Uploads from the summer, but meh, what ya gonna do!! There are 11 & I will try to put them in on the correct date…well I say try!!

28 - Friday - nightmare first start – came in a little late to the meeting, but walked into a sh*tstorm – 2 of the campers were in trouble & were to be sent home that day – not good mes amies! Kept out of it as far as possible, wasn’t that hungry, so started prepping for session at breaky, outside & sat with The Ama. Had some inspirational thoughts for he & a rad track called ‘Needle in the Hay’ by Elliot Smith [for her from the Adam Freeland – Back to Mine Album] because of her ‘rents being ‘a little silly’ about her GCSE results & that it might generally help! Had the 6th session, then headed out for the shopping challenge [in Bournemouth]. We parked in almost the exact same spot when I came down to see Mich – how bizarre, how bizarre! I hung around Footie match - England vs Wales part 2! Head injury much! Was quite a blow to the head – mentioning no names - but it’s given me another rad scar tho!! So let me get this straight – Junior Week nothing – Seniors week – 2 narly scars on my leg & something to make me look like Harry Potter on my eyebrow – fail lolz!! Big dinner dressup, but feel lousy in the evenining & chillax as much as possible, don’t really take part in the games session thing, but did throw a bucket of water at James M whilst he’s in the stocks – come on it’s the law…officer lolz!

29 - Saturday - final day on camp today – d’oh! Final session – write the cards for everyone – try to come up with a verse for each in the tent crew. Goodbye’s were pretty emotional, but rad. Got some really positive encouragement from one of my tent-crew Paul. It’s weird – everyone has now gelled & getting on great…but it’s the last day – grrrr!! Captain Beakie turned up – bizarreness, but cool! My final act of camp is to go to the pub, but first lose phone, then go to pub & forget bag – I think I may be a little tired!! Hang out till late – then run away home!! But wait there’s more bbloggites – go see Mad Eye on the way home, have coffee, chillax – even though I think I may need a shower!! I see an insight into the wonderful world of girl lolz, then Maddie gives me a glass heart & I go home lolz!!!

30 – Sunday – a recovery day…or not! Bruv hassle – dare I even begin to go on about this – in short – no! Also showed my predecessor & HB around the new Youth Centre, as they hadn’t seen it! Next had a big-ass bike ride – awesomeness & win! Then chillaxed with hobbit, a little bit of the IT crowd & a beer, then texting till 2am loz, mentioning no names lolz!!

31 - Bank Holiday Monday - established the funding for the big finale of my Road Trip ’07! Then met up with Soph & helped her with her computator. In the avo met up with me Da – had a steak in Café Rouge…in London & went around St Paul’s cathedral, then tried [& stress the word tried!!] to get home – the traffic really REALLY sucked, but I talked to a certain Mad Eye on the way home!!

32 - Tuesday: 1 bike ride of doom - hobbit gets puncture in Kirtlington & has to get his dad out to recover him – d’oh, but then I cane it all the way back from there – was so very liberating!! Then make choons for the Madders [rawk & dance if you were wondering!], then off to Mr Olivander in London! Curry & Sunshine, red wine & nachos!! Up till 2. Then crash on sofa! Yeah that pretty much sums it up lolz!! It was good to see young Mr Olivander settling into his new life in Londinium & meet his house-crew – they’ve very rad – a little sketchiness, but that’s to be expected lolz!!

33 - Wednesday: it’s a Hodgkins/Warman family runion – let’s try to see all of my Dads side of family in 1 day!! Manage to See Nanna & Grandad, Shirley & Greg, Andy, Gaz & Emma! Impressive Obi-Wan! Then back in Ox by 12.40am - harcore!! It was a really awesome day – just seeing family – not for a function, just because I wanted to! Special mention was for seeing Grandad – I’ve never really just hung out with the great man & talked about many things – even reflecting on this now it’s a very happy memory – one of the best of the whole summer! Like finding out he loves the music from Ol’ Blue Eyes [that’s Mr Frank Sinatra for those who don’t know!!] & what he did for his career & during the war – even about him knowing the current Duke of Malborough & meeting him 50 years later druing the VE 50th celebrations at the Duke’s home [Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire] a few years ago – bizarre, but so insightful. Also the awesomeness of seeing mes cousins – they’re a great bunch & we don’t hook up often enough – oh the joys of youthwork vs married & very busy lives! Also seeing my aunt & uncle was great – my Godfather always has some great advice & really listens to what I have to say!

34 - Thursday: up super-early - sorting out Richard’s laptop, then bike-ride repeat of previous route - super-fast! Then off to Woking to pick up Madders, then back to Bicester Village, then drop back in Woking then home - eeeek much drivering methinks! But how much fun!! I don't buy anything, but the Madders does - Diesel jeans & top (silky!) & a rad top from French Connection! I very nearly bought smart jumper from Paul Smith, but their price was down from £52 to…£50 - fail!!

35 - Friday: get stuff together & head down to see JMC, but see Mikey on the way in somewhere beginning with T near Cheltenham [lolz]. Many a phone conversation on the way down to J’s & it took aaaaaaages! Need to pick up Josephine at Tiverton station, arrive 7.15pm, Jo arrived at around 9 lol!! Then drove the rest of the way to J’s [about an hour] where he had pizza & vino waiting for us – I managed to consume a bottle & a half somehow! I got him a list together of everything bike-orientated that he might need to get eventually. We stayed up late chatting & putting the world to rights, whilst sending a text or two lolz

36 - Sat: got up when J did & really struggled till about 12 – d’oh!! Then we headed to Woolacombe beach for a walk, to check out the narly surfers & kayakers in the sea. Jo then took me out for a meal in a pub called the Red Barn – the all-day breakfast for the ultra-win!! Then back for another walk on the beach to the car, to meet J in a village called Braunton [famous for me, only because of its fish & chip restaurant – the best I’ve ever had – it’s called Squires & it owns!!!] so he could get a bike!! He had already chosen his Felt bike…which turned out to be a GT Series 4 [muppet!!] but I helped him get some clothing & accessories [using the list I made last night] including the essentials: Endura shorts & jersey [yellow], a [blue] Bell road helmet, mitts, plus a bottle & cage, a really good bag for his saddle [small & aerodynamic], which had no emergency kit in it…but I suggested tyre-levers, a multi-tool, & puncture plasters to keep him going. He got the bike & all accessories with a healthy 10% discount - marvellous! Then we went to Squires for fish & chips [win win win!!] & headed back to J’s for some food & vino!! Watched the Inside Man & then Enigma…while I was on the phone!! Then went to bed.

37 - Sunday: Walk with Max around Ilfracombe Church [vision], dinner with Granny Cranston, walk with Max & Sammy [rope burn for the fail], drop Jo off with J’s friend who would drive her to Tiverton train station, then pint in the red barn [yaaay], walk with Max near Woolacombe, then visit J’s ‘local’ where he know the staff really well, try to help kids with pool – fail miserably!! J treated my to dinner [nice one mate!], then home, vino, internet’s & bed…eventually!!

38 - Monday: cycle [my bike is officially broked], sort out J’s iTunes library & iPod…nearly lol! clay pigeon shooting, JMC horse riding while I get my stuff together, then surf time, then drive home!! A short note – for such a big day!!! The final finale in the BIG Road Trip 2007 for the Pikachu!!!

Thursday GCSE results day

Got up, 4 minutes to get dressed & some coffee before the morning meeting! This was nice & encouraging, but I prayed my prayers in silence, rather than out loud - for blessings in every conversation over the day...could be interesting day! Next was the 5th session, was cool, & talked to the Ama & Tim about their results – two very different tales, but both enlightening! The afternoon’s activities was a rad bike ride! Was like 15 miles, but proper narly!! Managed to injure my leg, by getting the cog-bit [yeah I’m sure that’s technical term dude!] digging in my shin – now that’s why I hate mountain bikes now lolz!! Then on the way back was proper hardcore, 2 of the tent-crew had 2 punctures within 5 minutes of fixing the first one – nightmare! Then had to guess our way back to the start point – was cool skills-work – big shout for the BELA lolz! Then was really nice to Kirsten & she gave me a hug & a diet-coke – things is getting better relationally with all the leaders, so feeling more stoked. The evening’s activities was the fireworks display at Poole – was rad & I accidentally picked up some sand from the beach for my room – overall, a good day!

Day 26 - so fresh & so clean!

Day 26 - Wednesday

Got up, when James did, except he was going for a run - d'oh! Went back to bed till 7.55, then got up all in a panic as the morning meeting was at 8!! Prepped for the discussion group - going to be tough - doing study in Romans, which was hard enough for the leaders to understand - hopefully some wisdom will be granted for the discussions. Had the 4th Session - a recap, then Jesus' life, death & resurrection. Before session, had some really great songs - 'This is Jesus' & 'How Great is our God' - yaaay, but my voice is definitely not in the right place at the moment & not as strong as on junior week. The discussion session went ok, got everyone talking which was really great, the only problem was really the wind, which was blowing the marquee like a giant sail (definitely the most windy day so far!).

Swimming - ahhh a shower & a swim - ain't nobody dope as me, I feel so fresh & so clean lol (that's from an Outkast song if u were wondering!) it was rad to get clean again, & try to exercise my aching knees & shoulders - w00t w00t!!

When we got back, we prepped to play a Manhunt/Fugitive game in the woods! The theory was that there would be 7 leaders hiding, with a 3 minute head-start, then each tent crew had to find each of the 7 leaders, in a specific order. In my infinite (though most would say questionable!) wisdom, I decided that we should add a little more hype & realism to the games - cue a couple of Super-soakers & cap guns for the woods! Well I thought (quite correctly) that if I'm hyped up & wanting to take part, then the campers would be to! So we got 'locked & loaded' & set off to find James M, & did...eventually, then were on an actual mission to “find Phil” (who had been running the spiritual program!). After what seemed like a really long time [it really was!], a hole was found in the plan - one group had no leader, or torches - so went missing for a bit! Also managed to lose Phil - he turned up well over a mile away from everyone else, but we got him back…eventually!!

When we got back to base, Kirsten was already running the Saloon - this time with a chocolate fountain - was proper rad, then debrief & bed…at last!!

Day 25

Day 25 - Tuesday
Morning breaks & crawl out of my sleeping-bag! Had breakie & then the 3rd session - rest of the Old Testament, then had an OK discussion group, followed by a footie match - English vs. Welsh, the result.........no score draw!!!

The afternoon activity was the stagecoach rally - went to the woods, a town & the beach for a photo challenge - did have to stay in the coach with Tim - he'd busted his knee (during the football) & might have damaged the ligaments in his knee, so had to sit out of the activity – hopefully he will recover before the end of the week! This was quite a rad activity & the group worked well together again! Also, not that I'm a jelous man, but when we went to the beach it was perfect for swimming & I didn't have my boardies - fail!! But some of the crew went in, as they were prepared for just such an occasion!!

When we got back, spent time chatting to Little Lauren about many things; spiritual gifts, the trinity & revelation - was tough, but alright (I hope!). Also spoke to Jen on the phone, who didn't have much to say, which was pretty rubbish, but hey, she's at SS with the crew!

Evening was wathcing the film The Wild Wild West, followed by a campfire, with cocoa & toasting marshmallows, but hit the sack (or sleeping-bag if you will) early - like 10.30!!

Day 24

Day 24 - Monday
Another struggling wake up - earlier today for a communion - with real vino (well Blossom Hill lol) & a massive loaf of bread! Then breakie, & the 2nd session & the 2nd discussion group - not as stagnant as yesterday - sat outside today as it was almost sunny lol! Then luncheon, closely followed by bowling - western style! We all (well the leaders) dressed as cowboys (I had my red-checkered grunge shirt, & red buff as a neckerchief thing, cowboy hat & some jeans - winner! Bowling was coolie, played Ghost Squad (awesome guns & perfect arcade action) & House of the Dead 3 (we should have shotguns for this kind of deal!) oh & had 2 games of 10 pin bowling lol! I didn't do particularly well (surprise, surprise lolz!) but managed to get a strike & a spare over the course of 2 games (but Giz would still have whooped me lol!)!

The evening's activity was the Cowboy Catwalk! This was a dressing up campers affair, we dressed up 2 camps - one in full cowboy attire, the other as a Indian princess - we were pretty good – I think we should have won the competition, but we were third - beaten only but the cooks/tech team (well who would out-vote the cooks, unless they didn't want any food lol!). This was the first time that the whole group really gelled & worked as a team – was pretty awesome! The Saloon with milkshakes with glow-stick straws - very unique lol! Then had to prep for the next day's discussion group before heading to bed.

Day 23

After that first difficult day many a prayer request, hopefully things will get better! Let's find out:

Day 23 (ish) Sunday

Got up (struggling lol), had the prayer meeting, then breaky, 1st session & discussion group - real quiet, will have to micro-manage the questions more carefully & encourage them to be more open to discussion.

Next was designing flags & teepee-exterior-things (for evening's activity). Next was team games/activities - we cheated, but never won! Eventually got rained off! Then came into the marquee, James M ran a few quizzes, quite good, but the Shooting Stars went down the best - proper lol e.g. (Q: Name a day of the week. A: Tuesday)

Got a call from Hobbit, although it transpires that he didn't technically call me, it was still good to chat to him about stuffs - bless him! Turns out that Rosie & Mad-Eye are at the same week of Soul Survivor as The Others (KBC crew; AJ, Hobbit, Jen, Lego, Duplo, G, etc.) & actually met up with Hobbit & Jen - bizarre!!

The evening's activity was the teepee making - 8 garden canes, string, gaffa-tape, & our bed-sheets that were decorated earlier - ours was definitely structurally the best, with guy-ropes, pegs, etc. but hey, what can u do?! Also got given glow-stick necklace & stick (which I used as a pendant - winner) Strangely no1 has broken theirs open...yet!!

Saloon - pancakes - much better than Junior 2 lol! Now is about 10 & feelin properly knack'd, will try to crash out at the earliest possible opportunity lol!!

Day 22

OK it's been a little while since last I blogged, but don't worry kids - I kept me blog going using word on my mobile lol!! This blog is starting with MWCC Senior Week - but be warned I found this week a real challenge! Enjoy:

Day (I dunno 22 maybe?!) - Saturday

Woke up at silly o'clock (6.45am), got out of bed an hour later, & then threw some clothes in my holdall, got the rest of my stuff needed for camp, got dressed up in my narly O'Neill trousers & red Muse top & headed down to pack the car. Had a quick chat with Ian, but going to not borrow any money this week (my mum filled my car with fuel & gave me £50, so should be sorted for camp...hopefully!). Chucked everything in the car (including a warmer 3-season sleeping bag) & progged my TomTom to get me to camp home base & set off for camp, albeit a little more nervous than on junior week 2.

The journey down was ok...then it started raining with about 40 miles to go (d'oh - why am I wearing trousers?!) & decided to try to avoid Lyndhurst, by going the way me & Hobbit used when we dropped of that camper a couple of weeks ago. I tried to do this by progging the TomTom to miss out the road to Lyndhurst, but it was going miles out the way, so I tried that way through Emery Down (or Green or whatever it's called lol), which confused the living crap outta my SatNav lol, but hey it caught up with my plan...eventually lol!!!

Got to camp & said g'day to the weeks head honcho - James, helped set up some monumental tent & a couple of smaller ones, & found where we were sleeping! Then the rain started.......& continued all afternoon! We had a little leaders intro, some luncheon & had a look at the program.

I'm leading a crew with a guy called John & a girl called Jo (who would be arriving later on that afternoon). Met a couple of our tent crew & they seem cool, will see how relationships develop through the week.

Feeling more than a little nervous at the moment - mostly because I don't really know anyone (apart from Loz) so I think this is going to be a really challenging week. This not exactly helped by a big drive over the past few days, my unnatural tiredness (through the Ami) & the fact that the weather really sucks - cold, wet & thoroughly miserable!!

...to be continued!

Well had an introduction by James, now on a bit of down/unpack time before dinner, the rain has eased to be more of a dribble, which is much betterer lol! We're all (me John & another James) in one of the really dark tents which is great, but I can't see lol, also had to mop it out, because there were a couple of pools of water on the groundsheet - d'oh!! Feeling a little less apprehensive, but this is still going to get getting used to methinks!

Had a good dinner & chatted to Stevie G & John C - good times, good times!

Next headed off the beach (but Highcliffe Castle this time - not the same as Junior Week) for a wander & to get into teams & come up with a team chant - ours was kinda silly, but funny at the same time - we're the sherriff's & ours went:

'Nothing rhymes with sherriff, shake & bake cowboy!!!'

Classics lol! However, walking solitarily on the way, & chatted with Ian T on the way back. Also on the way, sent out a mass prayer appeal (if your one of those who got that text, many blessings!) to try to sort out; the rubbishy weather & my lonliness & apprehension, feeling out of place, etc. Got a few replies, which was great, but really not finding this cool so far - patience my son, patience!!

Got back, had the saloon, but wandered out to chat to Jo (thanks my dear Josephine!) & chilled out, then off to bed for 11ish (takin the Ami so crashed straight out!). Did get a few texts from Jennie which was cool - lookin after me from afar...kinda! Hopefully things will improve over the week