Too hot

I want to be on holiday again.

Keeping an eye on this site for the next few days.

Had a surprise delivery this morning.

My Gibson flying V appeared with our US shipment.

Back in the spring I bought a Gibson flying V from a guy in the US, planning to bring it over when I next visited. Because I wasn't going over for a few months I arranged a deal I'd arranged where someone visiting our parent company would be able to play it for the time they were there, then carry it back for me. However the guitar never arrived at HQ in time, and they just forwarded it to us when it arrived.

So now I've got a flying V sat in the loo here, a full day's work ahead and no opportunity to clean it up, re-string it and play it for an hour or so.

Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace and Grace is a little girl with a dirty face. As my granny taught me.

2 weeks off

and blogging seems awkward.

Actually coherent thought seems awkward. There are many fragments of ideas floating around, but none really crystallise. Concerns about the church and news of friends that are moving on. Wishes to get on with putting a band together. Thoughts of work-related stuff. Frustration at wanting to share Jesus with people, but just making useless small-talk instead.

More of that later. Maybe.

Just want to say a really big thank you to Kita for all her help clearing up last night. Washing up was done above and beyond the call of family. With attitude like that, any time you want to come and live with us, there'll be a bed waiting.
What an

We did have a good time with everyone yesterday. Thanks for coming.

BARBIE

but without *Ken.

We were thinking about having a barbeque over here tomorrow afternoon/evening, say 4.30pm on. We've got some friends in mind to invite already, but if YOU would like to come over then please do: that includes Somerton friends, if you're reading. Just leave your name in the comments section so we get an idea of numbers.

See you later.

* unless anyone plans to bring someone called Ken.

We're home

And glad to see you've been busy here while we've been away.

Thanks for all the prayers everyone.

More tomorrow.

It's mid-day

And the car's full.

Amazing how much rubbish you end up taking when there's just 2 of you.

After seemingly endless trips taking stuff out I do believe we're done.

Bye for now.

edit - please pray for us on the 22nd - Sarah's birthday.

We're a leaving, in an old car

Don't think that we'll be goin' far.

So much for the old songs....

See you in a couple of weeks time.


Just over an hour later.... I'm pooped. And not feeling too sunny.

We needed sleeping bags and air beds, so I've had to go to Sarah's room, and it always reminds me of who I don't have near any more.Hard to even feel interested in going anywhere right now, although I know this will pass.

I've also been stupid. I sold an amp today, and have allowed myself to be talked into shipping it before I go, which means replacing the speaker and baffle board, then taking it to work to pack for shipment. Pillock!

See you in a couple of weeks.

Randall - hope you enjoy.

Be good everyone. To our 'baby' christians, stay close to Jesus :D

Auf weidersein.

Got that holiday feeling

Ain't got that holiday yet though

Ben's gone off this morning to Soul Survivor, but we don't leave until Saturday. Tonight we've got circuits (no escape there) and tomorrow evening we're seeing someone. Friday we'll pack.

I just want to go now.

Never mind: there's lots more antibodies to purify, plates to finish QC testing and all kinds of paperwork to write. Never a dull moment here.

Arrgghh!

I've just taken some MattAtk coffee.

Someone has recently discovered the 'pleasure' of making coffee their way.

The first week they started we went through 1.5Kg of ground coffee.

Between 5 coffee drinkers.

I have to use around 25% milk (plus 2 VERY heaped spoons of sugar) just to cope with it. Keeps me awake OK though.

Words and phrases

Thinking about a recent article on the Eagle and Child I had a number of words running through my head:

Stately

Majestic

Tedious

Uninspiring

Exciting

Alive

Frothy

Emotionalism

Sophisticated

Theatrical

Hypocritical

Pretence

Joyous

Spirit-filled

Banal

Repetitive

Historical

Substantial

Irrelevant

Heavy

Inspirational

Involving

Fripery

Shallow


All these have been applied by various people, usually from churches, to the worship styles in *other* churches. All have been true at various times and in various situations. I'm wondering if it really matters how OTHER people worship.

It certainly bothers me how I worship.

I just wonder why we get all het up about how other people do it? God doesn't seem to be especially bothered. Maybe it's our insecurity? Maybe we're afraid we'll be forced to be *like them*. Maybe it's our love of making rules up for others to obey? Maybe some of us were given a hard time in other churches because we were different.

I'm hanging on to my inspiration that the Body of Jesus is more than the sum of it's parts. That we all need to rise up from our situations, rather than merely diffuse sideways. We can sing "I don't wanna go back to Egypt" but I wonder if we would all recognise each other's 'Egypts'?

Sometimes I wonder

Why it seems that so many leaders in Africa would rather people starved to death than admit any weakness or failure. The president of Niger seems to be one such man. I wonder if one has to be utterly corrupt to rise to power in these countries, or whether corruption comes from being in post for more than a short time? You have to wonder what it is that makes some of these guys turn.

I despair for Africa sometimes.

Heterosexual couple to marry in Canada

Canada has recently passed laws permitting same-sex marriage. However 2 heterosexual men are to marry under the new laws because of the tax advantage it brings.

Confused?

Probably, but maybe not quite as confused as those that put the legislation together in the first place. So what DOES constitute marriage? (For those not used to me, this is a semi rhetorical question).

Like a late autumn morning

The Beeb reckoned air temperature would drop to 3'C last night. This morning when I looked out I was surprised there wasn't any frost, it was so cold! By 8.00am it was warming up again, and around 14 degrees (I'd guess). Yesterday was warm enough though, as my scalp told me after the open air meeting in Keble road park in the afternoon.

And talking of cold, last week we put a new freezer in the lab. Someone who's been off for 3 1/2 weeks saw it and asked "Is that a new freezer". Immediately I answered and said "no, we've had that since last Christmas" followed by a quizzical look. Matt caught on quickly, agreeing it had been there as long as he could remember.

Unfortunately someone had already looked inside, and seen it was empty.

I like this quiz.

Are you Addicted to the Internet? 56% Average@Internet-User.com (41% - 60%) You seem to have a healthy balance in your life when it comes to the internet and life away from the computer. You know enough to do what you want online without looking like an idiot (most of the time). You even have your own Yahoo club or online journal! But you enjoy seeing your friends and going out to enjoy life away from your computer. The Are you Addicted to the Internet? Quiz at Quiz Me!

Something has been really bugging me.

There's a blog that's run by someone I don't really see eye to eye with on a number of theological issues that I normally avoid. Recently I've been pleasantly surprised when re-visiting other blogs that I've not bothered with. The owners seem to have found a new focus, and something had changed in a positive direction.

This particular blog now has a link to a porn site.

Maybe they justify it to themselves as adult erotica?

Whatever.

Why blog about it? It's what I do when I want to express something that's been getting to me. And maybe they'll read this (or be directed to it) and do something about it.

Nothing at all.

This is the place to put your silly comments.

Matt - this one is for YOU!

Good morning

Just wishing everyone that before I dive into the maelstrom otherwise know as the Biochemistry lab. Today I will be mostly:

Coating plates

Purifying antibodies

Running around like an azure posteria'd arthropod

Getting sweaty as the temperature hits about 30'C.

Happy Birthday to Mair Groom for yesterday. One does not ask a lady's age

BTW who here knows l33t sp3ak? I was having to explain some things yesterday to a certain younger colleague - it seemed all wrong that a person who games online should need an old fella' like me to interpret

A couple of headlines caught my eye today.

Welcome to the fold Livi, Kita, John, Rachel and everyone.

Do NOT upset your bank staff.

HOW MUCH TIME?!!!!

Chris and I discussed how much time I spend on the computer last night.

Well, actually we discussed how much time I spend communicating with other people though the internet compared to talking to her.

She has a point.

At the moment I don't know what the answer is. I could spend less time on the net (it would take an effort of will) and there were certainly some priority issues that she brought up that need addressing. Another part of the peeve is that she'll find out things about me that she wouldn't necessarily have otherwise known. However blogging is also a good outlet, and lets me communicate in a way that is much easier than talking.

It's also provided a stimulus for thinking that a conventional church setting doesn't satisfy - the need for deeper discussion about theology. By observation, a majority of people in churches tend not to be up to handling theology in depth. I don't believe it's because they're stupid; just 'ordinary'. For them, such discussions aren't interesting and they'd be out of their depth arguing the kind of stuff that seems common on EC blogs. Through blogging I can enjoy a bit more 'cut and thrust' and occasionally get worked up a little too.

It was also funny. Later at family group, someone asked Chris if she'd told me something. You might be able to guess the answer.....

I guess part of the answer is we both need to talk more about the important things. In my case, I need to talk more generally. I tend to view it as my duty to listen to whatever Chris has to say, working on the assumption that she needs to talk about things. As a result of that, I tend to listen, rather than talk. It's dangerous to fall into stereotypes, especially when they are cultural.

Dan, Kita?

Want to get together this Thursday evening?

For that matter, if anyone else thinks they might benefit then they're welcome too.

Marriage

Doesn't apparently work for certain areas.

Someone gets married on Monday, and by Tuesday half of Canada's bloggers (well, everyone on prairey fusion) loses their blog sites.

There's a message in there somewhere

NO! NOT THAT ONE

This one

If you feel the need to pray for someone today -

Pray for Jon and Becky and family.

Becky isn't well right now, and it would be really good for the doctors to be able to understand exactly what's happening to her and find a solution.

Thanks

Good morning - I hope!

Thanks to Dave and Sue for putting on a great party last night, and happy birthday (yesterday) to Dan for his 18th. It was nice just sitting outside talking to people, and the weather was kind enough that we were dry and not cold

I hope you don't feel too bad this morning Kita. Today had better be your day off, I think.

As for me, I confess to eating too much and standing up too long. My legs were distinctly uncomfy this morning, probably from a mixture of standing around a lot and being silly in the bouncy castle. I DEFINITELY need more fitness.

I also had lots of memories return in the garden. While Chris and I were talking with people, there were a few occasions where I just had to disappear off for a couple of minutes. If you were one of those people then sorry. It's very curious the way thoughts and feelings sneak up, although this was an obvious time for them to all come back. Emotionally I wanted to run and hide a bit, and this morning that hasn't really drained away yet. It's not hangover - I'm just not very robust right now.

Worship team meeting tonight scrubbed after all. Anna's away, ditto Alex.