Perspective...

3 status updates that greeted me on Facebook this morning. Made me think about the different ways people approach Saturday mornings. I have starred out the first two names for privacy reasons.

***** ****** not sure 3 days is long enough to get over a hangover1.5 seconds ago
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***** ******** is feeling sick, has a horrible headache and is meh.about a minute ago
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Tom Blanckensee has been made righteous by the Holy God who alone is righteous.4 minutes ago

Yet another farewell...

I finished work at Olivet today, and it was very emotional as I said goodbye to students, some of whom I have been teaching for the past 11 weeks. Although I have an exciting (and scary) new job, I will miss this time. This Autumn has been a brilliant time.

As part of the afternoon Christmas Party, students of different nationalities shared with everyone how to say 'Merry Christmas' in their language.

German - Frohe Weihnachten!

French - Joyeux Noel!

Italian - Natale allegro!

and my personal favourite...

Japanese - Melly Chlistmas!

Very Amusing Turmoil...

I was in Eastbourne today after gaining an idea of how feasible bussing it to work will be after Christmas - early signs discouraging, but anyway.... I found myself walking past Primark, and as I spent 4 years working there part time while studying, I always find a natural curiousity about other branches.

On first impressions, it looked the same - gondolas (I know they are boats in Venice - don't start me) full of messed up clothes, the same wheelie tables with a pile of rubbish on the little tray underneath, (50% staff junk and 50% litter cheekily dumped by the public). The look of boredom and hopelessness on the face of a jumper refolder-er as she realises it is 1 step forward and 5 steps back...

... but wait... something incredibly surprising and unusual is evident...

Let me explain. You know the deal with "....99p?" You know, where £1.99 sounds cheaper than £2.o0. Well it works, even when you know what they're doing.

Well Primark have never bothered with this, seeing as the stuff is dirt cheap anyway.

Let's be open, honest. It's 2 quid! Wow.

The real reason they do this? No faffing around with coppers, giving pennies in change. Transactions move quicker, customers through quicker, more money made, faster queues and happier customers. Also means no complex maths skills needed...

But alas this system has been ripped apart by Mr Brown's VAT antics as there are lots of individual signs displayed around the store for £4.76 £1.96 etc etc

(Prices loosely based on author's memory and intended only to make the point).

Made me chuckle anyway...

Walking the dog

Every lamp post?

Really?

Sleeping buddies

For the last few nights, I have found an increasing number of random things in my bed, probably a result of sorting out lots of rubbish in my room.

Last night I found (in no particular order): a sandwich box, my bible, a conker and a Comic Relief 'Tomato' Car Nose from whatever early 90s year that was.

I left them there; they weren't doing me any harm huddled in the corner. There's room in a double bed for all of us.

Faithful

God is so faithful.

That's all.

Well, I had better explain.

3 and a half years ago, after an enjoyable but difficult first few months in teaching, I left my job, hoping God would direct me. That he did, and I loved being a supply teacher, but he took me up a few blind alleys on the way. I know these alleys had a purpose, and I have had the wonderful luxury of not working every day, allowing me to run a Cub Pack for the last 3 years, and be very involved with Children's work at church too.

I felt God saying stick with teaching. When I decided to quit after a horrible day early on in my supply tenure, Phatfish' song 'Stepping Out' played next on my stereo.

'We're on a journey of faith, sometimes the way ahead is clear, some times it's clouded, but promises are spoken'.

Your path ahead is mapped out. Will you choose to trust him, or choose to not, are you ready to believe?

He knows you, He made you, He loves you and knows what's best.

I could go on. God has been so faithful, even when 'dream' jobs didn't happen, even when interviews went sour. But I can say today, He has led me to this point. A new job in Eastbourne starting in January. People I have had to go to and say 'You know that thing I help you with / run every week? I can't do that for the next 7 months at least, and they have said 'Fine'.

God makes all paths straight.

The next challenge lies ahead. A very nice school, bright pupils. It's gonna be a slog. But hey! God is faithful!!!

Exactly what it says on the tin.

"All known metal bands" the predictably black cover pronounced. I see that Waterstones have kindly provided a handwritten staff review below, you know, to just show that they are not just a faceless corporate chain, oh no, they allow staff opinions to be aired. This opinion really augmented what I felt might be a slightly narrow focus to this publication. In scrawled student-y writing on a small card below it said:

'The names of all known metal bands!!"

The !! seemed a slight attempt at a knowing look in some form of irony.

I opened the book, and indeed, it was simply a list of all the metal bands that 'Dan Nelson' was aware of in 2007.

Each black page inscripted with long lists of names in tiny silver print, making it almost impossible to read.

I want to meet the person who would buy that. Then again, maybe I don't.