Blackpool illuminations

Not my favourite outing of the year.  But I have to admit I enjoyed them more than usual, even though some were very tacky. Sorry about the poor photos, taken through my windscreen.

Whiplash claims

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24633528

it is very laudable for the government to try to reduce fraudulent whiplash claims.

BUT:

In 1997 an off duty police man slammed into the back of me and shunted me forward taking out the two cars ahead as well.  Later in the day I had a mild stiff neck.  My  insurance company sent me to their doctor.  I stressed to him that I was a christian and did not want to exaggerate my condition, which really didn't feel like much at all at the time.  So I felt guilty accepting the £1000 compensation.

But now, 16 years later, I feel pain in my neck almost constantly.  When I move my head my neck makes squelchy noises. It can be blinding agony to look I under a bed or sofa.  My £1000 seems very inadequate now.

So the thing with whiplash is that it is a permanent injury that may not show itself fully at the time.

References

Vicar came round tonight to ask questions so he could fill in my reference for ordination.

Mostly straightforward but some tough questions.  Had to list my weaknesses.  Had to explain why I am a good candidate despite our massive falling-out a few years back.  And some similar stuff.  At least we cleared the air somewhat.

I think he will do me a good reference.  Wondering why he didn't have a similar time with my wife for her application.  He did have some written material from her.  I put it to her that he was more confident with hers, but we both know that's not true.

Ourmeets

So my hit counter tells me I keep getting visits from 'ourmeets'.  I made the mistake of looking to see who our what this was.  Turns out its some kind of contact site, with naked ladies.  Well, one, anyway - I clicked swiftly off immediately. 

It disturbs me very much that I get this kind of link.  I want nothing to do with that world.  I have seen the damage it does.  and what is it about my primarily religious blog that attracts them?

But the good thing is that people who are having difficulty in life with an uncontrolled sexuality and who are perhaps people who might not normally think about christianity (sorry about the stereotype) might read my blog and met Jesus.

Because Jesus knows their whole life story: not just what they are doing now but everything that had led to this point.  He loves unconditionally, and calls his children home.  Respond affirmatively to him, with love and gratitude.

Edit January 2014:  I've just read up on this a little more - apparently it is deliberate spam rather than genuine searchers getting lost.  STAY AWAY FROM OURMEETS!

Just to prove I do some work occasionally

..... And also to test the blogger apps facility to post images, which is something I have not bern able to do for a long time.

My screen shot is of a computer model of a water pipe from a reservoir to a treatment works.  Its 12km long, so when someone shuts a valve the water has so much momentum it doesn't want to stop and the resultinguyen pressures burst the pipe.  We are sticking in some break tanks, and looking at a solution to lower the pressure still further in the valley by adding a boater pump with a bypass.

Its all good fun!

Current service plans

I am responsible for our churches next invitational service.  I will be talking about ' hearing from god', especially in the stol small voice.  Because the truth is that you can preach 1000 academic sermons about the doctrine of salvation and no one will respond, but I'd a person hears god speak they usually become christians pdq.  I will involve some drama sketches and a panel to variety.

I am also responsible for this years carol service at work, which we normally get 50 - 60 people coming along to.  We are doing a refugee theme this year.

Returning to the true faith

Ha!  You thought this would be a religious post, when really I'm just dating that I have got rid of my iphone and am back with samsung.

The iphone was my son's, which he kindly have me when my original samsung was stolen.  But I never got on with it.to be fair it was an old one with buttons slow to respond, but fundamentally I didn't get on with itunes, which never acknowledged that it was now my phone and wouldn't let me instal my own apps.and it was just not so intuitive to use. 

Now it was a genuine accident that I poured coke over it, which apparently you are not supposed to do.  It died.

So it was a terrible shame that I had to buy a samsung again.  Its only an old second hand galaxy S, but the difference is amazing.  I don't understand why apple think they are copied when samsung is so much better.

Mobile blogging

So, I can no longer blog from my office desktop.

The slow cog wheels in my brain have finally ground around to the idea of installing the blogger app on my phone.

We'll see if this works!

Rustling sheets

My5 year old was very keen to know how much noise travelled between the floors of the house.  She wanted to conduct a series of experiments with me talking form the bottom of the stairs to see if she could hear.  I began to get suspicious when she mentioned crisps (potato chips to you Americans) but then changed the subject quickly.  My suspicions were confirmed when as I was tucking her in the bedclothes rustled.  A quick investigation revealed a packet of crisps, pinched form downstairs. 

She had wanted to know if I would hear her opening the pack in the night. 

One does not have to teach a child to sin!  But it is hard to tell them off while laughing.

General update

Can't post from my office computer anymore, so its only when I chuck the kids off the home machine that I can post, and that doesn't happen often.

Not much happening on my ordination - just waiting for news.

Busy at present preparing for the next time I have to lead a service at Church.  Also busy preparing for the office Carol service, for which the organisation has fallen to me this year since those compete tent to do so have either left or are busy.

I have work until Christmas - who knows after that (the British water industry works on a five year cycle and next year is the quite year for designers like me).

Kids all doing well in their respective educational establishments.