A holiday reminder

I bought a couple of balls of wool in Kirkwall while we were there: A local Aran-weight yarn in a silver-grey. Ever since, I've been trying to decide what to make from it.

The make had to be for me (the souvenir aspect of the yarn would be lost on anyone else) and probably a circular scarf, since that was what I originally had in mind when I bought it.

Yesterday I cast on. I've chosen another moebius scarf, this time slightly shorter and chunkier, with a simple lace effect for interest.

I'm already about half-way! I'm amazed at how quickly it's progressing, although perhaps I shouldn't be since I watched most of the Paralympics opening ceremony while I knitted last night...

Our bank holiday beach adventure

We joined our friends for an evening at the beach:

• paddling and games
• sandcastles, moats, trenches and islands

•  a picnic tea before we moved to be higher than the rising tide
• a bonfire in our new location, with marshmallows and toast
• kite-flying

All under a warm (but not too hot) sun, as it started to set

A fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon/evening.  And what a privilege to live near such a lovely place.

Hiding from the rain

A wettish Saturday (well, what else for a bank holiday weekend?)

• We left the house for a yummy lunch at the Coffee Kitchen in Cockermouth.  I love their Cranberry and Brie roll, and their focus on fresh bread with quality tea and coffee.
• We escaped the rain by browsing in some of the shops... the Children's Society were opening up their new branch.
• I found a bargain dress and t-shirt
• and 4 mugs (not that we need any more...) to change for some of my older ones...

• so I'll say goodbye to my old mugs, which I picked up years ago as seconds from the Denby shop:

• they've served us well, but I'm in the mood for moving them along...

How do we know?

NISCU support group meeting tonight, to meet the new primary schools worker. She spent some time in New York as an intern for Metropolitan Ministries after she graduated - it sounds like an amazing experience. Quite early on she fell out of a window (as you do) and broke her arm. The hospital wouldn't replace the temporary cast because her insurance wouldn't pay, so her friends prayed for healing one night. Next day she decided to cut off the cast - her elbow was healed!

That got to someone else telling the story about her mum being diagnosed with cancer last year. Before she went for her op she asked God to heal her and felt some rumbling in that area. When they operated and looked at the tissue it wasn't cancerous any more (the lab checked 3 times!)

I've no idea why some people are healed while others aren't, but it's so encouraging to hear of times when healings happen.

I've been thinking today about our oldest godson's questioning of how he can believe God exists when he can't see or hear Him. A very good question! ...and one that this type of miracle helps to answer.

Life can be a series of mundane or trivial activities, punctuated by special events. It all adds up to tell us God is there and involved in the mundane and the exciting times.

Back to work after our fun adventures

The start of a new week:

• I've got through part of the email mountain... I think I've seen the critical ones anyway.
• Catching up with my team after all our times away
• one child ill, another much improved... I think no news is good news for the others.
• sorting out the admin stuff which goes with being a manager.
• stayed late to finish a couple of urgent items.

• feeling the effects of Saturday's late night though. Definitely not as alert or patient as I'd like!

• very pleased to hear my gran sounding much brighter on the phone this evening - a welcome change from recent weeks

• and I didn't switch the TV on this evening! I caught up with some missing blogs instead.

Back in Berlin

... this time for work.

I'm here to witness a printing trial, then I fly back to Newcastle on Thursday ready for our hols!

Blessings:
- a slightly relaxed start to the day. I finished both sets of packing, checked emails and did most of the washing up.
- traffic was fine on the motorway and the patches of heavy rain were mostly short.
- I've almost got my bearings in Berlin now so didn't get lost on the way to the hotel.
- I met with my colleague and customer for a tasty meal

...time for sleep!