Diary – The blog area

Break Away – Easter Time

Posted on by JC

This coming week is the easter weekend.. A few days off work and a celebration of a death to life transformation.

I am unlikely to be updating these pages for the next week as will be away to Spring Harvest to help with stewarding and don’t think i’ll have an internet connection.

IF I get a connection, then I’ll try and update the site with what is happening and what i’m up too.

I think its going to be a fun time, but a lot of hard work and energy used up. I’m really looking forward to it and hoping I have packed everything I need.

Riverdance Performance

Posted on by JC

Feeling so free after a good night out. Enjoying the speed and energy of the dance while sat back in quite comfy if compact seating.

I went to watch Riverdance, in Sunderland Empire on Monday night, a friend went with me. It rained on the way there which was unexpected as was so warm where we came from so we were cold and wet when we got there but so was so many others too.

I’ve heard reviews of Riverdance before and seen bits on TV but it was so much better in action in front of us. The seating looked like it was going to be bad but we had leg room and could see everything so it was good.

I’ve fancied seeing it for a while but like most things – didn’t as no-one else seemed to want to go but decided I was going – just to see if I liked it.

The dancing was amazing, along with excellent music played. The movements so quick and in time with one another. It was ocasionally like watching a branch wave in the wind and fall in place, moving in a motion but being itself at the same time.

I really enjoyed it – there was a few dances I didn’t entertain and my mind wandered but was suprised to find it half way so quickly – but it wasn’t that quick – I was just enjoying it.

I’ve never went to a theater to watch a dance before but will definitly go again. Its something I thought older people 40s+ went too – more younger people should try – its an amazing time.

I feel really happy, and can still hear the music playing and see the movement and tapping of feet. If you have the chance to see it live, I’d suggest to go for it.

I’m now wondering where and what else I can see or be involved in. A time of change – I can hope.

Bouncing with co-ordination

Posted on by JC

Its been a while since I did trampolining or at least it feels like a while… Its been at least 3 weeks since I’ve last been and it was very enjoyable.

Today I tried contact lenses again.. Tried them last week but it didn’t really help… got new set ordered in and tried them today…

Took me about a minute to get the first one in and about 25 minutes to get the second one in – Cleared up so I could see right in about another 20 minutes and then I could see more… Out in the side of my eye things were there again where they wern’t before (or were but kinda just a coloured blur)

I went bouncing (trampolining) that was my test… and it felt easier… more co-ordinated. I could see and wasn’t worried if I was to break the glasses or land and damage myself – I can now go for it and see what I can do.

I’ve started with about 4 hours usage and my eyes felt fine but a little adjitated coming up 4 hours but afterwards seem to have calmed quick and feel OK.

Last time I tried contacts I remember sore eyes for about a week… This time its not hurting so a good sign in my opinion.

Career Change… Maybe

Posted on by JC

I’ve always done something with computers, I’ve always been able to work with them, learn how to fix and adapt quite quickly to what I’ve been needed to do.

I’ve tried the IT technician route fixing and maintaining things, programming, Web Development, graphics, encryption and want to try something new that will stretch me.

I’ve realised so much over the past few years that I can do a lot more than i’ve ever given myself credit for. I have so much more potential and i’ve not been tapping into it expect for set bursts where i’ll get loads done and then back to normal – I think I need to change that normal a little.

I’m looking into courses to become an electrician. Electric circuits and how things work, and can be fixed have interested me for a long time and at school I enjoyed it but was good with computers so followed that path. Now i’m looking back and wondering what else I was good at and trying that too.

I’ve looked for part time courses in my area but so far no luck, everywhere there is a course is at least an hours drive away from home. To work around my current employment seems difficult. I’ve seen some express courses where its around 3 months – 3 to 4 weeks full time and the rest part time.

So I guess partly IT based as in technology and electics but a change of direction.

Salsa Tuesdays

Posted on by JC

I’ve been going to a class on Tuesdays at The Arc for a few months now and been enjoying the classes. Over the last 2 months thou its felt I was learning nothing – I could see i’d done things a certain way but when asked I couldn’t do it.

Salsa Dancing

They’ve changed the style of teaching these last few weeks thou, and my learning has changed too – they seem to be doing it all a lot faster. I can see where a movement is going now instead of wondering how does this fit anywhere and its a lot easier.

I think its been too slow to learn. Now that I see where something fits together its a lot easier to learn… Just need to learn the names really to it all now 🙂

Spring Harvest

Posted on by JC

I got it.. I found out a few days ago that I can actually do the stewarding after all the references, CRB checks and appliactions that I can go for the week I wanted to help out.

It will be different to other events i’ve helped with – a lot bigger, it will be nice to see how its done there.

I think it will be quite enjoyable. I’ve been to spring harvest once before – it was with the CU years ago. I remember going into the place and thinking “WOW” to the size of it and soon after wanting to help and see what happens in the background and how it all works together.

Its taken about 5 years to get around to the application and after around 7 months of waiting for things to process I got the email confirmation to say I’ve got through and clicked the confirm attendance link.

Something different to look forward to and only a few weeks to go.

Nice

Posted on by JC

Its nice to look outside and see the sunshine – would be nicer to be out in it but instead we have work and have to do that first.

The past few days and weekend have been quite refreshing in general. Warmish sunshine with the occasional breeze. Is spring actually starting? That’ll be nice – hope it gets a lot warmer.

I’ve a few days off this week – needed to use them by end of march. I will eventually get the shower sorted thats needed sorting for the past 4 months. Hot showers again just in time for the warmer weather… However I’ve heard snow is expected next week so that will be odd.

Wind and roof

Posted on by JC

Why is it that whenever I find the time to go check the roof that the winds get strong or it pours down with rain or snow.. its quite annoying.

I apparently have an aerial on my roof somewhere but I get no decent signal when I plug in to the jack in the wall for freeview so I wonder if its actually connected.

I’ve found a lead that goes outside that looks like an aerial connection but don’t know if its connected anywhere so would like to see.

I’d also like to clean out the drain area along the top and just be nosey as to whats up there but need help with the ladder and lack of wind and rain beforehand.

I hope I don’t find missing tiles or problems up there but I guess we’ll see another day.

Spring Harvest 2009

Posted on by JC

Some of you know that I like to help at Harvest – a Christian Youth camp once a year in north east england. Help with the stewarding teams however I can and have done since around August 1999.

Now i’m going to try for spring harvest that happens in different locations around the UK. Its over the easter break time so minimum time off work.

I am currently awaiting the application to be confirmed. I’m just awaiting on references now. Passed the other 8 parts of application including yet another CRB check. Now i’ve had 3 of these over the past few years – why they need new ones every time i’m not sure.

It should be very different as it won’t be just young people but a mixture of young people, kids, and adults as its not particularly age specific.

It will be a new challenge, another one for this year. I hope I get on the team and look forward to the event.

Link: Spring Harvest Website

Run Run Run

Posted on by JC

Something I’d like to do is the Great North Run. So far I can only run for about 3 minutes and don’t have good footwear for that nevermind the several hours needed to run.

Its apparently around 13 Miles or just over.. thats about 21Km – I’ve no idea how long it would take me – At present I probably wouldn’t finish unless I just walked the whole thing.

I have about 200 or so days [about 6 months ish] to get a lot fitter and be able to run that far. I think its a posability. I’ve signed up to a few sites that help with ideas for training and IF I am good in about 3 months time (June/July) I’ll be looking for sponsership and stick up one of those Just giving pages. Hope you’ll Help me out 🙂

My current fitness isn’t brilliant, but I am active – I like the trampolining, and salsa dance and have started going to the gym and play on wii fit too.

I have a lot to do on this and not a lot of time but for a change I have something to aim for instead of “just get fitter” I have an event to go for assuming I can get entry and that I can actually do it.

But I think its something that can be done so will go for it.