Things I have learnt

I'm just back from my trip to Cambodia. Here are some thing I didn't know previously but do now.

1. It takes the average Jo 4 days to become absolutely sick of eating boiled rice.

2. Boiled eggs are not always what they seem.

3. Cambodians don't kiss on the lips, only the cheek.

Ok, these are silly but I'll do a proper post of the trip on the travel blog when I get around to it...

Today's happiness: Planning fun things to do for the Easter weekend.

40 days and 40 nights

Lent has begun. And I didn't even get any pancakes yet.

The Christian celebration of Lent marks Jesus' 40 days in the desert being tempted by Satan. It is a time when we do a number of things, give something up, take something up and spend the time you would have spent on the thing you gave up with God. Ok, everyone does it differently but this is the general idea.

Truth be told I know I should give up TV but I've just started season 1 of The Wire.

Today's Happiness: making 2 new friends on the train.

Comfort Zone - Part 2

Here's a subject so far out of my comfort zone I don't even like talking about it as it makes me feel ill.

P*bl*c Sp*@king.

This is a theraputic post.

I know I'm not alone in this but I also know I suffer worse than anyone else I know, except maybe one person who shall remain nameless.

P.S. (Public Speaking) = feeling sick from the moment I think I may have to do it to the day after I've done it.

P.S. = Wanting to quit my job or take a pill that puts me to sleep forever so I never have to face tomorrow.

Last week I did some P.S.ing. It felt unavoidable. I think God is clever about how he moves us though our fears. I was given the option of doing a talk about my trip to Cambodia with the hope of raising money for the project. Basically I would have felt ashamed if I had not taken the opportunity because I was a scaredy pants.

So I did it, there were about 100 people, I hated every minute of it and sounded like a strangled cat. BUT I raised plenty of money and awareness for the cause - worthy of the stress I thought.

Today I get an email from someone who mentioned they have booked me in for 2 more sessions! Oh my goodness. So now I'm back to square one again...and I said yes because let's face it, life's too short and maybe it won't be so bad next time.

Green Wing

Green Wing is now probably my favourite TV show of all time ever. Here are 2 of my favourite clips:





Todays happiness: A peanut butter and banana baguette at lunchtime.

In God Wii trust

I was playing on a friends Wii last week when I remembered how someone had created a version of Guitar Hero for Christians. This set us off making a list of Christian/Biblical games for the Wii.
Here's some of them:

• Feeding the 5000 - where you have to throw loaves and fishes at open mouths in a crowd.
• Moses - you have to part the reeds of the red sea as you run from the Egyptians.
  
• Walking on water - you'd have to use the balance thing for that.
• Woman at the well - drawing buckets of water for a thirsty Jesus.

Today's happiness - missing my stop on the train because my book was so good.

Comfort zone - Part 1

This year I am moving out of my comfort zone, some of it is unavoidable, some my own choice.
It leaves me with a constant feeling of un-ease. I hope I don't get a stomach ulcer.

So I thought I should write about one of the comfort zone departions - my trip to Cambodia.

In a matter of weeks I shall be heading to Phnom Penh to take part in a building project in a small village. I'll be working with a group of volunteers helping to improve the facilities of a school to enable the support of children with disabilities who usually would receive no education.

Questions I have:
Why am I doing this?
Will I come back alive?
Will I want to come back?
Will the mosquitos eat me alive?
Will sharing a room for 2 weeks kill me?
Why do my questions keep getting longer?

Freecycle it

I heart Freecycle.

It’s great...in theory.

In reality I have never given or received anything on it but the email listings keep me entertained if nothing else and who knows, one day that Hello Kitty electric guitar I want so much may just appear.

So here are my favourite latest offered items from freecyle (saving the best for last):

10. Sachet of Ovaltine drinking chocolate.

9. Small Dog Coat (pink puffer)

8. Rectangular block of Polystyrene 47 x 22 x 121 cms

7. Spotters guide to rocks and minerals

6. Empty Roses tin 9.25” Diameter 4” High

5. Plastic lids (assorted) from shampoo bottles

4. Wood from raised bed

3. With the bronze award - Bags of hardcore

2. With the silver award - Slimfast Strawberry flavour out of date – Have just found 2 tins at back of cupboard, dated 2003. Should I bin them?

1. WINNER - Marble Dome – for up to 4 players. Complete except for NO MARBLES.