I Love The Google Doodle! - Olympics - Diving

o Diving o

I Love The Google Doodle! - Olympics - Weightlifting

o Weightlifting o

I Love The Google Doodle! - Olympics - Cycling

o Cycling o

I Love The Google Doodle! - Olympics - Opening Ceremony

o Opening Ceremony o

I Love The Google Doodle! - Beatrix Potter's Birthday

Have you ever read one of Beatrix Potter's books?

Saturdays...are good!

Saturdays remind me of ham salad with salad cream,
bread and butter and tea!
My husband was brought up on Sausages and Mash...
always on Saturdays!
My daughter says Saturdays mean sleeping, cooked breakfast,
Jonathan Ross on the radio and Dr. Who on the TV.

Click on the picture to see why the boy looks forward to Saturdays...
What do Saturdays mean to You?

Fridays are... good!

FRIDAYS!

How do You take Fridays?
Are there any changes You need to make?

Thursdays...are good!

How can you have fun on...
THURSDAYS!
Think carefully!

Wednesdays...are good!

What happens on Wednesdays in Your life?

What will you achieve today?
Go on... have a go!

Tuesdays...are good!

Thankfully God's Grace is not only for tuesdays's child
With God you too can have a Lifetime of Grace!

I have not read this book.
If you have let me know what you think!

Mondays...are good!

What does the thought of a

MONDAY
coming up mean to you?

What would improve your Mondays?
Can You..do anything about it?

Sundays...are good!

What are you doing today?
Sunday!

Words I Like - Cosy

Cosy
comfortable, secure, warm, cuddled up,
sheltered, snug, tucked up.

Cosy Corner Dining Table and Chairs
Unusual!
The seats can make the table longer!


This is Cosy!!
I cannot imagine my dog being in the same room with a cat - nevermind a bed!

Places I have lived in the UK - Gainsborough

Why not visit Gainsborough?... there's plenty to see and do

I now live and minister in Gainsborough

There is major Regeneration going on in the town

The town is busy on Tuesdays and Saturdays (Market Days)

I like the congregation, the town and the contacts we are making all over the area

The Salvation Army is in an good spot by Marshall's Yard Shopping and Leisure Complex

Places I have lived in the UK - Dorchester

The house on the left with the green door is the one we lived in. It is a beautiful house with curved walls and unusual detail. Pondbury Village is different and we are not likely to ever live somewhere like it again! Prince Charles' Village! Oh Yes!

We thoroughly enjoyed living there and when the time came we were very sad to leave. Charming backgarden, pedestrianized, quiet and within walking distance of Dorchester town centre. If you look out for Poundbury online you'll soon realize what an expensive area this is. We got to know so many people there and were able to mix well with the town groups and churches.

The Salvation Army in Dorchester is small and we met in the Methodist Church for worship but its Charity Shop was amazing and raised a really fantastic amount of money.There were many volunteers working in the charity shop and we had great fun rearranging the shop, introducing a book area and lots of extra shelving. We were involved in all sorts of other things including the OverSixties and Luncheon Club.

The homelessness situation in the area was noticeable with vast numbers of men, families and women queuing up for clothing, toiletries and hot drinks among other things. We met some very interesting people that way and it was a pleasure to help them, yes, even the very smelly ones! Christians opened a centre where they could shower!

We hope and Pray the Salvation Army in Dorchester continues to expand and do well.

Places I have lived in the UK - Gosport

Gosport was very different to any other place where I had lived. It was not a seaside resort, it was not a valley, it was not inland and it was in the south coast! I loved the water, the ferry, the boats, the ships, Lee on the Solent, seeing the Isle of Wight and crossing over to the island occasionally for officers fellowship or days out.

The hall was (and still is) unfortunately in extremely poor condition yet it did not stop the people from organizing activities and getting on with things enthusiastically. The community work was extensive specially at Christmas thanks to the Community Care Leaders, and the toddlers which they also led, a joy to visit. The War Cry rounds undertaken were excellent making regular, faithful contacts.

The Alpha course was and I think still is a yearly event bringing lots of new people in. The monthly Jumble Sale brings some memories. I will never forget the electric buggy that went out of control during a sale, no one was hurt!

The people there were interested in us and our family, and that felt very good. People attended Roots and Butlins regularly, and the weekly prayer group which was often eventful, usually disturbed by sirens, meant we never had to raise our voices as the Lord could hear our prayers!

The Friday Club for children was a most interesting night. People took it in turns to help and the children though noisy and troublesome! were miraculously well behaved when with us and a joy to be with. So many children came that they had two sessions a night. Kids Alive were given as they went out. I helped with crafts or tuck shop - my favourite - specially when they wanted 50p worth of assorted penny sweets. Great Singing Company and Young People leading meetings. Though some have now moved on I hear that they are very involved in other Corps.

I could go on but I will get into trouble mentioning some things and not others, understandably!
Weddings, Funerals, Retirements and Enrolments, Transfers and Farewells, Parties, Celebrations, big New Years' Eve Parties... so many things happened whilst there but then that's the circle of life!

I recently heard that Gosport Corps is doing well so I am very pleased and Pray God's blessing over everyone there.

God is Good!

Places I have lived in the UK - Cwmbran

I lived in Cwmbran for two wonderful years. Unfortunately time there was cut short and the congregation did not want us to go. While we were there the Spirit of the Lord ministered to us all in amazing ways. Although having to get to grips with what God was saying and doing amongst us was difficult for many people, in time their faith deepened and in fact were then held through some very tragic situations which they would (unknowingly) soon face and experience.


We found the people very loving and helpful, people of the Word, people of Prayer, people who wanted to learn about Holiness and mission to the 'whosoever'. It is good to know Corps life is good there today. The Over Sixties and Choir was a very, very large group and their weekly programme was amazing. We have been asked to lead their OverSixty Weekend next year and we can't wait to see them all again!

God is Gracious

Places I have lived in the UK - Pentre - Rhondda

Aerial view of Gelli, Ton Pentre, Pentre, Cwmparc, and Treorchy

We thoroughly loved living and working in the Rhondda Valley. We first lived in Pentre for five years. We adopted our dog Zoe there and she helped us win many friends as we walked the mountains.

The Corps had gone through some difficulties prior to our arrival but they soon got going again and the time seemed to pass too quickly. The Outposts at Gelli (OverSixties) and Porth (selling War Cry's) were also enjoyable situations.

Alpha was introduced, Sunday School had always been very well organized, the Singing Company at that time made some CDs, the whole corps kept performing musicals and plays and still do! If you can you must get to one of the many yearly performances. Their singing! It was great to see how the congregation began to see the advantage of putting these musicals on for mission and fellowship. God worked in many of their hearts, and so many people were brought in to help in all sorts of ways who then went on to join the fellowship and find a place of worship at the Army!
Some, I noticed in the Salvationist have recently been made Soldiers. I have heard through the grapevine that their Singing Company is large again because all the little ones are now much older! Some are in the Songsters -which has many faces I don't recognize and it is always good when that happens!

God Bless Pentre

So many good memories. The bandmaster was a driving instructior and he was very brave teaching me to drive. He is such a good instructior that I have still kept the many good habits he taught me. In all these years I have only crossed my arms a couple of times, Cyril! Philip drives a car now and he is also a very good driver! Cyril is getting a big head now!

People were so nice there, so caring and friendly. They apparently still talk about the Agers...in a good way...thank goodness!!

Places I have lived in the UK - Bradford

I liked living in Bradford although it was only for two years. I liked the look of terraced housing, the smell coming from the chimneys, the washing hanging across the streets, people standing outside their doors and the accent in particular. The people were blunt - to the point - but I liked that as then I knew where things stood. The curry bars were great (no knife or fork just chapatis). The Salvation Army in Great Horton was a very old building (now in Wibsey) but we had wonderful times of worship and fellowship and very good attendance. The damp, wet walls, rats, etc...did not put these people off their focus for mission.

Two Corps were amalgamated at that time to form the new Bradford Citadel.

They are now going from strentgh to strentgh as they say and it is not surprising!

Places I have lived in the UK - Hull

I lived in Hull for 4 years and worked in the Longhill estate building up a congregation. It was then a very rough estate but we felt very much welcomed and wanted. Whilst at Brownies one evening, my daughter walked for the first time. We worked very hard and was good to see a very good sized congregation emerge. The yearly Christmas Day Dinners were one of the many highlights. The people were very nice, the elderly, the families, the youngsters, the disabled and Down Syndrome group - everyone just loved to come to the various activities and worship and have fun. There was very little money, very little equipment, and very little support from anywhere yet we had four wonderful years in ministry and were sad to leave them all as we had seen such wonderful changes in people and seen them grow so much spiritually.

The Ironies of Life! Here we were in Hull, but just before arriving, everything packed, we were told there was no house for us (we are still not sure what that was all about!) but anyway we were placed in the hostel for about six months whilst a house was sorted out. No health ans safety or safe and sound all those years ago!! We were in the family section but Philip would go up and down the lift on his own and wander all over the place and talk to all sorts of strangers and we never thought anything of it. We were very careful with him but nowadays it would be a very different thing I am sure. People did think it funny that we were in the Army and homeless!! For John it meant a lot of travelling or long days away but the children (and I) loved it. Fish tanks, lots of new people to talk with, meet and and listen to. Some wonderful stories, some tragic, some odd and some very funny. And...a huge toy store across the road opened at that time. The children loved to 'play' with toys since theirs were all packed except for teddy bears, a couple of Transformers and a Barbie doll.


Sadly, the Salvation Army as it was in Longhill no longer exists but I know that a group still meets in someones home and they recently wrote to me to say that a lot of money is being raised for the Helping Hand Projects. I thank the Lord for the priviledge I had to be there at that time. I learnt so much from them and from the experiences we all went through.

Hull is still enjoying a time of change and refurbishment throughout the town. It is about time!

God Bless Hull as it recovers from the floods.