Once Upon a Time....

There was a Canadian called Colin who met a FABBALUS laydee from Norway called Solveig. They moved to Norway and had a little boy called Daniel(pictured with his dad...the guy in the linen on the right is John Linen, pay no attention to him!).....he really is the cutest little boy and Colin and Solveig are some very favourite people of ours. (Plus Colin was pretty pissed off I hadn't blogged about their visit to Bebington at Easter and PLUS we kinda need to keep 'em sweet so we can go stay with them in Norway!) HAHA!!!

SO, lovely Atkinson family - we love you guys and miss you - hope all's well in the land of......what's Norway the land of???

Mrs Paskar!!

Susan and Michael finally tied the knot in a rather luxurious ceremony and 4 day party in Maui, Hawaii! (Well, they DO live in LA!!!!) Here's the happy bride - CONGRATS Paskars, bring on September's luau party!!! Woot woot!

Affairs of the heart

So, did anyone see the new 'Mindshock' programme last night? ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING! It was about heart transplant patients who, after receiving their new hearts, reported profound personality changes, strange dreams where they dream they're another person, changes in food preferences, music, unexplained new talents and a whole host of stuff that has led some big deal heart specialists to become convinced that the heart is way more than just a pump. They've discovered neurons within the heart which means it has the ability to 'remember' how to function, and so, as one Doctor put it, who are we to say that all that we are in terms of memory happens from the neck up. The heart has long been symbolic of love and cherished times - who's to say it can't do a helluva lot more than we know?!

There was one lady who dreamt she was a guy called Tim L and she was riding a motorcycle to get beers and mexican food - because of the strict confidentiality policy surrounding donors and receipients there was no way she could have known that her donor was none other than Tim Leightman, and avid motorcycle fan whose favourite food was Mexican washed down with a coupla beers.

One chap, a British guy, who was essentially barely literate by his own admisison, suddenly pst-transplant began writing stunning prose and poetry and using words he had never heard of before.

Coincidence? Or something more......

Kinda made me think that if my heart were transplanted into someone else, what personality traits would they take on? What memories would they receive? Would the recipient suddenly develop a scouse accent and a penchant for shoes and cocktails? Or would it be something more, something deeper.

When we declare our love for Jesus, the significance of the heart takes on a deeper meaning. The old is gone, the new has come. That's what I'd want someone who got my heart to experience...that unspeakable joy that is knowing the God of the Universe.

Paul (Wenham, not the Bible guy) once prayed that he wanted his heart to be so soft that when God touches it He leaves His fingerprint there. That image has always stayed with me. It captures perfectly how I want my heart to be.

Metaphorically speaking, I suppose we're all working toward the ultimate heart transplant, to love Jesus and one another as we should, as we were intended. What a great day that will be!

Over and out!

Food coma

It may interest you to know that my dear husband, whilst I was out with the gals last night, managed to consume a Bigger Big Mac, Large fries, large sprite, McChicken Sandwich and another large fries, washed down with 2 bags of crisps and a bumper bag of Minstrels.

GOOD LORD!!!!! *shocked*

And this is the guy who when I first met him would only eat chips, mars bars and full fat milk.

Here's to morbid obesity.... (just kidding! )

Fun fun fun with fabbalus gals!

Hier soir I was fortunate enough to dine and wine avec two of the nicest, most funnest, godliest gals that ever lived. They know who they are, but in case you don't their names are Rikes and Sally D! They rock.
We laughed and caught up and reminisced and plotted (Rikes, that's while you were getting the Bailey's lattes - bring on the hen do!! Hee hee) and shared Jesus stories that have happened in our lives recently to inspire us and whip us up. These gals challenge me to the very core of my being, without being pious, without judging, without being up-their-own-bums-special-needs-Christians….PTL!!

It was so good to hang out with the girlies in the sumptuous and classy Alma de Cuba in Liverpool (www.alma-de-cuba.co.uk ) for good food, good vino and GREAT TIMES!
Rikes, Sal, you're so special to me, so awesome to catch up and share in your lives a little bit. Thanks for inspiring me and for coming all the way over here…roll on our July hot date - woot woot! LOVE YOU!!!!

Pinch-a-pic!

I nicked this off of Cazmo's blog (sorry honey pie, hope u don't mind) It is just SUCH a cute picture and features some of the people who made my time in Manchester great. AND the Whitemans were in my dream last night - how weird is that?! It's so awesome to see some of the gang PLUS various offspring - freaks me out slightly but that's the way of the world....look how grown up they all are!!!!!!!

I LOVE YOU (SOME OF THE) MANCLAND POSSE!!!!!! Cate took the photo.....love how Penny has hold of Charis by the t-shirt! SO CUTE!

In other news, we FINALLY have the wedding book back- those of you who don't live near enough to see it just yet can view it here http://www.pictureweddings.co.uk/html/albumpreview14.html

And finally, spare a thought for me tomorrow...I'll be at my first CSMT meeting which is all the big wigs from Children's Services AND I have to do a presentation AND I found out about it at approximately 17:05 ce soir. ROTTERS! So obviously I'm blogging rather than working......ARGH!

I *heart* Hanny

And here's the top 10 reasons why:

#1 She genuinely believes she can do anything she sets her mind to - I too suffer from this syndrome.
#2 She was the first to own pink stilettos.
#3 She's a Disney Classics gal at heart.
#4 She is THE bestest, most animated storyteller I have ever met - where you are actually sucked into the story - living it, loving it and laughing it in the manner of Mary Poppins and the children being sucked into Bert's chalk paintings.
#5 She was a fantabulous bridesmaid and so helpful and lovely and amazingto me on the day and leading up to being married AND planning the hen do!! She'gets' me.
#6 She coined the phrase 'He's being a DICK' and got away with it.
#7 She is particularly adept at getting into adventures and mischief wherever she goes.
#8 We share a love of cocktails, champagne, Albert Dock, living the high life, partying, dancing and what it means to be a true Sex and the City gal!
#9 We have had many crazy adventures and projects together - and will have many more...
#10 She knows the words to EVERY song ever.

And that's Hanny! I *heart* her!

Doom and Gloom

Now then, is it just me or does there seem to be more than the usual amount of utterly heartbreaking tragically bad news around at the moment? It seems as if the sunshine and summery vibes we're experiencing are inversely proportionate to the darkness of occurrences and people in this world.
I can't fathom it. 'Dismay' describes what I'm feeling. It's as if nothing bad can happen when it's so magically sunny outside. I realise that's such a Disney attitude but somehow the contrast seems all the more pronounced.
Now that The Metro has reached these far-flung shores, I'm reading it daily on the commute to and from work - maybe that's why I'm more aware, but in amidst all the Rooney foot hoo haa there are some awful, shocking, depraved and tragic things happening in the world.
Sorry to be on a downer on a Friday!

bugger

The inevitable has happened. And after I made such a song and dance about not getting into it this year too. Dammit! Yes people, I am now hooked on the curse that is Big Brother's house of freaks! OH-MY-GAH what's WRONG with these people?! Out and out fave is Nikki - absolutely fascinated by her. On Sunday whilst nursing the Hangover from Hades AND Hell, I sat in front of the telly ALL DAY. Not only a shocking waste of time, but it also meant that I got a TV headache! I haven't splodged in front of the goggle box for a marathon sit-in like that for YEARS! Even though my head hurt (Curse of the Cocktail, I blame Chris Murphy) I really rather enjoyed myself.....but never again. I am not drinking any alcohol for a week now, since clearly I cannot be trusted with it. Hurrah for Peppermint tea!

Right, time for pilates...laters xxxx