A few numbers

I have 10 minutes before I need to get ready for work. I've had a very expensive morning, going shopping with Sarah and coming away with some necessary things and some not-quite-as-necessary things that I've wanted for a long time. But, thats ok! Now I'll go and work and earn back all the money I've just spent. At least I get paid tonight.

I'm home alone this weekend and last night started 2 films, didn't fancy watching either and as the minutes ticked by my thoughts got deeper and deeper until I was going out of my mind, so I found something else to keep me occupied. I started thinking about my life. In numbers. How many times I've done certain things. And this is the list I came up with:

15 countries I've been in.
6 continents I've been to.
68 times I've flown in an aeroplane.
14 houses I've lived in.
At least 70 beds I've slept in.
4 languages I've had lessons in.
2 languages I can still speak.
2 boyfriends I've had.
4 lads I've kissed.
2 times I've not remembered the night before and wondered how and when I got to bed.
2 medals I have for dancing exams.
1 tattoo I have.
More tattoos I want.
1 person I've punched out of anger.
I concussion I've had (unrelated incidents!)
19 birthdays I've celebrated.
82 periods I've had.
16 scars and 16 memories.
2 times I've applied to uni.
4 times I've had crutches.
1 pigeon that has flown into my face.
2 cash-in-hand jobs I've had.
0 payslips.

That's as far as I got last night. I'm sure there is a lot more if I thought hard enough! By that time I was too tired and read for a bit, then thankfully slept right through till my alarm woke me up at 9:30 this morning.

Off to work now. Fun. Friday nights are the busiest so therefore makes me the most tired. Only 2 weeks left, and 3 weeks till I go back to Colombia. THAT is fun!!

Weekend

Yet again, ages since I've written. But that's because, as usual, my life revolves serving the tea, bread and butter at the chippy. But I managed to get this weekend off and its been great.

I managed to leave work early on Friday because Phil was coming to visit and was arriving at 4pm in Newcastle. Maybe was a little late meeting him, but that was his fault for arriving early! Anyway, had a great very fast weekend with him. Yesterday we went hiking with some people from Church and it was so nice. I haven't been near country-side since January when I was at camp in Colombia, and that was a long time ago! I do a lot of walking in my current line of work, but it covers the same 20 yards, generally carrying trays. Not much fun. I love walking in the country-side, especially when its grey and cloudy. There is nothing there to control you emotions. No sun, and no rain. Sun makes you happy and rain makes you miserable. But when it's grey, you can feel however you actually feel. I like that. So we did a 5 mile walk and hardly met any people and my feet hurt and I was tired and I loved it. And then went home and had chinese food and watched football and stayed up late and was knackered at church today. And then watched more football. I love not being at work!

It's a pain when you find something you want and cant have.

I'm chatting with one of the lads in Colombia, I miss them so much! He speaks English which makes chatting easier. I haven't heard from him yet and he is a good friend and I saw him on MSN messenger, so I've actually delayed going to the pub! Haha. I'm going with my parents and 2 of their friends. So uncool and so fun.

Went to buy 1 cd today and ended up buying 4. It's great. I love buying cd's.

That's about all for now! Will go for a pint soon. Not that I haven't drank enough this weekend....

The big impression

For some reason yesterday, while watching Delirious? perform (and they were totally mind-blowing by the way!) I was thinking about the people who impact us, who leave an impression on our lives. I think, by looking at the last year, the people who have left the biggest impression on my life, are those who believe in me. Those who know that I am real and struggling but have every faith in me to suceed. I met such a person for only a week a few months ago. I'll not mention names, but from day 1 I got on really well with this person and stayed up late talking with this person and a few others about our views on the Christian world. I got to know this person quite well in a short space of time, and even though I haven't had much contact since then, I know that this person believed in me. This person knew that I would succeed in wherever God was going to lead me. I could have told this person almost anything and they wouldn't have laughed, they would have taken me seriously and make me look at the bigger picture. I can remembed conversations that I had with this person. I can remember things this person told me. Even if it was just seeing me say goodnight to the little kids while I tried to walk quietly past their bedrooms and got spotted, they believed in me with the kids. They believed I was genuine and I had/have a genuine love for these kids. It isn't too often you meet people who genuinely believe in you. A lot of people who you meet for a week, or even much longer, you can have nice conversations with, but it isn't too often you meet someone who you 'connect' with in such a short space of time, and you know that if you ever needed someone to turn to, you could fly half way round the world and they would welcome you with open arms. It isn't often that you meet someone who you can talk to about anything and tell them anything and they will take you seriously and keep you strong in God's way.

Then there are the people who in the 6 months in Colombia had a big impact on me simply because they irritated me so much I can't help but not forget them.

I'm not saying that this is the only type of people who have an impact on me. Of course it isn't. I watched many people, while working tough jobs that I wouldn't enjoy, do it with love and servanthood for the kids. That leaves a big impact. Then there are the people who have transformed their lives. Like one man used to be a drug addict. Now he has come to know God, his life has been completely turned around and he is working full time for God. And there are the kids. They have been through such shit in their lives, but they have such a sweet, natural spirit about them. When a 6 year old looks after you and cares about you, that when you have forgotten that you had a sore stomach or a cough the day before, he will come up to you and ask you how you are and check you're ok. Not much beats that feeling. Or when the kids want to show off to their parents the songs I taught them (10 little monkeys jumping on the bed...), that impacts you because the appreciation you get from the kids, and from the parents, makes you feel like you're doing something right and that you are impacting their lives.

I went quite a long way from the original point here. I'm a little tired people, and have to do stuff at church this morning so my head isn't entirely right! But you get what I mean, yeh?

The new versions of persecution....is it worse to be physically or mentally abused?

Was is it with persecution? Or any persecution? The latest in England, other than the obvious against Christians, is against the English supporting the English football team in the World Cup. No England football shirts in certain pubs, no showing the England matches in certain pubs in case the foreigners (who from what I gather) aren't bothered because they know they aren't English in England and have no problems with English people being English. Why is it? It is beyond ridiculous. England is England. Lets face it. We have a right to be English. Like if we 'took over' Brasil or somewhere, they wouldn't feel the need to not be Brasilian - they wouldn't stop doing the dances or speaking the language or sporting the flag. It's ok, really!!

And the other thing is Christian persecution. Seriously boys, it isn't the way to make friends. TheTempted had a gig tonight, 2nd on out of 4 bands. And they were amazing. Bloody brilliant. And the next band knew they weren't as good. So in between songs they took the piss out of The Tempted and slagged them off as much as possible. Not cool, guys. Why do people do it? Why do they have this 'thing' against Christians? I know how hard it is for me to get through the day. How do people who don't know God's grace get through it? And why do they insist on slagging off good musicians, just because they promote the gospel, while being fabulous musicians? I don't get it. I'll take it. I love seeing TheTempted perform, partly because I wish I could be that open about my faith. I will never deny what I believe but sometimes I don't have the guts to stand up and say what I believe. I hate that. Why is that? Why should I be ashamed of what I believe in? I don't think I am. I know that God loves me and I love Him. So why don't I share it with people?

TheTempted

I added a new link to TheTempted, which is the band my brother is in, they're absolutely awesome. You can listen to a few of their original songs as well if you go on it. Take a look.

I miss you sweetie!!

More of the same drivel

Today is a happy day. I was dreading another 10 hour shift at work, and they phoned and said they dont need me till 3! So I'll only have a 6 hour shift which is a beautiful thing. Yesterday wasn't bad, I did a few hours waitressing, half an hour on the take away, and then a few hours dishes, so at least it was different stuff and not just taking orders all. day. long.

Only something like 7 weeks till I get to Colombia. WOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

The other day was my sister's (pictured on the photo page) birthday, we had a bbq with some friends and people from church, it were lush. We did get photos but it was on her friends camera so hopefully we can get them soon.

So soon I'm gonna head out to the back yard and sit in the sun, i'm so excited!! Isn't that sad. Last night I got in from work and was like "No I only have an hour before I need to go to bed and then I'll just repeat this several times over!!" I have no social life at the moment. But from Wednesday night till Monday morning I only have to work for 5 hours, and I get to go to Edinburgh to see Tree63. They're a South African band, last time i saw them was in South Africa, they're mint!! Cant wait. Going with my dad and my brother. We have a spare ticket....anyone want it? £27. Full day thing, lots of bands. I'm so excited!! I love live music.

no title....

I got an email today off a really good friend of mine in Colombia, Luz Cenia, and I miss her like crazy! We are the same age, 2 weeks apart (I'm the older!) and we get on so well and we lived together and got by on bad Spanish/English and had a wonderful 5 days together, and I miss her. But I'll get to spend 2 weeks with her in the summer when I'm there which I am SO excited about, I can't wait to see her again! Hearing from people in Colombia makes me miss everyone so much. But I'm going back. GET IN!!!!

I spent today totally relaxing which was fantastic, totally needed. I actually had a full nights sleep last night, something that hasn't happened in months, and then I spent the day NOT AT WORK but lying in the sun and listening to music and then at the pub for a meal with Nat tonight, and then sat with a drink talking to my parents when I got home. So, all in all, despite it not being what I originally planned, I had a wonderful day and I really enjoyed it. Now I have 5 more days at work before my next day off....oh goody.

Chips and flights

Finally got to see some of my friends last night, it seems so long since I've been social at all! You know that feeling when your life revolves around home and work, and work starts too early in the day for anything except dragging yourself out of bed to happen, and finishes too late for anything except a sit down with a beer in hand to happen? That pretty much sums up life en este momento.

I was reading Jenny's post about the youth of North Shields, and it made me realise again the difference between Colombian kids and kids here. The kids in Colombia, I'm sure, have come from much worse backgrounds than the kids here. Yeh they have crap backgrounds here, but it would be so easy, going by the what the NS kids were saying - "we can't help it, we come from a rough background" - for the kids in Colombia to be completely uncontrolable, worse than the kids here. All it takes is a bit of love. That is what makes the difference between the kids here and the kids there. There they have been shown love. Human love and Godly love. And they are, ok normal kids :-p, but for the most part, lovely and friendly and happy and managable. The kids here don't have that, so the have rebelion in place.

One of the things I always liked about the kids in Colombia were that 16 year olds (and worse, 14 year olds!! Unthinkable!!) would go to the park to have a laugh and play. It is possible for them to take a football and hang out and just play and have fun. Here, if 16/14 year olds go to the park, it will involve sitting in a small huddle trying to be descreet and passing around the bottle or a smoke. This is what I've seen. Maybe its a bit of a generalisation. I'm not saying that the other doesn't happen in either country. But I liked it. I liked how, when working with the 4 year olds, I would go to the park and see our older lads there too playing a (very serious) game of football with the other kids and with anyone who came along and wanted to join in!

And, yeh baby, I'm going back!!!! I am a lot poorer than I was a week ago, but I have a reservation on a plane (several planes actually) from Newcastle to Bogotá! I leave here July 21st, get to Bogotá on Saturday 22nd July and am staying for a month, I leave there on August 22nd. And I'm going with my Jenny and my mummy. I'm so excited! I get to go back, and see everyone again. Gonna be harder than hell leaving in August though, coz last time I could say "I'll be back in 3 months, I'll see you soon" and that was unbelievably hard! Next time it'll be "I really have no idea when I'll see you again." But I'll get to spend that month with them. Gonna fly by. I just hope the next 2 months will fly and the time after, in Colombia, will go slowly.

I'm going to have my first proper meal in several days now. My eating habbits are terrible. They involve a lot of chips and sandwhiches at really strange times of day. Bring on the good ol' rice and beans of Colombia.