Well, that’s the end of the Christmas Cake, mince pies, and other festive fayre. Menu back to normal next week. (Fri Jan 03 08:17:50)
CBeebies HD. Really? (Fri Jan 03 09:05:24)
Bit of liturgical confusion at church this morning. One person thought Epiphany was today, another thought twelve night was tomorrow! (Sun Jan 05 21:30:49)
RT @cluedont: BBC: ‘Much of Scotland’s coastline still being battered.’ They will literally deep fry anything. (Tue Jan 07 06:54:07)
RT @jcodfishpie: Obi-Wan: Use the force Ani.
Anakin: If you must shorten my name can’t you call me Kin?
Obi-Wan: Use the force Kin.
(Fri Jan 10 07:08:31)
I must be doing something right – No. 1 Son was humming Fleetwood Mac to himself as he brushed his teeth this morning. (Tue Jan 14 08:24:19)
Today is being brought to you by the chemicals caffeine and paracetomol. (Tue Jan 14 09:01:29)
I used to think that I prayed every day because I was holy. I’ve come to realise that I need to because I’m not. (Wed Jan 15 09:12:12)
Early start for Growing Leaders away day. Well worth it – all about vision. (Sat Jan 18 07:00:49)
Very sad to hear news from Edinburgh. We live in a fallen, broken world. (Sat Jan 18 07:02:28)
Thank you @leach_mick for another good evening of accountability, encouragement and prayer. #IronSharpensIron (Thu Jan 23 21:46:43)
After 12 years of faithful service, looks like our Dyson has finally had enough. Motor dying and can’t be replaced. Prognosis is 6 months. (Sat Jan 25 10:18:22)
I’m still astonished by how much dust it can extract from an apparently clean floor. Will Definitely get another. (Sat Jan 25 10:20:08)
Great birthday party for my 10yo courtesy of ActionZone. Running through woods firing lasers at one another. 🙂 (Mon Jan 27 12:30:12)
Less positive developments with parents. It’s difficult living so far away, esp as they in middle of nowhere (relatively). (Mon Jan 27 12:33:03)
Nice article on the music of Bond. http://t.co/VqkmX15CGY. I have (unknowingly) put a common tone modulation in one of my songs! (Sat Feb 01 21:56:25)
According to 10yo “Oxfam” are inspecting his school today… (Wed Feb 05 08:17:51)
RT @PacketEmma: No trains in or out of Cornwall – no road alternative either. First Great Western “strongly advises” against travel http://… (Wed Feb 05 12:14:39)
“I’m sorry, an error has occurred with call forwarding.” No secret sound guess for me. 🙁 @strayfm (Fri Feb 07 08:16:10)
RT @tinymind: Don’t smile when taking a funeral at the point in the service when you say “we remember that we are all BUTT DUST! #clergywisdom (Sun Feb 09 09:48:59)
About to venture into the snow to continue our Johanan adventure – taking my parallel NT so I look clever! (Mon Feb 10 20:00:44)
Excitement mounting for Magic of the Musicals http://t.co/fjL5nVf4CT (Tue Feb 11 18:47:12)
Goodness me – some very brave costumes on the year 13s #MustHaveBeenSprayedOn. (Tue Feb 11 20:27:31)
Superb show at Harrogate High. Some outstanding performances. #MagicOfTheMusicals (Tue Feb 11 21:58:29)
RT @JoRoyal: Am I right in assuming there will be no onions in heaven? At least, if there are, they will be ready sliced?! #notearsinheaven (Thu Feb 13 07:16:21)
Being quoted The Lego Movie this morning over breakfast (everything is awesome). (Mon Feb 17 08:16:11)
Time was when I was the first hit for my name on Google – now you have to go to the fourth results page. #DigitalNobody (Sat Feb 22 20:14:08)
So begins my trip to Stafford. Nice sunny day for it. (Mon Feb 24 12:12:27)
Wonder if anyone else on their way to Shallowford is on twitter? Not going to tweet from there – taking time out to discern God’s calling. (Mon Feb 24 12:17:00)
Wonder to where I would fly if I decided to stay on this train to Man airport? Probably not very far w/o my passport. (Mon Feb 24 12:50:58)
Have done all I can – the rest is out of my hands. Soon will be travelling home! (Wed Feb 26 12:09:23)
Leaving 3 is worse than breaking up. 20 minutes of “why are you leaving. What went wrong. Please stay. I’ll change, I promise. ” (Tue Mar 04 13:18:48)
The net effect of which is that I’m very unlikely to go back when my next contract is up. #OwnGoal. (Tue Mar 04 13:23:06)
I like my new phone. It’s much bigger than my old one, almost too big. Glad I didn’t go with the S3 in the end. Motorola Migrate is awesome. (Sat Mar 08 09:17:16)
It’s a Moto G for the interested. UI very tablet like, whereas my old Samsung still felt like a phone. (Sat Mar 08 09:21:30)
Sunday mornings often start with Bob and Pat in this household. (Sun Mar 09 07:23:24)
Still busy day ahead. Friend’s birthday for No. 1, church for the rest of us, then what should be an interesting trip for me to Ripon. (Sun Mar 09 07:26:45)
Phone number port day tomorrow for me. Just thought I’d share that. (Sun Mar 09 09:48:17)
Lovely to see the good folk of Harrogate out enjoying the sunshine today.
Car reckoned 20 degrees at one point. (Sun Mar 09 19:05:50)
Really liking the new, quick @timescrosswords. Finished today’s in 30 mins. (Tue Mar 11 19:00:12)
So, good people of Twitter. I have Carte Blanche for supper on Monday, it being my birthday. What to choose? Needs to be cook-able at home. (Wed Mar 12 21:52:42)
Some really good discussion at Growing Leaders tonight. For me the material works best as a stimulus, rather then providing the “answer”. (Wed Mar 12 22:15:13)
Smells like the muck spreaders are out and about. #HarrogateLife. (Thu Mar 13 12:26:09)
You know it’s going to be one of those cycles home when your shoelace gets tangled in the pedal as you set off. #CouldHaveBeenNasty. (Thu Mar 13 17:35:19)
REALLY like the new @timescrosswords quick cryptic. Finished today’s in about 15 mins – flashes of my aspiration for the main one. (Thu Mar 13 19:28:01)
Wow – woken up to a beautiful sunny day in Harrogate. And its time for DIY pain au chocolate as a pre-birthday treat. (Sun Mar 16 07:34:54)
Just realised that I talked about a pre-birthday treat in a pre-birthday tweet. Cool. (Sun Mar 16 07:35:57)
Yay it’s my birthday. Four decades lie behind, hopefully as many lie before. I think the next decade is going to be especially interesting. (Mon Mar 17 07:15:24)
Also, happy St Patrick’s day. I quite like sharing his day, except that it’s always in Lent. #TopOfTheMorning (Mon Mar 17 07:17:18)
RT @hollyrayfield: I would rather read the iTunes terms and conditions than go to school tomorrow #monday (Mon Mar 17 07:22:21)
Well, it’s not everyday that one applies to theological college! But today was one of those days. (Mon Mar 17 18:29:25)
Hoping my fellow groupies will be joining me for cake later. House-groupies, that is. There may also be some fizz… (Mon Mar 17 18:31:42)
3 fire engines in 5 minutes heading into town along wetherby road – presumably Prezzo fire? (Tue Mar 18 13:37:42)
Right, everything sorted here. Going to be fashionably late to the Lent course again! #RamToLamb (Tue Mar 18 19:47:14)
RT @HalfBloodTweet: ‘On a scale of 1 to 10, how obsessed are you with Harry Potter?’
‘Nine and three quarters.’ (Sat Mar 22 19:11:51)
My other half is having an evening out with Miranda. I’m having an evening in with Katniss. #EveryonesAWinner. (Sat Mar 22 19:13:12)
First stab at breadsticks http://t.co/UzydPHPLXN (Sun Mar 23 09:17:29)
We’re hiring where I work! Extraordinary company to work for. Been here 6 yrs and it feels like 6 months. http://t.co/B758vGlIeD (Mon Mar 24 17:17:20)
Right. Climbing tonight. First proper session for 4 months, which is a shocker. Might manage a 4+. (Wed Mar 26 18:56:24)
Cracking day today. Finished the Times quick cryptic without any aids, and climbed my highest lead grade (6a), and on sight. (Wed Mar 26 22:17:30)
Looking forward to the songwriting workshop tonight at St A’s. Should be a good ‘un. (Fri Mar 28 08:21:56)
Productive morning. Mothers day photo taken and made into card. Need to repeat with other son after school (& before said mum gets home!) (Fri Mar 28 12:41:01)
Flowers looking lovely at Harlow Carr @ RHS Garden Harlow Carr http://t.co/q1np6CycK5 (Sun Mar 30 13:48:53)
Takes me ages to get the hang of the clocks change. Darker or lighter. More tired or less tired? Earlier or later. So many questions. (Sun Mar 30 20:38:25)
I just about nail it in time for them to change back… (Sun Mar 30 20:38:57)
I can answer 2 of my “clock change” questions. “Darker” and “more tired”! I may have to revise them this evening… (Mon Mar 31 06:45:39)
Nothing like deleting records from a live production database for getting the heart working! Thankfully I got the query right. (Tue Apr 01 16:20:33)
Is it bad if I go to the APCM with my own plungey coffee cup? http://t.co/UbWpampzAb (Wed Apr 02 17:30:56)
@samanthajoy2 there’ll be wine? Perhaps it will became fun evening after all! (Wed Apr 02 18:14:38)
So it turns out there really was wine (and cheese) at the APCM. I thought it was a joke! And yes, I took me coffee cup. (Wed Apr 02 20:33:22)
Cornwall is back! (Fri Apr 04 05:52:43)
Kids are hilarious sometimes: “Penny Morris can’t do it – she’s busy upstairs in the firefighters bedroom” (Fri Apr 04 08:27:41)
RT @OurCofE: I’ve just been on a once in a lifetime holiday. I tell you what – never again! (Fri Apr 04 21:36:28)
RT @OurCofE: I was playing chess with my friend and he said ‘Now let’s make this interesting’. So we stopped playing chess. (Fri Apr 04 21:36:36)
We have been greatly blessed by an evening of superstars. Stars giving us a lift. Stars feeding us magnificently, and stars babysitting. (Fri Apr 04 23:01:10)
Oops – just hammered my wordpress server trying to delete all the spam comments in one go! Hopefully it’ll recover soon. (Sat Apr 05 08:49:31)
When they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child. (Mon Apr 07 21:05:04)
Right. Off to Yorkshire Ministry Course to see if I’m offered a place (and that I want one, I guess) for ordination training. (Wed Apr 09 13:13:00)
Took 5 minutes to admire the red kite cruising at low altitude over the stray.
Deadly beauty and gracefulness. (Wed Apr 09 13:20:10)
And for my next trick I will navigate the Leeds inner ring road without crashing or getting lost. #HeresHoping. PS not in car yet! (Wed Apr 09 13:22:07)
Didn’t follow up from yesterday – all systems go for YMC come September. Was a fab evening; v impressed by George Lings on Fresh Expressions (Thu Apr 10 21:26:22)
Interesting analysis by George Lings that the presbytery is becoming more episcopal with things like fresh expressions and shared benefices. (Fri Apr 11 18:48:30)
Daddy and the Hoovertrons: the epic ongoing battle against the evil dust aliens. (Fri Apr 11 16:49:40)
Suddenly feeling a bit rash for heading out in short sleeves and a light jacket. (Fri Apr 11 18:41:36)
I’m not the only one who’s underdressed in Harrogate. But I am the only one who’s male (and over 20) (Fri Apr 11 18:57:34)
Just read how 1 Cor 14 (“women, keep quiet”) may be Paul quoting and refuting, rather than proscribing. Paradigm shift!! (Mon Apr 14 20:57:11)
To be clear, I have often struggled with those particular verses, especially in recent years. (Mon Apr 14 21:00:29)
Officially on holiday. Ended up leaving the house earlier than on a work day. #MOT&Service. (Tue Apr 15 07:45:33)
The tomb is empty! He is Risen! He is Risen indeed – hallelujah! (Sun Apr 20 06:25:40)
Rest In Peace my delightful, frustrating, loving mixed up Mum. You were loved more than you know. (Sun Apr 27 09:51:03)
Next job is to start processing my Mum’s affairs. All very final. (Mon Apr 28 07:33:51)
First time on a Grand Central train. Seems pretty comfy thus far. (Mon Apr 28 15:45:16)
RT @OurCofE: Academics call it “theological reflection”. I call it @nandos. (Mon Apr 28 15:46:28)
Free WiFi and power sockets noticeably bigger and more widely spaced seats too. Just hope my ticket is valid! I also like clunk-click doors (Mon Apr 28 15:57:05)
Overwhelmed by the last few days’ events, and by all the love and support. I seriously need to change into some clean clothes now though!! (Mon Apr 28 17:29:59)
You can tell it has been a long journey when you’re happy to see Starbeck. (Only kidding – love ya really) (Mon Apr 28 18:40:14)
I think my attempt to impress the girl next to me on the train by doing the crossword failed. As indeed did my attempt at the crossword. (Mon Apr 28 18:44:35)
(I don’t think I’m allowed to make jokes like that once I’m a vicar, so making the most of it now.) (Mon Apr 28 18:48:45)
I love Harrogate – this is my walk home from the station.. http://t.co/NbJXvQqAqD (Mon Apr 28 18:56:01)
Choosing the music for my mum’s cremation. Makes me wonder what I’d like to play me out. (Fri May 02 07:45:27)
Agg. My server has demised. Everything spins up, but won’t even POST. Guessing mobo is fried. 🙁 (Sun May 04 12:37:22)
Right. Now for a sex education lesson at school! (Wed May 07 16:46:59)
Today’s excitement is a quick hop over the Irish sea for AGI conference in Belfast. Time for flight mode! (Tue May 13 07:06:17)
Arrived in Belfast. Little bit disappointed there are no leprechauns and nobody’s said “top ‘o’ the morning. (Tue May 13 08:22:01)
My sort of lunch break – enjoying the sun in the Botanic Gardens with a 99. (Tue May 13 12:19:20)
I like being at a conference where all the contributors say “the data are”. (Tue May 13 15:34:47)
Back on the mainland. Genuinely surprised that Belfast was so British – silly really, but I expected some difference after a flight overseas (Tue May 13 18:58:36)
So confused about what day it is, but I am sure it’s Growing Leaders session 8 this evening. Great session about the realities of leadership (Wed May 14 11:55:47)
All of my “rpm” dials are way in the red at the moment. Hoping that the external pressures ease before something internal gives! #RedZone (Wed May 14 12:25:18)
I hate reconfiguring a server. Dovecot is playing silly beggers and doesn’t appear to be logging anywhere. (Thu May 15 21:07:27)
Just spotted that I passed my 365 anniversary a couple of weeks ago. I only did 2.5 years of true “365” – all a bit ad hoc now. (Mon May 26 09:02:53)
Orders of service arrived for the memorial – look pretty good (if I do say so myself) (Fri May 30 07:03:00)
Put it off all week, but there is no more avoiding the Stray funfair. (Fri May 30 13:32:40)
For all that it breaks the bank, I do enjoy the funfair. There’s even a rollercoaster this time, which is a first in my memory. (Fri May 30 14:51:18)
Also got my offer of a place on the Yorkshire Ministry Course through. (And another book to read before I start!) (Fri May 30 14:52:13)
It turns out to be very useful when preparing a eulogy if the subject has written an autobiography. (Fri May 30 21:25:52)
I was born when my mum was around halfway through her life (~30 years before, ~39 after). OK, so 3/7ths rather than 1/2. (Fri May 30 21:30:34)
RT @BibleStdntsSay: Dear Students,
Emoticons are not really considered appropriate in academic writing. (Sat May 31 08:28:51)
I have just been followed by “vuvuzela man.” My life is complete. (Sat May 31 08:30:10)
Liturgically confused! So Jesus has ascended, the Holy Spirit hasn’t yet come, but Mary is visiting Elisabeth. (Sat May 31 21:31:29)
Just had my first online shop delivered from Morissons. Pretty good service. (Sun Jun 08 21:12:05)
The memorial went well. The rector reckons I can use the order of service as an assignment! Was an appropriate and moving occasion tho. (Sun Jun 08 21:18:19)
Anyway, time for Pentecost Night Prayer, then the hitting of the sack. (Sun Jun 08 21:19:16)
Browing my weblog – do people really think “GET /../../../../../../../../etc/passwd” is going to work? (Mon Jun 09 07:27:19)
Cracking Growing Leaders session lined up. It’s got flags and everything. (Wed Jun 11 17:05:10)
Flash of genius on cats does countdown – “can we not have the clock this time – it’s very distracting”. (Sun Jun 15 07:18:30)
My new morning exercise regime has so far had no impact on weight or muscle tone. It’s been, like, 4 days too. (Sun Jun 15 20:01:22)
You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity. (Sun Jun 15 20:28:49)
It is a sad truth that the only way to avoid snacking is not to have access to snacks. (Mon Jun 16 12:17:58)
I’ve just taken my 1,000 photo since I started my “365” (it’s not a 365 anymore – more of a 100 – but still). http://t.co/fBLkJ7SpEv (Fri Jun 27 08:37:35)
We may be out of the World Cup, but there’s always St George’s lasagne! http://t.co/6Ln78kVSR3 (Fri Jun 27 12:05:27)
I wonder if I actually got invited into Who’s Who whether I’d realise, or just delete it as spam. (Fri Jun 27 21:28:20)
The mystery of the overflowing drain is solved. http://t.co/GTpkZHRLd1 (Sat Jun 28 08:17:37)
Guessing that the copter hovering over Harrogate is a TV one – practising for next weekend? (Sun Jun 29 13:32:36)
Or maybe related to the spitfire fly by which just happened. (Sun Jun 29 13:33:13)
I have reached the age when quiet weekends are a blessing not a boredom! (Mon Jun 30 07:53:41)
I hate making mistakes, especially with the one thing I’ve been given to do. *sigh* (Mon Jun 30 21:20:35)
Yewdale road is amazing. Every house is decorated http://t.co/XBneEXIpVf (Fri Jul 04 07:20:41)
Roads in the saints are deserted. Could be the school holidays. (Fri Jul 04 07:30:48)
Heard tell of the Beckhams spotted in Betty’s in the last day or two. (Fri Jul 04 08:02:04)
Just realised that I’ve been walking round Harrogate for 2 hrs – no wonder I want a sit down! (Fri Jul 04 09:14:12)
I wonder if Star Trek movies ever get tired? Apart from the odd numbered ones, obviously. (Fri Jul 04 20:24:46)
My phone just failed a drop test. First cracked screen in 22 years of phone ownership. (Sun Jul 06 09:32:16)
Good turnout along the Knaresborough Rd. Ou est le peleton, we all wonder.
(Answer – hasn’t left York yet) #LeTour (Sun Jul 06 10:02:32)
Hotting up on the Knaresborough Rd. Wonder how far ahead the break will be when they get here. #LeTour (Sun Jul 06 10:26:20)
Finally, the pelaton follow up the Knaresborough Rd. #LeTour #Harrogate http://t.co/Ql0WRVygdH (Sun Jul 06 13:12:07)
I love the cycle to work during the Yorkshire Show. I get the Wetherby Rd all toyself! (Tue Jul 08 07:55:50)
Feeling bittersweet. Just finished last Growing Leaders course. It’s been a big part of my life for 4 years, but God is doing a new thing. (Wed Jul 09 21:40:21)
That article in the Times about men becoming sexually invisible to women at 39 is nonsense. I’ve been that way all my life! (Thu Jul 10 21:24:53)
Sent no 1 son to have a shower. 15 minutes later he gets out. His legs are still muddy from the cycle ride. (Fri Jul 11 07:03:09)
It even looks as if a little bit of water stayed in the shower this time. #PassTheMop (Fri Jul 11 07:08:48)
The stray is a bit like someone has picked up Hyde Park and dropped it in Harrogate. #ExLondoner (Fri Jul 11 08:17:08)
They’ve done a great job on West Park – you wouldn’t know the TDF had been! (Fri Jul 11 10:06:47)
I’m a little embarrassed by my former stance on women vicars (and my extension Bishops). I can’t find a compelling “anti” argument . (Mon Jul 14 11:28:41)
@HannahnagroM I think it takes a very literal and selective reading of scripture. I can understand the anti position – I just don’t agree. (Mon Jul 14 11:56:10)
Female Bishops is not about equality – quite the opposite. It is only men and women together which form the image of God. (Mon Jul 14 17:19:37)
I’m glad this nonsense about vicars in shell suits didn’t take hold. Can only be good to have choice over robing in my opinion. (Mon Jul 14 18:34:36)
We can now move on from how we dress and get on with the gospel (Consider the flowers of the field…) (Mon Jul 14 18:38:25)
No 1 son at cub camp this weekend. Camping. Bit concerned by the weather forecast. (Wed Jul 16 20:26:14)
That’s it. Final thank you’s written. Final accounts accounted for. No more Growing Leaders for me. #WhatARide #GodAtWork #MixedEmotions (Wed Jul 16 21:12:13)
Looks like interesting weather ahead. Seriously hot tomorrow. Seriously wet at the weekend. Sunshine and showers it aint. (Thu Jul 17 14:25:49)
Rather too much breaking news yesterday. Guess the Rapture Index has taken a hike! Thoughts and prayers for those affected and our world. (Fri Jul 18 07:52:31)
It’s Friday. That can only mean that it’s time for the next exciting installment of Hoovertron and the Dust Aliens. #housework #DaddyDay (Fri Jul 18 08:13:06)
Funny moment at work this week. Colleague asking about a SQL temp table. “What’s hashtag DistMatrix for?” (Fri Jul 18 08:15:45)
Looks like we’ve skipped the heatwave and gone straight to the rain in Yorkshire! (Fri Jul 18 10:58:14)
Looks the the thunderstorm is sneaking past on the east flank, which is sad for me (love a good storm), but v. good for cub camp. (Sat Jul 19 18:20:29)
I found Trouble at Mill? (http://t.co/fyuvYlMb8P). #cgeo #geocaching (Thu Aug 14 16:54:12)
I am genuinely confounded my the depravity of mind which allows IS to believe their actions are right, or of God. (Mon Aug 25 15:00:12)
On a lighter note, why is she an actress and not an actrix? (Mon Aug 25 15:06:52)
Hope the babysitter got my cancellation message. If not he’s going to find me in bed with a lemsip, feeling grotty! (Mon Aug 25 18:45:37)
Wading through “A History of Christianity”. Wondering at times if I’m reading about 400 or 2014. #PlusCaChange (Mon Aug 25 18:47:48)
“We’re off, we’re off on a mighty quest”. Good fun at @RHSHarlowCarr at the weekend (in our paladin band). (Tue Aug 26 08:10:18)
Not been climbing for 6 months. As a wise friend said, when you have a bereavement you also get lots of knock-on little bereavements. (Wed Aug 27 06:33:05)
“Ola, senior Toucan”
Yup, No 2 has entered the Dora zone. (Thu Aug 28 06:09:02)
Getting into loom bands. Easy, cheap, and no special equipment needed. Like a quicker reincarnation of (embroidery) friendship bracelets. (Fri Aug 29 17:00:46)
Swapped my jeans and boots for shorts and sandals. It’s a scorcher in #harrogate. (Fri Sep 05 11:36:27)
The Cutting Edge mini-albums were well named. Still sounding fresh and relevant a couple of decades on. (Fri Sep 05 14:06:54)
Cake Trails…: How to make a fire truck cake {Tutorial} http://t.co/iRKazYKtxD (Tue Sep 09 12:53:30)
So good to pray with @leach_mick. Our time is often uncomfortable and vulnerable, but always a means of trust, blessing and growth. (Tue Sep 09 20:46:24)
( … Might need to have a sherry to calm down a bit before bed) (Tue Sep 09 20:47:25)
Well. So it begins. YMC induction day tomorrow! (Fri Sep 12 12:57:24)
Had my first stab at piping mashed potato this afternoon. Didn’t go too well! (Fri Oct 24 19:55:08)
Is there a cosmic rule that dictates children may only sleep in on days when parents have to get up early anyway? (Tue Nov 11 07:08:46)
We will remember. (Tue Nov 11 07:10:36)
Jenga lorry. http://t.co/8JEoOwUvLh (Fri Nov 14 15:10:53)
Good week so far. Fixed 2 bugs at work, did alright for my first YMC assignment, climbing this evening and Gospel of John tomorrow evening. (Tue Nov 25 17:04:59)
Dangermouse is coming back! With no less a vocal talent then Xander Armstrong and Stephen Fry. (Mon Dec 01 12:19:16)
Well. First term at YMC in the bag. Exhausting and exhilarating, 2 assignments due in January, then it all starts again! (Wed Dec 03 22:30:00)
Apparently I used my “vicar voice” at house group this evening. #DangersOfBeingAnOrdinand. (Mon Dec 15 22:02:34)
I’ve also decided to pronounce “Xmas” “Chi-mas”. (Mon Dec 15 22:03:48)
School nursery nativity this morning. It’s great to not work Fridays so I can help out and watch! (Fri Dec 19 08:57:17)
Got about 4 clues left in the Church Times Christmas Crossword. Unfortunately they’re the hardest four. (Sat Dec 20 23:08:07)
.. But there have been some brilliant anagrams along the way. Loved 1A for instance. @churchtimes (Sat Dec 20 23:09:40)
@Kneewax Funnily enough 1A was indeed Jesus (in a long winded way) as were at least 2 others (if you squint a bit). (Sat Dec 20 23:10:57)
Loving the “12 days of Christmas” trail at Fountains http://t.co/bFfE75D7nd (Mon Dec 29 15:48:08)
There was a time when I’d always have to fish at least one plectrum out of my pocket whenever I put my trousers in the wash. (Mon Dec 29 22:20:41)
RT @NickMotown: I’ve noticed that parents who go into “Baby Changing Facilities” invariably come out with the same one.
Very suspicious. (Mon Dec 29 22:26:32)
It’s the panto. Oh yes it is. http://t.co/lLQssoQal1 (Wed Dec 31 09:51:08)
Well, 2014 was one heck of a year for us. I’m not too sad it’s over, to be honest.
The two big hitters of the year were the death of my Mum back in April (and everything leading up to it, and following it), and being recommended for ordination training (again), but this time actually starting it.
My younger son also started going to nursery school, and he now goes for 6 sessions (i.e. 1/2 days) a week. He’s also managed to get through 2 childminders this year. In both cases they announced they were giving up childminding, and gave us 6 weeks notice to find alternative childcare!! I don’t think it was because of him…
Thankfully the elder son has had a quieter year, the biggest excitement probably being that he is now a scout.
I spent much of the first quarter of the year on the phone or dashing down the country to be with my Mum. I’m so glad I was with her on her last night, and was able to speak at her memorial service in the summer. It’s been a lot of hard work executing her estate (and it wasn’t a particularly complex will either), but we’ve about managed to wrap it up. Like the loss of my Dad a decade ago, it’s been great to be going through this with my two sisters. I found the loss of a second parent easier, I think partly because I had a better idea of what to expect, but also because I don’t feel like there was unfinished business between us. There were 2 or 3 times when I was sure it was “goodbye”, but each time she rallied! So the end, when it did come, was no surprise. Praying quietly with her by her side as she drew near the end was a privilege.
The ordination thing was the other rollercoaster – going to another BAP (at the same place as last time), knowing in the back of my mind that my last BAP was in the shadow of my Dad’s death, and this BAP was with my Mum on a fairly sticky wicket! But together we discerned God’s ongoing calling, and my recommendation report was better than first time around (which you might hope – would be a worry if I was in the same place spiritually as 7 yeasrs ago).
The Yorkshire Ministry Course was the only realistic option for training, and so far it was been brilliant. During term time, my “space” has completely evaporated. I refused to give up climbing and photography altogether, and my “rocks” come before my training – but mountains of reading, note taking, essays, lectures. Really really good stuff, and I’ve never read the Bible so intensely before (most of the whole NT in 10 weeks – a book or more a week, each read in a single sitting). But the theology side is half the story – it’s really about formation, being formed into a minister of the Church, and a visible/”official” public representative of God and Jesus.
Without doubt the best part of the course is the other people on it, and the time we spend together. There are already one or two people who have made a huge difference, and I’m sure will be friends for life.
Well, just 4 days left of 2014 – seems like a reasonable point at which to have a look back over the year, and in particular how I did against my “hit list” which I posted way back in January.
Pocket Money – YES. System worked well.
Climbing – Not so good. Only 6 climbs, but I did lead a 6a clean in March.
Photography – Better than I thought, as I posted 146 photos (and counting, I guess), and did at least one most weeks. It’s really tailed off since September, when I started training. Only 33 photos since the start of September.
Cinema – I did go and see Catching Fire, which was fab, and I wanted to see Mockingjay pt 1 but missed it. We did get Netflix this year though, so I have been sneaking in the odd film via that medium.
Blogging – yes, well. The main casuality of this year. A paltry 9 posts (10, including this one). It might reach 12 by year end.
Roast app, TweetRate – neither.
Hospitality – not really any better, although we have had more people to stay this year.
40th – came and went really. I did have plans to get singing lessons, but all the stuff with my Mum meant I had to shelve this, and then didn’t have time before I started training.
My “rocks” are in much better shape, and it’s a tick across the board for them.
There have been some positive things too, which weren’t on my hit list, but might have been:
Being recommended for ordination training.
Starting ordination training.
Studying theology.
Some very cool baking – fire engine cake and meringue mushrooms in particular.
Wow – life has got busy since I started my ordination training in September!
The Yorkshire Ministry Course is really good – we’ve settled into a rhythm now, of Wednesdays and weekends, working our way through the New Testament and elements of Ministry and Mission. My fellow ordinands are awesome, and there are one or two in particular who are fantastic to be walking alongside, to help and be helped by.
What is particularly noticeable is that an awful lot of “normal life” has got squeezed out. I’m hugely enjoying the reading, writing, thinking, reflecting… but I also used to quite enjoy watching TV, reading for pleasure, taking photos, and blogging!
My personal tutor asked me what my amibition/target was for the first year of my training, and I must confess I haven’t really thought about this. My aim for the first term was, more or less, “survive” (or “pass”, if you prefer) – which seems to have happened. But I can recognise that the time has come to perhaps lift my head a bit, and start looking beyond the next essay deadline.
One of the peculiarities of the course is the diversity of pathways – of the c. 30 people in the first year, only two others are doing the same thing as me (the same modules, at the same time, and the same level, for the same duration). I barely understand the pathway I am on, and have given up trying to understand anyone else’s. It’s a lesson in patience, submission, and trust – we are told what we need to know by the time we need to know it, and that has to be enough.
I will blog more thoughts and little gems I’ve picked up another time, but I did at least want to write something (for the first time since June!!)
After being inspired by a request from Alex Cann (‘im off Stray FM) to suggest colourful songs for a playlist for the St Michael’s hospice Colour Rush on the 20th June, I’ve got all excited and decided to blog it!
Off the top of my head, we have a collection of singles:
“Fergus Sings the Blues”
“Black or White”
“Since You’ve been gone” (by Rainbow)
“Green Door”
“Red Red Wine”
“Itsy Bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini”
“The Race” (by Yello)
“Blue Suede Shoes”
“Summertime Blues”
“Blue Velvet”
“Black velvet”
“Pink Sunshine” (by Fuzzbox. Maybe a little obscure, but a fab track)
“Yellow submarine”
“Little Red Corvette”
“Raspberry Beret”
“Purple Rain”
“Purple Haze”
“Blue [da boo dee]”
“Blueberry Hill”
“Gold”
“Brown eyed girl”
“Brown girl in the ring”
“Painter Man”
“Golden Brown”
“True Blue” (knew there’d be one by Madge)
“Hazy shade of winter”
“Pink Cadillac”
“True colours”
“Warpaint” (Brook Bros)
“Blue Monday”> (New Order)
“White Lines (don’t do it)”
“Matchstick men” (just ‘cos they get painted!)
“Mr Blue Sky”
Some of these led me one to think about colourful artists – you could have anything by, Blue, Pink, Deacon Blue, Colour me bad, Hue and Cry, Red Hot Cilli Peppers, Black Lace, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, Blue Pearl (Naked in the Rain!), Bluebells, Blues Brothers, Bobby Brown, James Brown, Sam Brown, Nenah Cherry (perhaps), Green Day, Simply Red,
I’m afraid I then decided to dig a little deeper – what about No. 1s? (some already mentioned above)
“She wears red feathers”, Guy Mitchell – 1953
“Moulin Rouge”, Mantovani – 1953
“Cherry pink and apple blossom white”, Perez Prado – 1955
“Rose Marie”, Slim Whitman – 1955
“Singing the Blues”, various (!) – 1956
“Blue Moon”, Marcels – 1961
“Lovesick Blues”, Frank Ilfield – 1962
“Little Red Rooster”, the Stones – 1964
“Paint it black”, and again – 1965
“Yellow Submarine”, Beatles – 1966
“Green green grass of home”, Tom Jones – 1966
“Silence is golden”, Tremeloes – 1967
“Whiter shade of pale”, Procol Harem – 1967
“Lily the pink”, Scaffold – 1968 and 69
“Yellow River”, Christie – 1970
“Band of gold”, Freda Payne – 1970
“Tie a yellow ribbon…”, Dawn et al- 1973
“Silver lady”, David Soul – 1977
“Green door”, Shakey! – 1980
“Red red wine”, UB40 – 1983
“Karma chameleon”, Boy George – 1983
“99 Red Ballons”, Nena – 1984
“Lady in Red”, Chris de Burgh – 1986
“True Blue” , Madonna- 1986
“itsy bitsy”, Bombalurina – 1990
“Any dream will do”, Jase – 1991 (honorary mention cos of the whole coat thing)
“Black or White”, Michael Jackson – 1991
“Come on you reds”, Man U FC(!) – 1994
“Men in black”, Will Smith, 1997
“Blue (da ba dee)”, Eiffel 64 – 1999
“Black coffee”, All Saints – 2000
“Five colours in her hair”, McFly – 2004
“The Rose”, Westlife – 2006
“Ruby”, Kaiser Chiefs – 2007
“Green Light”, Roll Deep – 2010
“Spectrum (say my name)”, Florence and the machine – 2012
And finally an honorary mention to some ska, and couple of classics:
This morning I said goodbye to my Mum. After 2 years of fighting against a failing body, she has finally gone home. You have probably realised that my last post was about her, but it seemed right to keep that one anonymous.
She didn’t have an easy ride in life, and more often than not was her own worst enemy. But being around her was always an adventure, and I have many many happy memories of my childhood. It’s fitting at one level that she passed away in Norfolk – so much happiness, misadventure, drama, and joy has taken place there – I can honestly say that I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood than every Easter and summer there.
My mum taught the importance of respect and a joyful approach to life. Of the importance of people, and how so many people need a touch of love. I owe her so much, she bought me up right.
She had a major stroke a couple of years ago, which robbed her of her mobility and speech, although she recovered a degree of both. She never got truly well though, and over the last 6-12 months has been steadily fading. I had the privilege of being by her side through the night last night, and commending her soul to Jesus. One of my sisters was holding her hand as she finally went home to Him this morning.
I had my first visit to an intensive care ward over the Easter weekend, visiting someone who was in there.
I was struck by how serene it is, and – obviously I guess – high tech. Each bed is surrounded by machinery – syringe drivers, drip stands, ventilators, and banks of monitors showing vital signs, etc. Despite this, it is all very quite and peaceful. The alarms on the machine are fairly subtle beeps, and the whole feel of the place was very open and calm. Nobody rushed around – the nurses going from around and about were walking. Even when someone did need attention it was all done in a calm and measured fashion.
I guess it’s partly that in intensive care, the machines are doing most of the work and everything is tightly controlled. The person who I was visiting was in an induced coma, with their breathing being done by a machine, and their heart rate and blood pressure controlled by drugs. Depsite all the tubes and wires, and the fact they were unconscious, there was a diginity and respect about it all, somehow. It was almost pleasant, bizarrely, to sit there for an hour or two, at their bedside, with the gentle bustle going on around us.
I have no doubt that there are moments of high drama and elevated activity, and of course heartache and death. But while I was in there, it either didn’t happen, or happened sufficiently discretely that I didn’t notice it.
It was also interesting to observe how different people deal with and responded to the situation. I personally felt drawn to be introspective, while others tried to externalise it. It is a bit like there was an emptiness, and you either choose to stare down it, or tried to fill it.
I guess as a part of my ministry I can expect a few more visits to intensive care (although hopefully not as a close relative), and at the moment it’s looking like the person I was visiting is at least heading towards the edge of the woods, if not out of them yet.
My new phone does instagram really nicely, and I’m finding myself taking more and more photos from within instagram.
In fact, most of this month’s “365” photos have been on my cameraphone. It’s actually quite nice to be removed from the technical quality constraints. My phone is never going to match the quality of my SLR, by any metric, so the attention is firmly forced onto subject and composition.
My 365s still tend to be the aspect ratio out of the phone, where instagram is square, but if this starts bothering me enough I’ll start uploading the square/processed crops.
One thing that is nice about the workflow is that my phone saves the pictures in the same date format as I use anyway, plus it gets uploaded to Dropbox, and hence pops into my desktop, for upload to Gallery.
My Instagram user name is eutonyjames if you want to give me a follow. Expect many more of this year’s photos to be from my phone!
Well, the exiting news from the household is that I have been recommended for ordination training in the Church of England!
I have felt that God was calling me to ordained ministry for many years. It has been a long and, at times, quite difficult journey. The process of discernment is long and thorough, and deeply searching. Those who were with me 8 years ago will know that this is not the first time that I have been an ordinand (i.e. someone preparing for ordination), but for various reasons we had with withdraw from the process last time.
If I’m honest, I think much of the Church of England is not in a great state. As has been said before, we generally put ecclesiology before missiology – or in other words think “The God of the Church has a Mission”, rather than “The God of Mission has a Church”. To my mind, the role of the church (any church) is to advance the Kingdom of Heaven, and as soon as buildings, committees, or structures start getting in the way of this, we need to take this very seriously. But I am also very excited about the other candidates who were at the same Panel – almost universally I came away thinking “Wow, you’d make a great minister.”
One of the interesting and exciting elements this time is that I will be staying on in my “day job” while I train and minister, at least at first. This gives an unique opportunity to work out theology and ministry in the context of a 9-5.
I’d also like to that this opportunity to say that I firmly believe that God has a specific calling on each of us who follow him, and the call to the cloth is no more or less a vocation than His other callings. It is, I conceed, a bit more public than most!
An exciting road lies ahead – the next 3 years (pre-ordination training) seem fairly clear, but after that.. Well, God knows!