Pink Saturday - Tablecloth

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Nigel is holding a table top sale at the church this morning so I have been busy this week going through cupboards and drawers sorting out items, which we no longer use or just don't need anymore.

I started to sorting out my table cloths and came across this particular one that I bought about 15 years ago whilst living in Paignton. The tablecloth is hand embroidered by a lady (Amy) that I used to work with about 30 years ago and her sister was selling the tablecloths at a craft fayre.

The photograph really doesn't show the fine needlework and the beautiful pink flowers off to their full potential. I must admit I rarely use it because I'm frightened that it might get spoiled, which is silly really because it's just going to waste sitting in my drawer - so I shall iron it and put on my dinning room table.

Amy is now in 80's and lives in a sheltered housing complex but my memories of her is seeing her at lunchtimes sitting in her office busy sewing away. I bought the tablecloth because of those memories and because of the time and effort she put into each piece.

Wordless Wednesday - Trains

The World of Steam Trains - Bellblue Railway, East Sussex, UK

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That's my world - Tuesday

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One of many aspects I love about London is the interesting skyline - the old and new buildings mingling side by side. This photograph gives you an example..

At the front is The Tower of London a building 900 years old and in the back ground is a building, situated in the main financial district of the city of London, know as The Gherkin formerly the Swiss Re Building and probably about 10-12 years old - but, to me, neither structures look out of place but complement each other.

Now I know where I went for the weekend

Well it was near Gatwick Airport but far more beautiful and peaceful!! We stayed at The Roebuck Hotel, Wych Cross which is situated in the Ashdown Forest. This photo is courtesy of the Roebuck Hotel website.We certainly had a comfortable room and our Rotary President and his wife, Laurie and Vera, had left gifts in each of the Rotarian rooms - a plant for the ladies and a Rotary International candle for the gentleman. We met up in one of the lounges for our evening meals and Nigel certainly enjoyed sitting on the leather sofa in front of the fire.Having a laugh with Vera.

Me with Rose and Dorothy before our evening meal.

I could write and write and write and show photograph after photograph because we did indeed have a fabulous weekend with our Rotary friends BUT the highlight for us was taking a ride on the Bluebell Steam trains and I leave you with two video clips that Nigel took and has uploaded onto YouTube.Me on the Bluebell train - pulling a face at something or someone!!

Gatwick Airport

Nigel & I are going away tomorrow until Sunday with the Barking Rotary Club. Now last year we had a wonderful weekend in Lowestoft (even though it snowed) but this year it's a mystery!! I asked Nigel where we were going and all I could him say was 'Gatwick' so I'm not too sure whether or not we are staying at the airport all weekend!! :) will let you know on Monday
To reassure my cat friends- Karmen will be staying home with Karl. I do hope they don't throw any wild parties whilst I'm away :0

ABC's of the Word - Be

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Today's letter is B

Not only is it ABC's of the Word but it is also my 100th post!! WOW However, for me there is only one Bible verse for the letter B and that is taken from Psalm 46:10 'Be still and know that I am God'.

I once read that no matter how fast the wheel of bicycle is turning that right in the centre of the hub there is stillness. I like that illustration and can easily apply it to my own life - I am many BE's and if I take each spoke of the wheel and put a BE on it ie. BE a wife, BE a mother, BE a daughter, BE a sister, BE a friend, BE a minister, BE a listener, BE a volunteer, BE a follower of Christ, Be a disciple, BE an employee, BE a workmate, BE a Community Chaplain, BE a neighbour and so and so. I'm sure you can apply the same to your life. Well I can BE because right at the centre of my hub I have learnt to BE still in God's presence and acknowledge Him daily as Lord of my life.

One of my favourite singers is Aled Jones and here he is singing 'Be Still in the presence of the Lord'.

Outdoor Wednesday - Pleshey

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One of my most favourite places that I visit every year is a village called Pleshey. I visit because I'm on retreat with other Chaplains and the Church of England Retreat House is in the village of Pleshey. For me it's the church I adore and because it's OUTDOOR Wednesday here are some photos I took last June.

and view opposite the church
and a beautiful little figurine (minus an arm) sitting on a grave stone in the church grave yard

Wordless Wednesday - Sweets

Sweet shop in Rye, UK - what are/were your favourite sweets?

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That's my world - Tuesday

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When I was child I can remember the various tradesmen coming down our road selling their wares - fish monger, vegetable cart, rag and bone man, the milkman and when we lived in Northern Ireland the coal man -nowadays this is a rare sight. But I was over the moon yesterday when this delightful gentleman came a calling down our road and Nigel was his 1st customer when he took his lawnmower out to have the blades sharpened..


Not only was his wagon a pure colourful delight but so was he - a real gem of an Eastender with a wonderful cockney accent.

Blue Monday - Books

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Karl's away for a few days so I decided that it was a good opportunity to clean and shampoo the carpet in his room. Whilst in the process of clearing his room I started on his books and realized that most of his collection have 'blue' covers. Here is a section of them:-

His reading material ranges from Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenim, Nathaniel Hawthorne to name a few and not forgetting The Path to Freedom by His Holiness The Dalai Lamar. Karl is very much like my youngest brother who also has the ability to read and walk at the same time!! :) without walking into any lamp-posts...

Morning at Church

Israel, Lydia, Florence, Mary and Tom leading a time of 'Praise and Worship'.

I am very privileged to be part of an Ecumenical team, which we call an LEP (Local Ecumenical Partnership) and through this I worship and minister alongside Revd David Pearson at Christ Church. David & I have been working together now for nearly five years and in that time we have seen quite a change in our congregation. Christ Church is on an estate called Thames View, which is only 50 years old and was originally white indigenous people, but now it is home to people from all over the world - Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Eastern Europe, Congo and the list goes on. We are delighted that our congregation reflects the neighbourhood and so we now have a very interesting congregation.

David & I decided to help everyone we would all start wearing name badges - this has gone down a treat and the change in the atmosphere on a Sunday is overwhelming. Not that people were not friendly before!!! but somehow wearing your name has made communication a lot easier and has also encouraged regular attendance.

The Church Council decided to go one step further and hold a 'Brunch' inviting everyone to bring a dish from their Country - well that was today and what success it was. We held it at 11.00 just after the Communion Service and just before the Family Service in order that we could also engage both congregations to meet and eat with each other.

PhotoHunt - Nautical

'Kids Fun Day Out' is an event organized by Barking Rotary Club every year in Barking Park and one of the activities is a ride around Barking Park Lake in a boat. My son, Karl, always helps out on this day and works with a team at the Boating Lake.
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Pink Saturday - Time

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Nigel bought me this watch a few years ago and, although the photo is not that particularly clear, I hope you can see a pink heart on the face of the watch?

Well today is Valentine's Day - a day when flowers, chocolates, cards and other gifts will be passed from one person to another in declaration of LOVE.

I was thinking what, for me, is the best declaration of love and that is TIME. Pure undiluted, unadulterated TIME. I think Time is the best gift we can give anyone because our TIME is so precious to us, we have so many things we want to do that just to spend TIME in each others company is the most precious gift of all.

One of my all time favourite songs is sung by Louis Armstrong 'We have all the time in the world.'

We have all, the time in the world
Time enough for life
To unfold
All the precious things
Love has in store
We have all the love in the world
If that's all we have
You will find
We need nothing more
Every step of the way
Will find us
With the cares of the world
Far behind us
We have all the time in the world
Just for love
Nothing more
Nothing less
Only love
Every step of the way
Will find us
With the cares of the world
Far behind us
Yes We have all the time in the world
Just for love
Nothing more
Nothing less
Only love
Only love

In amongst the flowers, chocolates, cards - I hope you do have the opportunity just to spend time with the one you love.

Happy Valentines Day to you.

Show and Tell Friday

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For my 40th birthday I received this delightful ornament called 'Henry and friends' - I received it from a very special lady called Wendy.

Major Wendy Leavey is a ordained Salvation Army Officer (minister) who has lived and ministered in Ghana for probably just over 30 years. Before becoming a Salvation Army Officer Wendy trained as a Midwife and she has combined her role as Midwife and as a Minister as she has served and loved the people of Ghana. I don't know how many babies Wendy has delivered over the years, many a time in areas where there is no running water or electricity and in the extreme heat.

I remember staying with her one weekend and being present at the birth of a child which was just magical then two hours later Wendy got called out to the clinic again as another mother arrived and the birth was a complicated one with the result that the baby died and the Mother was extremely weak but with the care and love from Wendy and her nurses the mother pulled through. However, what I remember vividly is Wendy coming back from the clinic and telling me what had happened and I thought to myself, at the time, you have been through this so many times and you would normally come back to an empty home in the middle of nowhere - on that occasion I was glad I was there to make a cup of tea on a gas ring (no electricity) and this was before the times of mobiles and telephones so Wendy wouldn't have any means of talking to a friend about her day.

Wendy has also over the many years sponsored so many children through schooling and University - Wendy is truly one exceptional Woman of God.

ABC's of the Word - Altar

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Today's letter is the letter A.

Genesis 12:7..Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "I am going to give this land to your offspring." And Abram built and altar to there to commemorate the Lord's visit.

I love this imagery in the old Testament of folk, like Abram, building altars to commemorate an important moment with the Lord. As they were nomadic people they would return to the same place at some other point in their journey and pitch up their tents - they would see the pile of stones, their altar, and remember the occasion and reason why it was built and once again give thanks to God.

I often use this imagery when taking a funeral, especially for non-Christians, I suggest to those present that they, too, take a pebble and place it somewhere that was an important place for them and the deceased and when they visit that place to give thanks to God for that persons life but also ask God to be present in their own.

I have met folk again in the shops who have seen me and have said, "I still have that pebble and I still pray to God and thank them for mum/dad/brother's life and I pray for myself."

Do you have altars in your life that you can revisit time and time again and give thanks to God?

This is a pebble I found in our garage - someone has painted the praying hands on it. Please copy and paste it onto the sidebar of your blog so that every time you open your blog you will remember like Abram to stop and remember how Great is our God.

Wordless Wednesday - Me and my shadow

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That's my World - Tuesday

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My favourite part of London is St. Katherine's Dock and in particular Tower Bridge. I keep reminding my son that I would love to have a flat in retirement over looking the bridge - would only cost about million pounds!!! Anyway, I took these photos on my mobile on a cold evening whilst out for a walk with my husband.

and under the bridge..