dear, I'm struggling at the first hurdle, I have been thinking intensely for the last 5 minutes and still haven't come up with 1 fact about myself...
1) I have learnt many musical instruments to a basic level and still can play none of them very well at all! I began by learning the recorder at primary school but stopped because I was moved down to the less able group after failing to improve as fast as the rest! I have played the recorder, violin, clarinet, keyboard and guitar.
2) My violin was actually taken off me! I started to learn the violin in year 5 at primary school and didn't enjoy it much, my mum told me I couldn't give up until the end of year 6, but at the Easter my teacher took it off me. It was a school violin and I never practiced it (it's not easy to practice when your brother steals your bow on a regular basis!), my teacher saw no reason in me continuing to have lessons, I think I was holding the group back too!
3) I got 99% at my keyboard exam! The first instrument I actually stuck at was the keyboard when I was in 6th form (it's easier to practice an instrument when you can put headphones in - there is less family complaint) and took my Grade 1 Primary exam in the summer before going to University. I gave up the keyboard when I went to University. At University I took up the guitar but gave that up after I returned in 4th year and was so busy with essays I never got back to the teacher to start up lessons again.
4) An uninstrumental fact - I used to take sugar in my tea until I went to University. My flat mates would never remember when they made me a brew so I learnt to drink it without.
5) When I was at primary school I wanted to be a missionary to China after reading The Small Woman, a biography of Gladys Aylward. I also remember being surprised when I discovered that not all Christians wanted to be missionaries! How cute!
So for 5 facts. Hmm, never easy but I shall have a go.
Oh dear, I'm struggling at the first hurdle, I have been thinking intensely for the last 5 minutes and still haven't come up with 1 fact about myself...
1) I have learnt many musical instruments to a basic level and still can play none of them very well at all! I began by learning the recorder at primary school but stopped because I was moved down to the less able group after failing to improve as fast as the rest! I have played the recorder, violin, clarinet, keyboard and guitar.
2) My violin was actually taken off me! I started to learn the violin in year 5 at primary school and didn't enjoy it much, my mum told me I couldn't give up until the end of year 6, but at the Easter my teacher took it off me. It was a school violin and I never practiced it (it's not easy to practice when your brother steals your bow on a regular basis!), my teacher saw no reason in me continuing to have lessons, I think I was holding the group back too!
3) I got 99% at my keyboard exam! The first instrument I actually stuck at was the keyboard when I was in 6th form (it's easier to practice an instrument when you can put headphones in - there is less family complaint) and took my Grade 1 Primary exam in the summer before going to University. I gave up the keyboard when I went to University. At University I took up the guitar but gave that up after I returned in 4th year and was so busy with essays I never got back to the teacher to start up lessons again.
4) An uninstrumental fact - I used to take sugar in my tea until I went to University. My flat mates would never remember when they made me a brew so I learnt to drink it without.
5) When I was at primary school I wanted to be a missionary to China after reading The Small Woman, a biography of Gladys Aylward. I also remember being surprised when I discovered that not all Christians wanted to be missionaries! How cute!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
RIP Spice Girl boots...
A very sad thing just happened, I had to throw my old denim platform boots away because they'd gone mouldy in my wardrobe. It was a very sad occasion. They served me well as Baby Spice at the Year 6 disco we put on for prospective year 7s during my last year at school. And they made me a good 6 inches taller.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
My last 4 love hearts
My sweet supply in my top draw has dwindled to the last 4 love hearts. This is very sad. When they have all gone (I shall try to eek them out for a day or two longer) I shall be sweetiless until Christmas. I don't buy my own sweets, I rely on presents to replenish my supply! The sweets I got as presents from my class in July lasted until October probably. These love hearts were in a goody bag I got at the youth conference at the beginning of September.
Oh no! Now I'm down to 3!
I think this post was going to include more than an audit of my sweet collection when I started but Jo distracted me on the phone and now I can't remember... heigh ho.
Oh no! Now I'm down to 3!
I think this post was going to include more than an audit of my sweet collection when I started but Jo distracted me on the phone and now I can't remember... heigh ho.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tidying and reminiscing
I have sorted out my book shelves today and taken many books to the charity shop. They have been annoying me for a while, well since I returned from Lancaster actually, so about 18 months! I had too many books for my shelves since combining many belongings from 4 years cumulation in Lancaster to what I had left behind (a room full) in St Annes. Books were piled on top of books on the shelves, which looks scrufy I think. So now my shelves look ordered, hooray! In the process I also came across a handful of photographs which hadn't been filed so I have been scanning them into my computer.
This is a classic. From sports day when I was in year 7 at the High School, it was taken by a photographer from the local paper and I featured on the back page along with a report about the day. Good picture (apart from the tongue hanging out of my mouth - not good to be displayed for all to see when you are only 11) but I did attrociously at the long jump and came 9th out of 10 in my year!
Another professional job. This is my sister, cousin and I. I am wearing the dress I wore for my baptism, I loved it!
I am considering a hair chop as well. Looking back at pictures of me when my hair looked neat make me think of chin level hair again. I shall contemplate.
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