SHH (LPO) – Wild, Wet Fun…

I woke up late, after midday – I felt cold last night, I don’t seem to rest well when I’m cold. I met for afternoon games which involved water games: water volley ball which envolved water balloons thrown and caught or drenching people.

A lot of fun. Thankfully, the sun was about – very quick to dry until a plastic box full of water got thrown over me and other boxes over others. That took a long time to dry as the weather changed and sun went hiding.

I went to the pool later in the day… I went just to say “hi” but ended up in the pool chatting and well, Supprisingly the water was warm, not hot but comfy. It was apparently 29’C – I dont think it was. The wind was cool, we stayed in the pool until the sun came out – we were waiting a while.

In the evening, the weather changed nasty – heavy rain, followed by lots of heavy rain that was louder than people talking, and music playing – streams appearing outside, and waterfalls off the roof. I was glad I was inside, and very glad I got a rain coat, packed it and brought it with me.

Some wierd games, with silly prizes but it looked entertaining. Night finished around 1.30am when we were encouraged to leave the bar. It was meant to close around 1am, just no one really moved, and drinks were even served after 1am so that was never going to happen. I’ve had a good day all in all, could have done with going to the shops and apparently missed a party while I relaxed. Sorry I missed it, but happy for what i’ve done too.

Time for bed now, I’ve had some valerian Tea to help me sleep (as I slept in so long). Its not worked yet. But probably will soon.

Communication – The HOT Topic

Its strange that “communication” is the topic that comes up in EVERYthing that I’m reading, and working with .

Last week or so on the train, the journey started very quiet… I tried getting people to talk and nothing happened… so vanished into a book… about “Networking – and how to communicate”

“Sev” (guy next to me) asked me about what I was reading after about half an hour and we started to talk… then “Unity” (girl opposite me) joined in too… and sometime later “Graham” joined in too… we all chatted about all sorts, and I was talking that I wanted to know how to communicate better with others

“Graham” was a consultant about managers and businesses, we all talked. “Sev” was a medical student from Toronto, learning in Newcastle for a year, and “Unity” a landscape artist – we all sort of talked… “Unity” left at peterbrough and another girl “Katy” got on… We continued talking the rest of the journey that was delayed… set off around 6:45pm – got to darlington nearer 10:20pm (was meant to be in 9:30)

so a lot of talking… strangely there was no swap of any details, just a nice talk and enjoyable… it was like all the stuff I’d been reading all week, and heard in church came together as a practical way of doing what I wanted but without the pressure of it all… so yeah, I do believe that God puts us in the right places at the right times.

Names are often not related to real people, or maybe they are…

And the Journey Begins

Wednesday, after a quite busy day of getting things sorted, I got dropped off at Darlington station to go to london. Train on time, I’ve not really travelled much by train but so far seems fine, if a little bumpy which makes typing interesting.

So, a mid week to weekend trip to London. The plan – Meet with Dad, and see some friends aswell as just have some space away from everything and everyone to be honest. Life seems to have got so busy, now with running my own business, aswell as normal work at the medical centre and just having so much on which is nice to have the variety but means I don’t feel I stop.

I dislike the passing trains – really does seem to give me a shock when it happens – I guess I’ll get used to it soon enough. YES, I seem to be getting used to the speeding past trains – supprisingly quickly. I do love how people adjust to things so quickly (most of the time)

My ticket was around £40 from darlington to london, I checked bus althou didn’t want to go that way and it would have costs nearer £30 to £35 one way so glad I chose the train way – also managed to get First class too, think its the time of day – 15.25 to 18.05 is apparently the times. Still first class train compared with bus travel – I think it was worth the extra £5 to £10 for the peace and leg room.

Its quite peaceful in first class – maybe it is the rest of the train however I am one of the youngest here. There is free WiFi but is unsecured – wireshark may have fun here, I’ve switched off my wireless for this journey. I just don’t trust it 🙂

Dreamland – Fun yet dangerous with the occasional kickback (pt2/2)

View Part 1 of the dream

The street theater – There was circus like acts going on, people up high on wierd bikes or stilts in bright costumes. There was something everywhere most of the time unless you went out into the fields that just seemed to go on forever. You chose the weather by thinking it and it happened – be it Rain, glorious sunshine, or snow.

We went out in the snow and built snow people, it was snow and we just seemed to have the warm clothes to wear, there was clothes racks all over and you just grabbed what you wanted. It wasn’t cold but just right and it was so easy to make things… everything we wanted just seemed to be lying around. There was snow ball fights getting us all drenched and covered and wandered over to a pond that was frozen over – we went ice skating, and chilled out just having fun.

I recall thinking, “is this all a dream?” and tried to float but couldn’t. Usually if I work out its a dream I can float or fly and continue. The rain was lovely at night, such a relaxing sound it bouncing off the glass windows.

There was play parks big enough for adults with huge slides, and swings that you could get really high on – not recommended to jump from althou we did and recall it hurting but just for a couple of seconds before going back and playing some more. There was climbing frames, and a few zip lines over water and this wierd spongy foam that seemed to take quite an impact and not hurt when you hit it.

Food was awesome, there seemed to be a place for everything – I recall a place that served just loads of different crisps and a dance floor for salsa – it was great. You could watch or join in. I could seem to remember all the moves from classes in my real life inside the dream and actually be able to do them and enjoy it. The food was eat as much or little as you want.

There was trampolines about the size of 4 normal club sized ones put together – you could get really high and catapult yourself all over or mix with friends and play amazing games of seat attack catapulting one another into the air.

It didn’t feel like you were in danger unless you went down the bank through the shopping centre, everywhere else seemed safe and the people around us were happy too. Only at one point when we were heading down past the centre did we need to stop the group and re-direct them – they were heading towards the unpleasent place but they couldn’t seem to feel it – a strange sense I seemed to have.

Days seemed to pass into weeks yet I was only asleep a few hours, I awoke feeling refreshed but suprised I was at home. I have no idea how I got there, or how I returned but look forward to going there again like so many of my past dreams – they somehow reconnect and its like a continuation.

• Coming Soon: Dreams Blog

Dreamland – Fun yet dangerous with the occasional kickback (pt1/2)

There was what seemed to be a town, like a giant themepark – everywhere there was something to do: be it a show or event somewhere, a ride to go on, a stall to play at or a place to eat at aswell as street theater all around me.

Down one road it felt very dark, it went into a shopping centre with all grey closed shutters and down a hill. At the top of the hill there was an open market stall with veg, and fruit and a girl behind the counter serving and looking oddly towards me when I started to head down the hill. I felt uncomfortable and it was as thou you were diving into an unknown danger – I headed back up and into the central area – the whole atmostphere felt better and happier again.

There was a lot of shows on, for almost anything imagined I recall but don’t remember what they were – just remember that everything seemed covered in some way or uncovered in many ways. You had the choice to be an audience member or actually get up and have a go at anything. It was fun, scary, entertaining and rewarding.

There were loads of people around me, they seemed familure but at the same time unknown to me. I made friends with a few of them and we wandered around the place together.

There was an area to design your own rollercoaster and then ride it with friends, so many high sudden turns that surely were unsafe and unlikely to ever happen in the real world. It was something you designed and said you’d like and then come back and ride – kind of like waiting for a picture to be developed.

Time – it wasn’t just a few hours, it was more like around a few weeks or so had passed with the time there – even recall going to sleep and getting up and right back into the action. We often crashed out in different places after a nights entertainment.

One afternoon there was an attack… some people were running around and we originally thought it was a scene from a theater piece to find out suddenly it wasn’t as the people came towards us. They were covered with blood, cuts all over and dragging others down with them.

We ran but some people came after us with knives and we ran fast and got split up. We went up & down steps, over fences/walls and through a maze of buildings.. we looked back they seemed to be gone we kept on going and returned to the centre again to meet up again.

Continues Tommorrow

• Coming Soon: Dreams Blog

Spring Harvest – Part 3

And so it starts: We are asked what event would we like to be on… think about it: Kids? Main Venue? Particular seminar? I was thinking out it – this was before teams were set out… then remembered “I am here to help” – I decided not to choose and just went where I was wanted. I asked for things that were not particulary youth related as done that every other stewarding time and would like change but would do whatever.

A typical stewarding day for me:

6:30am Up and shower
7:00am Breakfast
7:30am Team Meeting
9:00am The big start – a half hour welcome to the day [non stewarding]
9:30am to 1pm Venues
1pm til 2pm: Lunch
2pm to 4:45pm: Venues
4:45 to 6pm: Dinner
6:00 to 9pm: Venue
9:30pm to 10:40pm: Venue
10:40pm: Finish or go help with others

We were staying in shared accomodation – chalets, with a full bed and heater in room and washing facilities – Nice hot shower. Not like other harvest in a tent… Very different.

Breakfast was my favorite meal of the day: Grapefruit to start, followed by Bacon, Sausages, Fried Egg, Beans and a few other things I think. Cups of tea and fresh orange juice too.

At lunch it was a roast dinner, and tea was a packed lunch. I can honestly say I didn’t really feel like snacking during the day but think that eating more earlier would be more beneficial and easier to burn off each day – could help get my health back to how it was if not better.

SH – Back to Real Life

I’ve returned back to work, I don’t feel anyone notices anything about me. I don’t think I’m noticed unless fixing something thats gone wrong.

I’m talking more but feel no-one is listening. I just get on and hope that while I try to help – they see something good in me.

It was very easy to drop back into “work” life. Although not sure I just want to fit drop in. It was a tiring day and I had a nap in the evening – don’t think i’ve eaten right as my energy levels were low.

SH – Easter Sunday

New start, New Life, New Beginning

I can do so much more, if I choose too. I feel there is so much more ability that i’ve had in life and I’ve not seen it but looking back I can.

Today has been good, a sleep in past 7am (recently been up 6:30am) so a relaxed start, delicious breakfast & felt ready for the morning, lunch was good & I rested for a bit. One of our sessions were cancelled so we got an hour to chill out.

I’ve been learning about trust – something I have struggled with since a past relationship. I’ve not known how to trust God or other people.

I’ve seen how I’ve already been trusting God without realising it. For example: Coming to spring harvest, from the north east, without anyone else, knowing no-one and trusting people will be friends and everything will work out. It has, and i’m making lots of new friends.

I think the term “Trust in God” is a strange term.. saying “Believing that God will provide for your situation” is more accurate or at least means something to me.

This evening was a challenge – to be interviewed, asked questions in front of 180+ people over microphone – I was nervious with a kinda confidance too.

Whenever I have attempted to speak over a microphone I tend to speak but no sound appears – annoying when you want to speak and kinda embarrasing too.

I managed to talk easily, openly and confidently althou scared to do it. I felt such a buzz & energy on completing.

Maybe its a part of my future – maybe a dream/vision will come true. Part my part looking back I can see that i’m getting somewhere.

I will be able to speak in front of people, teach, present, talk to youth at events & stuff – it could happen, I think I could do well at it and help in some way.

I’m liking this attitude: Try, See and acheive – I’m not looking forward to work again but and looking forward to the future and not entirely knowing actually feels good for a change.

SH – The beginning

Clear Night, stars above – full moon shining down. A peace covering the area with cool breezes. Ducks swimming in the moonlight and running round the grassy edges.

This is a new experience to me, stewarding at Spring harvest. There seems or sounds to be a lot more happening in general than the normal harvest i’m used too.

So far, a lot of stewards seem shy and also have come with other people. I came alone, but having no problems talking with others – it is a lot easier than I recall doing before.

Its the first night and its not tents but chalets with beds and heating – very nice but people don’t seem up for socialising – they all went to bed – most before 11pm… Too early for the first or any night really.

Most teams i’ve been on previously have hung out on the first night, a time to get to know one another before working together.

I can recall times where I went to bed early but not on the first night with a new team. Maybe it will change over time – I think it will be tiring but a good time.

Bed just after midnight – a little tired, headache starting, good idea to sleep.