I’m going away tomorrow. For a real holiday. For (almost) a week. Those who know me and see me often know this is quite an event. I don’t really feel like I’ve stopped much since I started working, since I’m trying to do my voluntary work in the week when I’m not in (proper) work, and this combined with working weekends a lot of the time means a day off is an interesting concept at the moment. And recently I’ve managed to not get as much sleep as I need (although this is self-inflicted and doesn’t deserve sympathy!) so I’m a little worn out right now. But still smiling Cos I’m going on holiday.

I’m off to Pembrokeshire with the parents till Thursday, when I’m coming back to Swansea to graduate, for the second time. This time I get another fancy bit on my hood, and more letters. Quite scary to think this is my second degree, and some people I know haven’t finished their first one yet.. Now I feel old.

Anyway, I’m definately feeling more upbeat than the last time I posted, I’ve had a really good couple of days with friends- Jo came to visit and together with Jen, Alice and toddler blonde we went galavanting off across Gower, flew kites, chatted lots and drank rather a lot of wine in the course of 3 days.. A fab time was had by all, and I know I feel refreshed (if a little tired) after these few days. There’s something about spending time with good friends, and being able to relax and be yourself that is refreshing, and gives you the ability to deal with the rest of the world. Aint friends brilliant?!

I’ll be back next week, have a good one all!

Alternative worship this evening wasn’t about this, and Alice has a much more reflective account of what the purpose of the service actually was. I’m aware that this is somewhat self-indulgent (but I’m allowed to be here), but the theme of the service tonight was of being rejected by those we bring the gospel to, which was highlighted in the feelings of being picked last for the team in the school playground. As it happened, this couldn’t have been a more effective way of getting the message across, to me at least. This is a funny song with a semi-serious thought to it, and a much more happy ending than in real life. As usual someone elses words always work better than my own.

Monday morning when the papers came,
The ad jumped out on the personal page,
Were you in the class of '78, if so lets make a date,
Make a date for a class reunion, all replies please send to Susan,
It all came back like the worst of dreams,
Susan was the captain of the netball team.

It all came back in a cloak of hurt,
standing in line in my netball skirt,
The names were called out one by one,
Mine wasn't picked it was forced upon,
Susan Collins and her glorious team, but I was the weak link in between,
I can't throw and I can't catch,
Enough to say we lost the match.

Na na na na na na………..

She was the idol of us then,
Stood like an Amazon five feet, ten
Girls and boys alike adored her,
My very presence bored her,
So I found myself alone, on the bus to school and the bus back home,
On the outside of the ring,
Adolescent pain is a deep deep thing,

Na na na na na na…

Well God knows how I found the nerve,
But I pulled my car up to the kerb,
The kerb outside the entrance hall,
The school hadn't changed that much at all,
Fifteen years of hurt lay buried, a moment like this can't be hurried,
I sat frozen in my seat
When a car pulled up across the street

She looked up and caught my eye,
Caught her breath in her surprise,
And when She finally turned her gaze,
I saw shame upon her face,
Seems I'm not the only one, haunted by the things She's done,
I never went to the class reunion,
I got drunk that night with Susan.

Julie Matthews

Following on from my previous post, more exciting updates from my career as a BTCV volunteer…

The designs for the prayer garden have generated a lot of interest- by the next time I went up to Penlan they’d been laminated (!) and shown round the congregation, all of whom are very impressed and excited at the prospect of their new garden! All we need now is for the proper volunteers to come in and get going on it- its not been started yet since the whole project includes many sites some of which are still being finished off. However, we now have an (admittedly very far off) deadline, since the new President of the Methodist conference is coming to South Wales in September, and is coming to visit Penlan, and hopefully, as I understand it, plant a tree in the garden and officially open it!!!

I’m only a *little* bit excited by this. Honest. When it actually gets going, and I can get some pictures of it, I’ll show you.