All clean

I have spent all morning washing and hoovering the gerbil-mobile. It's a definite treat for the car - usually it's only washed once a year and I don't recall having hoovered it since we got it...life's too short to get worked up by a dirty car. Thing is, when I do wash it, I do it right...hence the time it takes.

So, it's now looking reasonably good for heading to Highland Cathedral. Looks a bit more welcoming if I give a pastoral lift!

One week to summer

This time next week, I'll have started my summer placement. I'm really looking forward to it, as it's a growing church (yes, growing!) and will still be pretty busy over the summer, so plenty for me to do, see and learn.

Down side is I'll be away from home, so that will be hard, though I am staying with exceptionally good friends, who are the reason why I am going where I am going. It'll be hard being away from spot, though he's hoping to see me at weekends (I'm not leaving the country...quite).

Yesterday I pointed out to spot that this is my last weekend at home before I go on placement. It's been ages since it was first agreed and now it's here and I think that was a bit of a surprise for us both. The way things work out, I probably won't see a weekend in our house until the end of August...3 months away. I know people do placements abroad where they don't see their family and friends for the entire time, but I knew I couldn't do that, though I had seriously considered it.

I am going to a beautiful part of the country. There's plenty of birding and walking to be done there...when I've time! I'm also planning taking my bicycle, which should be interesting to begin with, as I haven't used it for 4 years. At least where I am staying is pretty flat (but ancient flood plains tend to be).

So, onwards and upwards. I'm enjoying the journey so far (even though sometimes that may not come over) and know I am ready to begin the next stage of it. Bring it on.

Too hot...

It's hot. How can you tell it's hot. No, not by the mercury, but by the sight of a gerbil wandering around rural Perthshire in shorts for the last 3 days. This is an exceptionally unusual occurrence, not least due to the Scottish weather. It also prevents passers by suffering snow blindness...

Where did the time go?

I've now finished my exams. I can't believe that's first year at uni almost over and a third of my degree complete (working on the assumption I've passed!). Just can't believe how quickly the time has gone in and how much I've learnt since September (though how much I will remember an other story...).

I know I am no academic and this year has re-affirmed this. It's not I'm thick, but academia isn't me. Thankfully I'm holding my own and doing okay. It's great to be learning and stretching my brain. It's funny, but I had said for a long time I'd like to got back to uni again...any do some history as I'd never taken that past second year at school, even though I'd liked and enjoyed it, but it clashed with my first love of the social sciences - geography, especially as geography the way I was taught was physical geography.

I'm definitely seeing the interconnection in most we are taught. It's amazing how it all interweaves. I'm also seeing history seems to be my strongish point and I hope ti develop this (I know of someone will approve!).

I've been making choices for next year. There's things I have to do and things which are of interest, but which will have to wait to the following year as they clash with the have to do, but the timetable looks a bit more (dare I say this?) interesting than this year. I know this year will stand me in good stead as a very good grounding for the nest two years of study (and beyond), but some of the subjects were more...stimulating than others, shall we say. Hope my choices are okay'd, though I have an idea what to change to if I need to.

Now I'm getting my head in gear for starting my summer placement in just under 2 weeks. It's full-time and I'll be away from home, so there's the challenges and pressures of that too. I'm really looking forward to it, as I know I am ready to take the next step in my journey with God.

Heart and Soul 2012

Well, they say the sun shines on the righteous and yesterday was a beautiful day. A great day to celebrate the Church of Scotland in Princes Street gardens at Heart and Soul 2012. Hats off to the organisers. Bigger and better than last year and this was only the second time an even like this has happened.

It was great to catch up with a few folks. It was great to soak up the atmosphere. It was great to see just how alive and licking the Kirk really is.

During the closing worship, two things stood out for me. The people watching from Edinburgh Castle. They weren't tourists, they were the staff, as the castle would have been shut by the time the worship finished. They, along with passers by on Princes Street seemed to have got caught up in the worship that was going on, as they lingered for a long while. The other was the MC of the worship commenting about how he had tried to persuade his sons to attend, including telling them that there would be bands. His sons' reply? Good bands or Christian bands? Not much to be added to that.

I hope this becomes a regular feature in the life of the church. It was great to be there and know I am part of something much, much bigger. All done to be the Heart and Soul of communities throughout Scotland that they may know God in the way the Kirk serves them.