Ok, term has started again in Swansea, and everyone is busy with enrolement, freshers fairs and settling into new houses, as usual. This is one of the reasons for my reduced blogging recently, having left behind the super-duper broadband connection and (for the moment at least) relying on the odd trip into uni to update, amid the rest of the madness.

The same problems continue, with the Landlord currently high on my hit list (mattress which is far too old and has almost exposed springs, shower which alternates between scalding and freezing, complete lack of washing machine, etc etc) along with the people in the flat above who think its ok to play their music at full blast till around 2 in the morning! Hmm, I’m not sounding very positive about this new term am I?

Well, I’ve enrolled on my course, all that remains now is to get my student ID card, and I start next week. I’ve met the other people mad enough to be doing it, and they seem friendly enough. The course I’m looking forward to, I just want my abode to be a little more habitable by then, so at the very least I can have a decent nights sleep and a shower in the morning. Now, that’s not too much to ask is it? I hope not.

But I’m definately not going to be a permanent student. I can’t do temporary living, at least, not like this.I do look forward to having my place, where I can settle. But, I suppose in that way, this is a means to an end, if I’m ever going to be able to afford it! There, that’s more positive isn’t it? Sorry for ranting.

How deep the Father’s love for us
how vast beyond all measure
that He should give his only son
to make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
the Father turns His face away
as wounds which mar the chosen one
bring many sons to Glory

Behold a man upon a cross
my sin upon His shoulders
ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
no gifts, no power , no wisdom
but I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
but this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

A well-read Bible passage, a particularly inspirational sermon, being involved in communion; all can be cause for reflection and joy at being part of worship. But it is often the songs/hymns sung that really touch me and bring my mind back to the most important things, and the reason I’m not still in bed on a Sunday morning.

This Sunday was the first time I’d managed church in a few weeks (thanks to unhelpful shifts at work), and was my last visit before returning to Swansea. I walked in the door to the sounds of one of my favourites from Songs of Fellowship- How Deep the Fathers Love. I can’t really say what this song- the simple arrangement of notes and words- does to me, but suffice to say it always makes me cry. I joined in with the praise band at the last minute, knowing I didn’t need to practice this or the others we were singing- Meekness and Majesty and There is a Redeemer among them. I love being here, where I’m at home, and I feel such a loss when I leave.

Maybe its something in the way my brain’s wired, but music has always been able to affect my mood. Certain songs can bring me up when I’m down, or give me the strength to cope when life is hard. And this was one of them.

Just writing that last post made me think. There are some people without whom I would be lost, whose company and friendship I value so much, and who have, in recent months, given me the strength to carry on (or shown me that I have that strength myself) when I was ready to give up and collapse in a small heap! People who were there to listen, to give advice or an offer of a square meal when cooking was the last thing on my mind. People who turned up with hugs and ice cream at exactly at the right moment!

If you’re reading, you know who you are, and I just wanted to say thank you. Oh, and to the other two sides of my pyramid, thanks for everything, here’s hoping this thing works long distance xxx

For the last few days I’ve had another good friend of mine staying, and it’s been great to catch up. We hadn’t seen each other in a year or so (she’s been kinda to far away!) but from the moment we met at the train station everything was exactly as it used to be (aside from a years worth of gossip to be caught up on!), and it struck me again how its always that way with true friends, or so I’ve found. There are people I’ve spent years of school with who I have hardly seen since we all went to uni, but the months in between dissappear once we’re back together.

At the same time as this, I’m coming to the end of my summer job, and gradually saying goodbye to the people I’ve met there (with shift work you don’t see everyone every day, so its been a long drawn out goodbye). This has been surprisingly hard considering I’ve only known them a month or two. But in that time we’ve become friends. There are people who’ve helped me out with the ’starting a new job nerves’, given me a lift home (easier and cheaper than the bus!) and shared their lives with me. And I’m going to miss them.

There is something special about old friends, who know you well, can tell when you’re down and know what to do to help. These people will always be important. But I guess I just realised that there is something pretty great about new friends too. And you can never have too many friends, even if they’re only around for a short time!

Just so you know, my life here is fairly slow at the moment, so the smallest things amuse/interest me. This may change when I return to Swansea student-dom, and have something in my life other than getting up at silly-o’clock and going to work. It may not, but one can live in hope. My job is at the airport, as a ‘hostess’ in the executive lounge, and it sooo exciting you wouldn’t believe. Um. You get sarcasm in type, right? Ok, good. The slowness is also not helped by the fact that I am home alone as my parents have gone on holiday, and left me house, dog and cat-sitting, and generally twiddling my thumbs.

Anyway, this weekend was an exception, as a friend came to stay and we attempted to do the tourist thing in m/c centre, complete with cow parade and all, and finished with a visit to the cinema to see the Motorcyle Diaries- interesting account of Che Guevara’s trip around latin America on a beat-up motorbike- absolutely amazing, and really inspiring, especially for anyone with the urge to travel. I now have a load of new places to add to my list of ‘I want to go there some day!’ It doesn’t appear to be on general release, but if you have an independant cinema nearby, do go see it

Well, I’m finally here, with my own wiblog. How exciting!!!

Anyway, just so you know (although some may know already), I’m a student, originally from Manchester, living partly in Swansea where I’ve been (mostly) studying for the past three years, and where I’m returning in a week or so to begin my masters in Environmental Biology. I’m into folk music, and in fact music generally, whether listening, playing, or singing, gardening, walking/hiking and similar (hence the title), and just being outdoors.

So, that’s me, in a nutshell. Kind of. More will probably become apparent with time.

Thanks for listening, see you around