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