I’m off to the SCM conference this weekend in Castleton (up north again- hoping for some descent snow!) so will be out of the loop for a while, so to speak. Not that I’m sure anyone will notice, as I quite often go a few days without blogging. But anyway, just so you know.

Will update on it all when I get back, should be some good stuff going on. Oh, how exciting! Anyway, right now I should be sleeping! Night, and have a good weekend all

There are people who will tell me off for blogging now, when I said I was going to be working on my essay to get it finished tonight! Well, this isn’t entirely time wasting, or at least not without reason. I have 1790 words (limit is 2000) and I have the bulk of it there, it just needs coaxing into place a little (!), which I think will have to wait till tomorrow given the time!

I’m not sure what I meant to say really, I generally have an idea in my head of what I’m going to blog about, but this time I just wanted to write. I don’t know why, or what. Ah well.

I saw two shooting stars last night,
I wished on them, but they were only satellites
Is it wrong to wish on space hardware
I wish, I wish, I wish you’d care

BB (inspiration comes in musical form!)

Well, my wiblinks at least…

Recently added is Richard’s site Connexions which I recommend a peek at. Its one of my regular reads, and since he was kind enough to link to me, I thought I should return the favour! Thanks Richard!

And since I’m off to the annual Student Christian Movement (SCM) conference this weekend in Castleton, I thought, why not, let’s add those lovely folks to the list too!

And, in case you hadn’t noticed, there’s also a link to the Make Poverty History campaign. If you haven’t had this bashed into your head already (and aren’t a Vicar of Dibley fan!), then go and check it out!!! Believe me, its important, and needs your support. But then, as you’re such an honourable lot, I’m sure you’re all up to date with whats going on, and don’t need me to tell you. (Btw, for those readers from elsewhere, this is a UK campaign, but I understand there are other similar things going on for you to get involved in, so no excuses!)

Or at least a step in the right direction.

My term paper for this term is on GM crops, specifically why is maize the only crop to have been approved by the government for commercial production? Well, I’ve been doing a lot of reading, since its not really a topic I know much about, and had learnt a lot, but nothing about maize specifically which would get me nearer to answering the question. Untill I ploughed my way through 2 or 3 articles published by the Royal Society which go into the details of the effects on biodiversity and so on. Not particularly interesting to many people (apart from fellow biologists, and I suspect not many of them!), but it made me happy. And the subject is actually quite interesting, particularly to an almost/aspiring botanist! We’re always being told to be up to date with current affairs, and this is my equivalent!!!

I really should be working, having made it back from church via a cup of tea in one house and lunch in another, but I just wanted to share this before the thought leaves me.

(One of) the readings this morning was from John 3, including verse 16 which everyone knows, but also continuing to verse 17, which to me always has to follow;

16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish bu have eternal life.
17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him’

It bothers me when people fixate on the differences between individuals, churches and even religions, without realising or acknowledging the love of God which was so great that He gave his son. This morning it was pointed out that we should be concentrating on being the life and light of the church in the world, rather than on trying to change people into what we assume to be correct. If Jesus did not come to condemn, what right do we have to?

This brings me back to an eternal struggle of mine, of trying to live my faith in the world. In the baptism service we give a candle with the words ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’ To achieve this, that by your words and actions people will know that Christ lives in you, and will come to know him themselves, has to be the greatest achivement. Perhaps because what helped me wasn’t being asked to ‘pray a prayer’ with someone, but just by living with, worshipping with and talking to other Christians, I always hope to be able to do the same.

…and surprised, by the HUGE response to my last post! I had no idea that so many people either a) read this thing and/or b) have been taking in what I’ve been waffling about for the last few months!!! Ok, so I knew some of you read this, mainly cos I bump into you in this wet and windy city and you know what I’ve been up to without me saying! But still, thanks for all the positive thoughts etc, it means a lot. This wibsite community is pretty amazing when you think about it. And it’s nice to be able to share something positive sometimes too I’ve sent an email off to the ‘coordinator’ to get my actual results. Watch this space…

In other news, this week was going to be one where I was in for the majority of the evenings, and getting some work done. Well, I managed that to a certain extent. On Wednesday I met up with a couple of friends who graduated last year too and had come back to visit. Both have now moved away (and got married, but that’s another scary story!), and since one of them now lives in France, we don’t see them much! So how could I refuse a catch up over a good curry? It was a good night, and reminded me how much I miss the people I used to see so regularly.

Yesterday I spent a day at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centre at Llanelli, studying bird behaviour, which was actually not as tedious as I had been expecting. I learnt lots about the management of nature reserves, and about how the site was set up. T’was quite interesting, to an environmentalist/ecologist or whatever I am!

Right, I think I’m going to stop waffling now, or people really will stop reading this blog! Thanks again x

The exam results came back finally. Well, not results as in a number, but a pass/fail.

I passed both my modules!

So, that’s a weight off my mind, no resits to worry about, just the next two to get through now! Although, having passed, it would be nice to know how well I passed. I won’t mind whether I just scraped the required 50%, or got into the 60’s, but if it was the latter, I might be able to make the extra effort and aim for the distinction, which I think is 70%. Ambitious, I know, but there’s no reason not to aim high.

Anyway, for now I’m happy, and a little more motivated to carry on. Today it’s ecotoxicology. Don’t worry, I’m not entirely sure what it’s all about either!

In the spirit of all things romantic, I thought I’d share a few words which always hit home. No surprise they’re song lyrics. It may not be Shakespeare (though Richard quoted one of his best today), but to me this is just as tender an expression of love, the third verse in particular. Written in the 1800’s, and set to music by the fabulous Kate. There, for all my cynicism and adamant singledom, I think I have to admit to being a bit of a romantic at heart

The daugther of Megan so lovely and blooming,
I met in Glenavon’s gay glittering hall,
And high rose my heart, ambition assuming,
To dance with the damsel, the bloom of the ball.

Oh daughter of Megan, look not so alluring,
On a youth that his hope with thy hand must resign,
That now the sad pang of despair is enduring,
For the splendour thou lov’st can never be mine.

Go daughter of Megan, to castles of splender,
Each eye that beholds thee thy presence shall bless,
And the delicate mind feel a passion more tender,
On thy beauties to gaze than another’s possess.

But daughter of Megan tomorrow I’m going,
On ocean to sail where the rude billows roar,
I feel my full heart with afflication o’er flowing,
For perhaps I may gaze on thy beauties no more.

Happy February 14th all, to happy couples, determined singletons, and all in between. Enjoy the love you find, in whatever form.

I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed this week, starting from Sunday, when I suddenly realised all the work was slowly piling up, and there wasn’t a night this week when I was free. Rest assured, its got better since then, having made some progress on the term paper (scary imortant essay of 4000-6000 words which this term is all about the relative merits of GM crops- I have a feeling you’ll be hearing more about this one!) and one of the other essays.

Although, thinking about this, something in Dee’s post hit home. In my world too, out of control=stressed. The worst lows come when I feel I’m just drifting from one day to the next without doing anything constuctive, or when I haven’t done any of the things on my mental ‘to do’ list. This is a personality trait, and there is nothing I can do about it. But still, at least by recognising what the problem is, I can do something about it. Some much needed me time is in order I think.

I have accepted by now that Swansea is a small world, and gets progresively smaller the longer you hang around. However, I’ve also realised recently that its not just Swansea.

Today I found out that a newcomer to Swansea (who I knew was from Manchester) went to the same secondary school and sixth form college as I did!!! And was probably there at the same time I was (although I would have been in year 11 when she was in year 7!).

I’m seeing a lot of reminiscing coming up. Small world? Absolutely!