Courgettes and cooking

Mum and dad finally came home yesterday from their holiday in Derbyshire in the caravan, and it's fab to have them back. Emma and I did have a very special week together, which we both enjoyed (yes, I have checked with Emma on this) but we're now all very much looking forward to a week in Bude, Cornwall.

Surfing, walking and perusing is on the cards for a whole glorious week, as well as many games of racing demon (highly addictive card game), a variety of board games (still to be packed), and Munchkin (a card-based dungeons & dragons style game). Munchkin is one of those games you can't help but love. Remarkably simple to pick up, it's wonderfully wacky and good for all ages.

Much fun will be had! Off on the morn, so I've gotta go see if my wetsuit still fits me. Mum's home cooking does rather help fill you out ;)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Meet Lucy

She arrived in Swindon yesterday afternoon, and got to my house today after a lie-in :P yes, I can only be talking about my new bike!

















Yup, she's a B-reg (1984) Suzuki GS125-Z. I've not taken her out on the road yet, but once I've got the insurance sorted today and pick up a tax disc tomorrow, I'll be sorted and can take her out on the roads to meet some friends of mine!

Part of me says I'm downright sad for getting so excited about the bike, but a larger part says 'no, you're not being sad, it's your first vehicle you've ever owned (excluding the moped up in Scotland, but we'll forget that experience!) so you've a right to be excited!'

Back to www.bennetts.co.uk then, as I sort the insurance. Time for 'meet the parents' later, I wonder what they'll think of her...

ttfn fellow bloggers, until next time :)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Busy busy busy

Goodness me, for a day starting at 9.30am, it's been a very busy day. I suppose I blame myself for setting myself the target of tidying the house! It did go well though, I could see tendencies of my dad in me as I made everything as efficient as possible (worktops, kitchen, cats...) It seemed like I gained 20 years and a mortgage in the space of 12 houra, as I found myself weeding until about 9.50pm as well! A good man'll be made out of me yet ;)

In other news, I accidentally managed to really annoy the current owner of my new motorbike-to-be by giving him the impression I was coming today. I'm hoping all this can be sorted tomorrow when we drive the 3 hours to the ferry, head over to the Isle of Wight, wheel the bike back to the ferry from the Island side, and drive the 3 hours back to Swindon again. If not, I don't know. Suffice to say I'll be praying all the while, God'll give us the words and atittude to handle the situation when we get there - I have no doubt about that. A lesson to be learnt in forward planning here I guess, *sighs*

Bed now though, with a 6.30am wake-up it's sleeps for me ASAP to assure I can make some form of conversation with Pete on the 3 hours there and back!

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Homesick

The lyrics below came to mind as I read that a friend of mine's mum is
being called home at an early age, after losing the battle with cancer.
I posted the same lyrics when my gran nearly died on us last year, and
remember the pain and feeling of loss, in anticipation of that day when
we'd get the news.  But these lyrics speak such truth, take a min to
read them:

'...In Christ, there are no goodbyes
and in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now'

-- MercyMe: 'Homesick' --

As the time approaches, my friend and her family know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that she is heading straight into the arms of
her loving Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.  God has strengthened
her and given her hope beyond her dreams for the past 6 months, and
now that hope which we all have is soon to be realised, when she
passes through the veil and comes to meet Jesus Christ fact to face.
It's a bitter-sweet time for my friend and her family, but I hope and
pray they find hope in the fact that this is not so much a 'goodbye',
as 'au revoir' - until we meet again.

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

CBT today

Aaaah, I'm not sure how it's going to go, but I've got my CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) for my motorbiking today. I'm very excited about it, but as it's something new, I have mild nerves! These will pass in time, hopefully over breakfast which I'm about to go get, but I know that God's with me all day and that he's got a plan for me for the next 8 hours so I've got peace about it :)

The search for the motorbike continues, with 2 possibilities on the horizon, which takes the tally to around 15 so far or looked-into-hopefuls. But, again, I know God's got one set aside for me - why? because I asked him and he said so! So I shall continue to look for the illusive 125cc wee beastie that's hankering for my love and care.





















It's not my bike to be, but one day, my dear, one day...

3.37pm
My CBT is now over, I've been up to 68.5mph and done figures of eight at 5mph. Lots of fun, and I can now get a bike and go 'practice' as long as I have L-plates on. Praise God for a wonderfully cloudy day with a slight breeze, and the sun's out now!

Time for a coffee methinks...

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

A welcome find

Having been unpacking today, I stumbled across a poem I'd written a while back on a random piece of scrap paper. I've blogged it on my other blog. This can be found at the link below...

Forever Yours

It's totally honest, almost like a monologue between me a God. I hope you can empathise with it and understand where I'm coming from :)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Forever Yours

I found this on the back of a piece of paper while unpacking today. I can't remember when I wrote it, or what inspired me to write it, yet I have a vivid memory of writing it. Re-reading it, I've been struck how when you come before God, sometimes you feel such inability to praise him because he just can't be fully praised in words - he is just too majestic, powerful, awesome and loving. This poem is something of a reflection of that, remembering that even though we find it hard to, he graciousely accepts our praise and reminds us we are his.

Forever Yours

'Lord I sit before your throne,
yet know not what to say
what words can sing such praises true
that wholly glorify your name?

So underserved but yet such love
my praise to you I'd bring
yet my mouth can but in part express
the praise my heart would sing

The glories of your name, in word
can never full be said
yet by your spirit I find myself
by your own spirit led

So Lord, with heart upon your name,
I thank you now for who your are,
your love unparralleled, love so pure,
that wipes the sin that marrs

I praise you Lord for you are good!
Your word has never let me down.
Your faithfulness is matched by none,
your name holds the highest renown

Your plan is good, your promises true,
my side, I know you'll never leave
To think that I might love an other
my heart can not believe

My future's safe in you, my Lord,
my place in rule with you;
for one day I shall stand beside
and rule as you now do

Such inheritance I know is mine,
but how hard to believe.
Why you loved me o'er e'en your son,
this mind just can't conceive

Thus I find myself, once more,
overwhelmed by grace.
This love, tho I can't compr'end
had paid this sinner's place

So I savour new, your presence, sweet,
aware of none but you
for only through your father's love
can I do the things you do

I seek your way in this, my life
may my life be charted by your course
for I shall rest in this, as sure
I know that I'm forever yours.'

Solution to the riddle of Ben Johns

Aaaaah, it appears the lolly is mine for the keeping (which admittedly means going out and buying one...) the title Ben Johns refers to the title BEng Hons - Bachelor of Engineering, with honours.

Well done all you who got it, I'm aware it was a tad abstract. I blame lack of sleep and too much sugar ;)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Home, home on the yaaarrr!

Hey ho everyone! I'm now back in the magical world of the Wiltshire countryside, happy owner of the title 'Ben johns' as of Thursday (a lolly goes to the first person who comments why my title is Ben Johns!), and currently in the mood for piracy (in the sea-faring yaaarrr type fashion) courtesy of seeing Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead man's chest hair. And it was rather good! I also got to meet up with an old school friend of mine, Hugh Gordon, that I've not seen for aeons and his lovely girl-friend Jane who is an ideal match for him!

Having arrived home, I've already been remarkably busy with having Chris Newton (another school friend) come visit on Friday for lunch through the afternoon, and a relative's Golden (50th) wedding anniversary, including ALL the relatives from around the world (New Zealand, Austria, Canada) who were there - 86 in all apparently! Fantastic fun, and nice to put faces to the names I only knew in passing and Christmas letters.

The searches for the job and motorbike still go on, respectively, with not much light on either front as such, but I shall keep searching - knowing that God will show me where he wants me (and provide suitable transport accordingly!)

A post-it on my monitor reads as follows:

'The Lord it my shepherd, I shall not be in want.' -- Psalm 23v1 --

and I think that's how my mind-set has been over the last couple of weeks when looking for jobs, bikes, and thinking generally about relationships. God is and has always been my shepherd - and as such I shouldn't be in want, logically speaking, because a shepherd looks after his sheep. And I know I'm his. Tis nice to be reminded of this; that he knows what's best for me - and right now, that's trusting him to point out the right job and bike, knowing he'll provide each, in his time.

Praise God for his peace, that he heaps it on you when you need it, when you ask him for it. Man I want to get closer...

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

What a game!

I'm usually in the crowd that shrug at the mention of the world cup or champion's league, but tonights game between Italy and Germany was absolutely fantastic! It's the best game of footy I've ever half-watched (half, because I was playing Munchkin at the same time) on TV. Very close-fought, the entire match, and I thought it was going for penalties. Trust the Italiens to pull it back in the 28th minute of 30 in extra time.

I daresay I'd even have been chowing down on my nails if I'd been watching it closely, or supporting a side avidly. Congratulations to Italy therefore, but Germany were outstanding. I echoe the commentators in their praise of the game's a) Quality and b) Spirit in which it was played. A pleasure to watch. Still not quite a swap for the real thing though ;)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Waiting for the bridegroom

I was just reading John this morning, and I came upon John 3v29, in which John the Baptist says the following, regarding waiting for the bridegroom, Jesus:

'The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.' -- John 3v29 --

This powerful image of Jesus coming, to be joined with the ones who are his, really struck me. John waited nearly all of his life for Jesus to arrive, preaching faithfully - yet having no physical evidence that he was coming. He trusted God's word to him implicitly. Then it occurred to me, this should be our attitude when it comes to sharing the gospel with our friends and in seeing them come to know the truth more and more. We should be waiting on Jesus, the bridegroom, speaking and acting as he gives us - reflecting his goodness and faithfullness. And if they come through to know Jesus as their own saviour and friend, then we can share in the joy of the bridegroom arriving - because they'll be united!!

Looking back over the past 2 terms, we ran a Christianity Explored course through the CU at Reading, and though I've not personally been involved, it's been a thrilling and humbling experience to be faithfully praying for them every Tuesday and Friday morning in prayer brekky. We shared in the joy of the team when people came through to know Jesus as their own, and we 'waited' with them as the work was being done in their hearts.

John may not have known when Jesus would come, but he knew he would. Be challenged to be faithful in your prayers and witness to your friends, family, and co-workers. God's working in them; so keep at it!!

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal