funky doo

what's new??

Silence has descended here on funky doo for a wee while because - well, I haven't felt too funky!!

2 weeks ago tomorrow, I managed to injure my back and have been struggling with mobility, pain and general frustration ever since. Without going into all the horrendous details, the main trigger was just pure and simple parenting...putting M into her buggy at the park, twisting and bending at the same time to sling her shoes into the basket at the bottom and.....owwww!

I laid out for a couple of days, had the doctor over when it wouldn't go away, got some Valium (which was nice and soothing!) and thought it would all go away in a couple of days....ha ha ha ha!

I just got back driving today, 13 days later. I have had to cancel a lot of work commitments because I couldn't get there or even if I could, I wouldn't have been able to set up/speak/present/stand to do what I had to do...I never cancel, well not for something like this where I am perfectly well apart from being unable to get up or sit down!

In my time at home, I have been trying to do useful things, which aren't the usual every day things like hoovering and dishwasher-undoing!! That was impossible...but I have been making a claim for my stolen bag a few weeks ago now, getting ahead on some Falcon Camp preparation, lots of admin although haven't tackled the filing tray as that would involve bending! I did get to the Bradwell Pilgrimage on Saturday (Independence Day!) which I was pleased about as I have spent the last year on the planning committee, doing the website and publicity and was coordinating the Youth Zone on the day. In the end, it was more low key than I had imagined but that was probably good for me and everyone else, as it pretty much ran itself and I could observe and heckle from the sidelines!! I was so grateful for Stuart from Bar n Bus Trust and Jamie from Legacy Rayleigh who brought along their equipment and to the brilliant youth workers and volunteers who served that day in the blazing heat!! Phil, Dave, Lucy, Donna, Megan, Shaun, Lewis, Lee and John...thanks a million!!

This week has been slightly better as I have improved each day. Tuesday was a bit of a '2 steps forward, 1 step back' as I woke up in a lot more pain having overdone it on Monday. Tuesday I had to cancel everything in my diary and felt very yucky, upping the painkillers again and feeling generally 'hemmed in' from lack of interaction and activity outside the house. Yesterday, Wednesday, I went out to Suffolk (with AP as my chauffeur!) to the Eastern Region of Diocesan Youth Officer's meeting and lunch, which was very nice. I didn't feel too uncomfortable sitting in the car or at the table so that was an achievement and it was good to catch up with everyone and ease myself back in a little. A wide ranging conversation at Elveden Estate (yummy Chicken Ceaser Salad!) included issues around participation, the new Youth and Children's National Strategy, the Church of England Youth Council and a round up of what is going on in each Diocese and a chance to pray for one another.

So today, I finally feel almost pain free, just needing a couple of Nurofen at lunch time. I feel blessed in many ways to have been forced to slow down. God has his ways of making us hear him when all we seem to be doing is just 'getting on with it'. (Those Kairos moments - LifeShapes Circle! I'm learning!) I hadn't really stopped since half term and looking back at my diary, I had only had 1 weekend off since February, apart from the weekends we were travelling to our holiday. I was initially so frustrated that a weekend off had turned into a weekend of pain and being stuck in bed, but once I accepted it, I have enjoyed some solitude and silence, time on my own which I am not always good at, a chance to read and particularly to continue my reflections on my time in Sheffield, on the LifeShapes and The Order of Mission (TOM). I have been writing some posts on all this and keep thinking they are about ready to publish, but they are not quite!! Watch this space.

Other highlights of the last few weeks have been Andy's cooking of which there has been a lot more (lovely fresh stir fry's and flavoursome marinated meats!!), speaking to lovely Emily King on the phone in Tennessee (who also directed me to this website). We miss them both heaps and hope to see them again in 2011 sometime...that's the plan! Also a very funny night with our Giraffe group on Sunday involving cometitive Jenga competitions and a domino rally too!

As well as that, Hubby and I have had more time to talk, we haven't had to schedule 'money evenings' or date nights as normal because I've been here more and that has been really nice. We will be making sure that when we're at Soul Survivor B in a few weeks time that we are disciplined about having our mornings together when M is at her kids group...praying, talking, chatting over a cuppa and going to teaching. We have a lot to process at the mo - not just the TOM stuff but also planning ahead for youth in the autumn term and dreaming and scheming!

So, I'll sign off for now and go and get my daughter from her childminder - a small thing, but I haven't done that for nearly 3 weeks and it's such a precious thing...seeing her excitement at telling me what she has done at Kiko's and talking and singing on the way home.

Have a great evening! xx

Not me Monday!

This morning I most certainly did not go up to the local shop with a wedgie between by skirt and knickers....only realising on my way back having wandered round the shop in full view of the staff!

I never let M eat her dinner on the floor, on a tea towel in front of Peppa Pig, especially not today!

I have never mixed left over potato, celeriac, egg and slightly rubbery cheese together to make a 'special pancake' for M's lunch!!

I never ate a whole packet of dry roasted peanuts for my lunch...under instruction from my back pain medication that said 'administer with food'!

Not Me!

Monday 29th June 2009

the weekend that was: I returned from my CEOP training on Thursday night and my dad arrived to stay soon after. Pops retired from the London Fire Brigade about 5 years ago and since then he has been indulging his passion for sailing (anything from dinghy's in a man made lake to Atlantic trips to Antigua!) as well as working in a wine merchants and doing various other bits and pieces like DIY for us and others. He's been away recently on a 4 leg trip from the south coast down to Croatia and he leaves on the final leg this week. He was having grand-daughter withdrawal symptoms so he came over and we had a lovely evening eating in the garden and catching up.

Friday, he and I and M went into Maldon and the Pirate Ship at Prom Park...whilst there I bent over to put something in the bottom of M's buggy and managed to do something to my back...Friday afternoon was interesting - put M down for a nap and realised that I really couldn't properly move or bend down at all...Popped some pills and sat down for an hour or so but by the time Andy came home, I was quite immobile and very frustrated.

Saturday was an unplanned day off - the leaders training which was due to take place with the Sophia Network had been cancelled due to lack of numbers so we were planning a lovely family weekend in the garden, pottering about and catching up on time together - but it was not to be. I was laid up in bed, M fell down the stairs, bashed her nose and was so exhausted by the whole thing that she went for a nap just at the point that A was going to take her swimming! In the end, we all just crashed out for the day before A went out to Prom Park again to meet our friends E&K and daughter A and to bring them back here for dinner and a sleepover! I was feeling a bit better by then, got myself in (and thankfully, out!) of the shower and we enjoyed a Malaysian Curry and some Mah Jong!

Sunday morning dawned, I was immobile again and realised there was no way I would make it there and back to Walthamstow for RevAP's ordination...which I was very gutted about. So, another boring, flat out day continued, with A & M at church I did some bits and pieces at home, but couldn't hoover or do the dishwasher or anything mildly useful! A was preaching at All Saints Church Maldon where they are piloting a new monthly informal evening service on Sunday nights, so he was busy preparing for that during the afternoon while M napped. When he got back we caught up with the season finale of CSI:New York- OMG! Brilliant and cannot believe we have to wait until the next series to find out what happens...

It's now Monday morning and my back is no better - so called the doctor out who said I have pulled muscles all along the base of my back and a number of trapped nerves, so he's prescribed Valium (!) and some anti inflammatory drugs as well as telling me I shouldn't sit or stand for longer than 20 minutes at a time, shouldn't drive or lift M! Brilliant! This could be an interesting week!

where i am at the moment: in the dining room. Having got downstairs initially this morning, and had the consultation with the doctor, I can't get upstairs again so I'm on the youth lap top instead of my work one!

on my to-do list this week: the to do list has slightly changed from this morning! I'm now organising cover for me for this weekend's Bradwell Pilgrimage as I won't be able to be as active as I'd hoped. Thankfully I have a team already lined up of amazing youth workers and volunteers so we should be alright - I'll just have to sit on the sidelines and bark orders! I'm also taking the opportunity of immobility to catch up on some admin tasks, get a few jobs done for Falcon Camp and various other little bits and pieces - but only for 20 minutes stretches!!

procrastinating about: nothing, I feel as though this week is going to be the complete opposite - all the things I need to do I can't do, rather than putting them off!! I am not good at being bored, but as some of my lovely Hub youthworkers have already pointed out, I need to learn from my own teaching about Deep Rest! Seriously, I know how bad chronic back pain can be and I am going to do my best to rest well and get properly better otherwise I know this could be a recurring problem. 

book i’m in the midst of: Fortune's Rocks still from last week, also started Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell which I have had for a while but it got nabbed by A and he's only just given it over (after reading 3 times!) so that's a good review. A also bought me Marie Claire and it came with a free novel so I might get into that this week to ease the boredom!

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: enjoyed Glastonbury on TV this weekend, particularly the Ting Tings and Blur's comeback...

next trip: nothing until Falcon Camp in 4 weeks time arrrrrgggghhhh!

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: CSI I've already mentioned and when one series ends, another begins! Sky+ is set to record CSI: Miami from Tuesday night. Also watched the first in the Revelations series on Channel 4 last night, all about the Alpha course. Maybe I'll blog about that later this week...but the presenter irritated me a lot!

Youth work done/upcoming: Bradwell Pilgrimage this weekend, engaging with young people at this annual family event, as well as Giraffe on Sunday night and visiting two youth groups next week, hopefully the back will be better by then.

What did you eat this weekend?? Malaysian Curry (Gordon Ramsey's), Linguine with Broccoli and Stilton, Ploughman's lunch with lovely local ham from Buntings (our new best friends, they have just started doing online orders and delivery! yay!)...and I made the breakfast seed bars from Phil Vickery's Gluten Free cooking book which are yummy. Did them with condensed Caramel which made a change, very moreish!

the weekend that was: I returned from my CEOP training on Thursday night and my dad arrived to stay soon after. Pops retired from the London Fire Brigade about 5 years ago and since then he has been indulging his passion for sailing (anything from dinghy's in a man made lake to Atlantic trips to Antigua!) as well as working in a wine merchants and doing various other bits and pieces like DIY for us and others. He's been away recently on a 4 leg trip from the south coast down to Croatia and he leaves on the final leg this week. He was having grand-daughter withdrawal symptoms so he came over and we had a lovely evening eating in the garden and catching up.

Friday, he and I and M went into Maldon and the Pirate Ship at Prom Park...whilst there I bent over to put something in the bottom of M's buggy and managed to do something to my back...Friday afternoon was interesting - put M down for a nap and realised that I really couldn't properly move or bend down at all...Popped some pills and sat down for an hour or so but by the time Andy came home, I was quite immobile and very frustrated.

Saturday was an unplanned day off - the leaders training which was due to take place with the Sophia Network had been cancelled due to lack of numbers so we were planning a lovely family weekend in the garden, pottering about and catching up on time together - but it was not to be. I was laid up in bed, M fell down the stairs, bashed her nose and was so exhausted by the whole thing that she went for a nap just at the point that A was going to take her swimming! In the end, we all just crashed out for the day before A went out to Prom Park again to meet our friends E&K and daughter A and to bring them back here for dinner and a sleepover! I was feeling a bit better by then, got myself in (and thankfully, out!) of the shower and we enjoyed a Malaysian Curry and some Mah Jong!

Sunday morning dawned, I was immobile again and realised there was no way I would make it there and back to Walthamstow for RevAP's ordination...which I was very gutted about. So, another boring, flat out day continued, with A & M at church I did some bits and pieces at home, but couldn't hoover or do the dishwasher or anything mildly useful! A was preaching at All Saints Church Maldon where they are piloting a new monthly informal evening service on Sunday nights, so he was busy preparing for that during the afternoon while M napped. When he got back we caught up with the season finale of CSI:New York- OMG! Brilliant and cannot believe we have to wait until the next series to find out what happens...

It's now Monday morning and my back is no better - so called the doctor out who said I have pulled muscles all along the base of my back and a number of trapped nerves, so he's prescribed Valium (!) and some anti inflammatory drugs as well as telling me I shouldn't sit or stand for longer than 20 minutes at a time, shouldn't drive or lift M! Brilliant! This could be an interesting week!

where i am at the moment: in the dining room. Having got downstairs initially this morning, and had the consultation with the doctor, I can't get upstairs again so I'm on the youth lap top instead of my work one!

on my to-do list this week: the to do list has slightly changed from this morning! I'm now organising cover for me for this weekend's Bradwell Pilgrimage as I won't be able to be as active as I'd hoped. Thankfully I have a team already lined up of amazing youth workers and volunteers so we should be alright - I'll just have to sit on the sidelines and bark orders! I'm also taking the opportunity of immobility to catch up on some admin tasks, get a few jobs done for Falcon Camp and various other little bits and pieces - but only for 20 minutes stretches!!

procrastinating about: nothing, I feel as though this week is going to be the complete opposite - all the things I need to do I can't do, rather than putting them off!! I am not good at being bored, but as some of my lovely Hub youthworkers have already pointed out, I need to learn from my own teaching about Deep Rest! Seriously, I know how bad chronic back pain can be and I am going to do my best to rest well and get properly better otherwise I know this could be a recurring problem. 

book i’m in the midst of: Fortune's Rocks still from last week, also started Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell which I have had for a while but it got nabbed by A and he's only just given it over (after reading 3 times!) so that's a good review. A also bought me Marie Claire and it came with a free novel so I might get into that this week to ease the boredom!

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: enjoyed Glastonbury on TV this weekend, particularly the Ting Tings and Blur's comeback...

next trip: nothing until Falcon Camp in 4 weeks time arrrrrgggghhhh!

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: CSI I've already mentioned and when one series ends, another begins! Sky+ is set to record CSI: Miami from Tuesday night. Also watched the first in the Revelations series on Channel 4 last night, all about the Alpha course. Maybe I'll blog about that later this week...but the presenter irritated me a lot!

Youth work done/upcoming: Bradwell Pilgrimage this weekend, engaging with young people at this annual family event, as well as Giraffe on Sunday night and visiting two youth groups next week, hopefully the back will be better by then.

What did you eat this weekend?? Malaysian Curry (Gordon Ramsey's), Linguine with Broccoli and Stilton, Ploughman's lunch with lovely local ham from Buntings (our new best friends, they have just started doing online orders and delivery! yay!)...and I made the breakfast seed bars from Phil Vickery's Gluten Free cooking book which are yummy. Did them with condensed Caramel which made a change, very moreish!

ThinkUKnow

I'm on a 2 day training course at the moment with CEOP/ThinkUKnow, all around young people and online safety. Today was the half day session to allow us to deliver training to 11-16 year olds to encourage them to have fun, be in control and report online abuse. It was a good session, although the trainer spoke really fast!! I was comforted to know that I was aware of most of the issues that she raised and I think the resources provided to train/inform young people are very good, so far I recommend it.

Tomorrow I am on the Ambassador's training which will allow me to cascade the ThinkUKnow resources out to other's in the Diocese - initially other Child Protection trainers but eventually to youth workers, volunteers and clergy. It's a great opportunity and way to get in touch with groups and work alongside them, so once I know what it involves tomorrow I will be working out the best way to deliver the sessions across the Diocese.

So, I'm sitting in a nicely air conditioned Travel Lodge in Cambridge - seemed slightly ridiculous to be only an hour or so from home and staying in a hotel, but I think the nature of the course means that driving home and back tomorrow (for a 9am start!!) in the rush hour might not be sensible. I'm missing home...especially as Andy and M are going to Shakespeare in the Park tonight and it's such a lovely day. Never mind, we have a lovely family weekend planned as my engagement on Saturday is no longer happening, so chilling out, friends for dinner on Saturday and Andy P's ordination on Sunday.

I'll post again on the Ambassador training, but if you would like me to come and deliver some training to young people or youth workers/leaders on online safety, get in touch!

I'm going for a Mexican meal now...with my book!

Monday morning update 22 June 09

the weekend that was: a bit busier than expected, but in a nice way! It's been a week of babies - our friends T&K had a baby boy Caleb on Monday and our other friend J became an aunty to Samuel on Thursday. J's sister had her baby in Maldon St Peter's hospital so she came to stay for the weekend with her sister to enable them to visit and catch up with other family too. We had 4 extra for roast chicken on Saturday night...lovely to have the house full and for a joyful reason too!

I was working on Saturday morning delivering Equipping training in Chelmsford with Andy P. It was a good session, considering that usually we are on the third delivery of the session by the Saturday. Unfortunately due to numbers we had to cancel our sessions on Tuesday and Thursday so the session was a bit more adrenalin fuelled than normal! Isn't it always the way tho, that the sessions we haven't practiced too much are often the best?! Many people found the Life Shape Semi Circle as a principle of work from rest really helpful as well as the introduction of the Ignatian Prayer of Examen.

I have been battling an oncoming cold and very sore throat every morning since last weekend - a key sign of overdoing it..Saturday it was pretty bad and I wondered if my voice would last the session. It did, thank God but I was popping ibuprofen most of Saturday afternoon and felt pretty rough by the time I went to bed, still no proper cold but very sore throat and aching limbs.

On Sunday Andy and I were involved in the second of our new Outreach services for Father's Day (the last one was Mother's Day). We had breakfast followed by some intergenerational activities, some Bible based quizzes around The Father Heart of God and a short talk (Andy) leading into a time of quiet, prayer and meditation through a physical action (putting prayers into a pin board heart) and an on-screen presentation of visuals and words. It went well, people found it fun and thought provoking and it was good to have a chance to make what can be a difficult day for people a bit more relaxed, safe and prayerful. We're just learning as we go along with these things...trying new stuff, seeing what people think and then doing something different the next time. We haven't had a band the last 2 events, but we might do some music next time (around Harvest)...so watch this space! Well done Tracy, Donna, Sally and Andy...we pulled it off!

Yesterday, being Father's Day was Andy's choice of course...but we knew M would need a sleep after her antics at church so she had a nap for 2 hours and we got caught up on some CSI New York before doing some filing and reinstating the desk in the dining room. Andy has also got an iPhone this week so he has a new toy and was quite happy spending time adding new apps and getting music uploaded! A ready meal curry (shocker!) and an early night completed the weekend...but going to bed in our new bedroom doesn't feel like the end of the weekend anymore, it's something to look forward to! ;-)

where i am at the moment: downstairs in front of Jeremy Kyle and suffering not only with a sore throat and aching limbs but the onset of my usual monthly pain days...so a sick day. Doing a few bits of work for Falcon Camp but will be going back to bed soon and dosing myself up. Unfortunately, have to work tonight, but just have to be present and smile!

on my to-do list this week: Falcon Camp preparation, getting the week's programme agreed with our venue. Also having a lieu day tomorrow left over from my conference week and the Bishop's Tent week. Am away for 1 night on Wednesday on a course in Cambridge with CEOP about online safety and young people.

procrastinating about: getting my insurance claim form filled in for my stolen bag last week...it's a totally confusing form and they want everything in my bag (toiletries etc.) valued which is going to take ages!

book i’m in the midst of: Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve. Just Walk with Me which is the story of the e:merge project in Bradford that we visited on the DYO Conference in May.

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: new U2 album is growing on me and have been getting into the new Gary Go album too.

next trip: Away on Wednesday night for the ThinkUKnow CEOP training in Cambridge.

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: CSI Catch up yesterday was lovely! Love that show, especially being able to say 'been there'! Tried to record Martina Cole's The Take but the timings on Sky+ were wrong so missed them all! Brothers and Sister season finale on Thursday was good, but not much of a finale to whet our appetites for next time...so we'll see where they take the Walker family. To be honest, TV wise, I'm just waiting for Strictly to return!

Youth work done/upcoming: We have our 'Tea Time' session with the youth this Friday at m:deli and then Giraffe as usual next Sunday, continuing the Kingdom theme.

What did you eat this weekend?? Pasta with veggies and pesto, Roast Chicken dinner, Chicken Korma and Rice. Not hugely exciting...but tasty!

Have a great week, whatever you're doing! x

the weekend that was: a bit busier than expected, but in a nice way! It's been a week of babies - our friends T&K had a baby boy Caleb on Monday and our other friend J became an aunty to Samuel on Thursday. J's sister had her baby in Maldon St Peter's hospital so she came to stay for the weekend with her sister to enable them to visit and catch up with other family too. We had 4 extra for roast chicken on Saturday night...lovely to have the house full and for a joyful reason too!

I was working on Saturday morning delivering Equipping training in Chelmsford with Andy P. It was a good session, considering that usually we are on the third delivery of the session by the Saturday. Unfortunately due to numbers we had to cancel our sessions on Tuesday and Thursday so the session was a bit more adrenalin fuelled than normal! Isn't it always the way tho, that the sessions we haven't practiced too much are often the best?! Many people found the Life Shape Semi Circle as a principle of work from rest really helpful as well as the introduction of the Ignatian Prayer of Examen.

I have been battling an oncoming cold and very sore throat every morning since last weekend - a key sign of overdoing it..Saturday it was pretty bad and I wondered if my voice would last the session. It did, thank God but I was popping ibuprofen most of Saturday afternoon and felt pretty rough by the time I went to bed, still no proper cold but very sore throat and aching limbs.

On Sunday Andy and I were involved in the second of our new Outreach services for Father's Day (the last one was Mother's Day). We had breakfast followed by some intergenerational activities, some Bible based quizzes around The Father Heart of God and a short talk (Andy) leading into a time of quiet, prayer and meditation through a physical action (putting prayers into a pin board heart) and an on-screen presentation of visuals and words. It went well, people found it fun and thought provoking and it was good to have a chance to make what can be a difficult day for people a bit more relaxed, safe and prayerful. We're just learning as we go along with these things...trying new stuff, seeing what people think and then doing something different the next time. We haven't had a band the last 2 events, but we might do some music next time (around Harvest)...so watch this space! Well done Tracy, Donna, Sally and Andy...we pulled it off!

Yesterday, being Father's Day was Andy's choice of course...but we knew M would need a sleep after her antics at church so she had a nap for 2 hours and we got caught up on some CSI New York before doing some filing and reinstating the desk in the dining room. Andy has also got an iPhone this week so he has a new toy and was quite happy spending time adding new apps and getting music uploaded! A ready meal curry (shocker!) and an early night completed the weekend...but going to bed in our new bedroom doesn't feel like the end of the weekend anymore, it's something to look forward to! ;-)

where i am at the moment: downstairs in front of Jeremy Kyle and suffering not only with a sore throat and aching limbs but the onset of my usual monthly pain days...so a sick day. Doing a few bits of work for Falcon Camp but will be going back to bed soon and dosing myself up. Unfortunately, have to work tonight, but just have to be present and smile!

on my to-do list this week: Falcon Camp preparation, getting the week's programme agreed with our venue. Also having a lieu day tomorrow left over from my conference week and the Bishop's Tent week. Am away for 1 night on Wednesday on a course in Cambridge with CEOP about online safety and young people.

procrastinating about: getting my insurance claim form filled in for my stolen bag last week...it's a totally confusing form and they want everything in my bag (toiletries etc.) valued which is going to take ages!

book i’m in the midst of: Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve. Just Walk with Me which is the story of the e:merge project in Bradford that we visited on the DYO Conference in May.

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: new U2 album is growing on me and have been getting into the new Gary Go album too.

next trip: Away on Wednesday night for the ThinkUKnow CEOP training in Cambridge.

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: CSI Catch up yesterday was lovely! Love that show, especially being able to say 'been there'! Tried to record Martina Cole's The Take but the timings on Sky+ were wrong so missed them all! Brothers and Sister season finale on Thursday was good, but not much of a finale to whet our appetites for next time...so we'll see where they take the Walker family. To be honest, TV wise, I'm just waiting for Strictly to return!

Youth work done/upcoming: We have our 'Tea Time' session with the youth this Friday at m:deli and then Giraffe as usual next Sunday, continuing the Kingdom theme.

What did you eat this weekend?? Pasta with veggies and pesto, Roast Chicken dinner, Chicken Korma and Rice. Not hugely exciting...but tasty!

Have a great week, whatever you're doing! x

a 2 week Monday update

the weekend that was: I didn't blog last Monday (getting de ja vous a bit now!) as I was on the train up to Sheffield for the Pilgrimage conference at St Thomas Church. I'll blog seperately on that another time, but for now, it's fair to say it was a significant week and I have a lot to process...watch this space!

Last weekend was a silly weekend - working on Friday in preparation for the Falcon Team weekend, which happened mainly on Saturday but some follow up on Sunday too. Sunday was the TentEvent in Bishop Laurie's garden for young people...which was awesome! We reckon we had around 110 young people and their leaders crammed into the marquee and the Bishop's garden for BBQ, outdoor games, kite flying, Q&A with the Bishop, live music, worship and ice cream cones! Really great event and the rain held off too! The parallel event for Leaders and Youth Workers the Wednesday prior to this was also really great fun and fantastic networking - thanks to all those who made it happen!

This weekend has been busy but productive. I had Friday off, after returning from my conference minus my overnight bag, stolen by a lovely person somewhere between Leicester and St Pancras. By now, they will have found my mountain of dirty washing, some damp clothes from getting caught in a massive thunderstorm and a selection of well used make up, cheap jewellery and some weird Christian books which I hadn't read yet! Let's hope that might prompt them to return it! Apart from that, Friday was chilled, with a new carpet being fitted in our bedroom and a last minute trip to the Food Company in Marks Tey for chorizo!

Saturday I was working, delivering Child Protection training in Basildon and then ordering a curry for the boys doing some flatpack construction in our bedroom! The flatpack continued today and we just have to do the sliding doors now and the new bedroom will be almost complete - just lacking a bit of styling!

where i am at the moment: in the office....

on my to-do list this week: having a day off...am owed so much time. Also have some meetings about Asheldham stuff, catching up on Falcon stuff that was decided last week as well as trekking through the mountain of emails!! And am doing the Big Toddle for Barnardo's with Matilda on Wednesday!

procrastinating about: going to bed and reading...it should be something I relish, but I'm almost too tired to sleep! 

book i’m in the midst of: I was in the middle of a Good Orthodoxy but that got stolen. I bought Calling a City back to God which is the story of the development of St Thomas, so I will start that this week.

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: Enjoyed the random mix my husband made for my ipod for the journey - including Beth Orton, Kirk Franklin, U2, The Charalatans and Hillsong!

next trip: I am away for 1 night next week on a course with Centre for Expolitation and Online Protection - looking at young people's use of the internet and online safety.

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: nothing much, Britains Next Model is getting exciting - should I admit to that?

Youth work done/upcoming: Continuing the GIraffe sessions on Kingdom as well as preparing to take our youth to Solid Festival in July.

What did you eat this weekend?? Chorizo and Butternut Squash risotto on Friday, take away Chicken Tikka Pasanda last night and a burger with soda farl, salad and new potatoes for Sunday lunch. All yum!

Have a great week, whatever you're doing! x

the weekend that was: I didn't blog last Monday (getting de ja vous a bit now!) as I was on the train up to Sheffield for the Pilgrimage conference at St Thomas Church. I'll blog seperately on that another time, but for now, it's fair to say it was a significant week and I have a lot to process...watch this space!

Last weekend was a silly weekend - working on Friday in preparation for the Falcon Team weekend, which happened mainly on Saturday but some follow up on Sunday too. Sunday was the TentEvent in Bishop Laurie's garden for young people...which was awesome! We reckon we had around 110 young people and their leaders crammed into the marquee and the Bishop's garden for BBQ, outdoor games, kite flying, Q&A with the Bishop, live music, worship and ice cream cones! Really great event and the rain held off too! The parallel event for Leaders and Youth Workers the Wednesday prior to this was also really great fun and fantastic networking - thanks to all those who made it happen!

This weekend has been busy but productive. I had Friday off, after returning from my conference minus my overnight bag, stolen by a lovely person somewhere between Leicester and St Pancras. By now, they will have found my mountain of dirty washing, some damp clothes from getting caught in a massive thunderstorm and a selection of well used make up, cheap jewellery and some weird Christian books which I hadn't read yet! Let's hope that might prompt them to return it! Apart from that, Friday was chilled, with a new carpet being fitted in our bedroom and a last minute trip to the Food Company in Marks Tey for chorizo!

Saturday I was working, delivering Child Protection training in Basildon and then ordering a curry for the boys doing some flatpack construction in our bedroom! The flatpack continued today and we just have to do the sliding doors now and the new bedroom will be almost complete - just lacking a bit of styling!

where i am at the moment: in the office....

on my to-do list this week: having a day off...am owed so much time. Also have some meetings about Asheldham stuff, catching up on Falcon stuff that was decided last week as well as trekking through the mountain of emails!! And am doing the Big Toddle for Barnardo's with Matilda on Wednesday!

procrastinating about: going to bed and reading...it should be something I relish, but I'm almost too tired to sleep! 

book i’m in the midst of: I was in the middle of a Good Orthodoxy but that got stolen. I bought Calling a City back to God which is the story of the development of St Thomas, so I will start that this week.

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: Enjoyed the random mix my husband made for my ipod for the journey - including Beth Orton, Kirk Franklin, U2, The Charalatans and Hillsong!

next trip: I am away for 1 night next week on a course with Centre for Expolitation and Online Protection - looking at young people's use of the internet and online safety.

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: nothing much, Britains Next Model is getting exciting - should I admit to that?

Youth work done/upcoming: Continuing the GIraffe sessions on Kingdom as well as preparing to take our youth to Solid Festival in July.

What did you eat this weekend?? Chorizo and Butternut Squash risotto on Friday, take away Chicken Tikka Pasanda last night and a burger with soda farl, salad and new potatoes for Sunday lunch. All yum!

Have a great week, whatever you're doing! x

Top Ten Tips for Longevity in Leadership

As part of our regular Diocesan Youth Worker Forums, we welcomed Bishop David Hawkins, BIshop of Barking and Lead Bishop on Youth to address us on this topic in May.

I offer you below an amalgamation of my notes and my esteemed colleague, Mark Lake's notes. Hope this gets you thinking:

1. Know you are loved by God - means you are prepared to take risks.

2. Know ur loved by someone else - deeply and respectfully. Not a yes man but a critical friend. We are never called to do ministry solo.

3. Have BIG VISION with a big capacity for disappointment. If we believe who God is, then we must have huge vision. Church is too ready to settle for smaller and smaller visions. We must have the capacity to hand things back to God even if it doesn't work out. We can't possess the vision - it is always God's in us. 

4. The BIG 'YES' - be able 2 say NO! - make sure u prioritise and what u say Yes to fits your vision nd beliefs. Not focusing on what I should say NO to, but what I SHOULD say YES to.
    Basis for this in Luke 4 - Jesus reading Isaiah in the synangogue:

     Share the gospel
     Care for the community
     Renew the Church

What is the main focus of my ministry at the present time?

5. 'Be a Calvinist on your knees and an Armenian on your feet' - all about grace and God and all about me to work hard for God.                                                                                                                 

6. From good to great - in a recent survey, humility was top quality for CEO's of top companies. Praise others when things going well, when not going well, took responsibility themselves.

7. Problems are opportunities! Transforms how u tackle situations. Don't say can't! Build a 'Can Do' climate. We have Good News! To think this way is a discipline, takes practice. If we are in the Redemption/Hope business, how can we say CAN'T?

8. Be able 2 say 'thank you' and 'I'm sorry' and be able 2 live it!

9. Have a passion outside your ministry / job. Something that takes u outside yourself so that u can find yourself. definition of the word Eccentric

10. Don't take yourself too seriously, but take God and your job / ministry, (and everything) else very seriously.

 

Diocesan Youth Officers - mad or heroic??

Following on from my post at the DYO conference the other week, I thought I'd share my notes from Chris Curtis' session with us, before the notebook goes awry or I lose the sense of what he was saying.

Are DYO's mad or heroic?

A cross between Mighty Mouse, Wonderwoman and Inspector Gadget!

The church needs DYO's to be: Perception Changers, Dream Casters and Hope Chasers

Perception Changers:  the church's view of young people is often profoundly mistaken. The Church is at a point where it believes it has nothing left to offer young people, a crisis of confidence and we minister into the midst of that. We need to change the idea of what youth work is, how it works and where it happens...

Chris shared a poem by Rose written in a school in Luton which included the line:                             God is in the midnight shadow that might have been there if the cloud only moved.

Dream Casters: Chris shared a picture of a bridge in Honduras which had ended up crossing nothing as the the river changed course after a hurrican hit the country. When does a bridge stop being a bridge? This is almost a picture of where the church now finds itself.

What should the bridge builders do in response to this disaster which is not their fault? What should the church do in response to where it now finds itself? Many churches are not able to dream themselves out of this situation - need Youth Advisers to be the dream casters and ask "What is the new road?".

Hope Chasers: Failure in all areas of life is a certainty. The Church and young people need Youth Adviser's to to keep us going when things don't work out.

Chris used a boat origami making activity to help us pray for parishes. Encouraging us to pray for them in sensing going to where the river is NOW. Might now be very fast moving and feel treacherous.

Monday morning update

the weekend that was: I didn't blog last Monday cos I was away in Keswick on holiday. we travelled back this Saturday just gone after a wonderful week of walks, sunshine, fabulous scenery and great fun. Keswick is a great town, not just for the usual Lakes stuff but also the restaurants, leisure centre and other attractions which are necessary for a British holiday with a toddler. As it was, we didn't need most of that cos the weather was fabulous and we walked most days.

We got back into 'normal life' whatever that is, pretty quickly. The unpacking and washing and sorting has continued until this evening...never ending. We had church and Giraffe as usual last night which was fun - a baby shower for Kath one of our leaders who is due to pop with baby 2 anytime now. We played silly games and gave her a good send off into maternity leave!

And today, well back to work with a bang. A big meeting this morning with the Bishop, Archdeacon, all the Area Deans, the Core Team that I closely relate and the wider Extended Team too. Very efficiently chaired which always makes me happy and a nice meeting over coffee first thing with my Deanery supervisor.

Andy and I dashed across to Bishop's House after school to drop off PA for a series of events this week, see below.

where i am at the moment: in the office where my lap top lives. It is newly tidied and I have found many things I thought I had lost!!

on my to-do list this week: preparation for The Hub tomorrow, final preparations for TentEvents this week (Wednesday a curry and beer night for youth leaders and workers and Sunday night youth event) hosted b y Bishop Laurie in his garden but delivered by yours truly. We're expecting good numbers.

As well as that, we have the Falcon Afloat kids camp planning day this Saturday with a number of people coming to stay for the weekend, so that's needing some thinking, preparation and food shopping done for it!!

procrastinating about: the final details of all the above, as well as decorating our bedroom...it's a work in progress still and somehow the evenings keep disappearing.

book i’m in the midst of: finished Youth Ministry 3.0 at the DYO Conference week before last. Will blog on that seperately. STill finishing the Anita Shreve from a few weeks ago and I got my latest copy of Olive magazine after the holiday. As well as that, had a shipment of books from Amazon for the summer reading programme I am putting myself on! Including A Generous Orthodoxy, A Good Childhood and Coaching and Mentoring for Dummies!

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: er the usual, whatever came on the ipod.

next trip: away to Sheffield on Monday for 4 days for the Pilgrimage event at St Thomas Crookes, exploring LifeShapes and The Order of Mission. Got the programme through today and am really looking forward to it in lots of ways. Spiritual input and theological reflection as well as time with Alison and Jon who are B&B-ing me for the week!

stuff I'm into on TV/films right now: lots of catching up to do, Brothers and Sisters, some stuff on 1066 that I Sky+ and need to watch Rob Bell Everything is Spiritual for some training too.

Youth work done/upcoming: The TentEvents this week are looming as well as some training for young leaders at the end of the month. Giraffe sessions on Kingdom continue and are going well.

What did you eat this weekend?? BBQ on Saturday, Fish and Chips on Friday in the Park in Keswick, Lasagne yesterday and Chicken on the BBQ tonight...nothing too exciting. Too busy to be planning eclectic menus this week I'm afraid!

mad or heroic?

Chris Curtis from LCET was addressing us this afternoon at the Diocesan Youth Officer's Conference in Wakefield.

He started his session with a question, almost to himself - are we DYO (or DYA's as I am!) completely mad or suitably heroic?? I sometimes wonder!

He went on to reflect that the Church (of England) needs us, in 3 ways from his perspective:

To be:

Perception Changers, Dream Casters and Hope Chasers.

I'm going to write up his notes more fully when I go home, but for now, I leave you with a quote from a poem Chris shared, written by 12 year old Rose.

God is....in the midnight shadow that might have been there if the cloud only moved.

(wow)