Two old ladies meet for lunch

Ali's photo came out better than mine so the one above will have to do until I get a copy from Ali.

Well we've met!! and what a wonderful time. Thankfully Ali knows Tottenham Ct Road and Oxford Street better than me (from her previous life!!) and we were able to have lunch in Garfunkel's, followed by a stroll then tea at Costa Coffee. Actually it felt like having lunch with a friend I've known for years rather then someone I've met via blogger :)

On the train home I thought to myself - I think we've covered and talked about every area of life within four hours - do you think that's a woman thing? we can cover pregnancy, varicose veins, work, family and Obama all in one conversation :) Obama will be flying into Stanstead Airport as Ali will be flying out.

Ali also very generously presented me with these gifts - a beautiful t-towel and mug - thanks Ali. Great to meet you and hopefully Nigel & I can visit you and Graham over in Belfast.

Barking meets Belfast

Today I am meeting a blogging friend for the 1st time. We have spoken on the phone on a few occasions but Ali (http://www.chemicalsblog.blogspot.com/) has flown over from Northern Ireland and is staying in a hotel in Tottenham Ct Road in London and I shall meet her at 11.30 ready for lunch. What fun :)

Pink Saturday

click here for other pink saturday participants.

A pink hand tickling the tummy of a black and white cat with a pink nose who is sleeping on her pink blanket.

Oh I deserve this :)

Since my car crash at the end of January I have been travelling by foot and on public transport because, at the moment, I don't have a car (new one arrives at the beginning of May) and today I was just tired, aching and just wanted to get home and put my feet up!! having the spent the afternoon at Dianne's farewell bash - click here for post.

I had to buy some milk and cat food so got off the bus outside the co-op and there spied 4 mars for a £1 - well I must admit I don't normally buy myself chocolate but oh they were calling out to me!! honestly :)

Did I enjoy my cuppa and mars bar when I got home? you bet I did!! Nigel & Karl enjoyed finishing off the rest :)

Horse and Carriage

I was out in Ilford yesterday buying 'farewell' presents and balloons ready for Dianne's farewell from the Thames View Advice Centre (of which I am a Trustee) and on my way back to the bus stop I had to pass the Funeral Directors and came across this wonderful sight!!

There were two lovely ladies responsible for grooming these horses and also riding behind them infront of the carriage. I asked their permission to take these photos on my mobile phone and they were only too delighted to oblige and then I had a very interesting chat with them regarding their responsibilites etc. (just to say that the carriage was empty - no coffin in it yet!!)

Horse and carriage funerals are very traditional with the really 'old east-enders of London Town' but are now becoming more popular but also very expensive.

Judith (Community Chaplain)

I am entering a very exciting time within my ministry, which I have been working towards for the last 5 years - a new worship space within a new housing area.

Because there is so much going through my mind and so much to do, as well continuing to minister to folk I am already ministering too!!! I have decided to start another blog so that I can organize my mind (do you feel like that sometimes - you just have to write things down to clear your head?) I would be honoured if you had the time to visit me there too and comment - don't we all just love comments? it's your comments that encourge me.

By clicking on the photo you will be transported to my 'ministry site' - thank you.

God bless you all - Judith

Wordless Wednesday - school children

Taken at Mamprobi School, Ghana - July 2001


for more Wordless Wednesday participants click here

photo of the day

can you see her? Karmen hiding in the holly bush!! *ouch*

Blue Monday - Mothering Sunday

For more Blue Monday participants visit Sally by clicking here

Yesterday, in the UK, it was Mothering Sunday which now has become very commerical and is know to the general public as 'Mother's Day; however, that was not it's true beginnings.

History of Mothering Sunday
Most Sundays in the year churchgoers in England worship at their nearest parish or 'daughter church'.
Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or 'mother' church once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their 'mother' church - the main church or Cathedral of the area.
Inevitably the return to the 'mother' church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home. (It was quite common in those days for children to leave home for work once they were ten years old.)
And most historians think that it was the return to the 'Mother' church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family.
As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift.

some of my flowers/plants which I received on Mothering Sunday at church.

Karmen's Tales

Karmen as an 8 week old kitten - she is now 22 weeks old

I know some of you were following the adventures of my kitten, Karmen, but I have to say that I was finding it difficult to keep two blogs going - so decided to delete 'Karmen's Tales'. However, just to prove that she is still alive and kicking!! :) here are some photos of her which I took yesterday.

Karmen 'Queen of the Apple Tree'

surveying her territory

not quite so ladylike and one reason why I haven't put a collar on her!!

back down to earth

it's exhausting looking after the garden - so time for a snooze

Pink Saturday - Pink Photos

click here to visit other Pink Saturday participants..

I took these photos on my mobile phone whilst Nigel and I drove over the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and it wasn't until I downloaded them later that I realized how pink they were. I can only assume that the sun shinning through the unopened sun-roof of the car must have bounced off my camera-phone to produced such interesting photos. I could probably sell them for a fortunate as modern art :)

Pictures from the last few days

Sunbury Court - where Nigel & I attended the Retreat
my favourite tree in the grounds

one of the gardens - Hampton Court Palace grounds -Hampton Court Palace swan in the lake at Hampton Court Palace
deer from the park opposite Hampton Court

Thank you Valerie

It's encouraging, isn't it? when folk acknowledge that they enjoy reading your blog- SO I have two 'thank you':-

Firstly to Valerie of Simply 4 God who has very kindly given me this award. Valerie and I have been blogging friends for nearly a year now and I thank her for her friendship and encouragement.

Secondly I would like to pass this award on to those who very kindly follow me and to those who very kindly often comment on my posts. Thank you.

I am amazed at the different ways we design, present, post our blogs because they represent us - our personality in a 'virtual world' to many who have not met us in the flesh. So well done everyone and God bless you all.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I had to share this card with you that I received from a blogging friend (Ali) who lives in Northern Ireland. It arrived just as I was putting the finishing touches to the house before I leave to go to Sunbury Court (click here for previous post) and it made me laugh. I know you will laugh too :)


Thanks Ali of http://www.chemicalsblog.blogspot.com/

Retreat - 17th-19th March

Nigel and I shall be leaving later this morning to attend our Divisional Retreat, which is held at Sunbury Court. This event occurs, at this time, every year and it is an opportunity for all of us (about 40 people who work and minister within The Salvation Army - church leaders, social centre managers and chaplains) to meet up and and share fellowship, listen to and be challenged by guest speakers as well as being able to relax in beautiful surroundings. I shall be taking my camera and laptop so, hopefully, will be able to post some photos for you too see.

The theme for this years Retreat is "LivingWell - Discipleship" and Major Noel Wright is our guest speaker and he will be sharing God's word with us from John 4 and John 6. John will be leading three sessions which are entitled:-

1. Living well by drinking
2. Living well by eating
3. Living well by being thirsty and hungry

If the weather in Sunbury on Thames is anything like the weather we have been enjoying here in Barking - then we are certainly in for a treat as the grounds of Sunbury Court as well as the area surrounding it will be beautiful. This is a photo of Sunbury Court, which I have taken of their website and you can read more about the house and location here

Blue Monday - Blue Jeans

I can't believe it!! but it's Monday again - so time for another Blue Monday adventure. To view other Blue Monday participants click here.

I can't believe it!! but it's Monday again!! and the sun is shining again!! LOL As I was away last week I've got a bit of washing to catch up with and the first load into the washing machine is Nigel and Karl's blue jeans.

Enjoy your day - time to hang the 1st load out and put the 2nd load in... more blue jeans :)

Old Post Card

I was in the garage this afternoon looking through some books which I have in storage and came across the above postcard - I had sent the card to my grandmother in 1993 not long after Nigel, Karl and I had returned from Bangladesh. The postcard informed her of our well-being, of Karl starting a new school and it concludes with me saying 'We think and remember you in our prayers'

Nanna was a very quiet, tiny and unassuming lady but now when I look back at her life Nanna was also quite a formidable woman for her era. Before she entered The Salvation Army Training College to become a Salvation Army Officer (minister) she had trained and worked as a nurse in King Georges Hospital, Ilford and she put both roles (Nurse & Minister) into practice when, alongside my Grandfather, they found themselves in India ministering for The Salvation Army in various hospitals during the 1930's - 1940's.

When my grandfather died at an early age - my Nanna went in charge of various Salvation Army Hostels and Eventide Homes, in the UK, before she retired at the age of 60 in the 1970's. It was at this point that she learnt to drive and had a little green mini with a white roof but not only that Nanna also went and learnt some basic car mechanics!! quite a lady.

I particularly remember my Nanna Partridge as being faithful in prayer and whenever she stayed with us, when I was still living at home, she would rise early so that she could have her morning devotions before the day would commence. After Nanna died my Auntie Margaret gave me Nanna's devotional book 'Streams in the Desert' and inserted in the page of the day that she went into hospital was the postcard that I had sent a few years earlier.

I have been looking for the card for sometime now and knew that it was tucked away somewhere safely!! so how ironic to find it in a book of prayer :) that would have made her smile.

New Every Morning

New every morning is the love

Our wakening and uprising prove,

Through sleep and darkness safely brought,

Restored to life and power and thought.

If on our daily course our mind

Be set to hallow all we find,

New treasures still of countless price

God will provide for sacrifice.

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be
As more of Heaven in each we see;

Some softening glean of love and prayer

Shall dawn on every cross and care.

The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we ought to ask;
Room to deny ourselves, a road
To bring us daily nearer God.

Only, O Lord, in they great love,
Fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us, this and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.


John Keble (1792-1866)

An encounter in the library

I met a delightful young man in the college library last evening - that's got you all reading this post!!!! whose name is Mark and, before you all get to excited :) he is married to Dawn and they have a little girl called Catherine.

Mark, along with his wife Dawn, are training to be Salvation Army Officers and are now coming to the end of the 2nd year of training. Mark very kindly shared some of his story with me and that is why I would dearly love you to turn to Catherine's Blog, read it and prayer for them as a family and, if you so desire even tell them that you are praying for them.

http://www.catherineisgreat.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Judith

William Booth College

Hi Folks

Just to let you know that this week (Monday-Friday) I am at The Salvation Army College (William Booth College), which is situated in Denmark Hill, London. I have here for another residential week in relation to my degree course (Pastoral Care with Psychology) so will not be blogging this week but, hopefully, will still be able to visit your blogs.

Take care, Judith

checking up on me!!

It's rather disturbing or flattering when you realize that other bloggers actually DO read your posts and even more frightening when they request a follow up!! :)

Last Sunday I posted about the fact that my vicar, Revd David, had put me in charge of the garden tray that the children had scattered seeds into during the Family Service - I am to bring it back to Family Service this Sunday (tomorrow) so that the children can see how their seeds have grown- you can read the original post here

Well, Ali has posted a comment wanting to know how the garden was progressing, especially as the dear little souls were very anxious last week that it had been left in my care!! Ali here is a photo of the garden tray and I'm very relieved that tomorrow is the last day because as you can see the mustard and cress are drooping rather a lot and require harvesting.

.

Boys and their toys

It has been rather a busy but enjoyable few days and I shall endeavour this afternoon to catch up with everyone. In the meantime I thought I would share these two pictures with you of my husband, Nigel.

When we first met in 1979 Nigel was driving a little blue mini, which we both loved and we had the little mini for the next eight years.. we went everywhere in - this photo was taken on our honeymoon in 1981 in Scotland.

Then came the 'sensible' years - cars that would accommodate family, work etc but now that isn't a necessity and, at nearly 50, Nigel's gone back to a 'fun' car again, which is a Fiat 500 and doesn't he look happy!!!

This car has 'bluetooth' which means it syncs with his phone and he just has to say press a button on the steering wheel and say 'call Judith Schultz' and a very nice lady replies 'call Judith Schultz now?' and he says 'Yes' and my phone rings!! At the moment this feature in the car is a novelty and I get phone call every time he's out driving in the car!! not that I'm complaining :)

Wordless Wednesday - Haircut

Photo taken in August 1991 - Karl having his haircut in a Barbers in Coonoor, India (He still doesn't like getting his hair cut!!)

for other Wordless Wednesday participants - click here

That's my world - Tuesday

Nigel & I like to take a week or so every year just to travel to different parts of the UK that we have not previously visited before. I have always wanted to see the Angel of the North and so that's just what we did last year.

The 208-tonne “Angel” basically takes the form of a human figure based on artist Antony Gormley's own body. At 20 metres high, the Angel is higher than a five-storey building. Its wings are 54 metres wide - almost the same as a jumbo jet. Overlooking the A1 at Gateshead, at least 90,000 motorists a day will pass by the sculpture. Rail passengers travelling on the East Coast mainline from London to Edinburgh will also see the angel as they approach Newcastle. information taken from website - click here for further information

sitting on the foot of the Angel of the North

for more world picture click here.