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.

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

back blogging

This was the very moment of priestly ordination (a highly illegal photograph taken by my lovely husband)


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Well, it is good to be back...back here on my first web-blog (having left Diakonia behind - the website that is because 'once a deacon always a deacon!') and also back after a number of adventures.

So much has happened in the last few weeks, so here is a quick run down:

- I was ordained priest a few weeks back - which was an amazing event. I was far more relaxed than last year and felt a lot more confident about my place in the process this year. The diaconate year is so important in terms of getting my head round all the changes in my life and directing myself toward my new ministry. It was far from ordinary but it certainly prepared me for the shift to the priesthood.

- I presided at my first communion(s) - because I serve at two churches I got to do this twice! It is difficult to describe the remarkable privilege of presiding I was quite overwhelmed by the whole thing. I was very stressed about it and managed to mess up a few bits and bobs but I was drawn into the church community in a whole new way...supported, loved, cherished. Brilliant.

- I have been on clergy conference. I really didn't know what to expect but was actually quite pleasantly surprised by the 3 days of retreat to Swanwick with 300 vicars. We were entertained by Roger McGough and Hugh Dennis, spiritually challenged by Jim Wallis and June Osborne. I also attended a couple of great theological debates led by Ann Morisy and Paula Gooder . It as great to catch up with old friends and meet some new people. I came away feeling challenged and spiritually refreshed (but also a bit tired - too many late nights setting the world to rights).

- I have also been to Spain on holiday to a wonderful villa in the hills outside Malaga - Villa Victoria. It was a real treat to go away somewhere very hot, with a private pool and just sit about soaking in the sun. Spending time with Eva and Mark - just the 3 of us - was a real treat too. We have not had much time together this year and a whole week was great (though it did take some getting used to!). I have managed to become 'off-white' - a nice low level tan - for the first time in years. I also read some great books, ate some fantastic food and spent some time with my cousin Ian who lives in Torremolinos.

- I am now trying to get my head together for a busy week - including going to see Madonna at the MEN tomorrow . We also are off to John and Johanna's wedding on Saturday - which will be an exciting adventure.

So, best go and get on with living the life I blog - I will let you know how I get on with PillyJ at Madonna's egofest tomorrow...

Britains got talent

This was my favourite act from this year - they didn't win but they were fab


George was the winner


obviously it was a dancing year this year!

If you didn't see the moment that George won - here it is!

infant baptism and eurovision

...An unlikely combination but that is what my day will be focusing on (what's left of it). I have a strict revision regime to stick to and if I haven't don't know enough about infant baptism by 8pm then I am in for a sad eurovision night. So, I am not going to hang about here...I am just going to play you what Phil Jackson and I think will the winning song (well hedging our bets it should come in the top 3).

Eurovision 2008 Sweden Charlotte Perrelli - HERO (performance in the semifinal)



please pay no attention to the Latvian Pirates

not long till Eurovision

This year is going to be a bit of a rough eurovision for me - I will be all alone! Mark is off to Liverpool, Eva is at Brownie camp and Philly J is in Belgrade watching it live! I have to be up early to lead the Sunday service at St Peter's so I can't be 'having it large' so I think it will be a small glass of white wine and some peanuts.



Phil Jackson at the Eurovision semi-final dress rehearsal last night (taken from his world famous blog)


If you want to know first hand, from the horses mouth, all the eurovision gossip as it happens then crawl over to Phil 'I cheated death' Jackson's 2008 Eurovision blogsite. It really is genius.

Baptists

You may well know that Trinity college is 'in a relationship' with the Baptist College (they call it a Federation - which is another way of saying they love each other very much but there is no kissing). Well, the Baptists are great! I say this because I have just read a book about the way they do church, what they think is important and general stuff about the way they developed their theology of church and I found myself being very sympathetic to their decisions. Don't worry I am not turning Baptist but I can see why my family were congregationalists...whilst not the same as Baptists their self-governance and commitment to mission is particularly compelling. I am an Anglican through and through (cut me in half and "CofE" is written round my inside) but I think I am a Baptist sympathizer.

On another subject altogether. It is 3 weeks till we move! A fact that slightly disturbed me today and I got stress tummy. I wonder if my study in the vicarage will look like this:




another fab cartoon (click on it and it gets bigger) by Dave Walker who now is writing the Church Times Blog. Genius at work.

controlled blast in Westbury-on-Trym

I don't know what the weather is like where you are but it is grim here today. Cold, windy and raining. I am feeling a bit under the weather myself and my aching bones could really do with the sun to come out and some warmth on my back. But hey ho.

Not a lot has happened today. Eva went out for a drive and a look for chairs for my Mum to sit in - she isn't getting enough support from any of the ones we have at the moment. The most exciting thing to happen is the controlled explosion in Westbury-on-Trym. The usually quiet suburb is a mass of excitement and slight bemusement.

I am tucked up in bed reading and here I will stay until later when Mark and I are dues to go out for a meal to celebrate Steve and Gayle's big adventure at the Paintworks.

I thin I need to put a cardi on...

eva has worn me out

You wouldn't think that spending time with an 8yr old would be tiring but it really is. Not that what we did was that hectic...went for a drive, went to the cinema, went of for lunch, supermarket, home. But we left at 11am and didn't get back until 6pm. I feel like I have had a busy day at work. We went to see the Spiderwick Chronicles which was actually very good. A bit scary but quite effective. It has a slightly strange ending which I won't spoil for you but I would love for someone to do a theological analysis of it. Any takers?

I don't have a plan for tonight and given the fact that I am now trashed I think I will have an early night. Not much space in my head. Need to give it a break.

lee abbey

We had a great weekend in Lee Abbey. Perfect in fact. Just what the doctor ordered and a perfect ending to transition week. I did very little all weekend. Just sat about, drank tea, drank white wine, ate cake (and anything else really), I made a big chicken dinner on Saturday night and we went out for a cream tea. But we did do a lot of talking and thinking. Strange to think that in just a few months we will all be distributed around the country and just Liz, Phil and their inward baby (which should be out by the 2nd week in June) will be in Bristol. In the midst of the excitement of leaving it is also a bit sad that we will disperse and this faze will be done. So, it was good to spend some 'quality time' together before things change.

Anyway, got back to find out that Phil Jackson has been really really unwell and spent last week in hospital including a few days in intensive care. He is ok now - well at least he is on the mend - but that was a bit of a shock. So get better quick Phil. xxx

I am off to Liverpool tomorrow. Catching the train on my own (I am a bit girl now and can get a train to the Pool all on my own) at 9.30am. Mark and Eva are staying here and I am off to do some research into a music hall - The Park Palace on Mill Street. So, I will be kept very busy in the Central Library looking at playbills and maps. I will report on how I get on.

headache

I couldn't go to college today because I have a headache and sitting listening to people for 3 hours just wasn't going to help. I have a long drive to Lee Abbey ahead - we are going away fro the weekend to stay at the Chalet with Liz and Phil, Nick and Bridget and Steve and Sharon, plus 3 kids. Should be a fun end to the week as ling as my head stops banging. I can't take any more ibuprofen so I have been resting in a darkened room. Forgive me if I don't write much as I am not sure this is helping much. When I get back from Lee Abbey I will write more. There will be a short virtual silence for a couple of days. Hope you have a lovely weekend too.

potting shed

Mark was looking out for some pictures for Paula for ZHO Theatre company and found some shots of my alter ego Maureen. She MC'd the Potting Shed cabaret on the Walk the Plank boat May 2006 (just aftre I had been to selection conference). These pictures are of Maureen singing Anarchy in the UK and reading from a book (!???).

Just in case you don't know about Walk the Plank here is a helpful video that will fill you in.

Daft Bodies - Harder Better Faster Stronger

I know I am supposed to be working but whilst I was traveling round the blogging world I found this...Thanks Julian

The Gospel According to Quality Street

This film has been made by a Angela and is a retelling of the gospel using quality street chocs. Genius.

back in Bristol

Having had a very good few days in Liverpool we are now back in Bristol...and it is raining (again). Well, while we were in Liverpool we got a lot done. We went to our new house and had a useful meeting with the diocesan housing officer and I think things are now in hand - hopefully all the jobs that need doing will be done by the time we move in. Mark and I also had a good meeting with a friend of ours who is doing a big local history arts project from the Park Palace music hall/cinema building on Mill Street, Liverpool 8. I have been asked to be part of the project - running a week long music hall workshop from the building. I am very excited about the project and it will be a useful addition to my performance as research work in relation to my PhD. Even though this is a different music hall it is a contemporary of the Pavilion. I am hoping that the project will take place in June just after I get back but before I start my curacy. If not I will have to do the research, set up the project and then hand it over to someone else. Just have to hope it all comes together...

In keeping with the music hall theme I have chosen a clip of Count Arthur Strong doing a little act at the Music Hall Meltdown which happened last year. Enjoy.

Christian Pat and his Charismatic Cat

David Goodall sent me this link today which really cheered me up. Thanks David*.



*I have subsequently been informed that David got the link from Paul Robert's Blog - what tangled web of blogging links we weave. As the writer of Ecclesiastes says "There is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

screenclean

I have been stressed out about the dirty marks on my lovely macbook and recently bought an expensive product to keep it clean. Mark (my husband not the finger prints etc) was not so sure that I needed to spend quite so much on cleaning wipes and suggested that this method might be as good...I am not so sure!

getting old, being sensible when eating and still messing about in lifts

You may remember a while back Mark and I went to That London to see Count Arthur Strong. At the time I promised pictures and here they are....



This one is of C.A.S and Malcolm acting.


















This is what happens to people when they get old and sensible and are not prepared to take risks with baked beans anymore.








...but not too old to take pictures of ourselves in a lift messing about (not in a rude way! How dare you for thinking that!!!!).

me and sir john betjeman

I am in a facebook group called 'I had my picture taken pretending to be a statue". It is actually one of my favourite facebook groups and I have provided a few pictures for it's gallery. My latest (taken by my Mark) is of me pretending to be Sir John Betjeman - I am standing next to him at St Pancras station, London. I post it here purely for your amusement. I hope you like my bag detail and the way I have made my coat fall just like Sir John B's. It took quite some work I can tell you.

Babies

I have just got back from a baby shower. Miriam is due to have her 3rd baby really soon and tonight a group of us got together at Laura's house to wish her all the best. It was a lovely evening and great to see a group of girls having a great time. In the room were at least 3 other pregnant women, as you know I am living with a pregnant woman and last week another friend of mine gave birth to a baby boy so it really is baby central round here.

I know I won't be having any more children and I always thought I would have more than one. But there you go, it didn't work out like that. I don't regret anything that has happened but sometimes it does feel a bit strange not minding. I feel like I should be more bothered. Christians seem to have loads and loads of children...

Anyway, I am plodding along with work...writing essays, a homily, a sermon and stuff. I have had a quiet day getting on with bits and bobs of work. Slowly the list gets shorter.