Apologies for lack of posting, WordPress went down for a bit so I wasn’t able to do anything!!

Unlock The Power of the Church – 18th September
We were on the road at 5.30am, munching pain au chocolat and drinking cartons of orange juice. We gradually woke up and by 7am we were at the church in Streathamunloading. I sustained my second worst set up injury, scraping large chunks of skin off 2 of my fingers, lots of bleeding, but obviously, being a girl I didn’t complain and carried on! We were on a pretty tight time schedule and with a few technical hitches were ready minutes before the doors opened! The day went really well with about 100 people attending. The day consisted of worship from Luke Hamlyn, drama by Envizage Theatre Company and speaking from Den Pethers. It was an inspiring day and brilliant to see people engaging and getting passionate about sharing their faith back in their Churches. We had some interest in our Christmas Event, More Than A Story, which we are currently planning and taking bookings for. Packed down and back home in time for X Factor!

Taste Gig: Westcliffe – 25th September
Keel was drafted in to drum at a ‘best of’ collaboration for Westcliffe Free Church’s Centenary Celebrations. The and consisted of Claire Parry (Vocals), Jo Hobson(Keys and Vocals), Andy Clark (Guitar), Sammy J (Bass) and Keel (Drums). I offered to help Joy on Visuals and Dan came to operate lighting. We arrived at 10.30am and had a long, leisurely and fun set up. We were provided withwonderful food, though I wasn’t able to take full advantage as I was starting to come down withsome lurgy. The gig was half Taste songs and half worship, witha member of the Church sharing his story. We recognised quite a few faces and had a great time. Packed down and Claire drove home with Magic FM blaring loudly to keep us awake!

Keel and I headed up to his parents in Selby for his driving experience on Monday 27th at Elvington Airfield where he drove a Lamborghini and loved it!!

We then headed back down as far as Arlesey in Bedfordshire where we met Rich and La Roche and spent Weds, Thurs and Friday on retreat. We were in a house very generously given to us by some people Rich’s parents know and spent the time relaxing, praying, doing some Bible study and just spending time together having some fun! We went to the cinema to see The Other Guys (not too bad, ending was a bit silly), we set up a projector in the lounge and watched 2012 (rubbish storyline, special effects brilliant!!), we went to the RSPB place in Sandy for some fresh air and also enjoyed dinner at Beth and Stephen’s (Rich’s parents) on Friday night. It was a really good time to spend together and good for me as I wasn’t feeling well with some Cold/Flu combination so I got time to rest!

The weekend was spent half in Braintree and half on my sofa in Billericay. Went to the cinema with Emi and Maddie on Saturday morning to see Marmaduke (pretty rubbish, but not the worst kids film I’ve ever seen! Best line: ‘Marmaduke, or should I say Marmafake’ – i think probably you had to hear it, but it still makes me laugh!) and the girls just munched popcorn continually and fidgeted and changed laps a lot! Emi kept asking what was happening, why it was dark and how did they get the man out of the water?! The rest of the day I was wiped out so watched Hollyoaks omnibus and X Factor in the evening. Went back to Billericay in the evening. Sunday was a long lie in and on the sofa refusing to move in the hope that enforced rest would make me better! Caught up on Waterloo Road and Holby City. Keel came round to look after me and watch X Factor (I got far too into it and was gutted that Paige and Gamu went out!!).

Today is Monday 4th October and the new Taste Guys have started – Andrew Kidby, Tom Tonks and Jonny English. More on them and their roles a little bit later. This week is very busy - have a look at my calendar! Lots to do, and right now i’m off to PC World to look at Laptops and hopefully get myself a new one!!!

Please keep praying for me!

Tags: Envizage Theatre Company, Holby City, Hollyoaks, Lamborghini, Luke Hamlyn, Marmaduke, More Than A Story, Retreat, Taste, Unlock The Power of the Church, Waterloo Road, Westcliffe

I’ve been back 3 days now and loving it! So far it’s been lots of admin type bits, sending emails, creating folders and generally organising myself! Also been having meetings with various people within Viz-A-Viz Ministries. A new team is emerging which consists of Rich Powney, Claire Parry, Sam La Roche, Andrew Keel and myself. We’re currently working out exactly what our role is and how it will all work, which we probably won’t know for some months yet as we try things out! We’re existing to serve Viz-A-Viz Ministries in creating and delivering events, training sessions for the new Check It Out Team, retreats and Bible Studies. We’ve all got different skills and passions and will be pursuing these as well as combining them for God to use and do great things through us! It’s very exciting! We’re all under 30 and along with wisdom and experience from those above us hope to inject some enthusiasm, creativity and ‘newness’ into what Viz-A-Viz Ministries does through. We’re really seeking God to know what He wants us to do!

I’m settling in to my new abode, had a lovely housewarming on Monday night with Claire and Karen. I’ve got Holby City, Waterloo Road and Hollyoaks on Sky+ Series Link so I’m all set! I’m having to learn how to feed myself…any advice on living on a budget/cupboard essentials etc would be much appreciated!!!

Tags: Andrew Keel, Check It Out, Claire Parry, Holby City, Hollyoaks, Living on a budget, Rich Powney, Sam La Roche, Viz-A-Viz Ministries, Waterloo Road

I now have a week off and it’s very strange! It’s great, but strange. Having spent 13 days with the team, being crazy busy it’s kind of an anticlimax feeling to then be without them!

Saturday was a lazy day, unpacking and sorting out my room. Went to the cinema with Lewis to see Up (it’s brilliant…totally recommend it!) and then caught a lift back to Braintree with him. Sunday I woke up at 12.30pm. I NEVER sleep that long! 13hours sleep! Clearly I was tired! Spent the day with Matt, Sarah, Maddie and Emi which was lovely. Monday morning I spent sorting out my stuff and then went to Sainsbury’s in Stanway with Mum. I bought a grey cardigan and a black jumper and introduced Mum to Vanilla Lattes. Had roast gammon for dinner, apple pie and custard….wonderful! Today I looked after Maddie and Emi while Sarah went for an ante-natal appointment; Jasmine, Joseph and Samuel came round - was so lovely to see them. Can’t leave it so long next time! Went to Pram Service with Sarah, Emi and Maddie in the afternoon. This is a Mums & Toddlers group at St Michael’s Church in Braintree. I used to go there when I was little and it still smells the same!! Amazing. It was really cute – they sing songs off an OHP and everything! Me and Mum made Toad in the Hole for dinner tonight and then watched Holby City…oh my goodness! Got to watch the second part tomorrow now!

I’m going back to Wickford on Thursday.

Tags: Holby City, OHP, Pram Service, Roast Dinner, Up, Vanilla Latte, Week Off

Tuesday

Had a nice lie in and spent the morning getting ready to go out! We had our office Christmas Dinner at The Quays, round the back of Basildon Festival Leisure Park. We were provided with ridiculous hats and crackers with the most bizarre ‘presents’ inside. I got a small plastic silver trumpet, that was the most normal! Had tomato soup for starters, turkey for main and profiteroles with fudge sauce instead of chocolate! Interesting, but nice! Rachel, Ollie and I then went to the cinema to see ‘Four Christmases’. Hmmm. Wasn’t as good as i’d hoped, could have been funnier, but wasn’t too bad. Think I’ll stick with Love Actually and The Holiday as essential Christmas Chick Flicks! Spent the evening doing some internet shopping and of course watching Holby City (aaaah dilemma. She finally kissed him, but then she’s been flirting with his son and she doesn’t know he has a son….what to do!).

Wednesday

Slept in. Slowly got ready whilst a coffee morning went on downstairs. I came down for the last 15mins or so and met some lovely people with some fascinating stories! Helped clear up and had a couple of chocolate biscuits mmmm. Then Rachel picked me up at 12.45 and we went to the office for a meeting on how to make MTC shorter. We managed to remove 8mins from the schedule…and add 5. Then we travelled all the way to Basildon (took like 10mins!) and had to wait for an OAP fitness class to finish before we could set up. We had 30mins less than normal to set up, but of course we managed! Were able to suspend the mirrorball at the front of the stage and have two lights on it. Looked fab! Dinner was lasagne and apple pie. Was a little nervous that all the lines has fallen out of my head during the two days off, but not to worry! My biggest battle was getting the voice in my head to shut up! Few technical hitches but hopefully no-one noticed! Rachel nearly slipped over on stage and i got wedged between two flats, and almost walked into a flat but no major disaster! We were all packed and loaded by 11pm, and was home by 11.20pm, result!

Thursday

Today has been looming in the back of my mind for ages. My designated essay writing day. I actually quite enjoy writing them, it’s just the thought of it that fills me with gloom. So i stayed in bed for as long as possible. Got up at 10.45am, took my time getting ready – baggy jeans, hoodie, no makeup, no hair straightening day (and as it turned out quite accidentally, no deodorant day :s), had breakfast, tidied my room, emptied my bin, put out some washing, decided to go into town to get some bits and see if the library had any helpful books, came back from town and it was lunchtime, had lunch – spicy butternut squash and sweet potato soup with fresh crusty bread….mmmmm so good! Stacked the dishwasher, then it was 2pm and I really couldn’t put it off any longer. Switched on the study computer…checked my email, went on Facebook, rang Mum, ordered Delirious tickets…then finally did some research! Printed out 24 pages of stuff and photocopied pages from books, then sat with my 3 different coloured highlighters (Green, Orange and Yellow if you’re interested, I can’t find my pink one) and went through everything. Moved into the conservatory to start writing…and my computer connected to an unprotected wireless network!!! So…facebook, emails etc….then started writing! Managed an hour and a half then it was time for neighbours! (not much of interest to share) Then spoke to Lewis who is poorly Poor thing. Then dinner – dessert was Tiramisu which I’ve never had before and it’s quite nice! Then back to work. Have now got all my content, just needs rearranging and sense making! Have eaten lots of dark chocolate today. I don’t like dark chocolate. But i’m discovering if you eat a lot of something you start to like it. Like now i don’t need sugar in my coffee.

Tags: Apple Pie, Basildon, Christmas Dinner, Conservatory, Dark Chocolate, Essay, Facebook, Four Chrstmases, Highlighters, Holby City, Lasagne, Mirrorball, More To Christmas, Neighbours, Profiteroles, The Quays, Unprotected Wireless

Friday

Well Friday was a long day of working hard. From 9.30am-11.30am. Phew. Then i got the train back to Braintree! Had hot dogs and cheese at Lewis’s (how many people now fancy hot dogs?!) and then sat down quietly for the afternoon while Lewis worked. I did some Christmas shopping online, well more browsing and working out than buying!

Then went to K4J, had fun there. Did a reflection story on the paralysed man being lowered through the roof which went fairly well, they were a bit chatty though! Then we had A2J which Aaron led, talking about depression, suicide and emotions. We split into boys and girls at one point – girls talked about periods, which made all the boys giggle when we had to feedback! We played the After Eight (or in our case Tesco Value After Dinner Mint) game where you place one on your forehead and have to get it into your mouth without using your hands. i.e. wiggling your face. Hilarious to watch. Lewis won, surprise surprise, despite me trying to sabotage his attepmts!! Was a good night, got back about half 11 in the end.

Saturday

Lazy morning, Lewis made yummy egg and bacon rolls for Brunch and Wendy’s friends came over for a bit. We went into town in the afternoon to get some bits, i witnessed a bit of an argument in New Look, the police came in and everything! Then went back and did some present wrapping then went round to Sarah’s for dinner and after bathing and dressing Maddie and Emi, Sarah and Matt went out and left me in charge! Us 3 girls had cuddles on the sofa and then after some persuasion and eventually getting into bed with Maddie and her getting me in a headlock and shouting ‘NO’ everytime I tried to get out, Maddie went to sleep. Then I fed Emi and put her to bed and had a nice evening by myself drinking hot chocolate, watching some episodes of Hollyoaks and X Factor (Do I even need to comment on Britney’s performance?! Shocking. And Ruth probably shouldn’t have gone.) and trying to work out what the limited edition mystery Revels flavour is. Having tasted several but not being able to work it out I have to look up on the internet. Strawberry. Really?! How unimaginative and un-strawberry tasting. Silly. Then Emi screamed so brought her down to wind her and have some sleepy snuggles. Then Lewis came back from his Camp meeting (metting about camp, not….yeh.) and then Sarah and Matt came back and i relayed all the evenings events and then went back to get some sleep!

Sunday

Got up and ironed Lewis’s shirt (hear that Mum, I IRONED!!!! and burnt my thumb in the process), had Frosties for breakfast and went to Church for 9.30am. Church was good,I went up into Sunday School with Maddie and we made a star decoration for the Christmas Tree. Chatted to some people after Church and then went back to Lewis’s for Wendy’s stew and treacle pudding and custard mmmmmm. Then went round to Sarah’s and picked Maddie up with the intent to go swimming but there was a gala on, so we went to Starbucks for coffee and biscuits, walked round Freeport looking at the lights and then drove to the park where we played in the dark and Lewis got stuck on the slide. Funny. We then went back to Sarah’s and watched the George Yard Firework display from the kitchen window – Maddie was not nearly as impressed as we were – then back to church for 5.30pm for the evening service. Chatted to a few different people after the service then Lewis took me back to Billericay (via McDonalds – they’ve stopped donig Bacon Cheeseburger’s at the Braintree one….WHAT!!!! But we did somehow end up with an extra cheeseburger!).

Monday

Picked up at 8.40 by Rachel and we went to the office. COLD. I finally printed my newsletters yay!!! Then the internet went down so we went shopping. For props. Spent £18 on chocolate coins! (Come to a show – we give out chocolate coins!) Went back and it was lunchtime and i spent the afternoon folding my newsletter, writing names and notes and envelopes and sticknig stamps.

Then in the evening I went to Ignite, Sawyer’s Women’s ministry meeting, met some lovely people, drank mulled wine (non-alcoholic for me!), ate nibbles and sang some songs round the piano (that bit was slightly cringey but funny!!). Got home after 10 and went to bed!

Tuesday

Got up at 8.40, got a text from Rachel saying she’d pick me up at 12.35. So…what to do with my morning! I finished off allllll my newsletters and then went into town to post them. Bought some effervescent echinacea (Mum you must be so proud of me) to ward off the bugs which are lurking in the back of my head. Got back and had some carrot and coriander soup with Julie and then Rachel picked me up. We went to the Barn and met David, then from 1pm-3.30pm we went through the sketches with Ollie doing sound cues. Then we packed up and went home. Spent the rest of the day (with a brief interlude for dinner) preparing and finalising stuff for the worship session on Wednesday, watching Holby City (what IS Jac upto?!), dissecting Holby City on the phone to Mum and then having Sarah ring me to complain that Mum was too busy talking to me to talk to her. That’s because i’m the favourite daughter…..haha.

Tags: After Eight Game, Babysitting, Bacon Cheesburger, Britney, Carrot and Coriander Soup, Chocolate Coins, Christmas Shopping, Cold, Dark, Echinacea, Egg and Bacon Rolls, Fireworks, Holby City, Hot Dogs, Ignite, Ironing, K4J, Mulled Wine, Newsletter, Park, Periods, Police, Revels