Cars get dented when they're on the road ( 2 of 2) ....

So there I was sitting in my room, working away and there was a loud bang-crunch sort of sound. Andy's car is way too close to a brown car. The driver gets out, looks around, sees me, and shrugs (she's caught!). I wake Andy "your cars been hit". I run down stairs and out the front door. "Is this your car? There isn't any damage!" "No its my son's, he's coming down". I go back in as Andy goes out, and she tells him how much she's damaged her car. Details are exchanged. Andy tells his insurance. The damage - the off side bumper has been pushed in, and the trim connectors on the wheel arch broken. Not much, but he can't afford those sort of repairs. He is also VERY angry, "Why is it always MY car?"

Cars get dented when they're on the road ( 1 of 2) ....

Driving through Billericay High Street last night on the way to CYFA, got to Radford Way mini-roundabout. Stopped well clear of an accident - a car (206) on its way towards stock had hit a white van that had turned out of Radford Way towards the town centre. So far just an annoyance. The she rolled her car back off the roundabout. It rolled and rolled, and I tooted the horn, I blasted the horn, and it rolled straight into the front of my car. The number plate now has a nice little hole in it where the tether point went through it. No other damage - 15 minute delay. I have the details, but have heard nothing so far. Mike reckons she'd been drinking, so that might account for it, but so might shock. .... Waiting to hear from her.

Don't write when you're angry....

... 'cause at best you'll give the wrong impression. Mike won't miss out on his Maths day, Jo has just been told she's "wasting her money". Personally I hope he gets a 'C', or even a 'D', which is better than expected.

Cheltenham and back / Teachers who don't want people to learn

Not quite the races, actually more of a long haul. That's now two weekends in a row I've missed church. Still, the journey was OK in both directions. It's a LOT of driving for one day, and the road is full of the usual IDIOTS, whenever you travel. That accounted for my Sunday. So Liz is back at university and there are just a few months before she's home for good. Good luck (luck? - it's supposed to be effort - revision and so on) for the exams, and work hard on the dissertation. That's two weekends in a row I've missed church, can't remember when or even if I've been that absent! Wonder what I missed, and how long it will take me to catch up. Monday was a day working @ home. Something I'm coming to like less and less - because it means that I have meetings at strange hours and the day is 'lost'. Anyway, I got the newsletters out for Karen - AT LAST. Teachers who don't want people to learn - when they themselves want to. Does that sound stupid? - Welcome to Billericay school - they've scored an own goal again! So Mike won't benefit from the Maths day, and can't possibly get his 'C'. Teachers - please try to be encouraging, even if YOU don't believe it's possible, DON'T write people off so easily.

Voice Craft Day

Saturday was a Reader Training day. The subject was voice craft. With relaxation techniques, reading practice, preaching practice, and a few other things besides, this was a good practical experience day, which on the whole, I enjoyed a lot. More difficult is understanding just how we are going to remember all these things long enough to put them into practice. That shouldn't happen until next year!

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

Follow the link on the title to see my review.

The Story of God

There's a very good, and much more detailed article on Damaris. I have only seen the second in the series of three so far. It was in general well presented, from a historical, and social point of view. Some of the more basic questions were raised, if not answered, and the difference in the three faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) were generally well addressed.
I would like to hear an atheists view on this program, as I have a suspicion they would not react very strongly to it, as I haven't. Robert Winston talked about Abraham, and Job, and the uniqueness of Christianity in a quite matter of fact way. It was interesting without generating and passion, yet that is what all three beliefs do - generate passion in their followers.

God demands of Abraham, and therefore all of us: '‘Walk before me and be perfect'’ (Gen 17:1). Jesus repeats this demand Matt 5:48, nevertheless its impossible for us, I did not understand from the program how this is addresse by any of the beliefs. Of course as a Christian I have the Christian answer: the Grace of God, through the sacrifice of the Son.

Encouragement

Yeaterday I received some praise for my efforts from a very unexpected source at work. Sadly I could not keep it, as I was shutting down the PC at the time. Thats not the point. Such comments brighten the day, and help to keep me doing the good things I am doing. So many thanks to my distant colleague for making the week better than I could have hoped for.

Roots and Reminiscences

Reading through the latest newsletter from our link missionaries - Peter and Alison Roots, I came across a link (www.dct-tz.com) dct=Diocese of Central Tanganyika, the diocese we visited in 2002 (My story of that time is here). On the site I found the parish where we spent a weekend - Chibelela. The memories come flooding back, the dry dusty landscape, the people all working so hard to stay alive, and improve their lot (and there's plenty of room for improvement in some cases), the commitment of the local churches, and the care and love shown to us for the couple of days we were in the village. Thanks to all of you for a marvellous time. Seriously: Pray that the rains are good this year, or people will starve.

60's Evening (Christ church's 40th Birthday)

It seems to me that something has gone wrong with the world, I don't suppose it will last!

We had a lovely time at the 60's evening. It started with a quiz on the sixties, and I remembered how little I really remember! During the quiz we had the meal - a simple menu - Baked potato, cheese, beans, coleslaw, sausages (no spam - not very sixties really). Then we had a sixties disco, with all sixties (well mainly sixties, I did detect a few more recent tracks) music, none of which was overlaid with a seventies, eighties, or nineties beat. The disco was specially prepared with all the right equipment (CD's, not 45's) by J & M Disco's. That's Jenny & Mandy, just for tonight.

A very good night!.

click on the title link to see my history of Christ Church.

So - what's gone wrong with the world?

Our table won the quiz, largely thanks to Carol & John, who ought to be too young to remember most of it. That's not the only thing we've won recently either, as I'm not going to brag, you can ask if you don't already know.




Earlier in Saturday 10 December.

In the afternoon we attended the official completion of Anvil Lodge, a house built by Anvil Trust (click here for their web page on the CTIB site). The house is to be renamed "Andrew House", in memory of Andrew Knightbridge, who died recently. It was Andrew who was the inspiration for the "Anvil" project to begin with Its a marvelous building, a credit to the trust, and a great Christian witness to a loving God. The service afterwards was at St. Catherines Wickford, and was very moving, with lots of old friends coming back, and the preacher, now retired talking of building to last. Here's a picture, as their URL (www.stcatherineschurchwickford.com) doesn't go anywhere.

Reader Training : Worship Training Day

Last weekend, Saturday 26 November to be exact, was worship training day. It was a good day, and showed us the structure of services and the important elements of each. I’ve also written an article that is now published in Spotlight.

Goblet of Fire / JumpMan

The blog review of Goblet of fire is here. After a discussion with Mike, I found JumpMan. What a game!

Goat Count ...

Is now 17¼. ¼ goat is less useful than ½ goat.

Picture

I did say that the picture wouldn't help. The comments prove I was right.

Last Week

Last Week
On Tuesday I went to St. Albans to meet with Karen.  The journey was OK, until I got to the road that the church was supposed to be in.  Just an industrial estate – all closed up for the night, except for the Post Office Sorting Office, which was doing brisk business.  All those people desperate to make the last post, always in a hurry to deliver their mail and get home.  I asked lots of people where the church was, and none of them knew, not even the local walking round the estates.  Finally someone told me and there it was, right at the far end and round the corner.  So at last I was there, and met with Karen and her friend.  We didn’t go into the presentation, but had a chat, and a Mars bar (and just ONE cocktail sausage), and some coffee and coke. It was good to see Karen again.  Cardiff is too far for a night out.  She seems to be enjoying herself, and they all seem please with what she is doing.

The rest of the week lacked sleep, as I never really caught up after my late night home.

Friday was ‘Goat curry’ night.  A men’s evening, organised to bring some of the men of the church and their friends together.  It worked very well and we raised enough money for 16.5 goats.  (Yes, we were buying goats for Africa, not eating them).  The curry was ordered and collected from the local take away, which was a better arrangement than sitting in a restaurant.

Saturday was download day.  My first music download.  All legal and above board, I downloaded from Tesco and Album that is usually import only (btw in the U.S. you can get the CD for less than the download).  The album was “Torch”, by Carly Simon, not one of her best, but never mind.

Saturday was Harry Potter night, but it wasn’t because they were fully booked.  Why is it that buying tickets on the internet costs more than buying tickets in the Cinema?  Everywhere else it’s cheaper.

Sunday WAS Harry Potter night; we had to go, as I’d been told what a great film it was.  Did I agree?  You’ll have to wait for the review…..

Angela's Party

Had a really good time at Angela's party. It was nice to meet some old friends (Carrie and Dan) and to catch up with all they're doing. Seems that life in Oxford is treating them well, and I didn't realize that Carrie's job is not a fixed term contract, like most youth worker posts, but a full time job.
Nice to chat with others as well. It was one of those events where I took the camera and didn't use it. That happens to me quite a lot.

This morning they were in church also, along with Lou, who I haven't seen for ages. She's married now, but still living locally. She sends her love to all the children, and was enquiring about how they are progressing.

Karen @ her 21st

Karen @ her 21st
Originally uploaded by fisherpeter_d.

Here's the picture of Karen, that I promised to share with her. It was taken @ her 21st Birthday party. It is one of a possible 3 that will be used on the mission baord, along with her newsletter, of course.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Twins

I was asked to make some comments on twins, as its a large article is on my other page

The last mention of CCS?

I finally received the picture of the presentation ceremony for CCS today. Its on Flickr