I am in Bournemouth as I write this Blog, I am the IT/Tech guy for Dave Pope's Flame "Time Out" it is snowing in the Midlands but here it is a wonderfully sunny day. I have been very bustdoing IT/Tech things but this afternoon is our time off. Mrs EB is at home and is very poorly with a gastric bug and I am here and because of that I feel a bit guilty. I do wish I was at home to make her feel better.So I am here in Bournemouth with a group of the 1/3 generation and it is wonderful, Ian Coffey is the preacher and is just fantastic...the people are great so all is good.

Well all would be good but God does put things on our Hearts as a burden and I have had a family put on my heart at the moment and as I read her blog I cry, all I will say if you know my friends from Church who also have a narrow boat and have two children ask her to be allowed to read her Blog, there is a link on my blogroll but you do need and invite to read it. It makes very sad and harrowing reading, but I do know she will appreciate your support and prayers.

a grumle and moan

My life at the moment is pretty good, though I am a bit bored, as I have no work, and that bothers me. I do the odd thing now and then, fix a PC (two this week), I help out at Church (edited a load of video's for team leader for Holiday Club) do the shopping that sort of thing, but I really do need a job. I have a few days work next week where I have been invited to attend a conference in Bournemouth and look after the technical side of things...PA and PC's which will be great and may lead on to more work.

I have tried to post all week, but with events in the News I have found it hard, another family have died at the hands of a foreign lorry driver!!! and that hurts. We really do need to sort out this stupid law, it also need enforcing!!! We have knife laws in this country and young Lads are still dying it seems daily, we have firework laws yet they are let off after midnight...no one seems to respect the law, so having tougher Laws on continental lorry drivers taking proper breaks...no one will keep them...as no one cares...well I bloody well care, and I care a lot. I have seen firsthand what a tired driver can do thank you, and it is devastating to say the least. WE NEED A NEW LAW THAT STATES WHEN A LORRY DRIVER ENTERS THE UK HE NEEDS TO SHOW HIS TACHO IF HE HASN'T GOT AT LEAST 6 HOURS DRIVING TIME HE MUST BE FORCED TO REST UP, NO IF'S NO BUT'S. When a lorry driver falls asleep at the wheel of a 18 wheeler it doesn't just roll to a stop it carries on and even when it hits something it doesn't stop, it kills innocent people, people going about daily life.

Music for a Mission UPDATE

I haven't blogged much as I haven't had much to Blog about. Things are little slow I am still looking for a job, I spent a day with Mrs EB's brother and we remixed his live album that was recorded about 14 months ago. It had been mixed and sounded OK, but it needed a few tweeks for myself to be really happy, and Mrs EB's brother felt the same. Its a Blues album and sounds wonderful and has some great guitar and harmonica playing on it.

Well that leads me on to "Music for a Mission".... what can I say?, I thought I would be really struggling to raise the money needed for the Mozambique Mission, but after this weekends sales I have raised the money!!!!! Praise the Lord. I will still be selling the album after the services at Church and the funds will be going to the Mission trip fund to help others raising funds. I am so amazed by the sales and the generous people who have paid quite often over the odds for the album.

The feed back from the album has been really encourging as well, people who bought the CD have quite often come back to me and said some really great things, one lady at Church last night said "I will have one of those I heard it at a friends in the week..it is wonderful"

And that is about for now.

Weddings, Jelly Babies and Friends

I am so bad at Blogging at the moment, sorry.

I really need to blog about Saturday... what a day. My great friend Curley Al married his beautiful girlfriend Jen. It was an amazing service Team Leader did a service to be proud of. It started off with Mrs EB singing a Nina Simone song for Jen to come down the aisle too and things just carried at such a high standard all the way through. After the service we went across to the hall for muffins and cakes but alas after tidying up the cables and mics and burning a CD of the services they had all gone.... We then went onto Penns Hall and had a wonderful meal and a bowl of much sort after Jelly Babies....I really think Gordon Brown should get Alistair Darling to put a few billion of the UK's funds into Jelly Babies everyone was after our Jelly Babies.

I had a wonderful day chatting to Al's relatives most of which I hadn’t seen since much sadder times. This was a real day of healing you could feel that especially when Dom made his best man's speech and I did shed tear, but that's OK, I know that if Matt and Chris had been there they would have been so proud of Al and Jen and both would have stole my Jelly Babies!!!!!

Part 2

On a completely different track, Music for a Mission is well on its way to raising the funds I need to visit Mozambique I am so blown away by peoples generosity, I will never name names, but some people have been so generous with what they have given for a copy of the CD it has made me cry. I will keep selling the CD until I run out and if there is still a market I will buy another MCPS licence to produce more, as all the money will go to the Church Mission Fund which is a great cause and Mission Team Leader has amazing Vision and a wonderful Passion for Christ and winning people over for Him.

The CD has had some amazing reactions from people, from “I loved it so much I gave it to a friend and now i need to buy another one!! To what a shame there is no Chris King on it? Which did make me laugh...and a little flabbergasted. I haven’t kept tabs on the actual number sold I know how many I have produced so far, but there are copies out in places not sold as yet, but I am guessing that 100 copies have now been sold or there abouts, which is fantastic. I think one of the nicest comments about the album was “It sounds amazing and is great to listen too, I want everyone to hear how great it sounds”

My friends, who are the talented ones behind my album, especially Amy, Skip and Mrs EB have to take the credit for the album really, I just had the idea and I stuck my ha’ppenys worth in and mixed the album. Amy is such an amazing talent, she plays the piano with such a talent it’s a real pleasure to listen to and she is just as good on Flute, recorder, whistle, Sax.....actually is there anything she can’t play? And she sings wonderfully as well, Skip a guitar player 2^nd to none in my eyes and ears for that matter, we had a few great days together getting the lead and bass down and also he has one of the best male voices I know. Mrs EB, well possibly the best singer in the world in my eyes and she tries to keep me in check and she has an amazing ear, and she is a wonderful song writer. I could not have done this album or for that matter go on this journey without them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Music for a Mission

Well "Music for a Mission" is completed, the artwork is back and the CD's look great, well they sound great too...

The idea for the CD came about as a way to try and raise the money needed to go to Mozambique with my Church in November of this year. I don't have the money to go, but I believe that I should go and after a chat with Mission Team Leader, I asked some special friends and my beautiful wife if they would help me. All of my friends are only too happy to get rid of me for a few weeks and said yes. After a little planning we recorded Piano. Drums and guide vocals at Sutton Baptist Church one evening in July, then Skip came round during a few days of August and laid down the bass and lead guitar. Over the next few weeks, Skip Amy and Mrs EB recorded most of the main vocals, Gaynor came round and recorded her lead vocal. A Friday evening was set aside and a few friends came by and sang the choir parts. Amythen came round and sung her song beautifully and also played Flute and recorder. I then spent a few days mixing, remixing running down to the car listening to the mixes, then tweaking.

I then spent time in Photoshop doing the artwork, asking Mrs EB to spell check then tweaks then respell check. The result is "Music for a Mission" a 9 track album of Contemporary Christian worship music and a bonus track written By Mrs EB and Timelord called "Praise You Again" I am asking for a minimum £10 donation plus P&P all Monies will go to my Mission fund and remaining Monies will go to my Church's Mission Fund to support our mission partners or for future missions.

Track Listings

Happy Day
On Holy Ground
These are the Days of Elijah
Never Let Go
Your Love has Lifted Me
You Give Rest to the Weary
Be Thou My Vision
There is a Hight Throne

Bonus track

Praise You Again

Blown Away

Every now and then I get moved and this evening I was moved to tears. I belong to a Church where God is moving and working miracles within the Youth. I am so proud of these guys and the way they are going for it. Well this evening two of the young Ladies asked me to watch a video they had produced....
Facebook Video I don't know if you can see this if you are not a friend of these guys on Facebook though.
Please watch it and enjoy.

It has been one of those weeks.

My medications are making me very tired and I am "Out of Salts" as they used to say. So I have been sort of taking it easy, well nearly.

Monday was a great day Gaye, Andy, Zach and Mission Team Leader joined us on The Robber Button. Both Mrs EB really enjoyed the day. We got home Tuesday afternoon and did various bits and bobs.
Wednesday I had been summoned to the DHS to see why I hadn't found a job yet? I now needed to say what other work I could do? He was most unhelpful to be honest. I even asked if I found a training course would the DHS fund my training I was told NO! ho hum.
Thursday was a sad day, one of my Church's great ladies had passed away and I was doing the sound for her Thanks Giving Service, the service was wonderful and a great testimony to a wonderful lady, but as always tinged with much sadness.
Today I am hopefully recording my good friend Skip singing for my album he will also hopefully do a small amount of guitar and maybe some extra singing.....
Tomorrow, well that will be spent on The Robber Button

Voting

It would seem that the way we vote for our local and national Government is dated, well I never, you go down to a school or other comunity building and hand over your polling card, then you have to tell them your postcode, because no fraudster could ever remember it from your polling card? then you go to a little quarter of a display stand and pencil in a cross.

But thats not what they are talking about?

The UK's electoral system is stuck in the 19th Century and is under "severe strain", a report says.

The Electoral Commission said the rules on running elections should be simpler and the role of returning officers should be strengthened.

It also backs new electoral management boards, to support and co-ordinate local elections.

Commission chairman Sam Younger said "a consistently high standard of service for all electors" was needed.

'Fragmented arrangements'

The report follows the 2007 elections in Scotland, which were plagued by delays and in which more than 140,000 ballot papers were rejected.

An independent study found mistakes at all levels and suggested voters were treated as an "afterthought".

The commission said it was unlikely that the "current fragmented arrangements for electoral administration" would be used if the system was being designed from scratch.

The planning and running of elections need to be more robust and co-ordinated Sam Younger Electoral Commission

It proposes that funding for electoral administration should be improved, changes to electoral law finalised at least six months before any election and returning officers' roles strengthened.

It also suggests bringing returning officers and registration officers together into regional electoral management boards to co-ordinate local elections.

And the commission says its own role should be strengthened to keep checks on standards of those in charge of running elections.

The report calls for existing laws on managing elections to be "rationalised and consolidated" and focused on "clearly articulating electoral policy rather than micro-managing the delivery of elections".

Mr Younger said: "The planning and running of elections need to be more robust and co-ordinated. We are still trying to run 21st Century elections with 19th Century structures, and the system is under severe strain."

He added: "Our proposal is designed to allow local returning officers to continue to respond to local circumstances while ensuring that there is a consistently high standard of service for all electors across the UK." BBC News

Personally I would digitise it, I would have touch screen minitors at the polling station, you give your polling card, and tell them your postcode? they activate the next available monitor, you then touch the candidate of your choice. This would give a constant update of the voting at HQ, removing the need for hundreds of people counting and also human error. They could also save the need for people staying up all night waiting, come 9pm when the polling stations close the returning officer goes to the main PC enters his code number up pop the results he prints them off and off he goes, all over by 9:30.

It seems simple to me....

Memories

Ohhh Ohhh I just found this on You Tube, it is very good and full of memories.

Vegetarian or not?

My friend Richard, a chap who I have known for a few years, we worked together in Nottingham as producers. Richard married Yvette a really beautiful Chinese girl from Beijing, after a few years they emigrated to Beijing.
Now Richard is a vegetarian ..... well he told me he was, then I saw him eating a McDonalds Burger..... It seems vegetarians can eat burgers in China?

Beijing Olympics 2008

I am not a sports fan of any sort really, if people want to run around and kick a ball or stand in a field in front of some sticks with bat and hit a ball about, great, but I am not interested. My friend Matt was trying to convert me to the joys of the leather and willow and was going to take me to a 20 Twenty, but alas that did not happen. Anyhoo for those of you that have had their heads under a pile of rocks for the past few weeks the Olympics are happening, well they will be over in a few days. And Team GB, that's what Great Britain are now called after an expensive re-branding? Team GB are doing amazingly well, in fact they are 3rd in the league table!!! I don't think I have ever been as proud of or guys and girls, they are real hero's.

Mrs EB was unwell yesterday, she hasn't really been well since GB Camp!!! and was watching the Olympics from the Velodome and wow, those guys and girls can really ride a bike!!!!

Team GB have been playing a blinder this year and have surpassed all expectations and have done better than any other Great British Team since before 1908!!! It seems the National Lottery has actually paid off!!! buying a lottery ticket has actually helped these Olympians bring home Gold, Silver & Bronze BRING ON 2012 and my 6 lucky numbers.

My friend Duncan

As long term readers of my blog will know I have a friend who was involved in a really nasty accident in 2006, my friend Duncan who is one of the most articulate and safety concious people I know, was filming a safety video for his company, he was filming how to use a safety flair when the flair miss-fired and went into his stomach.

I know how safety concious Duncan is, I was lucky enough to be invited for a day trip on Duncan's previous boat, and we went out for a wonderful trip. That trip was planned with maps and buoys and GPS tracking. We were told where the life vests were. Mrs EB and I had a wonderful day and we were both very upset by Duncan's accident. Many prayers were said, and thanks be to God, Duncan is mending well, OK he'll never be 100% better, but by crikey, I know Duncan and he won't stop trying to getting better.

Duncan who is a fighter; amazed nearly everyone who was involved in his emergency care, after two years of tireless fund raising he and a lot of very good people have raised £50,000!!! anyhooo please watch this video

Being someone who has become Diabetic, I wont let it take over my life; but it is in the front of your mind. Last week a few people who came into the shop were offered Tea and coffee and cake said I can't have cake I'm diabetic? I said so am I and I can eat it? Oh I was told I can't eat cakes or sweets or this and that! So I said I was told I can eat anything, but as with with all things it's about moderation.

Now I know I am not a good diabetic, I do like sweets and puddings, I will try and be good, but I fail. I am going to start a new diet this week and I am going cut right back on all stodgy and fattening foods and yes that includes sweets.

Diabetes is a killer, no if's and no buts. I know that it kills most of those that have it, indirectly. Organ failure, strokes and Heart attacks. One of my uncles had a leg removed and died a few months later only a few years ago because of Diabetes. So I don't take my Diabetes lightly, but I also don't let it ruin my life.

This article off the Sky News Website is well worth a read

It has been an amazing week!!!
I haven't had any joy on the job hunt, but I have spent the week with some fellow members of my Church on a mission on Falcon Lodge. It has been wonderful. I can't do the heavy gardening or the manual labour, but I did the videoing and I also spent quite a bit of time in the shop.
I did balloon modelling and other things in the shop with the kids and I loved every minute of it.

A good weekend

I had a good weekend all the more so as Mrs EB had returned from her camping trip with GB. Mrs EB had a very husky voice due to her losing her voice on camp.... I am just really pleased she is home safe and sound. Saturday evening we went to Simla for a curry, it was a welcome home meal and I told the guys at Simla that I was checking up on the food for Tuesday when 16 of us go for my Birthday Balti...Mmmmmmmmmm tasty.

I was on sound again this weekend at Church and I also did the sound at a very quiet wedding on Friday, about 20 people and the Bride and Groom, they had been on Alpha and wanted to marry. It was a very special wedding.

Team Leader did his final sermon on Hebrews...and of course it was amazing, we really are a very blessed Church to have such an amazingly humble and fantastic teacher. Team leader told me a very funny joke on Sunday.

Patient: Doctor, I think I'm a moth!
Doctor: (looking at his notes) You are not my patient your Doctor is next door
Patient: I know but your light was on.

Made me chuckle.

After church the usual suspects went to the Jockey, well the usual minus a few on holiday and those heading to Cornwall. It was a nice crowd last night and we had a good chat and laugh. Later today I am off for another Jab to allow me to travells to Mozambique and later this week my good friend Skip will be coming round to hopefully do some more guitar and bass on the album. I really need to start the vocals and think about artwork and stuff. I am also going to pop up to the mission we are doing on Falcon Lodge and do some balloon stuff....

All in all good fun.

Wednesday

I have had a trip out to the MASTA Clinic!!!! the what? well if you intend to visit places that don't have the same diseases as us you need to visit there for a Cholera injection as my GP clinic doesn't do that one? well if only it were that easy!!!

Monday I called to make an appointment, the message said leave your name and number someone will call you back, I believed this statement of fact and did just that. I phoned at 10am and by 6pm no one had called me back? So yesterday I went to Handsworth Wood and visited the centre to ask for an appointment I have one for next week. Joy of joys....

I have a friend...well I like to think I have a few friends, but one friend who emigrated to Beijing a couple of years ago, we worked together at GWR Creative in Nottingham knocking out adverts by the dozen every day. Well my friend Richard has started a blog!!!! only a few years behind everyone else...but he was always like that (a little slow) It is good to welcome Richard to the blogosphere. I hope you enjoy Richard's slant on life, which seems to be a hankering for American food? I think I would want a good old English Roast or British Balti, each to his or her own huh?

Lastly, I have heard off Mrs EB from the Girls Brigade Camp that she has laryngitis via a text as she couldn't phone.. what luck huh, she never has that here!!!! I knew I could never be that lucky.

Penguin Cafe Orchestra

I was never what you would call a fan of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, more someone who didn't mind the music. I have used Penguin Cafe music in adverts and heard it on TV and Radio, so after my searches on Saturday I thought I would spend some time listening to their music. I have a couple of tracks on my Ipod and did some more searches on You Tube, and actually found the more tracks I listened too the more I liked the music. I did a search for a website, and did some reading and then looked at the albums...no new stuff for years? well I bought an album called A History (only £10 on Itunes) ...then I did a little more hunting on the founder Simon Jeffes an amazingly talented man, and he had passed away in December 1997... no wonder no new music then. I can honestly say the past few days listening to his and their music has been a real treat.

Whilst the Cats Away

Well whilst Mrs EB is away...I have been out with my Mum and Dad to The Lodge for a curry, very tasty it was as well.

As a reader of my Blog you will know music is in my blood and I am often taken by a piece of music and then I can spend ages tracing it and today was one of those days, armed with a £15 Itunes voucher I went a hunting.
1st one was by Karl Orff a piece for Xylophone that is used in the HSBC bank commercial, I have used a few times making Radio ads and traced it on Itunes a well spent .79p then was a the toughie. Just what is the music used on the MFI advert? I knew it, I have heard it time and again, in films and adverts, but not who did or a name. Good old google and Youtube.


It is an oldish tune called "Music for a Found Harmonium" by The Penguin Cafe Orchestra, the ones that did the amazing piece called "Telephone and Rubber Band" that was used in the old One2One telephone advert, I'll stick it up here as well so you know the one I mean.



I do love You Tube, so I went a hunting and found it was by an Irish Folk Band called Patrick Street...another 79p well spent well I bought 2 versions by Patrick Street a live and studio version and I think I may be buying an album called Irish Times as they really are amazing.

So that has been my Saturday, apart from seeing Mrs EB off to GB Camp and a bit of soldering and pre-mixing my album tracks so that the vocals can be done.... I am off to my Parents for a Sunday Roast tomorrow as well....top banana

An Update ....

I have not been feeling good again? I am not sure what it is...it might be my medications or a virus or something? I am feeling very rough with a stomach that is doing untold things, a migraine that won’t lift and ..........

Anyhoo Mrs EB is off GB camp this Saturday!!! It is her first time with GB and I am sure she will have fun camping. I have a week alone I wonder what I will do about food...any Ideas? (bet it will involve Curry)

Thanks to Amy, Pete and Mrs EB I have started work on the Worship Album that I hoping to release in September to help raise the Money to go to Mozambique. My good friend Skip is now back from his guitar playing in Keswick so I am hoping he can pop round and start work on the guitar and bass.

I then need to organise an evening or Saturday for my friends to come round and sing!!!! that will be great fun and I know will sound great.

Steve and Me

I am reading a book called Steve and Me by Terri Irwin, I have had the book some time now, but I haven't been able to look at it. Steve died tragically days before my two friends Matt and Chris, and it has just been far to painful to even pick the book up.

Anyhoo I have started reading the book, it is written with love and care, and yes I am crying as I read it but that is OK, I have learned that to cry is OK. I loved Steve Irwin his passion and love of wildlife was so amazing it had me gripped. I would be gripped by his programmes and his easy on camera style. He made me feel like he was actually talking to me and explaining everything to me.

The book is so tender it must have been a labour of love and such pain to write. My heart and prayer go out to Terri, Bindi and young Bob.

Music from the Dr

I am a massive Dr Who fan I love the adventure and the morality of the show, I love David Tennant's energy and passion that come out in the show. I know there are things wrong with it, I don't care. One of the things I do love about the show is the music and this years offerings where amazing. The Song of the Ood by Murray Gold was so beautiful it actually made me cry...yeah yeah yeah I know...



Well this music was reprised was reprised for Journey Home


I really hope these will be available on CD or Download they are so amazing.

Ohh a version from the Proms LIVE!!!


Wowowowowowow

A Mission.......Mozambigue

My Church is sending a team out to Mozambique for two weeks at end of November and I have been accepted on to the team. This is so exciting and also very challenging, firstly health wise I have to get the all clear from my Dr, and financially I have to raise £1500.00 or there abouts.

This is making me a little nervous, it is a lot of money especially when you are unemployed....I have a plan to make a Worship album...don't worry I wont be singing or playing on it. I have some amazingly talented friends who hopefully will do that for me. I actually have 5 tracks virtually ready!!! last year we made an Album for Mullins Burger to help finance a 2nd year at Nexus but that wasn't to be, so it was mothballed and 4 of the tracks off there are ideal. I have also recorded another track with my great friend Skip and that is nearly finished..it just needs some harmonies and recorder... so the album is half finished.

So I have an idea for raising some of the money.... Mrs FLN thinks I should auction off a day on The Robber Button ..... who knows? I do know that if it is right for me to go that God will provide the money for the mission trip.

Well whats been a happening?

I am now unemployed....and totally chesed off. I am Praying about my future....who knows what will happen.

We have been to the boat a few times and had a few nice trips, I love being on the boat.

I have a bee in my bonnet about certain things ...one being the way people get so angry when footballers move team? why?
If someone moves job...everyone is happy, if Joe Bloggs moves from football team A to team B it's all we hate him and will boo him and make his life hell? I am sorry but that isn't on especially from a Christian. FOOTBALL IS JUST A BALL GAME, but a Pro footballer has a job life span of 15 years max...he has a few years to earn a lifes wages....Grow up and let a man earn a living.
More so if you are a Christian....show love and understanding...not bitterness and ugliness....rant over for now.

That's how I know

I know I am a big poof, but I love musicals and I love song and dance routines.....Mrs EB and I watched a wonderful film the other week, Enchanted by Disney, staring Amy Harris (wwwwoooooooooooooooooooooooowwww, what a beautiful and fantistic star she is, and a Nicole Kidman look-a-like mmmmmmmmmmm). This is the main song and dance routine from the film, its just fantsic.

A Cat Burglar or is it Cat Removals?

A good friend of mine woke up the other morning and went downstairs and noticed a few things a miss even a chair had moved!!! He popped upstairs and mentioned he thought another cat had entered his house and maybe that cat and his cat had moved the chair. His wife said she doubted that very much.

Unfortunatly it was burglars....I am so sorry Timelord and Teapot.

So I haven't been blogging sorry.

Mrs FLN popped round this evening (I had backed up FLN's Laptop) and I burned her the backed up DVD's. She mentioned my lack of blogging!!!!

So here is a little catch up.

Been at work...can't really talk about that. Just to say it's very tough but it's also OK.
I have been on the boat a few times but we haven't been out as we have had weather issues.

Apart from that not much has been happening.

April Fools

The BBC are the World leaders in making TV and I am proud to say I have worked for them. Today is All Fools Day or April Fools Day and the BBC have surpassed themselves here. Enjoy and have a wonder at the miracle of TV and the backroom boys and girls with a tad too much time on their hands.

Prophet of God

I haven't Blogged much as I have been really busy with work and the Celebrate 100 stuff at Church and then my Bro in Law Scubbrov has been here.

A couple of months ago I recieved the latest Video of Rob Bell, this video is amazing and I have been blown away by this Prophet of God. I mean the word Prophet in the true meaning of the word someone who is being used by God to share his word.

Prophet:- In religion, a prophet is a person who has directly encountered the numinous or the divine and serves as an intermediary with humanity. Traditionally prophets are regarded as having a founding or galvanizing role in society due to their teachings and actions.

I have been blessed to hear some of the greatest Christian preachers of our time though not Rob Bell in person as yet, but I have seen a number of the Nooma videos and this full sermon on Everything Is Spirtual I think Rob will be taking the mantel off Dr Billy Graham as a Preacher who will reach the millions with the Word of God in way that people can and will listen, a wonderful Prophet of God.

New Music

On Valentines day Mrs EB and I went to the Little Civic in Wolverhampton, we went with Mandy and Dave to see The Delays. What a band!!! they are gonna be megga big very soon, they write their own stuff and they can really sing and play.


This was a track they played that night Valentine of course. Enjoy the track, if you do get a chance surf for them on You Tube and visit their site via this link. I really do recomend this band and tip them for the top.

A very bad and expensive day

Well what a totally crap day....and I mean CRAP.

Yesterday my car was playing up quite a bit, even more than normal, and it had left a little puddle of liquid by the passenger front side wheel, Mrs EB was having a day off so I took her Corsa and asked if she could take my Fiesta to Kwik Fit and have them check the brakes. I called at lunch time (I don't have phone contact during lesson times) and Mrs EB was really upset. My car had been condemned!!! the head gasket had gone plus a few other things...it would cost a lot more than it was worth to put right!!!!

I had to leave work and sort it out, I was also having a very bad day at work....plus my PC was playing up...Mrs EB's laptop wasn't working ...the new washing machine is playing up....Mrs EB had taken the day off to sort things out for the Church’s 100^th birthday celebration in March.....We know we are being attacked...but I really want to just curl up and cry.

Anyhooo we have bought a 2^nd hand 4 year old Citroen Xara Picaso Desire lets hope it is good friend to us.

(this isn't our actual car)

Never say never huh.....

LOL I wasn't going to blog on here until I thought of something worth blogging about, well on 9/10th full of Penguin's blog he is talking about music and how it makes us feel.

Well music is my life and a huge passion of mine, and I mentioned on his blog about this song, a music track that I think is one of the best piece of produced music I have ever heard. I hope you enjoy it.

A new Blog maybe

I haven’t Blogged much lately as I am restricted on what I can say about my job, as such I have decided I will only blog when I have something worth Blogging about that isn’t really work connected if that makes sense? I have decided to start a new blog about my Narrowboat "The Robber Button" so this blog will quite possibly just fade away as it has served it's time now, I wont delete it as it has some very special postings from friends.

So thanks for staying with My Back Garden for the past few years, and I’ll Blog again on here as and when it feels right.

I'll see you on "The Robber Button's Blog"

God Bless

EB

Weekly Update

I have had an interesting week, Last Sunday evening was a great service and I got to see someone to tell them something they had preached on in church a few months before had been amazing. I have had a week to try and prepare my lessons....well that didn't work out, I spent half of one day finding chairs for my classroom, spent another day trying to get to grips with the PC's and software which I ended up more confused. I had a day for lesson planning so I have done my two induction course. I was told we are expecting an OFSTED at anytime!!!!! I am scared stiff of the prospect. I am not a teacher, I have never taught before and within weeks of starting I am going to be OFSTED'D (if that's the word or a word)

On Friday I had a chap come in and help me set up the Radio Studio...we spent all morning setting a Network for the all the PC's, easy peasy I hear you say...yeah I thought so, but NO, things just wouldn't talk and a Buffalo Drive...well that’s a DODO, and I had high hopes for that as a server for my SFX library.

So Monday see's me start my classes, this is exciting and scary, as I have said I am not a teacher and from Monday I will be expected to teach.....Well it will be in God's strength and not mine, and any Glory will be his. Please pray for me this week.

Saturday Update

Having been ill for a very long time then working from home, actually going out to work 5 days a week is a real shock to my system!!!! Getting out of bed early then popping off to work is a habit I had gotten out of. Also doing something I don’t really know how to do is a very strange concept to me...

God has been amazing and as things unfold I can really see and feel his presence with me, I am still unsure of my potential, but I know God is there and that means I cannot really lose can I.

Anyhoo I had a fairly good week, some highs and a few lows which is to be expected.

Crikey time is just flying by....I am now working Monday to Friday and it is strange to be back in a steady job. It is also a strange job, but I am working in a sensitive area and I cannot really put what the job is, I can say I am teaching Radio for Derby College. I am coming to the end of my shaddowing and I will teaching my own lessons very soon.
Monday to Friday are now full and my evenings are spent resting though lesson planning is becoming an issue....who would have thought it...me a teacher?

Christmas TV

My Favourite bit on TV over Christmas that made me laugh was this bit on Harry Hill's Christmas TV Burp, I actually had tears rolling down my cheeks whilst this little bit was on. I hope you enjoy it too.

It would seem I am part of a dying breed, a Blogger, those that have blogged over the past 15 or months from a circle of friends have dropped off as they have felt it has served them for their needs, others didn't like it. Me I toyed with giving up last January but a few friends asked if I would carry on and to be honest I enjoy blogging putting up my thoughts and musings. Its My Blog, what I say goes! If you don't like tough, if you enjoy it great, if you agree with my views that OK, if you don't agree...that's OK also. A friend has just stopped blogging and I will miss her blog, she was an honest blogger and shared her grief and upsets, she also shared her thoughts and musings about life. Each Blog is personal and as a reader you are privileged to be let into someone’s life unfortunately some people don't respect.

Good Bye 2007 Hello 2008

A very Happy New Years

Well 2007 is now a year in the history books, it was a year of good and bad things as all years , a few highlights are starting a job in December and of course getting The Robber Button and our visit to Las Vegas and Palm Springs. The lows…well there have been a few but the biggest low was my health and then being diagnosed with Diabetes.

So I have a New Years Resolution…..I am giving up Sweets, Chocolates and cakes!!!!! I will of course still have puddings when we go out and have a meal and I will eat the after dinner mint if it arrives on my plate, but I wont sit at home stuffing my face with all things sweet. I need to lose some weight (about 2 or so stone, 28 lb for my American readers) and this is part of the reason.

Memories

Being laid up in bed with Man-Flu I have been surfing and You Tube has been fantastic, I have gone on a trip down memory lane....I have even found a Watch With Mother I watched as a tiny nipper Called Pogles Wood!!!!! how excellent and how scary for a 3 year old!!! no wonder I love horror films so much.

Fingerbobs

Hectors House

The hero's of Childrens TV are Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin and here is their story from BBC TV in 2005, Peter is sadly no longer with us amd Oliver is in well earned retirement.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Update

What a beggar, I am stuck in bed with a cold and very chesty cough...I seem to have caught it from work...see I never had this problem working for myself!!!

I was at work Thursday and I could feel it starting and yesterday morning and I could feel it getting worse, I popped to the boat yesterday afternoon after work so my friend Martin could come and visit, the heating was not working again so I froze for a few hours, by the time I arrived at home I was shivering. I have been in bed ever since and I really don't feel good.

I am just surfing the net, watching TV and taking medicine and generally feeling very sorry for myself.

I am having a interesting time at work, I should be doing a few more things over the coming weeks as my clearances have now come through. I have met a lot of the teachers now and I am a little more confident with the guys, though I am still a little nervous.

The Robber Button

I have been asked again a few times about how we got the name for our Narrow Boat "The Robber Button" so here is the explination in video and transcript.

The video is from Blackadder 3; in the first episode, Dish and Dishonesty; this is the transcript:-

Edmund Blackadder: Sir Talbot represented the constituency of(Dunny-on-the-Wold, and, by an extraordinary stroke of luck, it is a rotten borough.
Prince George: Really! Is it! Well, lucky-lucky us. Lucky-lucky-luck. (as a chicken) Luck-luck-LAKK-LAKK-LAKK-LAKK-cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck- cluck-LAKK-LAKK-LAKK.
Edmund Blackadder: ...You don't know what a rotten borough is, do you, sir?
Prince George: No.
Edmund Blackadder: So what was the chicken impression in aid of?
Prince George: Well, I just didn't want to hurt your feelings. Erm, so, what is a robber button?
Edmund Blackadder: *Rotten borough*.
Prince George: Oh, yes, you're right.
Edmund Blackadder: A rotten borough, sir, is a constituency where the owner of the land corruptly controls the both the voters and the MP.
Prince George: Good, yes...and a robber button is...?
Edmund Blackadder: Could we leave that for a moment?

Boxing Day

Mmmm Christmas was really nice. We went to Church for the Christmas family service then we went to my Mum and Dads for a fantastic dinner. we came home and just vegged far to full to do anything else really.

Today we popped up to the boat, but the heating is still playing up so I have left a message with the Marine Engineers to have another go at fixing it.

I have decided to set myself a challenge for a New Year resolution....I am going to try and give up sweeties and chocolates .... I gave up sugar when I first was diagnosed with Diabetes and I lost a bit of weight, but for the past month I have started to gain it back again.... so from January 1st 2008 I will try and give up the confectionary and see if I can loose 2 stone by the summer? Who knows what will happen.

Happy Christmas

Merry Christmas

I nearly did a week at work!!! I didn't do Wednesday..which was a good thing really as it meant could order Mrs EB's Christmas prezzie.

Work is really good, even though I can't actually do my job!!! I am still waiting for clearance to come through, and as yet that hasn't arrived, I have been shaddowing various teachers and this has been great, esp Tom, Tom is an ex squaddie and is a great guy for making contacts, and where I am working if you need anything doing you need to know the right people and Tom knows everyone, so that has been great meeting all these people.

I am learning that everything takes 4 times longer than the outside world to get anything done and I must be patient, also what used to be a half day induction is now a week!!! so once I am cleared I have a week of induction, then I can start talks about running my class, Praise God!!!!

I did recieve my one piece of service issue clothing!!!! a belt so things are moving on....I only got this because of Tom!!!! (LOL)

The Nativity

The Churches Adverising Network have commisioned this:- enjoy.

Snowman Vs IRN-BRU

I saw this last night and nearly woke up Mrs EB with my laughter....
I hope you like it.

Whilst looking for this advert on You Tube I came across my top Christmas advert, the Coke Advert....again I hope you like it.

I have been so busy for the past few weeks I have hardly noticed it is less than a week to Christmas, it's one of those things very busy and no time to think. I had the Christmas Cabaret (I wont blog about that as I may say things I should think about first) I have my New Job and that is taking up most of my thoughts and of course Church and just living. I looked at the date today and it's December 19th!!!! when did it get there? I still need to do some shopping for Mrs EB's prezzie and I need to go to Tesco so we can eat!!!! and next thing it will be Christmas Day.

So I took a little time out this morning to think about Chris and Matt, it seems like only yesterday that as a group of friends we sat down for a Birthday Curry together in Cafe Garden, I am so please some of my other friends were there as well, I sure miss them both and spending a little time just thinking about them today has made me cry again. Most of my memories of Chris and Matt revolve around food and drink and enjoying ourselves, going out for a curry or popping round to have a meal or going to the pub for a drink and chat....very happy times, I guess that's why I am so sad.... Christmas is a time for family and friends....My Prayers are with Mrs FLN, Timelord and Teapot, Al and those Ooop 'tNorth, and with Dorothy, Carol, Lois and Chris's Family....

The Delays

The other Weekend, Mrs EB and I went out with some friends who come to Malta with us Diving, we went out for a wonderful curry and afterwards we went back to thier house. Once there and after a glass of wine was served my friend Dave put on a CD of a Band Called The Delays wooooooow what a band I just love them, they have a sort of 70's rock feel to them with a modern touch. I borrowed Dave's two albums and quickly put them on my IPod....

Anyhooo I hope you enjoy them.

I spent Monday at “Work” it was OK, I don’t want to go into too much detail here just to say it’s an environment that will take some getting used to. The rest of the week was pretty normal for me, cooking, shopping and chasing payments...that one I won’t miss at all!!

I popped up to the boat on Thursday with a friend called Dave, I was going to pop to Tixell Wide I got to the junction and tried to go up there but it was frozen solid so we had to turn back, not the easiest thing to do in a 57 foot boat. Friday was spent sorting stuff for the Cabaret at Church, and most of today will spent there as well.

I am in work Monday and Tuesday and I guess that’s about it really.

I was out shopping the other day and guess what? I came across Easter Eggs? what the heck is happening out there???????????????????????????????????????????//

Tuesday update

Sunday.

By Sunday evening I was very nervous about Monday morning and starting my new job, well not really starting the job, starting the security clearing part of the job, but I was still very nervous about being there.

Monday

I am/will be working for Derby College, somewhere in the Midlands that doesn’t really let people out. I will be teaching young people about how to make radio programmes and all that entails, such as script writing, editing, collating , choosing the right songs etc. I believe God has called me here to be his light in a dark place. I spent a good day there yesterday and I felt God with me, though I did feel very out of my depth and so far out of my comfort zone it was scary. I will also be doing a teaching qualification as I am working, which is fantastic, if anyone had said to me a year ago I would be doing work to become a teacher I would have laughed at them...God does challenge us doesn’t he!

If you would like to Pray for me in this new venture I would really value that support, if I don’t have your email address can you email me via comprodman at hotmail and I will be in touch with a prayer support email. I am using hotmail in the first instance because I don’t want me regular email addy on here.

Job Update

My Wall of Jericho has come tumbling down!!!! Praise God, and a very big thank you to everyone who has prayed for me as well.

I can now put here a little more about the job, it is a teaching job, I will do a Cert.Ed whilst doing the teaching!!! I can't put any more at the moment as I think it is classed as a sensitive job. ( I know!!! how can it be? I need to speak to my new boss)

It will be a very challenging and dificult job, but I feel I am being called there by God I have prayed and waited up on the Lord and I am now going to be doing. I can honestly say I am scared stiff!!!! I am so far out of my comfort zone I can’t even see it.

I am going to see if I can arrange a prayer support group, even it’s only via email to supprt me in my new venture as there is no way I can do this on my own or in my own strength.

I have spent many years learning about recording and making radio programmes and commercials, working in recording studio's, for the BBC and ILR and in production houses and this is where God has been. God has been guiding me and me showing me what I need to know and learn for this next stage in my life. Monday is the start of this next chapter of mine and Mrs EB's lives. I start afresh with my health the best it has been in a long time in quite possibly the scariest but hopefully the most rewarding job, Praise the Lord.

A busy but amazing day and busy weekend

Yesterday was a very busy day, I was on sound, and I seemed to spend all day at Church, after the morning service there was a small rehearsal for Thursday evening at Little Aston Golf Club, then a quick lunch at Jimmy Spices then back to Church for a mega rehearsal for the evening service to be lead by the youth groups, Ignite and Fusion.

This was a very powerful and amazing service that just left me speechless. God is at work here with the young in our Church. There were skits, videos, Power points and Worship, Prayers, communion and responses’. The one video used just before communion blew me away, it made me cry and also touched me so deeply I am going to put it on here. I hope you watch it to the end and see probably the best Christian Dance ever.

I have decided to update his entry as it is sort of part of my thoughts from last weekend, my thoughts and mind are still focused on the possibility of the Job and I am still praying about it. I have also deleted a load off stuff Facebook, things like Superwall and Funwall as all I seem to get posted on there is either snowballs or chainmail with threats of bad luck???? if I don't post them on, what a load of Bo***cks, I was also getting sexual stuff posted on there. I am still thinking about deleting my account as it has just become so wrong and no one seems to be moderating Facebook. The idea of finding old friends is fantasic and I have caught up with some, but I don't like the way it's just becoming so full of spam and pass this on now or else crap. I have spam filters on my email but there isn't that sort of filter on Facebook. I don't want to come across as a frumpy old git, maybe I am, but these things can and do hurt people and I don't want to be involved with things like that.

Mrs EB was busy on Saturday during the morning and early afternoon so I popped up to the boat and carried on doing little jobs, I still a few jobs to do, like sanding and varnishing the exterior woodwork, I also need to give it a good wash and polish. I think that's about it really, not much else to blog about at the moment.

I have watched this video a few times now and I am just so blown away by it, I don't think I have ever seen anything as powerful as this in dance form.

Music and memories

One of my passions is music, it is just so amazing and emotive, hearing a song from early Childhood brings back so many memories. Hearing a song I heard on a holiday reminds of those times, a worship song I first heard on Radio in America whilst driving brings back happy memories of that drive, the Bagpipe version of Amazing Grace reminds me of my Granddad, he loved the Bagpipes. There are also songs that remind me of times I would rather forget but we do need these as well. This morning as I turned on my Mac and ITunes to listen to music, I always play Party Shuffle it's like ITunes Roulette and chooses songs out of your music folder I have over 4900 songs in there, the first song today was Lemon Jelly - His Majesty King Raam, not a well known tune by all accounts but one that reminded me of my friend Matt. Matt would send me songs and I would send him songs, some Matt sent me were not to my taste, but most were, Matt like myself had a passion for music and would listen to anything I sent him and comment on it, sometimes he didn’t like the song but usually he did.

After coming back from Malta last year, one of the small jobs Mrs FLN asked me to do was sort out the music for after the Thanksgiving service, she wanted to play Matt’s ITunes Party list, it was what he played at his 30^th Birthday, it was a mixture of music from the year he was born and his favourite music. I also backed up his ITunes music folder to my Firewire drive in case of any problems, the last thing any of us wanted was a problem the evening before the service. A few weeks later going through this folder of eclectic music I found most of the songs I had sent him, it made me smile, I also found music I had never heard of, I listened to some, some I couldn’t as it was locked by ITunes I also copied a few of Matt’s albums to my ITunes including his two Lemon Jelly albums each time they play I think of my office partner.

An Afternoon locked up

Yesterday I went Birmingham Gaol, HMP Winson Green, I went with a friend from Church to see the last session of a programme he is part of called, The Sycamore Tree Project. This is an amazing project and I was genuinely moved by what this project has done and is doing in prisons.
On the way to the chapel one of the Chaplains took us through a wing, this really is a scary place and I was shaking as I walked through, it was very oppressive and I had a feeling of depression and loss of will. We set up the Chapel for this afternoon meeting and waited for the man to brought to us. My friend who was leading the programme explained what would happen. the group of men would be split into 4 groups, I would be with one group. They would look at some work they had previously done (our group were to look at the story of Zac the tax collector) and then explain it from a criminals point of view another group from the victims point of view, and so on. This was done really well. Then there was a time of sharing, if anyone wanted to share what the course had meant to them or what they had got out of it. I was genuinely moved by this time, it was a real privilege to hear this, we had a tea break, then the guys had to fill in their work books, and off back to their cells. It doesn’t sound much written down here, but it was an afternoon I will never forget.

God is working in there with Sycamore Tree, and I thank God for that and for the people who are being obedient and serving him there.

Well that was a great weekend, Friday night we went to the NIA with Amy and saw Bill Bailey, he was brilliant and very funny, Mrs EB and I bought the CD of the gig!!! and I now have a special Jazz version of the Imperial March as a ring tone!!!! For when Mrs EB or my Dad call.

We spent Saturday evening on the boat and came home Sunday afternoon, it was so nice a cosy on board Saturday night, it was raining a quite cold outside but very snugly onboard. We found another slight problem last night...the front door has expanded in the damp and needs some shaving off it..nothing major. I have installed the remote for the new 3kw charger inverter so all OK on The Robber Button.

Weekend update

I have a slight problem...listening to Radio 4 this morning, they were saying that ID theft is growing due to Facebook and blogs!!!!! I don't want to remove my blog as it is a good record of how I have been dealing with some major things over the past 14 months. But I am also aware of that I need to be a bit more careful about what I put up.

Anyhoo what's been happening? Not much, I have been at Church a few times, I have been setting up the PC's in the new offices which has been great. I have been in touch with someone from my interview panel and still no definitive answer...but that's Ok I guess. I popped to the boat with Mrs EB to set the heating to come on a few times a day at the moment, the last thing we want is a burst pipe.

We are going to see Bill Bailey tonight with Amy, I just love his dry humour. Tomorrow we are going to the boat to go and relax and have some peace and quiet. That's about it really nothing much else is happening, I would still value your prayers about the Job, that things would be sorted soon.

That was the Weekend that Was

We had a nice weekend, I spent Friday night alone on "The Robber Button" it was a really peaceful and quiet evening and I was able to have a really nice warm shower thanks to John and John. It did get cold in the night but putting the heating on soon warmed it up.

Saturday Teapot and Timelord visited us for a half day, we had a great time just tootling up to Tixell Wide and having Sausage and Bacon Sandwiches then back to the Marina.


It was so nice to spend a bit of time with them. We were very blessed with the weather... when we set off it was a little overcast and it just started to rain a little by the time we had got to Tixell Wide, so I closed the doors and lit a fire, by the time the sandwiches were cooked the sun had come back out and stayed out until it it set.


We have a few peole who would like to spend some time on the boat and that is fantasic we will welcome guests as we know how relaxing and peaceful it is, Mrs EB has a diary with dates we are free so she is really the person to speak too, I have a rough idea but I have to check with her anyway. I am putting people off who I think would enjoy it a little more when the weather turns again in the spring, it just means a little longer cruising and a bit of a longer day, we only really have 5 hours of cruising time at the moment as it gets dark early and it is not easy going in the dark. It is also cold on that tiller even for a seasoned Captain like myself........LOL

Photo's Viv Sellers

End of week update

I now own a Z8:-not this amazing and beautiful BMW car,which I would love if any of my wonderful readers are thinking of what to get me for Christmas... No I own the Motorola Z8 a great phone with a HDVideo built in!!! and comes with The Bourne Identity on a card to watch with a pair of Bluetooth headphones. Its a cheeky little phone and it will take a little while to get used to it but I like it. Mrs EB's new phone a O2 XDA Orbit with SATNAV is very cool. She hasn't set up the satnav yet, she needs a memory card but I did see her setting up the contacts and diary and reading the massive book that came with her phone.

I am off to the boat this afternoon and spending the night there as the nice guys at the marina have now fixed my shower and I need to pay them. Mrs EB is off out tonight in brum and will come back home so I will be on the boat all on my own.... me the ducks and swans.

Timelord, Teapot and Mrs FLN are joining us on the boat Saturday for a little trip and a spot of lunch, I will feel sorry for Timelord, he is used to travel in the TARDIS at lightspeed and we travel at a max speed of 3mph!!!! LOL. It should be a great day out I am really looking forward to it.

I am still waiting to hear back from the interview, I have heard somethings, though I am still waiting to hear if I have got the job or not. I am still praying about it and waiting on the panel and God.

That's about, will blog again next week

Is it a calling or is it me?

I am in one of those places where I am testing my heart with a calling and seeing if it is me or God calling me in to a new job, I honestly do not think it is me, but it might be. I have fears and doing the job will certainly be facing one of them head on and being a coward I tend turn the other way when a fear shows itself to me. So applying for this job is stepping towards my fear head on. I think I am being obedient to a calling from God, as in my heart I knew I should apply for this job even though I don’t have all that is needed to do the job, but if God wants me there he will make the job happen and equip me with the help needed and the teaching to do this job.....so for the past few weeks

Team Leader has been preaching about Joshua and being a servant to God and being obedient and doing as God asks. This is a lesson for each of us, but more so myself. The other Sunday (the 5th November) Team Leader showed a great video (veggietales) of Joshua and the story of being obedient to God and doing what God asks him to do and praying for 7 days and marching around the walls of Jericho and the walls then came tumbling down.
Team Leader then gave out Prayer cards marked for 7 day and said if we have a wall we should pray for 7 days about it and see if those walls would come tumbling down. Well I wasn't faithful to this last week, but this week I am trying to be. I am also being obedient and really stepping out of my comfort zone with the job, let’s see if these walls come tumbling down and my being obedient and stepping out in faith all come together in one thing.

Tuesday - weekend update

This has been an interesting and a little upsetting weekend.

Mrs EB’s brother had entrusted me to collect one of his most amazing pieces of work, an anatomically near perfect replica of a TRex made out of glass. I was tiding up the living room in the morning after I collected it when our cats came in the room at 1000mph and jumped up on the table and broke it. I was and still am devastated. I spent most of the day here in shock and tears. I phoned Mrs EB’s brother in Malta and he was amazingly gracious about the whole thing, saying it was Ok and he was sure he could repair it.

We didn't visit the boat this weekend as we were very busy doing things.

Saturday evening was spent at Church doing the sound for Youth Team leaders leaving party, what a fantastic evening it was a great band and some great dancing from Team Leader!!!!

Sunday I was on sound covering for Mike who had to be on call for work, the evening was lead by Mrs EB and she did a fantastic job, Team Leader preached and as always was just wonderful.

Monday I phoned and left a message with one of the people who interviewed me, so I could find out if I had a chance with the job, LOL the reply was is a little ambiguous but is very encouraging, more later on this when I know a little more.

Well that’s about really on the update front, oh yeah, I have phoned O2 about upgrading my phone, I am using a very old phone at the moment to replace the one I had stolen in Malta, and I have new phone arriving tomorrow a Motorla Z8, I have also got a very good deal for Mrs EB and myself on the tarrif and an amazing phone for Mrs EB with Sat Nav!!!!! I decided against the IPhone as it is first Generation and after reading some reports online, it has a few teething problems, when I upgrade in about a year and a half’s time I am sure it will be 3^rd or 4^th generation and will hopefully be a phone I will think about.

UPDATE

Well my arrived today in less than 24 hours...but it was the wrong phone!!!!! the hassells trying to exchange and get them to send the right phone, they insisted they had sent the right phone. I eventually got them to agree to the phone I originally agreed too.

Nan and Granddad

Life is very strange and hard at times, I am waiting to hear back from an interview I went too on Monday, I am guessing that I didn't get the job and I am quite sad about that, I honestly thought I could do that job and that I could be a blessing to those I would reach. There is nothing I can do about it now, so I must learn to live with that. A very big thank you to those who prayed for me over this.

Over the past few days I have been working on a photo for my Mum, she has a photo of her Mum and Step Father Fred. (It was taken Italy in the 1970's) Fred was a wonderful man, he was really the only Grandfather I knew, my Dad's dad died when I was about 7 or 8 and I don't really remember him. Anyhooo Granddad as I called him was a chap who was old School, he would never say anything rude in front of a lady and even a slightly risky joke was a no-no. He would take you into another room and whisper it.... He would hold a door open for anyone, and carry the bags. He would help anyone and he looked after and doted on my Nan for many years after her strokes. When Nan died, he mourned her so badly that 12 months later he joined her. We all knew he was dying and it was his wish to do so, he refused any treatment. I had some chats with him just before he died, I was in Florida during December 1999 with Mrs EB and I phoned him every other day to say hi, and he would tell me all the news of what was happening at my Mums, where he now lived. I phoned one day and no one was in, I knew something had happened.

My mum arranged the funeral for when we returned, he was buried in the same the grave plot as Nan. I miss them both, but strangely him more so, he was my mate.

Anyhoo I thought spending this time would be a nice thing to do for my Mum, the photo now looks loads better and will make her happy, and that's what sons are suposed to do isn't it, make mums happy.

Something to think about

Rob Bell is an amazing preacher, he set up Marshill Baptist Church on prayer, if you read his books, Velvet Elvis and Sex God he says how it all happened. Rob teaches many many thousands each Sunday and is just an amazing speaker, much like Team Leader. Mission Team Leader got me into his unique way of teaching a few years ago, I could listen to him all day. Anyhoo here is Rob talking about money, it really makes you think.

We had a nice weekend, we spent a lot of it on the boat, we have had a new inverter fitted, it changes the 12volts of the battery to 240 volts it also charges the battery's when connected to the shore line and it works as a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) so that means the moment you connect or disconnect from the shore mains or generator it goes to the battery/Shore line or generator. It was very expensive but a very useful piece of equipment. I also have started to put up the window blinds, well I think they are all up now, so I have finished putting up the blinds. I need to pop to a market and pick up some foam sheets for the porthole windows to make some sort of cover/blind for them.

Gaye, Andy and Amy joined us on Saturday night to watch the fireworks from Shugborough Hall (a big disappointment) and to eat loads (very good food again). It was really enjoyable evening with some good company.

Monday

I had the interview Monday, it was a tough one, and to be honest I don't know how I did, I answered each question as best as I could, I was honest and said what came from my heart I don't think I could have done much better, I did think of a couple of things in bed last night that I could have said, but there is no point going there as I would end up in a real state.

I have been amazed at the people who really care about me and the interview, I have received Texts and phone calls all encouraging me and asking how things have gone, I should hear sometime this week either way.

Home again

We arrived home safely, I am still annoyed at the loss of my mobile phone, I have got my new sim card but I don't own a new phone as yet, I will pop out later to Sutton and buy a cheap thing. I still have this cold!!!

Borrowed an old O2 phone off my Dad, its very basic but it will get me out of trouble until December 8th when this contract runs out.

I had a nice time in Malta I read a couple of books by Gervase Phinn, he was school inspector in Yorkshire and he writes a fantastic romp about his times, they are very funny and sweet. I also did some recharging as I was very tired after all this diabetes and medication, though I still feel tired I do feel rested after 8 days in the sun.

I am now starting to prepare for my interview on Monday I am not sure at all as to what to prepare? I know I need to think seriously about where I have achieved over the 10 years and surmise that for the interview....what else I just don't know?