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....

On location.......

Morning everyone from not so sunny Southampton. 

Since my last day at the NHS my feet as the saying goes haven't touched the ground.  So for any of you who have been enviously thinking of me laying in bed in the mornings, agonising over who to meet for coffee or lunch and then deciding which film to watch in the afternoons let me assure you I'm working as hard ( if not harder) than ever.  And I'm loving it................

My first day, and I mean literally my first day being the Saturday saw me up at 06:00 as we had the Watoto Children's choir from Africa come to Bedford and perform in Harpur square at lunchtime then give the most amazing concert in the evening at Bromham Baptist Church.  My job (very ably assisted by a friend of mine called Oscar) was to prepare a meal for them and the helpers which was an absolute delight.  Especially when my friend and I presented 'Jelly on a plate' for dessert accompanied by an enthusiastic (if not necessarily tuneful) rendition of the old nursery rhyme 'Jelly on a plate, jelly on a plate, wibble, wobble, wibble, wobble, jelly on a plate!'   Despite the laughter the children (and adults) seemed to enjoy such a simple dessert dished up with lots of ice cream and fruit.

We were then repaid a thousand fold when the children gathered to say thanks and sing a blessing to all of us who had prepared their supper. I think I speak for all when I say there wasn't a dry eye in the place, and that included the guys.  This was followed by a massive round of hugs, smiles and thank you's making it one of the most memorable catering gigs I've ever done.

The choir is coming to the end of their 6 month tour for this year but have a look at their website to see what amazing work is being done with these beautiful children who's lives have been turned upside down by war, disease, abuse and many other traumas we pray our children never have to experience. www.watoto.com

So, then a lovely Sunday with the family before getting stuck in to trying (pretty much in vain) to get my office at home organised and wade through all the outstanding paperwork, get the car MOT'd (failed but only a tyre needed so really grateful for that) then down to Southampton on Thursday morning.

You'll see in the right hand column the link to the Anne House website and for those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know from my Easter 2011 posts what an amazing exhibition of Prophetic Christian art this is.

When I emailed Anne to say the answer to my prayers about work was 'resign' and told her the date I finished I got 'Great - exhibition going out to Fareham, Hampshire 29 June -can you come?'  So, here I am at the start of what we believe is an exciting time for both of us with Anne painting again and me being able to devote significant time to following up on enquiries for the exhibition, other projects involving the art and generally supporting Anne in this powerful ministry. 




A few of the paintings from New Generation  - creation section



 

Crown of Thorns and other depictions
of the new life we can all have

 (more piccies in the next bit)

Last day at the office.......

Hi everyone

Having made a momentous decision to resign I can't believe the month is already up!  So many things have been happening and I've had lots of confirmation I am doing the right thing. I'm really excited now about the future and where God is going to lead me.

I wanted to just get a quick post on today of all days as I'm trusting it is heralding the most amazing new phase in my life.

I'm also very mindful of my colleagues, many of whom face a very uncertain future in the NHS.  Most of the people I work closely with are 'at risk' which means they are having to go through the awful process of applying either for their own jobs or in many cases new posts as theirs has been deemed unnecessary in the new structures which have been introduced.

I've never used this blog as a political platform and don't intend to start now but for anyone who is facing such an uncertain future I wanted to send my thoughts, best wishes and prayers to you all. 

My hope is now I will be in a position to write more often, actually make a proper start on my novel as well as get involved in many other projects.

Have a great weekend.

God bless
Jules xx

Feeling like Indiana Jones and that 'leap of faith'!

Morning everyone on this beautiful warm sunny day - that's five in a row!

I'd better be careful what I say - this could be it - the summer of 2012 and next week we could all be back to jumpers, brollies and wellies!  Hopefully that won't be the case and my plans to dig out flip flops, summer dresses and giving myself a pedicure over the weekend will be worth it.
(I love the sun but it does mean having to face reality and realising there are certain bits of our bodies which the general public should never be exposed to until they've been properly scrutinised and had a sympathetic makeover.....know what I mean??)

Talking of exposure I was in a Bistro having lunch with a couple of girlfriends the other day and a young couple came in and sat at the table just across from us.  He was sat with his back to me, dressed in jeans and a tea-shirt which was fine.  Unfortunately he was wearing a popular style of straight leg jeans which although sat nicely on his hips when he was standing slipped considerably lower than that when he was sat down.  Which wouldn't have been so bad except the tea shirt probably sat nicely on his waist when he was standing but again rode up when sitting. 
You're probably already way ahead of me  - 'builders bum' I can just about cope with on a building site.  But in a restaurant, when I'm eating my lunch......oh dear. 
Poor man, he obviously didn't realise but fortunately his companion made a trip to the ladies and on her return had a discreet word in his ear and he valiantly attempted to get jeans and tea shirt to meet whilst still being able to sit down.  He didn't fully succeed but let's just say it was a big improvement and I no longer found my eyes drawn to this vision of the 'grand canyon' whilst tryng to enjoy my lunch.  

As I say, I love the sunshine and want to make the most of it as I'm sure we all do but when I remembered the 'grand canyon' incident I knew this was just the start.  The sun coming out does have this bizarre effect of causing people to expose varous parts of their anatomy in rather inappropriate settings.  I'm sure I'm just as bad  - and my grandsons and son-in-law no doubt will let me know when I make a fashion fo pa - bless them.

Now I was supposed to have uploaded my first 'verbal blog' by now but have hit some technical probems.  Mainly, I have no idea what I'm doing and need someone with far better technical knowledge tham me to help me!  I was getting so frustrated wth not having the time to write very often and I know I've got a few regular readers now so I hit upon this idea to record some short soundbites.  I've started recording short notes on my mobile phone to remind me about certain things, subjects I wano t write about, maybe an idea I feel God is giving me to give a talk on - that sort of thing.  The only problem is I've only discovered how to record on my camcorder! (Yes, I can hear the laughter now - I'm sure there's a better way of doing it I just haven't found it yet!)

So I made a recording (on the camcorder) about 3 weeks ago.  I've even managed to finally get it uploaded on to my PC.  So - I should be able to 'attach' it to this blog - yes?  No! - at least I can't which is as I say probably the main obstacle to getting it sorted out.  The fact it's me trying to do it.
I think it's time I finally conceded defeat and sought help.  Anyone between the ages of 12 and 16 should be a good bet .........................................

Yes -I'm still here!

Hi everybody

Firstly let me say a huge thank you to all of you who are reading my blog and must have wondered if I was still alive and kicking!

Well, as  you can see I am (well maybe not so much the kicking with these knees)

If I tell you it's taken me over half an hour just to get on here this morning as my laptop seems to have gone on strike, I'm now running late for work, there's a pile of paperwork I should have dealt with before I even go to work and I'm straight off to a meeting after work tonight then maybe that gives you an idea of why I'm so frustrated in my attempts to find time to write.

I know I'm normally pretty busy but over the last few months it seems to have got worse - and not in a good way.  I'm so time poor for doing the things I'm passionate about, the things I feel are my real purpose for being here that the frustration has been building.

So, as I've learnt over the years the answer is as the old hymn says, 'take it to God in prayer'.
So, that's what I've been doing. 

The only thing with prayer is we expect God to answer in a way and at a time that suits us.  You'd have thought by now I'd know better............!

Although I've been asking for more time I have to work 5 days a week to pay the bills (well in my tiny mind that's how it seems)
So - how was God going to solve my problem?  Promotion so I could cut down to 3 days a week maybe? A rich relative dying and leaving me lots of money? A mystery benefactor?  

No - recent restructuring at work means my job is disappearing - and soon.  Simple really - the thing which least fulfills me, motivates me and gives me a sense of purpose is no longer a problem.

Er - 'Dear Lord, thank you for answering my prayer and giving me lots more time - great. One slight tiny concern I have -   if you don't mind me pointing it out - it does mean I won't have any money coming in to pay the rent, buy food, put petrol in the car etc etc. Any ideas?'

Now at this point you might expect one of those wonderful stories about how the phone rings and someone offers you your dream job. Well, maybe that will happen but it hasn't yet.  Neither has any rich relative suddenly materialised to my knowledge. 

But you know what - I can honestly say I am not worried.  I feel very peaceful and even excited and expectant about the future.  Of course I have been looking for other jobs but for most of my life I've thought in terms of working, building a career and then fitting in around that the things I enjoy, the things which give me a buzz, my passions and interests.  There have been many times in the past I've had to rely heavily on my faith as you'll know from my previous blog posts but for the first time in my life I think I really understand what it is to take a real step of faith.To choose to rely totally on God and his will for me.

I have come to realise over the past year I've needed to change my way of thinking to say 'OK, Lord I want to serve you 24/7.  I want to put my time, energy, talents and passion in your hands and to be the best I can be  - for You.  That truly is a purposeful life lived.'  As long as I concentrate on that I know He will take care of the rest.  So I'm not getting into the frantic panic at work about what to do secure one of the places which will be open to me.

I'll continue to pray, my friends will contiune to pray and at the right time, in the right way God will reveal His plans for me.  And to be honest, putting my trust in Him makes a lot more sense to me than any other career advice I've ever had.

We always have a verse of the year at our church and I'm going to leave you with that as I really have got to get going as I still have a job for a few weeks .  Little did I know how significant this was going to be..............

'Trust in him at all times. O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge'
Psalm 62:8

Lord - I'm pouring, oh boy am I pouring..................:-)

God bless - be back soon 
Jules x