Summing up the summer

Joel was 'dead' bored in Yorkshire.

"Caitlin, tell me when to charge - I can't see a thing in this helmet!"

"Don't call me Caitlin, my lord.  I've changed my name to Baldrick."

A Robin joins us for lunch during a gruelling 2.5 hrs red route at Bedgebury.

Rant over - here's a nice piccie!

Mr Fox paid another visit this evening.

Forget 'Facebook' - blogging's where its at!

Feb'2011 was the last time I blogged - I can't believe it. Well, I can actually. Facebook - that world-wide sensation that makes people brag about what a wonderful day they've had with friends and then their friends reply in kind, making the rest of us look in from cyberspace at their wonderful lives with just a hint of jealousy after not having been invited to these magnificent soirees and coffee dates and wonder why not - really has a lot to answer for!
We've become a world of internet voyeurs and cyber-peeping toms and eaves-droppers. Yes, we get annoyed when people show the world what a wonderful family they've got and the fantastic holidays they've had without a thought for the people who haven't been as privileged or as fortunate, but we still log-on, scroll through all the inane posts, video links to bands from the 80s, open those pics from yesteryear.
Am i complaining? Well, to be honest, I'm not sure. After all, I am on Facebook and the number of 'friends' I have tells me I'm blessed with lots of people who want to know what's going on with me. Or do I? The label 'friend' doesn't really sum up the majority of people who 'request' us to be their buddies - it just tells us the number of people who want to nosey into our lives for a bit to see if they're having it better or worse than we are. "Oh, Maynard, don't be so cynical," I hear you cry. Am I? I did say the 'majority' not all. Don't get me wrong, it's a great way to communicate and keep track of people. But what happened to picking up the phone and talking to our friends when we need to instead of adding posts like 'Had a bad day - wish I had someone to talk to.' or 'Aaaargghh!'. While these posts prompt some people to ask 'Oh, hun, what's happened?', wouldn't it be easier to grab the phone, call and speak to a real friend when you need to?
Personally, I've decided to get back to blogging more. After all, if people really want to know what's been happening in the lives of my family then this is the perfect place to show them, post pics of those happy times, keep folk up to date.
To summarise, I'm not completely against Facebook, I'm more for it to be honest - I just wish we could use it thoughtfully and not with a 'Hey, everyone, look at me!' attitude that many people have when using it.

Come on world, let's be real friends. Let's talk properly instead of 'commenting'. Let's 'share' in the true sense of the word. After all, 'friends will be friends right to the end' - won't they?

Change of plans!

I really must update this thing a bit more. I started this as a way of reminding the family what we all got up to, so I guess we haven't been up to much since 9th Dec.2010, eh?
Well, that's not true. We had a lovely Christmas, albeit the first one were we didn't take any photos whatsoever. I guess they all look the same year after year, only the kids look a bit taller and the adults look at bit wider and odder..er...ahem...I mean wiser and older.

So, what's been going on, well, I've been spending Fridays with a very good buddy of mine decorating the flat that our church Apprentices live in after we found that the place resembled a hovel and a filthy one at that. On Mondays I've been taxi driver for some of the older ladies in the church who have needed a lift to get to their weekly meeting. And I've finally joined a new Housegroup which is great.
Jess had a wonderful extended birthday. She got the present of her dreams from her folks of a flight in a little, tiny, weenie aeroplane/aircraft. She was made up. I'll just have to think of something else for her 40th next year - hmm, thinking cap well and truly on already!
I've got stuck into writing a full length novel. It's a children's fantasy adventure and from the kids reaction to what I've written already, I think I'm well on track for a number one best seller. At least that's what I'll keep telling myself as I continue writing it.
Which will now take longer than planned, due to the fact that I've been offered a new job to start in a couple of weeks.
Against everything I'd planned, I'm going part-time (4 days per week, 9am-3pm) to work in a Christian hostel as a Support Worker to assist people with mental health issues. If someone had told me even two months ago that this is what I would end up doing, I would have laughed - heartily. Which goes to prove that only God knows the plan he has for us. It is just up to us to follow his plan and accept that he knows what is right for his glory and for us. I've spent the last five years planning my own future and trying to achieve things that I believed would please other people. Now, after all these years, I've realised that God's timing is perfect; it is up to us to 'push the doors' that appear before us and not sit back and wait for God to give us what we want; and that He knows what's best for us. Instead of being served, it's up to me to do the serving.
As for teaching? Who knows. As for the writing. Who knows, although I'm getting a real passion for it now, more than I used to. And as for the future, well, that's in God's hands, not mine. I'll just smile, follow him and lead my family in the paths of righteousness.
As for all the different forms of service I've been doing lately, who'd of thought it would lead to a very rewarding and worthwhile job? Not me!
Here's to the future.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary

A proud day today. Caitlin got to be a beautiful and serene Mary and, for once, both parents were there to see her. Well done, sweetie.

Joel finds another way into Narnia.