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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blogs

I suppose I should blog, but tbh I have no idea what to write. Life hasn't been that interesting, I haven't really done anything. If anything, apart from a good Christmas Day, lifes not been that great. I've been feeling down quite alot reacently, and stuffs happened here that hasn't helped. I miss Pompey and the people there... I just want to go "home", back to Pompey.

Sorry to be depressing

Ruth x

Who decided essay's were a good idea?

Things are looking bad. I can't do my maths, my essay is driving me to tears, and, right now, I can't wait for Thursday, when term finishes, and Friday when Steve comes down!! (as he mentioned me in his blog, I thought I should mention him!!). I go home next Sunday!! Three weeks without seeing anyone here tho... :(!
Enough moaning, back to my essay!

Bye

Clare xxx

Up to Date (kind of)

I suppose its time to blog...I'm rubbish at regular blogging!!
So...alot to get through!

As I said in my previous post, I went home for the weekend! It was a great weekend, lovely to see everyone, but interesting how easy it is to slip back in to bad habits!! Friday night I had a lovely home cooked chilli con carnie, cooked by my brother, how sweet!!! And it was his birthday! Saturday was shopping day, first Ikea for some lovely cushions and a fleecy blanket, then to PC World for ink cartridges. We went out for a family meal for Tim's birthday in the evening, then rounded off the day with Torchwood re runs, so I now know whats been going on!! Sunday I went to Salem, my "home" church. It was good to see everyone again, but wierd as well!!! I also seemed to notice peoples accents more. Then had a HUGE Sunday roast, my forst in 5 weeks!!! Then packed, boarded a train, and came back to Portsmouth!!

Got home, said hi, gave some Christmas decorations to Sam, ready to decorate the flat in a few weeks, and a magazine to Lewis, then left again for church. It was really good, finally left at about 9 ish, got back, put my tea in the oven. Our microwave stopped working over the weekend, smoke isn't a good thing!!! Then went to my room, kind of unpacked and went to bed.

Had a 9 o'clock lecture to start the day on Monday, and lectures through out the day. My flat is a good place for tea and biscuits!!! Saw the chaplain in the afternoon, went back to my flat, sat around, tidied, went to the kitchen, got blamed for anything that went wrong durring the cookie making process...!! Didn't do much else!!

Today, started wuth a test!!! Joy!! Then biochem workshop! Then a break, bacon baguette, not doing much, the SSS1. Met up with Sam, and took some photos near where we live, went to student cell, that was awsome. Read Ben and Dan's blogs. Back to Sams flat for soup, that needed a microwave, stayed there for a bit. Had a bit of drama when Sam cut her hand whilst cleaning a glass, so we called First Aid! Then sat around, came back here, got a drink, typed my blog.....and we are up to date!! Yay!!

Well...I'm soooo tired so I'm going to bed now!

See you later!!

Clare x

Home

I'm at home!! Yay! I came back for my brothers birthday, which was yesterday, and going back to Portsmouth on Sunday evening.
This is the blog I wrote on the back of an envelope yesterday, during the journey home:
I'm so excited to see everyone again, but I've also realised that I've reached a place where I feel settled in Portsmouth! I am going to miss everyone. Being able to go to sleep and not be woken up again in the middle of the night! Knowing the there won't be people in the kitchen, no visitors, knowing that I can't just go up a few floors for a chat! Don't get me wrong, I am sooooo looking forward to seeing my family, people from church and Bristol. But Bristol doesn't have the Spinnaker Tower, I can't go to the beach or get lost with friends. If anything I feel more settled in Portsmouth than in Bristol! I know more people, just walking to the train station I saw someone I knew from Kings. That never happened in Bristol! I also go out more, see more films, go out for coffee...! Despite everything, I really am loving my life.
As I mentioned, I am going home. I arrived 5 weeks tomorrow, in Portsmouth. I woke up at 8 this morning, I didn't have a lecture until 1!! I eventually got up, assembled my packing, went to King Henry building, got a maths test that is due on monday, but I did it in half an hour and have handed it back in, went to the chaplaincy for a chat, went to my lecture, bought lunch, ate lunch, packed, washed up, left! normality really.

We're now sat at Southampton Central, must visit Karen at some point.
Is it just a British thing that means we don't talk on trains. We have books, music, food, conversation seems meaningless, so we just sit. Wierd!
Everyone seems to be going home this weekend: Ben, Stu, Sam, Dan (not planned tho!), Joe and Clare, in some ways I'm glad to be going home aswell. Its going to be so quiet.

So there are my thoughts, my blog, from the back, and front, of an envelope. And at some point there was a beautiful view!
Have fun!!

Ruth x

p.s. I might start signing this Clare (no i!!)

Clare x

Three Weeks

I can't believe that it has been nearly three weeks since I moved down here to Portsmouth from Bristol. The first few days were, to be honest, horrible. I had fun when I saw friends or was at church, but it was when I was alone, only my thoughts and everything, that the homesickness crept in...I couldn't eat, I struggled to sleep, I wondered for the life of me why on earth I was even here in Portsmouth. Things did slowly start to get better, I started getting to know my flat mates and going out with them, even tho I decided to stay in tonight, aren't I sensible...and settling in on my course and in a church. I still miss home, but it's not so bad anymore.
There are still the "why am I here?" moments, but I think they can happen any where in life. I also sometime experience a "lost" sort of feeling...hard to explain.
Things seem to keep creaping up on me, and before I know it, they're inside my head, I can't shift them, they almost seem to overtake me....ok...that doesn't really make sence...
How did this turn into such a depressing entry???
There was more drinking again in our flat tonight...great fun, as usual I didn't participate, but had fun all the same.
Last night was good. Some of us from the cell group, Dan, Ben, Sam, James and myself met up at the Isambard Kingdom Brunell (why can't I escape that man???) for a meal before deciding to go see a film. The film of choice was The Departed, which I realised fairly early on wasn't a film I would usually see...oops!! It was quite good, but a bit confusing in places, and bloody, violent and horrid at times. But hey...it was still a good night out!!
I think I stopped making sence a while ago, so I'll stop writing this before I write something really stupid!!! Hehe!
Thanks for reading...

Ruth x