SHINE

2 years ago today I undertook the most challenging thing I've ever had to face..the Shine marathon for Cancer Research. Whatever possessed me to agree to it was simple, I'd seen so many friends , family and parishioners suffer at the hands of cancer and I wanted to try and honour them in some small way. 2 years later I faced Shine again but this time the half marathon to ease me back in after having Elijah. Again, it was a truly wonderful experience, this time without the pain and agony but still with the heart ache of more friends and family members suffering at the end of this cruel disease .

What was so amazing on Saturday night was seeing the 17,000 people all there with their own stories and reasons why they were walking, whether it was for themselves or for a loved one each walking with their own memories and thoughts.
The world can so often divide us but sometimes tragedy can unite us, bring us together in the companionship of mutual experiences. I've only experienced this twice....at Shine and during the 7th July bombings...a time when people were so scared in London they actually turned to each other in conversation for comfort and support. It makes me sad that it takes bad things to bring us humans together...maybe we should try and make a conscious effort to smile at someone tomorrow, say hi to someone or even invite someone for a coffee...you never know just how much that act of kindness may mean to them.

As for me...I'm stupidly thinking of doing the full marathon again next year but also on my list is to climb a mountain....any takers???

Change of plan

Since we came back from holiday it has literally been non stop...literally from the morning after the late night arrival home. So today I managed to rearrange a few things to try and have a much needed day off , Marc had made some lov lay plans for us to undertake once Dan had been safely delivered to school. Well you know what they say to best laid plans....we were rudely awakened at 2am with Daniel in agony quickly proceeded by him being sick, this continued all night!

So plans quickly cancelled Marc took Elijah out for the morning to avoid the bug (hopefully) and to allow Daniel some rest. Whilst Dan slept I felt myself getting more and more stressed about the things that need doing in the next 10 days so rather than stress about them I decided to face them head on. Day off postponed I have managed to get ahead with quite a lot, and this got me thinking, I spend a lot of time out and about, which I love dearly don't get me wrong, but not a lot of time sitting, reflecting and preparing . Of course I would never ever wish for Daniel to be sick it has been agonising watching him writhe in pain and agony, but amidst that we've found some sense of life perspective !

Tomorrow plans change again as I'm not allowed into our special school in case I'm carrying any bugs and Dan hasn't been 24 hours clear yet so is very very sad not to be able to join in Roald Dhal day at school but it means I get a long awaited day off ( albeit spent nursing a Sick son!)

Life can be full of disappointments , heck I am a Spurs fan I know  it well ! But it's what we make of them that counts...especially the quite times !

 It has been a strange old week full of weird emotions!
The week started brilliantly with a trip to London, not to visit the queen but to drop Marc and Dan at Euston and then meet my Aunty Sue and Uncle Roy who came down from Manchester for the day to see my folks (I hate crashed!!) it was a lovely walk down memory lane as well as a physical walk around the site of London....Elijahs first trip to the big smoke and he seemed to thorough enjoy it!

The week however since then has been somewhat hard work juggling trying to work and look after Elijah, it has meant early mornings and ,ate nights cramming work into the slots when he's been asleep and trying to ensure he's happy and not too bored while I crack on. When you are suddenly on your own you suddenly appreciate the little things in life, people dropping you a text, the offer of popping over to visit (even if you gave a meeting instead 😢) and the calls just to check you are ok. It's a blessing to know there are people out there who you can rely on .

The week however taking a turn hasn't really been about being home alone but about the state of the world, every morning it feels like we wake up to another tragedy where humanity has shown its most brutal side....this week has felt a little too close to home in northern France (guess where we are off on Holiday!) and a priest! The fact that anyone...in the name of religion, can go into an act of worship and murder someone who and devoted his life to God is beyond me. And so for now churches are to be more cautious and so are we as priests . We live in scary times but love can and will overcome. If we live in fear and stop doing what we want to do then the terrorists have won . So on we go giving thanks for a God of love and for thoughtful friends and Family

Bucket Lists

Over the last few years I kept on thinking about things I'd always wanted to do, see, experience and never had the chance to, so, I thought it would be fun to create a bucket list! 

Some of the things were;

Visit Rome and Portugal

Take Daniel to Scotland (upgraded to the boys!)

See Kylie, Take That and U2 in concert 

Swim with Dolphins

Go to a school reunion

Watch the darts live

Experience  the northern lights

So far I've managed to achieve quite a few of these but still have a way to go and it's a list that I want to add to so any suggestions please let me know !!

This weekend just gone I managed to see Take That in concert for the first time thanks to my amazing Aunty Glen, cousin Kym and her fab partner Helen buying me tickets for my birthday. I can't tell you how overwhelmed I was in the first place to receive such a gift and how utterly amazing it was! I'm sure anyone reading this has been bored with my photos already but the whole day was like being at a festival  with different acts performing, things to see and of course the odd drink or two. But as well as being in awe of the wonder that is Take That spending the day with my cousin and some friends was a wonderful tonic that I needed, of course I missed the boys terribly and as always seems to happen when I'm away they weren't well the next day but I had time to be me , Sue, rather than mummy, wife or priest! That written down sounds so selfish and I truly don't mean it that way but I do think that it's vital for everyone to have time out to be who they truly are ..themselves; and I think it's down me the world of good....so here's to planning the next adventure 😜

Weekend !

"Weekend" is a strange phenomenon when you work for the church as we only get one day of a week and Sunday's are obviously a working day.
Throw in to the mix a husband who is on 2 bands and gigs Friday and / or Saturday nights and weekends are obsolete !!
Well this weekend was no different yet very different..   For one Marc had a gig free weekend and 2 I had the chance to go down to Capel Le Fern to support my air cadets....killing 2 birds with 1 stone we decided to go down to Mum and dads house in Deal Friday night until tonight.
Just being in a different place (the fact it's near the beach helps!) makes such a difference to my psyche I instantly began to unwind.
I can't say it was perfect, the boys went to sleep late , Elijah woke several times and they both woke again early each morning but it was just precious having concentrated time just to be.....to go for a walk along the prom, to watch Daniel desperately want to be out on his bike, to join in playing with the neighbours kids, to sit and eat chips on the beach and to be amongst loads of air cadets, veterans and see a spitfire and hurricane fly over our heads. I just love being a pioneer where I can spend Sunday's in a field at the car boot, with my cadets or anywhere else I'm needed..and I'm hoping more of these opportunities will be possible form Septemebr ..(watch this space!!)

Life is so fast these days but taking time just to appreciate the little things is priceless !

We are family!

this weekend has truly been priceless ! We gathered together to celebrate my parents retirement. The bishop of Rochester kindly hosted us and wined and dined us. The event was full of folk from all over the country who have experienced, influenced or had an effect on their lives over the many many years of ministry

What was really moving was the fact that this was the he first time all of my cousins were in the same place at the same time our immediate family all together for the evening was truly priceless ..
Then there was mum s speech totally spoken from the heart of her gratitude to dad as well as others for the opportunities she had been given to enable her ministry, for mum
And dad s reflections on the sacrifices we've faced as a family , for the really tough things we've endured together and survived!
Last night was beautiful to witness and the. I was blessed with my cousin , her lovely partner and my aunt staying enabling us to put the worlds to right .... Timeless precious moments I will treasure for ever.
And the icing on the cake?.... Tickets to see Take That in Hyde park whoop whoop!!!!

Party time!

I've been merrily reading the school blogs from Dan s class and also his Headteacher and ashamedly realised that I haven't written me for so long!!

Life has been pretty busy recently with work and the boys but this weekend is set to get even busier...
This weekend we celebrate the retirement of mum and dad...even though mum hasn't fully finished work just yet!! We have family and friends from across the country heading to Rochester to help them celebrate and in true British style the weather looks absolutely diabolical!!!

It's very strange working in our line as friends and family tend to be here and there so tomorrow will be so special to have many of those so dear to us in one place...from aunts, uncles, cousins, Godmothers, best mates, my first ever baby sitters to colleagues it really will be a special time. And to top it all I actually get to see Marc play!!!

So tonight I am desperately trying to clear some work, sort the house, make lists of food, work out who is sleeping where and wonder if excitement will overcome sleep!!!                      

I'm so proud of my folks, for the variety of places they have lived and served, for the lives they have touched and for the truly awesome witness they have been, sometimes at great cost to themselves. If I ever manage to be half the person, priest or parent they have been I will be happy.
Thank you to all of you who have been a part of their working life...here's to many wonderful year of rest , relaxation and am sure wonderful adventures!

Watch out..social media will be rocked by photos over the next few days !!!