This week we are in the office preparing for some of the events that are coming up:

21st March: Strictly Come Praying, Grangemouth
8th-13th April: Spring Harvest, Minehead Week 2
16th-18th April: The Mix, Norwich
29th-3rd May: Baptist Assembly, Plymouth

There are others in between but these are what we are focussing on! A meeting about each to plan and prepare, as well as rehearsals, stock checks and other admin type stuff! We had an office prayer time this morning, its great to catch up with the people who work in the office, day in and day out keeping everything going and doing the really important stuff that keeps us going on the road! A chance to find out how the other ministries are going and what God’s doing. We’re going out for a meal on Thursday lunchtime, sort of a leaving do for Clive but he can’t make it…so we’ll still go anyway! Any excuse to go out! Also this week is a chance to meet with Andy and Joy and chat about how everything is going and what’s happening next year…I have no idea what God’s plans are for me for September so your prayers would be much appreciated!

Currently preparing part of a seminar for Strictly Come Praying. It’s on ‘How does God speak to us?’. Myself, Keel and La Roche are running it and have chosen the 3 topics of through The Bible, Sung Worship and People & Circumstances. We’re doing 5min chat and 5min practical activity for each. I’m doing Sung Worship so if anyone has any thoughts they would be much appreciated!

On a non-work level…It’s nice to be ‘home’ (Mum gets upset if I call Wickford home so hence the ”!) for a week, a chance to catch up on washing, hang clothes up and have a bit of a tidy up! Very much looking forward to watching Holby City at 8pm tonight, rather than on iPlayer a few days later! Saw Maddie, Emi and Billy at the weekend – we went to the park and got really muddy and it was great fun! I fell over so had to change into my pjs when I got back to Sarah’s and put my jeans in the wash! Watched a film called ‘Fish Tank’ in the evening and it was really good! I recommend for anyone who likes real life films. Had Billy laying on my tummy for a couple of hours, all snuggly and warm! I miss them so much when I don’t see them! 

I bought the Florence + The Machine album and have been listening to it for the past couple of days. I like it a lot!

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!

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!

Saturday

Had a lie in, yay! Then slowly got myself ready and packed and Julie kindly drove me to Shenfield. Renewed my young persons railcard (it’s gone up to £24!!! shocking) and got myself a homeward bound ticket. Arrived at Freeport at 11.45 where my chauffeur driven chariot awaited (Lewis in Yo-Yo Stanley) and we went home to see Mum who hasn’t been very well and gave her some flowers (not from me, I could have pretended that they were and I was a really nice daughter but that would have been lying which is bad.  Julie bought some roses for mum which was very nice of her!) and stayed for a little bit. Then we went to Tesco and bumped into Phil and Carol (criticising my choice of clothes as always!), bought some food and then went back to the penthouse suite at Balmoral Court. We cooked omlettes (Lewis cooking, me instructing) and then spent the afternoon being lazy, watching TV, wrapping some Christmas presents (oh how organised am I?!). Then we decided to go and get a film out so went to Blockbuster and spent aaaaaaaaages in there but there really wasn’t anything, and then we asked the nice man if they had any Prince Caspian’s returned which they did so we got that! We then went back and had some meatballs and pasta and watched the film, then watched X Factor and the results on fast forward, then it was about 1am so went to bed!

Sunday

SNOW!!!!! Aaah how exciting!!! We had to drive to Basildon (via Sarah’s to lend them Prince Caspian, borrow a pair of boots and Maddie and Emi were in matching clothes – SO cute!) in the snow which was fun, got there a bit late so Rachel and Ollie had pretty much loaded. We then all got into the Fun Bus and drove to Kilburn. We thought we were going to be an hour early, but ended up being 4minutes early due to the craziness of driving in  London and dodgy directions! We were performing at the Gospel Tabernacle Church which is the downstairs of a Methodist Church so after initial confusion, we sorted out where we were going, unloaded and set up. The Youth Service (actually all age, about 70 people, about 20 were children and youth) started at 2.30 and we did Abi, then they did some worship and a story, then we did Trasha and it was great fun! The kids really got into it and at the end gave Abi some really good advice – the best being from a little girl called Stephanie, who was about 4, who said ‘She should pray.’ Aww!! We stayed around for some food and then packed down which was quite crazy with all the kids trying to help! We left at 6.20, got back to the office just before 8 and was back at home at 9. I think Lewis enjoyed being on the road with us, his comment to me being ‘You were better than I thought.’ Cheers. Stayed at home Sunday night, so nice to be back in my own bed with Twinkle, my furry cat hot water bottle!!!

Monday

Got up about 9, i think I’m getting old – the whole ‘got to make the most of the day’ thing. Hmmm. Got ready and did some bits at home then Me and Mum went round to Sarah’s. Maddie was poorly had a bad cough which was giving her a really deep voice and she wasn’t happy. Quite cuddly though! We had lunch and then Me and Sarah took a buggy each and went into town so that Maddie could have a sleep in her buggy. Cold!!! And Me and Sarah had our matching coats on so we proper looked like sisters! Met Lewis in town and sent him to Tesco to get biscuits and then we went home and he drove round. We had marylandcookies, chocolate fingers AND big cookies filled with chocolate. Mmmm. We left about 5.15 after Sarah wiped Maddie’s nose with my scarf, nice, took Mum home and then went back to the Penthouse. Had a lasagne and then people began descending for Stephen’s 16th birthday. 17 of us went to Go Banana’s in Colchester and we had great fun! I found 4 flags in the first game, we played a relay race, was hilarious watching Tom and Lewis fly round, we had lots of free time where the boys were pelting each other with ball pool balls. then there was a blindfold game which I watched and was very funny! It finished at 9.20 and we went to McDonalds for food, mmm bacon cheeseburger! We then drove back, dropped people home and then Lewis dropped me back in Billericay. I was in bed at 12.04, so close to my target of midnight!!