3 things...

No.1 This is my new House :)

No.2 I learnt some valuable lessons this weekend on what will no doubt continue to be a steep learning curve for the next 4 months, and even more so after that when Leanne moves in. 'Start as you mean to go on' was Pete Martins initial summary of events as he saw them when he popped round to visit. In the absence of Leanne, on the first night in the house, he walked in on three guys playing Poker, Pizza boxes on the table and the Simpsons movie playing in the background...living the good life ;)

No.3 'Appreciate what you've got' I wouldn't have survived the night without Pete's gas heater, lifesaver ! Without it my party would have crashed and my balls may have fallen off in the middle of the night, not good wedding preparation! It's amazing what you take for granted, I'm glad I found out the boiler doesn't work before I moved in for good. I'm also glad my mum reminded me to take some food for breakfast and toilet roll.

All in all couldn't be happier with the place, I think most of all I love just how over excited Leanne is about it. I'm glad she's happy.

Impossible is nothing

Yesterday was the 4rth anniversary of my brothers death. He was 14, I was 18. I think having a disabled brother was the main reason I got into working with adults with learning disabilities. I worked for an organisation called 'Prospects' for 5 years part time during school and Bible College and what is amazing about this organisation is that it is dedicated to helping adults with learning disabilities find as much independence in their own lives as is possible. I learnt a LOT from the people I worked with, they were truly amazing individuals. So was my brother.

Watch this Youtube clip of a father who runs his son in marathons and triathalons. His son was declared to be in a vegetative state at birth but his dad refused to put him in an institution. He communicates by spelling words via a button that he pushes using his head. One day, whilst watching a marathon, he spelt out 'Id like to try that'.
Watch this clip for inspiration, and afterwards think again about the challenges of your own life and try and tell yourself you can't do it.

Impossible is nothing, my brother proved that when he lived a full life of 14 years after being given only a few weeks to live, and so does this guy.

Click on this and Turn up your volume.

Valentines...

First things first...I've been blogging like a maniac the past week so if you've just tuned in after a while you might wanna scroll down 4 a few fresh ones you probably missed.

Corny title, and corny in general is Valentines day BUT...I took the advice of Mr Dave Wiggings a.k.a Wiggy and thought I might take a corny day as an opportunity to make that little extra effort and you know something, im really glad I did.

Leanne and I both ended up off work today so, in the absence of cards / flowers / chocolates / dinner reservations, we headed to Tollymore forest park with a packed lunch and completed the 8.8 km Mountain trail.
Afterwards we relaxed in the health suite Sauna/ jacuzzi of Kilkeel leisure centre and had dinner at a fantastic little restaurant we happened to stumble across in Kilkeel town. It was called Port-o-Call and I was WELL impressed. We managed a starter, two mains, a dessert and drinks for under £25 and the layout of the place was in line with any half fancy restaurant. Can't believe I managed that one without even booking.

So all in all quite a great / stress free day with my wife to be, absolutly loved it. We didn't think of it as Valentines day but I guess some things just fall perfectly don't they...like cats! ;)

Cracks appearing

I seriously thought a 2002 car would break the cycle. My first car, a 10 yr old Corsa, spent most of it’s time having a cosmetic makeover with new parts until it became unrecognisably 'modern'. Then my 8 yr old Megane Coupe required a complete new exhaust system after Id owned it just 2 weeks. So I go and buy myself a 5 yr old car, full MOT, one lady owner...and in 3 months the horn brakes, the engine management light thinks it's in an underground rave and three days ago a crack appears in the windscreen.

The RAC guys were great, came right out to my place of work and replaced it through my insurance.

Apparently the normal sequence of events is that the crack widens, which I noticed it did, until the entire screen shatters. I did kind of worry about that on my way to work the other morning. When cracks form...you can't ignore them.

It's time...! I’m moving out, IN TWO WEEKS and then I'm getting married IN 5 MONTHS, yet ANOTHER new chapter in life is unfolding and it's like I’ve no control in it. But here it is none the less. I felt a few cracks appear this weekend; I started to panic about stupid things but panic all the same. Thoughts of getting a kettle, washing powder, a microwave, getting the oil tank filled and getting a wheelie bin came to mind and I couldn't cope/sleep. I think it wasn't helped by the fact I was drugged to the hilt with cold/flu tablets and at one point I wondered if somewhere along the way I’d lost control of the avalanche that is my life.
But it’s obvious really isn’t it, simple too... I’m overwhelmed by the normal sequence of events known as life, common to every man woman and child before me…still, sometimes I forget that and it feels I’m the only one.

Anyways, its here, it’s scary, but it's what I want more than anything. I wouldn’t settle for life as it is, certainly not without Leanne as my wife. You always have to press on, grow up and learn more about how little you actually understand about life; I hope deep down it never stops changing cause its funny how life’s most trying times are the moments you feel most alive.
When it boils down to it I see two choices, crack up or face up. so its time to start filling in the cracks, bring it on; I’m a little readier today...I think ;)
For those of you of an ‘older’ / wiser disposition (been there done that kinda age / position ) any Polyfilla in the form of advice and encouragement is welcome.

There may be 'nothing new under the sun' but when you arrive wet behind the ears that aint much of a comfort or crutch.

Who's clothing who?

Ok, I'm no Bob Geldoff or Chris Martin but I like to think that during my journey with God over the past few years there are certain 'issues' that I have been convicted more about than others and, consequently, have felt compelled to act on and make whatever difference I can. For example, and actually now that I mention it i'm thinking I should really blog on it, I have a very strong conviction concerning only eating healthy foods and abstaining from as far as possible, and I do try genuinely hard, junk food/sweets/fizzy drinks/processed foods etc. Anyways, Im gonna lose my train of thought, I'l write more indepth about that some other time.

Over the last year or so Iv'e been confronted a lot with 'Fair Trade'. Whether clothes or food, it's disturbed me the reality of how much of our comfort and well-being in the West is made possible through the expense of the Poor. It's a familiar story and I'm not sure what to write to make my thoughts unique. All I know is that this is something we are all aware of but are able to ignore because the results of our greed lie well out of sight. I challenge you to find out more about the price others pay for the goods / clothing we buy; check out Tearfund for info on clothing and Fair trade for info on food.

The Bible tells us to clothe / feed the poor.... but today it seems like most of us are living off a reversal of roles!

Proverbs 14 V 31 , Proverbs 19 v 17, Proverbs 29 V 7, Proverbs 22 V 16

Film Funding

Hey, it's been a while I know. Iv'e a few good articles on the way so keep checking this week and next. It's not that I feel I need to keep posting in order to retain readership or anything but I do understand that feeling you get when you check a favourite blog nearly every day only to find it's about as new and updated as sliced bread. Anways Iv'e a few thouhts 'd like to share with you in the next days to come so stay tuned...

AND, while on the theme of staying tuned I wanted to let you know about a fundraiser which the Youth Centre where I work is having. I don't know if you have ever heard of the Old Comber cinema but it's a privatly owned 66 seater retained in it's 1950's condition (I think it's 1950's, might even be older or I might just be a very bad judge of these things). So it's pretty cool and different. The owner hires the place out for events, especially charity fundraisers. So there's an idea for you if you're planning one yourself.

We're suggesting £10 for a ticket and they're available from myself or Claire :)

P.s for some of you who may have a theological objection to the movie I completely respect that but I just want to point out that I have watched it already and whereas I didn't appreciate Bruce Almighty, this film I felt was very different. At it's core it has a lot to say about the lack of faith present among people of our modern Western Civilisation, including those who profess to be believers. I feel it especialy pokes this idea at America and it's government... God's country apparently!

Be blogging soon.