Merry Christmas!!

Hope that this post finds you all well, having have a good Christmas day, how ever you chose to celebrate it.

I did the usual family thing today, with my brother spending half the day with us. Having been to midnight mass at my dads church, I was still a bit tired when I woke up, but still managed to have time to open my stocking in my parents room before church!! The service was good, the usual section of the children showing what they had got, intermixed with carols. There was then a gap before Christmas dinner, great as always!!! The washing up, had to be done, then presents!! All great this year, including a Rubik's cube, the Snowman DVD and a microwavable bear, one where you microwave the whole bear! It was good to see how well the presents I got went down, given that I deviated from any list given!!

Have a great break, what you have left, and a Blessed New Year!

God Bless,

Ruth xxx

Home again!

I'm back in Bristol, having ended my term last Thursday.

So what's been happening?

Well, we've had our house Christmas meal and present swap, which was great fun, but felt "grown up" which was nice! We had a Freshers party at our house for the four "adopted" freshers, which Sarah H and Gill came to. We had party food, more presents, and games. Lastly, there was the King's Cell groups Christmas meal and quiz night, with a nice Christmas dinner and 5 quiz rounds, including the Music Intros round created by Ben, Dan and me. So Christmas has been going for about the last month. I was also asked to help as a steward at the University carol service. That involved greeting people, handing out candles and books, being there in case of an emergency, taking collection and lighting the candles. It was fun, but hard to focus on the service.

It is kind of strange to be home, as, honestly, home is feeling more like a visit, than coming back to my home. I'm not surprised about it, I just didn't expect to feel that way. The good things about being home are: home cooked meals, seeing my family, and getting the post that I had ordered, like the Bourne Ultimatum and the Oceans 13. :D

I am also now a proud owner of the 1:18 F2007 signed Kimi Raikkonen championship presentation car. That's a mouthful...have I lost any one yet?? See the photos below:





I have the usual family Christmas plans, plus the Youth Group meal, and hopefully seeing a few friends.

I will try to update after Christmas!

Clare xxx

Konnichiwa

Well, I've realised that I haven't really put much on here reacently, so I now have to force my brain to co-operate so that I can write this.

Uni has generally been going ok, it has been harder, but I'm not sinking....yet! My main struggle is my Japanese, which I'm finding great fun, but have a few trouble remembering everything, and there's a lot of it!!

I've been away for the past two weekends. Last weekend, I was up in Hedge End, near Southampton, about a half hour train journey, to visit some friends, Richard and Ruth, that we knew from back home. They now have two children, Michael who is 4, and Philippa, who is 1 and a half, and my dad's God daughter. I spent the weekend enjoying being a child again! Michael got a second hand Tracy Island on the Saturday, so spent most of the weekend playing with that. And he let me join in and rescue Thunderbird 3 from Philippa. We also watched some Thunderbird's :). It did also give me a chance to have a girly catch up with Ruth on Saturday evening.

The weekend just gone, I was in Southampton, staying with my friend Karen from home. It was her 21st Birthday on Sunday, and she had a party on Saturday evening. It was Japanese themed with food, drink and costumes with that theme! I was a fun evening, and I got to see some of her friends that I met last year, as well as meeting some more of her friends this year. The only down side was that I have a cold, and really wasn't feeling that great and was sat in the corner for most of it, kinda zoned out. But no one really minded. They did laugh at me when we played "stick the piece of paper on Sonic". We were all blind folded, and most people had a shot and were spun three times. Due to not feeling great I asked if I could miss that bit. I still couldn't walk in a straight line!!

That just about brings me up to date. I've probably missed something, but never mind!!

Clare xxx

Me again

Spoke to my brother today. Rang my mum to find out how he was, and she passed me across to him. He came home today. Still can't eat properly, and is in a lot of pain. But that's understandable. His appendix hadn't burst as we had though, but there was a complication. The had some trouble finding his appendix and had to make quite a large incision. He's defiantly of college for a week, but even when he goes back will struggle with the active parts of his course. Keep praying that he recovers quickly.

Ruth xx

Update again

Well, Tim's appendix burst, and a half hour op took 3 hours. But he seems ok. In pain, understandably, but ok. He's not really eating yet, and has two drips in to try to get his fluids and salts back up after he lost them during the night. They are keeping him in to make sure he's ok and to make sure his salts improve.

Still don't know whether to go home, but hopefully after a good nights sleep my mind will be clearer. I don't want lectures atm :(

I just want to say thanks to those people who read this and have been praying and supporting me and my family, either in person or across a distance. :)

Update

Surprisingly, Tim was in surgery by 10:45 this morning. I'm not entirely sure of the details, but I think his appendix has now been removed, and they are currently looking at sending him home on Sunday or Monday.

All our information is coming via Tim's girlfriend, who isn't fully sure of all the medical details. I really want to be at home, but as several people, including my mum, have pointed out, there's the cost factor, and there's not a lot I could do at home. Doesn't stop me wanting to go, and see Tim, and be there.

I am pretty much constantly on the verge of tears, but annoyingly, not actually properly crying at the moment. I feel so helpless...

For the first time...

in a while, I really wish that I could go home.

I got two texts this morning from my mum, telling me that my brother was taken to hospital at around 5 this morning with appendicitis, and that they are going to operate on him sometime in the next day or so. I know that everything should be ok, but that doesn't detract from that fact that I want to see him and be with my family, and that I feel really alone right now.

If I go home, it'll cost quite a bit, there will be nothing I can do, and I'll probablly end up missing all my Friday stuff this week. If I stay here, I'll worry, but at least I have a good support network. Hmmm...

Can you please pray for him, his girlfriend whose with him, and us please? Thank you :)

Ruth xx

**edit**
He went into theatre at 10:45. No idea how long he's going to be in there.

Visiting Home

I went home this weekend, for my brothers 18th birthday. It also gave me a chance to pick up a few things from home.

The journey home was good, not too busy, the train even had four carriages..!! I had a nice tea of salmon that my dad cooked. I love home cooking!! :) I looked through the massive amount of post I had, most of it junk, but some stuff I wanted, including and Amazon order I hoped would be delivered before I came back to uni, and a few magazines. Plus, the stuff to say that I am now an official graduate of the University of Interesting, with a BSc in Tea Chemistry!

Saturday was fairly quiet, sorting a few things out, getting some photos printed, before going out for a meal for Tim's birthday. It was nice to see him again, as it's becoming such a rare event. And much to my surprise he's quit smoking!!

Sunday, I went back to my home church. Only my parents knew I was back, so the reaction I got was very funny!! I also realised home much I miss the youth group when I'm not there. It has grown since I was leading, from 5 youth to 10 ish when I was there, which is great!! I had an opportunity to have a good catch up with Ollie, chatting about how things are going, including the fact that he is now engaged, how exciting!!!

The weekend wasn't long enough, but I was wanting to get back here as well. The train journey back was really boring, was slightly longer than the journey to Bristol, but felt a lot longer. I had a book, but I wasn't really interested in it. I wanted internet access to check a few things, but most of all I just wanted the journey to be over.

I had a nice surprise when I arrived at Fratton. At to end of the platform were Ben and Ineke waiting for me. It was lovely of them to come and meet me, and great to see Ineke again! We realised that I had planned to go home the weekend she was visiting...woops... But we did get a chance to chat for a bit!

We went to church at the end of the service, and then on to the pub. Then Sarah, Sarah, Sarah and Jen came back with us, making our house busy, which was nice.

That about wraps it up for this weekend. Hope it's not to boring to read!!!

Clare xxx

Missing...

one appetite. If found please can you return it to me?

Thanks :P

Clare xxx

Result!!

After what has felt like many long years of struggle, Kimi Raikkonen has finally won the Formula 1 World Championship. I am both amazed and very excited. I knew he had a chance, but he's come closer than he was a still lost it. But today, the cards fell well, and everything that needed to happen to allow him to win, did. Much to my amazement.

I do feel to was very unlucky for Hamilton to have such hard luck. But ultimately, it's Raikkonen I've been following since he joined F1 and therefore, despite not being British like Hamilton, Raikkonen I wanted to win.

Clare xxx

Thoughts

Firstly, an update on my dad. Thank you for all those who prayed. In an email he sent to the family, he said that he really felt the prayers. For a guy who is usually scared of hospitals, he said that he was calm and relaxed. A real answer to pray. The outcome of the appointment was that he does have a hiatus hernia, but that it's treatable. Hopefully the pain and discomfort he feels will fade.

I've started learning Japanese this week as an elective on my course. The first lesson was intense and fast, but also really good. I have, what seemed like, the mammoth task of learning Hiragana, one of the Japanese scripts. But after breaking it down and following advice from our Sensai and websites, it's gradually getting there.

In other news, I'm back helping at King's Kids on a Friday evening, and due to a lack of male leaders, I help on the boys side. It's interesting seeing the difference between the boys and the girls behaviour wise.

There's probably other stuff, but life's normal, but not that news worthy atm!

Clare xxx

Purple Box

I have this purple box. It's a box of memories I think it's sometimes called. It's where I put objects and pieces of paper that means something to me but to most people is worthless junk.

I was going through it recently looking for things I can put on my wall and realising how much stuff I have in there. I have a card and a necklace from an old friend, something I keep thinking I should get rid of, but I'm not sure how. I have an old key, that apparently was for a side gate at a friends old house, but became symbolic as a key to something else. I have a programme and tickets from when I went to watch a friend race cars. I have the ticket from the play I went to see whilst my brother was being rushed to hospital, but that I still went to because "life goes on". I have the thank you cards and passes from my gap year. The tickets from going to see one of my favourite, but little know bands play. I have the tickets from when I went on the London Eye, the Tube, the Scottish Tube. I have a purple heart badge that I was given by the youth at the kids club I did at home, one Valentines day. The peg that was randomly put on my by one of the CU during the baptism service at my church at uni. The badges that I got given during primary school for various achievements also sit in that box.

It's a box of memories. Of funny times, sad times, happy times. But there are also little bits of encouragement, letters written, those pieces of paper where you write something about the person on them, the random things that make me smile and laugh because of what's linked to them.

I don't really know the point of this, I just felt like writing it. Maybe one day someone will look through that box, a relative, someone who knew me, after I've gone, and wonder the significance of an Eeyore keyring. Will it just be a piece of metal, a pretty thing? Or will they know? Who knows?

Clare xxx

Prayers

I should have put this on here earlier but I forgot...woops.

Can I ask people to pray for my dad. He is going into hospital today to have a tube with a camera put down his throat, to see if he has a hiatus hernia. He is hoping he doesn't but we will find out today. He was surprise at the pace that everything has moved from the GP visit to the hospital appointment and that has unnerved him slightly. He doesn't like hospitals. Can you pray also for my mum who will worry.

Thanks

Ruth xxx

God didn't screw up when He made us

I was listen to Our God Reigns, by Delirious? and one lyric caught my attention "God didn't screw up when He made you". So I googled it and found the rest of the lyrics.

Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.

So I looked at Psalm 139, verses 3-5 say

3 You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.

In what ever is going to happen God already knows, He's there Guiding my path.

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

How amazing is Our God. How little do I say that?

21!!

I had a joint 21st birthday with Sarah, who's 20.

We had a fairly quiet evening watching a film and chatting. It was great to see various people again, including one of my Bristol friends. We had a lot of food and drink...and we still have tones of stuff left!!

I finally got to bed at 2am, and got up to watch the F1 at 6...and haven't been back to bed yet. Feeling more than a little tired now, but never mind...!!!!!

Sleepy and confused...

Bye

Clare xxx

Once again, Into the Breach

Well, I'm back in Portsmouth. The summer has been long, and I'm just about ready to start again!

After my last minute packing...(woops!!) on Friday, the car was loaded to the brim with all my random stuff ready for the trip down to Portsmouth on Saturday. I was excited, but also really worried about how I would cope, missing my family and having to re-adapt to life in Ports again.

The journey down was smooth most of the time, but when we reached Ports, we reached the traffic, it was horrible...!! My brother and mum, who travelled by train, reached the house first... :O! It was great to see Ben, Dan and Kita, who was visiting for the weekend, again. All the boxes were moved up to my room. Saturday evening was fairly relaxed. I got to meet Phil, who has become the fourth house mate after James had to pull out. Phil is from Germany, studying for his masters. Kita made us jacket potatoes and we just chilled out. Ben had to take the car back to his house, so didn't stay the night.

The first night was good, I just about slept, but had a 4:30 start to watch the Formula 1 in Japan. It was a bit of wet race, and was under the safety car for a lot of it, and I was running the risk of falling asleep, but there were some good parts! I went back to bed for a bit, but ended up just reading and watching kids tv. There was a BBQ at Adam's to welcome the new students. It was great to see everyone and catch up...!! :D The service was really good, a baptismal service. Some of us, went for drinks at the pub just down the road after. We walked some of the freshers back, then two of them decided to come back to ours and watch a film.

Didn't have much to do on Monday. Eventually got up, Ben, Dan and I had a really late breakfast, then headed to Southampton so the guys could buy more hi-fi stuff (sigh). The evening we all (the house mates) went to 'Spoons for tea. Apart from the fact that they had very little in the way of food, it was good.

Today I had registration and getting a few essentials, and another chance to see old friends again.

Oh, and I turned 21 on Thursday!! Scary!!

I'm sure I've missed something, but it happens...!!

Clare xxx

Yellow!!!!!!!

Posts have been a bit lacking this summer. Generally it's been a quiet summer, I've had a chance to catch up with a few friends, see some family, and family friends, and generally relax.

My room is now a lot tidier then when I came home, much to my surprise. I have got rid of sooo many things. Also acquired a few more things, like an advertisement board for Tag Heure eye wear with Kimi Raikkonen on it...don't say anything, I know that it's a bit sad...but hey! :P

I've been reading David Coulthard's autobiography: It is what it is. It's a very interesting read, giving insight into the world of racing and the progression into Formula 1. I think it helps to have some interest before reading, but is still informative even with out that knowledge.

I've only been to the cinema a few times this summer (where as I went to the cinema nearly every week at uni!). I've seen Oceans 13 and the Bourne Ultimatum. Both sequels, but good. The final Bourne film is very good, and I would highly recommend seeing it. You do need to have seen the other ones first!

Sorry if I've repeated anything I've already said.

I am glad that the summer's nearly over. It's been difficult at times, being away from friends and King's church. Especially when a few things went wrong this summer and I felt isolated and down. But I have had some great support from my Portsmouth friends, via MSN and the phone. But having said that, I'm also worried about going back to uni, getting used to working again, and not seeing my family everyday. But, I'll have to take it one day at a time, as I have with everything in life.

For now...

Clare xxx

Unsettled

I don't know when people are going to read this or even who reads this, but I ask if you can pray for me at the moment, as things seem to keep going wrong, and I am struggling, and not being honest about it. I really need God's focus and guidance on a few situations and I ask you to pray that he will give it to me.

Thank you so much

God Bless

Ruth xx

What I did over the weekend

When I was at primary school, every Monday morning we had a time to write our diaries, accounting what we did over the weekend. Quite regularly mine mentioned watching the F1 (no change there!) My teacher would comment saying that it was too loud for her. But, remanicing over, this weekend I went to Snetterton race track in Norfolk.

I had somehow persuaded my parents to take me (as I still can't drive!) and as it was near where they had lived for 10 years and they had friends near there, so it was a good excuse to do some visiting as well.

For those who don't know, one of my house mates for next year, James, races in the Formula Ford series, and was at Snetterton last weekend, and had invited me along.

Now, as things sometimes do in racing, the order of events moved and instead of James racing on both Saturday and Sunday, he was now only racing on the Sunday, and we only had tickets for the Saturday...ah!

As we had tickets, it was still worth going and we knew James should be there at some point on Saturday afternoon.

So on Friday 3rd August. The plan was to leave around 10 am Friday morning, to avoid the most of the M25 traffic, and visit both Walsingham shrines. One of the people at my dads church had invited me to an event at the RC shrine, and as I was unlikely to go, we thought it would be nice to visit them so I had seen them. They were both interesting places, the RC one being more busy because of a festival being there. But despite that I still preferred the Anglican one.

We were staying in Norwich on Friday night so that the run to the circuit would be fairly good on Saturday.

On Saturday morning, we drove past my parents old work places, my first house and the first church I went to at about 2 weeks old. (Another little piece of info: I was born in Norwich, but moved when I was 2!)

We arrived at the race track in time to see the end of the EuroBOSS qualifying and the lunch break. Once we'd found a place to sit - easy really - at Russell bend, dad and I went exploring. We found our way into the paddock and near the pit lane. It was good to get close to the action and the cars and get a better feel of the atmosphere. We managed to get a programme so that we knew what was happening when, and found where we could eat, before heading back to where we were sat. Most of the afternoon was spent in the sun, so even with sun cream some of us burnt...! James arrived with his mum and 2 of his friends at 5, whilst the last race was still happening. I was good to see him for a bit before we had to leave to get to London. As we left the track, for London, I thought that we wouldn't be going back, but I had hoped that my parents would change their mind.

And fortunately they did!! So on Sunday, we headed back to the track. It was busier than the Saturday, but that not at all surprising. We cut the timings a bit fine, and I got out the car as soon as we got to the circuit just in time to see the end of the lap before the start of the race and locate the car James was driving. His first race was good, but fairly uneventful. At the end, we wandered down to the paddock to see James and his car closer up. We stuck around the paddock for a bit catching up with the race news that wasn't on the commentry, before James' friends decided it was lunch time and we headed to the on site restaurant, leaving James sorting out a few race bits. The good thing about using the on site restaurant was the large tv on the wall, brodcasting the coverage from the Hungarian F1 grand prix. That was the only problem about the weekend was missing the F1 news, so this was ideal, and there were a lot of other F1 fans to watch it with. James and his mum found us in the restaurant and we all watched the out come of the race before heading back out to watch the live racing. James had to spend his afternoon making sure he was ready for his other race, so I spent time with his friends, watching the racing then packing up the tents. I was able to see James before he went off to his final race as we had to run at the end of his race. The second race was more eventful, with one car loosing it's nose, another spinning and two cars, including James, hitting the posts on the corner. James started 10th in the first race and finished 7th, then finished 8th in the second race. The journey home took about 5 hours including a break at a services.

It was a great weekend, and good to finally see James racing after hearing so much about it.

Just in case you're interested the races on Saturday were: BRSCC Formula Jedi Championship, Sports 2000 Historic series, Snetterton EuroBOSS Super Prix and Uniroyal Fun cup (which was 4 hours...4 HOURS!!!). And on Sunday were: BRSCC Club Formula Ford (MS) Championship, Sports 2000 Endurance race, Snetterton EuroBOSS Super Prix, BRSCC Formula Jedi Championship, BRSCC Alfashop Alfa Romeo Championship, BRSCC LMA Euro Saloon & Sports Car Chamionship and another BRSCC Club Formula Ford (MS) Championship.

Hope this makes sence!!

Clare xxx

I'm home...

and have been for a while so it's update time I suppose. Both a lot and nothing has been happening since I came home.

I came back on the 7th of June, so I've been home nearly a month. In that time I've been clearing my room, a mammoth challenge, gone shopping and seen a few friends.

The evening before I came back, Ben, Ineke, Dan, James, Hayley, Sarah and I went out for a very enjoyable meal at Tootsies, before most of us heading out to Ben's house in Titchfield Common (hopefully spelt correctly!) to watch The Pursuit of Happyness. It was a bit of a late one, but a very nice way to end to year!

I've restarted my work with the Beaver Scouts every Tuesday night, although I was doing a few things for them whilst I was away. At Beavers we have been looking a safety: Safety in the home - what to do in a fire, chemicals and electricity hazards; Safety by water - going to visit someone at Bristol floating harbour who gave us a talk on keeping safe and the hazards of being near water, as well as a planned walk, but that was called off because of a massive thunder storm. Not that that dampened the Beavers spirits and they would have been quite happy to have gone out in it; Personal safety - stranger danger mainly, who you can trust and who you can't. They were shown some faces, and asked to decide who were strangers. All except one face should have been identified as strangers, only one was...oh well, hopefully they know now; and last night we had an American evening - match the English words to the American words, identify the National anthem and eating cookies and doughnuts, and drinking coke and fanta, and having a visit from a police office and a PCSO (both very nice people and worked very well with the Beavers!)where the Beavers could look at the warrent cards, hand cuffs, pepper spray (not that they were allowed near it!!) and the radio, as well as looking at a PCSO's car, which they all loved doing.

I was also back in time for Meg's baptism. Meg is one of the girls in the youth group that I helped lead last year and it was such a joy to see her go through the waters of baptism and to see some of the people we met last summer come and support her. I just hope and pray that she can keep relying on God's strength to get her through the challenges she faces and will face in the future.

On the weekend of the 23rd, I went down to Ben's house for the Goodwood Festival of Speed. We had been planning it for a while so I was excited, despite the early morning and long day. Ben, Ineke, Dan, Tessa and I had a good day (I think!) and it was great to be around cars (how sad am I???) The only down side (except a painful shoulder and aching muscles and cut ankles...) was the thunder, lightening, rain and hail that descended on the site and turned it a little bit muddy! I arrived at Romsey on Friday and was met by Ben and Ineke, and stayed until mid Sunday, so got to visit Ben's church and meet Ben's family.

I also lead a Bible study with some of the children at my dad's church, that seemed to go well, even if the kid's were a little on the quiet side. But reports back have said the the kids were impressed.

Results are back... and I have officially passed the first year!! Yay, that's a relief, and the good news was that it wasn't as close to failing as I had feared :D.

Final thing: my right shoulder has been hurting, aching and generally being annoying, for a while, but was aggravated during the Goodwood weekend (the heavy bag didn't help... :S). Can you please pray for healing? I am probably going to have to take it to the doctors but feel pray is the permenent solution. Thanks :)

It's my mums birthday today so were going out for a meal soon ish so I should get ready. I hope to see some, most, all (maybe?) of you over the summer before restarting in October (October...?? My dad's not impressed, he thinks it's far to long!) Hopefully the weather will start being more summery.

Bye for now! Have fun! God Bless!

Clare xxx

I'm a Meerkat...

...according to this site. It's really interesting! My "power animal" (whatever one of those is...!) is a Kalahari Meerkat.



My name backwards is HTUR SENOJ, and in ASCII Binary 01010010 01110101 01110100 01101000 00100000 01001010 01101111 01101110 01100101 01110011 ! I am also averagely envoweled as 33% of the letters are vowels!

Hope that's enlightened your day!! And the picture is very cute!! :P I got the link to the page from Ben's blog.

Clare xxx

Then there were three...

The flat is slowly emptying...it's quite sad really...signals the end of the year, the first year at uni, my first time not living at home, with total strangers, in a new city...wow!

Clare went home yesterday, and Nick and Sam went home today. Now it's just Sammy, Lewis and me...and is quiet and empty. It's Friday night and I know that the kitchen will still be tidy tomorrow, that I won't get woken up...and I'm actually sad about that...

I wonder about what life will be like at home, I'll settle back ok, but before, I've always known that I'll be going back, but not this time. The next time I won't be living at home, it will be with a new set of people, people I know and have chosen to live with...yet another new experience!

So, Lewis, Sam, Sammy, Nick and Clare, if you happen to stumble upon this, it's been fun, and I'm so glad that I had such a nice bunch of people for my first ever flat mates!!

For now...

Clare xxx

Wow!!!

Pirates of the Caribbean: At worlds end, was amazing!! It was a really good concluding part to the trilogy, and I would say, maybe better than POTC 2. It's really difficult to write this with out giving anything away... so it's going to be brief.

There are some very funny moments, few sad, few scary. All the usual characters are there as well as a few we haven't met yet. It feels like any loose ends are tied up. And if you go to see it, don't forget to stay to the very end after the credits and see the final scene.

My only moan about it was that, due to a cinematic error, we had to watch the film with subtitles...

Great film, worth seeing, I wanna go again.... :P

Clare xxx

Steve...

Just for the record....I am not in competition with you...end of story...for now...*cue evil laugh...!!!"

Clare xxx

Me again...

Hello!!

Once again we have entered the dreaded exam period... :(, but that also means that I have nearly finished my first year at uni. I think that I more scary... To think that around 8 months ago things were sooo different, I had very few Christian friends, very few close friends, I rarely went out, whether it was just to see a friends, or a film, or clubbing. I never imagined quite how settled I would feel down here, that I would get on well with my flat mates, and hopefully not loose contact with some of them next year, that I was have a house sorted with house mates I'm looking forward to living with.

I go to a good, active church. I'm part of a great cell group, where I don't feel like I have to hide anything. God has been doing alot of work in my life, both with issues that I was aware of, and some that I had tried to bury. I would say that I have been broken by Him, but healed by Him. My faith has grown, through the rough patches, the really bad homesickness (which, I'm pleased to say has nearly gone..!! I still miss home tho!), the times I felt really distant from God.

The course is going well. I have found me feet, and am understanding lectures. The work side still need some more improvement, but it'll get there.

Things have been very positive. Four months at home, then back to the uni life.

Clare xxx

Blog Design

Since I set up this blog, I have been trying to find a design and colour scheme I vaugely like. Ben has been helping me with this, by re-colouring sections of the site I couldn't do with Blogger, and centering the sunset picture.

Cheers

Clare xxx

Heehee..!!!!

I have an account on Dan's Mac...!!! :P And I'm very slightly hyper....and I'm listening to Transition...and...and...

Nah, I think that's it...!!

Heehee!!!

Clare xxx :D :P

Transition...

...were absolutely AMAZING!!!! I'm really glad that I got to come back to see them.

Friday night was the acoustic gig, it was lovely. When I arrived, I managed to find Martin and Tina, Steve and Niall's parents, who I met and worked with for the Love Bristol Festival last summer. In the hall were large tables, with chairs and candles. The atmosphere was really relaxed as well. I ended up sitting at a table with some of the bands relatives: Steve and Niall's parents, and 3 cousins, and Jesse and Josh's mum and aunt...weird. The night started with Fiach, an Irish singer/songwriter, also Niall and Steve's cousin. He played a few songs, and really helped set the tone for the evening.

Then the band came on. The set was a mix of really old, old, new and very new songs, intermixed with funny stories about the band, mostly told by Jess but with input from the others. I'm not sure how funny it was meant to be but there were some very funny bits. On two occasions, the guys got us to sing along, complete with three part going during one song!! The band generally only play: bass, guitars and drums, but they even managed a harp for one of the new songs... I also got a Transition jacket :D

Saturday was the electric set, a lot louder, and with more audience participation. They had two support bands, who were good, before they played. What was weird was that the various members of Transition were wandering around the audience during the support acts. I brought their album, Openhanded and Undetected (again!!!, 'cos my last copy is still on loan somewhere...) and got the guys to sign it... Tina was with me and asked Jesse, who was stood next to us, if he would sign it, and he then offered to get the other guys to sign it as well, they really are lovely guys!!

The actually set was amazing, similar to the Friday, with the mix of songs an stories, but different stories, more relevant to the crowd, and a different set, ending with two fantastic new songs, which have made me even more excited for the new album... :D. Unfortunately, I had to leave before the guys had come out, so I didn't get a chance to say bye, but that can be said in the email.

And incase you don't know who Transition are... their website is here

and this is the video for While We Walk, played on MTV:


As to the rest of my weekend, it was really good. I had a good time at home. I helped to do the display for the 229th Scouts AGM, well the Beavers part. On the Sunday, I got to got to Salem again, an see everyone, and was there for a service for one of our missionaries, and for a bring and share lunch. In the evening, I went with the youth group, to the Mix, a monthly youth service. It was really good, and had a very good message about the Church. It also gave me a change to see a few people who I worked with during the Love Bristol Festival.

I came back today, and had a surprisingly good journey.

Think that's it...

Clare xxx

Manic...

...I have no idea what the time of this post will be, but it is now 3:02 according to my computer.

After leaving Dan's I came back to mine, to pack, and then get a semi-early night...why do my plans NEVER work...?? I had just finished packing when one of my course mates came online, then wanted to ring me. It was now 12:30 ish...not entirely sure... He rang me, and the conversation made me feel upset and guilty, I won't say why, but I really felt like packing everything in and just giving up...what was the point anymore...?

I rang Ben, and he was still at Dan's...which was good for me, because it meant that I could go up and see them for support, what I needed right then before I fliped, or started on that horrible dark, downward spiral that could have happened. Dan made me a great latte, hit the spot, and I had space to talk and cry. I then stayed for a bit, before I started falling asleep. At that point, the guys realised that there was some printing they needed doing. could I do it? It was gone 2...but sure, why not...? SO ran back to my flat, did the printing and then back up to Dan's. I have now left for the final time, and will probably try to sleep soon. TBH, I don't really feel like sleeping. Still feel a bit unsettled and upset, so my have a nice little chat with the Big Dude up stairs.

So much to do...so little time...

Clare xxx

My Week...

I am currently getting overly excited because I'm going home tomorrow!!! :D But it's te reason I'm going that I'm really looking forward to!! I am going to see Transition...yay!!! Have I lost you yet?? Transition are a Bristol based band that I met last summer and love!! It is their 10th anniversary gig, playing an accoustic set on Friday night and a electric set on Saturday. The only downside is that my dad is taking me, and it's about a 45 minute drive from home...so I owe him big time!! :P

My week in general has been fairly good, not quite the average week. Probably best to start on Sunday...

Sunday: My morning was lazy as usual, and things didn't really get exciting until the evening. Last Sunday, there was a baptism at King's which is always exciting, but we also had a really good speaker over from Australia. His talk was about trying to balance giving and praying. It was very challenging but such a good talk. God was really talking to me both then and during this week, prompting me to do a few things that I wouldn't have normally done, and had never done before.

Monday: I had a few lectures, then I met with Ben and we went shopping. We decided that for tea, as Dan was away, we would make Shepherds pie. So after Ben had got back from Big Band we went back to his kitchen and cooked! It was quite exciting really! And tasted good!!! :D

Tuesday: Started off the day by going to the beach with Ben and Sam, having ice cream (yay!!) and then lying on the beach before an early lunch so that Ben and I could get to our lecture on time. After Ben had finished work we went down to Jamocha's for Cell, complete with a cardboard cutout of Dan...!! Cell was good. We were looking at the main focuses of student life and how we can evangelise in those circumstances.

Wednesday: No lectures...!!! Tesco with Dan (who arrived back on Tuesday evening, very late...), then Diane came round to work on our project for a bit, before I headed up to Dan's flat, where we sat for a bit before deciding to go to see Shooter, a verg good film, better than I expected...!!

Today: (is it really Thursday??) My longest day this week...but surprisingly managble...Mervyn came round so I could go through Differentiation with him...so fun!!! And now, I am, as usual, sat in Dan's flat, typing this post, on Ben's laptop with a dodgy 'H' key... I do need to pack at some point...and I may go put the oven on, so we can eat sometime before midnight..!! :P

TTFN

Clare xxx

P.S. We're gonna have pizza...!!! :P :D

Yeehaa..

..is apparently spelt yahoo, but not...

Ok, on to what this post is actually about. I am not turning into a cowboy, and I am not moving to America, I have actually started helping with King's Kids, at King's church. I started last week, and meant to post something then....but didn't...oops. The theme for this term is, funnily enough, Cowboys. Which probably explains the dodgy accents, and why I'm sat in Jamocha's, wearing a checked shirt with a cowboy hat on the screen... :P.

It is really good to get back into to kids work again, even if I have to learn new formats and ways of working. The team meet at 5 for a briefing, and prayer. Then we split into "walking bus" teams, to collect the children and walk them back to the church. There is then a hour of games, songs, a talk and a prayer. There is a competition between the boys and the girls, and prizes up for grabs. Its a really fun thing for the kids. There are some really good messages going out from that church, and a good relationship with the kids. It will be a shame to miss it next week.

Thats all for now folks!!

Clare xxx

The Matrix

Welcome to the Matrix...

Not much has been happening recently. I had a great few days lecture free, which have still really hectic, but good all the same. On Tuesday afternoon I went shopping with Sam for some summer clothes. In the evening I missed cell to go out for a meal with my flatmates to celebrate Clare's Birthday.

On Wednesday, we had a tutor meeting, planning our presentation, then after doing some work, and tidying, and watching a film, I went to see Ben at his work, 'cos I was bored! Later I went to see the University of Portsmouth Big Band with James. It was a film and tv themed night, so there were some really good songs played. Sam also managed to join us for the end.

Today, I had a really lazy day, and after not doing much, I relocated to Dan's flat and didn't do much there instead... :P. We decided to go to 'Spoons for tea, the watch the final of the Matrix Trilogy, the other two we watched on Sunday and Monday.

That just about brings you up to date, as I said not much as been happening...

TTFN

Clare xxx

Back!

And front!!

Well, I'm back! Where on earth did two weeks go?? I always seem to loose hours or days at a time without realising. But it was good to be back, even if it was for a short space of time. I got to see a few old friends, go back to school, play at my dad's church, go to my church, get a new phone...how exciting...!!

That's all for now...

Clare xxx

Old friends and a new phone

Today, I set out with the intention of doing some shopping in Bristol before I go home. I even had a plan as to the order I would do things. But as usual plans don't always work.

I caught the bus to town with my mum (I love Pompey, I can walk to town!!), then caught another bus to the top of Park street. I think that I was having a very bad day when the first thing that happened as I got off the bus was I got "got" by a fones 4 U salesman...oh dear!! I for some reason agreed to go into the shop to talk about contracts. After a while they needed forms of ID etc, but I didn't have them. As I was leaving, the guy serving me whispered that it may be worth me going next door...to the Carphone Warehouse...!!! When I escaped, I made it about 100m nearer to my initial destination before a guy from face2face stopped me. After chatting to him for a short period of time I escaped again!

I then continued my journey. I was heading to the Royal West of England Academy to see an old (sorta) friend, Dan, who I hadn't seen in nearly 2 years!! Shocking...!! But unfortunately that seems to be the same for most of my friends... I arrived, and after wandering around for a while looking for him decided the best option was to ask. I did, and he was contacted and came to see me. I think he was slightly surprised to see me...in a good way I hope(!), and it was good to have a chance to catch up. He also got me free entry into the gallery. Not that I really cared, and I was glad not to have to pay. TBH I'm not really a big fan of paintings...and we ended up talking more about whether they were straight and how bored the artist must have been instead of the content...We chatted a bit more before he decided it was time to go back to work, and after a hug, and promises to see each other in August/September time, I left.

It was time to try to continue the phone saga. As I had started it, I thought that I may as well finish it. So I headed to Carephone Warehouse (am I allowed to state brands???). The first thing I notice about it was that it was smaller, and busier. So I joined the queue. It was about a 10 minute wait before I got to speak to someone, but he was very apologetic. After telling him roughly what Fones 4 U had said we started talking about options for that phone. Then other contracts and other phones. I was a lot happier with this guy than the other one. He seemed more open to the fact that there may be a better taffif out there for me and a phone I may like more. There was lots of cerfuffle (is that even a word??) but eventually, after over an hour...(!) it was sorted, and I now have a new phone, a MOTOKRZR K1 in cosmic blue (yay!!) and a new number. Hopefully, if I have your number you should be getting a text from me with the new number in it.

I then picked up a cable for my old phone to connect it to my computer, the on to Wesley Owen to get a few C.D's, then Travelling Man for some books, before calling it a day and going home, rather than into Broadmead as was my original plan.

Phew, what a day!!!

I think I've covered everything!!

Clare xxx

Missing Pompey...

Had the first really missing Pompey sadness hit me on Saturday evening. I was playing clarinet at my dads church for their Easter Vigil, and tbh I was very worried. I had only received the music about a week previous, only played through it with the arranger, Helen, and the soloist, Lisa, on the Tuesday and only play through it with the other band an hour and a half before the service...and that didn't go to well...plus I hadn't played that much over past year or two and I have always had others to support me...

For a bit of prayer and support I rang Dan. And it was when the call ended that I really realised how much I miss everyone down there, all the new friends I've made, who I know will and do support me. The phone call was good, but I missed actually seeing people, the smiles, the hugs...and I started crying... I didn't want any awkward questions so I found somewhere quiet to be, which isn't easy in that place...and calmed myself down.

I went well in the end, Helen quietly humming some of the rhythms I was less sure of, and people were saying that I had played well both to my face and to my dad. Although now I may get lined up to play at other Masses and at Christmass...oh dear!!!

Clare xxx

A trip down memory lane...

I went back to my old primary school, Luckwell Primary, today for a special assembly to wish the headteacher, Mr Keith Johnson, a happy retirement. They did a slide show and at the start of it, it put the dates that he had been at the school, 1991 - 2007. Then I realised I started there in 1991 and left in 1998, then I did the maths. It's been 16 years since I started my journey through school, and 8 years since I left Luckwell.

Watching the children play was a bit weird. I was once one of those children, playing in the play ground, sat in Mr Johnson's assemblies and learning in the classrooms. Two of my teachers are still there as well! Things have changed a lot in in the 16 years since I started. Teachers have left, some whilst I was there, others after I had moved on; others have arrived. Classrooms have changed and moved. New entrances have been made, buildings knocked down and replaced with better ones. But things have also changed in my life. I've grown up, become a different person to the 4 year old who started that primary school. But because of the people, and the events that happened at that school, it helped shape who I am.

I was reminded of that today, of the trip to Tregginnis, of the student council meetings, and the first student council conference for Bristol school, the science experiments, the dance, the music and so much more.

This has turned into more of an essay than I expected, but I hope that it makes sence if you have taken the time to read it!

Clare xxx

Houses and home

I just realised that I have forgotten to put on here that we now have a house for next year!! We, Dan, Ben, James and I, have signed the leases and sent off the deposits so it's sorted!! WOOO!

It's a little weird being back. I went to church for the first time in over 2 and half months yesterday. It was good to see everyone and I got a really warm greeting with quite a few people coming to catch up and I nearly got knocked over by two people who are in the youth group. There was one difficult part and that was having to tell one of the youth group that I was only visiting and the I wouldn't know when I would be back permanently. I honestly don't know I will come back here permanently (that will make my parents happy :P!!). Home is now feeling more like its in Portsmouth rather than Bristol. I enjoy being back here, but I miss the place and the people. I have my own church rather than going to my parents church and my own life, that I organise, or not as the case may be!!

So where's home?? TBH, its both places at the moment. And whilst I'm glad to be back, I am looking forward to going back to Pompey.

For now...

Clare xxx

Home!!

I'm going home today!! Yay!!

Sorry for the fact that I haven't posted for a while...but my main reason, excuse, whatever...is that I've been ill... :(.

Hopefully there will be one or two post whilst I'm at home...!!!

But for now...

Clare xxx

Hmmm...

As usual, I have gone a few days without blogging and I have no idea what to write here. Oh well...

We had a practical on Wednesday in extracting DNA from E. Coli. It was really interesting, if slightly tedious... Having to shake a bottle of solution for half an hour wasn't fun...!! But hey, we got results, not the purest possible, butn I was happy with it!

OK...no I've run out of ideas. I'm sat in Jamochas...I have been in this shop everyday it has been open since last Saturday...James is on the phone next to me, Ben is two seats up from me on another computer and Dan is kinda working!!

Do be do be doooo!!

Clare xxx

Weather

I am proving my true worth as a Brit by talking about the weather. Because it is defiantly well worth talking about!!

Today: the sun shone, it was cloudy, there was rain, there was hail, there was wind and there was snow!!! Its march...why is there snow???

Oh well..weather broadcast over...!! :D

Clare xxx

He did it!!

For the first time in over a year, Raikkonen managed to finish a race, and WIN with out the car breaking or making a silly mistake...!! On the down side, I am REALLY tired and going through the hyper stage....:S! I also can't type!

Tyhat was a totally random post bought to you by my tiredness :P

Clare xxx

Aus

Just thought I would do a very quick post before the race...

For some reason it feels earlier (?later) than yesterday, 2am seemed natural yesterday, it seem silly today :S. Maybe that's because I tried to get a few hours sleep first, and slept like a child before Christmass, waking up every 5 minutes to see if it was time yet...!! But now it nearly is time. And this is just proving how mad, (and very tired!!) I am!!

Clare xxx

I'm still here...

As Ben pointed out earlier I haven't posted in a few day, so this mainly just to say that I have...!!

In other news, we were looking at ameoba and other protists today. I got kind of attached to my ameoba...oops! I named him Bob! Hehe! Unfortunately, he didn't make it through the practical...

That is a little bit of my randomness shared with you today!

Until next time...

Clare xxx

Grrr...

I really want some chocolate, or hot chocolate or something chocolaty...grrr...I know why I gave it up for lent, but it's been really hard at times... :(, oh well...life goes on...!!

Clare xxx

That was the week that was...

Ok, the title's not great, but I have no idea what else to put. My friend Karen is down for the weekend from Southampton..!!! Yay!! We had tea in 'Spoons tonight and now we're at Dan's with Dan (obviously...), Ben, Ineke, and Hayley playing cards and listening to music.

We had a lab on Wednesday continuaing with our microbiology work. We had to streak agar plates with a culture mix to separate them, did a pour plate with diluted E.Coli solutions and made blood agar, onto which we smeared bacteria from our teeth...ew!

Now Dan is playing Bon Jovi, You give love a bad name very loudly...!!!

On Thursday we had to go back to look at our results...fun!! Then I had brunch in Jamocha's with one of my course mates before tutorial.

Today was quiet, washing, tidying, had breakfast at 'Spoons, at a very unreasonablt 9:30...on a day when I could have had a lie in...!!! Might explain why I'm so tired now..!!

The real excitement was yesterday when we had more water trouble with a burst pipe and flooding on the top floors, and no water for a few hours...fun!! Oh well...life goes on...!

Week report finished

Over and Out

Clare xxx

Tuesday Cell

Its been two days since cell group. I've been meaning and wanting to write about it, but I've really struggled to find away to communicate it effectively. I'm going to try my best now, but who knows what will happen.

The main point of the evening was just to spend a lot of time in prayer and worship and really come open hearted to God and honestly and openly talk to Him and meet with Him.

We started with a time of worship, writing a letter to him and just thanking and praising Him.

We were asked about things that we would like prayer for, things that we felt needed prayer for. I had two major points weighing on my mind. One was a connection with God, something that I have felt slipping and fading, the other being mental healing. We were then asked if we felt more comfortable praying in small groups, which I did. At that time, even though there were only 7 of us, I felt like that was still too many. So we split, with Dan, Dan, Ben and Matt in one group and Rachel, Adam and I in the other group.

TBH, I was dreading it, I had to be open and honest, and that meant revisiting painful things. Not something anyone wanted to do. I had been vauge about the cause of the emotional hurt in the larger group, and it was good to feel able to tell the others what was going on. I didn't manage it with out the inevitable tears but there was so much love and comfort around me I felt safe to do that and almost forget the situation and focus on God and the prayers.

I don't know how long we were praying for. But the more we prayed to more everything changed. This is the really difficult bit to explain. When we felt ready to finish praying we did. Adam asked me how I felt. I felt drained, empty. The really strange thing was, whilst I was vaugly aware of what the main prayer points were, it was, and still is, very difficult to focus on them. It was always a small trigger that could set my mind off, but it no longer feels that way. We then prayed for a filling and restoring for me. Things felt different.

We then went on to pray for Rachel and Adam for the various things that they needed.

The connection feels more there. The knowledge that I always held hasn't changed. Just the feeling and my heart.

I hope that this conveys everything clearly. I am sorry about the fact that some parts of this have been vauge but I hope that the general points are there.

Until next time...

Clare xxx

The Truth is Out!!!!

I have also decided to take the superhero test...and guess what...

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 75% Robin 58% Hulk 55% Iron Man 50% Green Lantern 50% Batman 50% Superman 45% Catwoman 40% Supergirl 38% Wonder Woman 33% The Flash 30%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...


Hehe!

Clare x

The Freestyle Funk Collective

The weekend was fairly normal, spent most of Saturday in Jamocha's with Kita, Ben and Sam. Then the evening we watched Men In Black 2 and watched the moon disappear and go red.

Today was mostly uneventful, nothing in the day, then church in the evening. After church, I joined up with a group of people who where going to see the band that Gaz (our worship leader) plays in. They are called the Freestyle Funk Collective. |It was a really nice end to the weekend, nice bit of music and dancing. I'm glad I went, even if I was just following people...lol

That's it for now,

Nite

Clare xxx

Clumsy

OK, I'll admit it, I am an idiot...!! I managed to burn my finger today...I think that I should no longer be allowed near hot objects...I'm dangerous...

I also have a lab at 9, that I am NOT looking forward to...4 hours... :O

Oh well,

Clare xxx

Update time!!

I just checked for when I last properly posted, and it was over a week ago...oops...

So what have I been up to?

Apart from the usual church, lectures, and Cell, I've seen Music and Lyrics (again!!), and Hot Fuzz at the cinema, and quite a few dvds including Save The Last Dance at Sam's and Goodbye Lenin! here and ate fish and chips. Sounds quite boring really, but it wasn't...

Oh, and tonight, I went to see the Portsmouth University Big Band (PUBB), play at the New theatre Royal tonight. The were amazing as usual!! I booked my ticket quite late, but some how managed to get a seat right next to Ben's parents and sister, and Ineke. Due to a seating problem, I sat next to Ineke, and Ben's family moved somewhere else. It was really good to watch them play again, but I have to say that personally, I preferred seeing them at the Reg, it was a more relaxed atmosphere, something I think helps and that I also found at a Transition gig I went to last year.

I think this has updated you, I know it was only a brief overview (again) and I will try to post more regularly in the future...!!

Clare xxx

Oopsie!!!

Um...I have a confession...I don't want to make it, but here goes...I gave up chocolate for Lent this year and was doing good, until tonight, I accidentally had a piece... :S. I'm not giving up, this is just a blip. For some reason the connection in my brain temporarily lapsed...so sorry....I will try harder....I promise...


Clare xxx

Pop goes my heart...

...ok not really, but I though it made a good title. Plus it's from music and lyrics, the film i went to see yesterday with Ben and James.

I've had a good few days reacently . Yesterday, I had no lectures so after sleeping in far to long... I finally made it to Tesco, then Ben and I decided to go up the Spinnaker Tower. My first time...heee, I was so excited!!! :D It was awsome. Later we went out to see a film. We were planning to see Hot Fuzz, but it was full :(, so instead, and kinda against Ben and James' wish, we went to see Music and Lyrics. It was awsome!!

Today, I had a lab at 9am calabrating microscopes.....fun!!! But then this evening Sam, Ben and I had curry, ok, well Ben didn't, and then Sarah joined us later, before going back to Sams for a bit.

Got the day off tomorrow! Seeing a few friends.

That's my brief over view for now.

Bye

Clare xxx

Nothing...

...pretty much sums up what I have been up to over the past few days. Last night I went up to Dan's and we watched Batman Begins. It was quite good really, bit surprising! I also went to Jamochas in the afternoon for a bit which was nice. Other than that I've rearranged the shelves, sorted and catologued my dvd's (sad I know, but I was bored!!), and watched quite a few films...!!! Back to uni and lectures tomorrow. A 9 o'clock start is going to be a little bit of a shock to the system!!! Hopefully there will be more going on again so there will be plenty of blogs to keep you entertained!!

But for now...

Clare xxx

So it's over...

...I've now finished the rest of my exams. I've now got until Monday before getting back into the swing of lectures etc. Todays exam was ok, the first bit was multiple choice. That bit went ok, but the second bit, 2 essay type questions, didn't go so well. I managed to write a few sentences for each, but generally it went bad...! I left early again, but was lucky enough to leave just as one of my tutor group was as well so we could chat about the exam...by the sounds of it, I wasn't the only one to struggle!! But that's it now :D.

We have cell group tonight. As exams are still going on at the university, some people have gone home and others are still doing work, there were only 5 of us at cell excluding Adam. The others played chess. They managed to make one game last 2 1/2 hours....oh fun! I watched for a bit, then put my iPod on and wrote for a bit. Then back to my flat to have tea, it was at least 11:30 lol!!

That's it for now!

Night all, and thank you all for your prayers and support during exams...!! It really helped!

Ruth xxx

Scared no longer covers it

I am incredibly worried about my exam tomorrow. I'm reading through my notes and it feels like nothing's stick. I just have to hope that when I see the questions it'll come back to me....

please pray!

Many thanks

Ruth xxx

Roofonfire

My website, or something that passes for one, is nearly back up and finished. I think it ok, but as I have no programming ability, no idea how to make a site from scratch and whatever, I'm using one of the freesite, that I've personalised a bit. Let me know what you think and if there is anything you would add/remove. There is also the guest book you can sign. Click here.

That's it for now,

Clare xxx

Didn't realise it would be so hard...

...to say goodbye to my mum today. As soon as she had got on the bus the tears started forming. I had a really good day and I guess the I just didn't want it to end. I had to fight the tears to get back to my flat without getting hit by a car. I got back ok, but bursh into tears when I got into my room, had to fight them when I was in the kitchen because I don't what people to think I'm stupid, as I've only just seen her yet I miss her already. So I decided to write this blog, but the tears come whenever I think about it. I want to know how long this will go on for. Will I always cry when I say goodbye to my mum, when I'm 30, 40 etc?

Clare xxx

Yesterday

Yesterday was an interesting day, with a few highs and a few lows. The day started with having to get up at 7:30, to go to my Introductory Forensic Biology exam. First off, I want entirely sure where the building was, but it was fairly easy to find in the end. Once we got into the exam, there was about a 5 minute wait before we could get started. The exam wasn't to bad, but there were definate holes in my knowlege, and in the end, I decided to leave early, than sit and stare at the paper. I was feeling a bit unhappy with the exam, convinced I'd failed it, but glad it was over. I was looking forward to getting back to my flat and ignooring it. On my way back, one of the guys from my course saw me and came over. I think he could tell from my body language that I wans't happy with how the exam had gone. Talking to him helped, and a few people had found it hard. I'm just glad I'm sticking to biochemistry.

I got back to my flat, washed up, then cooked myself a late breakfast, then spent most of the day just chilling out and unwinding.

That evening was the King's student cell group social. We met at Jamocha's first to decide where we were going. There was only three of us from the Tuesday night group, but I was good to see some of the other group, and meet some new people. We decided to got to the pub and play pool and darts, and then see if we wanted to go somewhere else.

On the way to the pub, I got a text message, asking me to ring one of my friends. As I knew the effect that conversations with this person can have on my, and the problems he's had, I asked one of the guys to pray. As I had expected, the phone conversation was a difficult one, and I could feel myself getting closer to tears the longer I talked. I was greatful for the fact that Adam had stayed with me. When I got of the phone, I felt really down. My gut instinct was to separate myself from everyone, but I knew that wasn't a good idea. I chatted to Adam about the call for a bit before joining the group. I had fun, and was able to forget about it. We left the pub, got chips and went back to Adam's house. The guys played the usual Xbox and table football. At one point during the evening, Steve rang. It was great to just chat. It was his fault that I have High School Musical songs in my head alot of the time.

So after the eventful day, it was good to end it with friends laughing.

Two prayer requests:
1. For the friend I mentioned earlier, Danny. He needs alot of prayer at the moment. I'm not going to go into details on here, but he is going through a very rough patch and feels like there isn't onyone who can support him. Also, can you pray for me? As I mentioned earlier the conversations I have with him can affect me alot. Can you pray that I don't get dragged down by this and can let go after conversations with him?

2. For my exam next Tuesday, I am really worried about it. Can you pray that I won't panic and the information comes to hand when I need it?

Thanks

Ruth xxx

Hello...!!!

Ok, as people have been noticing, there has been a distinct lack of blogging from me reacently. Sorry about that. I will update properly in the next couple of days, but as this mornings post showed, I am still here!!

Clare xxx

One down...

Finally, the first exam is over and done with, yay!!!

TBH, I was a bit surprised that I woke up on time this morning. I had a problem getting to sleep last night, but was awake at 7:30 this morning. Anyone who knows me well, will know that I can get horrible bouts of nerves: I don't feel very well, don't want to do any thing, can't eat etc. Well, this morning that didn't happen, yay again!!! I even managed something resembling breakfast! That's not normal for me before and exam. I also felt calm, if not ready.

The actual exam went well as well with only 2/3 questions out of 40 that I took a total guess at. So hopefully I didn't do to badly. Now I can finish preparation for tomorrows...Introductory Forensic Biology...oh fun!!

Bye for now!!

Clare xxx

I got myself a man...

...admittedly only for the duration of the ballroom class tonight. It was great fun tonight, even if my partner was new to it and therefore we went a bit wrong (ok, I can't blame it all on him :D, I went wrong aswell...!!)

I also went shoe shopping yesterday...!! I bought a pair of Dunlops and a pair of Converses :D :D :D. Even thought it meant spending money, I love them. Unfortunatly, gotta go buy some heels this week for ballroom dancing...!

The revision continues! All be it slowly....heeeellllppppppppp!!

Bye for now,

Clare xxx

Exams

I have unfortunatly reached the port in the semester when the dreaded exam start :(. Oh well, has to be done. I would appreciate anyone who would be willing to pray for my exams. I have alot of work to do before they start and I'm getting more and more worried about them.

The dates are:

Wed 31st Jan, 9-10:30, Biological chemistry

Thurs 1st Feb, 9-10:30, Introductory Forensic Biology

Tue 6th Feb, 9-10:30, Biodiversity

Also, I would love to pray for anyone elses exam that are coming up. Just leave a comment.

Thank you

Clare xxx

Confused.com

For those of you who have been baffaled (sorry about spelling!!) by the appearence of Brian, you need to read the comments in this post....here.

Other than that...

Clare xxx

procrastination

I am slowly perfecting the art of procrastination. Got up at 10, my dad was surprised that I was awake! Managed to do nothing until I met Ben at 12:30. We then went to Jamocha's where I staryed until 3:30, playing chess, drinking coffee and reading before deciding it really was time that I went home. Pick up some essentials from Tesco then back to the flat. Had lunch of soup and toast, then time to do work, or tidy my room, organise files, change the colour scheme on my laptop, listen to music, read and chat online. Then I watched the Lion King, and now I'm in Ben's flat. No idea how I ended up here but hey, better than the seafront!!

That was my day in a nutshell!

Clare, Brian and Ruth xxx

It's far to windy...

Yesterday was soo windy. I was being blown about all over the place, argh! They also had to close St Micheal's during the day because of loose objects.

Today was alot better. I had an exam in the morning, that didn't go to bad, and two lectures in the afternoon. The last of the lectures are over, so now it's time to fully concentrate on revision...!! Oh help!!

Helpfully, I've had High School Musical songs going through my head for the past few days. That kind of reduces concentration span tho...!! Oh well!!

I have no idea what else to post, I feel like there was something, but I can't remeber it at all..!! Meh...

Brian xxx

Good! I like subheadings!!

Ok, the title has nothing to do with the post but it was writen on my essay so I thought it was entertaining.

This is my third attempt at writing this... argh!! Where to start? Well...today, I woke up, got ready and walked into the kitchen. I was greeted with questions as to whether I had seen two of my flat mates today. Turns out that one went with the other to the hospital at midnight and they hadn't been heard from since. And to cut a long story short.... we turned up at the hospital just as this person had been discharged. They had a swollen apendix...painful, but seem ok now!

Right, this week has been a week of birthdays! Last fridays was Ben's. But as he was going away for the weekend, we couldn't celebrate until this week. So we did. We carefully planned the party for Monday, got the number of one of his flat mates... :D, and planned to go in when he was at Big band. The decorations were bought on Saturday, and we were ready to go. Dan and I went to Tesco to get las minute supplies like food, cider ansd cake!! Then we recieved an unwelcome call!! It was Ben's flat mate telling us that he may not be going to Big Band after all.... PANIC!!! Dan came up with the idea of going to play pool with Ben... and it worked!! Phew, panic over. That did leave us with 24 cans of cider to take tho...along with everything else, but we managed between three of us! When Ben was out the way, we started decorating the kitchen. I forgot to mention the decorations....they were random!! St Patricks day, 25th anniversary, 50th anniversary, 10th birthday, 60th birthday, easter, you get the picture..!!! We were ready by the time they finally(!!) got back! Then we encountered our next problem...how were we suposed to get him into the kitchen......!!! After several attempts, Dan rang Ineke to ask her, to tell Ben that Dan was injured and needed his help! Well, he didn't fall for it, but we got him into the kitchen. Enter picture of Ben, looking very surprised!!!


We had a really good time: bacon sandwiches!!, Doogle from the magic roundabout cake, ballroom dancing..!!! etc, amazing!!!


On Tuesday, we had cell as usual. Except that once again, we did more decorating, this time to surprise Adam whose birthday is today!!! Again it was so much fun!

Tonight we went ballroom dancing again!!! Its so much fun and starting feel more co-ordinated!!

Think thats it for now!!

Nite guys,

Clare x

Meet Jack...

the dog, the large toy dog I bought in a fit of madness for Tesco today. Also included in this fit of madness was Highschool Musical on DVD and the three Torchwood books!! Oops!!!

Whilst I was in Tesco with Sam, we ended up having our photo taken with said toy dog and a random guy for some challenge....weird!!!

Went to Jamocha's late afternoon and stayed until closing time.

Been watching films all evening!!

Nite

Clare x

No idea...

What to put for a title....!! My finger is getting better, but has started hurting a bit and blistering :s. I didn't expect that after 5 days... So I'm going to the pharmacy tomorrow to ask for their advice.

Things have been ok. Had a bad patch tonight, so spoke to my mum, which made things worse. So I ended up crying in Dan's flat... I know things will get better, but miss mum. Still I'll see her soon, about 3/4 weeks I hope.

Apart from that, uni's been going ok, preparing for exams. Bit weird to be back tho...settled back in again ok, but still....

Um...don't know what else to put, so night

Clare xxx

Ow

I was an idiot last night, I know that, no need to tell me...!!! I scalded my fingers last night when I removed some cling film from the top of the soup I was microwaving. Owwie. I was good and run it under lots of cold water...and its not to bad now, just red and a bit sore. :(

In other news, I got an A+ in one of my practicals :D :D :D!! I was so happy.

The home sickness is getting better. Still haven't gone a day with out crying yet... never mind!

That's all

Clare xxx

Ballroom: the results

I'm back. And it was really good...but Sam and I decided we need to find two guys to come next wednesday with us!! Any volunteers?? We started learning the waltz and the cha cha cha!! So much fun, cheered me up. Also chatted to my mum for a bit... cried alot today tho but smiling now!!!

Thats all!!


Clare xx

Ballroom

Just about to go ballroom dancing!! Wish me luck!!!

Clare xxx

Pompey

Well, Christmas is over :( and I'm back in Portsmouth again. It's good to be back but I hadn't realised it would be hard leaving everyone again, the things you get used to. I wanna see my mum again, already.

But, lectures start again tomorrow and I'll get back into the swing of it.

Nite

Clare x

Christmas highlights!!

Ok, so over the christmas period I have got majorly slack at posting. That's either because I've had better things to do, or I haven't done anything worth writing about. So here are the highlights of my Christmas break:

Christmas day was in Wheatly, Oxfordshire, with my grandma. Most entertaining, especially as the 50 year old oven (seriously, should be in a museum!!) decided to old half work, so my brother took great pleasure in hacking up to chicken to cook it somewhere else!!

Last week I met up with Darren and Gemma for coffee in Clifton, (it's become a tradition!!). It was great to see them again and catch up. Shame the others couldn't make it!!

I saw James Bond (again) in the first week back with my bro, good film, but not quite the same the second time!

We had the youth group Christmas meal, just before Christmas. Meant to be formal, I was wearing jeans (!!!) when the other girls were in skirts and dresses!!! Oh well! Has a fun evening, didn't get food poisoning or burn the church down!! Go us!!

Ok, this is sad, when I can only think of 4 things that happened over Christmas worth mentioning...!!

Oh, and just to let you know, my love of Torchwood has grown to an obsession...!! Sorry for anyone I drive mad with it...!!!

Think thats it!!

Bye for now

Clare xxx