Your Support is Needed

Friends of mine are in a hip hop crew called 29th Chapter. They have a single out this week and downloading it would really help to support them. Details can be found on their website.

Pyjama Ban!

This article on the BBC website made me chuckle...

Photo of my Mood...

This is what I hope is the link to my new favourite snow photo. If it doesn't take you to the right photo then here it is...

My photos from this snow season still to come
(when I get round to putting them on Flickr!)

UK Snow

I was just sent this satellite picture that was taken on 7th Jan. I've taken some nice snow shots this week which I will post a link to soon.

Christmas and Gingers!

Two articles have amused me today involving Santa and Tesco!!

Nice Sentiment

Its been a bit of an up and down week unfortunately, but a good friend sent me these words. I don't know who it is by, but I liked it!

"In the rain, stand your ground and you will smile again. And so you grow..."

Ladies, give this a read...

I enjoyed reading this article today on the Sophia website.

Slowly, but surely...

I want to encourage everyone that it can be done. Loosing weight isn't that difficult when its done right and properly. Eating well and doing a small bit of exercise regularly is all I have been doing. I'm now over halfway through my weightloss goal. ☺

Food For Thought

I found these quotes online. I really liked them, as hard as they are to live out...

"Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone; to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God to the Christian says, "No, not until you're satisfied and fulfilled and content with living, loved by me alone and giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, to have an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.”

"I love you, my child, and until you discover that only in me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me-exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or belongings.”

"I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to bring it to you. You just keep watching me, expecting the greatest things. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait.”

"Don't be anxious and don't worry. Don't look around at the things you think you want. Just keep looking off and away up to me, or you'll miss what I have to show you."

“And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would ever dream. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working this minute to have both of you ready at the same time, and until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I've prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is perfect love.”

"And Dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with myself. Know I love you. I am God Almighty, believe and be satisfied."

Sombre Day

Yesterday the ashes of my Uncle were scattered. It was the first time I had ever been witness to such a ceremony. It is always a lot more glam on TV; on a beach or off the back of a ship or something! It was on my family's plot with just me my Mum and my Aunt. We all wish we had prepared something to say or read, but I got the chance to say a little prayer on my Aunts request. It was a moving time for us all, but I was glad I could be there with both of them as they said goodbye to their brother.

We Shall Remember Them...

(am playing catch up and posting some photos from my phone)

Film Review

Marathon day returns..... :-)

I really wanted to catch this film before it drops off the face of the cinema earth! It was cleverly done flicking between the days to tell the story. My uni education brain reminds me this is called a non-linear narrative! Summer is a character and it is all about Tom's love for her. The use of cartoon animation was very Juno/Napoleon.

A mushy film to keep me entertained on a Sunday afternoon! Not too much to say about it really. Its Jennifer Aniston in yet another romantic film, finding love, when ironically this isn't the case for her in real life.

I ♥ original Fame. The advert for new Fame made me want to go. It was a good film...but...not a lot to it. It flew through all four years of their education, with a big 'aren't we great' ending.

Me, at the Opera?!

I was very generously taken to the opera in Covent Garden. I finally got to go the amazing opera house that I used to walk past every day at work. I was very grateful for the subtitles, as I could easily follow what was going on! It was a great experience, but one I definately personally couldn't afford to do again.

Fancy...

I 'facebooked' this the other week, but when did stamps change and get all fancy?!

Its Good To Laugh

The tickets for this were purchased many many months ago. It has been a rare treat that I have counted down to. It was odd to see a stand up gig in such a big venue, but it was good all the same. Its always a good sign when you leave somewhere aching from laughing too much! Sammy and I had lots of fun.

London Underground Map

As a resident of London town I have grown up knowing my way round the underground system pretty well. I was reading in one of the free London papers the other day that the tube map has been re-designed with no Thames and no zones! (apologies for no decent image of it). Boris had something to say about it, along with many other people and the river has now been put back on the map to avoid confusions! From the article I was reading however, there are still no zones. Is this a cheeky ploy to get more money from clueless travellers/tourists?!

Reality Check

I have been very blessed in life to not encounter much first-hand crime. I live in a good area and have good people around me. I was reading my local paper this week and in it were two stories of crimes in the area where I work. During the day there was a minor stabbing in Morrisons and a small time robbery at the bank I use. I was planning on blogging on this regardless, but then this morning I arrived at work to find our office had been badly broken into and trashed. The idiots didn't take much for their efforts to get in. Our local residents who complain about any tiny noise didn't hear a thing! Typical. Then one of the mechanics who works opposite came and spoke to me and told me about a poor girl who was raped nearby a few nights ago. It is all a little bit too much at once for this area.

The Grove

I feel very blessed with the people I have in my life. Some friends in particular are very generous. My friend Phil had some complimentary vouchers for a stay at The Grove in Hertfordshire. We went for two days at the end of June which were amazing, but I had the chance to go back with him again this weekend and see once again how the other half live! It was a good chance to relax and escape my ever busy life. There are no more vouchers now and I would never ever be able to afford to go there. So we made the most of the opportunity we had to stay in a place which costs more than my monthly rent per night!

New Term

I couldn't resist taking this photo as the folders that I had made for the new gap year team sat staring down at me from my desk! I have a new team of students to work with for the next academic year. I have had an amazing first year in this role and I look forward to what my second year will be like. I wonder what they are thinking right now about this unknown year they are about to start?!