What's (briefly) Going On?
Part of me feared losing my blog posts, as I couldn't remember the account nor when I last posted. Right now we're in 2020. I'm still blogging but from elsewhere, and I have every intention of setting up a third blog site - about running. Because it's what I think and talk about on a regular basis.
Not just any old running blog site, but I've been thinking about it for well over a year, and now is as good a time to start. Every now and then I'll check in here because this was the first, and so much of my life has been captured here.
Here's to a new year. Wishing everyone the best, the resilience and the grace we need for 2021.
Of church and politics
I'm not an Anglican, so I guess most of the turmoil surrounding women Bishops in the Church of England I don't feel personally affects me. Having said that, I work in an environment where I have heard as many opinions on the subject as were debated at the General Synod.
I'm always reminded that the Church of England came out of King Henry VIII's wish to divorce his wife and marry another. When the Roman Catholic church would not allow him to, the seed for the Church of England was born. It wasn't born out of a man who felt inspired by God and nailed his principals to the church door. Nor did it come out of a discussion by men of God as to Baptism and conversion. It was a political move and politics it seems have remained very much at the heart of things.
The irony of the whole thing - to me at least - is that the Church of
England is the state church. The decision not to allow for women to be
ordained as Bishops could lead to a parliamentary motion. How many
denominations can say that the political sphere can influence how they
function?
This was it
I had a pleasant, amiable Christmas. My mind was thinking about what the next Christmas will be like.
I spoke to T, he said he'd be spending Christmas with his visitor and not pop over to the neighbours. What, not even for dinner? He "phhht" like he usually does, and said nah, he's eating is (boring) Chicken stew & rice.
I later got a call saying "I just had some lovely Pounded Yam". Yes, show off why don't you. So, after doing my Christmas meal, I was so impressed by my handiwork that...you guessed...I took photos!
Promises promises
So I keep promising myself that I will update this blog, write something new, keep it abreast. It came to mind because my Beloved mentioned coming across this. I wasn't sure how he did as I couldn't remember telling him about it, but he found it somehow. Not that I have anything to hide, I was just surprised he found it.
So as not to traverse the bits I've left out, omitted and basically not covered, I'm going to take up where I left off - blab about some of the day-to-day things and encounters. As it is, I'm currently doing two jobs; one intense and time consuming, the other more laid back. It occurred to me I get paid more for doing less days (but more work) in one job than the other that I do more days but seemingly less work.
Plus I'm going to strike when it comes to other things in my "main" job. Will go on about that another time, but let's just say sometimes being around is an excuse for laziness on the part of others. This sister is on strike!
Good thing being back though, because despite the stress that comes with the territory, my time is occupied thankfully now that I'm working. I'm not sitting around wondering what to do next. No dragging out tasks to give myself something to do. And no fighting with the internet. Despite the weather that makes me long for the dusty hot dryness that is Nigeria, I've actually been able to concentrate on my exercises - if anything the cold weather has geared me up for that. I started by using some apps on my tablet, then moved on to clips from YouTube (
Fitness Blender continues to be my favourite) but moved on to Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. In Nigeria I'd be sweating like a chicken even before I got past the warm-up.
My eyes are watering just thinking of this. First 10 days, manageable. But have mercy, I am truly beginning to feel shredded. I'm actually struggling through the exercises but I will persevere, in the hope that I will get over the hump in six days and feel much better. My biggest disappointment have been the trainers I've been trying to get. Vivobarefoot, because I might just take up jogging. If not, they'll go nicely with my Saturday morning Zumba classes. Ordered a pair and had to return them, but biding my time.
So that's it for now. More soon. Keep watching. And hopefully I'll remember to write.
It's been so long....
I don't know why, but I was so sure I'd posted here in the past year. Obviously not, and probably for a good reason. This blog evolved into my "therapy" blog, where I could write all my rants and no one else would see them but me. I actually have a blog on myspace which is my more public blog.
Let's see, what's transpired since December 2009....left job, changed location, did something new, had some highs and lows, got Malaria, now back. It's been a time of learning and...I gots me a "new" phone! Well, not entirely new, just a used phone but it was free so yes, I feel good about myself :D
Might use this over the next few weeks/months as I progress from my frustrating attempts at trying to find work again. Although I miss the people I worked with, I don't miss the job in any form, least of all the person who tried to make my life a misery for my final few months. God is indeed faithful and won't give you more than you can handle. Even when it feels like too much, having done all, stand.
This was it.
I had a pleasant, amiable Christmas. My mind was thinking about what the next Christmas will be like.I spoke to T, he said he'd be spending Christmas with his visitor and not pop over to the neighbours. What, not even for dinner? He "phhht" like he usually does, and said nah, he's eating his (same ol') Chicken stew & rice.I later got a call saying "I just had some lovely Pounded Yam". Yes, show off why don't you. So, after doing my Christmas meal, I was so impressed by my handiwork that...you guessed...I took photos!My drinks:
Rochester Ginger, fab stuff, Shloer (Red Grape, quite nice), and Green tea. The cup and teapot were my "Secret Santa" gifts which I have been using at every possible opportunity. I am so taking them with me!
Then, the main course:
(Coconut) Rice 'n' peas, roast chicken with stuffing, sausage & bacon ("pig in a blanket") and veg - Kale, Carrots & Leek, kind of steam-fried. I did make some kind of gravy in the end :)And finally, dessert:
Actually I had wanted Spotted Dick and Custard, I'd bought the custard but for some reason I couldn't find Spotted Dick anywhere! I found lots of Trifle, lots of Chocolate Puddings but I really was "jonesing" as my sister says, for some Spotted Dick. Must be the weather. I'm still looking.To cap it off, I decided to take pics and email them to hubby just so he could see what he was missing. Naughty I know, but felt so good....
Five Loves
Looking back, I have been privileged to be loved by at least five good men in my life. They were all relationships of a type, but not necessarily dating ones. They pretty much raised the bar for everyone else. I thought of them recently because although I haven't had many romantic relationships, these were people who were truly gentlemen. They were sincere, honest, and loved and appreciated me in ways I couldn't understand. They were different types of relationships, I only really went out with one of them - albeit briefly. Maybe it was just the way things were done then, it was quite old fashioned now that I look back on them.
The first was Mark. He was the brother of someone I went to school with, and he was besotted with me, I was about 13/14 then, he a few years older. I wasn't as carried away by it all, but he would call me all the time, we'd have interesting (if not the most stimulating) conversations, he was very attentive. We went out a couple of times and the most he ever did was kiss me on the cheek. Even after we went our separate ways he said he'd always name his first child after me. He later got married and had a daughter who shares the same first initial but not the name. At some point he and his family moved not far from my parents and would always bring fruit from his tree for me, even after I had left home.
The next was Don. Thing is, I didn't realise Don had a thing for me until I foolishly went out with a close friend of his (big mistake). It hurt me to realise I'd hurt him, we didn't speak for a few years. He even saw me once and walked off as if he didn't know me. Later I approached him and we started to talk again, and I apologised for unknowingly hurting him. Today we're still friends, when we meet up it's as if we take up where we've left off. He is the kind of guy a woman would definitely want to take home to mother :)
The third was a friend from church who was very encouraging in my early walk. We would have the most interesting theological discussions by phone, and it never occurred to me that he was even interested in me - boy I was so blind to these things back in the day! After church, him, another friend and myself would walk down the hill talking about the sermon or aspects of it. The first I learned of his interest was when a friend of his decided to have a word with me and told me of his interest. I remember it taking place in the garden at church, he was telling me how much his friend liked me and was basically pleading on his behalf. Being perhaps not as tactful as I could have been, I simply said I didn't feel the same nor saw him in the same way. After a while, I switched services and saw them less. Much later he started going out with someone else, I don't recall if they were engaged when I was around but I believe they got married and emigrated to North America years later.
Fourth was what I considered my first great love. Maybe it was because he was the first person I had developed feelings for that I could recognise. We began as friends, remained friends for a number of years, our relationship evolved but for some reason we never breached the "more than friends" barrier for fear of losing what we had. Years later we met up again after no contact for years, it was as if we hadn't parted, this time we were older, more mature and a lot had gone on in between. Didn't mean we weren't hesitant but this time I wasn't reading the signs wrong, and he slowly confirmed this. Sadly things ended as quickly as they started, and that was the end of the chapter.
After that I had prayed I would meet someone similar without expecting them to be exactly like him. Along the way I encountered some characters but I didn't take them seriously. Until I met my fifth, Final and Greatest love...even then I didn't take him seriously in the beginning! And to think it all started with me sending a message over three years ago....
Change
I broke out in a rash. I'd only had 1 1/2 hours sleep. I was very calm and composed, except with the so-called photographer. He was looking nervous and uncomfortable at times. Once we got home and he changed he was a different person - think the heavy lining of the suit got to him. We were second, then we were first. There was lots of singing, lots of words of wisdom, and laughter. We arrived separately and left together. There was cake, there were things that were taken, things that were given, and things that were offered. By 4pm it was all over and by 5:30pm he was still outside picking rubbish up from the yard.We made our first visit as a couple that Saturday. To my horror, he wore lilac trousers with an olive shirt with navy stripes. At least he wore black shoes. I only noticed the odd combination when we were in the car just about to leave. Under normal circumstances I would have vetted his clothes, this time I let the side down. So now I have plans to make, things to do and ponder. If things go the way I would like, then things may be wrapped up early next year, and I would be quite happy if that was the case. You can't imagine how I dream of going...but then I'm afeared of that kind of solitary life. It's the difference that can do your head in initially that you want to run away.
He doesn't understand and so I don't bother trying to explain it to him. It's hard, I'm under no illusions that it will be easy. At least when I did it before it was for a period, this is a whole new life. Cross that bridge when I get to it? May be.
