Random musings

It's rather late at night by all accounts [1.45am & counting], but am still awake, so to occupy this new bout of insomnia, I has been playing with my blogger template, to try make it a little more interesting - so what do you think?! Also have generally been blogging a lot more than usual, which is both strange, but good!!

Am really getting into the concept of not just talking about going to the shops & buying coffee, but reflection & contemplation through writing - & it's a good exercise & discipline to do it regularly. I mean where would we be if the Beeb didn't blog the news?! OK, we'd be without a website, but you take the point I feel!

Anyways, enough musings, finally we havce a random piece of 'why do you still own a PC' advertising from those Apple geekoids - enjoy:

Facebook musings Pt1

This comes from an article Beeb weebsite. Microsoft has invested $240m in Facebook in exchange for a 1.6% share of the company. That puts a monetary value of $15bn (£7.3bn) on my favourite [& most used] social networking website! So why does Microsoft think Facebook is worth $15bn? According to the Beeb's techy guys & financial analysists there are 15 potential reasons, which are as follows:

1. The network has gone viral in the last 12 months, with more than 50 million users worldwide and a user base that is growing faster than great rival MySpace. According to Facebook, it adds 200,000 new users each day.

2. The average user spends 3.5 hours a month on Facebook - more than the average user on rival MySpace - which is increasingly attractive to advertisers.

3. Facebook is the current Web 2.0 darling - popular with ordinary users and "tech heads" alike.

4. US research reveals that Facebook users come from wealthier homes and are more likely to attend college than MySpace users - increasing that attraction for advertisers.

5. Microsoft's investment makes them a serious player in the growing market of "social advertising". Social network profiles are full of personal data that users voluntarily hand over, which is very useful for targeting adverts.

6. Sixty percent of Facebook users are outside of the US - so Microsoft's investment buys access to a global audience quickly and simply.

7. Facebook is the new web: The decision to open up the network to outside developers turned Facebook into a destination for many uses, like messaging, photos and video. Of course, as Facebook is on the web it could never really be the new web.

8. Every major content firm with an online presence is either working on a Facebook application or has already launched one - from Google to the BBC.

9. According to a report, 233 million hours of work are lost each month in the UK due to staff looking at social networks. Advertisers can now target people when at their desks.

10. The openness of Facebook is attracting a wealth of talented developers who can launch their applications to millions of users quickly.

11. Facebook messaging is the new e-mail. Everyone feels stressed from a deluge of e-mail from unwanted people and companies. But Facebook messages are always from friends.

12. Facebook's "status updates" have become the easiest way to let friends know what you are doing and how you are feeling at any given moment.

13. Facebook thrives on playful applications such as Pirates, Zombies, Super Wall and Top Friends, which have made the network a place to play as well as communicate.

14. Facebook is the acceptable face of blogging - you can reflect your life and personality online without being seen as a "blogger", which often carries a geeky stigma.

15. Facebook is worth $15bn only because Microsoft says so. The value of Facebook is based on a 1.6% share of the firm being worth the $240m Microsoft paid for it. Microsoft and Google were in a bidding war for a slice of the firm and both companies have large pockets. This was not just business, this was personal, according to some analysts.

This is a very interesting musing from the Beeb, so I thought I'd share it with those who don't as often frequent the Tech pages of the Beeb as often as myself, but who do spend time on teh Book! I especially like number 14, seeing as I occasionally blog lolz! But it's definitely worth a wee bit of contemplation.

Six out

Funny ha blah!!

oh & one more - just for us emo-lovers!!

Funny ha ha!

I saw this on one of my interweeb surfing & it really made me chuckle!!

Sketchy-Win-Thinkering!!

Well it's Thursday, & am feeling quite the tiredness - I blame the 9am lectures lolz!!

Today we're looking at vision & leadership with Caz. It's coming at a very critical time for me, because I have to write 2 essays this term & the one which I haven't started yet is about my vision for youthwork (essay question).

Am also in a very rad mood, after a sketchy end of yesterday's lectures.

I'd walked back into town to catch a bus & there was a giant queue for the bus back home, so hung out in Borders & got a McBurger Chicken meal. Picked up a new set of Sennheiser cans (cheap ear-muffs lolz!) & another book on culture (An Anthropologic View of Culture) which looks very insightful - especially the chapter on culture as a religion, because of my upcoming dissertation. So I didn't get home till about 7.30 - a very long day methinks!!

Then spent quite a long time on the phone to my girlfriend, after quite a cryptic text message! We chatted about our growing relationship & love & about the bible study series that she'd just begun. It's looking at a book Called 'Pure' by Linda Marshall (which I'm going to buy & read as soon as I can). I compared that (female) approach to relationships, with the book that I had recently finished reading ('Boy Meets Girl' by Joshua Harris). I also brought up the idea of both studying the Word together & discussing it, as an aid to spiritual development & growth in the knowledge of God. I think that this was a very encouraging & developmental discussion & insightful into how our relationship has been going & where it could be going. This was great & left us both positively joyous!

Today I also had luncheon with Sid - it was good to catch up on each others love lives(!) & we did some interesting reflections on the 'Five Love Languages' (Chapman) & the impact of that learning on my relationship with God. Therefore, how does God show each of those five languages:

1) Acts of Service
2) Gifts
3) Quality Time
4) Words of Affirmation
5) Physical Touch

It's good to bring the idea of love back to God & my relationship with Him.

Right enough pondering - back to lectures ;o)

Six

Wednesday blogging.....on a Wednesday ;o)

Had a great start to the day - up early, had an actual quiet time (shock horror!) whilst sat on the bus (my car's (Bubble) exhaust is not in a good way so is at the car-doctor's lolz!) & prayed for PC & other peeps!! Also feeling totally full (& even overflowing) of love for the Mad Eye - I know it seems all lovey-dovey, but tough! It's not just how I think, it's how I feel as well!!

Am now sat in a very bizarre lecture about questionnaires - am in a group with Sid & Ali & asking some very random questions to passers by (1 Do you have a pen? 2 Can I borrow a pen? 3 Do you want your pen back?!)

Good times guys, god times!

Six

Tuesday Blogging.....on a Wednesday!

Had counselling today & it was really insightful - JP got me to use a very interesting technique to explore some very difficult memories. That was rather than just using straight memories, use my (creative) imagination so that the original memories can be added to. Therefore the memories become a maliable media - not just raw.

So one could visit the memory (which was bad) & then say - right if you today was to walk in or disturb the situation in that memory what would you do, as a confident adult youthworker?

This technique was something that (again) I had not even considered using, but you effectively become the 'director' & can change the previously remebered outcome of the memory - to create a happy ending.

However, even though I felt quite positive after the session, I think that it hit me a little later on in the day - as I felt a little sketchy most of the afternoon & evening. Then talked to the Mad Eye & got cheered up - winner!

Smiley-Six out!!

Monday blogging...Pt 2: Musics

Also a new playlist idea - the inevitable 'Choons of the Day' - let's put then in a playlist! So today's was 'Over & Over' by Hot Chip, I'd seen the music video on some music channel & though it was really quite unusual sounding & with a uniquely twisted video - go check it out on Youtube (link)!

I also added some previous highly played tracks & will be updating it as & when new tracks get my attention! OK one more before I sign off - 'But Honestly' by the Foo Fighters - that really blew my mind & it's the sort of rock track that should be played live - there's so much that could be tweaked - would be just awesome (iTunes link).

Six

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