Back and feeling fit!

Well I made it back to Birmingham and I am actually fit and well after a very nice relaxing week recuperating on my mum's cooking!

I still have no idea whatsoever what it was that laid me low the past few weeks but this break has made the world of difference, so I shall tell you the exciting story of my sick week.

I got home on Monday and had my cousin, her husband and their family visiting my parents. This ensured the first couple of days were spent playing trains with their little boy Ethan, he seemed to be able to spend hours happily playing on the floor...how it reminded me of the good old days when the most important question in life was whether Thomas really was the coolest tank engine or if Gordon should get a bit more praise!

When they had gone I spent some lovely time watching telly and walking about the village and country park with my dad, fresh air and exercise, a recipe for good health. By Friday I felt considerably better than I had done and came back to Birmingham to see my friend Ruth who was on holiday visiting her parents in Coventry, she is usually a doctor in Middlesbrough! I had a nice time seeing her and then went away to the Oasis Church weekend away 2005! It was lovely to get away with church, get to know a few people better and feel a part of church which hasn't always been easy since moving from Newcastle. It was a very relaxed weekend with a bit of teaching, plenty of socialising and some good football (to help confirm I was better!).

So here I am, back at home and feeling fit for a good old tilt at work! I clearly have problems with the idea of easing back in gently as I have a back log of things to do from being off last week, a meeting on Tuesday morning, I'm interviewing on Tuesday afternoon, I have to get back on campus AND find time to write a seminar on "worries and fears" for next weekend when I am going to the Warwick CU houseparty weekend! So a nice easy week, lets get back to it...

Off home

Well today I am off home for a week to try and fully recover from whatever is blighting me and making me feel rough. I still have no certainty of what it is but do know what its not! =o)

Anyway, I have the week off knowing that when I had glandular fever a week off really sorted me out so I'm hoping for the same result. Please pray for me this week, I really don't like being off and particularly dislike being away from campus but I don't see what else will work after my failed efforts of Friday to try and carry on.

I hope all is well else where and all being well I'll be back at the weekend.

Feeling a bit better...

Well I feel a bit better this week so thank you for all your prayers, I am still not on top of the world but hopefully I am getting there. I had a blood test last Thursday and have an appointment to review the results on Wednesday morning but the receptionist at the doctors said the tests came back clear. Unfortunately that doesn't tell me what's wrong! At the moment I feel like I have a chest full of goo and a golf ball stuck in my throat but bizarrely no sore throat!Thankfully I have had lots of sleep so I'm less tired! I expect to hear the words "viral chest infection" on Wednesday...in other words the doctors have no idea. Hopefully it will be totally gone very soon.

Not much else to report as I have been doing very little other than sleeping in order to regain some health. I have been on campus a little last week and got to see a couple of the guys I am working with Steve and Andy but didn't get chance to see the ever busy Dom! The guys are doing well and we are beginning to put together an action plan of how to use our time together and help them grow as much as possible.

I also have my application form for my prospective international placement in the US sat on my desk to be filled out. That has been where it has stayed due to not being too well but please pray that I would get round to it and fill it out to the best of my ability!

A sad note to finish, I'd really appreciate it if you could pray for my friend Hannah Dolan who I shared a house with in my third year at uni. I heard today that her mum died last night and although it is not unexpected it is obviously a difficult time for their family. There is joy that she has gone home to be with the Lord but that is obviously tempered by the sadness of her not being here anymore.

Thanks folks!

Not 100%

Well this week hasn't been amazing...I have come down ill. If the truth be known I asked for it. A week last Sunday at church I was feeling very pleased with myself at getting through Freshers week without my usual cold and was then struck down with what seems to be worse!

On Thursday I was meeting with one of the students I work with on campus and thought I was going to pass out so had to apologise profusely and leave to go and lie on the floor. On Friday I spent most of the day in bed and got up for lunch and to go to the doctor who is having me back on Thursday to give me a blood test. I really don't know whats wrong but I feel really tired a lot of the time and pretty weak in my chest which is not fun, the odd thing is I am fine in my head so don't feel full of cold. I am praying its not the case but I have a feeling I could be seeing glandular fever (mono for you Americans) strike back, I had it 5 years ago and haven't really been resting enough so there is a fairly high chance its back. Oh dear. I am getting a bit more rest now so hopefully that will clear it up!

Yesterday was the first day of Bible study lectures for the year. This year we are doing the "Old Testament Survey" course so lots of Old Testament fun is being had by all! We looked yesterday at Genesis 1-11 which was interesting hearing insight and views about it, not all of which I agreed with, but if we agreed on everything it has to say things wouldn't be as much fun! I also got feedback on my New Testament Survey eschatology assignment and found out the marker thought it was excellent...hooray!

Today I went with Rich out to the Pioneer Centre, the venue for the National Student Conference, to try and piece together a few more plans. I am the conference administrator so have quite a lot of things to work on, its a fairly big job. We were supposed to be joined on the site visit by Jon Vellacott but he messed up his flights from Edinburgh and ended up having to drive down, missing it, but thankfully making it for his other meeting. We had a good time anyway and have a better idea of how things can work at this year's new and improved conference, more details of which I shall share when we have confirmed them!

I shall now go and return to my recuperating...I am gradually feeling better so hopefully whatever it is will let me back to full speed soon!

Apathetic Britain

Something has hit me over the past couple of weeks as term has started at Warwick and it isn't good. People in Britain are on the whole apathetic. This I have known for quite some time, I've lived here so long that its hard to miss and if the truth be known I am guilty of that charge as well. What I didn't know however is that the problem is catching. Yes, it seems you can catch apathy!

Last week Rich Boothroyd and I were out doing international surveys on campus and ran into various students from China, Hong Kong and Thailand. Over the course of these conversations it became clear that there was a big difference between these people, not because of where they are from but because of where they have been. Students who have come straight from their home country are interesting, engaging and genuinely want to know about spiritual things, they are keen to talk at length and investigate the claims of Jesus. International students who have been here in England for a year plus however do an excellent impression of a standard apathetic white anglo saxson student. Oh dear. I don't know how it happens but it seems being here dampens their natural spark and forces them into the apathetic British mould. Discovering this was SO sad; it was unbelievable to think that our culture has such a powerful impact on long term visitors amongst us and it has given me renewed determination not to allow this apathy to rule and reign amongst the students I work with.