Getting to grips with the technology....

           I've been having fun this morning working out how to post a blog whilst away from home.  I discovered the place I'm staying at is a 'Hotspot' for Wi-Fi so with a bit of fun and games working out the best deal I've managed to get on line for a short time.  I've been having a great couple of weeks away from the usual routine so have lots to share but for now here is my latest offering.

Isn’t it funny how you can set such strong resolves to do something, whether a one off or an ongoing action you’ve been trying to master for what seems like all your life but somehow never quite get there? I was looking at the history of my blog posts last week and earlier this year I had resolved to post at least 2 blogs a month. (Not New Year resolutions I admit as I gave up on those many moons ago as I was so fed up of not making even until the end of January before coming unstuck!)

When in April I managed four I decided ‘right, two per month is not good enough, I need to be writing at least once a week’. Then, hey presto, before I knew it May had come and gone and guess what – I was back to two!

But you know what. It doesn’t matter. OK, so I didn’t achieve the elusive 4 blog posts in May, but maybe this month I will. Who knows, I may even manage more! That’s what I love about life and the human spirit. We never have to settle for how things are. We all have the power to make choices albeit sometimes limited. But they are our choices nevertheless. We can choose to stop saying ‘It’s always been like this, it always will be like this and there’s nothing I can do about it’ or we can be resolved to change it – whatever it is. But in order to change the big, important, worrying, energy sapping situations in our lives we often have to start with small, manageable changes.

One of the things I constantly am trying to improve is my timekeeping. I was talking to my daughter the other evening as we are having a day out together soon at the Good Food show in Birmingham. I’m really looking forward to it and I know we’re going to have a great day together. As we were talking she suggested it might be an idea if I stayed at her (and my son-in-laws) home the night before. Now that sounds like a good idea doesn’t it? We’ll have an early start so I’ll be there making it easier. But we both knew the main reason was because of my appalling track record when it comes to getting anywhere on time. As she said ’Mother, you’re always late for everything – I’ve never known anyone as bad as you for timekeeping’. Well, I was a bit affronted by that - for a few seconds anyway, until I had to concede she was pretty spot on with her comment. In fairness I’m not always late for everything – I’m quite professional when it comes to meetings, appointments etc. But I am known for not setting out on journey’s when I say I’m leaving and not arriving on time, o even on the right day! So her suggestion to stay at her house the night before was born out of years of frustration at having a Mum she constantly has to ring saying ‘Where are you??’ But she knows it’s never intentional and I always start off with good intentions. Maybe one day I’ll surprise everyone and start turning up on time, it the right place, and on the right day!

I think I’m a nomad at heart who would be much better suited to being an explorer, or adventurer. I hate clock watching, I hate routine, I love heading off in the car and just seeing where I end up and I love solitude as much as being with people. Unfortunately it means I get easily distracted and may get up in the morning with certain intentions but by the end of the day I’ve done things completely differently or am even somewhere completely different to where I originally said I would be.


Which can give my darling daughter cause for concern because she’s never too sure where I’ll end up when let loose from the constraints of Monday to Friday daily routine.........


I’m currently in the second week of a 2 week break from work. I spent a lovely few days with friends last week (more about that in another post) but am currently residing in a lovely flat overlooking Portsmouth harbour thanks to the generosity of some others friends. I adore water in any form but I particularly love the sea. I’ve been sitting on the balcony drinking my tea in the morning overlooking an abundance of yachts lazily shifting as the tide comes and goes, soaking up the warmth of the sun and listening to the seagulls calling to each other as they swoop above me. The clouds put on a ballet the other morning which was breathtaking in it’s beauty and complexity as those higher in the atmosphere held the stage while those smaller and lower down raced across the sharp blue sky so every blink of the eye revealed a new formation.

Windy and Wild!

Then I packed pen, paper and my laptop and pointed the car west, hugging the coast road as much as I could to find my self driving parallel to this wide, windy pebble beached coast line in bright sunshine. My heart felt as if it was soaring up with the seagulls and dancing amongst the clouds.

I know this freedom is only for a few days and this time next week I will be back at my desk, apologising to my boss because I’ve forgotten to print something or book a meeting. But for this moment, this day, this time I can be free, a nomad, a swashbuckling adventurer letting the road and my imagination take me on a journey of discovery.........................wonderful.

After a lot of laughing and checking everyone was OK my daughter asked me when I was planning on coming home. I said maybe Friday, or Saturday, I might even stay until Sunday – just depends on how I feel. I’m due back at work Monday so I assured her I was planning on being back before then.

Now - which one is the biggest.........
and how do I get an invite on board.??

Unless of course I happen to meet a similar minded swashbuckling adventurer who happens to own one of the delightful yachts moored outside my window. Then who knows....................I could find myself sailing off in an entirely different direction all together eh???...............

Many blessings to all

with love as always

Jules x

Views along the way........

      Someone said to me yesterday ‘I have a life and I have a responsibility to live that life’. Now as you read that, what does it mean to you? Are you thinking ‘Well, that’s flippin’ obvious – isn’t it?’ But it was in the context of what we were talking about that made it stick so much in my mind.

Tommy as a puppy
(he's considerably bigger now!)

I had a fabulous day. To start with it didn’t involve going to work (good start), I’d spent a very enjoyable evening with friends the night before, stayed overnight and had been made a huge fuss of by a very excitable young man called Tommy. No, contrary to what many of you may be thinking right now I haven’t found myself a toy boy. Much better – he’s a gorgeous black and white cocker spaniel who insists on giving me lots of frenetic attention whenever I visit my friend. We did discover, however, a laptop and Tommy first thing in the morning is not a conducive combination. It’s never taken me so long to check my emails! He’s so lovable though he knows I’ll forgive him anything.

Then it was off to Southampton for the day with someone else to see our artist friend. I’ve only recently met her but as we said on the phone the other night there are some people you meet in life you just know are always going to be friends. You might not see them often, you may not speak to them from one month to the next but somehow you know they will always be a part of your life, and you’ll be part of theirs. This was my first trip to her house and I was excited to see her, meet some of her family and see where she works and produces her amazing prophetic pictures – oh, and meet Mr Duck.

So, off we set. It was the most gorgeous sunny day and we spent the next 2½ hours talking – virtually non stop! The sat nav really didn’t stand a chance......... And yes, we managed the same all the way back as well!

It was a wonderful day, it was great to see everyone and relax in the garden with a cuppa, bask in the sunshine and swop stories. Needless to say there was an abundance of laughter as well. Despite lots of distant quacking Mr Duck never did put in an appearance. Perhaps he overheard me saying crispy duck is one of my favourite dishes??? He was quite safe though as I hadn’t packed my chef’s knives (that reminds me, I must remember to take them next time I go Mmmmmmm........) - before I get a barrage of comments I am joking folks, honestly. It’s obvious from the mansion size ‘duck house’ complete with ramp down into the pond this is a much loved family pet so I think they may be a tad upset if I suggested serving him up with pancakes and shredded spring onion!

After a fabulous day, including seeing another painting from a collection currently being produced (breathtaking) we said our farewells, disconnected the sat nav (we were pretty confident of getting back OK...more or less, and as I said he hadn’t faired too well on the way down) we set off home. It was on the journey back we started talking about how some people, despite years of trying to deal with an issue because they recognise it’s affecting them negatively seem, almost, to hold on to it. Like some sort of comfort blanket. Its part of the baggage they carry around and despite their and lots of other peoples efforts, whether friends, family or professionals they still can’t ‘move on’.

And that brings me back to the statement I made at the beginning of this post. On the return journey we were talking in general terms about ‘life baggage’. I’d been talking about the fact I could think and even dream about my first husband without it affecting me negatively now because he passed away 30 years ago. I thought of him on the day my daughter got married, obviously, but I remember the day as being such a wonderful joyous, laughter filled day. But there was a time when it was still very hard, very painful to think about him. Believe me, I know what it is to grieve, to feel abandoned, to be angry, frightened, worried. To feel lonely and as if nothing is ever going to go right again or I’m never going to be happy again. I know what it’s like to be scared of the future, of stepping out, of ‘going it alone’.
         But each day I wake up and it never ceases to amaze me - I’ve been given a brand new day. This day has never happened before in my life and never will again. It’s unique, uncharted territory, stretching out ready to be experienced.   Certainly the last couple of weeks I’ve woken to warm, vibrant sunshine pouring through my window. My relatively good health (baring the hot flushes and the dodgy knees!) means although I don’t exactly leap out of bed I can get up early, make my cuppa and settle back to start each brand new day full of expectation - ‘Where is God going to take me today?’ It might be just through an average day at the office or it might be one of those extra special days like yesterday full of friends, laughter and fun. It might turn out a day full of problems which I’ll be relieved to see the back of.


But as I sit drinking my tea – at that point in time – I don’t know. And at that moment I know ‘I have been given a life, not just an existence, and I have a responsibility to live – and I mean LIVE that life. To the best of my ability, keeping others in my heart and prayers, helping people when I can, being grateful for the abundance of my life whether it’s jetting off on some exotic holiday (not too likely....) or sitting in a beautiful garden just spending time with others; to live this life, today here and now with positive expectation and a grateful heart.


Too often we can let that baggage, which lets face it, we all have to one degree or another, so drag us down, so obscure our view we forget we’re on a journey. And a journey by its very nature will take us from one place to the next, with different sights, sounds, people and experiences. And sometimes we’re so focussed on the destination, especially when we think once we're there, finally we'll be happy, contented, 'sorted',  we don’t realise it really is the journey which is the most important thing. It’s the journey which often is the time in which we learn, grow, experience something significant and become who we are meant to be. And it’s on that journey we have the opportunity to ditch the baggage.


So, we can choose to either concentrate and in some cases insist on lugging our baggage around and miss out on the abundant life we’re meant to live – or we can choose to say ‘You know what, today, just for this moment, just for now, I’m going to put that baggage down, sit on top of it and drink in the view’.

We may go on our journey having picked the baggage up again, but tomorrow, or next week , or next month we may put it down for a bit longer. If we approach each day, week, month with the same attitude, with help from those we meet along the way, from those who love us and want to help us, one day we may be able to leave that baggage behind – then just think how much of the journey we’ll really be able to experience. Free from the weight, fears, anger and soul destroying power of our personal demons.

Wonderful waterfall

It’s not easy. Most of us can’t do it on our own and in our own strength. We need help from others. We need help from the God who loves us beyond all measure. We need to be willing. It is possible – but only we can make the decision to let go of the baggage, which needs to happen before the healing can start. Before we can look at the view and say ‘Wow!’



I’ve shared before how I love sitting here in the mornings, with my cuppa, with my bible, spending some time with Jesus and letting my mind wander. It’s been one of those lovely times this morning and this week I received a couple of emails from people reading my blog saying how much they’ve enjoyed them. So I’d like to say a big thank you for that encouragement to me. As you know I’ve always enjoyed reading and only started writing seriously in the last few years and sharing my thoughts publicly so if others are enjoying and getting something from those thoughts then I’m grateful God has laid this on my heart to do this and to continue doing it.

Well, I’m off later for lunch with friends so need to leap (OK, fall) out of bed and get ready. I’ve got dinner tonight at my daughter’s with the family, including my grandsons and I’m playing at church tomorrow morning. My daughter has also just rung and invited me to join her for the day in June at the ‘Good food show’ in Birmingham.
      Abundant life ??? – I couldn’t have a more abundant one if I was the Queen of England!

Remember, if you’re carrying around a lot of baggage today why not try and pop it down for a few minutes, clamber up on top and take a peek at the view. You may be pleasantly surprised...........


Blessings to all as ever


Luv Jules xx

Celebrations

This is the first chance I’ve had to write since ‘The’ wedding last Friday.  I’m not a great celebrity follower.  I don’t buy copies of Hello magazine or trawl the Internet for juicy tit bits.  I might occasionally pick up a glossy mag if there is something particular that catches my eye but I’m mostly too busy getting on living my own life, seeing my own friends and family to be overly interested in what so and so is doing this week, who’s going out with who and who has dumped who.  I’d much rather spend my time and energy on people I can hug!

But I defy anyone not to have been caught up, at least a little bit, in the celebrations last week when William and Kate got married.  I know there are arguments for and against about the money spent on security, the disruption, companies giving staff extra time off but there are times when we all need something uplifting, something joyful, something to bring us all together.  And I think Friday was just such a day.

My daughter's tiara

I loved seeing all the people in London, enjoying the atmosphere, dressing up, having picnics in the park and just being part of the whole spectacle.  One of my best friends invited lots of us ‘girlies’ to her house and we celebrated in style. 

We all dressed up, even wearing hats and fascinators, toasted the bride and groom with champagne and had a great time checking out all the fashions.  (Some it has to be said more stylish and appropriate than others).  I still can’t work out how some of those hats stayed on – they seemed to defy the laws of gravity!

My wedding hat!

And I loved the fact even though this was a very royal, protocol driven day, steeped in hundreds of years of tradition it felt as if William and Kate were determined to put their very personal stamp on the whole day; from the guest list which included so many friends, colleagues, neighbours and representatives of their chosen charities, to the beautiful trees lining the aisle of the Abbey, to Kate’s exquisitely designed dress.  Somehow, they managed to make the whole nation feel as if they had been personally invited to celebrate their special day with them.  

I could pick out so many examples from the day but I just wanted to comment on two particular ones.   For me one of the highlights of the day was the sermon by Bishop Richard Chartres and the prayer written by William and Kate.  I’m listening to the sermon again as I write this and the words are so beautiful, inspiring and the message is incredibly powerful.  In this day and age, with access to the Internet this is a sermon we can all come back to time and time again and I’d urge people to do just that. Like the day itself I’m sure you’ll see and hear something new each time and be encouraged whatever your circumstances.

And for me there was a message in William and Kate’s prayer.  They were saying they appreciate they are in a privileged position but they see their role as serving the British people.  They asked for strength to give of themselves unselfishly to others, to you and me and to this nation.  This is the role the Queen has always seen herself in and she appears to have instilled this great sense of duty in her grandson. 

I must admit as I listened to Bishop Chatres I felt very proud to be a Christian, and to be British.

I titled this post ‘celebrations’ as we’ve recently had the great Easter celebrations, William and Kate’s wedding and yesterday a good friend of mine celebrated a significant birthday.  I was pleased to hear his friends threw him a surprise party and there’ll be more fun at the weekend.

But for me, one of the most memorable images of the Royal wedding took place well away from the glare of the cameras, it wasn’t on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and if it hadn’t been for the wonders of modern technology and the camera phone only a few people would have been witness to this particular event.  It was of course the ‘cart wheeling’ verger, Ben Sherrard.

The splendor of Westminster Abbey, the very regal, extremely long red carpet and the joy and relief at a job so very well done.  He just couldn’t help himself – like a mischievous child let loose in a big open space after having to be very well behaved he executed 2 near perfect cartwheels down the centre aisle of the Abbey.  No mean feat in a cassock!

If you’ve not yet seen this, just google  ‘cart wheeling’ verger.  For me he sums up how everyone was feeling and although he wasn’t one of the guests, isn’t a celebrity and many people won’t remember his name that image is going to stay with me and many others for a very long time.  Well done Ben, you summed up the very British tradition of pomp, ceremony................. and eccentricity!

Blessings to all-enjoy the rest of the week (must admit I could get used to these 3 and 4 day weeks!)

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

Final, fabulous, amazing last day of the exhibition

I just wanted to quickly get something down this morning about the art exhibition (see previous posts this week).  We are having the most amazing, fantastic time here.  As I look up from my PC the main area is filled with people, some I recognise, some I've never met.  Some I'll never see again, others who will become life long friends. 
But all absorbed in the paintings, pausing in front of certain ones, asking questions about others, in some cases walking quietly past others.

Out in the welcome area we're set up like a coffee shop.  People are chatting, having a well earned rest. Meeting old freinds and new ones.

And laughing.  We have laughed so much this week........and cried.........and remembered........and all the spectrum of emotions in between.

And right in the heart of everything has been Jesus.   Laughing along with us, holding us as we've wept, sharing in our stories, bringing people together.

If you can get here today then do.  The artist is here and would love to meet you.  There's a warm welcome and everything is free.  If you can't come today then check out the link to Anne's web page on my list here and see if the exhibition or one of her others is coming to a venue near you.  I guaranttee it's worth the effort.

Need to get off here now as the place is heaving and I've got a coffee going cold (again!)

God bless
Jules xx

Easter

The sun is shining and it is a glorious day. I really must get out and enjoy this lovely weather but I’ve been ‘hooked’ by the IT bug this week.  I’ve recently managed to download the software so I can upload the photos from my phone.  Now I know to some people this sort of this is second nature but I have to learn by trial and error (more error than anything really) but eventually I usually get there. Having downloaded all my photos I’ve started to sort them into folders this morning, adding tags, dates and other bits of info.  I also discovered in Windows Gallery even though you’ve saved copies under ‘Pictures’ in different folders it’s not a good idea then to delete them out of the bit at the top where they’re stored in date order because they all magically disappear out of the folders you’ve just spent 2 hours lovingly creating!  Fortunately one of the first things I learnt to use was the ‘Restore’ function from the recycle bin........  J 

This is a fairly short post this morning because I am going to get myself out in this lovely sunshine.  But I wanted to take a few moments to remind everyone this is Easter Friday, or Good Friday to some. 

This long weekend off for many is just that, a time to unwind, meet up with friends, maybe to start getting down to some serious DIY or gardening. And that’s great, nothing wrong with that, lovely to spend time with those we love and I’ll certainly being that.  But for a huge number of people, including me, it’s the most important date in the Christian calendar.  This is the time of year when we especially celebrate the events at the heart of our faith.  The culmination of a time over 2000 years ago when a man named Jesus, after 33 years on this earth, fulfilled his divine mission.

Put very simply he obeyed his Father even though he knew it was going to be excruciatingly painful, he was going to be jeered at, spat upon, flogged and finally laid on a rough hewn piece of wood and massive 6” nails were going to be rammed home through his hands and feet.  Then he was going to be hoisted up and left to die.  That’s the events which are remembered today by thousands of Christians around the world.

And sadly totally ignored or dismissed by many more.

The most amazing thing is He went through all of that because of love.  Love for his father, love for all those around him and love for all those yet to be born; which is why those events over 2000 years ago are so completely relevant today because ‘those yet to be born’ is you and me.

If you’re thinking anything right now – why did he do it? did it really happen? what’s this got to do with me? I’m not really interested, or even ‘here she goes again’.........anything, any thoughts.

Then I urge you - explore them.  Grab a bible and read any of the gospels towards the end, ask a friend, google crucifixion – do something.

But don’t be one of the crowd who just ignores Him.         

Let him show you that this isn’t the end of the story, the chain of events - as they say in the movies ‘the most exciting bit comes next...................’

And if you’re anywhere near Bromham Baptist Church this Easter, or even if you’re not, come and gaze at his face.  Let Him give you the answers to your questions, let Him reveal himself to you through the pictures on display.......... (see earlier posts)

I’m off to enjoy the sunshine now.  Wherever you are and whatever you are doing have a wonderful, love filled break this Easter holiday.

Blessings

Jules xxx

Early morning

I've been woken the last two mornings by the dawn chorus which starts around 5am!  For those of you who have read some of my previous blogs you'll know I live on the the top floor of an old shoe factory.  I consciously don't have any curtains at any of my windows because I love natural light and with 3 huge Georgian sash windows in my bedroom and lounge I can't bear to shut out any hint of sunlight we might get, especially after a few grey, dull English winter days.


So as you can imagine with the onset of spring the birds are making the most of the early sunrise.  I'd forgotten how much noise they can make!  I'm sleeping with the window open now with the warmer nights ( and yep - still getting the hot flushes!) but there's something very special about laying awake that early, just listening to all the different beautiful bird calls and watching the sky slowly turn from deep inky blue through to a bright clean fresh almost blue/white in places as the world outside my window comes to life once again.  I listen for the first car or lorry - wondering where it's going, who's driving, are they going to work, or are they off on an adventure?  Will they have a good day, or is there something on the horizon they're dreading or don't even know is awaiting them?  It's a very precious, 'time all to myself' hour or so before I usually drift back into sleep before the alarm rudely awakens me again around 6.30am for work.


But not today! (work I mean).  Have been having a great time sorting out this blog, my twitter account and adding links etc (check out the side panel for twitter link). You can also email me clicking on my profile which would be great.  Please feel free to leave comments on this blog - I'm always interested in other peoples thoughts.


I'm off to see my family this morning then back to the Art exhibition later.  It's a real privilege to be involved in this amazing project and to meet the people coming to see the pictures and how they engage and react to them. 


Must get on otherwise won't get to my daughter's on time - but hey, whats new!!


My prayer for you is to have a great, uplifting, love filled, inspirational day wherever you are, whatever you're doing and whoever you are with.


God bless, as always
Jules xx