Scouse Ordinand: January 2008

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Simon says...

Hahahahaha...

Is this what's going to happen to start happening with me following my ordination in a few months time??

(Just in case anyone out there is slightly worried - I'm not really big headed enough to go with this thought. Did make me chuckle though given my name and impending ministry!)

Thanks again to the asbojesus site.

God and church

Came across this today on the asbojesus cartoon blog:

Some not easy to accept truth for the church (very much including me) to consider here? Challenging?...Any views on this?

(If too small to read click here to see it properly)

Friday, January 11, 2008

Liverpool: European Capital of Culture 2008

Really wish I could be in Liverpool tonight for the people's launch of the city's year as European Capital of Culture - it sounds like it's going to be an amazing event, including Ringo Starr playing a new song from the rooftop of St Georges Hall. From the websites and things I've looked at it does seem like there is lots of good stuff going to be happening over the year, so that's another thing to look forward to as we move back there in June. I have heard that there have been grumblings about the organisation of it and the way things have been run - as Phil Redmond put it:

"It's like a scouse wedding - a lot of rowing but it gets there in the end."

So I'm hoping that the rowing etc. can all be put to one side and that the year shows Liverpool off as the great city that it is, as well as being of real benefit. Hoping that it is something that people will really be able to feel part of and proud of!

Liverpool's a good place to visit anyway, but I'd say even more so over this next year - so if you get a chance go for it! Here's a few links for info about the culture year and events etc.:-

http://www.liverpool08.com/index.asp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool08/
http://www.visitliverpool.com/site/welcome-to-liverpool
http://www.liverpool08.com/Events/2008EventsProgramme/index.asp

Monday, January 07, 2008

Christmas / New Year etc.

Just sat in my study at Ridley getting used to the idea that another term is about to kick off - my 8th out of 9! One thing I'm going to have get used to quickly after leaving here is not having the long holidays, having just enjoyed a 4 week break. Having said that the best part of 2 weeks of it was spent working fairly hard on the 6000 word MA essay that was due in today. Had 2 weeks completely clear though which was great! Spent 10 days including Christmas itself over in Ireland at Lisa's parents place near Dublin - guessing it will be a long time before we will be there on Christmas Day itself again! Did a fair amount of walking on Portmarnock beach just a 5 min walk down the road from the house, enjoyed a few pints of Guinness, saw some live Gaelic football, did a bit of shopping, visited my godmother who was over there staying with her daughter and my 97 year old Great Aunt who lives over the other side of Dublin, caught up with various friends etc. A good break - though it went very quickly.

Flew back to Stansted on the 30th - got home about 5pm, and by 7pm were in the car heading off up the A14 to spend a couple of days with my family. Stayed with my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece in Shropshire, did a bit of shopping at the Cheshire Oaks outlet village, saw my Aunt and Uncle, and then on New Years Day saw my parents, sister, brother-in-law, nephew and went to the hospital in Warrington to meet our new nephew Joshua for the 1st time. He was born 8-9 weeks prematurely in December, but seems to be doing really well and is hopefully going to be out of hospital any time now. Came back to Comberton for a rest late on New Years Day!

Anyway, enough waffle. Here's a few photo's: