It's been an incredible time. We've had worldwide concern for our welfare, seen the worst and best of humanity, and enjoyed ourselves immensely with some of the best friends we could wish for.
Two weeks ago I began the week expecting a normal-ish week and then the riots happened. Birmingham city centre became a scary place for a few days and I'm very grateful that for two days I was allowed to work from home. But apart from feeling a little exposed and vulnerable and there being a weird a sense of aggression and the occasional riot van I didn't witness anything except the fear of the unknown. Work allowed me to stay and work at home and so I actually really only heard the reports and watched the news with increasing alarm, thinking of my friends at work in the city centre. The weirdest thing was being there in the morning. The shop where I buy my breakfast sometimes was full of business owners also there to pick up food whose shops had been attacked. They were normal people, just having a really rubbish week and I felt so sorry for them. The sandwich shop where I buy my lunch was all boarded up after being looted; another independent retailer. My friend who lived in the city centre had been forced to walk home from work along Broad St and through a massive gang of lads ripping into every shop they could get their hands on. It was the proximity of it all and the feeling of being 8 months pregnant and very exposed. The weirdest thing actually was on a lunch break or when being evacuated we saw these 'youths' and you would normally have just walked past them unthinking, but there they were grinning and laughing about yesterday's axploits, bold as brass. I was furious with them for holding a whole city to ransom. A city, by the way, already struggling with enough financial problems. Talk about kicking a chap when he's already down.
But the week drew to a close. On the Friday I received messages of support from colleagues in London and India, and all the family in Spain had sent texts, even Laura holidaying in Boston with Luis and Eric had seen something was afoot. And how can you feel too upset with so many people caring about you?
That said on the Thursday night me and Alex were eating our dinner when the next door neighbour's house was broken into and riot vans and policemen turned up. I go for months without seeing policemen and in Birmingham I can honestly say I've always felt very safe. To suddenly discover your neighbour's house has been attacked while you're innocently tucking into your shepherd's pie is bizarre and not a little unsettling. I felt just as sorry for the neighbours (who were in at the time and ran for their lives out the back door) as I did for the policeman who came and sat on our sofa and looked half dead with tiredness. The poor guy had workd 60 out of the last 70 odd hours and was on his last legs. He was awfully nice. Yet another victim of the looters. I had a nightmare that night about our house being attacked and Alex ending up dead, but otherwise have remained relatively sensible (if at times slightly highly strung).
That sunday I went to church with Emma. The sermons are always highly relevant to topical concerns at St Nicolas and Rev John talked about the looters' need for respect and forgiveness and forced me to take a good look at my own reactions. Had my anger (justifiable or not) been a Christian reaction? Probably not. No, I'd say not. Last night, 2 weeks after the service I said to Emma it was my turn to write the prayers and did she have anything she thought I should say and she said "Ask him to help the rioters never happen again and for us all to love each other". So in and amongst the sadness and confusion there is at least one 6 year old who's learned something valuable. Bless her.
After the riots came the fun...
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
February 2011
It's been another busy month so here's a snap shot.
At church I signed up last year to do the intercessionary prayers. This is the section of the service that is almost meditational, and it's quite a big deal. You write the prayers and then you present them by standing at the front and meditating out loud, leading the congregation. These are usually in several sections - praying for our neighbourhood, our country our world, or thereabouts - but the emphases are up to you entirely. I've been praying in my head since I could think, I think. At church I've stood up to do the readings since I was about 13/14 - I remember practicing the pronounciation of long words and the pacing of the thing with dad when I was still a kid. How hard could this new responsibility be? But then the reality of leading between 50 and 200 people's private, most innermost and deepest thoughts started to sink in. Writing one of these Intercessions is a big deal. Well I've done two now, the most recent in February, and I'm just glad I don't have to do it weekly. But all the same it is a rare thing, and one that gives me some satisfaction. I've had some good feedback, and as I tend to be quite heartfelt they usually see that, at least, I'm in earnest. This was my most recent attempt:
Me Lisa and Danielle went to see Russell Howard on tour at the NEC, and despite almost never having seen him on telly and not knowing what to expect, he was really good! We had a great night out anyway. Me and Danielle met in Birmingham at Chez Jules, a gorgeous little french bistro that is around the corner from Cafe Rouge. It's cheaper and nicer I think, and more genuine. The idiosyncratic chaotic organisation of the place just lends to the French bistro feel, the waiters are all french, or nearly, and it's just lovely. Anyway we had a good meal and then headed out to the NEC to meet Lisa, who finished work later than Danielle. I hadn't been at what is now called the 02 Arena since Smash Hits Poll Winners Part in 1993, when I went with mum who sa through the whole thing with her fingers in her ears! To be fair, I don't blame her, some of it was fairly appalling - 2 Unlimited I'm thinking of you. Before that, when we were about 9, me and Lisa had been in the same stadium to see Kylie Monogue on her Locomotion tour!!! And now something like 22 years later we were back there together to see a comedy show! One guy and a comfy chair (a lazy boy recliner, like in Friends) didn't fill the stage quite like Kylie and her band had, but once I got used to the venue and Russel Howard's quirky style I couldn't stop laughing! Must get hold of Danielle's photos from the night.
The next day I went out on Vicky's hen do which was quite a hoot! We met up at Red Pepper in the Mailbox and then hit a few bars. Collette set us all off on a mission to write dares for Vicky to complete and pretty soon she was asking blokes in the bar to wear her veil or buy her a drink; all very innocent but a real giggle. Feeling tired I headed home at about midnight and they were in full swing. The week after Alex, Nathan and Leon all headed off to Pete's stag do; clay pidgeon shooting followed by drinks in Moseley. Al came home in good spirits, competitive spirit satisfied and once more I mused on how creative the boys have all been when it came to their stag do's. They's had such a variety of activities I've always been a tad jealous at not being an honorary boy!
At church I signed up last year to do the intercessionary prayers. This is the section of the service that is almost meditational, and it's quite a big deal. You write the prayers and then you present them by standing at the front and meditating out loud, leading the congregation. These are usually in several sections - praying for our neighbourhood, our country our world, or thereabouts - but the emphases are up to you entirely. I've been praying in my head since I could think, I think. At church I've stood up to do the readings since I was about 13/14 - I remember practicing the pronounciation of long words and the pacing of the thing with dad when I was still a kid. How hard could this new responsibility be? But then the reality of leading between 50 and 200 people's private, most innermost and deepest thoughts started to sink in. Writing one of these Intercessions is a big deal. Well I've done two now, the most recent in February, and I'm just glad I don't have to do it weekly. But all the same it is a rare thing, and one that gives me some satisfaction. I've had some good feedback, and as I tend to be quite heartfelt they usually see that, at least, I'm in earnest. This was my most recent attempt:
Intercession Prayers
Help us to follow our consciences honestly, and stay close to You in thought and word and deed; not to judge ourselves too harshly and to seek inner peace day by day in this busy world.
Help us to be nurturing, loving missionaries of your truth, Lord. Help us to forgive ourselves and others, letting go of guilt and ridding ourselves of any obstacles to a healthy relationship with You.
In Your mercy... Hear our prayer
This Valentines day and every day help us to build loving relationships with each other; with members of the church congregation, with family and friends. Help us not to succomb to celebrating the superficialities of modern life but to develop meaningful relationships with each other, celebrating the example you set for us. Help us to do this daily in remembrance of You.
In Your mercy... Hear our prayer
Lord God, help us to be mindful of our motivations and integrate our celebration of You into our daily lives and not push you into the corner. We pray that with Your guidance we accept the joy of knowing You; help us to avoid lapses into self doubt or arrogance, and the pitfalls of imposing our particular belief systems onto others. Help us to truly love our neighbour and accept them, not to find them threatening but have the faith that You will guide each of us on our own journey.
Help us to avoid arrogance and self-congratulartion but to seek out humility. Not to be self-congratulatory
In Your mercy... Hear our prayer
Lord, we place our friends and family into Your care for safe-keeping. Guard their hearts, bodies and minds from pain and injury and guide them in their life's journey. Help us to let go of personal sadness and place into your hands that which we cannot control. We commemorate those known particularly to us who are in discomfort or pain, facing financial or emotional problems. We particularly remember...
In Your mercy… Hear our prayer
Finally...
God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can, And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; Taking,
as Jesus did, this sinful world As it is, not as we would have it; Trusting that You will make all things right If we surrender to Your Will; So that we may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen
A few weeks ago Al brought home his newest toy, a very nice silver Ford Mondeo! It's gorgeous to drive and as it's diesel it'll hopefully be more economical to drive... we hope! I drove it to Worcester to see my old workmate from Leukaemia CARE, Kirsty. It was great to see her and her little girl. We hadn't seen each other since her last day at the charity before she went on maternity and now she's got a toddler plus another one on the way! Shocking how time goes by...
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| Kate and Vicky the bride to be |
Friday, December 10, 2010
And suddenly it was advent! ¡Y de repente era Adviento!
Me and Alex have been very cosy this winter. Alex has been making some delicious treats, experimenting with pastry to makedelicious apple turnovers and a caramelised banana tart... yummy. All I've wanted the last month and a half is to seek out heat. Eat yummy food and hibernate.
We've also had some fun nights out recently. It was Laura's 30th in November and we went to La Banca in Cotteridge for a delicious Italian meal. We also met up with Pete, Vicky Steve and Leon and Teresa for a night out in honour of it being Leon's birthday, a reunion and also Pete and Vicky's engagement.
I was sat in St Nicolas a few Sundays ago and suddenly it was the first weekend in Advent. The Jesse tree was up, the first advent candle was being lit and we were singing our first carol; 'Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel'. Suddenly there was something to get excited about. The last few months have been hard; the wintry nights have drawn in, the wait for the bus has got colder and my bus partner Marilyn has been put on a new rota so we no longer get to chat to pass along the time. Then suddenly the German Christmas market made its annual appearance and the lights went up and the city centre became a twinkly forest of Christmas goodies. I felt very upbeat.
That sunday, after a very lovely service, Rob the vicar announced that during the Restoration they had found the body of a small baby buried just outside the church boundary. The small child had died in the 1500's, and no doubt had been buried in secret by a distraught mother, perhaps this anonymous buriel was the closest she could get her child to salvation. After the service Rob said that he was going to give the baby a buriel and that anyone who wanted to attend would be very welcome. In the end the majority of the congregation piled out into the wintery cemetary to commemorate this sad event. It was amazing to be a part of that community. Kings Norton was a village 500 years ago and it still is in many ways. For the sake of a mother who lived centuries before any of us were born; for the love of her child we buried that baby, and felt the bonds of our own family ties all the more strongly. And that's Christmas isn't it? For the love of a small child men crossed a continent on camels looking for a miracle; Parents risked their lives and a King fled his own nightmares. God knows the trials that mother endured back in 1500. But ever since her and for many more centuries men and women will visit this church and bring their own pain and tragedy with them in the hope that they'll find some sort of peace. I love Christmas, but not just for the sparkly decorations and the presents, but because it honestly does remind me of how loved and lucky I've been. I was glad to be able to do that small thing for that mother; I hope she knows she's not been forgotten.
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| turnovers |
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| Laura's bday celebs |
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| Pete and Vicky looking glam |
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| Al and Steve |
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| Leon and Teresa |
That sunday, after a very lovely service, Rob the vicar announced that during the Restoration they had found the body of a small baby buried just outside the church boundary. The small child had died in the 1500's, and no doubt had been buried in secret by a distraught mother, perhaps this anonymous buriel was the closest she could get her child to salvation. After the service Rob said that he was going to give the baby a buriel and that anyone who wanted to attend would be very welcome. In the end the majority of the congregation piled out into the wintery cemetary to commemorate this sad event. It was amazing to be a part of that community. Kings Norton was a village 500 years ago and it still is in many ways. For the sake of a mother who lived centuries before any of us were born; for the love of her child we buried that baby, and felt the bonds of our own family ties all the more strongly. And that's Christmas isn't it? For the love of a small child men crossed a continent on camels looking for a miracle; Parents risked their lives and a King fled his own nightmares. God knows the trials that mother endured back in 1500. But ever since her and for many more centuries men and women will visit this church and bring their own pain and tragedy with them in the hope that they'll find some sort of peace. I love Christmas, but not just for the sparkly decorations and the presents, but because it honestly does remind me of how loved and lucky I've been. I was glad to be able to do that small thing for that mother; I hope she knows she's not been forgotten.
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| The congregation gather |
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Valentine's day
On Friday I was on an early shift and Alex went to the pub with his mates from football so I didn't hurry home. I went round a few shops intending to try and spend a Christmas voucher or two and failing. I headed into the bullring where I heard thousands of screams. Intrigued I walked onto the set of 'How to look good naked'
There was Gok Wang strutting his stuff and thousands of Brummies on three floors of the bullring getting carried away by it all! And I mean thousands... Or maybe hundreds making the noise of thousands; you judge!
So anyway I found myself quite in a motivated and chirpy mood on Friday night. The swim that lunchtime meant I felt perky and Al had been at home on his day off while I'd been at work so I didn't have to feel guilty about leaving the cat alone and in the dark... aw!
A few phone calls later I found myself on the train heading to Coventry and minutes later I was sat with Lisa and Danielle munching fajitas in Old Orleans. We were off to see ultimate chick flick Valentine's Day.
It was scrummy. Soo romantic and soppy and indulgent; like a big fat wedge of chocolate fudge cake for the senses (other than taste, and smell obviously)
When rage compels one character to bludgeon the big Valentine's heart into a pulp - I think most women have experienced a moment in the single life that they can relate to that moment - what fun!
And Julia Roberts... I'll say this: class, but not what you'd expect
So ok it might be drivel, but it was good nonetheless :)
But Valentine's day for real is not like in the films, is it? With both our 30th birthdays, the wedding anniversary and my mum's significant birthday looming (not to mention pancake day, woo hoo) we could have been forgiven for forgetting all about St Valentine's day. Well, ok, as I expected we sort of did... While my parents hunted high and low for the cards they had hidden for each other and then took a stroll in the park together me and my beloved went to church and football separately.
That said, on the Saturday night we spent a lovely evening in together. Alex cooked us a steak, we had a couple of glasses of pretty decent red wine, stuck on some classical music and lit a candle. We even indulged in pudding. For a few hours life slowed down.
In the morning life was pretty hectic as a normal Sunday is for us... but when he came back from football (covered in mud and with a new sporting injury) he presented me with a bunch of flowers in exchange for the card I'd given him. He was particularly with the goal he'd scored and I'd enjoyed church and seeing Pauline as it was Parade service. And at the end of the day, life isn't just about the romance of one day; it's about the cuddles every day and the fact that even when we irritate each other there's always a laugh to be had. I'm not Ms Roberts and he's not Ashton Kutcher, but in our way we celebrated Valentine's day and it was lovely!
There was Gok Wang strutting his stuff and thousands of Brummies on three floors of the bullring getting carried away by it all! And I mean thousands... Or maybe hundreds making the noise of thousands; you judge!
So anyway I found myself quite in a motivated and chirpy mood on Friday night. The swim that lunchtime meant I felt perky and Al had been at home on his day off while I'd been at work so I didn't have to feel guilty about leaving the cat alone and in the dark... aw!
It was scrummy. Soo romantic and soppy and indulgent; like a big fat wedge of chocolate fudge cake for the senses (other than taste, and smell obviously)
When rage compels one character to bludgeon the big Valentine's heart into a pulp - I think most women have experienced a moment in the single life that they can relate to that moment - what fun!
And Julia Roberts... I'll say this: class, but not what you'd expect
So ok it might be drivel, but it was good nonetheless :)
But Valentine's day for real is not like in the films, is it? With both our 30th birthdays, the wedding anniversary and my mum's significant birthday looming (not to mention pancake day, woo hoo) we could have been forgiven for forgetting all about St Valentine's day. Well, ok, as I expected we sort of did... While my parents hunted high and low for the cards they had hidden for each other and then took a stroll in the park together me and my beloved went to church and football separately.
That said, on the Saturday night we spent a lovely evening in together. Alex cooked us a steak, we had a couple of glasses of pretty decent red wine, stuck on some classical music and lit a candle. We even indulged in pudding. For a few hours life slowed down.
In the morning life was pretty hectic as a normal Sunday is for us... but when he came back from football (covered in mud and with a new sporting injury) he presented me with a bunch of flowers in exchange for the card I'd given him. He was particularly with the goal he'd scored and I'd enjoyed church and seeing Pauline as it was Parade service. And at the end of the day, life isn't just about the romance of one day; it's about the cuddles every day and the fact that even when we irritate each other there's always a laugh to be had. I'm not Ms Roberts and he's not Ashton Kutcher, but in our way we celebrated Valentine's day and it was lovely!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday Addendum
Been to church this morning.
I should explain that when I left Leukaemia CARE Alex bought my car by paying off the remaining finance, relieving me of the monthly expenditure and in exchange he also gave me his knackered old fiat Punto. On Christmas eve the fiat gave its last gasp and came to a shuddering halt as I drove home from visiting Hannah in Wolverhampton. The Fiat (an acronym for Fix It Again Tomorrow according to Dave, the mechanic on our road who has already made a pretty penny out of it fixing it several times) was got shot of last weekend for a grand sum of £160; the Mighty Dave taking it off our hands for whatever market value we could get from the scrap dealers. So, ever since Xmas I've done a great deal more walking, tying neatly into the grand-lose-weight-master-plan.
So today as I walked to church I called mum for a short, a mere 20 minute, conversation. We talked about her friend Gisela in Wuppertal who is recovering from a hip operation and about Nan who actually outlived the batteries in her pace-maker and had to have new ones fitted a coouple of weeks ago. I hope she had duracell fitted because she's still firing on all cylinders, god love her. Then the service was one of those where everything seemed to tie into the same theme. At the start Rob welcomed a family who had brought their sickly baby with them. Only a few months old and waiting for a big operation but cheerful and bright-eyed as you like. During communion Rob left the front to give her a special blessing, cradled in her mum's arms at the back of the church and displayed the courageous and simple generosity I think all the church members love him for. Then the reading. It was 1 Corinthians 12:
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Then at the end of the service Rob announced that half way through a lady called Sheila had been taken ill, looked after by the sidespeople and sent off to hospital without any fuss. So just out of instinct he changed the end of the service to say a little prayer of support and thanks for the lovely Sheila which I'm sure she'd appreciate.
26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
As I walked home I walked past 12 people including two police officers and a cyclist. I didn't look at my feet cause usually I try to look people in the eye and give them recognition instead of walking towards and past them as strangers. Today, unusually old and young looked back. No one avoided looking over, and I even got four smiles from complete strangers who for that fraction of a second were not strangers any more.
Last night We watched a Kevin McCloud programme called Slumming It about the slums of Mumbai and about how those people have a community spirit that most westerners would kill for. Today, for an hour and twenty minutes the world seemed very friendly; all one body as it were.
I love Sundays.
I should explain that when I left Leukaemia CARE Alex bought my car by paying off the remaining finance, relieving me of the monthly expenditure and in exchange he also gave me his knackered old fiat Punto. On Christmas eve the fiat gave its last gasp and came to a shuddering halt as I drove home from visiting Hannah in Wolverhampton. The Fiat (an acronym for Fix It Again Tomorrow according to Dave, the mechanic on our road who has already made a pretty penny out of it fixing it several times) was got shot of last weekend for a grand sum of £160; the Mighty Dave taking it off our hands for whatever market value we could get from the scrap dealers. So, ever since Xmas I've done a great deal more walking, tying neatly into the grand-lose-weight-master-plan.
So today as I walked to church I called mum for a short, a mere 20 minute, conversation. We talked about her friend Gisela in Wuppertal who is recovering from a hip operation and about Nan who actually outlived the batteries in her pace-maker and had to have new ones fitted a coouple of weeks ago. I hope she had duracell fitted because she's still firing on all cylinders, god love her. Then the service was one of those where everything seemed to tie into the same theme. At the start Rob welcomed a family who had brought their sickly baby with them. Only a few months old and waiting for a big operation but cheerful and bright-eyed as you like. During communion Rob left the front to give her a special blessing, cradled in her mum's arms at the back of the church and displayed the courageous and simple generosity I think all the church members love him for. Then the reading. It was 1 Corinthians 12:
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Then at the end of the service Rob announced that half way through a lady called Sheila had been taken ill, looked after by the sidespeople and sent off to hospital without any fuss. So just out of instinct he changed the end of the service to say a little prayer of support and thanks for the lovely Sheila which I'm sure she'd appreciate.
26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
As I walked home I walked past 12 people including two police officers and a cyclist. I didn't look at my feet cause usually I try to look people in the eye and give them recognition instead of walking towards and past them as strangers. Today, unusually old and young looked back. No one avoided looking over, and I even got four smiles from complete strangers who for that fraction of a second were not strangers any more.
Last night We watched a Kevin McCloud programme called Slumming It about the slums of Mumbai and about how those people have a community spirit that most westerners would kill for. Today, for an hour and twenty minutes the world seemed very friendly; all one body as it were.
I love Sundays.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Three weeks in
I have just finished a three week contract at BIAD; Birmingham Institute of Art and Design at Birmingham City University. I left with a box of chocolates, a thank you card, a warm glow and a boost of confidence. In that time I've had 2 interviews and I'm waiting for the result of the last one. It's weird how much you can love being a happy little administrator with no money and no responsibility. It was a lovely crowd in the faculty office and I'll miss them lots. We had a busy enrolment period and an open day and I met loads of people, made friends and generally felt at home but all good things must come to an end.
The interview was for a marketing role for a company that is actually part of the Home Office, and I'm due to hear the result of that this wee. Tomorrow I find myself going to an Assessment Centre for a potential job in a huge financial services company and Thursday I have an interview for a PA job at a large Union. I've also been long-listed for a marketing job in a university and have to put together a project for submission by Tuesday. Meanwhile I'm being put forward for about 6 other jobs, to be honest I'm just keeping an open mind and trying not to lose track! The list I made two weeks ago is now hopelessly out of date! They weren't kidding when they said looking for a job is a full time job in itself. In between taking calls today I have finally painted our bedroom meaning at last at the weekend we're hoping to choose some carpet and put the blasted rewiring we had done behind us; it's nearly a year ago so it's about time. I have also painted the fireplace, cleaned the windows, cooked loads and made homemade rice pudding, yum. I've not wanted to keep still really, and not having to be at work has been ace in terms of allowing me to crack on with a few chores. Still it's only been 2 working days since I finished work and I'm a-hankering for a new challenge (not to mention some money) so hopefully the next one isn't far away.
Yesterday was fun... I went to the butchers 2 Saturdays ago and was waiting to order some meat when I overheard the butcher chatting to a girl of about my age. I heard her saying she'd studied Hispanic Studies. Well it had been forever since I'd heard someone say that, so I introduced myself. We met yesterday and it was so cool. I've not had anyone to practice with and we met for coffee in Kings Heath, at this really cool little cafe, the Kitchen Garden Cafe. It's such a gorgeous spot, you feel like you're in the countryside, not in the middle of Kings Heath and there's a really funky feel to it, kind of hippy, bohemian but cute at the same time. Food's nice too. Elena's half Spanish like me and half Greek too, and doing a Phd and learning japanese. We had tea, I scoffed a bagel, and talked for 2 hours until I realised that if I didn't hurry I'd get a parking fine. As I ran back to the car the fluorescent parking demons were hovering around my car but I think I got there in the nick of time. Phew. Then I can home (painted the fireplace), and headed off to Jean and Mike's. They live down the road from me and I see them in church most weeks. They have two little boys Samuel and Daniel (good old testament names). Samuel is 2ish and Daniel is about 6 months. They are both cute as buttons. Samuel reminds me of Jack from 2 years ago. Jean fed me tea and cake and then Samuel climbed all over me and measured me, giggled and generally messed around in that adorable, trusting, boyish way of his.
I walked home feeling very spoilt!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Pues claro
I've been a bit quiet the last few weeks (nothing unnusual) because I didn't want to broadcast the fact that we were out of the country. But anyway we are back from holiday now and I can tell you all about it...
We flew on bmi baby from Birmingham to Barcelona, I must have done that flight 100's of times now, and it was a perferct flight and landing so no probs there. We had a nice full day before flying, I went to church and Al cooked lunch before going as it was a late flight. Arrived on sunday 16th at 8ish and got the train to Barna Sants and the usual train to Cubelles. My darling tiets had waited for us at the flat, and it was about midnight bless them, to welcome us and get things ready. Tieta had even prepared truita de patates or potato omellete so we could have a nibble once we were settled. The night was hot and they both said the weather had been boiling this summer so we were excited. Now I'm back we are both enjoying the cool again but when we arrived there we were desperate for HEAT!
We were able to catch up with els tiets before they set off again in the car for Igualada, and we knew we would see them in a few days for the big family gathering too. Then once we'd unpacked we sat on the balcony to enjoy the cool (in inverted commas), enjoy the beer and supper together. Loving the holiday!
That first week was blissful, honest to god getting in the mediterranean for the first time in 2 years was bloody beautiful. I honestly don't think I'd be at all bearable without my top up of the med every so often! Lol... Pictures below are of us on the beach in Cubelles, one of the few we haven't deemed as either of us being too fat, double chin or white to be published! And of one night in Vilanove. The one of me is at our favourite bar their called del mar, very creative I know, but there's a really relaxed feel and a nice view.
It was so weird in Cubelles. Not that it's turned into Benidorm over night but I heard french german, italian possibly dutch and english as well as spanish and the obligatory catalan. In fact catalan was in the minority. I get a bit scared and bored alex rigid going on about it... Ayuntamiento de Cubelles, si leas este blog, por el amor de dios, cuida de tu pueblo que lo quiero mucho y no lo dejes que los ingleses vienen demasiado! El encanto de Cubelles, the delight of a holiday in a place like Cubelles is that the menu's aren't translated, the food is caught and made fresh, the bar owners are friendly, everything is in walking distance, the things you leave on the beach are not going to get robbed, your children are safe, the beach is clean... in summary people travel 1000's of miles nowadays for that kind of experience to, I don't know, Alaska... I always hoped Cubelles would remain a secret. Boring it may be but for me and Alex it's our kind of holiday!
On the friday my cousing Edu and his girlfriend Neus came in the car to pick us up - Neus drove actually. At the same time the tiets were off to Lleida to collect Laura and Luis. So after a tour of Edu and Neus' apartment and a mini beer moment we were all back at the tiet's, all of us, Edu and Neus, me and Al, Laura and Luis; the three cousins and partners together in Igualada for the first time. For that whole weekend tieta was mother hen and happy as larry. The pictures below are snippets of our very happy family gathering. The festa major allowed Al to see Igualada at its best. We took a walk down the Rambla for a drink with Laura and Luis; down C/ San Agustin some games had been organised for the children and the Rambla had been pedestrianised so we weren't drowned out by the scooters. Later on after L and L (sorry it's quicker than writing Laura and Luis each time) had gone to meet an old friend of Laura's we had a look around the shops and the Rambla filled up with a street party. A long line of tressle tables were arranged down the mmiddle of the road and hundreds of families broaght food; impromtu bbq's and grills were set up, hot plates and even open spit roasts were going on. The smells of cooking snails, pork, paella and everything else you can imagine filled the air as well as a sense of excitement. We were loving it, just walking through it... Then we went back to the flat where the first of 2 family meals were to take place. Neus' parents, Edy and Neus, L and L, me and Alex and the tiets all gathered in the flat downstairs to eat in iaia's old living room (something I can't remember happening since I was about 7 and the golden wedding). The big old table was laid out in the midst of an otherwise almost bare room (the flat is undergoing extensive redevelopment) and the lunch was delicious. It had been 6 years since I'd been in Igualada (pretty shocking, what with visiting Cubelles other years it hadn't felt that long) and I'd worried about Al but he really seemed to enjoy it. Food is never a problem, he can eat pretty much anything, but it's pretty scary not knowing what anyone is saying to you, even so Al has picked up quite a few words and even managed to complement tieta on the food and say hello, goodbye, encantado, please, thankyou, yes, no and those sorts of things. I was dead proud of him.
Below are the photos of our gathering at tieta Natalia's house, that's tieta's sister, where we caught up for the first time in ages with David and his little boys Oriol and Arnau. Arnau isn't pictured cause he was in his baby bouncer-sleep-thingy. The next picture is of me and Rosa Munconill. That was a surprise! I had been planning to call Rosa on the sunday as I'd heard she had wanted to catch up but it was the saturday night when me and Al were out for the festa waiting to meet Edu and the gang. We were looking for something to eat (again - that's basically all we did that holiday!) when I did a double take at this blonde lady. "That's Rosa!" one of mum's best friends. We had a lovely chat, far better than by phone and Toni even managed to get us a table and we eat like kings listening to the live bands in Cal Font (they were pretty good, too). I was so happy! Al had seen how genuinely kind and lovely everyone we met in Igualada was and felt part of the family, there was a fresh evening air, everything was perfect! Then we found out that Rosa and Toni had already paid for our food. The waiter was such a dude! He said he'd been sworn to secrecy and as they'd already left to walk home we couldn't even thank them. Loved up doesn't describe it! I'll always treasure the memory of that night...
Later on at 2am I called Edu to find out if there was any danger of them making it away from their house party to the street party and though Edu promised they'd leave any minute we decided to call it a night. Apparently the boys didn't get away til 3am so even though wwe missed them it was probably the right decision. Still, it feels weird to have been at a festa major and not danced...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sunday
It's a sunday and Al has gone to Nathan and Laura's to watch Aston Villa vrs Chelsea, so I've got a bit of peace and quiet.
Yesterday was Valentine's day. Sarah and John and Hannah and Rick as well as Phil and Ruth all came to ours to have food and a bit of a drink and we had a great night. Me Han and Sarah lived at Griffin in the 1st year, above Al and the rest of the boys, and in the block alongside us was Phil who even then was with Ruth - they're married with a baby and Ruth did our wedding photos, bloody good job Ruth, best wedding photographer ever! Since then we've all been friends. Sarah and John get hitched in May but we're not smug married's, we're just a bunch of friends of didn't feel bothered enough about Valentine's day to get all smoochy unnecessarily. Who said romance is dead?!
I cooked the puddings. I spent 4 hours making chocolate fudge, chocolate covered cherries infused with brandy and choc chip scones and Al made 2 types of lasagne... Mmm yummy! The guests arrived hungry as we'd instructed and it was a fun night, we had a real giggle and a catch up which is my favourite kind of night. Then as we're all boring and grown ups the Han/Sarah partnerships got back off to Wolverhampton in the car and Phil and Ruth headed back home to baby George, Ruth was driving too, so we even got to bed at a fairly un-scandalous time of 12.30 - so why do I still feel tired???
I suppose the main answer is Leukaemia CARE. Busy busy busy. Can't think. mind fogs up when I try and think ahead. All I can see it the A4 page that is my to do list plus the 300 emails and the database generated list to things to action by the end of this month. It's difficult not to get a bit defeatist. But every time I think it's not possible to do more something happens and we find a way; every task compleated is a small victory - even if usually it's replaced by 3 more.
The snow of course did its damndest to get in the way. I had to work from home twice because Birmingham roads were so slippery and snowy that I couldn't get onto the motorway to get to work. Still it was very pretty and was a good excuse to stay out of the way of the gym, something which I don't seem to need much help with recently, actually.
The play is going well. Went with Graham to the council on tuesday to go through ideas around publicity. Not going to get too involved with that as my reason for being there is the acting and nothing else. Still though, survived it and that's the main thing.
Next week is Nathan's birthday, week after is Leukaemia CARE's proms concert, maybe one day we'll even finish the wallpapering! In the mean time I try to go to church at least every other week and it's nice. I hear the bands being read out and look out for the excited couples, meet the newbies and keep in touch with old friends Jess and Graham, Mike and Jean. Jean's expecting baby number two, congrats! I like going to church. It is boring occasionally but it's strange little idiosyncracies make me smile and it makes me feel at peace in the middle of a hectic world. Rob's sermons always, but always, make me want to bottle them and take them with me. He always looks at things with such wisdom and serenity. There's so much to get het up about but he is always there taking things in his stride. The church I go to, St Nics, is consequently a calming, non-judgemental and welcoming place. I think and I'm pretty lucky to have found such a church as from personal experience I know they're not all like that.
So that's my life at the mo. I'd better get off and do the ironing. Plus I need to put the heating on again because my fingers are like ice. See you!
Yesterday was Valentine's day. Sarah and John and Hannah and Rick as well as Phil and Ruth all came to ours to have food and a bit of a drink and we had a great night. Me Han and Sarah lived at Griffin in the 1st year, above Al and the rest of the boys, and in the block alongside us was Phil who even then was with Ruth - they're married with a baby and Ruth did our wedding photos, bloody good job Ruth, best wedding photographer ever! Since then we've all been friends. Sarah and John get hitched in May but we're not smug married's, we're just a bunch of friends of didn't feel bothered enough about Valentine's day to get all smoochy unnecessarily. Who said romance is dead?!
I cooked the puddings. I spent 4 hours making chocolate fudge, chocolate covered cherries infused with brandy and choc chip scones and Al made 2 types of lasagne... Mmm yummy! The guests arrived hungry as we'd instructed and it was a fun night, we had a real giggle and a catch up which is my favourite kind of night. Then as we're all boring and grown ups the Han/Sarah partnerships got back off to Wolverhampton in the car and Phil and Ruth headed back home to baby George, Ruth was driving too, so we even got to bed at a fairly un-scandalous time of 12.30 - so why do I still feel tired???
I suppose the main answer is Leukaemia CARE. Busy busy busy. Can't think. mind fogs up when I try and think ahead. All I can see it the A4 page that is my to do list plus the 300 emails and the database generated list to things to action by the end of this month. It's difficult not to get a bit defeatist. But every time I think it's not possible to do more something happens and we find a way; every task compleated is a small victory - even if usually it's replaced by 3 more.
The snow of course did its damndest to get in the way. I had to work from home twice because Birmingham roads were so slippery and snowy that I couldn't get onto the motorway to get to work. Still it was very pretty and was a good excuse to stay out of the way of the gym, something which I don't seem to need much help with recently, actually.
The play is going well. Went with Graham to the council on tuesday to go through ideas around publicity. Not going to get too involved with that as my reason for being there is the acting and nothing else. Still though, survived it and that's the main thing.
Next week is Nathan's birthday, week after is Leukaemia CARE's proms concert, maybe one day we'll even finish the wallpapering! In the mean time I try to go to church at least every other week and it's nice. I hear the bands being read out and look out for the excited couples, meet the newbies and keep in touch with old friends Jess and Graham, Mike and Jean. Jean's expecting baby number two, congrats! I like going to church. It is boring occasionally but it's strange little idiosyncracies make me smile and it makes me feel at peace in the middle of a hectic world. Rob's sermons always, but always, make me want to bottle them and take them with me. He always looks at things with such wisdom and serenity. There's so much to get het up about but he is always there taking things in his stride. The church I go to, St Nics, is consequently a calming, non-judgemental and welcoming place. I think and I'm pretty lucky to have found such a church as from personal experience I know they're not all like that.
So that's my life at the mo. I'd better get off and do the ironing. Plus I need to put the heating on again because my fingers are like ice. See you!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The wedding!
Oh wow, what a day. It passed as quickly as everyone said it would. I wouldn't say I breezed through it in a haze of bliss because it's such a weird, busy, surprising, emotional day, but I definately enjoyed it and so did Alex. He looked incredibly dapper, dressed in a dark brown, modern suit and I loved loved loved my dress. I went to the hairdresser and asked for wedding hair that "wasn't too bridal" so the hairdresser laughed at me! I wanted a 60's style, beehive but not amy winehouse, and got one! On the morning it went up even higher than in the practice which was a bit scary, and it took a few goes, but with the dress I think it looked incredible. When we got back home, Linda had been waiting for the flower delivery while we were having our hair done, and that's when the hecticness really kicked in, along with my nerves. Once I was in my dress I couldn't move anyway so I actually didn't get as much done as I needed. I ended up forgetting totally the beautiful pearl necklace that Laura brought from madrid and the matching earings, both were our grandmothers and I still feel sick to think about it. Despite all this though the flowers were beautiful, and my parents arrived and both looked very happy and smart, as did auntie Pru who came with them. Emma's tantrum seemed to die down while she watched the Simpsons on dvd and Ruth the photographer made it all seem under control by snapping away quietly and getting me dad and danielle to pose. The cat did not know what to make of it all! Here are a few shots:
So anyway; we saw people off (Mum, Pru, Ruth and Linda) and tried to stop the cat escaping, sorted out Emma and put on the last of our make up, finished our bucks fizz and the driver arrived in the large Daimler which we were all going to drive off in. We got out of the car and the next door neighbour was just taking their puppy for a walk. He wasn't on a lead. I waved and smiled and said "I'm going to get married" then the beaming smile faded as the doggie bounded over to investigate. We did the useless girlie thing and fretted while the puppy had the time of his life jumping on us before (after several shrill requests for help) our neighbour Paige gethered herself and her dog. I don't blame her though, its not every day you see a girl in a big white frock... We piled into the car and drove slowly to church. I thought we were late because of a last minute panic (when me and dad were in the car the girls had real trouble locking the front door and it all got a little stressful) but actually we were ok.
That last picture is us just waiting to walk down the aisle. The vicar was at the front, everyone was seated and he was saying something to the congregatio. The verger led us up the path to that point and that's when I noticed it. "Why is it so quiet?" I asked her "Oh yes, erm, well the organist doesn't seem to have turned up" queue reaction:
So anyway; we saw people off (Mum, Pru, Ruth and Linda) and tried to stop the cat escaping, sorted out Emma and put on the last of our make up, finished our bucks fizz and the driver arrived in the large Daimler which we were all going to drive off in. We got out of the car and the next door neighbour was just taking their puppy for a walk. He wasn't on a lead. I waved and smiled and said "I'm going to get married" then the beaming smile faded as the doggie bounded over to investigate. We did the useless girlie thing and fretted while the puppy had the time of his life jumping on us before (after several shrill requests for help) our neighbour Paige gethered herself and her dog. I don't blame her though, its not every day you see a girl in a big white frock... We piled into the car and drove slowly to church. I thought we were late because of a last minute panic (when me and dad were in the car the girls had real trouble locking the front door and it all got a little stressful) but actually we were ok.
That last picture is us just waiting to walk down the aisle. The vicar was at the front, everyone was seated and he was saying something to the congregatio. The verger led us up the path to that point and that's when I noticed it. "Why is it so quiet?" I asked her "Oh yes, erm, well the organist doesn't seem to have turned up" queue reaction:
the ceremony and lunch
Getting down the aisle was a funny mix of feelings, but spoilt at the time a bit by the whole organist thing. Afterwards people said that the cd they played made it extra special. I always knew I'd love seeing all the family members and friends in the church and that really was truly special. I also knew I'd be fine once I got down to the front and stood with Alex. He didn't look back at me until I was half way down and by then I was feeling ok. He looked really happy, and very calm which helped me to calm my jitters and get on with enjoying it all. Laura came from spain and did the reading really well, she didn't look nervous at all. Pauline had done a brill job with the orders of service and it meant a lot that Jess had written the prayers, that Rob lead the prayers and Danielle and Laura Nathan and Emma were there at the front. Mum looked really happy and soppy at the same time so the position of mother of the bride was well and truly filled!
We signed the register and saw everyone out at the doorway, then we stood by the lychgate while people thre confetti. I think the church service was my absolute favourite part of the whole day. We sang Amazing Grace, my favourite hymn, without the assistance of the organist (who turned up a few minutes later) with Rob leading us, and it was fab! It was better than the songs we sang when the organist actually turned up.
The journey to the reception was fun to. Our lovely driver chatted away while she drove us but unfortunately she misread the satnav twice and so twice had to find a place to turn the big old Daimler around. Meanwhile family members trailing us in their cars had to find places to turn around. I'm just glad the coach didn't follow us!
Anyway... miraculously we all got to the Queens Head Inn, in fact our car still managed to beat the coach which was pulling in as we were allready getting out of the car. The sun had burned away the clouds and it was suddenly beautiful! We then tried to get the photos done as quickly and as painlessley as possible (I'll add these on once I've got them) and then it was time to mill around and get fed!
The Queen's Head Inn did us proud; the food was gorgeous. People with particular diets were all well looked after, everyone was comfortable, and the food was delish! And then the speeches, eek!
I think I was more nervous about speeches than I was about my exam results, taking my driving test for the third time or even getting married... The boys did well though. Dan and Nathan both carried off their speeches with aplomb and Alex made my heart melt. And then...
We could BREATHE!
It was the bit that was all about having fun! Yey! Me and Alex tried to get around as many people as possible but it's just not possible to see everyone... The evening guests arrived (we'd invited everyone to the church and we would have fed them all too but there wasn't room. In the end I'd guess there was about 200) and the music came on... Viva la fiesta!
At about 10pm wonderful wonderful Gianni, the manager, came to me and my bridesmaids with fluffy slippers, otherwise I really don't know... Finally at 1am we all piled on the coach and went home...
Only it wasn't finally actually. The coach dropped half of us off at the Green in Kings Norton where there were supposed to be taxis waiting but none were. As the beginnings of a snow blizzard fell we waited and it was the wirdest thing to be stood there in a big white wedding dress waiting for a cab in the snow! Alex called the taxi firm and more were sent over so we only waited 10 minutes but it was a very weird end to a day that's so full of memories that I don't think I can ever forget it.
Next week: the honeymoon!
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