I spent a great weekend up in Norwich with Lois. I took the day off on Friday and travelled up by train (having booked tickets online earlier in February meant that the whole return journey only cost me £11.60!). Friday we wandered around Norwich a bit, went into the Cathedral which is gorgeous – I enjoy imagining may have been there in years gone by, worshipping the same awesome God we worship now. Lois lives 40mins walk from the centre so I was pretty wiped out by the time we got to hers! She lives with 4 other girls – I only met Claire and Naomi who were very lovely and welcoming! We later went and had a look round the campus at UEA where Lois is in her second year studying English Literature. Having not really been on a Uni campus before it was a very surreal experience! Like a whole little world of students!! It was nice to see where she is and walk around the lake in the grounds. Friday evening we enjoyed a girlie night in watching a film with a bottle of wine, crisps and Jaffa cakes! Just what I needed after a busy week!

On Saturday Lois, Claire and I braved the weather and took the train to Cromer. It was a bit grey and windy but we had a great time walking along the beach and then finding a little fish and chip restaurant. I love being by the sea – it’s always so calming and it’s one of the places that I feel closest to God. I really appreciated the time just to reflect a bit. In the evening we went to Lois’s local pub with Claire and Naomi for a chat which was really lovely.

Sunday I went to church with the girls – they go to Eternity Norwich (40mins walk in the opposite direction!). I love going to other churches to see how different people do things and to relax and worship God without anyone knowing who I am! I really enjoyed the service – didn’t agree with everything that was said, but I quite like that – gets me thinking about why I think what I think! After Church we went home and had Pizza, yum! We wandered to the park and discussed motorised scooters and nicknames! Was cold but sunny – lovely weather to be out in! My travel home was a little bit of a mission with replacement buses, but was home safe and sound by 9.30pm.

It was really lovely to see Lois and spend time chatting and being girlie! I really appreciated the break – being somewhere completely different, with different people and being able to relax. It was nice to take some time out of the normal schedule to reflect on what I’m doing and just get some space.

Maddie (my 3yr old niece) has come to stay tonight! I painted her toenails and fingernails, we read stories, she used my bath confetti, drank milk and ate chocolate on the sofa and snuggled up in bed to more stories and songs. I had to take the clock out of the room because it was too noisy and change the light because it was buzzing. She wouldn’t go to sleep unless I stayed with her. She fell asleep just after 9pm.

I’m sleeping on the floor next to her so lets hope she doesn’t fall out in the middle of the night! I’m hoping I don’t sneeze and wake her up. Also hoping she has a lie in in the morning…not expecting much though!

Last night Lois stayed over and we had a proper girlie sleepover. It was wonderful! I loved chatting and giggling with her…she totally understands me, its great! She went at 9am this morning and then I’ve had a bit of a lazy day. Went to visit my nan in Braintree and then off to meet Tim at Costa. We haven’t seen each other in probably a year and it was great to catch up and talk about anything and everything!

I miss having conversations with friends outside of Viz. Especially talking about Jesus and Church and opinions on things. I guess I get a bit wrapped up in Viz and everyone there…it’s really good to talk to people out of the bubble!

It’s been a time of eventfulness since my last post!

Saturday 12th was the commissioning/celebration in London. We arrived early and set up in good time. It was really good to see SammyJ, Matt and Ollie again as well as some of the other Optimum Volunteers from last year. The service itself went well and everyone worked really well together on our first event!

Sunday I went to church with Tricia, first time of being at her church – LWCC. It was really good!! A really relaxed atmosphere, everyone was really friendly and I loved the fact that the children were allowed to run around, play instruments and make noise during the singing…basically allowed to be children! I felt free to worship and enjoyed the lady who spoke. Hopefully be able to go back again soon! Then we had a ‘last year’s touring team’ meal at the Toby Carvery in Brentwood. Unfortunately SammyJ and Ollie weren’t able to make it…but Matt was there! We had a good time together. Then myself and Keel got the train to Chelmsford, met Dan and Jeni and went to CGC in Chelmsford. Really enjoyed the worship and they had visiting missionaries from Brazil which was interesting! We went out to the pub after and then I got the train back to Braintree, met Ian from the days of getting the 352 to school…was good to catch up!

Monday was a rather difficult day. I don’t need to go into details but Lewis and I broke up.  It’s all amicable and everything, I guess we just both need some space for a bit.

The rest of the week was hard. I found it really difficult to concentrate and focus on what needed to be done. It was a week of rehearsing, training, meetings and lots of chatting and drinking coffee with people! Wednesday was a good relaxing day…Me and Becca went and got our hair cut while the boys went to PMT in Southend (Music Shop!) and then got their hair cut. We spent the afternoon putting blond in Jack’s hair and watching DVDs of Andy and Joy back in the day’s of Double Check. Some pretty hilarious outfits/hairstyles! Then dinner as a team at Andy and Joy’s house which was amazing! Friday we spent some time with Den, going through Abi and him giving directing advice which was brilliant. We only had 3 hours so only got through 5 scenes but could have spent so much longer!

My weekend was good. Saturday I met Becca for coffee in the morning, then Lois in Chelmsford for lunch (Boots Meal Deal in the Park…oh yes!) and good girlie chat! Also a bit of shopping…£3 DVDs in HMV is such a bad thing! And I bought the jumper dress I’ve been eyeing up in Peacocks for a while! Watched Strictly Come Dancing in the evening…it just annoyed me. Such a waste of 2hours. I love the dancing, its all the rubbish around it I can’t stand. Perhaps I’ll Sky+ it and then I can ffw all that stuff and it’ll be over in 20mins!

Sunday – Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary Mummy and Daddy!!!!!
Went to Shotgate Baptist in the morning as Lois was doing an interview about her time in Peru with fellow team member Matt. Russell and Becci and co picked me up from there and we went to the Green Dragon, Gt Leighs meeting up with the rest of the family to celebrate Mum and Dad’s Ruby Wedding Anniversary. We had a really lovely time, good food! Back to Mum and Dad’s for champagne, then Russell and Co dropped me back in Wickford on their way home!

This week is more rehearsing, training and meetings and our photoshoot on Wednesday!

So the past week has seen me going to the airport to meet Lois back from Peru (hurrah!!), buying a tent, putting up the tent, Maddie weeing in the tent, an incredible lunch at Joyce’s and much line learning and rehearsing with the legend that is Mr Andrew Dimon.

Today I met Lois in Chelmsford and we did a bit of shopping but mostly chatted which was so nice. I have missed our girly chats, laughs and our habit of thinking and saying exactly the same thing at the same time. It’s great to have you back Lois, you bring a smile to my face. And thanks for my birthday present and my hat!! Photos to come if you’re lucky.

Tonight has been packing. Packing for camping. Such a headache! I have now given up and will finish in the morning. So much stuff to think about and who knows what the weather will do. I’m not a camper. I like my luxuries. I’m kind of excited, kind of dreading it. I don’t like bugs and i absolutely hate getting wet. I’m really hoping it’s going to be better than i’m expecting. But all that will be far outweighed by the great time we’ll have getting to know the kids and seeing what God is going to do.

Off up north we go!