This is bliss. I've finally found the time to write my blog, in my favourite place (propped up in bed) with a nice cuppa the side of me. Even though it's Monday morning the sun is shining and as I write I can feel the stress and tension of the last few weeks slowly oozing out of my fingers.
It's just been so busy! The last time I wrote I was preparing for a performance at the show in Bromham. Now, playing at the local village show may not exactly be the X Factor or Britain's got Talent but to me it was just as big a deal. There would be quite a few people there who know me. OK - I did invite my family and made them promise to clap and cheer madly but what are grandchildren for if not to be hugely embarrassed by Nana playing a trumpet in a red sequin dress in front of lots of people...eh?
There was a big central arena, a small raised stage - and me. I made sure I was well prepared, had done plenty of practice, felt very glam in my favourite red dress (which I was delighted to find I could still get in to!) and was there in plenty of time.
My biggest enemy is nerves. My mouth dries, my breathing gets restricted and lets just say the sound coming out the end the trumpet can end up resembling a pathetic half hearted raspberry rather than rich, melodic tones aka Harry James (for the uninitiated very famous trumpet player with beautiful sound who someone once said I reminded him of.........sure he must have had a hearing impediment..?)
Anyway, as I was driving to the show I did what I often do and had a little chat with my heavenly Father. After all it was His day and here I was all glammed up and I certainly wasn't going to be singing any hymns today. Then I remembered my reading from earlier that day. It was all about offering our gifts and talents up to God, whatever they are, in a spirit of thankfulness and praise. So that's what I did. I said 'Well Lord, I won't be getting to church today so when I play Fly me to the Moon, Tuxedo Junction and Sweet Georgia Brown later it will be my offering of worship back to you. You're the one who gave me the gift of music - thank you'.
It was the best prep I could ever have done because I can honestly say I wasn't nervous at all, I didn't dry up and I was on top of the world when I came off that stage. And I'm pretty certain the Lord enjoyed my sincere if rather unconventional worship that day..........
I've had a number of projects on in the last couple of months. I was asked to produce 2 wedding cakes this year (one in July and one in August) having not done anything like that for a while. The first one had to be completed within a week of the show so it was a pretty busy few weeks. I'm pleased to say they were completed on time and well received. There's been a few other things going on as well which have been quite time and energy consuming so it has felt like everyone has wanted a piece of me recently. Don't get me wrong I love being busy, I like being involved in lots of different things but sometimes we have to recognise we can't do it all, can't keep going at that pace indefinitely.
I count myself so fortunate that I have good friends and family who recognise when I'm hitting 'burn out' and know just when to lend a sympathetic ear, give a few words of wisdom and more often that not offer their shoulder to have a good cry on. Yesterday was just such a day and as I said at the beginning of this post I feel the tension which was with me all weekend has maybe not gone completely but has lessened a great deal.
It's not easy to admit when we feel overwhelmed, when we feel out of our depth or just plain exhausted but it is important to recognise when that's how you feel. As I said to someone yesterday I'm a tough 'old' bird most of the time and for me, a cuppa, my bible and some quality time with my God, who always has time to listen to me, is all I need to get me back on track. But there are times when He recognises even I need those few words of wisdom from a friend, that sympathetic ear willing to let me just pour out my heart and big strong arms ready to give me hug.
I was feeling quite drained and spiritually dry yesterday but instead of not bothering to go out, staying at home feeling sorry for myself (which is what I wanted to do when I first got up) I did go out. I did get to church (admittedly only in time for coffee!) and spent a great day and evening with friends, playing and singing, eating, drinking some very nice wine and re-charging by reserves. During that time they all played their part in allowing me to share how I was feeling and helped me re-charge my batteries ready to get up today and face life head on again.
Yep - my cup may have run dry for a little while but thanks to my faith, my friends and my family once again it's filling up and I'm pretty certain it won't be too long before it's brimming over the top again!
God bless as always and I promise (well, try as I hard as I can) not to be so long in writing again.
luv Jules xx
It's just been so busy! The last time I wrote I was preparing for a performance at the show in Bromham. Now, playing at the local village show may not exactly be the X Factor or Britain's got Talent but to me it was just as big a deal. There would be quite a few people there who know me. OK - I did invite my family and made them promise to clap and cheer madly but what are grandchildren for if not to be hugely embarrassed by Nana playing a trumpet in a red sequin dress in front of lots of people...eh?
 |
| Not on stage - but a friend kindly took some pics of me with his vintage sports car! |
My biggest enemy is nerves. My mouth dries, my breathing gets restricted and lets just say the sound coming out the end the trumpet can end up resembling a pathetic half hearted raspberry rather than rich, melodic tones aka Harry James (for the uninitiated very famous trumpet player with beautiful sound who someone once said I reminded him of.........sure he must have had a hearing impediment..?)
Anyway, as I was driving to the show I did what I often do and had a little chat with my heavenly Father. After all it was His day and here I was all glammed up and I certainly wasn't going to be singing any hymns today. Then I remembered my reading from earlier that day. It was all about offering our gifts and talents up to God, whatever they are, in a spirit of thankfulness and praise. So that's what I did. I said 'Well Lord, I won't be getting to church today so when I play Fly me to the Moon, Tuxedo Junction and Sweet Georgia Brown later it will be my offering of worship back to you. You're the one who gave me the gift of music - thank you'.
It was the best prep I could ever have done because I can honestly say I wasn't nervous at all, I didn't dry up and I was on top of the world when I came off that stage. And I'm pretty certain the Lord enjoyed my sincere if rather unconventional worship that day..........
 |
| Close up of the icing detail |
I've had a number of projects on in the last couple of months. I was asked to produce 2 wedding cakes this year (one in July and one in August) having not done anything like that for a while. The first one had to be completed within a week of the show so it was a pretty busy few weeks. I'm pleased to say they were completed on time and well received. There's been a few other things going on as well which have been quite time and energy consuming so it has felt like everyone has wanted a piece of me recently. Don't get me wrong I love being busy, I like being involved in lots of different things but sometimes we have to recognise we can't do it all, can't keep going at that pace indefinitely.
 |
| Cream sugar roses - fiddly to make but worth it |
I count myself so fortunate that I have good friends and family who recognise when I'm hitting 'burn out' and know just when to lend a sympathetic ear, give a few words of wisdom and more often that not offer their shoulder to have a good cry on. Yesterday was just such a day and as I said at the beginning of this post I feel the tension which was with me all weekend has maybe not gone completely but has lessened a great deal.
It's not easy to admit when we feel overwhelmed, when we feel out of our depth or just plain exhausted but it is important to recognise when that's how you feel. As I said to someone yesterday I'm a tough 'old' bird most of the time and for me, a cuppa, my bible and some quality time with my God, who always has time to listen to me, is all I need to get me back on track. But there are times when He recognises even I need those few words of wisdom from a friend, that sympathetic ear willing to let me just pour out my heart and big strong arms ready to give me hug.
I was feeling quite drained and spiritually dry yesterday but instead of not bothering to go out, staying at home feeling sorry for myself (which is what I wanted to do when I first got up) I did go out. I did get to church (admittedly only in time for coffee!) and spent a great day and evening with friends, playing and singing, eating, drinking some very nice wine and re-charging by reserves. During that time they all played their part in allowing me to share how I was feeling and helped me re-charge my batteries ready to get up today and face life head on again.
Yep - my cup may have run dry for a little while but thanks to my faith, my friends and my family once again it's filling up and I'm pretty certain it won't be too long before it's brimming over the top again!
God bless as always and I promise (well, try as I hard as I can) not to be so long in writing again.
luv Jules xx
