What a good day at work - we all met this morning at a local 'etc' centre where we enjoyed breakfast, some team building activities all around communication, lunch and some time to talk together! It was really enjoyable and a real bonus for me since originally I was due to be at an Employment Tribunal Court for the day.

So January is going in nicely and I don't normally like January despite having my birthday this month. The weather so far has been good and that helps.

Working in PCTs at present is not too easy but I still enjoy HR work and I meet some lovely people. I hope that in some way I can say the right thing at the right time in assurance, guidance and empathy. As a Christian at work I find opportunities to witness to my faith in God and I stilloften feel a sense of excitement and happiness as I feel God leading and supporting me.

The great thing in life is that we can all experience life long learning - I am still learning about people and their complexity and diversity of need - I also learned today that I (and you) have two floating ribs - seemingly!!

What a lovely afternoon - met Robert at Green Park and then went to the Rotary Club of London Burns' lunch - haggis, neeps and tatties as well as great company, a piper, a Scottish singer from the English National Opera, a Scottish dancer and a good atmosphere. It meant that I was in the office for 7:30 but was worth it. Robert and I walked along from Green Park through Piccadilly and up Regent Street. We had a coffee in the comfort of Caffe Nero and then had a wander through John Lewis before coming home.

Had a lovely relaxed evening and looking forward to the rest of the week. Was thinking of how much we take for granted around us today and took some photos - Gordon McInally was a speaker at the Club today - he came down specially from Edinburgh and returned for another Rotary evening Burns' event! Was good to catch up with Gordon - who fits in his dental practise between - there are really dedicated people keeping the Rotary wheel turning. Cyril Halstead, a Salvationist, was there today and he works tirelessly for the Club - he has served God through the Army for many years - God Bless such good people.

Monday 23rd January 2012

This is a new day and a new working week - with variety all over it. I have two half days off - today for The Rotary Club of London Burns' lunch and Wednesday for my birthday that comes round whether I am ready for it or not. Tomorrow we have a team building day close to here in the morning and I have a day at Warehouse K, close to home. to end the week i have two external meetings - one at NHS London and one at Barking payroll. Life is good when it doesn't stand still.

Coming into work today I was reflecting on the fact that the tall office blocks and smart restaurants were all planned and appeared without us being aware of the planning.......our lives are being planned as we move through oblivious to what is being planned for us. God is bigger than us and we need to learn to allow Him to undertake. His plans are bigger than us and yet they include us. Let's trust Him for all that's to come.

Hope your week is filled with variety - and if not at work, then at home and in your social life.

It is Sunday and the sun is shining. As I write this much of the TV centres around debates on political issues. Interesting to realise how there are so many views on one subject. Some of the debates leave me cold since people are all conditioned differently and influenced through what has happened to them in life and sometimes I wonder if there really is an answer.

Now I know that as a Christian I really do believe that Jesus is the answer to what we need but when I look around where some people choose to worship each week I wonder how the world will ever get that message! You see some Churches look like historic societies - many members look back to the 'glory days' when these same churches had hundreds of members. My eyes have been opened to the Alpha Churches who saturate their efforts/plans and worship in Prayer and Bible study and keep outreach very much on the agenda......they are growing and more young and family people are joining or at least attending.

Do many people go to Church because they have always gone there and their friends are there? We have a responsibility as Christians to worship in a relevant way and to ask the right questions of what we are doing and why? I am not attending my 'normal' Church at present and I am happier not to since the worship was not relevant or sound - nor was the focus of the Church.......I will find my way again hopefully but for now I will worship in different ways and in different Churches. What I am certain of is that Jesus is my answer and I am able to trust Him for my needs and my direction.

I have an interesting and varied week ahead with two half days off - one for the Rotary Club of London Burns lunch where Robert will speak and one for my birthday when Robert and I will enjoy some time together. I never really feel like celebrating my own birthday - I can't believe my age since I don't feel this old - but life is not over yet!!

At the end of this week I have my first weight management session.......I really do mean business and have introduced a few changes already - starting the day with porridge when i can may help - having fruit before eating other foods is another positive to help digestion!

I am excited about the next months - Robert is keeping quite well and every day is good in that sense. Alexandra is at University and although it seems to have been all fun at present as new students have joined them, I hope that the serious study is starting this week! I do miss her but I love her so much and I am so pleased that she is at University and on her way into her real adult life. This evening Alex will be at her Church in Buckingham and will sing in the worship group - she is sincere in her faith and is glad to share it. I pray that god will shape and protect Alex all the way.

So as I go into this day I can say God is good and I pray that you too will discover this.

See ya!

So what has happened today? Had a good day at work - got lots done and felt as if I had achieved some good. I enjoyed a coffee at Starbucks (with a skinny muffin) but at least I have had 5 of my 5 a day which is a miracle for me! I won't comment on the other food I had but I did enjoy it.......

need a bit of comfort food when Alex is away from home!!

Now it'd be great if I could work my way towards a good breakfast - 5 fruits and vegetables and a nice healthy early evening meal - and I will get there. I need more focus and that is so hard to achieve in certain parts of our lives eh?

Anyway, Friday tomorrow and I start work at the 'close to home' site before going off to Liverpool Street - at least I get a chance to do some stepping and that is important. Maybe, just maybe I will be geared up this weekend to start some serious walking! Talk again later.

Well it is mid week and so far so good at work with variety and plenty to work on. Today I am at Clifton House and then Mile End this afternoon for two meetings.

How am I shaping up? Well I am setting time aside to ponder over Susan Brown, vicar of Dornoch facebook blog each day which is good for the soul! for the body matters - well it has been too cold to walk - so apart from a bit of extra walking to and from work I am saving some up for the weekend (no pressure though!!).

I am logging at work the amount of fruit and veg consumed (not too good to date) but on a positive note I have started today with two pieces of fruit rather than my usual croissant - more to do with the fact that I hadn't lifted caseh so didn't have enough for a croissant!! However if it means that I need to leave myself cashless not to be tempted so be it.......

so the show must go on - I have a lot of improvement to do and by the end of this week - in the interest of improving my skills and brain matter I mean to visit a nearby institution who provide counselling courses. See you soon!

Well today I was back at work after 3 days leave with a weekend in between so when the alarm sounded at 6:30 I didn't feel fantastic. However I do enjoy my life in HR within the NHS and at least each day is a little unpredictable - well there is some variety anyway!!

So what was new today? We have started a Health and Wellbeing drive and each floor had a lovely box of fresh fruit delivered - all available at slightly subsidised cost. The idea is that we all try to gain points through healthy eating, exercise, and changing things for the better within our lives. This is good - not easy but good. January is a fairly dull, dark and uneventful month as we wait for pay day to help us recover from Christmas but God is good - he is faithful whatever we face. Every day is such a gift and it is really important that I don't waste one!

Waiting for Alex to phone - she has been gone for two whole days now and already I miss her! Isn't it great though - and a relief - when our child grows up and becomes strong enough to go on without us (in part) - to make their own decisions and learn by their mistakes and successes?

Talk again soon.

Well here I am in another year - 2012 and I need to catch up blogging since it is already half way towards February!

I have changed the name of my blog and inspired by the children's song ' Jesus bids us shine - I base it on the line 'you in your small corner and I in mine'.

I really appreciate my Facebook network - I have met up with friends again from schooldays in Penicuik. Those days seem 1000 light years away from the here and now and yet I have gained so much by sharing on FB with those early friends. Elma and I have met up (with Helen too) in York where Elma now lives and then again we met up in London - twice in a year and yet we had not met since we were teenagers. It is so easy to pick up together again - nothing to prove to each other, no pretence and just a feel good time to share together.

Susan and I both became Christians when we were young and attended different churches in Penicuik - now Susan is the minister of Dornoch cathedral and I share the news of her ministry via Facebook - now that is wonderful and so inspiring.

Today I have enjoyed a day off work - just Robert and myself at home, having taken Alex back after 6 weeks to University in Buckingham. How grateful I am for Robert being in remission and keeping mentally and spiritually strong - and how grateful we both are for Alex and the fact that she has a strong Christian faith and that in her little corner, in rural Buckingham, she is sharing her faith and sharing fellowship.

I have had a few days off work - good to relax and get organised at home. Tomorrow is a new day - a new working week and I am going to look for something new!