Jon's Ramblings

Life...

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:55:19 +0000

Sometimes, it seems life is just really hard. I'm not really sure why that's the case, but things just seem to stack up against you.

There's not necessarily any major issue, just that loads of small things in various aspects of work, life and family get frustrating.

Man, this is an uplifting blog entry, don't you think?

Anyway, it's really great that CovYFC finally has an exciting new strategic focus, and I'm really energised by developing the shorter term goals connected with that. It's going to be an iteresting few months.

Now we just need to find some more trustees & build our general volunteer team.

Is it me, or did i just manage to turn a rather miserable post into one full of excitement and vigour?

Wow, that was truly amazing.

Rubik's challenge.

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:36:52 +0000

I've now learned how to solve the good old rubik's cube 3 times in 3 years. I basically learn how to solve it, practice till I'm really fast, and then put it down and walk away thinking "job done!!". And then 1yr later have to start from scratch and learn all over again.

So I picked up the cube again on Monday after months of non-use, only to discover that I'd forgotten most of the algorithms all over again. This was made even more frustrating by the fact that I taught Chris (the CYFC intern) how to solve a cube earlier in the year, and now he's super speedy at solving one.

Hence the challenge to, once again, be THE BEST!!

And today it happened, after just 3 days, I beat Chris is a rubiks face off (best of 3) and am now well pleased.

The question is, will I now put it down and forget it all again?

And the bigger question... will anybody actually get to the end of reading this rather dull post all about my competitiveness and rubik's cubes?

If you do, let me know!!

Byseee bye!!

Another blog entry - how exciting!!

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:25:39 +0000

So, I actually did it - I bought a pink jumper in the sales, and I wore it to work, and it didn't feel too bad.

I'm so happy with our new house. It's a real blessing to us, and I really can't wait to get stuck into improving it. I get a really strong feeling that this year is going to be a really positive one, seeing lots of positive change, both at work and home.

Anyway, I have a line management session now, so have to dash, but I'll blog again soon - it's so much FUN!!

Ciao, monkeys

This is it - 2010!!

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:36:55 +0000

Wow, a whole year without a single blog entry - mainly due to the discovery of twitter and other social networking sites.

2009 was a crazy year, but within the madness I think I actually acheived at least 3 of my resolutions!!

I ALWAYS opted for the dessert that came with custard (you have no idea how nice it was to have a crumble with cream last saturday).
We sold our house and now (after 2 other moves) finally own a house again in Coventry (come visit us).
I found several new outlets for leading worship (inc. Boulder Gang @ New Wine (amazing) & Junction7.

I guess that's the beauty of setting so many resolutions - in some ways it almost makes it impossible to fail!!

And now for this year's list (and this year there are some real BHAGS - are you ready)...

Develop an intense hunger for God and a "Whatever it Takes" attitude towards achieving that.
Pray with my team (CYFC) more than any other single activity
Get to the point where I feel I can honestly call myself a "cyclist"
See at least 10 young people become Christians.
Re-explore the core essentials of marriage
Go snow boarding at least once
To face some of my stupid fears (I may even buy a pink jumper/shirt).
Grow bigger "managerial balls" (not my own phrase)
Start Blogging again (but not just boring rubbish - stuff worth reading)

Is that enough? I think so.

Get ready for my next post (and do hold me accountable - i think?).

New Year, New Challenge(s)...

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:09:07 +0000

I thought I should probably list my new-year resolutions on this blog, so I can kinda be kept accountable.

I always make loads of resoultions, in the hope that I'll actually achieve one or two of them, and there's usually a combinations of serious, spiritual and fun ones. So here goes.

Read through the bible in 1 year (again)
Drastically improve my lead (and general) guitar playing!!
When offered a choice of desserts, always choose the one that comes with custard.
Develop a habit of going to bed earlier (and maybe even getting up earlier too)
Read more (especially around the area of spirituality and leadership/management)
Find new outlets for playing, encouraging & leading worship.
Socialise (even) more.
Sell (or rent) our other home in Stoke.
Try to use the word "one" regularly when referring to myself (just for fun).

And that's it. Simple huh?

Simply having a wonderful hanika!!

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:42:55 +0000

Well, I know there are still officially 10 days of Christmas to go, but I've already found myself asking people if they "had" a good Christmas.

Our Christmas was pretty standard (only in the sense that as usual we were (and still are) all ill. Lara's dad came to stay and so we went to my folks (and took him with us). The kids did well to say they were under the weather. The first presents were opened at around 7am, and the last ones were opened at 7.30pm with no more than a 20 minute gap between any two openings all day.

Lara seems happy with her DS, Maisey has a new found love of prams and dolls, and Zak is now surrounded by Wall:e gadgets and gizmos. As for me, I'm the proud owner of a new guitar effects pedal (although it hasn't arrvied yet). You can't beat the Boss ME-50.

And that's it. Another completed Christmas. Tune in again next year.

The Kids do Fame...

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:37:24 +0000

VID 00004-20081125-1906.3GP.ff.mov

So, it would appear that our kids are better at the FAME dance routine (that I'm supposed to be doing next week in a high school) than I am. That's quite embarrassing!!

Go on, click that link.

The Kids do fame

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:24:16 +0000

So, it would appear that our kids are better at the FAME dance routine (that I'm supposed to be doing next week in a high school) than I am. That's quite embarrassing!!

Anyway, Watch and learn.

A lazy Saturday afternoon

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:58:38 +0000

A lazy Saturday afternoon
Originally uploaded by realyouth

I so wish that I could sleep during the day, but it's something I just can't do. We've already been to the cinema today which was cool, if a little long, had lunch and I've prepared another batch of golden brown. 3 weeks and it should be ready to drink. And now I have to wake up the little girl to go to a family prayer event (apparently I'm leading some worship at it.

Do keep in touch.

The Cheek of it...

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:25:08 +0000

Wow, it's really been a long time since I was last here, which means as usual I have so much to report that I'll probably forget half of it by the time I get to the point where I may have considered writing about it, and if that is the case I can only appologise in advance for the small amount of detail that is missing regarding the last month of my life!!

Anyway, what was I saying? I forget... Oh yes...

Aaaarrrggghhh!! I've now officially been waiting over 2 months for my new mobile phone upgrade - that's frustrating enough, not helped by the fact I decided to use Lara's 4yr old phone for a while til it came so I could sell my orange replacement pda phone (the one I lost in France) before it got all scuffed and well used. But now to add insult to injury, I called Orange on Wednesday and amazingly they said they had the phone in stock, it finally got ordered, and I worked from home all day yesterday excitedly waiting to receive it. However, by 4pm I was bored of waiting so I called to get a consignment number in an attempt to track the courier, only to find that (apparently) between being told that it was in stock again, and actually completing the order process, it went BACK OUT OF STOCK!!! Aaaarrggghhhh!! So still no new phone and a very annoyed Jon to-boot.

So, what else has happened - oh, the CYFC exec agreed to buy me a spanky (nearly) new Macbook Pro, with a budget of just £700, and I managed to find one for £650 with a dodgy keyboard but 1yr warranty left so that got replaced for free, leaving me £50 to upgrade to the latest mac OS (leopard, for those of you that care). Owner/Carer and baby are doing fine, don't know the weight, but you get the idea!!

I would have totally written more about that if I wasn't trying to cover a whole month in one blog entry!!! (incuding the ebay purchase of an unsuitable operating system that I then re-auctioned and sold for a huge profit of -£19.00 (yes, that is a minus sign).

I'm gradually running out of beer. I bought a new kit like 2 weeks ago, and just haven't got round to it, so that's not much of a story.

Our new house is small but warm and the outside light finally works after 2 evenings replacing the whole lot and tracing wiring for faults - it turns out, you have to plug it in as well!! (oops) Lara actually made the discovery whilst trying to find somewhere to do the ironing. @What do you think this plug is for?@ she asks all innocently. Eureka!! (notice the strange quote marks... anyone that every changed from PC to Mac should find that quite amusing.)

And I've discovered a new found passion for the guitar - mainly through many nights with lack of an internet connection and seeing young people who can play better than me.

I really should have broken this down into several entries - do let me know if you need any more info on any of these points.

Oh, 2 other things...

Our house still hasn't sold, and now that our 2yr tracker has run out we're paying £200 more per month for a house we don't live in - GREAT!!

And Work at CYFC is going really well - a few interesting teething issues, but nothing that I wasn't expecting.

And thirdly, (for those of you that don't know where number 2 comes in the numeric system) Zak is having an amazing time at school - he gets so many stickers that we've run out of things to stick them to.

Oh, and fourthly, Lara now works part-time for St Matts as Children's worker, and Maisey has started going to nursery (the Maisey thing should really have its own point, but this is quite frankly getting ridiculous)

And I'll stop there.

Ciao people!!

ps. check out the new Cov YFC website - www.covyfc.org

From Dull Blog, to Dull Throb..

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:54:23 +0000

Ok, so it would appear that I damaged my back whilst in the process of moving house (again) this week. Bizarrely, it was actually in the process of lifting Maisey to give her a cuddle, but I'm guessing it was mainly the heavy lifting thing that caused the problem.

And boy, did it hurt!!

Anyway, after my team told me to "GO HOME!!" yesterday, I visited the doctor and she prescribed some codiene (*sp) which is great, and now my back doesn't hurt as much, which is also good. I have to take "2 codiene tablets 4 times daily", and "8 ibruprofen per day" - which is actually the same thing but quite confusing when explained in 2 very different ways.

We also had friends to stay last night which was cool - guests to stay on our 2nd night in the house. Boy, are we socialites?

So I'm back at work now, and pleased with my back relief, but I did just scuff the bumper of my car on a bollard, which is VERY annoying.

Wow, that felt a little random, as far as blogs go, but hey, that's my ramblings I guess.

Ciao.

The All New Dull Blog...

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:57:43 +0000

I just started a community blog (where any realyouth blogger can post stuff).

The idea, simply, is to make it the dullest blog in the world, EVER!!

And I honestly think people will find it hilly-areas!!

So, check it out, and if you regularly find yourself with nothing at all to talk about, let me know - I'll add you as an author and you can tell us all about it.

GENIUS!!

Jon.

blog overload...

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:39:43 +0000

It feels like I've blogged far too much this weekend, but soooo much is going on.

Yes, I still have a cold, and yes, the outlaw is still here,

but on a positive note (lol) we've decided to take the house option, and so move into our own (kind of) place next monday.

How exciting.

I'm not gonna write any more, cos that'd just be too much of a good thing

Ciao, fellow readers!!

The Team Outing...

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:54:36 +0000

The Team Outing...
Originally uploaded by realyouth

Here's an interesting one. The whole Cov YFC team (apart from Chris) getting
all friendly with a huge chocolate blob!!

Interesting!!

Going Back to Church...

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:44:13 +0000

This weekend has been quite stressful in many ways - I have a progressively bad cold, the outlaw is here, and then there's the whole housing/work stuff going on.

So here I am, lying in bed on a Sunday morning watching TV when I'd normally be at church, and they start talking about "Back to Church Sunday" which loads of churches are partaking in this week.

The idea is that churches encourage their congregations to invite a friend to the service on this one Sunday of the year (usually linked to the start of a huge country-wide Alpha course starting.

Anyway, I'm really quite shocked by what the people on this programme had to say about it - all of them claiming to be "non-religious". It seems the general consensus is that this is just a big ploy to raise church funds and get more weddings (i.e. money) back into the church. One guy even suggested that Christians were "trying to take the church outside of the church building, which makes the whole thing pointless". Another presenter suggested that in the future we may even see "Bishops dressed up as batman" to try to raise the church's profile.

I mean, really? A bishop, being normal, even "fun" - heaven forbid!! (lol)

My concern - Is this really what people think about Christians (and the church in general) - that we're all just money grabbing morons?

They also, later in the programme, happened to mention that next week is "national smile week" which they're all really positive about!!

So the moral of Sunday morning TV: Forget Church, just keep smiling!!

EXCELLENT!! (not)