oop north - again!

yes that's right we're here again, back in the north!
eeekkk!
it has been a generally brill week to be honest! lots going on, socially and just life wise really.
there's nothing like my family to make you relax and then simultaneously turn me into a child and make me want to pull my hair out! I guess it's a relaxed kind of stress, where the roles that you managed to escape from years earlier return to haunt you and you realise how differently you live now to then! Off out for a family meal tonight, have already decided what I'm having - Steak - in fact, sis and I reckon it's time to change the day previously known as Saturday to Steakerday!
Last night I went to the gym again - it was really good! but oddly my muscles are not aching today like they were on Tuesday, maybe I'm not pushing myself hard enough!
My spiritual life however is currently flourishing, aided by my small groups through The Forge - which totally rocks. This week we spent time together looking at God's promises to us and how they answered our prayers and worries and needs. Personally this was just amazing and already my prayers are being answered I can't really say any more at the mo about that but in a few months or so all should become clear. In the meantime the promises go with me in my bag at the moment! which means I am also reading more of the bible.

For regular readers, last weekend continued to be great, including the BBQ, with trampoline - shame about the rugby scores :-( The Sunday roast was gorgeous, why don't I ever make Yorkshire puds when it's just Alex and I? - definitely something to work on!

We loved having Sheila over the other Tuesday - we had a very relaxed evening and I really think she enjoyed it! - I do really love having people over at our house, love to try and make people feel happy and relaxed and at home and to share food and drink with them! it is such a rewarding, relationship building thing to do!

Another one of my blogs on the forge website at the mo - about prayer..check it out if you fancy it:
http://www.forgechurch.com/building-site/

big love,
kitten out xx

How wonderful life is...

Yes I know that's a really cheesy title, and I just hope that it doesn't put you off your Saturday brunch or anything?
I'm just so loving this weekend!
Last night - we stayed up till about one and watched comic relief! It was really moving and of course we donated what we could. I particularly enjoyed seeing what they could achieve with the money we gave! I also made bread last night! Unfortunately the bread came out in really wierd shapes, they were meant to be a flat bread of sorts but the shapes are so odd - we are now calling them bread lumps! lol, still it's quite tasty lumps!
The Friday night drink of choice was a bottle of Crabbies, yum!
This morning I had a lovely lie in, just as I was coming round, the phone went and it was (Aunty) Liz, inviting us over to there's for the afternoon. We have actually already been invited out for a barbecue and to watch the rugby this afternoon, so instead she offered for us to go to there's for a roast beef dinner tomorrow- WoOp wOoP! erm - yes please!
I came downstairs to a beautiful sunshiney day. The birds are singing, the sun is out and the world is just stunningly beautiful. I particularly enjoyed watching the robins (yes two of them!) flying around our tree this morning. Alex then made us breakfast of pancakes!!! YUM! With real coffee - DOUBLE YUM!
Alex has now gone off to try his hand at a bit of shooting this morning, he is returning later to pick me up for the barbeque and rugby! The weather so far has remained dry and sunny, despite the chill.
I now sit on our decking, staring out over the sun drenched fields, listening to the birds in the tree - above my head and thanking God for all the splendour that surrounds me!
I am really looking forward to everything that this weekend still has to offer- church and a roast dinner tomorrow and maybe even a touch of gardening. A lovely barbeque with some new friends this afternoon what an amzing beautiful world!
Still praying for all those in Japan, and about to spend some time reading my bible. What amazing news about Red Nose Day! I love that I live in a country with so many generous souls.
This week one of my mini blog writings went on the forge website...
http://www.forgechurch.com/building-site/
hope you like it?
all the best my lovelies,
Kitten out x

buzzy buzzy very very buzzy!

Well yes - that's what I have been - both busy and buzzy!
The busyness itself is brilliant - until I hit exhaustion and then I become entirely grumpy! The gentleness was wearing out a little last week am afraid! still - not for long and it's not something that can't be resolved by getting enough sleep!
Half term was generally brilliant - as expected!
We went to see the northern contingent for a weekend and shared Tapas and wine and rugby! it was faboolus! My sis is a brill cook!
I had lunch with work friends at pizza express , yum yum, yum yum yum etc and I spent time with another close friend here at home, I was pretty down for a couple of days but it was so good to just be able to call on my friend and know that she would come right over and just listen and chat and watch films with me! Friendship is such an amazing blessing!
Then I got an extra day at work each week for the next 5 weeks or so! I can't complain about that right....hmmm...or can I!?
So last week began and it was back to work after 2 weeks off - can't pretend I was looking forward to it - but hey once more into the fray dear friends, yet, I was pleasantly surprised actually.
Tuesday,  I requested that we went for a quick run on the bike. It was Shrove Tuesday and I didn't have any eggs in, and Alex and I have given up take aways for lent so, as our last one, Alex suggested we pop down to Southwold, on the bike, for fish and chips! Very lovely it was too. We did however, go slightly a little bit wrong on the way there - ended up getting there too late for fish and chips so had to go to a pub (oh dear what a shame ey? ;-) ) still though - this meant we were very late home! oopsy!
Wednesday night, I started at the ladies small group (I'm going to leave it to you to guess which group Alex was at then!) It was a really lovely evening with new friends, great food and a brilliant chance to learn together! However I have to say it went on way past my bed time! I was out till 11:30 and with the new department the next day, the first week back at work and the first 4 day week in a long time - I was a very unhappy bunny come the end of Thursday. Cue lots of prayers and asking for forgiveness. I'm going again on Wednesday but hoping to be home a bit sooner to avoid some of the general spikyness!
Friday was utterly amazing though. Work was lovely and calm and I finished the day with an induction into the gym. It's free to members of staff, I have only promised myself to go once a week but I might be tempted to go twice at this rate!
Saturday was Alex's birthday - I got up and made him breakfast; bacon, croissants, honey, butter, pain au chocolat, asti, coffee - all very yum! Then we got up and went clay shooting with friends and family. It rocked - I had a go and hit a clay first time (note I'm not gonna go on about all the times I tried after that and didn't get any more)
Then we went to see Grandma Kay, and aunty Becky and Liz who were staying with her! Aunty Tricia and Becky. The flat was full,  it was really lovely! Then off to a meal out - oohhh yeah! wow I love Alex's birthdays!!
Sunday - got up and ran Alex an unbirthday bath! Then Forge - totally rocked my socks off! Then off to lunch at Dawny's - yum yum yum! Back to Grandma Kay's, who had forgotten we'd seen her the day before but not to worry - she's still as cheery as ever! Prayers for Grandma Pat who is poorly! back home to tidy and back at work yesterday.
Today started with physio - this morning and will end with Sheila from Forge coming over for supper! I'm doing chilli - I've been looking into spiritual gifts and it would appear that one of mine is hospitality!! well probably best to check that one out with Sheila tonight!! lol
Still praying every day, did talk to people at church on Sunday and still working on the adventures yet to come! Phew!
sorry if this has bored you but just thought I'd catch you all up at once! Finally a few song recommendations -
"king of wonders" by Matt Redman
"King of my Heart" by Barbara J Hunt
have a blessed week,
kitten out x

You're beautiful, yes you are!!

so was this weekend!
well firstly the weekend starts on a Friday so -  Friday at work, was a genuinely calm happy day. Even last lesson which is normally a headache, brought a smile to my face! hmm possibly something to do with breaking up for half term?!
Friday night we had Alex's dad and his wife over for tea (dinner - if you're down south). I cooked a beef in ale casserole with dumplings!! yum!! - it was a really chilled out relaxed evening and I so do enjoy sharing my food, house and company with others, empty plates too so the food went down well.
Saturday - a lie in!! and a lot of rain and drizzle, it was very cold outside! but - I got up, chilled out for a while and then made my man breakfast in bed, egg, bacon and bread with a cuppa. I then, despite protest gradually shoved him out of bed and cajoled him into agreeing to do some gardening with me!! yes - in the cold and the rain!! - yes it was muddy but it felt so good to start preparing the garden for the exciting years ahead. We cleared up and tidied around a bit and we hoed around the bulbs that are starting to come up on the banking, we then set up a patch ready for some veggies to go in - eeekkkk! It was so positive - despite the mud.
We then came in and had a rest in front of the telly - then I got bored! lol - so we put on a French CD - to learn from. They are some that came free with a newspaper, we have borrowed them from family!
The first CD was a good reminder of G.C.S.E French, we have been chattering away to each other in French at every given chance - ever since! C'est Tres Bien!
Finally Qourn Tortilla wraps for dinner/tea - yum yum! and off to bed.
Sunday morning, slept in too long for the early service so it was off to the second service and to meet up with Sheila. We managed to catch up with her before the service and start the discussion regarding serving and small groups (watch this space) interestingly this theme continued into the service!
What a service it was too - we started out hearing about the creation story and we heard this amazing song. I don't think I have ever heard it before, I was moved to tears - but soon stopped as I was afraid of losing my contact lenses ha ha.
Later on we sang the song too it's called you're beautiful! - this isn't us btw!




Whenever I have really had doubt in my faith, if one thing has reassured me repeatedly of God's existence and his love for us - it has been my surroundings. The fact that I find a view, a tree, even nature itself beautiful and breathtaking tells me about God. Why would I find these so fascinating if I hadn't been created in such a way that they mean something to me other than just a resource for me to use? I don't see any evidence of any other animals, highly evolved or otherwise just enjoying a view! That's what this part of the service spoke to me about!
The rest of the service was about growing our faith and what that might look like - once again very exciting!!

After church, back home - a bit more gardening - no rain today but extreme mud! ha ha! then I suggested a date and a visit to Alex's 90 year old grandma. We visited grandma Kay on the way to the cinema. She is so lovely, a little forgetful but still seems full of spirit and what more can anyone ask of a 90 year old! Then we went to see Paul - yes I recommend seeing this - it's gentle(ish), but funny - I only wish I hadn't seen so much of the film in clips and trailers before hand!A brill film!
Then finally off to Giraffe for a meal. A full date, what can I say? I am just the luckiest lady in the world - I'm sure. I had a jungle chicken curry with butternut squash and Alex had a lamb falafel burger, both of which were very very yummy!! drool! - also briefly discussed tattoos with lovely waitress!
On the way home we dropped into Alex's younger brother to pick up something and he surprised us by having some of his beautiful photos ready printed!! we were due to order them off him but hadn't done so yet - so yaaaayyyy
So here I am - it's half term and there's plenty of fun to look forward to!!
I am very tired but very happy and excited, tomorrow I've got Alex's young cousin over for the day- could be fun!  Dentist on Thursday - bleugh - help!!! Off up North on Friday night, for tapas fun!! yaaayyyy
lets speak soon - you beautiful people!
kitten out x

am I to fast? or am I too fast?

well today the Forge church is having a day of healing prayer. We have been asked as a congregation to fast and pray for the healing of four of our church family members. I'm doing it!
yes me! I am normally entirely obsessed by food! I live from one meal to the next, but in order to show God how important this is to me - I am fasting. I have promised myself to go without food until dinner tonight, by which time it will be dark so the plan is really a daylight fast for me personally. every time my tummy rumbles or I get a pang - I just pick up the info we were given in church on Sunday and I pray for one of the four members.

Yesterday was amazing, I can't talk too much about the amazing food last night!! drooollll. But I can tell you it was entirely schlubbly bub. We watched a film called P.S I love you and I cried and cried. It was interesting how in the film the female lead seems to show remorse for being so quick to anger. I had to ask Alex if he thought I needed to work on this!! he said no!! But still, I wonder if maybe I need to react more slowly to some of what life throws our way. I can be a panicker, for those who don't know me - and this can lead to me being a grumpy shouty kind of a person! Still - on the whole I think the gentler person thing, has meant that I am also a happier person and I hope that this is what people see in me.
I have for a little while, been researching my family history, using the free information on ancestry.co.uk - I have now got 189 members of my family. The information isn't perfect, it isn't all complete but it's looking vaguely family tree shaped and it's all very exciting. I can't help wondering if people will be looking up me on there in a hundred or so years?? I wonder what they'll find??
Just working out some stuff for the rest of this year at the moment, there's a lot going on - as usual - adventures, p.g.c.e's and family trips (tapas included ;-) )
hope all is well in your world,
kitten out x

love is in the air...

...everywhere I look around. No really though! O.K so valentines day is a commercial thing right! I get it! but isn't it just lovely to have an excuse to pay attention to your other half? Romance is such a varied thing as well. I was thinking through some previous valentines my other half and I have shared and they have ranged from - a budget limit on gifts to one another - home made cards and soft toys - posh meals - wedding planning and this year decorating our bedroom as our gift to one another, it looks beautiful by the way. Who said romance is dead? Is it not just about recognising what your partner most needs and wants and spending a little time together to make that happen? I just can't stop grinning at the moment!

As you may have noticed or already known, Alex and I are members of a local church called The Forge Community Church. At the moment in particular the church is a very exciting place to be, we have realised it's time to spend more of our time and energy for the church, otherwise known as serving and so we are currently trying to figure out - with God - how best we can do this. I personally know that I love to write, don't know how useful this may be but a little something is already on it's way in March. I also believe that I am quite a sociable person so who knows? maybe I can be of some help??!

Work has been pretty good this week - I have found myself getting in a little early in order to spend more time preparing for lessons, this has been so helpful - why hadn't I thought of this before?? I'm still trying to be gentle and remembering about being positive - some times the stress comes back but it doesn't appear to have such a hold at the moment!

We have been talking a lot about our adventures this week!! this year being adventure year, including using the motorbike to go camping in France!! Our passports came through this week!! yay!
Friday night we had a friend over, we were talking about the adventure of having a family!! eeekkkk!
Yesterday was a randomly busy day but today has focussed on the forge and relaxing and eating leftover lasagne - lol! we're off for a walk with Grandma's dog this aft, hopefully burn off a few calories!!
Tomorrow we're staying in with a lovely roast dinner and eye staring moments! lol
hope that you're feeling the love too?
all the best,
kitten xx

social life success!

well, as the title suggests, we finally seem to have a full social life (just a shame we can't see all our friends in one week).
It has been a truly fantastic weekend for our social life. Starting with Friday night! which found me at a new and very good friend's house watching an old film with someone I would now like to regard as a friend. A lovely night, with a very warm and fun and funny atmosphere. I really feel accepted by my new church friends and hope that they know how appreciative I am of them and their company!. A text arrived at my phone (for my friend!) which acted as a warm and gentle reminder of how lucky I am to be married!
today was originally going to be a girly pamper day with my good friend and mother in law Dawn, this rapidly changed into a day of helping a family member with a house related problem!
still though - we all rolled up our sleeves and got stuck in, it was great to feel useful! I only wish we could do more :-(
Tonight was an annual quiz held at the local village hall - we were a little anxious as we are only just gently stepping into village life and had no idea what to expect. On top of which - we genuinely felt we might be entirely useless! but it was great! we had such a laugh and met some lovely people - I at least remember the names of everyone on our table! - which is a start!! the questions were pitched just right and there was a brilliant buzz about the room- once again I got to spend time with our lovely local vicar who made us so welcome and relaxed, I loved it!
 Tomorrow - it's off to the forge in the morning - v v excited about it! all about vision ---- ooohh yay!!
the a friend is coming over for coffee in the afternoon!! - we were gonna have lovely father in law and his lovely wife over for lunch but - we're totally exhausted and having not slept that well this week nor shopped properly we have postponed! still - so excited about seeing my friend!
for those who are interested in the results of the o f s t e d - visit - you'll have to wait :-p
the results are top secret until they are published - but I'll let you know asap!
prayed every single day and talked to ppl at church!!! yay!!
This week Alex has started decorating our bedroom - in spite of continued stress - this week has been an utter success - I am loving life tonight - so many blessings to be grateful for! ( including my wonderful husband who bought me an i-pod!!)
speak soon yeah?
kitten out xx