New Years Eve

I remember that New Years Eve always seemed a strange event! Why did people dance out of one door and into someone elses door?...

When I was little we did not celebrate New year like they do now. The scottish family down the road always made a big thing of it! Having a party and dancing out into the street in a long line then through someone elses front door, back out the back door and back through the original front door! That's how I remember seeing it from our house up the road! Mum and dad drank a glass of sherry at midnight and toasted in the new year, but no party! I don't think New years day became a bank holiday in England, until the 1970's

Georgina told me that Christopher stayed up last year right up to a few minutes to midnight, but when he realised no amazing thing actually was about to happen he decided it was a waste of time and went to bed!
I think I had the very same thoughts when I was his age! (11)

For me I find it is a time of reflection over what has happened during the past year and usally feel a bit sad that year will be gone for ever. This year we will be at home with David and Lisa, as often they are here with us for new year. I am cooking a big dinner. We might play a game and we might watch the fireworks that usually are let off from the grounds of the Castle at midnight. We will most likely pray for the new year 2010.

After that I think we will all be asleep very quickly..assuming we manage to stay awake long enought to see the new year in...

Happy New Year 2010 to you all!

Christmas

I can remember as a child that Christmas was always very exciting. It started with going to midnight mass and walking back along cold icy pavements and me looking for any sign of Santa's sleigh going along the road. When we got in, I would usually have a bowl of tomato soup, before being sent off to bed!

Christmas day was always hectic with empty boxes all over the place and sweet wrappers! we always had Turkey and all the trimmings and Christmas pudding for 'afters'! My dad always insisted that we watch the Queen on TV!

Boxing day was always spent at grandma's. That meant a house full of children running around and the men roasting Chestnuts on the large log fire. The ladies of the family got all the tea ready and we all sat around a large table. Later pots of tea would come out and bottles of Sherry and Port. It is the only time I remember Grandma having Alcohol and that was at Christmas.

This year has been the first time ever that I did not eat Turkey! It made a very nice change!

Cleaning!

I have been doing loads of cleaning! It has occured to me that some of you may think I never clean!..Well..

I do clean, of course I do, but I have been doing the sort of cleaning you may call 'spring cleaning'! I probally do it about 3-4 times a year but now I have a house move in mind I am being more ruthless!I have been here almost 32 years and I am sure I have not kept everything for that long..well maybe some of it!

Some of the things I have found were in strange places! You know like I could not have put them there so maybe someone else did!
It must have been me really though..surely?

I am pleased I have made a positive start to sorting out! the house move won't be for a year or two but it might take me that long to get sorted!

My thoughts turn to Christmas..now where are the decorations.. they must be here somewhere..

Choices

I have been thinking about the choices we make and how it affects not only us but the other people we come into contact with.

I was sitting on the Tram on the way home from work. I was tired and the Tram was busy and all I wanted was a cup of Tea! My mind started to wander and I started to think about the choices I had made in my life. I have met some great people because of those choices. I have also seen some great people go from my life because of choices I have made. It was then that I started to think about other people and how their lives would have been different if I had not made the choices that I did make and met them!

I met my lovely Chris because I was taken to a party and I nearly did not go! Meeting him brought his lovely children and grandchildren too. How strange if he had been somewhere else and not here with me.

This also meant that I have talked to them about Jesus and the church. For me I want everyone to know about Jesus and have the chance to make their own choice about him.

What other choices will I make and who else will I meet in my lifetime? I pray I will not miss anyone that God wants me to meet...

Photo taken in Nottingham 2009. Left to right Danielle, Cara and Chris.

Autumn 2009

The clocks have been changed and it is very windy and Autumn is here! October is almost at an end, Bonfire night is soon, closely followed by Christmas and the new year.

I like Autumn, with the changing colours of the leaves on the trees. Many have fallen these last few days due to the very windy weather we are having. As a child I remember walking with my dad and hearing the crunching of the leaves and dad telling me they were like cornflakes! Still to this day as I walk through the leaves I think of my dad...

I am not sure why this year seems to have passed so quickly. I always think that time flies but this year seems different for some reason. The only thing I think is different is that I have been determined to 'turn up'.. Turn up for work..even when feeling unwell..turn up for church...even when sleepy..turn up for things I have committed to do and tried to stayed focused on those things. Maybe that is why the year has flown by.

I do know that throughout the year I have been very aware of Jesus looking after me and helping me to be where I need to be. He has never left me and carried me when I could not carry myself.
I could not have got through this year without his guiding hand and his love and presence in my life. Thank you Jesus.

Photo taken in Staveley, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, October 2009.

Goose Fair

As the nights draw in, a tradition happens in Nottingham and it is called Goose Fair..the largest travelling fair in the country...

I have always loved Goose Fair! As a child it meant a late night, as the best way to see the bright lights of the rides was always at night, and still is! It has changed a lot over the years. There seems to be many rides for children and some very big rides for the adults! There are all the things you would expect to find at the fair, hook a duck,shooting range, helter skelter, big wheel, toffee apples, hot peas (my favorite!) and lots more!

This year it starts on Wednesday 30th September at 5:00 pm. Then carries on until Saturday night. The other days it opens at midday and is open until at least 10:00 pm, if not later!

The best things about the fair are the atmosphere and all the sounds and smells of the fair. I am blessed as I work very close to where the fair takes place and can see it all going up! The only decision I have to make is which night shall I take a walk around it and go and find my favorite stall selling hot peas?.....

Photo taken at Goose Fair 2008.

The 5k in Hyde Park London 2009

I had a great time in London! I got to London with Chris in good time for a big mug of tea,before we headed off to Hyde Park! Meeting all the girls was great! I think we got on so well anyone looking at us would have thought we had known each other for ages!

#BlissTwits

We had not met before, yet we all chatted together easily. Everyone was lovely and so easy to be with. It took quite a while before it was our turn to start the challenge. Then we were off! We passed lots of people who were supporting us and cheering us on. Lots of people taking photos and filming us! ( big smile time!) Lots of music being played live by some great bands. The weather was great! I walked along at a good pace with @Surreyblonde. It was lovely walking along with her and getting to know a bit about her. There were 17,000 ladies taking part! 17,000! Wow! all doing it for lots of different charities, how fantastic is that?

I have already decided that I want to do more for Charities close to my heart and want to do the 5k challenge next year again for Bliss.

After we had all finished (some of the girls ran and were back ages before us!) we sat down in the warm sunshine and had food and some very nice drinks! We chatted, laughed and cried, as we reflected on why we had done the challenge for Bliss.

My prayer is for all the babies and their families that we have helped by doing the challenge that they will have a better chance of survival and living the lives intended for them.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us and sponsored us.

The day before the 5K in Hyde Park London

I have sorted out my travel arrangements, got my clothes sorted out, decided what food to take and done some walking. I have got some sponsors. I now only need to get some good sleep before I get up in the middle of the night to go to London!

You might wonder why I am getting up in the middle of the night! I did want to stay in London for the weekend but it was just not possible. So I am travelling on the day! I should say 'we' as Chris has had no say in whether he comes or not! He is a good man and would not have wanted me to go on my own! I don't think I would have got lost as I am the kind of person who is very organised and check where I need to be using maps e.t.c! I found out lots of things about London while looking at all the different maps and will plan a trip some time in the future to do some of the things I read about!
#BlissTwits
I met a group of ladies on Twitter who are doing the 5k for Bliss. This is a charity that supports premature babies and their families. I have always felt strongly about tiny babies being born too soon and needing help. I have always prayed for them to live. For me, this is a practical way that I can help and meet other people with the same heart. We would love you to sponsor us. Thank you on behalf of the babies and their families that Bliss will help because of your generosity. If you click on the link below it will take you to the online site where you can read the stories of why people are doing the 5k for Bliss. You can also sponsor us there. Thank you once again. XXX

lee morris is fundraising for Bliss, for babies born too soon, too small, too sick - JustGiving

What it means to me, to be a christian.

I have been having a stressful time over the last few months and would not have got through it all without Jesus...

Those of you that have been reading my Blogs and follow me on Twitter will know what has been on my mind and what has been happening to me...

I would not have been able to be on this journey without Jesus. It is a journey because I am still on it and it will be some time before I reach my destination.

When I heard the Gospel of John, I knew inside myself that it was the truth. Something struck me deep down inside and I had no doubts that what I was hearing was real and true. It was not a decision like whether I believed or not, it was something that was there inside me. Then I made the decision to follow Jesus. I am so glad I did, because he guides my every step.

I have been upset with myself over being so stressed but God has never left my side and he has guided me to read his word and reminded me that I should not worry about anything as he has the best plans for me. I know this is true and feel a lot more secure on my journey as I know that Jesus is with me very step of the way.

Photo taken 1st August 2009 at the Riverside festival Nottingham

BBC NEWS | England | Nottinghamshire | City estate to get £200m facelift

BBC NEWS England Nottinghamshire City estate to get £200m facelift
News about my home and area.

Monday 15th July 1985

Monday 15th July 1985..Started off as any other normal weekday morning...

8:00am

Breakfast for David and Georgina, cereals ,toast,tea. a little TV watching.

8:30 am

Off to school. It was my turn to do Swimming observing.

10:30 am

I finished my coffee with the staff after swimming and took the 20 minute walk back home. So much to do that day.

11:00 am

Drank some tea when I got back and sorted out what we needed to do in town. There was a knock at the door. "Who could this be?" I thought. " Don't they know I have too much to do today?"

I looked around and saw my youngest brother standing in the hall way. " Stephen?..." He told me I had better sit down...

"Mum has died ..."

"No, she can't have.." I screamed

My mum had been found dead in the lounge of their house by my dad at 8:30 am

Mum had been unwell for a few days with pneumonia, and died from a heart attack.

All I could think of at the time was how could my mum possibly be dead? I felt like I was a little girl again and had lost my mummy. It was the worst news I had ever had.

Mum was only 58.

Those next few days were full of tears, sadness and confusion.

There was the family to notify.. the death to register..Mum's work to go and see..and the funeral to arrange.

I sat in the back of the funeral car and stared at the Hearse in front as we went up to Wilford Hill.. I can't even remember the service itself. I was in a complete daze.

Mum

My Mum had looked after us well. There were 4 children and Mum and Dad.

Me the eldest, then John 6 years younger than me, then Andrew 7 years younger than me and little Stephen almost 10 years younger than me. We always had holidays that were for two weeks. Mostly we went to Great Yarmouth in a caravan or chalet. Though as a young girl, when it was just me, we went to guest houses! Lovely memories. When it poured with heavy rain Mum kept us home from school as we had a 20 min walk to the bus and she did not want us to get wet! We always had to eat our dinner and if we refused Mum would send us to bed and then reheated it for tea time! There was no escape!

What is important in life..

I think I have learnt some important things from my Mum..Truth,honesty,caring, humour,sympathy and love.

24 years on.. I still 'freeze' when I think of that day and I still miss my Mum...

Photo taken on Mum and dad's wedding day. West Bridgford, Nottingham shire.

My house-My home

When you have been living in your house for 31 years it is very much your home. When someone tells you that your house will be knocked down it is very upsetting.
Let me explain....
Redevelopment
My local authority owned, 3 bed roomed house was built 31 years ago. It is actually a maisonette, which is just like a house with upstairs and downstairs. The big difference is,there is another two floored property on top of mine. That is where the problems begin..There is dampness from the balconies above and there has been a lot of anti social behaviour connected to the way the properties have been built. Some from the neighbours above and some from people out in the neighbourhood.Many people have left the area because of it. The roads layout have made it difficult for traffic to move around the area and in and out of the area.
Nottingham city council have decided to regenerate the area by making lots of changes over a long period of time. So subject to funding my house will be knocked down. The people of the area are being kept fully informed of what is happening and we are being fully consulted on the plans. We are being asked what we want to see in our area.

My home
What does this mean for me? Well I can tell you I feel very upset that where I live is to be knocked down. Everything that has happened to me in 31 years has happened here in this place- my home. I will always have my memories but it is very sad to think that this place will be changed for ever.
A new home
I will be able to have like for like. In other words a 3 bed roomed property. This is because we are told we are going to have to move. It would be very unfair to move someone out of a property and tell them they have to live in a smaller property. I will also be able to stay in my area and live in one of the new properties if I so wish...and I do wish to live in a new house! No noisy neighbours above stopping me sleeping! I feel that if they want to knock mine down to build a new one then I should be offered a new one! So I am happy about that. I have been praying for a long time not to have people living above me, so for me it is an answer to PRAYER.

New shops
There are going to be new shops built and the area will be more welcoming to visitors and people who may want to live here. Travel will be easier and there will be new bus and tram routes.
Leisure facilities will be improved and better use made of the Embankment area with new facilities being built.

I think for some time it will be like living on a building site! I am sure it will be worth it in the end!

Time Scale
When is all this going to happen? Well lots of things have started already with the plans and preparations. The main knocking down of properties may start in 3 years time and must be finished 5 years after that. So not long really, but long enough for me to get my 31 years of clutter sorted out! I have been watching all the TV programmes on de cluttering and think I know what I need to do! I am ready for me and Chris to have a new home that is 'ours.' Everything here is mine as I have lived here longest. Chris came here when we got married in 1997 and it will be good to choose furniture e.t.c for our new home.
Hope we can agree on what we want...I think that will be a post for another day!....

A strange week

This week has been a very strange week! Full of mixed emotions and happenings! It all started on Monday...

Monday..

I got up on Monday morning and felt really happy that it was Monday! I never usually like Monday mornings much!! I should have known something strange was going on!

I was just about to go out to work and the postman came... In the letter was information about the redevelopment of the area I live in and a plan showing where homes are to be knocked down and new ones built.

MY home looks like it's coming down!

When?...You might ask!.... Not sure...but sometime in the not too distant future!

All sorts of emotions went through me, sadness, anticipation, fear.... what does all this mean for me, who has lived in this home for 31 years?

Tuesday..

I woke up on Tuesday having had a bad night thinking about the news from Monday.. I heard Chris say that he felt ill and weak. Chris does not have time off from work very often, he is almost always at work, so I knew he must have felt ill and he looked unwell.

Wednesday and Thursday..

Chris was still unwell and I carried on worrying about him and the house! By the end of Thursday I had it all worked out in my mind..We would temporarily move house then move into a new house and it would all be great!

Friday..

I woke up on Friday to find Chris looking really ill..He certainly had something..Flu? a chest infection? I'm not sure which, but I got straight onto the doctor and my work to tell them I would not be in. The news about Michael Jackson (see previous post) came as a big shock also.

Saturday...

How could it go from being bright and happy on Monday morning and being very worried by today?.. I know God has been speaking to me about changes and I trust him completely. I know Gods plans will prosper me and not harm me. I am praying that Chris will be much better by Monday..

Photo taken last summer in Newark Notts 2008

UPDATE

Thankyou to my son and friends on Twitter for helping me feel happier about things! XXXX

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | World mourns pop legend Jackson

BBC NEWS Entertainment World mourns pop legend Jackson

I don't need to say much to this news except it is very sad news. I am praying for the Jackson family. XXXX

Twitter

Twitter has amazed me! I joined as someone else in the family had joined! They don't write anything and I am always writing something!

I go on Twitter fairly regularly. Sometimes I get bored with it but mostly enjoy 'chatting' to people! The most amazing thing is that I 'chat' to people from all walks of life,that I would not have met otherwise. Most people are friendly and caring. Some people are not so nice and try to upset everyone and try to follow others. That's where the BLOCK button comes in useful!

I don't think I would have joined up to other sites and become more confident on the Internet if I had not the help of other Twitter users!
Thank you for your encouragement!
Now I have a request! If you have read this will you please leave me a little comment so I know someone is reading this!

Thank you!! X

Christian Centre, Nottingham :: A vibrant Church in the heart of Nottingham

This is where I go to church. It is where I am in fellowship with other Christians. For me it is meeting friends and sharing what God has been doing in our lives over the past week.
I enjoy the worship and feel very close to Jesus at this time. There is excellent teaching by several different ministers. We pray and afterwards we go for coffee and a biscuit or two!

Most of all I ALWAYS hear from God, whether it is confirmation of something or a completely new message, I always learn something. There is time for laughter and sometimes times for tears. I ALWAYS come away knowing God loves me and am ready to face a new week.

I could not live my life without Jesus and am so thankful to be a christian born again.
Christian Centre, Nottingham :: A vibrant Church in the heart of Nottingham

adidas WOMEN'S 5K CHALLENGE 2009

I am very excited to be involved with Bliss and to be doing this 'WALK!'
I have known about Bliss for some time but have got to know more through my friends I have 'met' on Twitter.
I am now part of a team called #Bliss Twits! It is a group of ladies who are on Twitter and are involved with Bliss in some way. Anyone doing the run can choose a charity of their choice! I am just very happy to be able to do something for others to give them support when they most need it.
As a Christian God called us to help others, so in doing this 'walk' I hope that fulfils a part of what God has planned for me.
adidas WOMEN'S 5K CHALLENGE 2009

Monday 25th May 2009

This photo was taken last August it shows from L-R me, Paul (son in law) Christopher (my grandson) and Georgie ( my daughter). It was a very warm day and we went for a walk around a country park close to where they live in Staveley near Chesterfield. We took a picnic and it was great!

Today is the late May bank holiday and it is very cloudy and dull! Yesterday was gorgeous and after a morning in church then dinner, I sat outside for an hour or so. What a difference a day makes! Today I had planned to walk next to the River Trent, take photos and eat Ice cream! I could go but I am thinking it is going to pour with rain any time now!

Tomorrow it is back to work as usual!

Forget the time!

It's the start of another week and I still don't know where the time goes to! I find myself getting very tired and yet I feel as though I have not done much! In reality I have usually spent a whole day doing something! On a week day I will have been very busy at work and at the weekends it is a combination of housework, shopping, being on the PC, cooking and going to church! Then the whole thing starts again!!! I don't seem to have much time to visit people or talk on the phone as the time is taken up with everything else!
I think it would be nice to be on a tropical Island and be totally relaxed and not think about clocks! I can't see me going to a tropical Island anytime soon....unless God has a plan!......

When I was a child

Look at me! I think I am about 5 here! We lived in a little terraced house. The days seemed long and endless. I remember long hot sunny summers and storms at night that were very frightening. I thought school days would go on for ever! We would go for Sunday tea at Grandmas (mostly I was already there!) or my aunts house, where I remember eating sandwiches,crisps and Jelly and Ice cream for 'afters'!

I am now 52 and the years from being an adult have flown by! I don't know why childhood seems endless!

Time and Seasons

"Time flies when you are enjoying yourself!"
" Doesn't time fly? Hours, days, weeks, month's"
" It doesn't seem like five minutes since..."
We have all heard these quotes from time to time and we probably say them ourselves! I know I do! Time is precious and we should not let it slip by.
As I have matured I have become to realise that nothing stays the same and everything changes, always for the better. At times we think it's the worst thing to have happened even though it probably isn't.

I like all of the seasons and they all have something special about them. To me Spring is extra special as all the trees and plants wake up and there is a freshness in the air.
Our lives are quite often described as a season" Oh, she is just a spring chicken" or " He is in the Autumn years" Recently, I heard someone say in church that everything is for a season. They were talking about the children and how we should enjoy them as children, because those years will pass like a season. I was thinking about periods in my life that were challenging and how I thought I would never get through them. I did and some of those times were many years ago.
I know God helped me through those periods by carrying me.

I hope I make a difference in this world and use my time wisely.
Enjoy everything in your life and remember things change, even the good things. Remember time IS precious use it wisely!

Sunday's

I saw this beautiful Blossom tree on the way to church. I have always loved the lovely pink flowers. It reminded me of when I was a child. On Sunday mornings I would go to church with grandma. On my grandma's road there were lots of Blossom trees. I would run along the road and stop and stand under each tree and gaze up at the branches that were full of the most beautiful pink flowers. The perfume from the flowers was so beautiful.

In the bible God tells us not to worry and tells us:

Mat 6:27 (NKJV)
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Mat 6:28 (NKJV)
"So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

My walk on Sunday reminded me of my childhood and going to church and that God can speak to us in many different ways.For me I thought of how God put the beautiful Blossom on the tree and if he could look after something like this, then surely he would clothe me and feed me all the days of my life....I am so thankful to have found Jesus.

Blogging!

Hello! This is my first blog and I am not sure what I will be putting!

I can say that I have been thinking about starting a blog for a long time but did noy know where to start! So,here I am in the world of blogging!

I started off on the internet by having a messenger service,then progressed to FaceBook,then arrived at Friends Reunited,then found Twitter and now I am here! It's not that I have loads of spare time or anything like that! It all seems like fun! As a child/younger person I loved writing letters and diaries and I think that is where the idea comes from! I hope if you are reading this you enjoy it!