I'm young and should have 1

3 and a 1/2 Weeks to go

2009-01-21T09:02:00.003Z

OK so those that read this and are teachers will probably know instantly what I am talking about, it is three and a half weeks until half term wahoo!! I am looking forward to it immensely, a week of lie ins and not needing to go anywhere and work, I get to see my sister for a couple of days and hopefully visit some uni friends but there is a downside, I leave my B placement and go back to A school.

Let me explain. As part of my training on the job type thing I am doing to become a teacher, I work in a school and actually teach real children, then for six weeks or half a term I get uprooted from where I have settled and get thrown in to a whole new school but only for six weeks. This is where I currently am at the moment. I have gone from one extreme to the other and this has caused many various emotions. Although my two schools are completely different I am loving them both although in different ways, (there have definitely been less tears in B school than A!) and so although it is only three and a half weeks until half term and all the fun that brings (I will be working as well but it is clearly much more fun working in your pjs watching day time telly!) I will have also left a school that has challenged me as a teacher and has encouraged me and made me grow. Do I really want to leave? That is the question, I do not know the answer but the fact of the matter is I have to and all those emotions will begin as we now cross the halfway barrier in this half term.

You Know You Have Worked Too Much When....

2008-11-07T09:46:00.002Z

OK so last night I did some work. Not unusual for the amount of stuff I have to do but in particular last night I was just going over my planning for a year 9 lesson I have this afternoon. I had taken home the video I wanted to show them so I was completely clear on what they would get out of it. Now at the moment I am looking at the Battle of the Somme and in particular Field Marshal Douglas Haig (see picture below!)

The disturbing thing about this though is that when my alarm went off at 6.45 this morning, 91/2 hours after I had finished the video and sorting out my lesson, I found myself thinking, well if I pause the video here they will be able to note this point and if I continue until this bit etc etc.

So, you know you have worked too much when..you wake up thinking of a man who is responsible for killing thousands of people and who has a ridiculous moustache!

8 facts which may or may not be interesting!

2008-10-02T09:46:00.002Z

OK so I have been tagged in this more than once so really should do it.

1) I am typing this from a chool computer, I cannot access my personal emails or facebook but blogging I can do!

2) I have never broken a bone in my body so far although have dislocated my right knee twice so far.

3) I have been in ambulance twice (see above reason!)

4) I am afraid of mice and human bones

5) I hate being on my own, I need company, conversation and noise

6) I went to university and in my three years there never went to a purple Wednesday (big event at student union)

7) I am the oldest child in my family and the oldest grandchild on one side of my family

8) I would choose savoury food over sweet food every time!

I now tag Becca, Sarah and Kirst

Back to School

2008-09-06T12:52:00.002Z

That's right after six years of not going back to school this September I have been back. I have just completed my first three days as a graduate teacher in a secondary school and I have survived!

Highlights of my week:-

1. Finding out what happens on a teacher training day although the day itself was not that thrilling!!
2. Planning a lesson. Very scary but my lesson plan worked. Woo!
3. Receiving my Teacher's Planner. It was the highlight of my day and I got very excited. I am almost a proper teacher!!!

Funniest moment of the week had to be yesterday when a year seven asked me where a room was and I had no idea. Funny but embarrassing. I did manage to direct them in the end to where they needed to be for wet lunch, phew!!

All Coming Together

2008-06-17T09:56:00.002Z

For a while now I have been trying to figure out what my career needs to be, what I want to do when I am a 'grown up', where I can use my skills and my education and for the past six months I have been applying for positions that would make it all come together and at last it has paid off. As of September I am going to be training as a teacher in a secondary school in Havering teaching History. I am possibly doing one of the hardest routes into teaching but at last I have a destination.

The past year since leaving university has been a struggle in many areas the main one being on the job front. I just had no idea what I wanted to do and what I should be doing. All my friends had jobs they loved whereas I was just going from one temp assignment to another and often finding myself out of work for a few weeks but now I'm sorted. I can say I have a career, I am nearly a 'grown up' and this entire idea scares me a lot but I am now a firm believer that prayer before interviews really does pay off.

Obsession

2008-05-23T09:15:00.002Z

Ok so it has been over a month since I last blogged but was struggling with what to say and this morning it came to me. People who plan weddings are obsessed!! OK so I am planning a wedding but even my crazy planning is not as crazy as these people.

I have joined a forum on one of the websites of a popular wedding magazine for the date I am getting married and there have been tips shared and interest and information being swapped about and then today it went to a whole new level. I received an email saying more posts had been posted on this forum so I log in and have a read and I have discovered true Bridezillas!! People have their own websites for getting married. Now I know I am a crazy planner and have two books and have a countdown on facebook etc but to create my own website about the day surely that is taking things one step too far?

I just needed to blog this as I can't believe it is now the fashion to do this. What is the world coming too!!!

Love!!

2008-04-13T17:48:00.002Z

OK this may be a slushy post so apologies if it is but felt I needed to say this. Tonight I am sitting at home on my own, my mum is away on holiday so I am spending the week alone in my house. I have just said goodbye to my fiance(!!!!!!) as he goes back to uni and although I spent the weekend with him and will see him again on Friday I sobbed all the way home and then when I opened the door sobbed again and then when washing my hair sobbed again. Now normally I am not this bad. True I hate saying goodbye to him but normally I know I am going to see him in a matter of days and there are no tears. So why has it affected me so badly this time? Is it because this is the first time we will be apart since getting engaged? Is it because we have just spent four weeks together? Is it because I cannot plan any more of the wedding until I see him? Or is it simply because I hate being on my own and am hating the idea of not having company for the week that it has forced me to realise how much I love him, I like being with him, how involved he is in my life and how much I just want to be with him everyday?

Apologies again for the slushiness but it just crossed my mind why do we or should I say I never appreciate the people in my life until I am on my own and lonely?

Going to be a Mrs

2008-03-10T11:09:00.002Z

OK so this post is just another outlet of my excitement that I AM ENGAGED!!!! After four and a half years I was proposed to and am now the proud and excited owner of a very beautiful, very sparkly ring!!

I appreciate many of those who read my blog already know this news but it also gives me a chance to say to my little sis I am missing you being with us as much as you are missing being with us and it's only 3 weekends!! Also to my girls 2 weekends till the giggles and screams begin.

I love you all but to those inparticular you are always in my thoughts and I can't wait to share this moment with you.

Changing Tracks

2008-02-27T11:12:00.002Z

At work I am often in the office on my own as my boss is attending many meetings in various parts of the south east of England and so I often listen to Radio 1. I have become addicted to the Chris Moyles show and find him absolutely hilarious and often laugh and sing along in my car and the office. Anyway after the Chris Moyles show comes Jo Whiley. At first I wasn't sure whether I like this show or not and then I discovered a feature she does every day.

Every day after 11 o'clock she does the feature Changing Tracks. This is her relating peoples stories of how their live have changed with a song. This is a very emotional feature. People write in telling all sorts of problems. Everything from eating disorders, to cheating on a partner, to moving away from friends. Whilst listening to this feature it got me thinking. Would I feel comfortable having my problems broadcast on national radio with a life changing song? What makes these people do it? Also what would my life changing song be? As a Christian should my life changing song be a Christian one about the grace of God?

Just some thoughts that go through my mind at about 11.10 when I listen to the radio.

Uncertainty and Confirmation

2008-02-14T10:27:00.002Z

At the moment I feel very much in an uncertain place. I am waiting for lots of things to happen in my life and I am being forced to consider big questions on my future in all aspects of my life. Then on Sunday this was the closing song in Southampton's meeting and it took all my restraint not to jump up and down in affirmation because it doesn't matter what is going on in my head as

I'm in His hands,
I'm in His hands,

Whate'er the future holds,

I'm in His hands,

The days I cannot see

Have all been planned for me;

His way is best, you see;

I'm in His hands.

Still alive!!

2008-01-28T10:27:00.000Z

This weekend I did something I had never ever done before. I cooked. Cooked from scratch a main course and a pudding. What is even more impressive is I am still alive and so too is the person I cooked it for!!

Reason for cooking? Well my boyfirend and I do not really get to spend all that much time together when we are both home and so my mum was out and I thought it would be nice if we did something different and took advantage of the space and spend some quality time together. I suggested cooking and my boyfriend got quite excited by the idea of being grown ups so then I had to do it!! I looked in recipe books borrowed from a friend and surfed the internet until I found a simple recipe that would look like it was complicated!! On saturday afternoon I began the task of cooking and by Saturday evening we had a barbecued chicken with fried rice and chocolate swirl cheesecake. All made from scratch and it even tasted quite nice!

Point of this blog? Well I am alive and so is he. I can now say I can cook without poisoning anybody!!

New Year, New Me?!

2008-01-07T15:33:00.000Z

OK so it has been a while since I have blogged, this is mainly due to the fact I have not had anything to say, until today that is. Whilst at work bored I suddenly thought of something I could share with you all, I cannot promise it will be interesting but at least it's something!

I have decided this year I need to lose weight. I am not the only one in this I am sure but it has occurred to me recently that in the past four years of my relationship I have expanded and now is the time to stop. I am not however going to diet. Oh no. I do not believe in dieting, it just makes you hungrier, plus for it not to make you hungry you have to spend a lot of money a month to join the consumer diet world. This is money that I will be needing to spend on something else but that will be a blog for later in the year. So as I am not going to diet how exactly am I going to lose weight. A question I am sure you are eagerly awaiting the answer for!! I am going to exercise. Yes that is right little sis I am going to exercise. I do currently belong to a gym however have been once in the entire month of December. To not go is throwing money away and so that is why in this New Year I am going to make the most of my gym membership.

The question is though can you lose weight just by exercising? Can I go back to the size and figure I had four years ago? Can I be less than that?

The answer I am hoping is yes as I have lots of important engagements coming up this year, from friends 21st's to graduation balls and ceremonies (not mine but I still get to go!) to a friends wedding, and these are just the ones that I know of.

So please keep your fingers crossed that this is achievable and if you have any advice or tips they would be greatly appreciated.

Decisions, Decisions

2007-11-30T09:19:00.000Z

Now I am working in the big wide world I have realised I need to start drinking grown up drinks, yes tea and coffee. There is one slight problem with that I do not like tea or coffee plus I have a bit of a thing with drinking hot drinks which I will not go into here as we could be here all day. However I have discovered I do quite like a hot chocolate. This is good especially in the winter as it will warm me up however one problem is the amount of calories in a hot chocolate. I have therefore limited myself to one hot chocolate a week, not only for the calories but it is cheaper too! Here is my dilemma though. From Oxford Circus station on the way to my office I pass a Costa, a Starbucks and a Pret all of which sell hot chocolate. The decision is therefore which is the best one to have?

The Temptation is Large!!!

2007-11-13T16:41:00.000Z

As some of you who know me will know I have a new job which I am liking at the moment, fingers crossed it will remain that way, but with this job comes one of the biggest temptations.

My office is in Soho, when I say Soho I mean 5 minutes from Oxford Street and 3 minutes from Carnaby Street. This is the great temptation. Not going shopping and spending all my hard earned money in my lunch hour! You will not believe how hard it is not to go shopping when all the big shops are just a stones throw away.

Until today I had avoided stepping foot onto Oxford Street apart from when I go to the station on the way home but today I went, and I am pleased to say did not buy anything except lunch although it was really hard!

Southern Youth Councils

2007-10-25T16:01:00.000Z

On Friday I helped drive members of Southampton Shirley youth to their youth councils evening in Poole. I was quite interested to go after experiencing youth councils in the LNE division for so many years and I am pleased I went. The theme was Transformers and although the evening was certainly different to the way 'we' do youth councils those that were there had a good time. There was one bit in particular that really hit me. After the sermon bit the worship band led the us in a song called God of Justice. This song had been taught to them at summer school but on Friday evening they used it in the response time. The response was to stand on a particular line of song that you will do. This may not make much sense if you do not know the words to the song so I will put them in now.

God of Justice, Saviour to all

Came to rescue the weak and the poor

Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us

Freely we've received

Now freely we will give

We must go, live to feed the hungry

Stand beside the broken

We must go,

Stepping forward keep us from just singing

Move us into action

We must go

To act justly everyday

Loving mercy in everyway

Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require

Freely we've received

Now freely we will give

Fill us up and send us out

Fill us up and send us out Lord

I was truly amazed to see youth responding to this. Youth were getting up and saying yeah lets make a stand, I want to do this, this is what needs to be done. It was a special moment for me. I didn't know all the youth unlike here at home but was so proud I guess of the way they responded.

Whilst we were singing this the line that struck me the most was 'We must go, Stepping forward keep us from just singing, move us into action'. In the Salvation Army and in some ways Church in general we are known for singing lots of hymns and for many that's all we do, meet on one day a week and sing but I believe it is time we did this and we made this line our prayer and truly meant it, please Lord move us into action, keep us from just singing.

Belonging

2007-10-10T18:41:00.000Z

This is going to be a mix of my thoughts, thoughts I have been thinking for a little while. I cannot promise they will make sense but this may be the most honest post of mine yet, that I cannot promise though. Apologies if this does not make any sense but just needed somewhere to write.

For a long time now I have been thinking about the term belonging in relation to how I belong and how other people see the term belonging. I have been thinking this in relation to our church, our corps, and am struggling with belonging. Just because we have been there for our entire lives does that mean we belong? If it does why do people still feel alone and that their home church no longer feels like home? Do people presume that everybody feels like they belong because they have been there forever?

I know this probably does not make much sense, it doesn't even to me really. These are just some of the thoughts in my head that I was able to put into words.

Why....

2007-09-24T17:25:00.000Z

OK this may sound like it is possibly going to be a big deep philosophical or theological blog but it isn't I'm afraid as I am not that type of person. The real subject of this blog is dogs and houses.

As part of September those of us in the Salvation Army are encouraged to do door to door collecting as part of the Annual Appeal. As my mum is a minister now guess who has to help her out with this (to be fair there are only about 3 people under the age of 65!!). I do not mind the idea of it at all, my biggest problem is I am scared of dogs, and I mean scared, I cross over the road, that kind of thing. So anyway we went out last Saturday knocking on doors and I like nearly got killed like three times (FYI I am a slight drama queen!!). People opened their doors fully and out come bounding dogs. Now surely if you have a dog, who barks at visitors and is excitable, you do not open the door to its full width or am I missing some huge point? The funny thing is that once I screamed in pure terror when two big dogs came bounding at me from the same house the woman said, 'They won't hurt you', good I'm pleased but how can you categorically know that.

So the question and the point of my little rant is why do people who have dogs and other excitable animals open the door really wide and not take into account the fact the person at the door may be slightly scared of them?

It's Been 4 Days and....

2007-09-20T19:43:00.001Z

I am exhausted. Seriously how all you people work all the time i have no idea, I'm shattered and I only started on Monday!!! In fairness though I was in York until Wednesday doing some seriously intensive training (yes that did involve sampling a lot, and I mean a lot of chocolate, and yes I will be going to the gym on Sunday), driving all the way back from York in my new company car (red Vauxall Vectra, if anybody is interested), it was really scary, and then today driving all the way to Gatwick and to other places shadowing a fellow BDE (that is what I am). I am now exhausted and want to have a month off at Christmas like normal, instead I have to make do with only a week ( I am fully aware this is more than some people get, sorry!!).

I will just make one comment, next time you walk into one of the big supermarkets, the co-op or woolworths and you see a big Nestle display, please think of us who are trying our best to get them in the shop and perhaps buy something from it!!!!!!!!!!

Guess What....

2007-08-24T09:48:00.000Z

I have a job, I have a job, wahoo. After nearly three months of constantly applying and going for interviews, finally someone has decided they want to employ me, wahoo. This is who I will be working for...

That's right I'm working for the chocolate people. How exciting. It's surely like everybody's dream to work for a company who makes chocolate and I am actually going to. That was all I have to say, I HAVE A JOB!!

Summer School and Boxes

2007-08-20T19:25:00.000Z

Just a quick blog whilst I have access to the internet.

Summer school was amazing for many people. For me as an oldie it was interesting but I just want to take this opportunity to say I have never been so proud of our youth as I was that week. The way they were praying and stuff with each other was a truly amazing site and I would ask you please to keep remembering all of us that went. It was a very challenging week, life changing for many and coming back can be such an anti climax so prayer would greatly be appreciated.

Boxes, it has been exactly one week since I moved house and I never want to see another box again. All my boxes are unpacked, Sarah's are still mostly full and those that aren't she has most probably tried to climb into (for many that will not surprise you!!). The move did go well though and for the most part we are settled although builders are still coming round nice and early every morning, oh the joy!!

Summer School

2007-08-03T14:02:00.000Z

It is that time of the year again when we are off to summer school. I ask for your prayers for all those who are going this week, staff, students, leadership students and anyone else who pops in along the way. It will be a very fun and tiring week as wellas spiritually challenging as you never know when God will pop up and nudge you. The theme for this week is holiness.

Summer school is an amazing opportunity for the youth of our church and so I seriously ask you to remember us all in prayer and that when we return you encourage those youngsters that have been.

And Finally....

2007-08-02T12:44:00.000Z

Miss Claire Nicola Tomkinson BA(Hons) History from the University of Portsmouth. Yes after three hard years involving many tears I finally acheived my goal and am the proud holder of a degree although I may not have the certificate yet as they are updating computer records!!

Leather Pumps Clearly Equals No Metal...Or So You would Think

2007-07-02T16:43:00.000Z

I have just come back (well on Saturday) from my summer holiday in Majorca and felt the need to blog about the journey home.

It started OK, the coach picked us up at 7.20, everybody was ready we all got on, went and picked up more people from different hotels and then started on our journey to the airport. We were going along the motorway (which is really odd because people overtake on the inside, its weird) when suddenly we pull over onto the hard shoulder and we stop. There is smoke pouring out of the engine and so we have broken down. We are 5 minutes from the airport and on a very scary motorway with a coach full of people and luggage. The Rep rings the coach people and asks for another bus and they send an 8 seater minibus, this was not very funny. Checkout was open, we were five minutes from an airport with a broken down coach full of people and they send an 8 seater minibus. The Rep sent the bus away rang and asked for a coach, (she stressed the word coach) and we sat and weighted, no air con, boiling hot and stressy, angry Brits!! Another coach came and then we had to get on it, trying our best not to get run over by scary fast moving Spanish people. We all get on, our luggage gets on and we are on our way and arrive safely at the airport.

Checkout. For those of you have never been to Majorca or Spain, they are not the quickest of people (no offense to anybody) so we join the long queue to check in, bearing in mind we are late. It is now 8.45, plane leaves at 10.25, boarding starts at 9.40 and we are at the back of a very slow moving queue. Anyway it gets to 9.15 and we are still not checked in when an announcement comes over the speaker to say we need to move to the last minute checkout desk. We move along with many others (most of whom were on our coach) and queue again. Two groups of people had gone through and the machine that prints out the boarding cards breaks. Great. It is now 9.25. Slowly starting to panic about being stranded in Palma airport. Eventually however we get checked in when they open up another desk for us and we then go and join the queue for security.

The security queue was moving a lot quicker thankfully (I don't think they are that bothered compared to the English) finally its our turn to pick up a plastic tray to put my watch in and put the bags through etc. I go through those metal beepy things, which I hate, and I beep. Great. Then came the stressful bit (it is now 9.35) the guy told me to take my shoes off. I was wearing white, leather , flat, pumps. There is no possible way there was metal on them and no way inside them, THEY WERE LEATHER PUMPS. Anyway I take my shoes off and put them on the conveyor belt to be x-rayed but it has stopped moving. Why? My stuff is at the end clogging it up but I couldn't move it because apparently leather pumps contain metal. Anyway it starts moving and I go through the beeper thing again and I still beep. I then realise my knee support contains metal but apparently that does not matter they let me go, reassuring huh!!

It is now 9.40 and we check the screens and have been delayed by 5 minutes so boarding is now not until 9.49 so we go and have a wander round the shop to try and find something for the plane. I find some Milka chocolate (love Milks chocolate) and queue up. The checkout guy is the slowest man on the planet, if he went any slower he would not be moving. I am now very stressed and getting more an more impatient with the stupid man who takes forever to do anything. Eventually the man in front of me is being served and then they announce our plane is boarding, well I'm not leaving it now, they can wait a min.It took another 10 minutes for me to get out of the shop!!

We then start to run to the gate as its 10.00 but I need the loo. Go to the loo on the way and guess what surprise surprise there's a queue and the women in there are taking 10 minutes to go to the toilet, seriously what are you doing in there. I am now very stressed and very impatient. Eventually get out of there and run to the gate and make it, thank goodness.

That is where the drama ended and we made our plane and got there safely but it was one nightmare journey up to then. Just had to blog the fact that THERE IS NO METAL ON LEATHER PUMPS AND NOWHERE TO PUT METAL OR ANYTHING ELSE ANYWAY!!

Singing With The Angels

2007-06-18T11:43:00.001Z

This will be a short blog but after the song the songsters sang in the morning yesterday I thought it was really cool. They sang 'He Loves Me So' and in the final verse and chorus it says 'I'll sing among the angels, because he loves me so'. I just found that really cool that one day I will be singing amongst the angels, regardless of my singing ability. Just thought it was really cool.

Foam Fingers and Being Mentioned on the Telly

2007-05-31T18:31:00.000Z

Sarah returned yesterday and we had some sister time (it doesn't happen very often, I give it a week before we are sick of the sight of each other!), I bought some chocolate and we settled down to watch the TV.

It started with Gladiators. Do you people remember Gladiators, with John Fashnu and Ulrika Johnson, that's right I found it on Free view, it was amazing. If you remember correctly in Gladiators at various times, foam fingers were needed to do 'Another one bites the dust' (you know your singing and dancing now!) well Nick bought Sarah a foam finger at Roots so out came the finger and she cheered and danced with it (If someone could tell Matt White that his foam fingers are used for many things we would appreciate it!!). It was the best hour, we laughed, cheered and I reminisced about how Sarah used to cry when people were mean to Wolf (Gladiator).

Then came Big Brother. I know many people do not like this show, me, I love it. We opened the chocolate and had our Big Brother party and then Davina, yes the amazing person who is Davina mentioned us on television. OK in fairness she did not mention us by name but she did say hello to those who were having Big Brother parties and that was us so we were mentioned on TV!! More about Big Brother to come no doubt (until someone wants to employ me, I get to watch it 24 hours a day!!)

Anyway last night was loads of fun, lots of laughs, and if anyone was under the impression me and Sarah were quiet people last night would have proved you completely wrong!

I've Been Tagged

2007-05-28T12:44:00.001Z

Thanks Kirsty for the Tag!!

My Tag - 'Competitive environments, in which the agents' goals are in conflict, give rise to adversial search problems - often known as games'

Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig, 'Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach Second Edition'

(For anyone who is confused, Iam currently at Dale's in Southampton and he is revising for exams, I have no idea what this sentence means!!)

Here's is what this is about - the rules:

Grab the book closest to you

Turn to page 161
Print the 5th complete sentence on your blog

Tag 5 others.

The people I tag are (apologies if you have ben tagged before but there are not many people left!!): Andy, Ann, Jude, Richard, Sarah

A Different Way of Doing an Open Air!!!

2007-05-27T19:36:00.000Z

I just had to blog this as I think it is genius and it always makes me smile. In Southampton town center there is a man who sells hot dogs. Nothing unusual I hear you thinking but this man is a genius. He sells hot dogs and plays Christian worship music. No lie. I have walked through the town and been like 'Oh that song is really familiar' and then when I have figured out why it is so familiar I am astounded. The great thing is though this guy always has customers. He is sharing the gospel through hot dogs even if it is subtly. Talk about open air witnessing and this man does it for a living!!!

It's All Over

2007-05-25T15:10:00.000Z

It is official, I have finished uni. The last essay was handed in yesterday (it was a very stressful morning) and now all I am doing is waiting for the marks, the nervous bit.

After the stressful morning I met a friend for lunch and we took to reminiscing about our time together and all that we had been through. The most popular memory by far was the day of 'The Flood', one of the longest and most horrendous days of my life although out of it came a fantastic friendship and we are now able to laugh about it.

With it now being the end it has stirred up some weird feelings, I am ready to face the world and earn some money (if anybody wants to employ me!!) but it is so sad to be leaving. The three years have been long, tiring, full of ups and downs and tremendous amounts of tears but through it all I have grown as a person, changed before people's eyes (my tutor used to think I was a 'shy, retiring flower', he has now changed his mind!!) and most importantly achieved my dream of obtaining a degree (obviously depending on results, but it's looking promising). So at the end of my time, it is only fitting to say a big thank you to all those who have helped me through, some of who read this and most of whom don't but a big thank you anyway. Let's hope you are all there as I enter the big wide world.

Blogs are Evangelistic

2007-05-14T15:35:00.000Z

Another justification that blogs are definitely worth the time, they can be used as part of evangelism. Let me explain. I was in my university library on Thursday with a friend trying to sort out our group presentation and you know what it's like, you get bored and start looking at stuff on the Internet. Anyway logged onto my blog and started checking everybody else's as you do and when I clicked onto someones blog it was about Roots. As I was reading I was trying to answer my friends questions regarding our presentation and she then looked at what I was reading. Then the question was asked. What is Roots. There was my opening. After three years of knowing this girl I was given an ideal opportunity to share what it was all about, what the Salvation Army was about and what my faith was all about, all because of a blog.

So there we have it, blogs can spread the word of God to non believers.

Friendship

2007-05-09T12:50:00.000Z

I know everyone else appears to be blogging about Roots and whilst mine is kinda, it is different. One of the most special things for me at Roots is the friendships. Not necessarily making new ones but developing the ones that already exist. As I am away at uni (although only 2 more weeks) and so are my friends and those really special in my life me and one of my closest friends take Roots as a time to catch up. It is a really special time for me, it involves lots of giggling and screaming (which some friends were clearly not ready for!!) but also emphasises to me how much I love her and miss her and how special she is to me. It allows our friendship to grow as we become closer as God really does become the centre of the relationship for that weekend, conversations revolve around Him and laughter and tears and hugs are shared because of Him and I find that amazing.

Roots also made me feel a whole lot better about the next year, when I come home and my special people are all away. I have been really worried about it but a friend told me not to be and offered her services as a friend which was so special for me and takes away a lot of that worry. It's one of those situations where all your 'normal' friends are away and although you are friends with others they have their own 'normal' friends and so the message meant so much and that person is also really special and I care for them a lot.

Anyway enough soppy stuff. I basically wanted to say Roots was a bit weird for me this year and wasn't what I was expecting but I have come out with deeper friendships and a deeper relationship and I am just so thankful for that.

Without friends and God where would we be.

Horses More Polite Than Humans!!!

2007-04-30T11:28:00.000Z

On Saturday as it was such a nice day down in Southampton me and Dale decided it would be a good idea to drive to the New Forest. The problem was we didn't quite know where to go so after we left the M27 we just drove around until we found a nice spot to sit and just chill. As we were driving we kept coming across a lot of horses. This panicked me slightly as I have never had to contend with wild horses before, how was i supposed to know what to do if one just stopped in the middle of the road!! Anyway we eventually found a nice spot with a little pub and a shop and thought we would stop for a drink and look at the horses (not go anywhere near them you just cant trust them) and as I was about to turn the corner to park the car the horses were on the move. However instead of just walking straight into the road presuming they have the right of way (like many people do!!) the horse stopped and waited for us to pass.

Who would have thought it, horses are more polite than humans.

Something To Think About

2007-04-22T20:41:00.000Z

When in SAY (Salvation Army Youth/Bible Class type thing) today we were discussing a little bit about what happened in Virginia and Dr Phil asked the question 'Where was God in this and other similar situations?' Now this is a very hard question for theologians and experienced scholars to answer let alone a group of 13-20 somethings. Anyway the girls in my group were a bit stumped. I was then reminded of the devotions that were given in songster practice on Tuesday, apologies to anybody who was there. The person who was leading them gave an explanation from a book written by Billy Graham's daughter. In it she was asked on American TV where was God in 9/11 and although we were talking about Virginia it is still relevant.

Her response was (not word for word), for years we have been asking God to get out of our schools, out of our governement and politics, out of society and out of our nation, and God being the gentleman that He is has listened and respected our plea.

My answer then to the girls in my group was this, God never stops watching us, loving us, and listening to us, so if we ask Him to leave, because of our free will He will. So in the bad times God is there, ever present but until people ask Him to interfere He will continue to wait.

Just something to think about.

Nearly Finished

2007-04-16T19:11:00.000Z

So i officially have five weeks left of uni lectures. My three years has come to an end and I am relieved. Uni has certainly been challenging and very emotional, but as I enter into my last term it has got me thinking what am I going to leave with. Now obviously (depending on results) I will have a degree, and I have grown in confidence and learnt valuable life skills (or so they tell me!!!) But what else have I left with, have I left with life long friends? Well that question can only b answered after a length of time but it got me thinking as what do I come home to?

Well apart from my family, although one of them will soon be off to uni I will return to friends. Or do I. My friends are all still at uni so after the summer, then what happens, I'm left on my own, in a familiar world, but a very different world. A world where the people I left are older and the age gap between people appears to be less than it was when I was 18 all because I have a job and a degree. So the question appears to be with the life lessons uni teaches you and the changes you face in the world of home, does uni ever prepare you for home and will home ever go back to being the same as when I left?

Weddings and Getting Older

2007-04-10T18:50:00.000Z

On Saturday I went to a wedding of a couple of friends from uni. I kinda gate crashed but that's not the point. It was a really nice occasion, lots of people, everyone looked really pretty and the wedding was really good. And then it hit me. It was just so surreal. I mean these people are actually married and are my age. I mean actually married, man and wife in the yes of the law and everything. They weren't just playing dress up!!!! It just seems really odd that for years I have been going to weddings, and everyone is always older than I am, proper grown ups, but now people who are actually my age and slightly younger are tying the knot. I am now old enough, and in that stage of life where people around me are getting married and becoming proper adults, I'm not sure I'm prepared for this.

It's Actually Happening

2007-04-04T12:53:00.000Z

OK so today started out as just another Wednesday in the Easter holidays, lazing around, sleeping lots and looking at all the work I had to do. That was until the post came and in it was my graduation brouchere. A booklet with all I needed to know and do for my graudation. ARGH!!!!

OK so I knew this day was coming, and I knew that at the end of 3 years I would be graduating but it is still really scary. I have to order my tickets, the photographs and even my gowns and the stupid hat (If anyone dare laugh at the fact I have to wear the hat for the entire time I will get revenge!!). I can't believe I have to do it all now, it only seems five minutes ago that I was getting excited about going to uni, now I've practically finished and am going to have to enter the adult world. It's really scary.

There is one good thing though I will still be 20 when I graduate, not many people can say that!!

My Baby Sister's an Adult

2007-03-29T15:12:00.000Z

My baby sister officially turned 18 yesterday, and it is really weird. I now feel really old. Granted not only is she my baby sister, she is my only sister and there is only two and a half years between us, but how is it possible that she is now 18, an adult in the eyes of the British law, when I still feel 18? How is that in any way fair I ask you?

Anyway there is not much point to this blog apart from to say IT'S NOT FAIR!!! I want to be 18 not nearly 21. (I know for some of you this is really insignificant but if you know my sister you know she is about 80% of the time being to stupid to act 8 let alone 18!!!)

So just to reiterate the point of my blog IT'S NOT FAIR.

The Legend That Is Ray Stubbs

2007-03-15T20:21:00.000Z

OK so I know it has been quite a while since I last blogged but I didn't really know what to say, that is until BBC 1 began Fame Academy as part of this years Comic Relief. Now I am a student and so by rights it means I have a lot of time on my hands which results in me watching every reality show going.

Now Fame Academy for those of you who are unfortunate enough not to have seen this years celebrity version is basically BBC 1's version of the X Factor for celebrities only just not as good!!! Anyway like most reality TV shows the celebrities that appeared were not that famous apart from one....the legendary....Ray Stubbs.

Ray Stubbs was a genius on this show. He cannot really sing (bless him) but he is pure comedic value. Lets put it this way he sings like he talks and so you just sit there waiting for him to break into some football trivia. It's utter genius. Anyway he survived down to the final five out of twelve and was sadly voted out yesterday :( In his defence though he did sing even though he had an upper respiratory infection. So all though there is not much to this blog it is just simply a tribute to Ray Stubbs. He will never be seen in the same light again!!

2007-02-24T22:48:00.000Z

I came across this analogy in the Word for Today and just felt I wanted to put it down for people to read, it just struck me that was all. The bit that struck me the most was

As we read God's Word the Holy Spirit holds up a mirror before us. He wants us to see ourselves so that we can make whatever adjustments are necessary.

I have no idea why that struck me, possibly just because it was such a real illustration but it also links with something I read yesterday in the book God's Big Picture. In the chapter I was reading it said something like this,

When looking at a passage from the Bible it is so easy to miss the point as the first question or instruction is nearly always 'What is this saying to me?' What we should possibly ask first is 'What does this tell me about God?' This will no doubt probably be a lot easier to answer but will force us to reassess the situations occurring in our lives armed with new knowledge about God.

Now I know these two points are different but for me they appear to be awfully similar. For me this presents somewhat of a challenge and the challenge is this, when we open the Bible as part of our daily devotions or just because we are told to we should always ask what the passage is telling us about God and then imagine the Holy Spirit holding a mirror up in front of us so what we then see after learning something new about God or simply just confirming what we already knew is our reflection which forces us to take these new characteristics of God and put them into our lives, to change our lives, by changing our faces. It is through our faces that our emotions are most noticed so if we have just learnt that God will always love us and will never leave us our challenge should then be to show it for the whole world to see.

Facebook.com

2007-02-16T15:01:00.000Z

www.facebook.com the website that is taking over the world and preventing everyone from doing all the work they need to be doing. This may just be a student thing because we have so much time on out hands but if not everyone must join, it is the second most addictive website I know (the first being the blogs obv). A bit of info about it basically you put a profile on there and then invite all your friends to join you and you join various groups and stuff. OK I know that wasn't a very good summary of what it is but its hard to explain. All I know is that here in student world it is the most addictive website and anyone who's anyone is on it.

Basically the point of this blog......join facebook.com and have your free time ruined too (but in a good way of course!!)

Evolution

2007-02-08T13:15:00.000Z

As some of you may know I love the series Friends, I find it absolutely hilarious and will watch it most of the time when at uni. I was watching an episode last night just before I went to bed and it has prompted me to write this blog and ask the question that I am going to ask. In the episode Phoebe told Ross that she didn't believe in evolution and Ross being the character he is just couldn't comprehend that. Anyway they talked and argued about it and he brought fossils and all that stuff but it prompted me to think about the topic of evolution.

I do not believe in evolution in the sense of Darwin's evolution, I believe God created the world and everything in it, the animals, the plants etc etc. I then come across a problem. Did God stop creating then? Did he make enough of everything and then stop? This poses a problem for me because since God created the world there has been many more new species that have entered into our world but did they evolve from another animal or animals or did God in fact create them like he did at the beginning of the world? If they evolved, and there is much evidence of this did God make them evolve did he play a part or was it just 'nature'? If God did create them does that mean he is still creating things today? Or is it in fact a mixture of the two?

One other question regarding the questions I have just asked, what is the model Christian view on this (I hope I haven't just offended someone on this I jus wanted to know the textbook answer as well please)? Are Christians allowed to believe in both evolution and creation or is that too contradictory?

The Garden of Eden

2007-01-19T14:47:00.000Z

I have started reading the book 'God's Big Picture' by Vaughan Roberts as part of my quiet time. I decided I needed to read more Christian books and this one seemed a good place to start as it gives an overview of the Bible and has a Bible Study part to it which can also be used in groups. Anyway it has given me a lot to think about, some questions it has answered or through discussions with various people has helped me answer but others it has not.

As the book gives an overview of the Bible it obviously starts with Genesis and the Garden of Eden and the bit that has had me puzzled the most is the fall of Adam and Eve. Vaughan Roberts asks the question what are we supposed to make of Genesis 3, was it factual or is it all a myth? This question arises in particular reference to the snake that tempts Eve.

'Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

Genesis 3:1

The snake talks to Eve, since when could snakes talk? I don't know about anybody else and perhaps I am just really slow but I had never thought about that before. Anyway Roberts brings this issue up with the question 'Are we meant to take that literally?' and that's my question. Snakes don't talk so was it really a snake that talked to Eve or is it some sort of symbolism? This then makes me question the Garden of Eden as a whole. Was it a garden or is it all just one big metaphor?

Where Is Home?

2007-01-11T19:16:00.000Z

Just a short blog which is really just a question. I was asked this question earlier this week by someone at uni and didn't really know what the answer is so I thought I'd see if anyone would comment and give me an answer.

I was asked whether my room in my house at uni felt like home. My initial reaction was no because it clearly isn't that is not my home address, it is just somewhere I happen to live for the academic year but then I got to thinking. In a way it is kind of like home because it has my stuff in it from my room at home and it has my photos of everyone in it but then I am not with the people in the photos, the people I love and care immensely for so is home the place where these people are?

I still don't know the answer so I will pose the question here:

Where is home?

Washing the Car!

2007-01-02T13:43:00.000Z

Sunday 31 December 2006 was a very memorable day for me or at least according to my little sister. I, Claire Nicola Tomkinson, aged 20 years old an approximately 4 months learnt how to wash a car.

Now I know this is possibly quite shameful that I didn't know how to do it before but when you have a sister like mine who insists on being the man of the house why did I need to know before then?

Anyway the day was not the best for it but considering I have had the car since the summer and had never washed it I thought it was about time I discovered what colour the car was supposed to be (evidently it appears to be white!!!!). The main problem was I didn't know how and as a poor penniless student I couldn't afford to take it to the car wash (although I have never been in one of those either)so I enlist the help of Sarah after much laughing on her part because I didn't know what to do. I got changed into what I considered appropriate car washing clothes but apparently there's special clothes u were supposed 2 wear an when i rolled my jeans up so they didn't get wet Sarah laughed even harder, it was just common sense 2 roll them up!

So the task begins and as it turns out Sarah ended up washing the majority of the car as she just got to exasperated waiting for me to figure out what she meant... hello a little patience needed here, never done it before....but eventually the car was done after a lot of buckets of water and some car shampoo and it is now possible to tell that my car is in fact white.

Is it wrong that I don't even feel remotely ashamed that I didn't know how to wash a car?

Why Does Mary Wear Blue?

2006-12-15T11:14:00.000Z

I have just been to see the film the Nativity and it brought a question to my mind. Why do we always put Mary in blue when we recreate the Nativity? Even in the film Mary changes into blue before she gives birth. Is there some relevance to blue or did people many years ago decide blue was a pretty colour and we just haven't changed it? I may of course be being really stupid and there may be a really obvious Biblical reference to it that I just don't know but if anybody has an answer I would be grateful to hear it.

Apparently We Only Save Certain Animals

2006-12-14T05:43:00.000Z

I have just watched the TV programme Extinct on ITV. I have never watched it before and as I don't know if any of you have either I'll tell you what the show is like. The programme has been running all week and as I am to understand it, it focuses on two out of a possible seven endangered animals that are soon to become extinct each day. As well as finding out about these animals throughout the programme the seven animals run across the bottom of the screen with telephone numbers. Now as I have never seen the show before I thought 'oh that's nice they are taking a poll to see what the nation's favourite animal is' but no. I discover towards the end of the show that you are in fact ringing to decide what animal you want to save. I was astounded how can u decide what animal you want to become extinct. What right do we have to decide what animal out of the seven gets half of the money raised by the phone calls? Why does one animal deserve the money more than another? This is living proof that today's society has gone mad with the need to have phone polls on every televison show possible.