Ducks!

Carrying on from the last blog, I have decided that the ducks in our village are in fact teenage ducks!

Identity Crisis

Outside our house is a lovely village pond. On the pond live a family of adorable ducks. Each day they play around the pond and the various puddles that they have created having so much fun.

That is until midnight arrives!

These ducks then come alive, waking everyone up with their loud quacking, underneath our window. They have this mad half hour. I think that they are confused as to what they are!

The other day I found them in the middle of the road playing chicken with the cars. Yet more evidence that they are unaware that they are really ducks.

If they don't start behaving soon, I may buy some orange sauce and crispy pancakes.

Top tip of the month

Always keep a cold can of pop in you fridge!

Last night I was cooking dinner and put the long handled pan in the oven. I brought the pan out after 30 mins and placed it on the top of the stove. While adding water I went to shake the pan using the handle but forgot to put the oven glove back on. ooops! or should I say owww.

I burnt all my fingers and tried running them under cold water for a while. I had to abandon that though because the pork was cooking too quickly and had to sort that out. Not being able to keep my hand under water and cook at the same time, I grabbed the coldest thing out of the fridge (All the ice was gone).

This can of coke cooled my hand down enabling me to continue to cook the dinner at the same time. I could invent something like an ice glove!

Wedding

I went to the most amazing wedding on Saturday. Phil (YFC Worker) married Dani (Youth Worker) in Birmingham. There must have been 400 guests there.

These two guys unashamedly put Jesus at the centre of their day and I am sure will place him as the centre of their marriage.

The message, the prayers, the worship, the groom's speech and even the best man's speech all centred around Jesus and what he had done to change the lives of both Dani and Phil, how he had given them hope and how he guides their lives.

I thought that it was beautifully done and anyone who went was touched by the sincerity and joy of the day.

I pray that God will have his hand on both of these guys.

Q's

I took my brother food shopping today and ended up in a queue of 16 trolleys waiting for the till. Every till was open. We joined the queue as trolley number 9.

2 minutes later, I turned around to see that a further 7 trolleys had joined the queue behind us.

What a nightmare Christmas shopping is!

study

Christmas is a time for family, relaxing and enjoying being with your children. Oh yes, of course, how could I forget, and studying the reformation!

So my essay question is 'Was the English Reformation in England a continuation of the European Reformation or was it of an entirely different order?

Comments please!

Shopping, shopping and more shopping!

Trying to shop and not spend too much money is an art form.

I discovered today that Next in the outlet centre Ashford has a big sale on.

I got lots of stuff for not very much!

Girls (and boys) a few of my bargains were:

A studded belt for £1
A shiny brown bag for £1
A leather belt for Den for £1
A dress for £5
A jacket for a wedding for £5
and a pair of shoes, also for the wedding, for £5

I went early at 10am and it was empty! No huge Christmas crowds, great.

If I hadn't already done most of my Christmas shopping, I would have got everyone something from Next for £1 and saved loads. Never mind.

Just feel it my duty to pass on possible bargain opportunities.

Cyber city

Why are my family all sat at their own computers? It's like cyber city here.

I think we need a good old game of monopoly to encourage interaction.

What a Bargain!

I don't know about you but I love a bargain.

Over the next three weeks I have to travel from deepest Kent to West Birmingham once each week. That means setting off about 5.30am in the morning and getting home about 8pm at night.

I think I am getting old as I just sigh at the thought of it these days.

I wondered how much it would be to get a room for the night before I had to be at HQ. I discovered an unbelievable room at Travelodge for £15 a night!!!

I think that you usually have to book between 7 and 21 days in advance but this is for tomorrow night, amazing.

It is a relief to know that I can split the journey and keep myself safe for a reasonable amount of money. I think my family will appreciate me arriving home safe.

Amazing young people

I have just returned from a weekend away with 9 young people and two other leaders.

I was training young leaders in youth and children's work, part of a new course that I have been involved in writing called Building Foundations - The Next Generation.

What an amazing time!

The young people that attended were brilliant and the churches that they belong to are so fortunate to have them.

It was quite humbling to be involved in training these young people who may one day leaders of our churches.

Land Rover

I had to use Den's car today, a Land Rover. Quite an experience!

When bus drivers see each other, they wave. It is the same with motorbikes, the riders nod their head to each other as they pass. Well it's the same with Land Rover drivers.

It's like a little club that you now belong to just because you are a Land Rover owner. It's fun!

Do you think those old people in those mad scooter things let on to each other as well?

Autumn Term

Autumn term always seems to be the busiest time of year for me. I don't seem to have stopped for a breath yet and it's nearly the middle of October already.

Coming us is Youthwork the conference, deadlines for writing and HOLIDAYS!

I think that I am in need of some time off work, I'm so glad I have some annual leave coming up.

Sometimes it feels like I'll just get the next thing out the way and then I will rest. Well this time I am going to rest and read and cycle and watch films. can't wait!

Coffee time

How much coffee can you take in one day?

I have been in London today for a number of meetings. My first started at 11am with a coffee and the last finished at 4.30pm with another coffee.

Various teas and coffee were consumed in between.

I think that I've had too much as I am now wide awake and hyper when I should be winding down and relaxing.

It can't be good for you, can it?

Day off?

Today is my day off due to working over the weekend.

I decided to make an effort on starting my essay for college. It is based on the Liturgical and charismatic Movement over the 50 years. Thrilling I hear you say!

Surprisingly, it is quiet interesting.

I have spent the whole day trying to write the 2,500 words required and managed to get 800.

At this rate I think it will take me another 11 days....or so.

Great People

Today I had a meeting with the KEYCOG group (Kent Ecumenical Youth and Children's Officers Group) were amongst other things we were planning a training day for Youth and Children's workers and volunteers. It was such a good day, relaxed and creative. I came away from the meeting really encouraged.

It is exciting to work alongside your peers with one goal in mind for the benefit of others.

If you are interested in training in Kent, look up
www.keycog.co.uk
More info will be put up about the training day called Toolbox soon.

Home all day

Today I don't need to go out to any meetings at all! I can spend the whole day in my office catching up with my paper work.

Sometimes being on the road all the time, going from one meeting to another can be really tiring, so when you get a day were you can just sit in your own company, it's kind of nice.

I think that everyone needs their own space from time to time.

Fort Rocky

I am just recovering from a weekend away at Carroty Wood were YFC held a weekend for 11 -14 year olds called FORT ROCKY.

I had the task of feeding the 60 people who were there.

My legs hurt, my head hurts, my arms hurt but I feel quietly peaceful. This is because the young people that went had the most amazing time from climbing to high ropes, abseiling to swimming. They also had the chance to dress up as spies (James Bond Style) but the best thing was that they got to hear about God.

Phil, Bethan and their team shared their story and it made an impact. The young people that were there asked questions and were able to discover more in an exciting environment.

These weekend are so much hard work but well worth it!

German Student

We have a lovely German Exchange Student living with us at the moment. Bastian is 13 years old and is the boy that Jake stayed with when he went over to Germany in March.

I don't know a word of German but thankfully Bastian speaks English very well.

I think it is such a shame that we don't put as much emphasis on learning another language in this country. Bastian started learning English at a young age and speaks it well. Jake however has decided not to take German as an option.

His teacher said that he has never known someone to go over to Germany and come back speaking less German than when they went!

That's my Jake!

Jessica is now studying German in year 7 so I see a future of German students, at least for the next two years.

Email shortage

I have been deprived of my emails for a week now and I'm not sure how I've survived! The server at head office decided to go on strike and after back up after back up system failed, it was decided to rebuild the thing.

I am not sure what this involves but it is obviously time consuming and a total headache for those fixing it.

The one in the picture is not the one at head office! Apparently it is Google's first server.

If you have tried to get in touch with me via email, I am sorry that it has not got through.

I can now get webmail on the same address so try re-sending your mail.

As for the news bulletin, I will send it out as soon as I am back on line fully!

Baptism

Jessie was Baptised today in Cranbrook School swimming pool. It was freezing! I know this because I got in the pool with her and Martin our Vicar.

She gave a talk with power point to the church to say why she wanted to get baptised and I had one of those proud parent moments, she did really great.

Your kids grow up far too quickly!