Driving Number 1

Today I had my first driving lesson! Only 9 years since I turned 17, but better late than never! I thought it would be good to blog my experience, a) to see for myself how far I've come, b) to share my journey, and c) to entertain myself in years to come!

So, I was picked up near home by a lovely lady in a blue Toyota Yaris. We drove to Stockton Lane in York and sat and chatted for a fair while about the car and driving, adjusting my seat and all that business. Apparently this area is where the tests are taken, so good to practice there I guess!

Then before I knew it, I'd put the car in gear, checked my mirrors, signalled and set off. 'I'm driving!!!' I exclaimed to my instructor somewhat shocked by the way it happened so quickly. What a strange feeling. (I was also pretty impressed with home much you can see in the mirrors having only used them to check what I looked like or catch the driver's eye before).

We tootled along at about 9miles an hour and then came to a stop. Success! On my second little jaunt,, after making it to about 14miles an hour, we unfortunately had to stop on a hill at temporary traffic lights for road works!!! I successfully managed a hill start without stalling! Whoo. Although I suspect that my instructor had more control over the clutch than I realised. I also never realised how much thought has to go into starting and stopping a car!!

So that's it, lesson one done! Roll on next week, I'm looking forward to it!!

Tropical World

And so it was, one snowy Friday afternoon that Oliver and I visited Tropical World in Leeds...
We saw many animals...





But my favourites were the Meerkats :D

And so it approaches...

Yesterday I met with my academic tutor and the head of BA Counselling Studies in preparation for my return to that part of my degree. Four years ago I was heading into my final year at university, apprehensive of where I would lead to and unaware of the rocky road ahead.

Today I was looking at my posts from that September, and still high from the summer's Christian festivals I posted about wanting to stand as a true woman of God. So often when we're at these events we can get caught up in the easy bubble they are, surrounded by thousands of other Christians, and we find it easy to rededicate our lives to God without thought of the consequences. I'm not saying that this is either positive or negative, just simply an observance.

In my mind at the time, I was giving my future to God AFTER my degree and perhaps this closed minded approach is partly what caused the change of plans that year to be so upsetting. In short, my tired body and mind was not prepared for this last year of uni and so it gave up on me. After two hard years of recovery I made it back to uni part time and gradually got stronger. Another two years later and a diagnosis of CFS/ME that has enabled things to make sense, I am back to where I left off. And so it approaches... my final year at university.

I have learnt to not take my relationship with God, nor what I say to Him, nor my life lightly! Who knows what is around the next corner, but I like to think that I am better prepared for it than I was four years ago.

Angel of Mercy

Below are the two images I created as the culmination of my module on Religion and the Visual Arts. I would appreciate feedback on your insights and so forth as I need to write about other peoples' opinions of my work.

Please click on the images to see them bigger. I will post my reasonings behind it at a later date. (Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to make the second image the proper width and you can't really get an idea of the materials - but hey ho!)

Angel of Mercy

Osama of Mercy?

Online Dating World

So I gave in and rejoined Christian Connection.

So far things have been a bit quiet - not entirely sure how you really get much of an idea about someone from just reading a profile and looking at tiny pictures.
There is an instant chat function, but there haven't been many guys on in my age group (the site seems to cater to a large age range)

Ideally I'd rather meet a guy in a more 'natural' sense, but there seems to be little opportunity for Christians my age to meet (that I've found anyway) - the idea of telling my future children that daddy and I met on the internet doesn't greatly appeal, but I'd rather have children than none!

I intend to keep you updated, but still working out how much I feel comfortable to share! ;)

Political Stance

After seeing Heather Cracknell's blog, I decided to follow her lead and take the political compass test. My results were as follows, and you can take the test here.

Snowy Walk

My snowy walk to church this morning:

Selfish Rant

Just needed a selfish rant for a mo.

Grrrrr to being tired all the time!!! Some may think that spending most of the day in bed would be a luxury, but it's just a pain when you have some much you want to do.

What's the point in God giving you passions, desires, wants etc. when you're stuck going no where further than your house? I would love to conquer the world (or at least experience as much as I can) but currently that is not a possibility and I don't know when it will be.

It's all well and good saying you can make it a mission to pray for things - but my heart wants more than that. I want to be a do-er.

Anyway, I totally acknowledge that with everything going on in the world this is a selfish rant and I lot of 'I', but I'd love to go out there and make a difference.

Rant over (for now)

Gym Ball Balancing

Christian Ethics - Part 2

Not many responses to the first one, but here are a couple more to get your teeth into:

• Are there every any cirumstances in which a doctor should test a patient for HIV/AIDS without informing the patient that they are doing so?

• On what grounds is it legitimate to offer amnesty from prosecution to a known terrorist or criminal in return for information leading to the conviction of his/her accomplices?

Christian Ethics - Part 1 - The Train

I'm about to start a module at uni on Christian Ethics. In preparation for this I have some questions set to discuss with friends and family. So I would much appreciate your thoughts on the following!

1. A runaway carriage is hurtling down a track where it will kill five people. You are standing on a bridge above the track and, aware of the imminent disaster, you decide to jump on the track to block the carriage. Although you will die, the five people will be saved. But just before your leap, you realise that you are too light to stop the carriage. Next to you, a fat man is standing on the very edge of the bridge. He would certainly stop the carriage, although he would undoubtedly die from the impact. A small nudge and he would fall right onto the track below. No one would ever know. Should you push him? Why?

When I opened the front door this morning...

When I opened the front door this morning I was entertainingly greeted by a shopping trolley, can't say I was expecting that, but I did half expect it to talk to me! It made its merry way off this afternoon with a couple of lads.

Jobs

So, where does one get one of them from?...

Quick Update - New Stuff

Well I've been back in York almost a week now, and am working hard at my essays - cough cough - so hard that I curled my hair today and am currently de-moulding the bathroom inbetween sentences.

So to bring you up to date and for Nana, here is my new coat (early birthday present - much appreciated.) Somehow the pictures don't do it justice, but 60% wool for the cold north and a brilliant bargin!













In other news I joined a protest about the situation in Gaza on Saturday - first ever protest, very 'York' like protest, but important. Motivations included the fact that I'm writing an essay about it, I've met Palestinians and Israelis in Palestine and Israel, and the whole thing is an atrocity.










I also got my ear pierced - meant to do it for a while, finally got round to it (with help from Emily and Mark!) I am very pleased with it - and can now lie on that side again when I sleep!










And all of these photos have been taken on my new camera, a Canon IXUS 82 which I very much recommend. I am enjoying using it - it is very exciting going from 3.1 mega pixels to 8!

Lastly, I was questioned along the lines as to if I only blog at uni, and I realised that my blog title is Sparky @ Uni - a fact I'd kind of forgotten. Seeing as though this is technically my 5th year at uni the title still fits, but I'm wondering about changing the title and wondered what you my readers think and if you have any ideas if I were to change it?

The Minster Plays Rudolf

Entertainingly as I walked into the city centre yesterday, I realised that the minster bells were playing Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer. Now that did bring a bemused smile to my face...

In Honour of Sarah

I want to dedicate this post today to my cousin Sarah, much loved daughter, sister, cousin, niece, granddaughter and friend. Another year has passed and yet we miss you still the same.

Pebble Baby Jesus

Found a link to this story on my church website. Beautiful.

I Will Praise You in this Storm

Heard this song by Casting Crowns last Christmas on a CD of my parents. At the moment it seems to be the best worship I can give God in the middle of my storm.

"Praise You In This Storm" Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

CHORUS
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

CHORUS

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
(REPEAT)

CHORUS

Holocaust Centre

Yesterday we went on a trip as part of our Judaism module, to the Holocaust Centre near Newark. It's well worth a visit if you haven't been already.

Although I'm not writing an essay on this part of Judaism, it was still interesting, and still very valueable in understanding contemporary Judaism today. Having said that, what spoke to me most was when we were told that since the Holocaust, there have been at least 50 similar atrocities, some still going on now like the situation in Dafur, Sudan. They showed us a video of what's going on there (which I'm sure barely catches the whole picture) and it was incredibly upsetting. To think that this is going on right this minute, and yet one of the most common phrases when talking about the Holocaust is 'never again'. It is also shocking that these things don't make the news as much as they should. It all makes me want to do something to help, but what?

At the Holocaust Centre there was a new exhibition aimed at primary school children. It was extremely interactive and I really enjoyed it! It took you on the story of a Jewish boy called Leo, and you really felt you were part of things! There was his living room and you could sit at the table, smell the soup, touch and pick up everything! The lady explained how they interacted with the children and it sounded really good. It takes them 4 hours to go round the exhibition! It's also carefully censored so that the children aren't told too much in depth about the terrible goings on, but are told enough to grasp the awfulness of the situation. They showed and talked about how his friends stopped hanging out with him as he was a Jew - which we as students found upsetting! There was also a hidden door to find in Leo's father's shop and we all went inside a representation of where the family hid.

The main exhibition was extremely well done too - lots of read and look at - but I'd run out of energy by this point!

We were priviledged to be able to listen to the stories of two Jewish survivors (husband and wife) which really brought things to life for us. Both had spent time in camps and both had lost significant numbers from their families. We could have listened to them talk for hours.

So in short - go visit if you can!

Yey I'm famous!

Well, I've made it onto a website in York!

Over the last month/6 weeks I've been doing some art course at Artfulness - an art gallery and cafe in the centre of York.

They've been great courses - and I'm now on the website advertising them!

http://www.artfulness.co.uk/artclasses.html

Hopefully you'll recognise me, and then my paintings are the one with fairies, and then the one with blue/pink background and yellow flowers.