219/365

Walking over the King Charles bridge (the one in mission impossible) watching the sunset, walking through the streets gazing at pretty views and interesting buildings, more cafes and more lazy mornings. (off to the mountains tomorrow in search of snow, this could be a futile search but at least there will be mountains. Oh yes.)

218/365

Walking out of a resturant in Prague (have I mentioned that I'm here yet?!) to a world of snow, wandering around a pretty city covered in snow, shame it hasn't stuck but it was beautiful while it lasted. Oh and the much sitting in cafes, reading books, buying warm gloves for my cold hands and the new addiction to random board games that Katherine will love me for...

216/365

Dinner out in Prague baby! The freedom of being in another country, headspace.

215/365

Sharing lonely Christmas moments with Binface, talking about God again, eating good food, playing the lyrics game and cuddles. Mmmm.

214/365

The sight of three ministers at our church dressed up in Angel costumes, flapping wings and halos falling off. Laughing until it hurt with my brother at the comedy fest that was the Christmas day service. Realising that we do live in an Adrian Plass novel. Fun walks with the family, getting lush presents, eating a lot of food, winning scrabble and going to bed happy and content.

213/365

Getting to sing this at a Christmas eve midnight communion service at my home church. Jesus still the answer, Jesus still the only hope for my sinful hard heart.

Jesus hope of the nations
Jesus comfort for all who mourn
You are the source of Heaven’s hope on earth

Jesus light in the darkness
Jesus truth in each circumstance
You are the source of Heaven’s light on earth

In history You lived and died
You broke the chains You rose to life

You are the hope living in us
You are the rock in whom we trust
You are the light
Shining for all the world to see

You rose from the dead conquering fear
Our Prince of Peace drawing us near
Jesus our hope living for all who will receive
Lord we believe

212/365

Scrabble, Mullled wine, The Good Life and the Messiah all in one evening. It's Christmas.

211/365

Heading out for a walk in the fog, walking around a Cathedral drapped in mystery, trees covered in white frost, the world around hidden from view, all that exists is this blanket around me, holding me, keeping me firmly in this moment right now. Walking back looking in windows at cosy warm houses bathed in light. I've come in from the cold in more ways than one this Christmas.

210/365

Doing all the things me and Binface do best. Food, chats about God, beautiful music, playing random songs to each other and playing sad pretty songs together.

209/365

An evening with Miss Hunt. The conversations that make walking through this life easier. Home to freshly painted bathrooms and an evening sunset walk along the seafront.

208/365

The biggest plate of Christmas food you have ever seen in your life. Amazing meal with the lovely South East team. Earlier in the day in a moment of not quite appreciating how lovely we all are, me and Jess making each other laugh our way out of the grumps and into a delightful game of blah or blah. (A game with a simple premise, you pick two things and get the other person to chose which one they prefer- eg. Ant or Dec, snow or rain, lamp or lightswitch, pen or pencil, rice or pasta, candle or flame, stuffing or chocolate, parsnips or sweet potato etc)

207/365

Christmas with Jess and Ceryn, lots of laughter, quality drinks, presents, crackers and of course a trip to White Stuff and Fat Face. Team days as fun as ever, me saying ridiculous things (see no doubt Ceryn's blog for details), laughter, table tennis and coming back to the wonderful Nay and Jon Dawsons for Mulled Wine in the evening.

206/365

Christmas day at Fallowfield. The best Roast dinner that we created, sharing the love, enjoying the brief moments of seeing each other recently, watching cheesy Christmas films and singing carols very loudly this evening.

205/365

Ah, the bliss of Anna and Sarah Christmas times again, we talked, we ate, we cried, we prayed. I'm as gobsmacked as ever to be granted such friends in this crazy thing we call life. Also honest chats with the family, God at work again.

204/365

I've used it before but hey, "Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile." The inane grin is back, I kind of like it. Getting home to the hugs of my housemates and then an evening of Christmas bliss, dozing in front of the Tigger movie, the moment we heard beautiful carol singers outside and stood in our doorway listening to them, all we needed was falling snow and it would have been perfect. Putting up the Christmas Hedge that we've bought instead of a tree, getting the lights from, from, the floor where they've been since last year. Sitting drinking baileys milkshakes with Lizzi. Christmas has come.

199-203/365

"11 "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will build you with stones of turquoise, [a]
your foundations with sapphires. [b]
12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones."

Tearing down, rebuilding. Clay in the hands of the potter.

"And the agony inside me was attacked and put to flight"

nuff said.

198/365

Driving home to my parents house, saftey in chats with them, walking in familar places, chatting to Anna on the phone, going to my lovely home church and nearly being undone by one question from a friends Mum, "You give out a lot don't you?". Glad that I have a green pasture to lie in for a week. Back on Saturday.

197/365

The wedding, practicing my sonnet reading on the way up in the car, the Bridget Jones moments as I checked into the hotel, receptionist in loud voice: "You're in the SINGLE room", Yes thanks. Getting to read in front of lots of people and not be scared, realising I have developed skills in the last few years. Catching up with old friends. Staying in a castle/posh hotel.

196/365

Dancing with Jess on Winchester train station platform this morning, it appears that we did feel like dancing, yes sir, lots of dancing today.

195/365

Sharing inappropriate moments with the lovely Jess and Ceryn today. Laughter back in supervision, and soup!

"La Tristesse Durera"

194/365

Beautiful music exists in this world. Sitting here at my computer, a cup of tea inside me, thoughts drifting off to nowhere, pretty music playing at me, bed awaiting me, sleep to come.

193/365

Relay Day. Jess and Ceryn turning up in fancy dress to get points. "Can we make a chart?". Laughter again. Walking to Spoons with masks on, eating big fat burgers. Remembering the brillance of God together. Ed - "Yeah, hope (long pause) Yeah." Reassuring dinner with the Brother tonight, coming home to perform the Christmas pop quiz of name that tune on my housemates. Whisky to kill the cold. Mmm.

192/365

The soft Irish lilting voice of Wallace Benn at Sussex Carol Service tonight, reminding me of Jesus, God come to earth, our Immanuel. God with us. Smiling a lot despite evil cold. Chats with Gareth today about our brilliant God.

191/365

Standing in a kitchen stirring caramel sauce, listening to the Advent service on Radio 4. Ann Atkins getting passionate about the resurrection, a Good Thing. Getting the Joshua Tree effect. Hugs. The reality we stand in. Driving home gazing at the huge sky display of big fat clouds with sunlight streaming through them. Home.

190/365

The long day of recovery. Staying in PJ's until lunchtime. Walks in country parks with late autumn sunlight making everything blaze with fiery glows. The arrival of Anna. Triangles can work :-). More amazing food. More relaxed chats. Sitting in silence with the one who loves me most. Remembrance of the actual reality of this life. Coming back to being me. Prayer. Tears. Bed. The advent of hope into the crazy mixed up place of my head. Facing December at peace again.

189/365

Roz. Easy Silence. Rest. Hugs. Good food. Early bed. The moment when my month went into s l o w m o t i o n f o r a w e e k e n d.

188/365

Drumming is therapeutic. Bagels in front of Neighbours with housemate is therapeutic.