THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING - Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 8

It' has been an interesting weekend. One in which I have laughed and cried.
Friday night, I spent a great time with my friend Jen just chatting about stuff!
Saturday morning, Pete and I decided to have a cooked breakfast. We then drove to met my Mum in Shepherds Bush. Pete dropped us in Hammersmith to catch a tube up town to go the ballet at the Collesium. Hammersmith Station was closed!!! Mum and I felt stranded, but we got on a bus that took us all the way to Piccadilly Circus, which was fab and meant we could see the sights!! Made it just in time. Good ballet! Got the tube home. First time on a tube since the bombings - it was always something I tried to avoid anyway! Wasn't too bad! Spent a very chilled out evening with the lovely Weeks! Eating pasta, and listening to some good old vinyl!
Today was a great morning service at HGBC - Gill preached a storm!
This evening we went to St Pauls for the Baptism of Elaine which was a honour to be at! Saw lots of old faces that I knew and had chocolate too!!
Life seems soooooo busy at the mo, I hardly have time to sit down!!

IN AT THE DEEP END

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Seems like the year has started very busy, but it's all good. So far I have stuck to my getting up early and preparing my lunch for the day. Tomorrow I am going to go swimming before work!! I will get fit this year and I will loose that 2 stone that seems to have crept up on me!!!

GOODBYE 2005 - HELLO 2006

I really can not believe that 2005 is over already. Time just seems to have flown by and life seems to have ticked over fairly nicely with a few blips which we have managed to get through. Christmas has been a bit annoying really, I have been poorly through most of it. 2 migraines in 3 days, not much fun suddenly realising you can't see anything in the middle of the Bentalls centre in Kingston when people are going crazy for their bargains! I am starting to feel much better but have a very stiff neck, a bit rubbish really!

2006 - I am starting to realise I do not have any control of what it may bring, scarey and exciting though I am sure it will be. I am thankful that I can trust God for whatever happens and thank him that I have Pete to share 2006 with!

Have fun tonight everyone and I'll see you in 2006!

Sx

LET THEM EAT CAKE

I hope everyone had a good Christmas! I have been a little bit poorly but am starting to feel better now!! Nothing that kept me from enjoying the festive season too much however. As it is my Mum's birthday on Christmas day I always try to make a cake every year, usually resulting in midnight baking that comes to nothing! This year I decided to make a star cookie tree, which almost went horribly wrong but I managed to redeem it and you can see the result. I have to say I am quite proud of it, bearing in mind I am a girl that can't cook! Today we visited Pete's Brother and Family and Sheryl Leveson taught me to bake a very easy cake and you never know, maybe 2006 will be my baking year!!!!

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE, EVE, EVE, EVE, EVE, EVE!

Yes it really is nearly here!
Last night was Carols by Candlelight at church and once again I have made it through 2 solo's!! It was a great time and made me feel really christmassy!
We are just starting to be a bit more chilled at home, so that mean's I'll have to start tidying an sorting out before everyone descends on Christmas day! As usual we still haven't sent our cards! They are all sat on our dining table and have been for quite few weeks! If you never receive it - HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
However work is remaining VERY busy with interviews everyday except Friday!!!! Crazy.

The cleaning calls, so I had better go!

GOODBYE DEVONS MARIE CHARLOTTE ROSMARY PRIMROSE

Well the weekend was one of mixed emotions and it ended with cheerio drinks for the lovely Jesse & Marie who head up to St Andrews (Yes Scotland) on thursday to start a new chapter. It was the sign of the end of an era. Sat with the old Ealing posse gave me a twinge of sadness that we will never all be together in the same way again and a thankfulness that we have all stayed so close to one another both in friendship and in location. I have some wonderful friends!
Now I am just getting soppey!

This has culminated in a Monday of stress and business! I am hoping that, that means the week is going to get easier, but I have my doubts!

Anyhow it's time for sleep!

Ta ra Jesse Jackson & Marie Charlotte Rosemary Primrose! I love you both tonnes and look forward to easter! Be safe and remember...................

"IT DOESN'T COST MUCH TO KEEP IN TOUCH"

THE FIRST NOEL!

As of Saturday, I am officially going to start thinking about Christmas! I am going to a Christmas craft fair,meeting my friend who has been holding onto our annual Christmas magazine until Pete allowed me to have it and we are going to pop into our friends fair trade Christmas party!!!! Hoorraahh!!! Christmas is coming! Oh yeah, and I'm getting fat!! (I will focus and re start weight watchers next week!)

DON'T QUIT THE DAY JOB

The news is that I have been offered the job! Even I was surprised. A bit less money as I don't have all the qualifications - with the idea to gain the qualifications.
And to celebrate we visited Ikea to get Pete a lovely new desk for his lovely new lap top.

Looking forward to a visit from my Big brother at the weekend!

REMEMBER REMEMBER

Fireworks night was brill.
Today has been one of those days! It started with my new short haircut feeling a bit too short, followed by my hairdryer dying mid way through the drying process. None of my cell or friends were at church this morning, including my husband, and I had carried a load of bible study books for them all the way in vain. We sang "Morning has Broken"!!!
I went home to cook dinner for Pete's return (I'm a great wife) (Actually I never normally cook!) to find there was no food in the house. Upon Pete's return, I told him I needed to get a new hairdryer and some tights for my interview tomorrow. We decided to go to Asda, where we could also get some food for supper and then go somewhere for lunch on our way home. Asda was mental and they had no hairdryers - the rain was also pelting down! We decided then to go to Tesco where we managed to purchase all relevant goods!
We returned home at 3.40pm and ate lunch at about 4:15pm!
We headed to the Pub quiz early as my parents were having dinner there with a family friend Tim Costello - Head of World Vision Australia and a whole bunch of other stuff I think!
They then had to nip off to take him to the airport. Meanwhile no one else turned up at the quiz and so when my parents arrived back, we went back to theirs for a cup of tea and some shortbread!!

Being that my interview is tomorrow, I hope it is a slightly better day!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Well it's been a while!!! I am still working at Tearfund. In fact I am having an Interview there on monday. Life seems very hectic at the moment and i am sooooo tired.
I am really looking forward to Christmas even though the house rules are that I am not allowed to talk about it until the middle of November Ihave managed to persuade Pete to let me!
I have made cute little star soaps that smell christmassy and I have got my cards out ready!
Blogging at home much easier now, as we have broadband etc and Pete now has a lap top, so I do not have to enter his crazy unoranised and frankly messy office in order to use the Internet!

Dinner calls!

DESTINATION ANYWHERE

Great holiday was had by all in Devon! Lots of food and a bit of sunshine too!

Whilst away got a very helpful call offering me a temp job at Tearfund until the end of December! Started yesterday and already am feeling a little out of my depth although I am hoping that this is just my insecurity and a new environment! I'm sure I'll be fine! Beyond December who knows!

Life seems to have upped it's pace in the land of the Levies and there seems to be no let up until after Christmas! CRAZY! Anyway lots to look forward to! Just need to try and stay on top of the house work!

THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW

Well we have finally made it to our first holiday destination! Exeter with my Brother and his lovely lady Becky! I have had a couple interviews and already had a NO from the council for one job, which was annoying as the interview went well, but there was an internal candidate!!! I shall say no more on that one.
Tearfund interview with for the temporary admin pool and have registered with an agency but no bites yet! I am hoping things will work out but I am not sure what's going to happen now! Anyway for now I think I will just enjoy the hols and make the most of some chill out time.

Lets hope the sun comes out today!

AND NOW THE END IS NEAR

Thanks everyone for the very encouraging comments!
Today I have been for an interview with Ealing Council. I think it went quite well, but you never really know. I also had to do a test which was interesting. Took me back to very bad maths exams. Maths was not my strong point when I was 16 and it is not any better now!
Tomorrow is my last day at work and in many ways it is sad to leave as I have made some great friends, but I hope to keep in touch with people which is great! It has been a wierd experience as I never really knew why I was there, but I believe that God did put me here and it is right to move on! It would be good to know what else is in store but I am sure that is all in hand!
Drinks tomorrow night which should be a laugh and then Holidays!!!! First just a week mooching and interviews registering etc (Maybe I'll hear about the job from today's interview!) and then a weekend with my Big Bro and a week in sunny Devon (please Lord).

YOU CAN'T TURN BACK THE CLOCK. BUT YOU CAN WIND IT UP AGAIN.

The count down begins! I officially finish work at my current employee on the 26th August. only 8 days to go!
Thus far I have no new job. I have one interview with Ealing Council next Thursday and I have just posted an application to Greenford High School. I have also applied to Tearfunds temporary admin pool and will be submitting my CV to a recruitment agent for temp or perm work!
I am starting to get a bit concerned, although I do know that God has it all in hand. As Tessa said to me the other day"He (God) is never late, but he's always on time".
I am really looking forward to our holiday at the beginning of September and it looks like I am going to have 2 weeks off although I would like to have some work on my return.

Have a great few days, on Saturday we went to Cambridge and spent time with lovely people Michael & Rachel, Hannah & Reuben. They are the only people I seem to cry with laughter with!
Last night we spent time with Jesse & Marie ( he is feeling better!) and they were giving me some very helpful careers advise!

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE

We are here in Birmingham for the BWA Centinary Congress!
Thought I was getting away from all the bombs and manhunt but they seem to have been hiding up here.
Very funny seeing random people from all over the world walking around town wearing their badges and carrying groovey bags!(Pete & I have abandoned ours!)
Have established contact with the Wickers and look forward to catching up with them and not thinking about work until Monday!!!!

THE DIFFICULTIES OF LIFE ARE INTENDED TO MAKE US BETTER NOT BITTER

Life seems very distracted at the moment. The bombings in London have left me with anxiety. Yesterday I was able to voice my fear to Pete, and not leave it eating away at me. Pete is at a meeting up town this morning and although I know he has to go and we all here in London have no choice but to continue life as "Normal", it doesn't stop me from feeling apprehensive.

At the same time I am back to square one with employment. After a family discussion (with Pete) we have an idea of where life may go, but in the mean time I probably have to get another admin job to see us through to where God may be leading. So far the panic of my imminent unemployment has not set in, but I am sure it soon will.

We are also searching for a holiday destination. The two possible cheap options are unavailable. POO. Looking for somewhere that can fit us and another couple and their 1 year old, that is cheap, somewhere nice and available around the second week of September. Boy do we need a holiday!

SMOOTH SEAS DO NOT MAKE SKILFUL SAILORS

Today I am not at Live8, I am not in Edinburgh to Make Poverty History, I am work!! This is my third Saturday in row! I have decided that 6 day weeks are not good for you! However next Saturday will be the last I work for a while! (I hope).

The latest news on my life is that I have handed in my notice at work and given 2 months! As of 1st September I do not have a job! I am on the look out for something, but am taking my time as I am not sure what to do! Life here at work has become difficult for many reasons, the majority of the staff team feel uneasy and next week we have 3 new members of staff starting that we all found out about purely by chance! (Very random stuff)

So If you hear of anything that makes you think "Suzie could do that!" then let me know!

Was looking forward to a picnic tomorrow but weather looks a bit grim!

EVERYDAY COMES WITH IT'S OWN GIFTS. UNTIE THE RIBBONS

Yesterday I received a letter from UCAS saying that I have not been accepted to study to be an Occupational Therapist! Surprisingly I am OK about it. Everyone else seems more disappointed than me! Of course I am disappointed, however at least I can say that I tried and I can't regret not trying.

What now? Well at the moment I am working all the hours as my part timer is off which means I am working 4 Saturdays in a row and lots of 8pm finishes! I am a little bit tired and the weather doesn't help. I am looking for another job or at least seeing what my options are. I am not sure estate agency is for me!

I am a little depressed as everyone is talking about their holiday plans and we don't have any! At the moment the closest I will get to a holiday is The Baptist World Alliance in Birmingham at the end of July for 3 days! Finding an available time and the money to have a holiday are proving a little difficult!

TO BE OR NOT TO BE THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Well that is it, I have done it! My application for University is flying through cyber space as I sit here blogging! I feel excited, apprehensive, sick, scared, worried and free all at the same time!
I'll keep you posted as to what happens next! A big thank you to all those of you who have helped me, (Larry & Claire) with my personal statement and giving me a glowing reference. And to all my truly wonderful friends for being so encouraging when I mentioned doing this and all your on going support!! You all know who you are! xxxx

NATURE DOES NOT HURRY, YET EVERYTHING IS ACCOMPLISHED

After setting myself the goal of having my UCAS form in by last Friday, this has still not been achieved! We were out every night last week! Monday back from Exeter. Tuesday out for a Greek meal with cell group. Wednesday we had Paul and Claire for dinner. Thursday lovely dinner with Buddy & Alex (& Gracie!). Yesterday was a day off as I am working right now for the day! And yet I still didn't get any work done on my form as we had to head to Kent at 11am via Bloomsbury to see the Leveson family for lunch and the day and then to watch Toby (9) in "Me and My Girl". It was a great day and Toby was brilliant! Great spending time with Isobel & Elliot. We arrived home at 12.15am and so am v tired and at work and thinking have tonnes to do!