One of those weeks....

I looked back at my blog from last year and realised I made a post on the anniversary of my dad's death then too. Well that's not til Thursday but it seems my trend of sporadic and often depressing posts continue. My aunt carole died on Saturday after a long battle with cancer, Carole being my dad's sister. I'm glad she is no longer suffering but am very sad. It comes only a few days before dad's anniversary as I say and as there was a striking resemblance bet wen my dad and his sister, these last few months have been very painful, almost reliving my dad's illness, which is something I never thought I would have to experience again. Or my Mum. I'll miss my auntie.

Upside stuff? Well Venture is going ahead. Yippeeeee! We've got 30 kids booked on to Christchuch 2 and we're saddling up for the Wild West theme.....Sugarhill Gang's apache is keeping me awake nights!

I've been helping lead Kosmic at church which is ace...more playing with kids!

I'm off to see Rob Bell on tour next week - inspiring Christian leader and I'm very excited to see him talk live. He is responsible for Nooma - a set of teaching aids which I've found really useful and provocative. My home group are making our own version (unoriginal and cheesey but who cares!)

Will write more soon 'cos I've got busy times on the horizon!



Music Recs:

David Vandervelte's album called the Moonstation House Band (how to confuse people in one easy step!)
Brie Stoner - especially Rain Down
Leona Naess
Soundtrack to Trust the Man
Joshua Radin - We Were Here

Another late update - v.poor!

I am categorically rubbish at updating my blog anywhere near as frequently as necessary to make people interested! So another vow to update more often....we'll see how long this one lasts!

First an explanation for the random picture. That's my *old* desk, with the lovely Nigel peering out from behind waving me good bye as I left my cosy office in Amersham and headed for sunbury on thames. I'm officially a Senior Environment Officer now - or an Enior Environment Officer as my contract sayas - God bless Human Resources department. I've been incredibly spoiled until this point in my life when it comes to commuting. Amersham for the last 3 and half years has been an 18mile round trip, before that in Dorset it was 80 yards from my chalet to my desk and before that at uni, 147 yards from my bed to my lecture theatre seat. I'm now a good hour and a half round the M25 from bed to office...but I am loving my new job, the people are fantastic and I am really excited for the future in this place.

Other stuff I've been up to?

I went to my first Spring Harvest just before Easter and had a brill time. Saw Adrian Plass live - who I have always adored and who was hysterically funny. I got to see Sarah Kelly play live, and got a hug afterwards, from the Grammy Award winning artist. I attended loads of seminars about all sorts of good stuff - and got to do some extreme walking, play some cazy golf, beat little kids at Lazer Quest. Skegness was blinking freezing too, might have to try Minehead next time.

Easter was great, sang in the band at church again, a ministry new to me, but one I am rapidly falling totally in love with. The people are fantastic and I am completely in awe of their talent - and grateful they let me warble along with them.

I've started using Facebook where people can see more regular updates from me, but nothing in depth like this.

Stuff coming up...

Big prayer request for venture please - were low on numbers of kids so we my be losing one - or both - weeks.

Music recs.

Arcade Fire - again! I now have a couple of their albums and am getting more time behind the wheel to sing along loudly.
Sarah Kelly - as mentioned above
The Shins - Chutes too Narrow - old album but one I only just got - Kissing the Lipless is a stand out track

I am being yelled at..........

by my lovely friend Cheryl Anne Hibbert Superstar Face - for not updating my blog and not mentioning her.

So here we are. Cheryl is my friend - but she is also a bit nuts. She like horses and she met Shakin' Stevens this week and got very excited about it. She went to Iceland recently (the country, not the shop) and sent me some lovely pistures of where she got to stand on the Mid Atlantic Ridge - so I am very jealous.

I don't have a picture of her here at work to put on, but I will find one. I have a picture fo her on my phone wrapped in an England flag at the Take That concert we went to together last summer. It was a fun day, we sang a lot and got yelled at by some girls as we were dancing to the Sugababes and apparently that is a bit uncool.....but we're old so what do we care?

Is that alright Cherelle?

Oh the picture is of a mountain in Tignes where I was skiing recently. We had stupid amounts of snow and I took that piccie in one of the few huors we had of clear skies. We can't win - either too much snow or not enough!

MIRRORS & SMOKE VALENTINE'S DAY FAN VIDEO

Let it Snow....



I had the day off work yesterday cos of the foot of snow we had here. So for once on a day off I didn't just sit on my bee-hind - I wandered over Hughenden Park and took some piccies of the snow. I am quite proud of a few of them!

It does always amaze me that everyone complains about snow. I know..I know the world stops and people can'go to work and have to spend the day playing with their children - it's a hardship!

I saw the incomprable Ray LaMontagne in concert this week. Awesome!!! I went with the ever-lovely Freya who got very excited, girly and embarrasing, when she spotted half the cast from the Green Wing at the bar. I don't watch it so I acted all cool while she jumped around and pointed like a school girl (soz Freya but you did!)

2007.....here goes!

Bonjour to you and you.
2007 started off on a bit of a flat note - being ill in bed with a chest infection - lovely! I hope everyone else's New Year Eve celebrations were more successful.:)

I have just got back from Chamonix, France, ski trip numero uno of 2007 with the Warnock Home Group plus various relatives and hangers on - we could have benefitted from more snow to provide better choice on the slopes, but given the inclement weather we did pretty well. I only totally stacked it once on a Red in less 5m visibility.....however it was falling off the button twice in a row at the same point that dented my ego!

Christmas was spent in Bath with my sister Natalie, her husband Matt and my nephew and niece, Samuel and Sophie. Manic as expected but very nice, cosy and relaxing. I have a new dressing gown that goes all the way to the floor!

Andi and I saw delirious? again at their Christmas Gig in Shepherd's Bush. I took Mum to see We Will Rock You for her 60th (sorry Mum!) I really enjoyed both shows - though We Will Rock You, certainly has to be taken for what it is!

Plans for 2007 then....another ski trip to Tignes at the end of February....Two Ventures in July....a weekend away with some girlies in March - not decided where yet though...Ray LaMontagne concert coming up sooooooon!

Music recs:
Verve Remixed - CD2 (awesome , if unexpected mixes of classic jazz numbers)
Arcade Fire - Funeral (Indescribably good!)
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
The Elizabethtown Soundtrack,/strong.