New Wine (ing)

Well tomorrow we go to Newark for our annual camping/caravanning week where it has been fairly deluged with rain in recent times - the showground has variously been described as "half under water" or "soggy" - the forecast for the next 2 days is heavy rain!
Ruth and Debbie are on teams and Anne and I are doing 3 seminars between us so it won`t be easy to run away!
If we die of trenchfoot then this will be the last blog!
Here is a picture of me looking at our campsite pitch! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Good times in Newcastle

Newcastle as you will be aware is the cultural and spiritual centre of the known universe. There is nowhere on the planet that can compare for a good night out.

For those of you who knew the old city a few years ago, you are in for a shock - the Quayside is now beautiful with the award winning Sage (shown to the left of the Millenium footbridge) as only one of a proliferation of music venues - I recently saw Magnum in the new Carling Academy venue (3000 standing plus 4 bars) then Rodrigo Y Gabriela who if unknown to you then google them immediately. They are an amazing guitar duo from Mexico who transcend musical and cultural barriers.

Anyway two nights ago we were motored up the A19 by David and Andrea heading for the Cluny pub (in Byker by the Ouseburn) where we met Dugald and Ruth and her boyfriend Aidan in a fabulous converted Lime works building. There we reclined on sofas drinking our peach beers and Erdinger hefe weiss bier before going through for the gig (man) to see Sonic Hearts (a Dexys type band from Liverpool) supporting Jacob Golden who as you are aware from previous postings is the current fave rave of the month with his album Revenge Songs - I supped on my bottle of chocolate beer - oh yes - only to be followed by a coconut beer!

This weekend we are up on the Tyne to try the new Barn Asia restaurant with my sister, which is near the Floataria centre - another must do experience in Newcastle.

Ruth is now esconced in her new house in West Jesmond - the professional cleaners had to be brought in and they (both men) said it was the second worst property they had ever cleaned! Ruth however is delighted with the fact that the previous residents left their TV with functioning Sky and Internet connection as well as a full stocked Kitchen!

Jonny is now having driving lessons (An ironically named "crash course") and his american embassy appointment is on 3rd August.

Debbie is on a sleepover with her ferrari owning friends!

James is currently into his (actually Dad`s!) radio controlled tank with rotating turret and elevating and firing gun!

Inadequacy

If you have been paying attention, you might have picked up a slight stress theme recently.
Work has become rather worrying as tight deadlines plus poorly defined tasks and terrible communication in the NHS take their toll.
I opened my On-Line Bible this morning and this was on the screen...
2Co 9:8 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. leapt out at me this morning, followed by....Col 1:10 We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work.
Blessings from God and learning how to do my work!!
Amen

Balladeer misery heaven!

We all piled into David`s bouncemobile that he calls a car and set off over the moors to FARNDALE. I won`t say he was going fast but we overtook Lewis Hamilton in his Mclaren on the way. When we got there we had to endure a swedish songstress who wailed on about how miserable she was since she`d been dumped by her boyfriend and we consoled ourselves with a nice white burgundy followed by an equally nice Loire Sauvignon.

Soon the pain was over and she stopped, then we got Jacob Golden playing songs from his new cd Revenge songs (Sunday Times album of the week in June) followed by Iain Archer (who was in Snow Patrol when they did the Final Straw). They are both pictured when they did a joint session at the end, Jacob on the left and Iain on the right. The both have MySpace sites etc so google them for a listen.

I personally loved the intensity of Jacob and had a brief chat with him and got a signed CD for my collection - which is fabulous - very very very reminiscent of Sounds of Silence era Simon and Garfunkel.