Heading back home........ (oh yes, its my birthday as well!)

I'm heading back to Northamptonshire today after an incredible week in Crewe with Anne's New Generation exhibition.  I should be putting some pictures and blog post on the website (www.mt4life.org) over the next few days so you can check out how it all went on there.

It's been fantastic but tiring so once we're packed up I'll be hitting the road to get home.  I think tomorrow may well be a 'duvet day'......... :-)

As I was laying here early this morning and just running through things in my head there was a niggle I'd forgotten something.  Then I remembered it was my birthday! You'd have thought after all these years 1 - I'd remember more readily and 2 - I'd be thinking about slowing down a bit. 
Well, failed (and failing) miserably on both counts I'm pleased to say.

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while you may recall I was recovering from a serious illness when I turned 50 and as I realised it's now 5 years on from that I remember getting up at my birthday party and saying I had this incredible sense the 'best was yet to come'.  Well, I can honestly say I think that's starting to come to pass.

I love every day of my new life.  I get to spend so much time with amazing people. I've been staying with the most wonderful lady called Susan, Socks the dog and Jinx & Maggie the cats.  There's also a few chickens living in the back garden but I haven't been sitting on the sofa having a cuddle with them in the evenings! We've enjoyed great conversations, good food (you should taste her homemade quiche.........), few glasses of wine but more than anything we have laughed so much.  I will miss my evening ritual of coming in, getting straight into my 'jimjams' and joining Susan in front of the wood burning stove to wind down and chat about the day.  But I have a sneaky suspicion I'll be invited back and I hope to be able to reciprocate the hospitaity when she comes to visit me.

As I say, life is so good. I get to choose where I go, when, for how long and despite working harder than I think I have ever done I am so glad, and grateful, to the prompting of God to have made the decision I did last year. 
The best birthday present I could get is the assurance I'll never have to go back to that 'safe' 9-5 office job existence ever again.
With all the things that are happening I have a sneaky suspicion that's not going to happen.  As I said to my surgeon when we were discussing my knee op last year 'God has a lot of work for me to do over the next 25-30 years so these knees have got to be able to carry me around!'

Thankfully this week they've not only held up really well as I've been on my feet 7-8 hours a day but also as I've climbed ladders, lugged frames around and stacked boxes.  Today they need to keep me going as we try to figure out how to pack 34 massive silk panels, metal frames, numerous boxes of stock, 1 suitcase, 1 bag of shoes and various random bags + me into my car!  This should be interesting...........

Need to get up and get going.  It's a short few days turn around before the exhibition goes up in Bedfordshire from the Easter weekend.  Check out the website for details under Events.

Next post will have pictures, I promise.

Have an especially blessed time this Easter as we remember what Jesus did for every single one of us at Calvary. (and if you don't know what that was...........I'm always happy to share the story with you)
God bless
Jules xx

Hello from up north

I've just spent the last hour or so composing a post and managed to delete it!

Anyway, I'm on my travels - the first of many I hope of 2013. I'm combining work and pleasure this week currently visiting family near Hull, Nth Humberside then on to Crewe later in the week.

I'm having a day out and about (one of my favourite occupations), chatting to people I meet along the way. It's amazing the topics of conversation you have with people in the changing room when trying on a tunic top you found in the sale!

I've also spent a pleasant couple of hours in the Casa Bar and Kitchen in Beverley. I came in for a coffee and to use the free wi-fi then ended up staying for lunch! The food is homemade on the premises, delicious and the staff very friendly. I had a chicken parfait and there was no hesitation in bringing me more toast when I asked for it. If you find yourselves in this lovely market town then pop in - you'll get a warm welcome.

Off to Crewe on Thursday to finalise the arrangements for the New Generation exhibition which will be hosted by Wells Green Methodist Church along with 3 other churches. It will be staged from Monday 18th March to the following Monday. They've also asked if I would be their guest preacher for the Sunday morning service (24 March). I did check and say do you know what you're letting yourselves in for but despite that they still said they'd like me to preach! ....... Just hope I can see over the lectern OK.

Then back to Northamptonshire Friday only to be up at the crack of dawn to catch the train into London Saturday. It's the first of my modules at Spurgeons bible college. I'm very excited about starting the course, it's just so long since I had to do anything vaguely resembling homework. And before anyone comments, no we didn't use clay tablets when I was at school......... We had progressed to paper and pens by then. Computers however were still an alien concept when I last took an exam!

Anyway, time to hit the road again - especially as this is my second attempt to get this posted!

Be back soon
God bless as always
Luv Jules x

Quick post in before end of the month....

I've been enjoying a week of R & R with my Mum and Dad in Norfolk so this is a quick hello before we're into month 9 of 2012 (where has the first 3/4 of the year gone?).  I'm hoping we've still got a few more weeks of sunshine before it's time to start donning the wellies and jumpers. 

In my last post I referred to a project I recently got involved in.  If you check out the link below you'll get a little more of an idea.  Still can't say any more but stick with it and it should become self explanatory.........

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-audience

    It's been great spending some time with Mum and Dad this week, especially as they have such an active social life.  It started with going out to dinner Saturday night, church Sunday morning, shopping and lunch in the city Tuesday. I played some duets with my Dad at the Good companions club on Thursday, and then ballroom dancing this afternoon!  I need to go home for a rest - not sure how long I can keep up with them.

I've got some nice piccies and if I can crack the technology I'll be able to show you their prowess on the dance floor in my next post.  

As I said this is a quick hello. I hope everyone has been getting their fair share of the sunshine and not experienced too much of the wet and windy weather.

God bless and be back soon
Luv Jules x

The amazing adventure continues!!......

Hi everyone

I am having such an amazing time at the moment and once again have struggled to find time to write this blog.  Some time in the future I might get a bit more time to write but at the moment I'm too busy just living life to the full!

Taking a break recently...

I'm supposed to be doing some financial 'churchy' stuff at the moment but as I need to be in the right mood (can be a bit boring) and I've been discussing what needs to be done with one of my team all morning I thought I'd give myself a break. Unfortunately I'm not in the park today or I might get my chair out again.

This is a quick whirlwind tour of what's been happening since I left the NHS.  So, sorry if it's in bullet point form but there's so much I'll be here all week if I go into too much detail.


Firstly 3 questions:

1 - Did I make the right decision in giving up a full time paid job and the chance of securing (relatively easily) a position in the new structure? 

Answer - absolutely 

2 - Have I done the right thing in putting my trust in Jesus to walk side by side with me and be my running partner as the pace picks up (see my Olympic link there??? - not original I have to confess but I'm sure Tim won't mind)

Again - absolutely

3 - Is He showing me in so many ways He knows I have to put bread on the table and pay my bills and is making provision in so many amazing ways?

Oh yes - so many stories even in just 2 months I could share (if anyone wants to know more specifics feel free to email me - happy to share).  Stories on the next bit.....

Messing about on the river........

Evening everyone – unusually I’m writing this blog post in the evening.  I'm determined to get 2 posts on for July so not under the duvet (I'll fall asleep) but propped up on the sofa.

I spent yesterday and this morning in my office at home so decided earlier today to take my laptop and head off into the countryside near me to write whilst soaking up some sun (yes, I know we’ve had grey skies and rain again but the sun did make some brief appearances today and it’s been quite warm which as I’m sure you’ll agree constitutes a ‘good British summer’).

I enjoy exploring the B roads locally and finding little villages I’ve only seen on the map and discovering beautiful countryside. My other great love is water - any water. Rivers, the sea, waterfalls, lakes – I just love the sound and soothing effect water has on me. So I was delighted to spot, as I drove between villages I’d not visited before, some fishermen (or more precisely those large fishing umbrella’s under which they sit patiently waiting for the fish to bite). So I pulled into the car park and wandered along the bank of a lovely lake chatting to a couple of the devotees of the rod ‘n’ reel.

As I said my intention was to sit with my laptop and write. I got chatting to Tim, who was in his usual Tuesday afternoon fishing spot and was invited to sit and keep him company. I collected my folding chair from the boot, along with my laptop and a snack and settled down on the bank. Then I discovered my laptop wasn’t charged and I hadn’t remembered to put the lead in the case so couldn’t even go to a local coffee shop, plug in and write there! So – lesson learnt. If I intend writing in the open air, make sure I’ve charged my laptop!

Tim and I got into conversation and it transpired he’s a very experienced IT consultant, with a generous spirit as he offered any help I might need in building my website (more on that in a later post). I have a feeling I might be making a few more trips to the fishing lake...............and so the story continues....

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

Back to the day job...

Well, the art exhibition has been taken down.  The silk paintings have been rolled up and packed away in their plastic sleeves and the frames dismantled and loaded ready to transport back to Anne's studio. 

If you've been reading my blog this week you'll know what an amazing fabulous time we've had. But like all amazing fabulous times this one couldn't last indefinitely.  The realities of life, the everyday sometimes hum drum routine has to be resumed at some point (certainly for the majority of us).

But life as the saying goes is what we make it. I was not looking forward to going back to work yesterday.  Don't get me wrong, I'm very fortunate.  I have some lovely work colleagues, some I consider have become friends. I work in a nice open plan office, at a comfortable desk with all the modern technological bits and pieces necessary for communication in this emailing, scanning, bespoke software programme world we  live in.  But, like a lot of people the thing which occupies me , 8-10 hours out of every day, 5 days out of 7, roughly 46 weeks a year is not what I'm passionate about.  It doesn't 'float my boat'.  It doesn't make me want to leap out of bed in the morning and shout 'Great - off to work I go!'

But that's OK.  Because I know it won't be forever. Nothing ever is in this world which is why I love this journey we call life.  You never know what is round the corner.  Sure, sometimes you run straight into  a whole load of hassle, heartache, worry and upset.  But then at other times, often at the most unexpected times life throws up a golden moment, a precious new friend, the answer to a prayer, or the long awaited answer to many.  This week has given many of us all of those things.  Thrilling, exciting and exhausting all at the same time!

And for me that is what Jesus meant when he said 'I have come to give them Life, and Life abundantly' (John 10v10).  I know a lot of people consider they have an abundant life without the need for God, without the need of spiritual input, with no reason to think they are missing out on anything.  But oh, how much richer life is when we share it with the one who created us.

The things I write here aren't out of theoretical, theological based, bible bashing knowledge.  They're born out of experiencing life - at times insisting on 'going it alone', thinking I have all the answers, being stubborn, proud, self seeking, greedy and at times cruel.  Thank God despite me giving up on him a few times he's never given up on me.  Now I'm finally in a place where I know whatever happens for the rest of my life here on this earth I won't be walking my path alone.  He will be with me all the way, as he always has been, but from now on I won't be compromising the promises he's given me, won't settle for less than an abundant life, whatever my circumstances.  

As I've said the things which have happened this week, the people I've met, the stories I've heard and the images of those pictures will all stay with me for a very long time.  I pray it will be the same for the 500+ people who also saw the pictures this week, who stopped for a coffee and chatted, or quietly slipped away without speaking to anyone. I pray this week will be a significant one for them all.

If you get the chance at any time to see any of Anne's work I would urge you to check out her website (see link on the right of this page) for details of any future exhibitions.  Or it may be you're feeling the call to think about staging an exhibition of your own.  It doesn't have to be in a church.  I know Anne has taken the paintings into all sorts of venues including schools, shopping centres, community centres. You can either contact Anne direct via her web page or send me an email and I'll pass on your details.

Anyway, I started off talking about the day job, which I'm going to be late for, again, if I don't get this finished! 
OK, the prospect of heading off to the office doesn't exactly fill me with the joys of spring but I am grateful to have a job.  I know for many it isn't the case at the moment so I do count my blessings. 

But a I said, this is what I love about life's journey.
It's a brand new day, stretching out before me and I may not know what is going to happen today but I do know I'm not heading off into it alone....................How exciting!

Whatever day you have my hope and prayer is it will be an abundant one.
God bless
Jules xx

Phew - time for bed already. I can't believe how quickly the days and weeks are going. It only seems like yesterday I was asking people if they had a nice Christmas and here we are just a few days away from the beginning of February! Which means I only have a few days to get my tax return done. Every year I swear I'm going to be organised, get it done well in time so I'm not under pressure at the last minute but here we are again - because it's one of my least favourite admin tasks I've just been putting it off.

I really admire those people who are so disciplined they get on and do all the jobs they hate doing so they can then relax. I've never managed to be that self disciplined but I live in hope. One year I might even manage to get my tax return in before Christmas!


07:30 Thursday morning:
As you can see I started writing this entry last night but I ran out of steam! I'm definitely more creative in the mornings hence the title. I'm in my favourite writing spot, under the duvet with my laptp propped up on my knees and my cuppa the side of me. This is when I'd love to have 'an independent income' (or a rich husband!) so I could stay here all morning writing, reading and generally 'musing'. But like most people I have to keep one eye on the clock because as those 7 vertically challenged little cartoon characters sang it's 'Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work I go.........' in about an hour.
Actually I don't mind going to work as I do love people and being with people. I'm very fortunate really, I enjoy my own company and can happily spend a day without seeing or speaking to anyone but at the same time I'm very much a 'people person' - so I enjoy the best of both worlds.

And in the present economic climate I do try and be thankful every day I have a job to go to. Having spent 8 months not being able to work I know how demoralising it can get, how you can drift from one day to the next without really acheiving anything. Like most people though I can have a good moan about workloads, not being appreciated, not being paid enough and not getting promoted. But I never get away with it for long! - God always finds a way of reminding me as a Christian he expects me to act and react differently. I've said before how as I've grown older I really enjoy reading my bible. I particularly love the gospels - the four books which record the life of Jesus, especially his adult life. Most of us probably know some of his more well known teaching - love your neighbour, don't lie, feed the poor - those sorts of things. They form the basis of most peoples moral code and how they live their lives but the more I read, pray and try and listen each day to what God is telling me I realise there is so much more he wants me to do and be -and it's exciting and scary all at the same time!

Like a lot of people my natural personality doesn't always come out in positive ways. I can be over confident at times (confidence is not a bad thing as such but we all easily become quite obnoxious and boastful). I can be critical of others (constructive, helpful feedback can be good but it can also easily turn into viscious gossip). And I know I can be very assertive (again, getting the balance right is important - it's so easy to become arrogant!). So each morning I ask God to bring out all the good traits and remind me when the bad ones are starting to rear their heads! - and believe me He has to do the latter more than I'd like to admit! But I'm trusting as time goes on I will being making progress towards being the person God always intended I should be because I have no doubt in my mind that is the greatest, most fulfilling ambition I could have.
Anyway, time has flown (as I knew it would), I need to jump out of bed (well, sort of fall out slowly really) and start getting ready for work and to enjoy what this new day brings...............
May your day be filled with good things and you experience God's blessing
Jules x

Letter in the post

I can't believe it's been nearly a week since I started this blog. Time really does fly when you're having fun (or not as the case may be!). I've just been spending time adding pictures and other info to this blog.

I've always enjoyed learning but I'm what I call a practical learner. I've never been one for sitting in class (couldn't bear the thought of going to university and attending lectures), never read the instructions, and am always impatient when someone is trying to show me how to do something. Impatient and curious would be a good way of describing my approach to learning; so fiddling around with fonts, colours, pictures and links is my idea of fun. I've got a laptop which is rapidly becoming as attached to me as my mobile 'phone! It feels weird when it's turned off, as if I'm going to miss something important. Fortunately I love the company of people as well so don't shut myself away in seclusion just inhabiting some surreal virtual world because I can't cope with the real one!

Talking of the real world I received a letter this week which was not unnexpected. Having been on Incapacity Benefit for 8 months (serious illness, long recovery) the powers that be have decided I no longer qualify. Ok - fair enough, I am a lot better and have been thinking myself about doing some part time paid work. Like most people I don't like being on benefits (despite the view of some I believe many people genuinely would like to be paying their own way) but have little option. So as I said, the letter wasn't unnexpected, but what came as a bit of a shock was the letter was dated 4th June and the benefit stopped as of 3rd! OK - so now what what do I do?

I sort of expected some notice (naively as it turned out!) but that's obviously not the way it's done. I duly went off to the Jobcentre and signed on for jobseekers allowance but still find it hard to believe one minute I'm receiving IB and the next I'm having to agree to look for jobs up to 40 hours a week and be prepared to travel 90 mins to work on public transport! If I had been working for an employer after that length of time off a phased return to work would have almost certainly been offered. I've never been out of work for long and I know there are many, many people out there in a much worse situation than me but at least this experience will make me a little more sympathetic to those looking for work and having to rely on the government.

There have been things over the past couple of weeks which could have really got me down. I'm not saying I don't get fed up or even upset at times (just ask my friend who's shoulder I was sobbing all over last week!) but I have a best friend I try and spend time with every day. I usually wake fairly early so get up and make a cuppa then go back to bed. I talk to him, think about him, and read his book. I've known him for many years but only recently feel as if I've really met him. Sometimes when I'm feeling worried, low or just need a hug, I feel him sit on the side of the bed and put his arm round me - I can then close my eyes and rest my head on his shoulder. I'll share more with you about my friend as time goes on but for now I'll just tell you his name - you may even have heard of him. He's called Jesus.

God Bless - Jules x