would you adam and eve it?

I saw this on the BBC website and wondered if we might be able to have a scouse one here in the pool?

eternal earth bound pets

thanks to notbovvered for this link:

"You've committed your life to Jesus. You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes what's to become of your loving pets who are left behind? Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind."

draft thesis to the proof reader

I have deposited a copy of the latest draft of my thesis with the proof reader today...and feel quite pleased with myself. I celebrated with a little visit to Waitrose and the hardware store in Formby and am considering a drink of nice white wine. But, just so you can enjoy the music hall moment with me I will post (again) this little film of Gus Elen singing 'It's a Great Big Shame'...enjoy (and don't forget to join in the chorus).

making mischief with the daily mail

...well they do ask for it don't they!!!?? If you have a few bored moments do have a go at today's stupid poll (scroll down to the bottom to find the poll) and mess up their statistics...

Don't worry they have one everyday so you'll never get bored countering their reactionary tripe.

a week

It has been a whole week since I last blogged and so much has happened...I can't even begin to start on the mad business of the week, the juggling I have done is week is exemplary and the mere fact that I have managed to get through without decking someone should been seen as a feat in itself.

Probably the main reason I have survived is that Becky has been here looking after Eva and keeping an eye on me - PhD fever has been quite bad and having someone to remind me that I am fine has been very useful. Also, Becky being about has helped me to keep up my parish commitments...of which there have been a few this week.

Anyway, I wish I could write more but I really must get on with preparing my latest thesis draft which is going to my favourite proof reader tomorrow...

run's house

Eva and I have most evenings to ourselves at the moment because Mark is off with Da Boyz...as a result we have been watching some rubbish TV. However, the best thing we have found to watch is Run's House 'an MTV reality series. It shows the family life of rapper and hip-hop music pioneer Joseph Simmons a.k.a. Rev Run.' We actually laugh out loud...

count arthur strong remembers his trip to egypt

Terry has been keeping me amused with comedy videos recently...which I really need in order to break the misery that is PhD writing. Today is the count in egypt

bad vicar

Jonathan Swales posted this on facebook today and it made me chuckle so I thought I would share it with you. I am still battling with my PhD tweeking (feels more like a rewrite at the moment)...and I also feel like a 'bad vicar' (though not in the same way as the vicar in the video). I am neglecting my flock with all this PhD stuff and it is making me all figetty widgetty. I want to get out there and do stuff but I am in here doing other stuff...anyway, best get on with that stuff!

stress and stuff

The stress of producing drafts of chapters and updating stuff is getting to me. I have taken to cake and other stress relievers. This week has been a mad time as it seems just as I get into writing I have another project on the go as well. Poor old Eva has had to go to our trusty childminders Heather and Eric for this week and next as both Mark and I are working. She is loving it though...it's just the having to get up for me to get her to south Liverpool by 9am that is hard (on both of us).

Monday was a PhD day that started wit an Every Child Matters group meeting to plan the playday event (which took place on Wednesday). So after and hour of sorting that out I came back to my office to crack on. I achieved quite a lot I think. Though I did have to do quite a lot of Greenbelt planning and got distracted by a few parish duties.

Tuesday was the day I shall refer to as Burger Day! I spent the morning with Henry and Mark (the reader at St Peter's church) planning the sermons and services for St Peters for Autumn and Winter. It was a great morning of sharing and panning. I had to then fix a puncture (we keep getting nails in the passenger tyre - not by accident I am afraid). Thankfully it just needed patching up and only cost £6 but I think I may have to deal with 'those that nail' because it is on its last patch. I then popped in to see the youth club and discovered that the BBQ for the playday hadn't been sorted so had to go to ASDA to get 200 burgers and then cook them. It took me 6 hours to pre-cook the burgers. The house stank of burgers, I stank of burgers and Joe managed to block the drain with the burger fat...so I had to get a plunger and industrial unblocker to free the yack. But it was all soothed by the lovely 3 course dinner Eva and Joe cooked Mark and I (and 2 guests). A lovely lovely treat.

Wednesday was the playday...we were opening a new playspace that has been created on derelict land near us. It is a nature play garden and has the potential to be fantastic. It all came together in the end - someone else took over the BBQ which meant I didn't have to stick of burger grease for 2 day running. The fire- engine turned up, the community police officers were positive, the housing associations were supporting and turned up with freebies and balloons, the street-dance group were great and the games (skipping workshop, drumming workshops, facepainting, flower arranging) that were organised for the kids went down well. The weather was great as well. I was very impressed by the whole event. But, I was cream crackered...and it was another day of low achievement on the PhD front.

Thursday I cleaned the church - the theatre company have vacated and it needed a good clean. Then cracked on with some work in the afternoon. Mainly prep for the 2 services I am leading and preaching for on Sunday.

Today is my day off... Eva has a friend over, I have just been to the shops and dropped off my sewing machine at the menders...now I am going to eat cake and read a book...Mark is off to set up the show for tonight at the old police station on Lark Lane. Joe is off out into town later and the girls are on a sleep over so it won't be a quiet night for me. Hey ho.

Just had a bit of time to look over my supervisors corrections of my latest chapter...it wasn't ALL bad. But there is a long way to go. Hey ho.

PhD - update

I am now on the home stretch...well, almost. I have to submit on the 6th October so, having completed a second draft and had it commented on by both internal examiners, I am now working on the final draft with my supervisor - chapter by chapter. We are having weekly meetings and I am workign to quite strict deadlines. It seems my content is 'very well researched' and I don't need to add anything to my argument. The outstanding issues are structural. Also, it seems I need to 'be a bit more boring'! So, I am working on that...stating arguments, flagging up methodologies, being more obvious about my questions and using some less racey terminology.

The current title is:
Performing The Popular: The Context, Composition and Creation of Liverpool Music Hall.

So, that's the update. I am struggling to keep my dyslexic symptoms under control (my brain is under strict instructions to 'just keep going for 2 more months). But, this is of particular concern so please do continue to pray, send chocolate, pass on special good writing vibes, etc.