The Blurb: November 2007

Extreme precautions

Thursday 29 November 2007  9.42 pm

As I rather cryptically announced to all on Facebook via my status two days ago, I am now, on doctor's advice, using tacrolimus ointment instead of hydrocortisone cream on my ezcema.  But that's not all, folks - when I picked up the prescription of said ointment today, I was alarmed to discover on the label that from now on I must "not drink any alcohol" and "protect my skin from direct sunlight".

I am always one for doing what I am told, so if any of you in future see me so much as sipping communion wine or going out of doors in sunny weather unarmed with a large sombrero, just remind me in love and wisdom - it's doctor's orders...
 
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Fire!

Sunday 25 November 2007  7.28 pm

So there I was, sitting innocently on Reception after the Movement Weekend at Lee Abbey, typing things on Facebook and practising my lines for Christmas with Hannah B, and suddenly there was a loud noise from my fire bleep!

Rapidly checking the fire panel and radioing the other Fire Marshal whose bleep had failed, I rushed up to where the system said the fire was - "THE FLAT".  I banged on the door loudly.  No answer, and I could smell smoke.

Suddenly I realised I was at the wrong flat, so I went round the corner, saw an open window, and bellowed in my best fire-fighter voice, "Terry, are you all right in there?"

They were fine, but their open fire was being rather smoky.  So I cancelled the alarm and all was well.  But that was an exciting little episode to get the adrenalin going.  Being a fire marshal can be annoying (having to stay on site whenever you have the bleep) but it does also make you feel like quite a hero at times.
 
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Offchurch

Tuesday 20 November 2007  12.39 pm

Where would you host a weekend for people considering full-time ministry in the Church of England?

Godalming?  Hassocks?
Offchurch (near Long Itchington)?

That's what I thought.  Yet these were just three of the five locations this year for CPAS's "You & Ministry" courses, the latter of which I enjoyed last weekend.  It was really good actually - very informative and helpful.  And the people on it were a wide mix from young 20s to older married couples.  Some were practically signing up for training; others (like me) were processing something more like an inkling than a calling.

The weekend hasn't convinced me I'm called to The Ministry, but I'll go on thinking and praying, as an analytical type like me tends to do.  In any case, contrary to what the name suggests, it hasn't put me off church. ;o)
 
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I have had a lovely weekend

Wednesday 14 November 2007  11.37 pm

This weekend I have been mostly sitting on trains (the pictured one is the first tilting train I've been on), processing shocking news, eating porridge, playing Scrabulous, walking round Lancaster, singing the Phantom on a zero-degree promenade, walking under the M6 at night, catching up, experiencing Chester, taking pictures of old arches obscured by dustcarts, and crying when I returned to the Valley of Rocks at the end of it all.

Oh yes - and in the process I added another complete circuit to my list.  I have now been all the way round the Chester city wall. :o)
 
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Fire extinguishers

Friday 9 November 2007  2.00 pm

Today we learnt how to spray various fire extinguishers, and it also occurred to me for the first time in 3½ years in this office to actually look and see what extinguishers I have in here.  In case anyone is interested, I have a CO₂ one for electricals and a water one just out in the corridor.

The two-and-a-half hour lecture was less than inspiring, I'm afraid to say, this morning.  The most exciting bit was the last five minutes when we went up to the car park to try out the extinguishers. :o)

The dashing fire-fighter pictured, by the way, is Martyn, our Environmental Co-ordinator.  You'd never catch him adding CO₂ to our precious atmosphere. ;o)
 
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The drums, the drums...

Sunday 4 November 2007  7.35 pm

It's been "Rhythm!" weekend at Lee Abbey.  The heart-pounding rhythms have been heard through the House.  And I've been running on adrenalin.

On Friday night I did audio-visual (AV) at Welcomes, and discovered that the (very cool) Google Earth has a memory leak which causes other video content to stutter after using it.

On Saturday I presented our "Towards Tomorrow" project to the guests in the morning, served them at lunch, took photos in the drum circle that afternoon (pictured) and agreed to do a welly dance and cartoon presentation in the evening entertainment.  About an hour before said entertainment, it was discovered that there was no one on AV, so I did that too.  Anyone who's done AV for an International Evening knows how on-your-toes it is, but we stumbled our way through.

So we come to Sunday.  Now, at meals, two Community members serve at each table.  Some days there aren't quite enough for this, but Sunday is always fine.  Not today!  For the first time, I had to serve Sunday lunch alone, with two special diets, four late-arriving guests and the fire bleep and phone bleep in my pocket.  Praise God, there was no fire - but the dang phone thing went off five times during the meal.  At least the dessert was my favourite ... banoffee pie.

In the half hour I was on Reception after lunch, I sold four half lambs, took a cheque, two donations and four messages and passed on four requests for book sales.  Somewhere in that half hour I also chatted to a lady who urged me to consider becoming a Reverend.  I decided to take her seriously because it turns out her full time job is to select people for ordination...

Who needs to be on Host Team when you can get this involved in a weekend anyway?  Now the House is closed for a week, which is just as well, really.  I need at least a week to recover!

I have to say, though ... amid all the above, I loved it.  I don't think I'd have had the weekend any other way.
 
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Joseph

Thursday 1 November 2007  7.02 pm

In this year's Christmas Revue at Lee Abbey, I will experience (as far as I know) another first.  For the first time in my life, I am to play Joseph!

Joe – the 'father' of Jesus, not the one with the technicoloured coat – is the one on the left in this stock illustration.  I don't think I will look quite as holy and devout as this, especially if I do not walk around with my hand on my heart.  That said, this picture is quite small, and it's difficult to see whether or not Joe's hand is actually there to hold his shawl (excuse me, cloak) in place.

I should point out, however, that the Lee Abbey Christmas Revue is not a nativity play.  In fact, following success with airports and railway stations for previous productions, this year's looks set to be set (er, yes) in another transport hub.  And no, it's not a bus station.

Also this year there will of course be a song.  I'm half-way through writing a little number based on the tune of "Joyce the Librarian" by Stilgoe and Skellern.  Roll on, Christmas!
 
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