Dan - you might be impressed.

The PC I am using here is running a special form of Linux OS, designed for hotels.

I can post about this now.

The other thing that has been hanging over my head recently is the fate of the organisation I work for.

As expected for some time now, my job is "at risk" because they plan to shut our part of the operation. The guys working for me were told yesterday (I was told officially last Friday night) so it is all public now.

Time to polish that CV.

And the rain came down

Because gravity works in Italy just like it does every where else.

Well, it is being kind of interesting. I have this distinct feeling God has us here in an uncomfortable place to work on us.

Uncomfortable?

Yup. Nice hotel, mostly great scenery and exotic food in a language we cannot really speak.

We are actually fairly uncomfy, and that is becoming increasingly apparent.

I think I am listening.

I HOPE I am listening and hearing.

Are we resting? Well we are generally getting around 8 hours in bed every night, so I have definitely had more sleep than usual.

A part of the frustration for me is that everything here requires financial lubrication, and that is both wearing and grating. It is wearing because you always have to be thinking about having coins of the right type and quantity available. It is grating because I grew up poor and hate to keep paying and paying and paying for stuff like parking. Some things have been better than expected in that area, but some have not. I understand the need to distribute wealth, but it takes away peace of mind and drains the pleasure from stuff.

Today was almost funny.

We tried to visit Herculaneum. It is around 1 hours travel on bus and train (forget taking the car!) only to find the place shut. So we went into Naples instead, did the archeological museum and then came back.

Poof! Day gone.

In about 45 mins we will attempt to find somewhere that is not cold where we can get some food that appeals from a menu we can understand. This has become our nightly challenge, sharpened by the rain.

We are having interesting times

But at least I managed to eat something that was not based on wheat flour this lunchtime.

Yesterday we spent more than 5 hours at Pompei, which was interesting, but hard work. Fascinating place. Tomorrow we shal visit Herculaneum (Ercolano) where the ruins are more complete, even though considerably less has been excavated.

Today was really our 'rest and recovery' time, as we were tired from Pompei and one of Chris knees was hurting. The sea here is actually great, but finding a decent beach is not easy. We ended up on Seiano beach, which is small, stony and dirty. However the sea did make up for it.

I need to finish now - more when I get a chance.

Well I can blog here after all.

We got here fine - really no problems at all, for which I am VERY grateful.

The Hotel is mostly great, with a few bits less great (warm water would help) and the room is nice.

Now, Sorrento and environs.

Sorrento today was like Central London in rush hour, but with better scenery nearby. Note nearby.

TBH I think it would be my idea of hell in mid summer, when it is more crowded. I really had no idea this area would be like this - I imagined like Greece with more style. Where greece is relaxed, this area is frenetic and anything but relaxing. There are similarities and diametric opposites in Greek and Italian culture.

Now some of the scenery IS quite breathtaking, but whoever described this area as having the most beautiful coast in the world needed to get out a bit more.

It is nice, do not get me wrong, and we HAVE enjoyed ourselves. But some holidays embrace you and say "have a great time". Instead we have so had to determine that we shall enjoy ourselves and look for the good bits in the difficulty.

Positano IS lovely, and seems quite different from Sorrento. And if you can find somewhere to park, there is a lot to see.

Tomorrow we shall probably try Pompei. TTFN

We *seem* to be packed.

Docs all together, individual sleeves for parking, flights, hire car, hotels and maps.

Chris's contact lens stuff sorted.

Sunglasses (just now) sorted.

Clothes, sorted.

MP3 player - new audio uploaded, sorted.

Camera batteries, charged.

Reading materials - 2 guitar mags, peoples friend, a Derek Prince book on church, Ray S Anderson book on emergent theology, bible (just remembered) novels for Chris, guide books for Naples/Amalfi and Rome, sorted.

Food in and spare cash left for Ben while he looks after the house and feeds the cats, sorted.

Wonder what we've forgotten?

I probably won't post as I don't have a PC with me.

Now - bed, sorted.

TTFN

And the really good news is

That my mum's out of hospital again.

Dropped her at home about 30 min ago. Plenty of time for her to get ready for her holiday to Scotland on Monday.

One of the things that's becoming increasingly evident

About economics and politics is that it doesn't seem to matter whether the politician or economics expert is incredibly bright or rather stupid. They don't seem to be able to grasp what's going on, regardless.

QED the present situation of recession where thousands of intelligent and VERY highly paid individuals didn't take suitable evasive action in advance and appear to have blindly panicked once it was too late.

QED the present US president who, while he could certainly not be considered a great success, has not led his country to utter ruin, despite not being the sharpest tool in the box.

Thoughts arising from reading another blogger who was a bit swoony about the intelligence of Obama, while deriding Palin (McCain seems to have been forgotten in their rush to protest about women's rights to abortion).

Back to that routine

Last night my mum went back into hospital (the JR, for Bicester people).

AFAIK breathing difficulties and overdoing it when trying to lift her scooter from the back of her car were the main cause. I didn't get to see her in the end, due to the call we were expecting not being caught by someone who should have taken more care, even if they were tired.



So it goes. Please pray for her.

*edit*

Thanks for praying.

It seems her potassium levels had dropped away, and with it, her blood pressure. When I saw her last night she seemed effectively normal for the way she is these days. The hospital have given her potassium in various forms, and that seems to have largely restored the balance. She's hoping to come out today, as she'd like to go on holiday to Scotland on Monday!

If only

....this would happen to inappropriate phone users more often.

There's a sense of relief now.

Last night we talked with our wider family - our housegroup - about what we feel God's plans are for us. Neither Chris nor I like 'secrets' and it's much easier to be open with everyone all the time. We Talked with Steve (who heads up BCC) at the end of August, but really wanted to talk with the housegroup before making this public.

After 17 years in Bicester Community Church we feel quite strongly called to move and become involved in Heyford Park chapel and church in the valley generally.

This is much less dramatic than Randall's news, especially as we are phasing it over about a year in order that the church can fill the holes we'll leave. But it's still a HUGE upheaval in a way, as we feel far more a sense of family with these people, especially the housegroup, than we ever did leaving the church in London - we seem to have acquired many sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.

What will we do there?

To begin with, just get to know people - we're not moving a ministry so much as just transplant and see what God has for us. However I expect us to have a pastoral role there, very much working to support Ian (who heads up that HPC) and maybe coming alongside and teaching new Christians etc. Almost certainly I'll get involved in the music too, although I'd rather be just another musician for a while.

There's a little more news waiting, but relatively small fry by comparison. Bag - say au revoir to cat.

ppo ƃuıɥʇəɯos

ɹəʇndɯoɔ ʎɯ oʇ pəuəddɐɥ sɐɥ

Sorry to so enigmatic.

Stuff is working through.

The truth is in here.

Mind you, I've not seen Mulder for a while and Scully doesn't like my deodorant: my fault for buying cheap stuff in Tesco.

But hey, I've still (to quote JH) got my guitar.

I *should* be playing in one of the bands at the Bicester fun day, next Saturday. Hope I can still remember how to rip off Chuck Berry. I rather wish I could go play with some guys this evening - feels like there's something inside I'd like to work out of my system, although I've also been dog tired today. And I fancy acquiring yet MORE gear that I don't need, as well as some that *will* be useful. Like the pignose arriving next week - a 40W amp weighing 30lb instead of 60lb like my 18watter - that should still have a big sound instead of the rather small one I get from Voxy baby, mostly because of the tiny cab and low wattage.

So I'm not really posting about anything as such, but hey, this is my blog and I can have textoral diarrhea if I want.

Just been up to judge the village show photographic competition. There were some good pix, but it amazes me how people don't think about their images. A minority of entries were beautifully printed, while a substantial number were just printed from PC onto plain paper - some of the otherwise best images were produced like this.

Maybe time to go make dinner. Should it be curry, Chinese-style, Mediteranean or just one of our simple cheating dinners?

Off to see

....not the wizard, but Dan and Kita.

And looking forward to it.

If you're reading guys, hope to be there between 7 and 7.30.

Actually one other reason

I can't sleep is because I've been practicing my version of James Gang's Funk #49, and that main riff has just buried itself in my head.

In the livingroom it just sounds.... nothing. I played at the practice it tonight at slightly higher volume through the Godin and it just sounded great. It's just got such a good feel to it (even if the words aren't THAT inspiring).

Want to know what the fuss is about? Here's a clip on the tube. Song starts about 3 1/2 minutes in after a somewhat pedestrian blues jam. I don't want to embed anymore as it slows the blog unacceptably.

I'm going to be tired today.

We went to bed at a sensible time: I've been out this evening at a music practice with church no.2 and got in at 10ish. Lights out just after 11.

Something woke both of us a little later, but after about 20 min Chris was sawing wood enthusiastically. A little after 12 I knew it was pointless, and got up again.

Why can't I sleep?

Deep changes are in progress in every area of my life, except possibly our marriage, and while I'm at peace over them - I'm sure it's all from God - the things going on still cause a reaction inside.

I'm trying to navigate situations I can't yet see while floating on a sea of unknown.

Already this evening God's whispered about some of the things in the future, and that's great, but they are FUTURE things, and the present situation is NOT there yet.

And some of the things He HASN'T whispered about yet.

There are too many 'coincidences' for me to believe it's not all been planned. But rather like an Indiana Jones movie, there may be a lot of struggle, uncomfortable discovery and plain difficult obstacles to work our way through before we find the treasure at the end.

I need to be in bed.

Just seen an email from a good friend land - wonder what they say?

Well, it looks like a piece of the next 12 months has been wedged firmly into place

Chris and I were invited to start a 1 year pastoral training course.

It's only 1 Saturday a month, but I'm told the homework is fierce. Chris really didn't want to do it because she gets little enough spare time with me as it is, but we both feel the time is now, so off we go.

A little grace from God

We were apparently having a second housegroup join us for church in homes at our place this afternoon, along with possible a few from the local chapel. The weather should have been good so we could get everyone outside.

I've been working on a substantial piece, interpreting a Charles Finney message on living in God's peace, that I'd been meaning to present formally. Somehow, just somehow it wouldn't come together and then just felt plain WRONG to bring, plus I'd had so little time to prepare int he last few days. So at 2.30pm I re-started planning and preparing something that had to be flexible enough to work for up to 25 people from intellectual to learning disability level AND get them all into the house.

In the end we had a just slightly extended housegroup, and that was great. And some of these wonderful people responded from their hearts, which was great too.

And for me, it's been another lesson.

I need to listen when I get the 'no peace' alarm bells ringing, rather than just assuming investing more time will pull off something I want to do. I need to bring things back to God with a bit more humility and a little less adequacy, if for no other reason than to check I'm on course.

Learning - it's what lifetimes were intended for.

I'd almost given up the prospect.

The Bicester churches do a 'fun day' party in Garth Park for the town, free of charge.

Last year I played in 2 bands.

Looks like I've got a gig this year too. It won't be anything too serious or professional (we've got a 1 1/2 hour rehearsal Wednesday week) but it will be fun. One of the local guys - Dennis Niziol - does a bit of an Elvis, and being both relatively large and American he pulls it off well.

Better go practice Johnny B. Goode. Wonder if he'll do Maybelline or Blue Suede Shoes this year?

Meeting people

This weekend has been too busy.

Yesterday we went to the Highway church (a Bicester area church) annual camp for the day. It's a neat arrangement, where for a relatively nominal sum you get to camp with decent loos and showers AND have cooked food provided. We only went for the day (I confess being reluctant to give up even that much time) but that still meant being out 14 hours. However it was good, rather than a waste.

There was some good stuff said, but we had a funny encounter. They had Paul Gutteridge who is senior pastor of Christian Growth Centre at Chelmsford in essex as main speaker. He'd done Friday night - to which we'd not gone - and the Saturday morning session was covered by Andy, the guy that heads up Highway. So we sat down at lunch with a view to having conversations with people we didn't know. Swapped seats at desert time and sat with a guy on his own. He was quite personable and we talked about a variety of stuff (including some of the highlights of his message that evening, as it turned) but we quite clearly had no idea what he was doing there.

It's good to keep people humble. ;-)

He also gave me a few things to think through, particularly in the light of what is going to be the way forwards for us in the next 12 months.

I think we forget sometimes

Just how amazing the 'net is.

In the last hour or so I've booked time here and here and arranged a car to be available at Ciampino airport in Rome. Earlier today I booked the flights out there.

I remember my first ever holiday abroad as an adult. Pawing through the brochures, trying to find somewhere we might afford to go, then going into a travel agents where the girl behind the desk would consult some kind of text-based minitel style system, then consultation by telephone to an unknown central coordinator only to tell us that all places had been taken. Eventually she turned up something we'd not noticed and it WAS good, but I wonder how much that was the grace of God and not any particular judgement on her part.

I've been booking our travel like this for a while now, and although the choices can get overwhelming sometimes, I like it.

Great things to hear at the dinner table

Your wife telling your son that she's put a bookmark in the place he was reading her bible.

And that he's just finished reading 'Taming the Tiger' in a single sitting.

And that he's going to housegroup even though we're off out somewhere else.

I always wanted him to have his own faith and not live on ours. Ben never found it easy, often felt like God wasn't really there, but pressed on anyway. He already has pastoral experience from caring for some outside the church and some within. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he will become. Doesn't mean to say he won't mess up, but I think he'll push through that.

I opened this page to post this morning

and then left for work without posting.

Time.

The good new is that I've booked our flights to Italy for our later planned holiday. Trying to choose the right hotels (staying a week near Sorrento, then 3 days in Rome) is challenging to say the least.

The other news may not necessarily be bad, but life has just become a lot more complicated in ways I can't talk about yet. Chris and I have very clearly heard God speak about something, and that has now been challenged in a quite direct and forceful way. So we need to deal with what the future brings in faith rather than flapping. Yet I feel as though God has been talking to me about this inside already, and preparing my heart for it.

Ah, the amazing grace of God.

Lets see how I walk through it before boasting about the outcome.

The best of the best.

Epic images from the most epic thread ever hosted on Harmony Central. If the first couple don't work for you, just scroll on down.

*edit*
I got fed up with these always popping up, so I trimmed it down to just 2.





Some of these probably originate from sites with adult content, so be aware if you choose to follow links up.

Must resist.....

.....the siren call of the biscuit tin.

Effectively had no exercise in the last 4 weeks, and I do not wish to expand.

Quiet here today

Stay away from thoughts.

Head down, keep working.

If you have a bit of spare prayer going

and know Kita, please pray for her.

She's at soul survivor, working as a team leader in the site crew. We got a call just a couple of mins ago: her mum's just broken her arm (actually, maybe you should pray for her mum too!) some of her team are making snidey comments and all her money has been taken from her tent. She's feeling a bit tired, alone and upset I think.

If you're easliy embarassed don't read further.

Chris and I kissed this afternoon (not for the first time today) and it was just like being transported back to when we were newly married.

If this is what memory is like in old age then BRING IT ON! As long as we're able to create 'new' memories, that is.

;-)

How is it that....

....difficult decisions are taken easily so often. Yet the easy decisions are worried and sweated over as if they were the ones that will have a big impact on our lives.

Chris and I seem to have reached a decision this afternoon over something major with quite minimal debate, zero argument and minimal worry. Now we need to work out how it's going to happen. Should we prepare for a year of tricky small decisions and some friction while it gets implemented?

What is work?

This morning I'm preparing to lead worship at BCC tomorrow.

Chris commiserated that I was having to work this morning.

My reaction was "this isn't work". Work for me is the stuff I struggle with - I'm reluctant to do and find difficult. Or is it that I'm just struggling with work, not really happy there and wishing I was doing something else? But that's another post.