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!

Confirmation

On Wednesday, I will be going through Confirmation with Dennis, Jake and Jessica. It feels like a new beginning in a fresh chapter of my life and a progression in my walk with God. It has really made me think quite deeply over the last couple of months to what God would have me do with my future.

I wait for God to speak in anticipation and trepidation!

Grease Lightning

Jessica, now 11 has been chosen by her teacher to play the leading role in their leavers school play GREASE. Jessica is to be Sandy.

This has stirred up so many emotions. I'm bursting with a mother's pride for her daughter. I'm so overwhelmed at the fact that she had to audition singing 'Hopelessly Devoted' and got it! She is a little star.

It reminds me of my own claim to fame as Cinderella in my Primary school play. I remember the feeling of unbelief as everyone's name was read out except mine, then, after a short pause (which seemed like an eternity) the teacher said, and Cinderella is to be played by Sharron. I walked on a cloud for the next month or so as I learned the lines, rehearsed and then performed. It has obviously stayed with me as one of of the happiest times of my life.

I think that this is why I want Jessica to enjoy every moment of this opportunity because these are memories in the making, memories that will stay with her for the rest of her life. And just in case she does forget, I'll have the video camera ready (school allowing it of course) to record the memory in order to play it back to every boyfriend she dares to bring home!

I like having times where I just think about my memories.

People I miss

I have a great little family with my husband Dennis, Jake and Jessie. I have a really great BIG family also. I am one of nine children (I'm somewhere in the middle) and being down in Kent, away from most of my family, who are back in Liverpool, it can be really hard. I do have a sister in London though, who I am closest to. She has met a new guy who is lovely and really good for her. They are talking about moving down to Kent to be closer to us, which I think is wonderful!

To have family close by again would be fantastic as no one can replace them, can they? No one else can be relied upon in such a way that they need nothing in return, just to know that they have been there for you is enough for them.

I miss that.

Well, I hope that it does work out and she does move closer as now she has brought up the idea, I am getting my hopes up!

My Family

My Family are very precious to me and when one falls ill, we all suffer.
Unfortunately, Den seems the one to be ill the most due to an illness called Chrons disease.
It means that if he comes into contact with anyone who has a viral infection and catches it or if someone does not clean their hands thoroughly before preparing his food, he catches it! He does not have an immune system like you or me so his body cannot fight off infection.
Dennis was admitted to hospital very very early yesterday morning in serious pain. He has to have steroids and anti-biotics pumped into him to make him well again.
However hard it is to see him in pain, it is also hard to see my children in pain too. Jessie has had to cope with having her dad miss her birthday yesterday which was such a blow for an 11 year old and Jake sees that I struggle and wants to be the big man around the house at nearly 13. It is hard to have to be a grown up so quickly and the whole thing just causes so much stress.

I ask for your prayers for Dennis and the family because I believe God answers when we call out to him.

Survival

I have recently been on a 'Survival' residential and found it to be amazing! Myself and the others who work in the same department as me went on a retreat/residential to the deep wild countryside of Kent. We had to make our own shelters, find our own food (carefully placed by the Survival team - not fresh rabbit!) cook our food and try out some team building exercises. The best was making our own fishing rods and catching our own fish, unfortunately all the ones I caught were too small to cook but the experience was great.
I managed to locate the injured person on search and rescue, a claim to fame!
The team were all fantastic, it helped us to bond so much more, and there were no complaints at all. Even Rachael was able to put up with sharing her bivvy (shelter) with some beetles.
The scariest moment was when we were searching for our food and I found myself in the middle of a badger set. I was assured that they are nocturnal but got out of there as fast as I could ... just in case!

A brilliant time away with so much gained. I highly recommend the experience. www.wealdyfc.co.uk

A sleepy village

We had some friends around for a meal the other night. It was really lovely. We were telling them how lovely it was to live in a small village were not much happens. They commented on the picturesque location with the duck pond and the sleepy feel to it all when something weird happened!
The police, the armed plain clothes police, an ambulance and two fire engines roared down our avenue.
I can safely say it was an ironic situation and our village became a hive of activity. Neighbours who never normally venture out of their homes were on the street looking to see what was happening.
The whole thing only lasted 5 minutes but I don't think I have ever seen all the services turn up at a place at once like that. It was like a film scence...perhaps it was!
I still don't know what went on, it has been mentioned it may be a local who drinks a lot and gets quite lonely and telephones the police but I couldn't imagine what he said to get the armed police there.
I shall have to go around to the shop to find out what really went on
:[)

My amazing daughter

Enjoy her easter story.

Pharmacy capers

I have been feeling a little run down lately, (may have something to do with a sleepover we had!) and my eye has become sore and in need of some anti-biotic help. I had a chat with a GP friend at church who told me exactly what to ask for at the Pharmacy as it won't clear up without these 'special' drops.
So, I went to the Pharmacy today, cutting out a valuable doctors appointment that someone else can have, and asked for the eye drops.
They really don't like it when you know what you want.
I spoke to two people behind the counter who said they would have to get the Pharmacist. She came out and said at the top of her voice, Who's the lady with the sty on her eye? Well it's a bit more than that and it's a good job it wasn't something a bit more personal...
Well I just looked at her and said that would be me. She then proceeded to interrogate me. She told me I couldn't have it although it is a buy over the counter type medicine. I had to argue and tell her that I would rather take the GP's advice over hers and she finally gave in and allowed the item to be sold to me.
As I was entering my pin number in to pay for my purchases, the other pharmacist came out asking where is the lady with the bad eye? I kept my head down, took my eye drops and made a run for it. What a palaver!
All I want is to get well not be stressed out!

No sleep for me

Saturday night saw the start of an annual sleepover that I run. 43 young people from Rock Solid, Mettle and Summer Camp arrived, all hyper and ready to keep me awake! It was an excellent weekend even though all quiet wasn't met until 4.15am! Then they decided to wake up at 7am!!
The really noisy ones were the 14 - 16 year old GIRLS of course. I think that I shall only do this once a year as I am getting too old for this now and my back is now hurting after missing my bed :(
We looked at Stop the Traffik and had the theme amazing grace over the weekend. We took part of the Sunday morning church service with a drama, prayers and a testimony. I think it all went down well with the congregation.
Although I moan about it, I really do love providing these things for the young people.

An early start

I got up this morning at 4.45am to travel to head office at Halesowen, Birmingham for a Personal Support day. Personal Support is the way that my salary is paid in Youth for Christ. I have to raise 50% of my salary and salary costs and head office is committed to raising the other 50%. The way that I raise my 50% is to ask individuals, churches and organisations to give a gift each month through standing order.
I have a loyal group giving anything from £5 to £70 a month to Youth for Christ and think that they are WONDERFUL. Without them this ministry would cease!
So today, I am writing to thank them all for their commitment, and seeking new people to give.
I have to raise a further £90 a month so I am praying that this will be acheived through my efforts today.
For those who are interested, I should be home by 9pm tonight if the traffic is good. Long day.

Losing something special

Go now if your easily upset!

I had serious pains one month (at that time of month! sorry guys) and had decided to call nhs direct. After taking advice to get a pregnancy kit, I found out that I was indeed pregnant. Well a joyous husband was a concern as I new I had been bleeding for 11 days on and off. I called the doctors surgery who wanted me to go around straight away.
Mixed emotions followed as I tried to get my head around all the possibilities. I sat in the doctors waiting room hoping that everything would be ok. As a mum of two already, I know what a blessing a child is and wanted this so much despite not planning this one.
While I sat in the waiting room, the pain increased, I doubled over and lost my baby in the waiting room in front of the other patients. All within one hour.
I did not want to move as the doctor and receptionist tried to help me through to the back as I knew what I was leaving behind on the chair for all to see.
I think that it has to go down in the worst experience I have had in such a short space of time.
I was three months gone and in a not so pretty way. I took it really bad.
I think that people don't understand that a grieving period must follow the loss of an unborn baby, just because you haven't met the child, doesn't make it more bearable.
We called the baby Josie and still miss what she could be like now. I look forward to meeting her.

If you know someone who has had this loss, please do not say the following. 'Well at least you didn't know the baby' 'You can always try again or have another one' 'At least you have two other children' Instead try saying that you don't understand but they must be hurting so I'll cook for you, bring it to your home and look after your family while you grieve. Thank you so much Nick and Diana for doing just that. x

What's a blog for

Last night I lay in bed and thought about my husbands blog page. He seems to get so much out of blogging (Is that the real term?) that I thought about how can I use my blog to more effect.

I then went through some of the things that have happened in my life over the years and how sometimes you need to get them off your chest. Maybe this is how? People don't always want to listen to your story when you try and tell it, they talk over you, don't hear what you are saying, change the subject... but I suppose I can tell my story here and if you want to read it great, and if not, I won't know about it so it won't hurt!

I think people need to tell their story sometimes as it is all part of understanding the way things are and getting it off your chest, healing etc. And in this busy life that I find myself in, I think this could be a good way of... well, just letting it all go.

So, I have decided that I will give it a try.

Sorry if things get heavy from here in, but you can always avoid this blog if you need to. Thanks for the push Warren.