i feel challenged at the moment in terms of being a global citizen and my responsibility to love my global neighbours as i love myself. dan austin was hanging out with us over the lasty couple of days and really opened my eyes to the '4 wheel' culture we live in. this sounds odd cos i am quite aware of how evil cars are! i try to use mine as little as possible but maybe i don't pursue this action far enough - dan was talking about moving towards a '2 wheel' culture. i have a bike but i never use it. maybe because it means bringing it down from the shed which is all of 20 metres, or maybe beacuse sheffield is so hilly and today it's because it's so hot.
then there's the pressure the make poverty history campaign has been putting on world leaders and it is good to see that they have acted at the G* in favour of the poor but they have done only the bare minimum.
and then there's the convenience of our lifestyles in this country. i shock myself with the excuses i can come up with to explain away my actions - for example, on principal i try not to buy tesco brand products when i shop at tesco. sometimes there is no alternative brand so i buy tesco. i realise that i am further down the road of ethical consumerism than many but i am so far behind loads of people who count the cost of their consumer choices and choose to pay the price for going without certain items or paying more money because it actually is the only way trade can be fair at the mmoment is by poaying mor for fairly traded good.
today i read about recent uncoverings to do with wal mart (asda in the uk). and asda aren't the only baddies. we can make choices that don't abuse our global neighbours. we can act to bring world change to big issues. but it is so easy to be brought down by the voices of cynicism and hopelessness who believe we can never make a difference. i believe we can make a difference. Jesus showed us that and he is placing people on the earth in our time to show us that too.
Monday, July 11
Sunday, June 26
these pictures are fairly recent. i am most proud of the one of robin upside down. partly i am proud because i took it and andy and robin both look so cool. but mostly i am proud because it looks like something you would bring home from venture photography which is all the craze these days!i like photos being everywhere but i never have enough frames. i like simple frames and clusteringthem all togather like we have in our kitchen and our bathroom. when i get more frames we will cluster pictures up the stairs too i think and then who knows where else. the pictures all get saved up in a big brown envelope in the attic and then i look through them every now and then and long for simple photo frames.
Thursday, June 9
blogtastic bea bleats on...
so i went to the bbc website today and saw this item in the news section. slightly odd that people are paid probably quite a lot of money to spend time looking at something which won't change the lives of many people at all - if anyone.
mowed the lawn yesterday and hugh made lush brownies and i also went to a bbq.
we have a newt in our pond. this is good and not good. good because it adds to the glowing feeling in my heart thqat comes with knowing that the pond i dug (with hodgson) is so attractive to wildlife. not good because it means my tadpoles are under threat of extinction because newts are carnivorous beasts.
off to the mighty 'nam tomorrow with my friend kate and her daughter miriam. back on monday in time for the ben folds gig. eek - need to find a baby sitter.
mowed the lawn yesterday and hugh made lush brownies and i also went to a bbq.
we have a newt in our pond. this is good and not good. good because it adds to the glowing feeling in my heart thqat comes with knowing that the pond i dug (with hodgson) is so attractive to wildlife. not good because it means my tadpoles are under threat of extinction because newts are carnivorous beasts.
off to the mighty 'nam tomorrow with my friend kate and her daughter miriam. back on monday in time for the ben folds gig. eek - need to find a baby sitter.
Wednesday, June 8
the marshalls are having a party - fancy dress of course!
the theme is "the bill (or another tv show)".
on friday 17th june
at our house
from 7.30 onwards
bring a bottle
look forward to seeing you
on friday 17th june
at our house
from 7.30 onwards
bring a bottle
look forward to seeing you
Tuesday, June 7
oh dear!
this afternoon we found mushrooms growing out of our newly turfed lawn. having pulled them up and googled them, it turns out they are of a seriously poisonous variety.
seems this turf isn't all it's cracked up to be - uit also came with a weed grass in it too. however, it does look fab even if it could be the early end of one of us. let's hope not!
just had a fab evening with cathers and mogul playing settlers of catan which is an awesome game. andy won first round and then he went off to be with his little men and i won second round in a stunning display of skill and mental agility!!!
seems this turf isn't all it's cracked up to be - uit also came with a weed grass in it too. however, it does look fab even if it could be the early end of one of us. let's hope not!
just had a fab evening with cathers and mogul playing settlers of catan which is an awesome game. andy won first round and then he went off to be with his little men and i won second round in a stunning display of skill and mental agility!!!
Monday, June 6
entering scary territory... again
$2 falafel 22.08.00
a treasure chest of tailored variety
ageing paint peels away from the overhead fan
the best food for a fraction of the price
warm red tiles suppoet the stream of visitors
and the public phone greets those who dare to enter,
the temptation never to leave almost shouts
a table of devoured merchandise sits stranded
crying out for a hand to clear
if only it could be graced by traditional clientele
variety abounds all over
the music is powerful - a collage of metal against
utensils, formulated chatter and balti whining
the slim rustle of wax paper amounts to a crescendo
and then silences itself
stationary disco lights entertain the upward eyes
lanterns uplift the warm air scented
with comforting familiarity
minds change with the engrossing smell of
warmed pitta and fired meat
the falafel falls softly in my stomach
i am satisfied in more ways than one.
writing out poetry you haven't visited for a long time is strange. there is a fierce desire to make changes and adjustments and re-working but also an opposing strength which wants the moment to stay the same and so not change anything. i remeber learning at school in english class that some poet (can't remember who) always locked poems away for years before re-visiting them and making changes, only to lock them away again and go through the process all over. that is definitely not me. i think any poetry i write is about the moment and restoring a memory to me - mayeb like some crazy revision notes or something. he above poem takes me back to mamoons falafel bar in new york in an instant and i love that about it.
a treasure chest of tailored variety
ageing paint peels away from the overhead fan
the best food for a fraction of the price
warm red tiles suppoet the stream of visitors
and the public phone greets those who dare to enter,
the temptation never to leave almost shouts
a table of devoured merchandise sits stranded
crying out for a hand to clear
if only it could be graced by traditional clientele
variety abounds all over
the music is powerful - a collage of metal against
utensils, formulated chatter and balti whining
the slim rustle of wax paper amounts to a crescendo
and then silences itself
stationary disco lights entertain the upward eyes
lanterns uplift the warm air scented
with comforting familiarity
minds change with the engrossing smell of
warmed pitta and fired meat
the falafel falls softly in my stomach
i am satisfied in more ways than one.
writing out poetry you haven't visited for a long time is strange. there is a fierce desire to make changes and adjustments and re-working but also an opposing strength which wants the moment to stay the same and so not change anything. i remeber learning at school in english class that some poet (can't remember who) always locked poems away for years before re-visiting them and making changes, only to lock them away again and go through the process all over. that is definitely not me. i think any poetry i write is about the moment and restoring a memory to me - mayeb like some crazy revision notes or something. he above poem takes me back to mamoons falafel bar in new york in an instant and i love that about it.
it feels so good being obedient to God!
andy and i have been feeling really burdened by the poorly van situation since it happened at Christmas. mostly because of money really - we want to honour God with the money he gives us and that means, to us, using it wisely and where he tells us to use it.
the other night i had a psychadelic dream all about the van. it was so ridiculous that i dismissed it as my mind just processing the van situation. then God told me later that day that tyhe dream was from him and we were neglecting the gift he gave us. i was a little confused cos we genuinely thought we were doing right by God with the money stuff. as it happens, all the things i've done since the dream to rectify the situation have all fallen into place amazingly and costing less than expected. hip hip hooray!
and every time i do something to take the van further along the road to glory (!) it feels great.
i was pondering the bit from the bible about 'freely you have received so freely give' which has been in and out of my mind since andrew jones blogged it. i always heard it as you didn't pay anything, or do anything for what you received so give without expecting anything back. but then i was reflecting on it and heard it differently - this time as you recived in freedom, without constraints, by grace, so give freely - from a place of freedom without constraints, by grace. this ties in with something my friend lindsay heard in some teaching recently: "if you want to come against the spirit of poverty you must be abundant in generosity".
not done much processing so the above is a raw cut of the fine-tuning that will no doubt go on over the next few days/weeks.
the other night i had a psychadelic dream all about the van. it was so ridiculous that i dismissed it as my mind just processing the van situation. then God told me later that day that tyhe dream was from him and we were neglecting the gift he gave us. i was a little confused cos we genuinely thought we were doing right by God with the money stuff. as it happens, all the things i've done since the dream to rectify the situation have all fallen into place amazingly and costing less than expected. hip hip hooray!
and every time i do something to take the van further along the road to glory (!) it feels great.
i was pondering the bit from the bible about 'freely you have received so freely give' which has been in and out of my mind since andrew jones blogged it. i always heard it as you didn't pay anything, or do anything for what you received so give without expecting anything back. but then i was reflecting on it and heard it differently - this time as you recived in freedom, without constraints, by grace, so give freely - from a place of freedom without constraints, by grace. this ties in with something my friend lindsay heard in some teaching recently: "if you want to come against the spirit of poverty you must be abundant in generosity".
not done much processing so the above is a raw cut of the fine-tuning that will no doubt go on over the next few days/weeks.
Saturday, June 4
Friday, June 3
to publish or not to publish, that is the question...
here's the thing. i have written lots of poetry over the past few years and i love writing it - sometimes i might even share it with a couple of people. i notice, though, that some people have the confidence to publish poetry on their blogs. i am in awe of this and these people. when i was at school, poetry was something you picked apart until all the possible meaning was wrung out of it and what was left was a saggy bag of words. my english teacher once asked me to read out a poem in class and after asked how it made me feel. he then told me that my response was wrong. how can an emotional response be wrong?
this makes me really scared to publish anything but this is my blog and i am going to. therefore, please feel free to feel any way you want to, or , equally, to feel nothing at all as a result of reading any poetry i put up. so the following is something i wrote when i was on a 'mountain top'. right now i think i would express things differently but it is faith-building to remember and look forward.
GOD may 2000
you inspire my every thought
free postcards of refreshment
even as you breathe against my cheek
soft hairs rise - capturing your cares
did you kiss me? wrap your arms tight?
touch me deep within
take me into your dwelling place
make your dwelling place within my heart
you let me go
watch me run, jump, sing, weep
keep me warm under your wing - let me soar
speak to me, louder than silence
you are my perfection
a perfect beginning to life
my eyes ahut tight to see your glory
my heart's door is open-wide
come Lord
i see the sun in its brightness
i hear the sea sweat and rage
i know your embracing presence
you are all i need - God - all i need
forgive me
love me
lead me
this makes me really scared to publish anything but this is my blog and i am going to. therefore, please feel free to feel any way you want to, or , equally, to feel nothing at all as a result of reading any poetry i put up. so the following is something i wrote when i was on a 'mountain top'. right now i think i would express things differently but it is faith-building to remember and look forward.
GOD may 2000
you inspire my every thought
free postcards of refreshment
even as you breathe against my cheek
soft hairs rise - capturing your cares
did you kiss me? wrap your arms tight?
touch me deep within
take me into your dwelling place
make your dwelling place within my heart
you let me go
watch me run, jump, sing, weep
keep me warm under your wing - let me soar
speak to me, louder than silence
you are my perfection
a perfect beginning to life
my eyes ahut tight to see your glory
my heart's door is open-wide
come Lord
i see the sun in its brightness
i hear the sea sweat and rage
i know your embracing presence
you are all i need - God - all i need
forgive me
love me
lead me
Thursday, June 2
Friday, May 27
crap and bugger
i just wrote a really long, incredible interesting post and blogger lost it due to a publishing error.
sorry folks.
sorry folks.
it's bank holiday again - yipee!!
last bank holiday we went turf-tastic and pulled up loads of paving slabs and gravel to put down our garden carpet! today i mowed the lawn for the second time - the smell of fresh cut grass is incredible. i also put some twine around my 'wigwam' for my peas to grow up. last year, peas were a disaster because i missed the harvest and they all dried up!
big brother starts tonight which is very exciting. once upon a time, the british summer was punctuated by wimbledone, but no more!! now, big brother hogs the airwaves and brings many, ordinarily composed individuals, into the depths of severe addiction. i take hold of my addiction by limiting myself to the opening night (tonight) and then no more until 5 weeks before the end. i have decided this is the best strategy becasue the first few weeks people are still able to perform for the camera, don't need to get too close to anyone and there are too many in the house to really get to know what makes anyone tick. the last 5 weeks however, are a totally different story!
i'm also excited about freecycling which works on the basis that there is too much waste so recycle what you don't want/need and do this by giving it away to someone who does want it. amazingly the 30 pink paving slabs and the various assorted plastic plant pots i put up on the site got snapped up within hours. there are freecycle groups all over the place and it's brill! looks like we may have just got a table tennis table for the youth at church through the site too.
this weekend we are off on a little mini break to royal leamington spa darling! it's where my best friend sam lives and it's flat too! can't wait to see sam as it always feels like it's too long.
by the way, robin is lush!
big brother starts tonight which is very exciting. once upon a time, the british summer was punctuated by wimbledone, but no more!! now, big brother hogs the airwaves and brings many, ordinarily composed individuals, into the depths of severe addiction. i take hold of my addiction by limiting myself to the opening night (tonight) and then no more until 5 weeks before the end. i have decided this is the best strategy becasue the first few weeks people are still able to perform for the camera, don't need to get too close to anyone and there are too many in the house to really get to know what makes anyone tick. the last 5 weeks however, are a totally different story!
i'm also excited about freecycling which works on the basis that there is too much waste so recycle what you don't want/need and do this by giving it away to someone who does want it. amazingly the 30 pink paving slabs and the various assorted plastic plant pots i put up on the site got snapped up within hours. there are freecycle groups all over the place and it's brill! looks like we may have just got a table tennis table for the youth at church through the site too.
this weekend we are off on a little mini break to royal leamington spa darling! it's where my best friend sam lives and it's flat too! can't wait to see sam as it always feels like it's too long.
by the way, robin is lush!
Friday, May 20
i like this...
from tallskinnykiwi
i may not be rich but i am laughing all the way to the banquet.
bring on the joy!!!!!
i may not be rich but i am laughing all the way to the banquet.
bring on the joy!!!!!
Thursday, May 19
make poverty history
this is the link to the new 'click' advert which will be shown of channel 4 (i think). it is really powerful and deeply saddening.
click video
i am well. we are well. i am sooooo pleased that debbie jones is blogging. she is the most amazing woman and mother and friend. i am so inspired by her on an ongoing basis - quite incredible when i look at how quickly i can move from inspiration to inspiration on a daily basis.
friends of mine have been having hard times. two of my friends have each miscarried their 2nd babies last week. one of these friends and her partner are believers, the other friend and her partner aren't.
robin is wonderful and although he has been grizzly with a sticky eye and snuffles he continues to astound me with his beauty and creativity as he explores the world each new day.
currently i am reading 2 books. i shall blog about them soon!
click video
i am well. we are well. i am sooooo pleased that debbie jones is blogging. she is the most amazing woman and mother and friend. i am so inspired by her on an ongoing basis - quite incredible when i look at how quickly i can move from inspiration to inspiration on a daily basis.
friends of mine have been having hard times. two of my friends have each miscarried their 2nd babies last week. one of these friends and her partner are believers, the other friend and her partner aren't.
robin is wonderful and although he has been grizzly with a sticky eye and snuffles he continues to astound me with his beauty and creativity as he explores the world each new day.
currently i am reading 2 books. i shall blog about them soon!
Tuesday, May 3
Tuesday, April 19
Friday, April 15
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)