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.