Thank you to everyone who donated to my drum kit!

I love waking up to a white world!

Christmas Blessings.

I've not done Christmas cards this year - if I'd had the time or the money I'd have sent this to everyone:
It's situated on the wall of the West Bank outside Bethlehem. We saw it as we came through the checkpoint after visiting Bethlehem and learning of it's current day hopelessness and helplessness. So a bit of a reality check for the season.

Christmas Blessings.

Hair Cut

The NCBC Pastors are at it again!

York City Gospel Choir

York City Gospel Choir started in May this year, and after scarily having to audition for it I've been really enjoying it! Both the singing and getting to know the other members.

It's truely amazing how people respond to the songs - so many people are touched by God and glimpse his love and glory.

If anyone's in York on the 15th Dec we have a Christmas concert - let me know if you are!

We've recently been recording for a demo as we've been having loads of requests from radio and such like. It was quite fun recording it, and here are some samples:

Bless The Lord

Pulling Down the Mountains

Whom The Son Sets Free

Believe

Shoes

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&itemid=NOED10%20Nov%202007%2008:25:18:330&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=search

Graduation

My year group are all graduating today.

At least I don't have to sit in the freezing minster for hours!

Evoke

Last night Sarah and I went to see the light displays on the front of York Minster.

Here are some pics and a video - it was pretty awesome.
For more info, go here

New Feature

It may have been there a while, but I've just noticed the feature that sends you an email every time a new comment is made on anyone's blog that you've post a comment on!

Very handy I must say.

St Andrews

Figured it was about time I blogged, and about time I said something about what I'm doing at the moment.

It's been difficult to both get round to it, and then work out what's ok to say due to the highly confidential nature of the environment I'm in.

Basically for the last 3 months I've been on an intensive group therapy programme - or as we like to refer to it - a personal development course - which is exactly what it is!

So three and a half days a week I join 15 others (when we're full) of all ages and backgrounds and a number of therapists, to learn more about ourselves and the way we interact with the people around us. To learn skills for life, to overcome difficulties, to problem solve, to better recognise our emotions and feelings and to learn how to suitably share them and work with others.

The programme structure is changing next week, but currently we have a mix of small group sessions, art therapy, awareness group, community meetings and various other bits and pieces. We are a real community who support each other and work with each other for each other. (Yes I know that was too many 'others'!)

It's pretty much like having a full-time job, and is hard work and draining. We learn so much each day, and think loads - both for ourselves and others. We try new things and are pushed (or encouraged) out of our comfort zones.

I'm looking forward to all that I'm going to learn, and the benefit it will give me, and how much more able I will be to fulfill the purpose God has for me once I've finished!

Love it...

Where's the rest of it

I've aquired a drum kit from church - currently it's missing a kick pedal, high-hat and snare... hmm....

Laura and Ben

Fabulous wedding,

great hen party,

gorgeous couple

and hiliarious talk from Garcia!

Harry Potter

I think this is a good post on the Harry Potter books, and I agree with most of it

http://www.norwichcentral.org/pastor_blog/?p=19

Internet - yet again

Sorry for the lack of blogging.

Moved house on the 31st July and we still don't have the internet!

We are now decidedly annoyed with our ISP (and it's not even Tesco this time!)

The latest story is that they had our address wrong - even though they ask us to state it every time we ring....

Will blog more once it's back.

Harry Potter - No. 5

Just got back from seeing the film. Loved it.
It must be so hard figuring out what to put in the film and what not to, but I think they did well.

I may post more in the coming week once people have had a chance to see it ;-)

Ramallah - West Bank

I was in Ramallah just under two weeks ago. Today, Fatah gunmen are parading around it.

Kind of makes the current news seem more real. Before I would have passed over most news bulletins about Israel as the whole situation is just so complicated. But now they're talking about places I've been to, where there are people I've met.

"Lord, I don't know what to pray, but please be with your people in Gaza and the West Bank, protect them, strengthen them and encourage them. Lord please bring an end to the fighting and suffering for all people, let your will be done."

First of about 996

Me on a camel in the desert somewhere in Israel - will try and work out where at some point!

Israel 1

Attempt two of my post from yesterday!

Currently I am sitting in a museum next to our hotel/inn, it is host to a boat that's 2000 years old. Quite impressive!
The hotel/inn is the nof ginnosar and is situated next to Galilee. It is so unbelieveably gorgeous. I'm debating whether to get up at sunrise tomorrow just to watch it rise over the lake.

Yesterday was our one and only chilled day so far! My roommate and I explored the museum and visited the ajoining kibbutz. Then the whole group went on a 'replica Jesus boat' across the lake to Tiberius (please excuse spellings, not got time to check!). Was a little disappointed - was just like Great Yarmouth!

We arrived in Galilee on Tuesday, via the Dead Sea (amazing!), Jericho, Masada and have explored Caperium, mount of the beatitudes, Jordan River, seen where the dead sea scrolls were found and a number of other places around the lake. In fact, there is so much that I cannot remember! I can't even remember where we're going today, but it will be jam packed. It's like we just wet our appetites for places, and don't really get a proper look round. Because of that tho, it feels like we've been here for months!

We had lots of security checks at Stansted, apparently we were just the chosen ones! It filled our 3 hour wait nicely though! Tel Aviv was beautiful to watch as we circled and landed, and in arriving I felt like I was coming home and definitely realised that I want to come back!

The first evening we wandered through the Arab streets to the Western Wailing Wall. Being the start of the Sabbath there were many Jews dancing, praying and singing. It was amazing. Unfortunately I have no photos for that reason.

Around Jerusalem we visited the garden tomb, mount of olives, david's city, hezechiah's tunnel, tomb of the kings and so much more! We also went to Bethlehem. This really opened my eyes. Will post more later.

On Monday a number of us joined the Jerusalem Alliance church in sending aid into the West Bank. This was not part of our tour, and so I missed a few things, but I'm glad I did it. I feel like I've experienced the real Israel. In our team of four, I was the only girl, so in many of the houses we visited I went alone into the back to sit with the ladies. Language barriers and all, this was an eye opening experience. They were all muslim families. It's horrible in these villages. It's like time has forgotten them. 60-70% are unemployed (same in Bethlehem), they cannot leave their towns/villages. There are big walls and many guns. You can be shot for being the wrong person in the wrong place. The guy who took us said that he's been shot at and escorted out of the West Bank. But still the church works hard to make contact with other believers in the West Bank, and other poverty striken people.

I am very tired and it is very hot, but I'm enjoying it!

I've met a guy in our group called Mark who went to Dereham Road whilst at uni, he knows Helen and Julian, Peter and Wendy, Brian and Doreen etc. He played the drums!

I also met a girl called Chagit who goes to Manchester Vineyard and knows Rachael and Andrew Fulford!

It's a small world!

Countdown to Israel

Well it's not long now! I'm going on Friday! Eeek! Excitement and nervousness all in one!

Prayers are much appreciated as I travel and while I'm there, I shall try and update this blog as and when I can.

God and I are gonna have a great time.

Finished Garden

Well it's finished, it's been judged, but who knows when we'll find out the results??!!

I took the pics at the end of the day, so it looks a little dry and wilted in the sun!

Gardening Part 4

I've worked hard yesterday and today - it's such tiring work, but it's kept me out of mischief!

I forgot to take photos while the sun was out, so these are a bit dark. Hopefully the flowers will grow fast for judging on Friday! I've also planted a window box and 6 pots of plants ready to bring out on Friday.

Israel

I'm going to Israel soon! I am so excited (and a little apprehensive!)

I haven't really been abroad much so it will be quite an adventure. I'm going with Oak Hall, and I'm going alone!

We're doing a 10 day tour around loads of Biblical sights and other places including, the Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Western Wailing Wall, Bethlehem, Quman where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, Sea of Galilee, River Jordan, Caesarea Philippi, Nazareth (and many more that there isn't really space to write!) but I'm most excited about floating in the Dead Sea as it's something I've wanted to do since I was a child!

Prayers are appreciated for safety, and I shall try and keep my blog updated throughout, if not watch this space for pics and stuff when I return!

Sing

I apologise for the lack of gardening information. The deadline has been extended until the 25th, and it's been raining, so motivation has gone down. I did receive some nice soil from the builders at the end of the road - although they made me shift it myself whilst they stood watching. Rudeness.

I have been attacking the back garden with the landlord's tools whilst we've got them. It has left my arms shaking uncontrollably though which is a bit irritating. Hopefully they'll stop soon!

First choir practice tonight. Was loads better than I was expecting - well enjoyed it! We're gonna be good!

Gardening Part 3

And this is the garden after a second day of hard work. Well almost, I gave the soil a good digging about after the photo to start the process of removing all the roots that were like a carpet over the whole plot. Unfortunately it was a shorter day as it chucked it down late afternoon (and is still raining now - please stop!)

Met even more of the neighbours today, and one old Irish guy came back with some tools and helped me hack down the rest of the big bushes, and pull out two stumps! I so couldn't have done half of that on my own yesterday. So many thanks to him. Now I just have to figure out how to make the most of the space on my limited budget, and hope that the judges take into consideration the amount of hard work I've done before planting anything!

Gardening Part 2

Here's the garden after one day of hard work!

Gardening

I've entered a gardening competition to revamp our front garden.

Problem is, I know very little on the subject, I've only got until Tues/Wed, and I have a budget of £25

Currently it looks like this:









Anyone care to share anything knowledge/thoughts/tips?!! Pretty please?

York Gospel Choir

Well, today was the day for the audition for the new York Gospel Choir
I was so extremely scared and didn't decide what to sing until the last little while!

I got there and saw other people I know from church who were scared too, so that made me feel better. My name was called, I went in, stood before 3 people (felt like x-factor) and sang! My voice was completely different to my practicing, but I liked it, it felt strong and confident.

So all was good and I got through! Even though I had to stop singing because I forgot the words!

So here's to a new adventure, practices are weekly, and even though the choir hasn't started yet, the guy who runs it has 5 bookings for it! We will be singing a mix of contemporary and traditional Gospel, worship songs, and secular stuff at weddings, concerts and what not!

Looking forward to it.

Oh and for the record, I'm going down as a Mezzo Soprano or just a flexible whatever's needed!

Easter Baptism Photos

Found the pics of my housemates at the baptisms in the city centre - can't get them to work on here, but here's the link. They're the two girls with crowns on at the front!

Interesting articles in The Press

I was interviewed for The Press yesterday, very boring, but hey! Click here for photo, can't find my comment anywhere tho...

In reading the said newspaper the other evening I came across a classified ad for a clothes drier. All fine, until I saw that it was going for 50p, and yet it costs £5 to advertise in the newspaper!! That doesn't make sense!

Other interesting articles were the local Co-op that installed a device that emits a noise that only teenagers and 20-somethings can here to deter them from hanging around outside. How random! I almost want to go there and see if I can hear it! Full Story

Secondly, a new shop opened last week called Joy (I believe there is one already in Norwich's Chapelfield). To celebrate this launch, they agreed to give the first 25 people to strip down to their underwear a free outfit. Not entirely sure what I think about that! Full Story

Oh and people have been knitting jumpers for penguins...

African Snow

I went to see this over a week ago, but I've been a slacker in getting round to blogging about it!

My friend Lydia went to see it on Wed, and here are her thoughts.

I don't really have any great thoughts on it, so I shall just jot down my randomness in the order it comes to my head!

Very interesting to go to a play, where there is just one white actor and the rest are black. Seeing as though I've come from Norfolk where we're a little slow on catching up with the multiculturalness of the rest of the country, and now moved to York, where it's even more predominantly white (we do joke that my housemate is the token black person in York), it was quite weird to go to a performance in the city centre where the roles were reversed. But I appreciated it. It got me thinking.

On top of this, the black actors also played white people. I didn't twig this until Wilberforce came into the story! Again a little confusing, but an interesting take.

Unlike Lydia, it rather spoiled the play for me, having seen Amazing Grace the week previously. It's the same story, just from a different angle, so a times it felt like covering the same ground - potentially I needed to have a longer gap between the two. I did appreciate understanding the story from Olaudah Equiano's point of view though. It was a very long play. Both the film, and the play made me cry.

The question the performance is asking, is can a victim and abuser ever be reconciled? I don't think they really answered it, that wasn't the point, but it was good to get people thinking about it. As Christians is sometimes really easy to throw about words, saying that we should forgive each other etc etc. But seriously, John Newton caused Olaudah Equiano and his people so much pain, asking for forgiveness is asking a lot. I guess it can only be done with God's help.
There's so much hurt and pain, revenge and unforgiveness in this world.

Easter

Easter Sunday

We celebrated Easter as a house today. Probably the first time I haven't been with family at Easter.

Lorna, Bek and I went to church together this morning for a packed and lively service complete with entertaining children dressed up suitably for the Easter story with one particular boy running around with a sword shouting, 'kill Jesus!'.

We then met Lillian (our housemate) in town, grabbed ice creams and went for a walk around the walls. It was a beautiful sunny day. Following this we went to a celebration in the city centre organised by One Voice. There was face painting and crown making, and a red carpet to have your photo taken on to symbolise how we're all stars/unique/special to God. There was worship and an open air service involving an address from the archbishop and 21 baptisms. We were impressed at the speed and enthusiasm at which the archbishop carried out the baptisms, especially since each one got dunked 3 times - something I've not seen before! We were also impressed with his directness throughout the service for example telling the band to do just one song and not 'dither' about.

I was annoyed with the press though. They were around the whole thing like a swarm of bees, ignoring relatives of those being baptised who wanted to get closer to take photos.
Story here

We finished the day by sharing a roast together (cooked by Lorna) and just having a good old chat. Topics including whether Mary was always a virgin, to a strategy on getting into parliment, to the death penalty and anglican litergy.

Sarah and Helen's Trip to the Beach!

Oh the joys of Scarborough :D

Hover over pics for description

Voice

After being ill a few weeks ago, I still don't seem to have quite got my voice back properly.
It never fully went, and now it's only a problem when singing.
But since that's something I spend a lot of time doing it's quite irritating!

Any suggestions?

For the benefit of Rachel (and Lucy)

It's great working in a charity shop isn't it?! ;)

Mainly for the benefit of mum...

Had a free hair cut

Talcum Powder

It's snowing/hailing right now.
But it's so heavy, and the wind is blowing so strongly that it just looks like talcum powder flying horizontally across the window.
It's already stacked up in the corner of my window after a few minutes!

Little Is Much...

"What is the measure of a life well lived
If all I can offer seems too small to give
This is a song for the weaker, the poorer
And so-called failures

Little is much when God's in it
And no one can fathom the plans He holds
Little is much when God's in it
He changes the world with the seeds we sow
Little is much, little is much

Who feels tired and under-qualified
Who feels deserted, and hung out to dry
This is a song for the broken, the beat-up
And so-called losers

Consider a Kingdom in the smallest seed
Consider that giants fall to stones and slings
Consider a child in a manger
Consider the story isn't over
What can be done with what you still have"

from a band called Downhere been listening to it on the radio, I like it. It's encouraging that God uses even the smallest of people that the world looks down on.
You can listen to it here

Momentum - moving

After three days of being in bed, today I woke up and felt almost human :D

I am now going to Clifton Parish Church. It was a long and difficult decision, but in short I felt that it wasn't right for me to be at MV York any more. I've learnt a lot, but it's time to move on.

Tonight, David that vicar spoke. Him and a load of guys have just got back from two weeks in Rwanda (*mental note to figure out where that is, wonder if I could go there sometime...*). Of what he spoke about, the thing that stood out to me was what he said about momentum. Not momentum in the sense of Soul Survivor's student event, but momemtum as in movement. He compared it to starting to move a massive wheel. At first it's really hard, and it takes so much effort, and you really don't seem to be getting anyway for all this effort you're putting in. Then it starts to move, and you're pushing and pushing, and repetively doing the same little things, which again don't seem to amount to much on their own, and you still don't seem to be getting very far, but you've got to keep doing them or it'll stop. Then finally once the momentum is going, you really go for it and it takes little effort.

I like that picture. It encourages me.

He also said that it works especially well when you're using your gifting/talents, because that provides energy and enthusiam.

Not quite sure what I'm going to do with this, but hey ho!

Installation

Apologies for the lack of blogging. I don't really have an excuse!
Quick update:
Am currently unwell :(
Work is good, charity shop is good, housemates are great, as are friends.
I've been to the cinema and the theatre, and generally spent time socialising.

That brings us to today.

Today is the official installation day of The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu as Chancellor of York St John University. (Where I study if you hadn't gathered...) Otherwise known as the Archbishop of York.

I am sad that I didn't take a camera, as the service (or act of worship as our chaplin called it) was varied and exciting - including a giant. I have included a picture of my order of service, and two badges that I was given. The small silver one was received as a member of staff at uni, the larger one with green bits everyone got who went to the service.

The service started with our gospel choir singing the Circle of Life from the Lion King, and Happy Day, some organ music and then the procession of minster officials. This was followed by the York St John University Fanfare, and a procession of gowned tutors and members of staff. I would be very interested to know what all their different styles and colours of gown mean.

The service was very 'Christian'. A lot more than I was expecting! Although it York St John was founded by the Church of England, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. There were many Bible readings, including John 10:10b 'Jesus said, "I come that they may have life, and have it abundantly"' - this just so happens to be the verse we use at CU. There were a number of prayers throughout too, by staff, students, the chaplain.

We then had a performance by the Faculty of Arts called 'The Flourishing of York St John'. It basically told the story of St Johns and was all based around the idea of a seedling growing and florishing like the students of the university. It involved a giant version of Edward Cordukes the first student to enrol, students processing around the minster with small trees on their backs, young children from the minster school running down the minster and flags. It was good.

We sang two hymns - entertainingly some of the congragation thought they new one better than others and got out of time! We had a York St John University Prayer:
'Loving God,
you have bound us together in the unity of a learning community,
so that we may have live and have it in abundance.

Help us this day and in all our futures to draw on the wellsprings of your love,
so that people and justice may be on our lips and in our lives,
now and forever. Amen'

The actually installation took no time at all, and Kate and I wondered whether he came with an installation disc incase we need to uninstall him....

The Archbishop gave us an address, unfortunately I didn't hear much, but I did catch his final comment:
'Remember, never stand between a lamp post and a dog'

Clearly important...

I thoroughly enjoyed the service. Most excited to discover the York St John drummers - I wonder if I can join them...

What My Name Means

Nicked from Emma

What Helen Means

H is for Hardworking E is for Elitist L is for Luxurious E is for Exquisite N is for Neglected

What Does Your Name Mean?

Think I prefer sparkles!

What Sparkles Means

S is for Sweet P is for Posh A is for Artistic R is for Remarkable K is for Kind L is for Loving E is for Earthy S is for Sensitive

What Does Your Name Mean?

22

Baptiversary

Today is my "Baptiversary" as James so cleverly put it! ;)

Can't believe it's a whole year!!

I feel like I ought to write something more intelligent - but I can't think of anything! Will maybe add more later!

Minster Ball 2007

Here is a cartoon version of my housemates and I at the ball, and the minster all lit up.
Thankfully it wasn't as cold as when I went in my first year! We had a most enjoyable evening.
I would put more photos up, but they will take over!

Petition

Did you know that you can vote for things related to the government?

Click here

Philippians 3:12-14 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Running toward the Goal
12I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. 13My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
[American Bible Society]

Five Things You May Not Know About Me

Thanks Phil for tagging me - (and explaining to me what that was!)

Five things:

1. I enjoy playing Bingo with my uni friends.

2. I prefer ginger nut biscuits when they've gone soft.

3. I tipped my little sister head first out of a baby bouncer when she was a baby.

4. I was the only girl on the cricket team at middle school.

5. I can do this with my eyes (excuse the bad old video ;))


I tag Sarah and Rachel

Beauty

1 Peter 3:3-4 (New Living Translation)

3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Beauty. Something we long for, and yet something that is a battle. We are taught that it's what's on the inside that counts, and yet we all still long for beauty. We admire beautiful sunsets, the sea, creation. Media shows us beautiful people, and we admire theirs' and each others' beauty. So is it wrong to seek visual beauty, or is it only when the beauty of the person as a whole shines through, that the external beauty is really beautiful?

I look at some of my friends, and to me they are amazing and stunning. Their beauty shines through and it's hard to describe, but by the worlds' standards they are dull or even ugly. So is the quote, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' true - or can we all see beauty if we look closely enough?

Why beauty? Is it shallow to seek beauty? Beauty comforts, beauty relaxes and refreshes. Beauty captures our imagination and sets us running wild and free.

Does beauty have to have a price? Can beauty thats not our own always make us feel good?

(This is both my thoughts and thoughts from 'Captivated' by John & stasi Eldredge)

Oh dear...

... I just got up from watching TV, picked up my glass, took it into the kitchen, and chucked the rest of the water in the bin...

... hmm...

testing

testing

---

Yahoo! Photos – NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 7p a photo.

Is there a right?

Our CU is 'multi-denominational'.

I've been briefly thinking about what this means in practice.

We don't have women speakers in case that offends people, we don't have free-flowing worship incase that offends people.

In most cases we err on the traditional/conservertive side of things. But in not offending them, are we offending others? What about the people that are used to free-flowing worship and prayer - are they not offended if we don't do that? What about the woman speaker?

So how does it work?

Home

Back to good old Norwich from flooded York

Smile

This is a great video that richybabexx and some mates made for the York St. John Christian Union Weekend Away. They're all based on the legend that is Dom Joly and Trigger Happy TV. Enjoy!!

Our God is bigger

Right, have texted some people about this already today, but ongoing prayers are appreciated.

Basically, as a CU we've got our mission week next week and at the end of the week we are having an evangelistic carol concert of sorts 'supposedly' in the chapel at uni.

Chaplincy became aware that we'd booked this event yesterday (all our room bookings have to go through them) and kicked up a fuss because they're having a carol concert on the thursday afternoon. There are usually two concerts, ours being more evangelistic and aimed at students, the chaplincy one being attended more by staff. This year the Dean has asked the chaplincy to make theirs more student orientated as well, so chaplincy see ours as in competition with theirs.

This is not our perspective at all, as we are not only going to chaplincy's concert, but actually helping take part in it. To us the events are completely different. Theirs is a carol concert, ours is an evangelistic events.

Anyway, this means that the chaplincy feel betrayed by us, so yesterday told us we couldn't have it, even saying that someone else was using the chapel. In visiting room bookings we discovered that this is not the case, and they let us book it.

Chaplincy discovered this, this morning, so our president went for a meeting, where she was greeted by chaplincy and room bookings saying that we cannot hold the event anywhere on campus. They've spoken to security, and student services and informed them that this event cannot take place on campus under any cirmcumstances. We are dumbstruck by this. Why are they doing this? All we want is to spread God's word and love. We're not bothered about who gets the most people to their service or whatever.

We were then thrown into crisis because we've got a speaker coming from down south who's paid for, we've got fliers and posters and cards printed and made etc etc. It's all planned for. So one of the presidents and I spent the rest of the morning running round York trying to find and alternative venue, feeling like Mary and Joseph trying to find and room and failing.

Our hopes were raised a little after speaking to the Students Union, and our UCCF rep, both saying that chaplincy have no right to ban us from booking a room, and that we can as students book rooms, but it's transpired since then that we can't. The event is still banned from campus.

What gets me is that it's not uni that we're fighting against (I don't think they'd be too bothered) it's chaplincy. Somehow a relationship that has been good until now has been almost destroyed. There's hurt, bitterness and confusion.

Therefore we are working hard to respond with love and how Jesus would. The devil hits where it hurts the most, and we're not letting him win. He wants us to respond out of hurt and lash back at chaplincy, but we won't. We pray for that relationship to be restored.

So yeah, please pray along those lines, and also that the right venue is found and God's will is done. This is also a distraction from Jesus and our mission. But praise the Lord for this amazing opportunity for His glory to shine!

Thank you

Thunderbird

Ever since I got the internet back, my RSS feeds don't seem to be received by Thunderbird.
All you guys have obviously written loads in your blogs, but every time I check for new messages thunderbird says there are no new messages.

Any thoughts?

Have tried unsuccessfully to search their knowledge base.

Back

The internet's back!

Thank you everyone for your prayer and support :D

Beyond Dead

And the internet is still dead.

We are now into our fourth week of complete switch off, and over three months of intermittent connection.

I hear you say why not change ISP, but unfortunately it appears that the problem is more likely to do with the line, therefore we are awaiting BT.

How much longer?!!!! I am going mad.

It interests me that it causes me such issues. For a while I beat myself up that I couldn't cope without the internet. I can cope, just I've used the internet as a good way of winding down and destressing - maybe I need to find an alternative.
On the internet I run my website, moderator two discussion forums, keep up with my college work through WebCT, research my dissertation, keep in touch with people, randomly search in google my random ponderings. There's so much to do!

I do miss it.

I'd really like it back. I guess what troubles me most is the frustration of not being able to solve the problem. Surely it's just one switch that needs flicking or one wire that needs reconnecting? Why can't they figure it out? Why do they have to keep passing the buck when the only one that suffers is me (and my housemates)?

Sigh

Dead

Well, my internet has been completely dead for over a week now :(

So that would explain my lack of posting.

And many other things

Look what you can buy for 49p

You gotta love charity shops

Thunderbird

I was just wondering if anyone else was having the same issues with RSS feeds on thunderbird?

For some reason, some of my feeds keep randomly stopping working, then a week or so later they'll work again.
Then at other times, I'll get all the posts of a blog sent to me again. It's just this minute happened to almost al l of my blogs! Now I have up to 4 copies of each post on some peoples' blogs!

I thought it might just be the people that have updated to Beta, but that's not the case now.

Murdery Mystery

This is my beautiful Angel and me at Pasta, Passion and Pistols :D


















I think I make a good bloke!

Morris Dancing

Look what my friend Sarah and I found in the centre of York (wonderful filming Sarah ;-))



MorrisDancing on Vimeo

My hand

I had a fight with a craft knife today.

In short I've got a deep cut in my hand, managed to cut some muscle but thankfully no tendons. Been stitched and sorted.

Please pray that it heals as good as new and quickly especially as in my job I need both hands!

At the moment my thumb has restricted movement and it hurts!!

Cheers

Clutter!

Well, this is my new room with my stuff in it.

Seriously need some shelves!

Here comes the bride...

Well, today is the big day!

Don't they look gorgeous!

Stand

I want to be a true woman of God.

I want to stand for God's Truth even if it will cost me my reputation or my friends.

I want my security to be in God and nothing else.

I want to be known as someone in whom people see God, so when I leave a room I am not remembered for anything other than God in me.

Shame it's easier said than done...