Over the last 2 weeks I have had an aggrivating cold, one of those that doesnt really do anything but lingers, makes you sound nasally and is irritating; that was until a few days ago. One night I suddenly was woken by not being able to breath so well I had a spasmodic coughing fit ( my usual sign of an asthma attack!) and it went on and on and on. This happened over the weekend and so by yesterday Marc badgered me into going ot see the doctor. Me being me was reluctant as I seem to live there between me and Dan ATM !
However it was easier to go and get checked out rather than have Marc worry so off I trotted to the sister surgery in Gillingham which was the only place with appointments.
Convinced it would be a waste of time I sat with my book and waited..not too long and went to see the Doc. In a matter of seconds he doctor realised that I had a sever chest infection and needed antibiotics, he then read my history and realised I also would need steroids as the infection was so deep and my lung is pretty rubbish in places.
I went home feel glad Marc had been insistent but also a bit anxious not liking steroids as though I know they work brilliantly, they also send me a bit manic! It however was only when I was driving home that I realsied the last time I felt a bit like this was 9 years ago almost to the day....9 years ago around bonfire night I developed a cold which turned into pneumonia and resulted in us flying home from our life in Indonesia. Then I understood why Marc was so anxious.
HAving asthma and a weakness is pants, I feel so terrible not being up to speed but I am so grateful that we have an NHS system where I can be seen relatively quickly, for free and get the treatment necessary.
Now all I have to do is go through the diary and see what things are essential and what things can wait...it is a hard lesson for me....
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Emotions
Today has been a bit of a strange day...in fact not just today the last few days really.
Daniel has been unwell all week and it has taken its toll on us, sleep less nights, trying to get essential stuff done whilst deciding to put other stuff on hold but today could not be put off today I was dreading with all my might!
Today as well as being Remembrance Sunday is also the one Sunday Marc leads the music part of our worship at one of the churches and also the day our vicar was away celebrating the dedication of his grandson along with his wife (who usually looks after Daniel while Marc rehearses and during the service). So the pressure was on before we even woke up this morning.
Marc and Dan went off to rehearse whilst I went off to preach and preside communion in Upnor. I have to say I was moved almost to tears, the church was pretty much full of men and women who served on the Arethusa, men and women come to pay there respects and remember. It was a delight to preach and administer communion to these wonderful people.
Unfortunately with the set up of our parish we had to dash straight off in order to do an All Age Worship Remembrance service. I have to say it is so hard getting this right....trying to make sure it engages all ages without making it irreverent and loosing the remembrance aspect.
The church was full and as we launched forth immediately there was a problem, no heating and no sound! It was a real battle and eventually we got a hand held mic working.
Again I was moved to tears seeing the uniformed children bringing their poppies, having Daniel sit with me ( still clingy after being ill) and wanting to pray for the soldiers, seeing those men and women wearing medals of honour of wars fought long ago. And then I turned around and saw a whole family sat together a family of a lady who has been battling cancer so bravely still smiling, still entertaining her grand children and still in church.
I have moaned, I have been grumpy and I have sulked this week..Yet today I have seen people put me to shame..our church seems to be experiencing a lot of suffering at the moment and for those we can but pray God's love and peace upon them.
A stressful day has brought me to my knees....we are blessed to be surrounded be true heroes...
LEST WE FORGET!
Daniel has been unwell all week and it has taken its toll on us, sleep less nights, trying to get essential stuff done whilst deciding to put other stuff on hold but today could not be put off today I was dreading with all my might!
Today as well as being Remembrance Sunday is also the one Sunday Marc leads the music part of our worship at one of the churches and also the day our vicar was away celebrating the dedication of his grandson along with his wife (who usually looks after Daniel while Marc rehearses and during the service). So the pressure was on before we even woke up this morning.
Marc and Dan went off to rehearse whilst I went off to preach and preside communion in Upnor. I have to say I was moved almost to tears, the church was pretty much full of men and women who served on the Arethusa, men and women come to pay there respects and remember. It was a delight to preach and administer communion to these wonderful people.
Unfortunately with the set up of our parish we had to dash straight off in order to do an All Age Worship Remembrance service. I have to say it is so hard getting this right....trying to make sure it engages all ages without making it irreverent and loosing the remembrance aspect.
The church was full and as we launched forth immediately there was a problem, no heating and no sound! It was a real battle and eventually we got a hand held mic working.
Again I was moved to tears seeing the uniformed children bringing their poppies, having Daniel sit with me ( still clingy after being ill) and wanting to pray for the soldiers, seeing those men and women wearing medals of honour of wars fought long ago. And then I turned around and saw a whole family sat together a family of a lady who has been battling cancer so bravely still smiling, still entertaining her grand children and still in church.
I have moaned, I have been grumpy and I have sulked this week..Yet today I have seen people put me to shame..our church seems to be experiencing a lot of suffering at the moment and for those we can but pray God's love and peace upon them.
A stressful day has brought me to my knees....we are blessed to be surrounded be true heroes...
LEST WE FORGET!
Friday, 1 November 2013
Sweets and Saints
Last night at 4.45pm the door bell rang, as we opened it we were greeted by a multitude of scary looking children and slightly embarrassed parents...all of whom we knew;
"Trick or Treat" they politely said with big smiles on their painted faces...
Last year some of you may recall our dilemma of what to do but this year was a no brainer..we had a basket full of treats and also our glow in the dark pencils and rulers with Jesus is the Light of the World written on. Some may feel this is tacky, some may disagree with us giving anything at all but it is an opportunity for us to share with our neighbours and also to get the message of light into the homes..and seeing the delight on the 40 children who received the pencils and rulers was priceless. Unfortunately by 6.15 we had run out of the pencils and rulers so the following 15/20 children just received sweets and a blessing of safety.
Today is Friday, today unusually for me is a working day..why? Because today is All Saints day (All Hallows) our parish church'
s patronal festival of which we are to celebrate a service of Holy Communion. It was a delight to meet together and celebrate those wonderful, faithful folk who have gone before us..
"Trick or Treat" they politely said with big smiles on their painted faces...
Last year some of you may recall our dilemma of what to do but this year was a no brainer..we had a basket full of treats and also our glow in the dark pencils and rulers with Jesus is the Light of the World written on. Some may feel this is tacky, some may disagree with us giving anything at all but it is an opportunity for us to share with our neighbours and also to get the message of light into the homes..and seeing the delight on the 40 children who received the pencils and rulers was priceless. Unfortunately by 6.15 we had run out of the pencils and rulers so the following 15/20 children just received sweets and a blessing of safety.
Today is Friday, today unusually for me is a working day..why? Because today is All Saints day (All Hallows) our parish church'
s patronal festival of which we are to celebrate a service of Holy Communion. It was a delight to meet together and celebrate those wonderful, faithful folk who have gone before us..
All Saints
Day, a day to remember those ordinary people of extraordinary commitment.
Saints are ordinary Christians whose lives reflect the life of Jesus. Recently
the Pope has declared a few more people Saints..including Pope John Paul the 2nd..however
those such as Mother Theresa sacrificing everything in life still await saint
hood but I believe her life mirrors that of any Saint. An ordinary person doing
extra ordinary things for the Gospel.
So many people in my life have been Saints in my eyes...people who lived faithfully to help me in my life, to help me grow, to help me develop and to give me the confidence I need. Some are still with us and some sadly have departed this world...It may sound morbid but I feel it is so important to remember those who shape our lives and make us the people we are today.
So to you who have been a part of my life whether it is a little way or a major way...you know who you are...THANK YOU!
Monday, 14 October 2013
When the going gets tough!
The last few days have been pastorally difficult for me...
On Friday I had the real privilege of assisting with the funeral of a young women ( just turned 41) who lived on our estate.
The funeral was always going to be emotional but little prepared me for the fact that as I stood to read the eulogy I was faced with a massive amount of faces I recognised and know from our estate, Daniel's preschool, resident association and other Hoo contacts. It was a really amazing thing to see a community come together to celebrate the life of Karen.
The funeral was also made more emotional by the fact that Karen was a music teacher at a secondary school and some of the girls choir came and sang 2 songs. The girls were absolutely amazing they were clearly terribly upset but held it together so well and I have never heard a choir sound so much like angels in my life.
After the emotion of the day I then went on to spend a damp and wet weekend in Aylesford Priory with my lovely fellow curates. All the training in the world doesn't prepare you for tragedy!
So today all I can do is pray for the family, for a husband widowed at a young age on his birthday and every year on his birthday will be reminded of what happened. Today I can only pray for 2 children who will never forget their mum but will grow up without a mum and who have to face everyday life when things will never be the same, And most of all today I pray for those friends, neighbours, acquaintences who are also suffering the loss of a friend.
The one thing I do know is Hoo rocks and am privileged to be a part of it.
On Friday I had the real privilege of assisting with the funeral of a young women ( just turned 41) who lived on our estate.
The funeral was always going to be emotional but little prepared me for the fact that as I stood to read the eulogy I was faced with a massive amount of faces I recognised and know from our estate, Daniel's preschool, resident association and other Hoo contacts. It was a really amazing thing to see a community come together to celebrate the life of Karen.
The funeral was also made more emotional by the fact that Karen was a music teacher at a secondary school and some of the girls choir came and sang 2 songs. The girls were absolutely amazing they were clearly terribly upset but held it together so well and I have never heard a choir sound so much like angels in my life.
After the emotion of the day I then went on to spend a damp and wet weekend in Aylesford Priory with my lovely fellow curates. All the training in the world doesn't prepare you for tragedy!
So today all I can do is pray for the family, for a husband widowed at a young age on his birthday and every year on his birthday will be reminded of what happened. Today I can only pray for 2 children who will never forget their mum but will grow up without a mum and who have to face everyday life when things will never be the same, And most of all today I pray for those friends, neighbours, acquaintences who are also suffering the loss of a friend.
The one thing I do know is Hoo rocks and am privileged to be a part of it.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Peninsula Times November
I am trying to write my latest article for the Peninsula Times and just wanted to sound it out here...see what you think
Peninsula Times November
I recently
read an article that said:
“Halloween is also a sort of
marker in the calendar, a turning
point in our year, when the fallen leaves and passing of a season are swept away by the pre-winds of winter and we brace ourselves for the uncertainties of a dreary dark winter. I’m reminded of this as I listen to Sting’s album, “If On a Winter’s night.”
point in our year, when the fallen leaves and passing of a season are swept away by the pre-winds of winter and we brace ourselves for the uncertainties of a dreary dark winter. I’m reminded of this as I listen to Sting’s album, “If On a Winter’s night.”
‘If Halloween is not for you,
lighten your spirit! Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. If
this season tells us anything, it speaks to the need we all have for
celebrations that brighten the dark times. ‘
Autumn is a strange time a year, a time of
change and a time of darkness. In our country as in many others we put our
clocks back to try and grab an extra hour of day light but the nights still seem
to draw in very quickly as does the cold damp weather.
The darkness of the season is also perpetuated
by the celebrations of Halloween and Bon fire night…what are we really
celebrating any way or is it just a good excuse for a party?
I have never been a fan of the dark,
metaphorically or literally! There just seems something sinister and altogether
unnerving about it all. I am the one who hides behind the sofa during Dr Who ,
who used to have nightmares watching Scooby Doo and who could definitely not
watching any given horror film, mock or real.
That is why I love this verse quoted from Sting,
it reminds us that very soon the joyful occasion of Christmas is just around
the corner. Surely it is better to celebrate the birth of the Saviour of the
World rather than the capital punishment of a man from the sixteenth Century or
dressing up as ghosts and ghoulies remembering
the spirits of the dead.
So as the darkness descends upon us, as the cold winter takes its hold, let us hold on to the fact that the Son is coming, the light of the world shines amongst us and we have nothing to fear if we put our trust in Him.
So as the darkness descends upon us, as the cold winter takes its hold, let us hold on to the fact that the Son is coming, the light of the world shines amongst us and we have nothing to fear if we put our trust in Him.
Monday, 30 September 2013
Highs and lows
This weekend has had its highs and lows.
The weekend started with a full on day of KIME ( curate training) in Canterbury. I am now in my third and final year ( hurrah!) and despite the sessions being a good chance to learn more, to catch up with fellow colleagues they are also rather full on and take time away from the family during the weekend which is ever more precious time.
This year we are studying Hermenutics and my group are looking at Gender issues which should make for an interesting debate. I am slightly anxious as in 2 weeks time I am away again for the whole weekend with KIME and already am putting contingency plans in for Dan.
Following a full on Saturday There came a equally full on Sunday...2 services to preach at followed by a brand new venture..Sundays @ 4. This was to be the launch of a new worship experience appealing to all ages based at Bishop Gundolph in Chattenden. A lot of time and preparation has gone in to this event so we as a team were all excited and nervous too. As Marc, Daniel and I arrived in plenty of time to set up and be ready without any panic. However, as we were setting up we discovered the speakers had been moved ( strange occurrence), the projector which we had been told was set up was missing and the fire door was a jar. As others arrived it became clear that the church had been burgled. As shocking as this was it also meant that the most vital part of the event was missing...the data projector! Thankfully we have one at home so Marc sped off to get ours and all worked out. The event seemed to be pulled off with about 30 people in attendance and a delicious BBQ to finish. It is great to be able to trial new things and spend time with people in a different setting..let's hope they come back :)
After such a manic weekend all I wanted to do was collapse in front of the TV. Unfortunately once most of our visitors had departed we had a visit from CSI to check for finger prints etc. By the time all the excitement was over we went home bath and put Dan to bed and I too collapsed into slumber.
I felt really frustrated by the break in..not by the things stolen..they can be replaced, but by the fact the fire door is broken meaning it had to be boarded up making the building unusable at the moment. Tuesday I receive another Police visit so will know more then.
This morning Daniel after 12 hours sleep is obviously in payback mode for me being away and pre occupied most of the weekend so this afternoon unashamedly I am doing mummy and son things!!!
The weekend started with a full on day of KIME ( curate training) in Canterbury. I am now in my third and final year ( hurrah!) and despite the sessions being a good chance to learn more, to catch up with fellow colleagues they are also rather full on and take time away from the family during the weekend which is ever more precious time.
This year we are studying Hermenutics and my group are looking at Gender issues which should make for an interesting debate. I am slightly anxious as in 2 weeks time I am away again for the whole weekend with KIME and already am putting contingency plans in for Dan.
Following a full on Saturday There came a equally full on Sunday...2 services to preach at followed by a brand new venture..Sundays @ 4. This was to be the launch of a new worship experience appealing to all ages based at Bishop Gundolph in Chattenden. A lot of time and preparation has gone in to this event so we as a team were all excited and nervous too. As Marc, Daniel and I arrived in plenty of time to set up and be ready without any panic. However, as we were setting up we discovered the speakers had been moved ( strange occurrence), the projector which we had been told was set up was missing and the fire door was a jar. As others arrived it became clear that the church had been burgled. As shocking as this was it also meant that the most vital part of the event was missing...the data projector! Thankfully we have one at home so Marc sped off to get ours and all worked out. The event seemed to be pulled off with about 30 people in attendance and a delicious BBQ to finish. It is great to be able to trial new things and spend time with people in a different setting..let's hope they come back :)
After such a manic weekend all I wanted to do was collapse in front of the TV. Unfortunately once most of our visitors had departed we had a visit from CSI to check for finger prints etc. By the time all the excitement was over we went home bath and put Dan to bed and I too collapsed into slumber.
I felt really frustrated by the break in..not by the things stolen..they can be replaced, but by the fact the fire door is broken meaning it had to be boarded up making the building unusable at the moment. Tuesday I receive another Police visit so will know more then.
This morning Daniel after 12 hours sleep is obviously in payback mode for me being away and pre occupied most of the weekend so this afternoon unashamedly I am doing mummy and son things!!!
Monday, 23 September 2013
Lazy Sundays...NOT!
Yesterday was the first Sunday I had been back into traditional church for several weeks after the amazing boot fair experience... I was very anxious about preaching as it almost felt like going back in for the first time.. Saturday night saw me frantically writing and re writing my sermon for the 2nd service and the night saw me dreaming about turning up to find the wrong bible passage to what I had been given to prepare!!!
But Sunday morning came and went and it was nice to be back in the fold sharing God's word, baptizing 2 beautiful babies ( who barely cried!) and celebrating our vicar's 60th birthday!
On the way back from church only a few moments from our house we were abruptly stopped by 3 fire engines trying to put out a house fire. Daniel of course was rather excited to be greeted by such a sight where as I was very anxious about what had happened. Having found a route around the blaze and home the Parable of The Good Samaritan ( Luke 10:25-37) was going through my mind..should I stay out of the way and let the professionals do their thing...or should I go and see if anyone needs any help? After a few moments I decided I couldn't settle and so took a walk ( or rather hobble..on crutches!) up to the scene...crowds had now gathered, local neighbours were out re directing traffic and children were zooming up and down on bikes keeping everyone in the loop. and so I managed to chat to a few people to discover by the grace of God no one was injured but the fire was still smouldering away. I spoke to a few neighbours who were anxious but ok and managed to visit a lady with cerebal palsy who lived next door and obviously as little concerned about what was going on outside. It was lovely to chat with this lady..(embarrassingly she already knew who I was and apparently reads my articles in village Voices and Peninsula times) I hopefully reassured her that everything was ok and her her carer was coming later on in the day to see her too.
It is strange what this job throws at you..sometimes planned sometimes without even realising it. It made me realise how much of a privilege it is to live in such a community as Hoo, to be able to be an instant resource if needed and to see a community come together .
Our day continued with a lovely afternoon tea from 3 of our home group and Daniel's friend form church , a real chance to unwind, chill out and relax yet to catch up and get to know each other more...Daniel was lost for 3 hours playing happily and it was a delight to see.
So a day of contrasts of excitement in happiness and excitement in terror...one thing is for sure..life with us is never dull!
But Sunday morning came and went and it was nice to be back in the fold sharing God's word, baptizing 2 beautiful babies ( who barely cried!) and celebrating our vicar's 60th birthday!
On the way back from church only a few moments from our house we were abruptly stopped by 3 fire engines trying to put out a house fire. Daniel of course was rather excited to be greeted by such a sight where as I was very anxious about what had happened. Having found a route around the blaze and home the Parable of The Good Samaritan ( Luke 10:25-37) was going through my mind..should I stay out of the way and let the professionals do their thing...or should I go and see if anyone needs any help? After a few moments I decided I couldn't settle and so took a walk ( or rather hobble..on crutches!) up to the scene...crowds had now gathered, local neighbours were out re directing traffic and children were zooming up and down on bikes keeping everyone in the loop. and so I managed to chat to a few people to discover by the grace of God no one was injured but the fire was still smouldering away. I spoke to a few neighbours who were anxious but ok and managed to visit a lady with cerebal palsy who lived next door and obviously as little concerned about what was going on outside. It was lovely to chat with this lady..(embarrassingly she already knew who I was and apparently reads my articles in village Voices and Peninsula times) I hopefully reassured her that everything was ok and her her carer was coming later on in the day to see her too.
It is strange what this job throws at you..sometimes planned sometimes without even realising it. It made me realise how much of a privilege it is to live in such a community as Hoo, to be able to be an instant resource if needed and to see a community come together .
Our day continued with a lovely afternoon tea from 3 of our home group and Daniel's friend form church , a real chance to unwind, chill out and relax yet to catch up and get to know each other more...Daniel was lost for 3 hours playing happily and it was a delight to see.
So a day of contrasts of excitement in happiness and excitement in terror...one thing is for sure..life with us is never dull!
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