Sorry for the long time since my last post, having moved Hosts, I know don’t have wireless internet access at home, so can only upload occasionally when I use their computer or when I am at work!
So since my last post…
Friday 19th September:
Was a day in the office, learning 3 new sketches and a few bits and pieces, nothing too taxing!
After work I got the train back to Braintree, took an hour (Billericay to Shenfield, Shenfield to Braintree) so got to the Church about 6.40. Stood outside waiting for an appropriate moment to go into Kids Club (K4J), which there wasn’t one until about 7.10! I walked in just as they started the song ‘Flabbergasted’, so I went to the front and did the actions! Some of the girls came over to hug me which was cute! Then I stayed for Youth Group (A2J) where they were planning stuff for their mission week in October, which I will conveniently be around for. After A2J, Lewis dropped Andy off and we went over to Notley Bowl, parked in Great Notley Garden Village and walked under the underpass. There’s lots of exciting play equipment spread out through the park so we were exploring that in the dark (avoiding the groups of young people hanging about!). That was good fun and I got home about midnight.
Saturday 20th September – Mum and Dad’s 39th Wedding Anniversary.
Had a lovely sleep back in my comfy bed, got up about 8.15 and saw the new kitchen for the first time. It’s just a big room at the moment, but it’s HUGE!!! Had breakfast and got ready leisurely, talking to Mum and Dad and showing photos and videos off Facebook etc! Lewis came round about 11 and we went off to do some shopping in Colchester, had lunch in Yates, mmm duck wrap and chips…I bought 2 pairs of Black Jeans and then we drove to Frinton and met up with Mum, Dad, Sarah, Matt, Maddie and Emi. We played on the grass for a bit, Maddie was doing some fantastic footballing, and she made a friend and discovered the word ‘share’. Hmmm… I was outrages at the fact the toilets had been revamped AND that they now charge 20p!!!!! But the Dyson handdryers almost made up for it. We went down to the beach but the tide was in so we could only look at it. Maddie wanted Uncle Lewis to go into the sea to get a “ball, ball, ball, ball” that was floating about, but Uncle Lewis was mean and woulsn’t get it for some reason. Maddie and me had some fun playing peekaboo…for a long time… We then went back up to the grass and got out the kites. Me and Lewis had the little one and Matt and Sarah the big fancy stunt kite. Wasn’t really that windy and me and Sarah soon got bored and left Matt and Lewis trying to get the stunt kite going! I think the record was about 10secs in the air. Lewis and I then went to get Fish and Chips and we came back and ate them in a large bus shelter type thing. Then it was about time to go home, and we put Maddie’s car seat in Lewis’s car and she came back with us! She was an angel, but refused to sleep despite her eyes being really heavy! Perhaps that was the sugar in the wine gums… We took her back to Sarah’s and saw Maddie’s new bed, beautiful white bunk beds, so cute!!! Stayed for a drink, then left and I went back to Lewis’s and we chatted for a bit before Lewis took me home!
Sunday 21st September
Lewis picked me up at 9.25 and we went to church. I was singing so we had the practice and then church, it was nice to be back and Sarah, Maddie and Emi came so I got some good Emi cuddles and Maddie was doing some good tambourine playing – in time and everything! Stayed to chat to a few people, then went to Tesco with Sarah to keep hold of Maddie. Lewis and I then went back to Mum and Dad’s and we all walked up to Fowlers Farm for lunch. I had Gammon, as I always do! We went home (via Somerfield to get some custard tarts) and had coffee. Lewis then ran through some of my lines with me and I packed up more stuff from my room to take back with me. We ended up leaving about 6.45 to head back to Billericay. We stopped off at Beth and Stephen’s first to collect my things from there and then went on to my new host family across the other side of Billericay. My new hosts are Julie and Bob Cristin and they are really lovely, made me feel at home right away! Lewis stayed for a drink and then left. I chatted for a little while with Bob and Julie and then went up to my room to start unpacking and sorting things. Whilst doing this I was watching ‘The Notebook’ (I’ve got my own telly in my room), which Lewis and I saw ages ago, but never saw the end, so I text him to let him know and we were both watching it and discussing over text! I got a fairly early night coz I was so tired. I’m now in a single bed which is sooooo comfy, a really soft nice mattress!
Monday 22nd September
Woke up slightly confused before I worked out where I was! I’m the only person using the main bathroom so I’ve spread out my stuff around it. Had a nice hot shower and got ready. Went down for breakfast, had weetabix and an orange. Packed up some clothes and my prom dress ready for our Envizage photo shoot! Rachel picked me up about 8.45 and we went to the office to load the van with lighting and some bits of costume. We then headed over the barn, met Dave and Simon (the graphic design man who also takes photos) and had our photo shoot. Lots of various combinations of people, outfits and poses, including a posh one round the piano. Lots of fun and I didn’t want to take my dress off!! We spent the rest of the day blocking the rest of the sketches and rehearsing with sound cues which was good! Went back and unloaded the van and got back about 5.20. Spent some time reading the paper and watching the news and then we had dinner. Julie had a lady round for Spiritual Direction and Bob went out, so I watched a couple of episodes of Hollyoaks and went to my room to sort out some more bits and spoke to Lewis for a bit, watched some TV and then went to bed!
Tuesday 23rd September
Couldn’t wake up this morning. Had bitesize shredded wheat for breakfast. Ollie was spending the day with Taste today so Rachel just picked me up and we went to the Barn. Spent the day rehearsing All About Abi. It was good fun, especially the newsagent scene…great fun!! Also went over the sketched again. Was quite tiring today, being in all day and concentrating! We finished a bit early, got home about 4.30 and went out for a walk, bit of an explore. Walked round the back to the high street, down the high street, along a main road for a bit and came back. Took about an hour and was good to clear my head! Had dinner and pudding was toffee pecan pavlova which was yummmmmy! Spent the evening filling in forms, printing off bits and pieces and watching TV. Nice and relaxing!!
Wednesday 24th September
Second Opti-Wednesday. Got to the barn a bit early so we set up tables, chairs and cups. We started off with personal time and then Ryan did a worship session on prayer and being honest with God. We had a drink and the Taste boys sang an amazing barber ship quartet version of Happy Birthday to Ryan who turned 20 today. We then had a ‘Share and Pray’ session for an hour with La Roche, Lucy, Kate and Jayne. We then ate lunch and this afternoon had a 2 hour session on Schools Work with Ian Kemble which was a good introduction. Then after we all went to the Honey Pot restaurant at Festival Leisure Park, Basildon as a celebration of Ryan’s birthday. Got back home about 5.30 and spent the evening on the phone and watching TV and uploading this post!!