More power needed in the church

For the past three years we have been unable to turn everything on in church. No - not because of boring sermons turning people off. Its a need for more power - yes - we do need the Holy Spirit but we also need the national grid. We have taken the step of digging a trench form the road below the church drive and laying a super cable so we can zoom power into St Michael's on a huge scale. The floors will soon warm up and the light will shine out. Just waiting for NEDL to connect us up and we will be in business. Exciting eh!

I used to be thin

I have been sorting through some old photos and realizing the benifit of turning them digital. Look how young I used to be. The top photo is my cousin Doris and her mam, auntie Ella in the middle and Ella's sister, Auntie Dot on the right. Ella and Dot are no longer with us. Its me and Roz in the centre photo and the bottom one is Gill's Mam and Dad with Roz and me. I'll scan some more and put any interesting ones on the blog. Time to go and cook breakfast now, I have some of the clergy chapter coming round.

Wedding Completed

It was a morning of champagne and strawberries for the girls and bacon and egg (with champagne) for the boys. Gill managed to get both somehow. My first born son, John was married on Saturday to lovely Leanne and it really was a day to remember. Service in St Michael's followed by reception in The Parish Hall for around 100 guests. The dancing went on into the night and the washing up is still in progress at 3.30pm on Monday.

Grace looked like a princess in her dress and Roz and Kim were stunning in the black and white dresses. NUFC was the theme for the wedding with a signed card from the team being a treasured gift. Here are some photo's. I am sure loads more will be put on facebook. John & Leanne are now in Hong Kong and will be leaving for Australia before they come back to Newcastle. Must go and put some more dirty plates in the dishwasher.

Monday Morning and Dry Rot

Taking in the noonday sun in Ephesus.

8.30am today is pulling out the pews time. Yes the same pews we have spend the past few years replacing following the fire. The reason is extensive dry rot, caused by extinguishing water and new floors being laid on damp foundation. It really is a blow when it was looking like things could finally be called finished. Sound system loop needs to come out then the pews then the floor up - Rot removed. Then concrete in - floor down - pews in and sound system connected. Only 11 days to the festival so I hope we have employed speedy workers. The photo is me and Gill in Turkey, it gives me somethingpositive to focus on rather than the building issues which are a real pain. I have booked Turkey for a return visit next summer, in fact only 336 days to go. Back to the same hotel. Excited already!

Oh! it rained

Gill and I had a few friends around for BBQ at the weekend. It rained a lot and the garden was muddy but we had a good time. It was 3.00am when I got to bed after playing articulate with the young people. I did some hot dogs over an open fire on the homemade BBQ which was impressive to look at as you can see, and all the dogs were eaten, so success was claimed.

The bit with all the flames was the BBQ bit being lit, the more subdued section was the wood fire for the hot dogs. I built the whole thing myself, so I hope you are impressed.

This was Sunday morning in church. As you can see one parishioner thinks my sermon will be one mint long while the second thinks it will be two mints long. The third parishioner has put the whole bag on the pew, they must be expecting a marathon! Can you tell who it is by the skirt and sandal?

Dear Deer

Back from a few days in the Highlands. Great to be back and drying off a bit. This photo is on the edge of Rannock Moor very remote and isolated. Just the way we like it.

When we weren't out exploring we were drying off in our lovely room. Once we dried out we got wet again in the 4 poster bath. Yes, a 4 poster bath. What will they think of next to keep the English wet in Scotland?

Big enough for all the family - and a jacuzzi

Coast to Coast

This is a group of Children from Cockermouth school who have cycled from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. I saw them a few days ago making sure their bikes were in the North sea. They looked very pleased with themselves and rightly so. It had taken them four days which was how long it took me to walk a similar route a little while ago. I have been t see a couple today who are enquiring about baptism for their child. It was good to talk with them, a real highlight in the day.