Photo Hunt - Empty

This an empty electric train. It runs along the front in Brighton,
which is the oldest electric railway in the world still operating.

Friday Feast 136

Appetizer: Who is your favourite news anchor/reporter? Why?
I don't have one, don't tend to watch tv news. I listen to radio or read it online.

Soup: Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.
Loads of stuff in my freezer, I'll take a look ... first 3 things I saw were pork chops, oven chips and haddock fillets.

Salad: If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?
Really not sure about this one, perhaps something Doctor Who related! Gallifrey? Dalekville? Tennant Town?

Main Course: What will most likely be the next book you read?
I plan to read Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson as I received a free copy the other day, which I need to review here on my blog. If you haven't read any of Lisa's books yet I can highly recommend them, recently read Tiger Lillie and that was great.

Dessert: What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
I think a nice smile is important, then you know they are someone you can relax and have fun with. David Tennant has a gorgeous grin!

Wordless Wednesday - Coming Soon!

BBC One March 31st!

Valley of Betrayal Blog Tour

I'm taking part in the Valley of Betrayal blog tour so welcome to anyone new who's come to visit.

In case you haven't read any Tricia Goyer books before, she is an American Christian who has previously written a series of books set in World War II. If you are looking for good historical fiction with strong christian values get hold of the first in the series, Dust and Ashes, its a brilliant read and you'll definitely want to read the rest of the series.

Valley of Betrayal is set in the Spanish Civil War and I have to confess I didn't know anything about it before I read this book. That's one of the things I love about good historical fiction, a great read and I learn something new. At the beginning of the book the main character, Sophie, was on her way to Spain to be with her fiancé and I have to say I wasn't sure if I was going to like her too much but she is changed by the people she encounters and the war she finds herself in, soon you are really caring about what happens to her and the other characters. The events of the civil war are brought vividly to life, so if you're looking for a cosy, comfortable read this won't be for you, but if you are looking for a great read, characters you care about, challenges to your faith and the way you view the world and to learn about a period in history that seems to be largely forgotten, then read this book.

You can read the first chapter on Tricia's blog. I have an extra copy of the book to give away, so if you are in the UK and think you'd like it, let me know in the comments and I'll pick someone at random to send it to.

My Visual DNA

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Photo Hunt - Drink

My tipple of choice is Baileys but I am British so most of the time
what I really want is a nice cup of tea!

Friday Feast 135

Appetizer: Name two things that made you smile this week.
I confess I did laugh this week when one of my pupils asked "Where does the Loch Ness Monster live?" and today in the UK is Comic Relief so today we had "Bling Day" at school, some of the girls outfits made me smile.

Soup: Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?
... you want to read your book/watch tv/play a game but you have a pile of marking to do.

Salad: When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?
I always find a glass of Baileys helps! Failing that a mug of hot chocolate and a few chapters of a book.

Main Course: What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?
I suppose its the whole heaven and hell question. Don't get me wrong I believe in heaven and hell but what exactly are they like, angels playing harps on clouds doesn't seem right to me! Is hell really a fiery furnace? There seem to be a lot of theories and I know I'd prefer to be in heaven but it does make me wonder sometimes.

Dessert: What is your favourite pasta dish?
I'm a big fan of lasagne, we have gorgeous lasagne at school, I will miss that in my new job!

You can join the Friday Feast.

Photo Hunt - Architecture

This is the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.
There is a wonderful view from the top and an amazing
glass floor which I used in a previous Photo Hunt.

Happy, Happy!

This has been a good week:

1. I have a new job for September so no more uncertainties
(and no more interviews - hooray!)
2. In my AS modules I got an A and a B
(the B was 1 mark off an A!)
3. My friend Lydia is getting married
(Congratulations, Lydia and Mark!)

Why no posts?

I don't seem to have posted anything much lately apart from photos. Mainly this is because I am on a job hunt at the moment and its difficult to know what to write about interviews, especially when you haven't heard the result yet (who knows who could be reading this!). With the whole school merger situation there are so many things I could whinge about but lots of confidential issues and it wouldn't be fair to the future of the new school. Anyway, I'm feeling quite a few frustrations at present and I worry that if I start writing about them on here I will say something which will just get me in trouble in the future! What I can say is please pray for me, lots of unknowns in my future right now and I'm a lot happier when I'm feeling safe and secure.

Photo Hunt - Salty

This is a beach in Wales where me, my sister, niece and nephew spent a wonderful
day in the summer, playing in the sand and swimming in the salty sea.
Sorry we didn't get photos of us swimming, you'll just have to believe me!

Photo Hunt - Soft

This is my niece Abi with a soft, cuddly bunny!

Amazing 3D Illusions

No photo hunt for me this week, the theme is antique and I don't have anything you could even vaguely class as antique! So here is something completely different; I saw these on Lisa's blog, it seems hard to believe but these are pavement drawings, aren't they amazing? They are drawn by Julian Beever, go and have a look at his website.

Photo Hunt - Broken

My computer chair is looking rather broken!

It's not so comfortable on a hard dining chair :(

Another Day Off

Its terrible, I have to stay home for another day in my nice warm flat! Still lots of snow around and lots of ice too, so all the schools round here are closed again today. What shall I do with myself? I suppose I should be doing my marking but I hear my knitting calling to me!

Update at 9:45 am : Its snowing again!

Snow Day!

Sadly my school is closed today and I have to stay at home, I am so upset!!!!
Here are some views from my flat:









I think the trees look lovely in the snow.

Look its a jumper!

Photo Hunt - Gross

Here is my delightful niece Abigail, she loves a banana!

Nervous!

Here's a logic problem for you: on Sunday we have a baptism at church, our minister is recovering from a broken wrist and I am a deacon. Can you work out the solution? I'm feeling very nervous, I never imagined I would ever be "dunking" anyone, what if I do it wrong?

Photo Hunt - Silver

OK, so the shade of this wool is actually called "blue steel" but it looks very silvery to me and it gives me a good excuse to show everyone that I've now finished the front of my jumper!

Search for Charity

Would you like to support your favourite charity by surfing the net? Everyclick is a search engine which donates money to charity every time you make a search, if you register you can even choose the charity where your money goes. Why help Google rake in the cash when you could be helping a good cause? Go and have a look, it sounds like a great idea to me (and it was the brainchild of one of our ex-teachers!). See a video all about it here. Please tell all your friends and colleagues about it.

Thanks Mum!

Its turned cold here in the UK, winter has properly arrived, but I'm ok because I am wrapped up warm in my scarf and hat which Mum knitted me at Christmas!

Photo Hunt - Wild

I don't think these pigeons are particularly wild, in fact they are very tame,
but this is a cute photo of my nephew Ben from a few years ago!

Knittng is fun!

I couldn't let my sister have all the fun so now I'm knitting a jumper! Sadly annoying things like marking and meetings have been getting in the way of my knitting time, but I've now finished the back and am feeling rather proud of myself.

Photo Hunt - Technology

The bad thing about technology is the number of remotes you end up with!

Stressed!

This week is turning out to be busy and stressful! On Monday we had a staff meeting with the governors to discuss details of the merger and necessary staff cuts, which inevitably left us all a bit depressed. Yesterday was the first of the parents forums, when the parents have the chance to ask questions of the governors about what will be happening to their daughters, to help them to decide what to do next. We have been encouraged to go along to hear the parents concerns so we are better informed about how they are feeling. It was actually quite encouraging to hear the compliments of the parents on our current school and how good they think the staff are, but not so good to hear how worried some of them are about the future education of their daughters. To top a stressful week, I have 2 AS Accounting exams tomorrow morning and I had forgotten just how scary taking exams is! Why on earth did I think doing an A level would be a fun thing to do?!?! I've been doing some last minute revision but I have to say I'm not feeling too confident. If I don't do too well I have already decided that I have a perfect excuse of all the recent stress and meetings! I'm remembering all the usual things I say to the girls about "only doing your best", "stay calm and don't panic" and "if you've done the work you'll be ok", but its not really helping too much. I'd better get an early night so I am fresh and raring to go in the morning and hope the "right" questions come up!

Photo Hunt - Memories

This shelf of photo albums contains lots of memories!

A New Year

Well, we are now in 2007 and no one knows what this year will hold. What I do know is that in this year I will face a lot of changes. In September my school will be merging with another so everything will be changing. There has been a lot of debate amongst staff, pupils and parents about whether this will be a good thing and obviously this is not the place to raise such issues but it has meant we have all had to have a good look at the future. Whether we like it or not change is coming!

It is time to make choices: stay and deal with the changes, find a new teaching job or take this opportunity to try something new. It would be good if there was a nice easy choice but to be honest all these options will take hard work and courage (I really don't like interviews!). I really wish God would speak through big neon signs, I could do with a very clear sign what to do next!

On Sunday night the preacher spoke on the prayer of Jabez, now I have heard of this before but have been wary because of the hype about it in certain circles. However this week it really spoke to me:

“Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” 1 Chronicles 4 v10 (NKJV)

It is slightly different in the New King James version to other places I have read it but I think I like this version best. Maybe all the changes happening are God's way of enlarging my territory, which I actually find quite scary, I like a small familiar territory!

I think I need to hold on to this verse from Jeremiah:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29 v11 (NIV)

Wishing everyone ...

Photo Hunters - New

My sister and I have been learning a new skill this week and having lots of fun.

I hope you are impressed with my amazing knitting!

Great Christmas TV

Do you love Christmas TV? Yesterday was a good evening, the long awaited Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing and the Vicar of Dibley! Long live the BBC! What was your favourite? I'm a big Doctor Who fan but I think the Vicar of Dibley might have been the best show, I was crying with laughter.