Monday blogging on a Wednesday:

Had a good day off, met up with Jen for coffee at Costa - it went ok. Then hung out with Captain Bear & played PGR4 & Halo 3 (on CO-OP & on legendary mode) - which made the whole thing much more challenging & fun - we might have accidentally kept on going till 2.45am - oooops!!

Six out

Busy busy busy!!

Had a great week - started my relationship with my (now girlfriend) Mad Eye. In definitely not a romanticalistic (is that a word?!) I wrote her a song, put it in a card & it was quite sweet, at the end I told her I was going to ask her a question.....which is where I asked her if she wanted to go out with me......

.......& she did - win!!!

Also had good conversations with the Hobbit on the Wednesday - a very reciprical dialogue about life, love & putting the world to rights lolz & generally building up each other & praying for each other - win win!!

Managed to see Mad Eye on the Monday & the Thursday which was rad, then she was in Abingdon at the weekend so saw her on ummm Friday, Saturday & Sunday lolz! Spending some quality time was great & just really made me feel all loved up - awwwww!!

Oh & on Saturday I got some very rad Vans replacement - black Puma's with 4 pairs of laces (yes I said 4!) green, blue, purple & orange - insane but proper rad! & Hung out with Doodley in the evening - sillyness & conversation - winner!

Six signing off!!

Wednesday reflections…from Tuesday!

A very interesting day yesterday – not only having lunch with my good friend Floatie, but also had one of the best counselling sessions so far! It almost sounds cheesy, but they really worked for me, the two techniques that my counsellor JP got me to try were 1) Try to find ‘a happy place’. 2) Really concentrate on your breathing & try to hold your out-breath for a little longer.

But the really interesting part for me is the difference that it made to my whole experience of counselling. These were techniques with the purpose of remaining in control. So that when exploring the memories that I started seeing JP for, I could remain in control of my emotions, rather than letting those memories be in control of me. Overall, the effect was very good. We shall see next week if it works well, when it shall be used during the exploration of very difficult & hazy memories.

Blessings


Si

Incidentally the happy place that I found was sat with my best friend J on his sofa, in his house in Devon, just chatting about life the universe & everything & overlooking the town of Ilfracombe – a simple yet very powerful place for me. I told him as such as well – not a bad idea mate lolz!

Up2date?

OK I haven't been blogging recently - I've been writing instead - an interesting theory & I thought I'd share some of what's beeen going on. It's really more detailed than this, but here's some insight bloggers!

I've been having a week to think, pray & reflect about the possibility of a relationship with a girl. During that time, I really prayed about things & God really did some work in my life - this is life a mini-testimony really....kinda!!

Anyways I was given a brief vision - but nothing to do with the matters of my heart...or so I thought. When I say vision, I'm talking about an image which I could really see, & was not a memory, but something else. People may not agree with this [theologically] but this is just my own understanding. This vision was of a glimpse of a picture which looked like this:

My Father in heaven was walking through a garden with me, as a father does with his child, deep in conversation and laying a hand on my shoulder.

Which made me wonder if it’s just the wanderings of my mind about how my own father treats me [i.e. that never happens], or if it was a true vision of how God wants to interact with me at this turning point in my life? It's an interesting question which I went on to develop, but it also made me remember previous visions & caused me to write the whole thing down. It was an intersting exercise, because it was focusing my attentions on God & my own faith, rather than on the girl.

This made me have what I would call a good God-week & that was a really positive thing. Now all I need to do is to keep going, so if you read this pray for me, for strength in my faith.

Blessings


Si

Bloggeritus!

Forgive me Mr Internet for I have sinned – it has been many, many weeks since my last blog! [does it offend you, yeah? If so – sorry mon ami!]

There is much going on in the world off the Pikachu. Much contemplation, prayer & reading has happened since ‘The endless, glorious summer of 2007’! So I’ll try to briefly fill you in.

For those not in the know, I’ve been doing a degree course for just over 2 years now, & have also been attending weekly counselling sessions since Easter. The degree is trying to teach me to be a reflective practitioner & in a very strange way, the counselling is also assisting me on that quest.

I seem to have now developed this [potentially irritating] habit of thinking before acting. Now this strange concept has been going on post-summer holidays & now is taken over much of how I think and act.

So, for example, I started to think that I should start to look for a job, so re-subscribed to youthwork magazine, so I could check out the vacancies section, amongst other things. When looking through, I starred a couple of likely-looking posts, but rather than just ring them all, I stopped…did nothing for a few days & simply offered it up to God. I then decided on just one to go for [incidentally this was ‘that’ job that I got so many of you to pray for!] – but really go for it. Again I stopped & thought about this place – could it work, would it be right for me, would I be right for it, etc. Then I fully engaged with my preparation & attended the interview after being short-listed. I didn’t get the job in the end, but wasn’t too disappointed – there was nothing wrong with my interview or anything, it was just that they wanted someone to start immediately & full-time & that was just something I could commit to just yet.

This brings me nicely on to my second example. In my ‘personal’ life, I’m bringing more contemplation into everything. So when I started to having feelings for a particular person [who, for now, will remain completely nameless, but she knows who she is!] I actually stopped & didn’t rush into anything. I still haven’t rushed into a relationship, even after establishing various things like if we ‘liked’ each other, etc. & talking about the potential for a relationship. After advice from my good friend Sid, everything has been done slowly & with much prayer, thought & contemplation. Right now we’re giving each other time & space to think & pray about the realities of forming a relationship.

I’ve even read a book that had been recommended many moons ago by Mrs Woods – the Five Love Languages & it’s made a real impact into my thinking & something I’m using to better understand the actions of those around, myself & most importantly my Dad. But that is another story & one which I will attempt to blog sooner rather than later – you never know – he might even read it!! ;o)

Shalom

Six

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

Return to Oxford

Day 21 Friday

Got up at a reasonable hour [9ish], got all our stuff together, & started off on the journey back. However, I managed to forget all my sugar – not good for a 170 miles trip lol! So re-started the journey, & got stuck in horrible traffic lol! Got back to Oxford around 2.30, got all my stuff out of the car [w00t] & got some washing done [w00t w00t!], then had a ‘conversation’ with my Brother – oh the joys lol! This took a little while, then had to drop off some more stuff to Hobbit & Jennie then eventually had some chillin’ time! Still got to chat to Ian, so I can secure some funds for the next few weeks! Also not going to pack till the morning – too tired lol!

Day 20 Thursday

Day 20 Thursday

Got up early[ish] & had received an anonymous text asking about what I thought about someone, so I gave it to them as straightforwardly as us guys can do!! i.e. we’re friends & no more & don’t misinterpret warmth & affection with love & fancying someone!! Then after getting beach-ready, me & Jen got beach-bound! Taking in the wonderful shops of Paignton [hmmm not convinced lol] before picking up a copy of Youthwork magazine & hitting the beach [yaaay red sand lol!].

We headed to subway for luncheon, before disappearing to the pier again for amusements [again] this time Jennie was playing the weirdest 2p machine I’ve ever seen – you play it whilst playing Pacman – dude whaaaat?! Then wandered through the surf again, then headed up the dreaded Doom Steps [there’s lots of them & they’re very steep, so don’t ask lol!] to go back to Jen’s.

Am currently sat writing my blog after polishing off my September edition of the youthwork report for the local newspaper thing [Nor Lye News w00t w00t!!]. Tonight gonna actually watch Shooter & get my stuff together – need to head off fairly early tomorrow, as Jen needs to be in Oxford earlyish & as I now need to talk to my Grandfather [Ian] about my sibling & he possibility of my 3rd road trip….or I ain’t going nowhere lol!!!

Also had a couple of phone calls from a panicking parent [Mother!] about my little brother – I think I’m going to need all my powers of persuasion, to get him out of his problems methinks! Oh & Hobbit rang, missing all the crew [presumably a post-camp blues] & so I advised him [as his attorney to take a hit from the little brown bottle…oh wait that Fear & Loathing lol] to shut up & go to Soul Survivor lol!! A friend of ours had offered him a free trip, transport both ways & to stay with his crew. So get on with it…any questions? No? Gooooood!!!

Had some beef stroganoff – yummy & watching some drama [kind of a Morse knock-off by BBC1] on the box.

To the beach!!!

Day 19 - Wednesday

OK got up real late [I think my Ami is playing tricks with my sleeping patterns...again!] – i.e. just before 12, now planning to head on down to the beach/into town. Spoke to Vicky & as she only lives about 10 miles away suggested we all [Tuckett also lives near her] meet up at a pub somewhere in Paynton this afternoon. Also, did some more blogging [about the Scuba Diving day] & Facebook messaging to young Jules [we’re still praying my dear!], then grabbed my boardies & headed into town!

Got a lift in with Jen’s mum, & walked along the beach & dipped [kind of] in the wash of the sea, then it started tipping it down, so went to a pub [The Spinning Wheel] for a Guiness lol. When we were sat, we chatted a bit more about us & how I think our relationship could work, both for this year & in the years to come – was cool, but I’m still going to have to wait & see! We then went looking around the shops, which were very um seaside-towny lol! But we did find a narly surf-shop called 360 degrees – they had some real rad stuff, but a little expensive & my wallet was not full enough to indulge lol!!

Next we met up with the Tuckett & the Vickster for another Guiness & some chips [yaaay chips!] in the pub [this time the Inn on the Green], then headed off to the pier for some fun on the arcades – a very good use of time & resources – Jennie & Tuckett hit the dance machines & me & the Vickster blew stuff up!! It was a very narly game called Ghost Force [or something like that] with what I think were MP5 assault rifles – very narly!! Finally we tried to kill a load of vombies on the ridiculous House of the Dead 4 [very silly – you had to shake your Uzi to reload it & shake it more if a zombie thing clung on to you – dude whaaaaat?!].

When the other 2 had gone, me & Jennie met up with Jennie’s mum [Sue] for some fish & chips, from some award-winning place [not sure what awards they won though – suspect lol!!] then came back & watched some more TV & then my new movie Shooter [but I felled asleep….again – there’s a total surprise!!]

Day 18 Tuesday

Mad-eye & Rosie joined Facebook, so convo’s beginning via that medium, also rubbish weather & mostly spent time on the interweeb updating my blog with about a week’s worth of posts…including this one lol!!

Then had luncheon, & headed off to Morrison’s for some munchies & a couple of DVD’s & came back home & started watchin’ Shallow Hall & eating popcorn – basically – ‘Chillin’ like a Villain’. Also, around 9 there was some really rad choreographed fireworks. Finally, fell asleep [on the floor] watching Life on Mars, so went to sleep properly lol!

Let's do a road trip!!

Day 17 Monday

Got up at a reasonable hour, pack & began Road Tip Part 2!! Using the joy’s of TomTom, I programmed in my destination postcode & started my journey. It was really quite useful, but the voices were quite irritating, so changed it to Australian guy – brilliant, but I think I want to [ahem] borrow some more from Mexico lol!

Anyways, drove down to Jennie’s – it’s actually quite far – over 170 miles each way, so by the time I got down to Jens, I’d clocked over 1000 miles [yaaay!!] this summer!! On the way down gave the Global Soundsystem CD another bash [or should that be bosh lol – oh, you don’t understand do you! Well…oh nevermind!!]. Anyways, it is real good – the 1st disc is a bit of Electro House, but with trancier elements, the 2nd disc is [jaw drops, pulls face of ecstasy] REALLY good, right from the beginning all the way through – there’s reversions of classics & trance mixes of electro, & it just OWNS!! The 3rd disc didn’t really get a list to, but there’s always the journey home lol!!

So arrived, chilled out & had some dinner, then disappeared off to the cinema to watch Simpsons the movie – which was really funny [even if we did arrive a few minutes late lol] & used a mix of slapstick & less obvious humor, like reference & political – win!! Finally came home & chilled the hell out lol!

sleepy day off!!

Day 16 - Sunday

Oh snap! Got up around 1, chillaxed & unpacked/sorted stuff, then had 4 bud's & went to bed lol! Between those 2 momentous events [yes, getting up & going back to sleep!] managed to do my mountain of washing, catch up with my Mum & Ian & then spend a lot of time on Facebook, mostly adding new crew & photo’s & textin the Madders & Vickster. Also watched some Robot Chicken, etc. just for giggles [“Well what the hell is an Aluminum Falcon?!”, “Martiniiiiii’s”, etc.]

MWCC Last Day!

Day 15 - Saturday

Well it’s official, it’s the last day of Junior week of Mid Wessex Christian Camp 2007 – yaaay & nooooo all at the same time!! Feeling stoked about going back home to get a bath & a beer, but real sad that I’m not going to see all the campers for another year. I’m even sadder about the leaders – they’ve been an awesome crew & I’m going to miss those who I developed the beginnings of brilliant friendships with, naming no names [What? I wouldn’t want people to get too big an ego lol, plus I wouldn’t want to create anything like the girls’ Fit List lol!!]

Anyways, it was Shani’s turn for leading the leaders prayer & bible session & was great, then for prayer, we made a circle outside, & we prayed for our brothers & sisters on our left & right [mine were Wrighty & Geoffers], then for the whole camp & back-up crew & the following weeks of MWCC [of which I’m also doing the seniors week – sounds like an OAP camp, but I don’t think it is lol!!].

I decided we should try to wake up the campers ‘properly’, so did a repeat of last years wake-up call [In Your Honor, by the Foo Fighters], but this time with the great Muse lol. I drove my little purple bubble round to the back of the oldest boys’ tent, cranked up all the amps & sub to maximum levels, then selected a track called Stockholm Syndrome [yes hobbit, I know you know it well!] by the Muse & blasted it out at 25 [that’s REALLY loud, normally 21 is ear-shattering, so 25 is bad lol!!]. I think it’s fair to say that I managed to wake everyone up with that lol!! However, I was getting approached by someone on camp who obviously didn’t approve of my taste in music & I’m sure that if I’d let it blast on for a few more tracks I would have got my wrists [or somewhere else] slapped lol!! Come on people this is camp lol!!

After a hearty [but colored-porridge-less] breakfast, me & Wrighty distributed the photo’s of our tent crew. We all wrote encouraging notes, verses, etc. in each others [the photos were in like a card layout thingy, so there was a blank space next to the photo itself]. Then in my infinite [or some might say questionable] wisdom, I decided to go pegging [for those uninitiated it’s where you get a clothes-peg & peg it on unassuming victims for giggles lol!] but with a twist, on the peg I put ‘pegged by Pikachu Ind. lol’, so the culprit could be identified – me lol! I started off with a couple of easy ones, but was challenged to do someone difficult – the Tizzmeister – hmmmm!! Was not really a challenge, but hey, what can you do lol!!

Next it was the clear-up & pack-away mission. For this, because I was loading up my car, I decided now was the appropriate moment to see what my new Global Soundsystem CD would be like – yaaay! Not a bad choice – starting with some Chemical Brothers , then moving on to some rock & Ibiza beats – a good start, will have to give that a real good listen to when I’m next on a road trip…so Monday then lol!!

Also had to persuade Tizzy it was a really good idea that she gave me back all my monkeys’ lol! Generously donated my big chimp to Tizzy [well she is the monkey pimp lol] & the little grey possum-thingy to Mad-Eye lol, so only had my snoring monkey left to give to Jennie – awwww [I hope she like it lol]!! Also we’d received the leaders photographs from Loz, so I thought I’d try to get mine signed…a little bit…by all the tent crew officers – yaaay! Then I got what are know as Rosie Cheeks – yeah as Rosie attacked me with an orange felt tip lol [it wasn’t until later on that I noticed my nose was the same color – double-lol!!].

Next it was time for the final morning session – which was a look back at what we had learned this week & finished with the famous MWCC song…ummm which I’ve kinda forgotten [what is it Jules?!]. After the last session finished, I drove the Tizzy back into New Milton, so she could repay me for the Medieval Fair thingy, back to the Tesco’s, where she popped in to grab a bottle of water & spotted a Leffe beer which was “calling to her” lol, so I told her I never go anywhere without a bottle opener – so go get the mofo lol!! Chilling out, with a beer, with a new friend, like naughty kids – win, win, WIN!!

When all the campers had gone & the leaders were ready to go, we were all going to go to the pub in a convoy – yaaay!! I was taking Hobbit back, & so as a tribute to the week, we left to the sounds of the Knights of Cydonia [come on Mid Wessex – “No one’s gonna take me alive, you & I must fight for our riiiiiiights, etc. COME ON!!!]

All the way to the pub, in for a quick Guinness [or 2 for Hobbit] & a sacrificial Magner’s – on behalf of Tizzy [who was going with Captain Beaky & couldn’t join us – d’oh], before heading back with some quality rock! The final act of craziness was to go for a quick burn, listening to those Knights again, & New Born [both by Muse for the uninitiated lol] at a blistering volume of 22-23 & belting it out [I think we’re going to have to learn & perform the Knights for the next MWCC wethinks lol!!].

After dropping off all my stuff at my house [thanks Hobbit], I dropped him back, & got a bath on the go, & a bottle of Magner’s lol! The washing of necessity lol!!

After being made clean [oh so clean!], I decided to drop in to see Jeanie [me Gran] to check about switching the gift of a camera to a SatNav. She was 100% cool about me changing it [well it was a gift after all!] – so now stoked & will get the monies from me Mum & go straight down to Sainsbury’s…if it’s open lol!

So yeah, did just that, & [eventually] got a TomTom one – win, win, WIN!! It was supposed £160, but I used my Nectar points, oh & the people in Sainsbury’s can’t count, so I got it for £160 minus £12.50 minus £10, so like £137.50 [I think!] wicked! Then finally, had another Magner’s & stayed up real late & watched some of the TV I had recordified [The Bill – yaaay!] lol!

Penultimate nite

Day 14 - Friday

Ahhh another day, another early morning, only one more day till the end of MWCC Junior Week 2 & definitely feeling the strain lol!! Today was Dave Wright's early morning session, was good & inspirational - everyone can struggle, no one can be perfect all the time!

After breakfast, me & the Tizzy, went shopping in New Milton, officially to get some beads, but also to find some form of outfit for the medieval fair. OK, here’s where we went to; Party Spot for outfits [knight & gypsy wench lol], a toy store for cowboy hat & crown & wear it down the road lol, Woolworths for 2 mahoosive guns, beads, more beads, & some beads, choons, & sweets! A haberdashery (dude what?!) for hair wrap stuffs, Help the Aged (help the mofo aged lol) for an outfit for Rosie. Was all good fun lol!

The afternoon’s activity was the Medieval Fair, with knockout-joust-things, a bouncy castle, stocks [for pelting leaders with sponges], a doughnut eating competition, face-painting, splat-a-rat & finally me & Tizzy’s stall – with temporary tattoos, hair braiding, & beads. Was really busy, enough for us to need a break to re-setup the stall lol!! After a couple of hours [I think] a mass water-fight erupted lol! I believe that young Tim & George [those crazy Ministry of Fun kids] may possibly have started it a water pistol [with my own super-soaker no less] & water bombs! The challenge was accepted by the guns of the mighty water-warriors of; me, Tizzy & Rosie, to be joined by Mad-Eye [when Tim relinquished my super-soaker lol]. When a halt had been called i.e. every single leader [apart from Captain Beaky & a few others who ‘might not approve’] had been drenched, everyone sorted themselves out & got ready for the evening’s BBQ.

There were a few issues I had about the course of the conversation [I got a little irritated with mes amies], but a chat with Hobbit & some good QOTSA & Arcade Fire sorted me out! The night’s activity was Line Dancing [eeek] – led by the Tiz, during which I actually took part, until I started getting my feets trod on by Nate & Wrighty [ouch]. After this was cocoa & then PJ's - encore was the pie sketch – legendary! It was a real late night chatting & stuffs & then get into bed & hear the pitter-patter of silly feet - Madders & Rosie - them crazy kidz lol!