Last Sunday I went to a church service for the first time since Easter. I just went down to the local United Reformed Church, a small building a few mins from my flat. Seeing as I need some motivation I decided to find away around using "town is too far away" as a reason to not go, and I'm so glad I did.
Some funny things:
I was the second-youngest person there. Most of the congregation were, let's say, about or above retirement age. This is not a problem at all, I love old people! But there were some very confused faces when I explained I was actually 24, not a teenager, and getting married next year, haha.
The church is small and they don't have a service every week due to spreading out the leaders in the other connected churches. As the one this week is a bit farther away I might give it a miss, but will be back when the service is local again.
They were such a nice lot, it was really good to be in such a lovely group again. The place was more old-fashioned than I'd imagined - the building is like an old village hall that desperately needs repainting, and there is an electric organ played for music. But I didn't mind any of this. It was warm, dry (very important last Sunday, and most days since) and the atmosphere was fantastic.
Praise the Lord!
Thursday 27 September 2012
Monday 17 September 2012
Musings throughout the day
I was thinking in a very loud internal narrative this morning as I walked to work. Not really about anything in particular, more the walk itself.
We all walk to and from work each day, each way being about 1.8 miles according to Google Maps (though that doesn't include the walk across the field by our building because Google can't do that). Each way takes about 30 mins or so, prob nearer 40 if you're an average-speed walker.
Thing is, much as I like having a bit of a walk, sometimes it gets a bit strenuous before a long day of work, and then the same on the return. Most of our route is comprised of a long main road from our bit of Cheltenham into the centre. It's deceptively long, and never fails to stun any locals when you say you walk in each day, but it's still only about a mile! Is that a fair walk? I don't know.
Thing is, when walking the morning commute, you start to notice regular happenings and some things that become habits. I always cross over at the same place along the main road. Why? Because it saves having to keep stopping at a load of driveways and sidestreets, and makes it easier to cross at the 5-exit roundabout. There's a garden with lovely flowers I always look forward to. Sometimes you see the same dog walkers and same foot-commuters going about their day.
There's also the morning annoyances.
School kids who have no idea of spacial awareness when it comes to sharing the pavement (usually the same ones who have scooters) and the parents who are apparently unaware that their little darlings are getting in people's way. Inconsiderate drivers who don't indicate (favourite hatred at the roundabout) or don't look before pulling out of a driveway. Dawdlers who take up the entire path and waddle s-l-o-w-l-y...
Anyway, my morning at work was extremely fuzzy - I felt really tired (probably from all the walking and weaving) and with some bits of my job being very repetitive, I could feel myself almost dozing off. Thankfully lunch and a coffee made the afternoon more bearable. The afternoon was an improvement and the mundane tasks finally got finished.
I got to thinking on my walk about a 'philosophy'/ perspective a counsellor once told me about. The idea is to focus on what you are doing at that very moment in time; in savouring and feeling everything right now instead of letting your thoughts wander. So I tried for a few moments; the noise of the cars, the feel of the wind, sweating inside my hoodie after a rigorous walk, the disappointingly soft leaves I stood on (too damp for crunchy leaves today). Not too sure it helped me in any way this morning but I wasn't really worrying or fretting about anything. I was tired. I had to get to work. I was just walking.
We all walk to and from work each day, each way being about 1.8 miles according to Google Maps (though that doesn't include the walk across the field by our building because Google can't do that). Each way takes about 30 mins or so, prob nearer 40 if you're an average-speed walker.
Thing is, much as I like having a bit of a walk, sometimes it gets a bit strenuous before a long day of work, and then the same on the return. Most of our route is comprised of a long main road from our bit of Cheltenham into the centre. It's deceptively long, and never fails to stun any locals when you say you walk in each day, but it's still only about a mile! Is that a fair walk? I don't know.
Thing is, when walking the morning commute, you start to notice regular happenings and some things that become habits. I always cross over at the same place along the main road. Why? Because it saves having to keep stopping at a load of driveways and sidestreets, and makes it easier to cross at the 5-exit roundabout. There's a garden with lovely flowers I always look forward to. Sometimes you see the same dog walkers and same foot-commuters going about their day.
There's also the morning annoyances.
School kids who have no idea of spacial awareness when it comes to sharing the pavement (usually the same ones who have scooters) and the parents who are apparently unaware that their little darlings are getting in people's way. Inconsiderate drivers who don't indicate (favourite hatred at the roundabout) or don't look before pulling out of a driveway. Dawdlers who take up the entire path and waddle s-l-o-w-l-y...
Anyway, my morning at work was extremely fuzzy - I felt really tired (probably from all the walking and weaving) and with some bits of my job being very repetitive, I could feel myself almost dozing off. Thankfully lunch and a coffee made the afternoon more bearable. The afternoon was an improvement and the mundane tasks finally got finished.
I got to thinking on my walk about a 'philosophy'/ perspective a counsellor once told me about. The idea is to focus on what you are doing at that very moment in time; in savouring and feeling everything right now instead of letting your thoughts wander. So I tried for a few moments; the noise of the cars, the feel of the wind, sweating inside my hoodie after a rigorous walk, the disappointingly soft leaves I stood on (too damp for crunchy leaves today). Not too sure it helped me in any way this morning but I wasn't really worrying or fretting about anything. I was tired. I had to get to work. I was just walking.
Saturday 15 September 2012
More wedding stuff
It has felt in recent times that our lives have been focussed around sorting out one day and sorting out big things like venues, and then arguing bitterly about everything to do with it. It had ended up feeling a lot less than an occasion of love and more of a massive chore verging on contemplating the single life...
Thankfully we've not killed or dumped each other just yet, and have agreed to stop fighting about things and be a bit more reasonable!
Today my mother and sister came up and we ended up getting me a dress! I'm not allowed to have it at my flat so I've got to be content with some pictures for now. Next step is sorting out the bridesmaids (groan).
I'm starting to want to look forward more to the wedding and to being married too, rather than fret too much about colours and shapes and decorations...!
Thankfully we've not killed or dumped each other just yet, and have agreed to stop fighting about things and be a bit more reasonable!
Today my mother and sister came up and we ended up getting me a dress! I'm not allowed to have it at my flat so I've got to be content with some pictures for now. Next step is sorting out the bridesmaids (groan).
I'm starting to want to look forward more to the wedding and to being married too, rather than fret too much about colours and shapes and decorations...!
Monday 10 September 2012
Random news
As I opened Blogspot the heavens have opened and the rain we've been threatened with all day has arrived. Luckily I am indoors for the remainder of the night and get to stay dry, but I am really putting off having a much-needed shower. Purely because I've sat down and don't want to have to get up or get wet (sigh).
Anyway, bad jokes aside, things are going ok at the moment. The job is alright, sometimes very repetitive and boring but I have to keep reminding myself of how it used to be at the old place and feel grateful. It's interestingly quiet a lot of the time as my role doesn't involve too much phone work (praise God!) and so the silent concentration from my desk is generally punctuated by clicks and taps of mouse and keyboard, and the usual "Bollocks" whenever something goes askew. My sugar consumption has really gone through the roof though; with teas and coffees and I have taken to keeping a packet of polos on my desk to munch on. I have ordered some gum in the shopping so maybe that'll help. I do hate going to the dentist...
Also we are planning wedding stuff with what I like to think of as good efficiency. However this is Tom and I so what we call progress most other people probably see as just starting something then having a rest. But we have some venues lined up to book for viewing as well as eventually sorting out the ceremony. There is a guest list in progress and the bridesmaids can still fight to the death to get the dress the winner wants (Chloe?)
I'm starting to adjust to having weekends back. It's lovely to have time to spend with Tom again, though the five-day chunk is still taking some getting used to. We get to do nice boring couply things together like wedding planning, lie-ins, and bathing the lizards. We also muse about the future; near and far. I still haven't convinced him about not picking our kids' names just yet, hopefully he'll relent a little when the time comes. (I got my way with the pets!)
Anyway, bad jokes aside, things are going ok at the moment. The job is alright, sometimes very repetitive and boring but I have to keep reminding myself of how it used to be at the old place and feel grateful. It's interestingly quiet a lot of the time as my role doesn't involve too much phone work (praise God!) and so the silent concentration from my desk is generally punctuated by clicks and taps of mouse and keyboard, and the usual "Bollocks" whenever something goes askew. My sugar consumption has really gone through the roof though; with teas and coffees and I have taken to keeping a packet of polos on my desk to munch on. I have ordered some gum in the shopping so maybe that'll help. I do hate going to the dentist...
Also we are planning wedding stuff with what I like to think of as good efficiency. However this is Tom and I so what we call progress most other people probably see as just starting something then having a rest. But we have some venues lined up to book for viewing as well as eventually sorting out the ceremony. There is a guest list in progress and the bridesmaids can still fight to the death to get the dress the winner wants (Chloe?)
I'm starting to adjust to having weekends back. It's lovely to have time to spend with Tom again, though the five-day chunk is still taking some getting used to. We get to do nice boring couply things together like wedding planning, lie-ins, and bathing the lizards. We also muse about the future; near and far. I still haven't convinced him about not picking our kids' names just yet, hopefully he'll relent a little when the time comes. (I got my way with the pets!)
"Hi!"
Sunday 2 September 2012
Puns of the week
Thursday
"Circles are pointless"
Friday
"Atheism is a non-prophet organisation"
Saturday
"Stop writing sexy prescriptions to women for 'Deeznutz'"
Sunday
"Mushrooms get invited to parties because they are fungis" - this one earned me a 3/10 from James, Jo's brother.
"Circles are pointless"
Friday
"Atheism is a non-prophet organisation"
Saturday
"Stop writing sexy prescriptions to women for 'Deeznutz'"
Sunday
"Mushrooms get invited to parties because they are fungis" - this one earned me a 3/10 from James, Jo's brother.
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