Long time no write !

So over the last few weeks I seem to have become a bit of a  vlogger  rather than a blogger but today I feel the need to go retro 🤣

Life hasn’t been easier for anyone recently and for many clergy working norms have been turned upside down....
much of the involves either people contact or building related meetings , operations , functions!
Take that away and suddenly many for a while felt lost and confused... how do you minister when you can’t use your building or in fact meet people.. then the Dawn rose and the birth of on line interaction began, zooming became a quickly learnt tool, what’s app groups , Microsoft teams and you tube channels were established and no one will forget seeing the wonderful clip of the priest sitting just a little too close to his candles and setting his jumper on fire!!  
It has been a massive learning curve for many I’m sure .
But as a Pioneer it’s felt, I confess, at times frustrating ... for those who don’t know I’m blessed to work across several different churches but don’t have the responsibility directly for a building . Much of my work is done with schools, coffee morning groups and in cafes ... but to maintain the regular connection those relationships are maintained on line ... and many of us have been doing that for years ...
I also for many reasons am a supporter of groups that help support those with disabilities and special needs also been saying how important in line communities are ... thankfully , finally people are beginning to realise how vital this link is. Obviously not everyone can access online resources just like not everyone can access traditional 10.30 am Sunday church ... there are many ways we can be accessible so let’s use them!
In just a few weeks my random vlogs have had more views than bums on pews! ( catchy phrase!!) and people I know full well don’t go to church on a Sunday are accessing stuff on line from the safety of their homes .... that excites me!!!!

My prayer , my hope is that after this nightmare covid-19 virus is over we don’t forget these things weve learnt , witnesses , heard !

Keep safe dear ones .. and if  you can stay home!!

Christmas reflections via a 9 year old !

Today has been a semi day off .. semi because I have so much to do I was going in to panic mode , semi because there’s a lot going on and I felt I needed to begin the day in prayer with my colleagues and semi because I still have several hampers I needed to deliver oh yes and semi because months ago I booked tickets to see Tutankhamun in London .. Ancient Egypt being one of Daniel and Marcs “things”!!!!
Whilst in London we passed many churches and each time Daniel stopped to look at the service boards . After the 4th or 5th he remarked ... why on earth do we have services on Christmas Day ? ... I was gobsmacked ... has nothing from the last 9 years gone in ... this from not only a vicars son , grandson, nephew but also with several clergy Godparents we’ve all failed him !!
So I said Daniel I’m shocked you surely know what Christmas is all about ?
Yes he replied Jesus’ birthday ! And what would Jesus want us to do it’s time to spend with friends and family not in church ! That can be done on Christmas Eve (which is what they tend to do !)

And it’s got me thinking .. most will have seen marc s rants over the last week or so .. I’ve worked my socks off for many reasons hours have been more than normal not just because of Christmas but other circumstance... and family time has been lacking ... what would Jesus do? What would Jesus want on his birthday ? A party , a celebration, love shared ....
This week in the difficult moments even tonight , without prompting I’ve had 3 really special conversations with friends and family looking out for me giving me help and guidance .

This Christmas whatever you do take a moment to show those you love how much you do actually love them ! Share the good news in whatever way you need to or believe . Jesus was born a baby but grew up into a radical world changer bringing heaven to earth  ... let’s celebrate that !!

Advent

I’m tired !!!
Last night we began our festivities with a night out .. in celebrating Christmas with our Upnor cafe family ! It was so good to relax, eat drink and get to know each other a bit better ... some a bit too well 🤣🤣🤣
It’s been a busy old time as we head into the period of Advent ... a time to prepare ... as much as I absolutely love this time of year but right now it feels a little bit like entering the eye of the storm ! There feels like so much that needs to be done it’s almost too overwhelming ; yet I’m sure it’s not just me that feels it... even without the busyness in work there’s so much to do secularly to try and ensure Christmas happens ... but at what cost ?
Marc and I have been trying to re think how we approach or rather what we can put in place to ensure Daniel at least gets the most out of Christmas this year without becoming overwhelmed and overloaded ... all the busyness, the presents, the stuff that “needs to be done however can become a proper distraction from what the season is all about . And now with the political state of the country we’ve got another terrible distraction eating away at a growingly hostile country in a general election .

These next few weeks my prayer to myself as much to anyone else is to take some time to stop , take stock , think and prioritise what’s important , to not be distracted by the unnecessary but embrace the important things in life !

These last few days amidst the busyness it’s been great to spend time with friends and special times with family , to see Les Mis with my Aunty , to take time out to take  the kids to Frozen , to spend time Being with friends.

Advent .... a time to prepare ... a time to get ready, a time to Be .

News Alert !

I’ve been very quiet in my blog over recent times and even on social media . Most of you know that I love it but as a family we’ve been working some stuff out which we’ve had to do just as a family.
My job obviously isn’t just a job , it’s not even a vocation but rather it’s a calling ... over the years it’s got us into Alsorts of weird and wonderful places including Bosnia , Indonesia and Strood !!!!!!
All I’ve ever wanted to do was to follow that call ... if you’re not a believer and reading this you’ll think this is crazy and I can’t fully explain it but ultimately it’s about going to serve (work) where God feels we are best used with our skills and talents.
I can’t deny the last few months have been difficult as we worked this all out.
My job was contracted for 5 years and being 3 years in thinking about the next step was inevitable... we especially wanted to think about moving for secondary school for Dan as Kent has a grammar system which I’m not a fan of !
To cut a long story short after 4 months of reflections , rejecting ideas , coming back to them and praying ... a whole lot of praying .. who family , with priests and even with a nun !!! We came to the decision to apply for a job and I was offered it ... in Lancaster .
Some of you may know Lancaster is Marc’s home town and where I went to Uni. It’s a long way from Kent and that part breaks my heart .. literally in two infact in many pieces , my parents are here , my sister brother in law and most beautiful
Little niece are here , my best friend and his family are here along with other very close friends and people I now see more like family than just friends ... hope you know who you are ! But we still feel Gods call on us to make the sacrifice and start a new challenge ... being a “proper vicar “ in a church in fact two churches but pioneering out of them !
The timings are sketchy it won’t be until next summer as For Dan we felt he needed to finish the academic year ... so plenty of time for au revoirs !!
If you’ve got this far thanks for reading and happy to share the extended story over coffee , gin etc any time xxx

Vague

Apologise for being vague on many fronts here but it’s out of necessity for now !
This week, the last 5 days have been horrific difficult and emotional on many fronts.
Last Sunday we had (in my humble opinion!) a really powerful service at Abbey court school bringing the school community and the church community together for the first time! We invested their brand new scout pack, our scouts presented them woth a new standard, we heard from the Bishop  and great worship was had . I also conducted the most beautiful thanksgiving blessing of a little girl in the afternoon with over 140 guests and the. Celebrated a colleague being vicar in his parish for 20 years!.... it was a very busy but blessed day!
And when lots of energy and effort has been put in to such things there can often be a back lash .. these week we have taken it on all fronts ... I actually feel like I’ve been through the eye of the storm and have not quite exited yet!
As always I’m always grateful to dear friends and family who have shown their support in the various different situations and the support we have had has been lovely . I’ve again learnt the very important lesson of talking and sharing how you feel with others it really does help !
  I am heading into a new working week thoroughly exhausted (it’s now 12.44 I’ve been in bed 2 1/2 hours and gotten up several times unable to sleep!! The joy of an ADHD Brain!)
There really is no point to this except to say thank you to those who are walking with us .. we have a great faith that God is bigger than humanity and has our family in the palm of his hand guiding us forward .. but the journey is a struggle sometimes and hopefully writing it down will enable sleep to come !
As well as Abbey court being my weekly highlight I also discovered a local cafe selling dairy free Ben and Jerry’s ... all can’t be bad !!!

New start

It’s that time of year ... routine returns , meetings back up in earnest .. and the thoughts of days out and ice cream are but a distant memory !! Although we didn’t go away away we had 14 days split across the 6 weeks visiting family and friends and having a really lovely time . The boys were very chilled and got on amazingly well together !
And then back to earth with a bang as Elijah began full time school for the first time this week !!! We didn’t think it would be a big deal as he’s been in the nursery already but boy were we wrong !! He certainly made his feelings known at home but thankfully he was very good once at school each day and went into class without so. I hope as a protest and has come out smiling each day . His highlight the first day was the deputy head having to help him see what was for lunch as he was too little to see over the counter! His staple has been jacket potato and beans and fruit but hey if he’s eating something that’s a win in my book!

Dan has struggled more but held it together in school as is his style. And we’ve had lots of cave time and decompression at home !
I’ve always hated September .. I’m not sure why because I really enjoyed school up until I was 16 but think it’s the thought of  getting back to normality and routine rather than the free form the holidays can take plus the extra time with the boys Has been truly wonderful !
The next few weeks are pretty crazy and pressurised too  but I’m sure we will get used to autumn and it’s boy long really until The joy and wonder of Christmas is it 😉

The boys are back!!!

When the opportunity for Marc and Elijah to go to Marc’s cousins farm for a week arose it was a no brainer... the last chance to take Elijah before the big move to start school full time in September,... what I didn’t contemplate was just how hard it would be for me .. Dan and I have had a lovely time spending quality 1:1 time together but we really missed Elijah and Marc .. Dan so much he even slept in Elijahs  bed !!
It’s also been tough as I’ve had to work full time sort Dan and cook (those who know me know how much I struggle with that one!!)  however we have survived , we’ve not been ill and the food has been edible , we’ve survived .. exhausted but survived !
What I have realised is I really need to develop some hobbies , when dan went to bed I’d juat go back to doing work , on my day off , all alone for a whole day I had no idea what to do with myself .. I even popped into the office for a cup of tea !!!  From September I need to re think my time off !
But for now the boys are back chaos has returned and I am in my happy place !!!!