Happy Birthday Tom.
Tom is 13 today!
13 years ago we lived in Nailsea, Bristol.
13 years ago a little boy that fitted in the crook of my arm was born.
13 years ago life seemed so calm.
Today it all changes.
Today we become parents of a teenager as well as youthworkers.
Tom is 13!
Happy Birthday mate!
It seems like I am the only person in the UK who is not back at work!
I should feel embarrased, but it feels great!!!
The highlight of the last few days was seeing the new year in with some of our good friends and family members – good food, good beer and wine, good relaxed company and laughter. This year most of the children stayed awake to see midnight which was quite fun in itself and certianly something they will remember for a while – even if only for the massive 120 shot firework with a dodgy “escape from hell” type name – but it was great so thanks Darrel.
… I know this because a Ryan tradition happened today.
We went to Bluewater and split up with each of our children having their money to buy presents for various members of the family. Initially I walked around with Joe (which drew abundant looks of ‘aww cute’ from shop assistants that he paid) who knew exactly what he wanted and then did the same with Beth after we met up for a coffee.
Amazingly the news reports seem to be right. Bluewater was relatively quiet, most shops had massive sales (one with 80% off!) and the kids picked up a few bargains for brother/sister/mum/dad. While there I popped into the Apple Store and wished I had more money. (If anyone is looking to sell a macbook give us a shout!)
Tomorrow Sarah, Beth and Joe are off to watch Wind in the Willows while Tom and I are going to watch a film together and we may check out The Nativity.
It’s been a good first day of the holiday where I had some surprises.
Surprise number 1. After having an eye test I was told I do not need glasses. A surprise because a year ago with another optician I was told I should buy some as my left eye was weaker but I decided not too as I did not think the 5% weakness warranted spending money. Today the optician said I would need glasses within 5 years but that as one eye was only slightly weaker there was no need at the moment.
Surprise number 2. Walking down Gillingham High Street I bumped into friend Pastor Mark! We had a great little chat in the middle of a foggy High Street. It’s always good to meet people unexpectedly.
Surprise number 3. My children are quite nice really! After spending a day with them I have started to remember this important fact.
Surprise number 4. There is life away from my keyboard and the virtual world! Today I have finished tiling, fixed drawers, delivered presents, walked down the road with my children, played PS2 football (very badly).
Surprise number 5. The Blogger changes do not seem as good as I expected. I can change how my blog looks but lose all my links, books and CDs. Trying to put them back using HTML seems to be harder than in the original, or classic, blogger. I am bored with how this blog looks so I might have to think a little more seriously about moving to typepad and …. paying! But I’m tight so I will have to think very hard!
Surprise number 6 … I’m actually contemplating paying to host my blog!
A number of people have asked via email or phone call on the situation.
The situation is not good.
Kim is back in hospital.
Just pray.
The weekend has been quite exciting, and frustrating, as I have tried 3 things for the first time …
… started to use Blogger Beta which seems OK. I can add tags and the posting is quicker. It seems every time I think of moving to typepad and actually paying(!?!) to host the blog, Blogger somes up with something knew. I have not yet, however, had the courage to update my template and see what new things I can do. If it goes wrong the thought of typing in all the links again is scarey…
… I laid tiles on the bathroom floor (the frustrating part of the weekend!) Gary lent me his vicious looking tile cutter and during Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning I cut tiles and now the bathroom looks very different. I hate DIY and the big hurdle was actually convincing myself I could do it and I think I heard the words ‘I can’t do this!!!’ quite a few times. Quite amazing how our thoughts can hold us back, as it turned out I could do it after all …
… tonight I attended my first MOOT big service. It was great to have a lot of unrushed silence to ‘wait for Christ to come and be born among us’ in the season of advent. I think this is one of the few experiences where I have not felt that the silence has been rushed. After this last hectic week it was just cool to be able to sit and wait…
Last year I remember saying at the start of the year that I wanted to try new things … well this weekend I managed it!
We had an exciting weekend.
When I got back from Newham the children excitedly told me that Uncle Chris and Aunty Juliet are going to have a baby.
Cool news!!!
Congratulations Chris and Juliet!
Can you guess where we went after the Remembrance service this morning? Unfortunately we did not get to slide, but we still had a good time.
We haven’t spent time together as a family in what seems like ages so we had a great car ride to London, parked, visited the Tate Modern, played surrealist dominoes (the Tate Modern do great packs for family games) before walking along the river, watching giant bubble blowers and fire jugglers before visiting Hamleys (at the childrens reqest!) and then ending the day by eating at Leicester Square courtesy of Tesco vouchers!
A great day!
Monday tomorrow … hmmm!
Am I missing something here, or isn’t this between Aishah Azmi and God?
Words from my children amaze me again. Last week we were talking about this at home and one of the children said ‘Isn’t she just showing that she loves God?’
Does this prevent integration, or is it an attempt to deflect our attention from a certain foreign policy?
Monday mornings – what are they about!
I don’t like Mondays.
Bad things happen on Monday mornings.
The children are stressed and don’t want to go to school.
The adults don’t want to work.
This morning we diverted, or maybe only postponed, a disaster!
The washing machine is running.
Inside we can see Beth’s new Tamagotchi!
It was left in the trousers and we never noticed.
Beth was not aware.
I hid it – that was the best idea for an interim strategy.
At the moment the said toy is in pieces drying out under my table lamp, but it looks pretty wet!
Mondays ….
but sometimes you find something funny on Mondays
like this
which if you have sons is probably even funnier!
The Shiny Headed Prophet 