funky doo

I...

I am: unique, special and different, & better that way!
I think: all the time, sometimes to great effect!
I know: that I have a lot of love in my life
I have: many mounds of dust under my bed
I wish: that things weren't so complicated with other people
I hate: being disappointed
I miss: my friends across the pond
I fear: being alone
I hear: Seth Lakeman
I smell: dread
I crave:  gingerbread, thankfully I have some downstairs!
I search: for the bottom of my intray on a daily basis
I wonder: what this evening brings...?
I regret: not doing my JNC earlier....
I love: my husband and my daughter, this much....
I ache: through my coccyx, a remnant from a speedy childbirth!
I am not: that keen on competitive sport.
I believe: that God has a plan and a purpose for each one of us...
I dance: too much like my dad
I sing: like I cry - really well but not often enough
I cry: rarely
I fight: things that seem unfair and for my voice to be heard
I win: usually but with a bittersweet taste
I lose: but I'm not really bothered
I never: mind having a night off
I always: have a cuppa tea as soon as I can coordinate my limbs in the morning
I confuse: myself a lot and others a bit less (I hope!)
I listen: mainly to Radio 5 or 2
I can usually be found: in the car, with my family or with churches, my own or others!
I am scared: of not being in control and losing my grip on reality. I am scared of dying (the process) but not the end destination.
I need: to be more patient and gracious and love people more.
I am happy about: seeing my parents and my sister and my grandparents this week
I imagine: that you're thinking about your own answers...go for it!!

half term - sigh....

This half term has gone very quickly so far - anyone else think that??

Anyway, it's now the half term holiday although I have been working today and present at a meeting of the Bradwell Area Core and Extended Team of Bishop's Advisers, plus the Area Deans, followed by the Area Pastoral Committee discussing Mission Opportunity Fund applications....phew! Bishop Laurie described meetings such as that as 'backroom business' - stuff that needs to be done to help the parishes get on with the kingdom work...good motivator but I still needed a lot of caffeine to keep focused throughout!

I'm kinda enjoying my new car - a Vauxhall Meriva.   It drives, it has electric gizmos and other related stuff that is nice but it's black which is a major disappointment. My purple Fiesta was a great talking point when I started in post nearly 3 (!!) years ago and it's departure is a sad day for all - especially me when trying to find my vehicle in a multi storey car park!! It's also definitely a family vehicle! I must get used to this, since Matilda is nearly 2 but somehow it is a final statement of being grown up!!

when are you going to get a proper job?

Got my October copy of Youthwork magazine through the door today, so have just had a nice elevenses with a cuppa and some malt loaf to flick through it (Matilda is napping before we head to Tumble Tots later!)

2 exciting/noteworthy things: firstly, the advert for the PROJECT SPECTRUM director job that I have been a part of 'designing' was in the recruitment section today. A great job in a church in Chelmsford which has loads of potential and really wants to work to see the church impacting the community through youth and children's provision.

secondly, a really interesting article by Sam Richards of Oxford Centre for Youth Ministry on longevity in youth work - the whole "how old is too old" question...It's a great article, examining the issues around short term contracts in youth work, lack of career progression opportunities and the all too common use of youth work/ministry roles as a step into the ordained ministry, which is of course the proper job (see my previous post/rant on this issue here).

Her most compelling point is around the calling to youth work. Structurally, all the stuff around funding and contracts and support points to youth work being a short term venture rather than a life long calling or a proper job...The stereotype is also an uncomfortableness around youth workers being too old, added to all our concerns about risk and people with other needs/agendas with children and abuse possibilities. Building on experience is difficult to do, unless you move into managerial/director level where the frontline & coal face youth work is taken away.

I'd be really interested on your comments if you've read the article, or encourage you to read it over a cuppa! I think it will be available on line using the link above.

As I come into year 3 as a Diocesan Youth Adviser, I know I'm lucky to be covering an area which although large and the size of other Dioceses, does give me a more compact space to work in. I get to do youth group sessions and meet with young people just to 'be' part of their groups, as well as all the structural stuff to make things happen...but how long can I stay in this role and still have credibility?  If youth work is all about relationships, it's going to become increasingly hard for me to visit now and again and relate well to young people...because of my age...And what do I go on to next when I do decide the time is right to move on?? Where next for those of us called to youth work as a proper job? Other DYO's...what do you think??

boredom

I'm wondering whether what I write about on here is all that interesting? I've felt a bit bored myself recently...not sure if that's a response to a busy, hectic and exciting summer and the getting back to reality...or something else...

I have had 2 terrible migraines this week which didn't feel too nice...never had one before so two was a bit of a bummer. Took Wednesday off to recuperate on my own at home which I kinda enjoyed - full of boring activities like washing, ironing and tidying piles of paper. Essential but boring and satisfying all at the same time.

Overall it's been a quiet week work wise which has given me the space to relax and try and remove any stress causing the headaches...but the pressure pumps up from now on as various training courses I am delivering start next weekend and Andy P and I are working together on some events across the Diocese. (my) Andy starts his Street Pastors training in November, which does give me some enforced time at home as we've made a decision to try not to add to Matilda's other childcare hours. Matilda and I are having fun together at the minute as he vocabularly increases each day - she also has a very dirty giggle and she laughs a lot which makes me laugh, which makes her laugh...

Tonight we have all the children's and youth work leaders from church over for an Indaba - a swahili word meaning gathering, fellowship, discussion. We want to gather this team together in our role as coordinators and feed them lovely desserts (!) and begin to develop vision and team to take the youth work forward in a fresh way. So I'm looking forward to tonight and have made a lemon and lime cheesecake and baked chocolate cake this afternoon to get the creative juices flowing a bit better!! This is an aspect of church which is feeling good at the minute - our church is going through a tough period at the minute with lots of pressure on relationships as well as growth meaning that aspects of our work and outreach are under pressure. We had a great time on Sunday night with our youth cell - Giraffe - who hosted a surprise birthday party for one of the group...house full of teenagers, food, party popper debris and silly games...real good fun!

So, even if my life seems a bit boring from the outside, or from a blog perspective - I'm quite enjoying it...the lull before the storm!