Some pictures at last!......

I've managed to get the dongle thingy working on my laptop (it is soooooo slow though........makes me appreciate my wireless broadband at home!)  so thought I'd upload a few recent photos while I've got the chance.  Still haven't managed to work out how to transfer my pictures from my phone to my iPad  - think I need an iPhone then it'll do the work for me!  I'm all for the easy option when it comes to technology.

Second attempt at uploading these pictures.....
They could do with a little cropping but I've decided to just get them posted while I stand a chance it will work!



Singin' Harmony in concert last Saturday.
This is the choir my brother joined last year who are using their talents and time to
perform and raise money for charity. Some, like Kev have never sung in a choir before.
If they're performing near you anytime I'd encourage you to go and hear them - they're good!
 

These are some felt Christmas decorations I made this year.
You could either hang them up or some had brooch backs sown on so they could be worn.
They looked very effective and were popular a the craft fayre I did with my daughter (see picture below)

My daughter Amy sitting behind our joint craft stall last December. 
She had the whole family 'crafting' including my grandsons.  They made some beautiful items including hand made leather notebooks, tree decorations and lovely Christmas aprons - something every man should wear on Christmas day! We had a great day together and managed to sell quite a few things as well.



I asked my brother to make me the word FAITH in wood to go on my bedroom wall which he did last year. For Christmas he made HOPE and LOVE to finish the set. They're from 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 which is often used in the marriage ceremony. Verse 4 starts 'Love is patient, love is kind .....' and goes on to list many more attributes of love. The last verse (13) says 'and now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love'.

 I find waking up to see these words at the end of my bed inspires me to act with love, towards whoever the Lord puts across my path that day. I know I'm not always lovable and I don't always show as much love (and all its attributes like patience...) as much as I should but it doesn't hurt to be reminded in such a beautiful way.

Thanks bruv.


 

I seem to have managed to get these on OK ad write the captions so before I completely lose the will to live with the speed (or should I say lack of ...) of this technology I'm going to publish this.  Hopefully it will work!

Blessings
Luv Jules x

 

Less than 3 weeks to Christmas!

Hi everyone.
Well, I thought life was already fairly manic but as the saying goes I have a feeling 'I 'ain't seen nothing yet' !

I was desperately trying to get this post on before the end of last month in between practising for a gig last Sunday afternoon, making lots of Christmas craft items for a fair I'm doing next weekend, making Christmas presents for people and planning Christmas now I've invited family and friends to share the day with me  -oh, and making sure I'm doing my daily exercises for my knee.  Phew! - I feel like a sit down and a coffee just writing it all down.
As you can see I didn't succeed.

But it is so nice to be back to my old self again ( not sure everyone would agree with that..... :-).  Since my knee op I am sleeping so much better, the pain in my other knee is so much improved because I'm walking properly for the first time for a few years and I just feel my general health is so much better. 

Which is just as well, because plans are moving on now for 'more time 4 life' ministries.
I've added a page to this blog just giving an idea of what the organisation is about and progress on getting the website up and running (see tab at the top for more info and track progress with the website)

It's more than a month since my last post and as I've said I've made great progress with my recovery. 
I've added a bit of video footage below - as you can see I'm a huge Strictly fan and can't wait to get back on the dance floor. My surgeon says I can even wear heels!! (but I have promised my daughter to be sensible - well, most of the time......)

I haven't needed sticks for a few weeks and can now walk up and down the stairs to my flat with no problems. Also I'm back driving (whoohoooo!!), which is wonderful.  I was very fortunate to have so many friends and family who (literally) went out of their way to pick me up and drop me home so I was able to go to church most Sunday's and other meetings etc.  I also had lots of visitors and invitations out to lunch, dinner, coffee  - the whole experience was made so much easier by some wonderful people.  So for anyone reading this a huge, big thank you from me both for all the practical help ad your prayers. xx



As I said this Sunday (09 December 2012) I'm at a craft fair with my daughter - you can find out more at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BromhamShow 

Here are some photos of some of my efforts so far!

There'll also be decorated wooden hearts, handmade leather bound notebooks, Christmas aprons and lovely little chocolate filled stockings to hang on the tree.

There'll be 32 other stalls all selling lots of handmade goodies for Christmas so come along and get stocked up if you're in the Bedford area on Sunday.

 

I need to crack on with my sewing and crochet so am posting this now.

Hope you're not experiencing too much snow - not yet anyway otherwise it's going to be along winter!

God bless
Jules xx






 

I'm still here folks!........

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?  

Not on stage - but a friend kindly took
some pics of me with his vintage sports car!

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.......... 

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

   

Enjoying a few simple pleasures

I had such a great morning today I just felt compelled to sit down and write.  I’ve been very conscious that once again it’s been about 3 weeks since I had the time to compose a blog post.  And to manage that I had to take 2 weeks off work!

Haven’t got that luxury at the moment but I did decide to have some time to myself this weekend to get on top of a few things.  I’ve got some big commitments in the next few weeks and needed to get myself organised. My friends and colleagues who know me reasonably well think I’m a fairly organised person but like the proverbial swan – all serene and calm on the surface, my family and friends who really know me can testify to the frantic, mad paddling that goes on most of the time in my life!

But hey, I always seem to get there in the end and always deliver when I’ve made a commitment to someone so as the song goes I just get on and ‘Do it myyyyyyyyyyyy waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy’. (imagine me belting that out, arms outstretched, hairbrush microphone in hand aka Shirley Bassey.....get the picture???.............)

Talking of belting it out, the reason I’ve had such a great morning is I’ve been practicing for my performance next Sunday at the Bromham Show (near Bedford if you fancy a lovely day out).  Now it may not be Wembley Arena (did you see Rock Choir last night – fantastic!) but it may as well be to me.  I love playing, I enjoy performing for others (for those who’ve not read my earlier blogs I play trumpet and flugel) but I have to admit the nerves do get to me.  Which isn’t too handy being a brass player as it makes my mouth go dry (not good as you need the spit!) and my breathing can be affected (do I need to say more????).  So the fair people of Northamptonshire are being treated (not too sure they think of it like that) to daily renditions of my programme to make sure I’m as fully prepared as possible. And I’m drawing some very funny looks whilst practicing my breathing driving the car and walking  round the supermarket.........

I’ve just spent a wonderful hour playing along to my backing CD’s, windows wide open with such classics as Summertime, Tuxedo Junction and some selected movie themes wafting over the rooftops.  Living on the top floor of this old shoe factory means I’ve reached loads of people this morning!  One advantage of being high up is if anyone took it into their head to lob something through the window to shut me up they wouldn’t be able to reach - so I can play on blissfully unaware.....  None of my neighbours have banged on the walls so hopefully they enjoyed my playing as well. Either that or they’re all out!

As with many of us life is a bit tough at the moment on the financial front but as I was playing this morning I realised that many of the things I love doing don’t cost any or very little money.  Fortunately I bought a new trumpet a few years ago and although it’s by no means a top of the range instrument it has a lovely tone.  My flugel is a basic instrument, sold to my Dad by a local brass band who no longer needed it as they’d ‘upgraded’.  But again it does the job and I get such a kick out of its beautiful, fat, sexy sound.  It’s a sort of short, tubby version of a trumpet but has the sexiest sound of all the brass instruments – I always think of it the trumpet as the Audrey Hepburn of the brass instruments (tall and elegant) and the Flugel as – well me! I’ve got stacks of music, some with backing CD’s and other accumulated bits like mutes and stands.  So I have everything I need to get on and play to my hearts content.

So in some ways I think not being able to go shopping as much as I used to, or holidaying abroad, or looking for the next job opportunity (so few and far between at the moment) is not all bad.  It’s made me re-visit so many things which I enjoy, which stimulate and motivate me.  I mentioned in my last blog I’d used my 2 weeks holiday not to go and lay around in the sun abroad but to spend time with friends, then to have a week to myself courtesy of friends who leant me their flat.  I walked, played trumpet, read, wrote and generally re-charged by batteries.  I had such a fantastic time!

Since coming home and back to work it has made me appreciate some of the simplest pleasures in life so much more.  And I am determined to make time to go on enjoying them.  Many of us talk about the work/life balance but how many of us actively try and pursue it?  I got caught up last year in a re-structuring at work which resulted in many of us applying for new jobs both in and outside the organisation.  I wasn’t successful in the interviews I had and was slightly puzzled as I had tried to seek God’s guidance as to what I should apply for.  Then earlier this year I had one of my ‘light bulb’ moments and realised if I had been successful, particularly with one job I applied for, it would have taken over my life.  And that would have been disastrous, for me, for the organisation, for everyone.  It would have drained me both physically and mentally but more importantly it would inevitably have damaged my spiritual strength as well.  I would have found it very difficult to start each day with the time to read my bible, direct my thoughts to others in prayer, and just connect with God before plunging into the maelstrom of each day.  

And that, my friends, is not worth risking for any jump in salary and a fancy job title.  I’m not saying with the right opportunity, ensuring I can keep the balance right, I won’t apply for something if it comes along but at the moment I bring home enough each month to pay my way, keep a roof over my head and have the odd treat.  I don’t go hungry and am able to keep my car on the road, despite MOT & Tax all within 3 days of each other-ouch!  I’m reasonably healthy (could do with losing a bit of weight but am trying....) and as I’ve said many times before have an amazing network of friends and family who encourage me constantly. 

I recently went to the Good Food show with my daughter (her treat) and had an amazing day out. I bought a sushi making kit complete with knife (fantastic bargain at £20) so can’t wait to try that out on her, my son-in-law and assorted friends.   This month it might have to be cucumber and rice fillings but hey next month who knows, it could be prawns, creamy chicken and even smoked salmon! 

So yes, to me the work/life balance isn’t something I vaguely dream one day I’ll achieve.  It’s something I actively pursue because there’s an old saying.  No-one on their death bed ever says ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office’.  I for one want to be able to say ‘I’m glad I didn’t spend more time at the office – I’m glad I spent my time living and enjoying the simple pleasures of life’. 

As another week starts look out for opportunities to give as well as receive those simple pleasures. I guarantee you’ll enjoy them all the more because they are just that – the simple pleasures in life.  

God bless

Jules xx