Tales of the unexpected April 14, 2009

Another blog post, another waffle…

 

 

I realised just now that if you run up a set of stairs whilst still treading on every step, you really don’t make it up them a whole lot quicker than if you walk. Clearly to increase speed a multiple-steps-at-a-time approach is needed.

 

There’s no deep philosophical point to that by the way, and I’m not about to draw a theological parallel. I really was just running up the stairs!

 

It’s been an interesting week or so for this waffler. It was my birthday last Tuesday, and I’ll be honest it didn’t go quite the way I had imagined. I woke up feeling chirpy and went to work, taking American pancakes in for my colleagues in celebration of my continued existence on the planet. I felt pretty optimistic and was looking forward to the rest of the day. I returned home a few hours later completely shell-shocked from the news that my entire department will soon be made redundant.

 

Ouch.

 

It’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster since then. I mean, there are far worse things that could have happened. A job is just a job, and above all I know that God has my back and I don’t need to be afraid. Yet that sense of perspective seems to come and go with amazing rapidity!  I’ll be fine one minute, and the next I get this feeling of overwhelming anxiety. Just adjusting my mindset to job hunting is taking some doing. I don’t want to look for another job, I really like the one I have! But it’s not exactly optional. So I’m trying to pull myself together, or more accurately I’m asking God to pull me back together, and help me focus on what’s in front of me. I need to remember how he has looked after me in the past, and not doubt that he has my future under control.

 

“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.”    Psalm 16 v 1

Independent woman? March 3, 2009

I was listening to the radio this morning and they started playing Independent Woman by Destiny’s Child. As I was (naturally) singing along I suddenly wondered about the words I was actually saying. There’s such a big emphasis on being independent in today’s society, like it’s terrible to depend on someone else. And it just struck me that this is kind of weird.

 

I mean, to all intents and purposes I’m independent. I live with housemates, have an OK job, pay my rent and bills. I can cook, I do my washing and I know how to change a lightbulb.

 

But I depend on people. I depend on my family. I depend on my friends. If I didn’t… I think I’d be a pretty unsociable and unloving person. If it didn’t matter to me if they were there when I turned around or not… what would that say about my relationships with them? And if I didn’t depend on other people, then would other people really be able to depend on me?

 

More than anything else I’m dependent on my heavenly father.  I can’t do anything without him, but with him all things are possible. Knowing that I can depend on him, that he will always be there and will never abandon me… it’s amazing. And essential in my life. He gives me strength, and courage and a reason to get out of bed in the morning on those days when all I want to do is pretend the world isn’t there.

 

So do I want to be an independent woman?

 

No thanks!

 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

The Waffler Returns! January 20, 2009

 

Guess who’s back, back again….?

 

It has been a while my friends. This Waffler has been away, working and playing, but not blogging! However, the drought is now over and what better way to kick things off again than with a picture of a waffle?? This particular waffle was purchased from a street-front vendor in Brussels, near to the Christmas market. It was covered in melted Belgian chocolate and tasted AMAZING.

 

By way of starting in an enthusiastic manner, you’re actually going to get two blog posts this week. (I know this for a fact, because I’ve already written the second one! It didn’t seem appropriate as a starting point though. I mean, there were absolutely no waffles involved at all.) Fancy that eh? Nothing for months and then two come along at once.

 

It’s like a really, really bad bus service.

 

I’d like to use this first blog back to share with you one of my favourite discoveries of the past 6 months. It’s a band. And actually, I didn’t discover them so much as have their EP handed to me by a friend who had it going spare. It took me a couple of weeks to get around to moving the CD from my bag to a stereo… but from the moment I did I was entranced and pretty swiftly found myself dancing about with a big grin plastered all over my face.

 

Ladies and gentlemen may I present… The Steve Bland Assembly!

Clicky on the picky to go to their myspace page and have a listen. The songs are bright, catchy and musically made me think of Ben Folds. Just to warn you though, I Think I’ll Blame The Government will make it’s way inside your head and never ever leave!

 

 

One of my favourite songs (Lift Your Feet) isn’t available to listen to on their MySpace at the moment, but you can check it out here.

28 Days Later August 13, 2008

A momentous event occurred today:

 Radio Lutterworth has launched for its 3rd ever broadcast – on air on 97.5fm and online for the next 28 days. Alas, this is the first time that I will not be presenting, a fact that makes me really rather sad. However, I still thoroughly recommend you have a listen, and feel free to harrass the presenters with ridiculous (but polite) e-mails. Make sure especially to listen out for Ben & Joe. Whilst they are on air, be sure to send many messages along the lines of “Northampton Saints are the best!”, “Come on you Saints!” and “Saints to win the premiership this season!” As a Tiger’s fan, Joe is sure to appreciate it.

Also not to be missed is the self-dubbed “Asian-sensation”, Mr Sunny Patel (or Sunny P as I like to call him). He’s on weekend breakfasts this time round, which is a rather entertaining idea. There are many other lovely presenter types there too, so do have a listen and let me know who your favourites are.

Simply click on the logo above to take you to the website and then choose Listen Live!

Relocation, relocation, relocation… July 22, 2008

Hello there. Apologies once more for the blogging hiatus. I fear it may continue for a little while longer. I am a couple of weeks into my move to Cambridge and have been dashing back home and up and down the country at the weekends for various weddings. All this means that my brain has been far too busy and exhausted to settle to writing anything even as vaguely comprehensive as my usual offerings! I am due to move in a little more properly to my new abode in the coming week or so, and I hope that at that point I shall be able to blog a little more effectively once more.

 

In the meantime there is not a lot to say but that things seem to be going well so far. I have ceased getting lost on my way to work, my colleagues are friendly and the sun is shining! I have also nearly finished reading Captivating – the book I mentioned before – and it has given me much to think on. I still thoroughly recommend it to any Christian women – even if it doesn’t ring as true for you as it does for me, it makes some interesting points and has certainly got my brain ticking over, even now.

 

In the absence of anything useful or otherwise entertaining, I shall leave you now with a video clip, from Top Secret. I watched this with my sister years ago, laughed rather a lot, and then forgot about it. I’ve just been reminded and so delight in bringing you this brief clip:

 

Our God is an Awesome God July 7, 2008

I had my first day of work in Cambridge today and it was not too bad – many thanks to everyone who has prayed for me and continues to pray for me. My colleagues were friendly, it seems like a good company to work for, and we get to play Mario Cart during our lunch breaks! I’ll admit that yesterday I was having slight panic attacks as I was packing my things to come to Cambridge, and not just because the Wimbledon final was so incredibly tense! Which reminds me, before I go any further – yay Rafa!

Excellent. Well done Rafa! It was a good sporting day yesterday actually, what with Hamilton winning the British Grand Prix too. Anyway, where was I… Oh yes. I was panicking. I was just so worried and scared about the future I think, the new job, the new place, the new people… So once I finally got on the road to Cambridge, I started to pray. And as I did, I began to remember all the wonderful things God has done in my life over this last year. The incredible experiences I had in America. How much He taught me about Himself, and about myself. How much I can trust Him to carry me. I thought about all the awesome people I have met this year. And all the old friendships that have been rekindled. Of all the words and gestures of love and support there have been from the ridiculous number of wonderful people my heavenly father has placed into my life. Yes, there have been difficult times, tears, worries and heartache. That is all natural in this fallen world, and it isn’t easy. But my Lord has never let me down. He will never leave me. I am in the complete care and love of the greatest father there could ever be (and that’s no slight on my earthly Dad at all, who I love very much!).

 

By the time I arrived here I had calmed down completely. And whilst there were a few nerves this morning on my way to work, the panic has gone. God is great!

I don’t feel like dancing. June 20, 2008

I feel like the Croatian football team.

Tonight, they played Turkey in the quarter finals of Euro 2008. After 90 minutes of normal time, and 28 minutes of extra time it was 0-0 and heading for penalties. Suddenly, from nowhere, the Turkish goalie got off his line, entirely out of position, and Croatia struck. Joyful celebrations ensued. 1-0 with barely a minute left to play. Simply the added time onto extra time. One minute. They were in the semis for sure. Until Turkey took it all away. Levelling in the last second of play. 1-1. Croatia were crushed. They lost 3-1 on penalties. So much effort, they got so close… but all for nothing.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been on various job interviews. I have driven backwards and forwards to Cambridge more times than I can recall. There was this one job I really wanted. I went for one interview… I was called back for a second… they asked for a reference… I did psychometric testing… my second interview lasted two hours. Yesterday I heard that of the two candidates they had already seen, I was the preferred choice. That just left one. I was so close. It looked like I had it. But then they took it all away. So much effort, so close… but all for nothing.

The disappointment is almost made worse right now by the really positive feedback they asked the agency to make sure they passed along to me. The people who interviewed me said I was an excellent candidate, it was a really difficult decision, I really shone and if anything else comes up they will automatically seriously consider me for the position. But even all that wasn’t enough. There wasn’t any more I could do… makes me wonder how I can ever get a job I really want.

There is a bright side though. I have been offered a different job by another company. A 6 month contract which doesn’t pay as well, and honestly idoesn’t seem all that exciting or challenging for me. But any job is better than no job, the people were nice, and it’s within good walking distance of my new house, so I’ll save a packet on petrol at least! It could well be a good thing for me. It’s just hard to see it clearly right now when I had been so focused on the other.

I need a hero! And cheaper petrol. June 11, 2008

Beware, I’m going to start with a serious rant. But bear with me, things will lighten up later in the post!

According to this story which appeared on the front page of our morning paper today, demand for petrol in Britain has dropped 20% in the last 12 months, as fuel prices have escalated. It cost 92.6p per litre in March 2007 and now stands at 117p and rising. The IEA (International Energy Agency) seem to think that it’s a sign more people are choosing to use public transport because it’s cheaper. This says a lot about the ridiculous cost of fuel, since public transport is as expensive here as it has ever been – just now it is becoming the lesser of two evils. To be honest, I think it’s more likely people are simply being forced to choose not to take long journeys due to the expense, and that’s why petrol demand is down. I wanted to go to Manchester tomorrow to visit some friends from Ohio, who are in the country for one week only, but I quite simply cannot afford to go, either by car or by train. I think if the government doesn’t work something out pretty soon in terms of either stopping the rise in petrol prices or lowering the cost of public transport, the country is going to grind to a halt.

I’m glad I’m moving to a place where I’ll be able to walk more and use my car less.

Speaking of which, I had two interviews yesterday afternoon – quite a stressful thing actually, difficult to get my mind out of one job and into the other in such a short space of time. I think they went ok, I’m due to get some feedback from the agency later this week. We managed to get lost on the way to the first one, so I was a couple of minutes late and rather flustered. Then at the second interview the receptionist somehow failed to inform them that I had arrived, so I was left waiting in a room for 40 minutes before I got to see anyone! Hey ho. I’m just glad they’re over and done with. I slept slightly better last night. Although I still had weird dreams, I think I only woke up once in total.

The highlight of my bizaare night-time adventures so far this week was the thoroughly believable concept that several of my friends are in fact secretly superheroes. A fact I discovered in my dream when they were called upon to rescue me from a life-threatening situation.

I think I’ll have to start keeping an eye on them just in case it’s true…

And lastly today, for no reason at all except for I think it’s an amazing picture, I leave you with a pig. Wearing boots.

To sleep, perchance to dream… June 4, 2008

My mind is wandering and wondering if I’ll get a decent night’s sleep at any point in the near future. It has been a good three weeks since I last had such a thing and I am beginning to despair. You see I have been having dreams. Weird, vivid and crazy ones at that. So it’s not so much that I’m not getting the sleep, more that I wake up feeling disoriented and distinctly un-rested.

 

They’ve not been nightmares or anything, so fear not – I’m not being traumatised in any way. It’s just never ending, random, very real seeming visions in my sleep! For example, the other night I dreamt I was running away from a big, scary organisation, being pursued by one of my friends who was in their employ. I was trying desperately to persuade him not to chase me but he wasn’t convinced… so I hopped onto an underground train through London, and was then racing up some steps following a friend from Texas who I’ve never met… I can’t quite remember what happened next, but I woke up in the morning convinced we had two overly large lemons in the kitchen.

Which is a little odd, even by my standards! Perhaps when everything in my life calms down a bit, my mind will too. Until then, who knows what bizarre fruit-related adventures I may encounter when I close my eyes…

I might as well face it I’m addicted to… June 4, 2008

Nope, not love (as Robert Palmer sang) but instead, The West Wing!

Having previously gone on record declaring Alias to be the best TV show ever to grace our screens, I fear I must retract that statement because the West Wing provides some serious competition. I know I am a late-comer to the West Wing party – joining long after the final episode of the 7 season success has aired. However this does have the benefit of allowing me to watch back-to-back episodes from the DVD boxsets, instead of being forced to wait each week to find out what happens next.  I blame my addiction on my sister, who caught me when I was ill and my defences were down. Stuck in bed with only my TV for company, somehow season one, disc one found it’s way into my DVD player. And the rest is history. I’ve just started watching season three, and though I’m getting through the episodes at quite a rate, I’m going to have to step it up in a big way if I’m to make it through to the final show before I move out in a little under two months time. Something tells me I may be smuggling President Bartlett and co. out with me…

 

West Wing watching aside, this week I have been mainly enjoying being at home for a few days in a row, having several culinary successes (including that sweet potato crumble I have been craving for so long) and paying far too much to get my car through it’s MOT.  Yesterday I had a needle stuck in my arm (under the guise of “vaccination”) and proceeded to very nearly faint in the waiting room at the doctor’s surgery. All good fun… I think.