Mrs Most Obnoxious Blogger has put me to shame. No sooner had I dropped her off from our Maryvale study day, then off she went blogging away. So to find out how it went check out here and here
I on the other hand, was a girlie swat and did my home-work. It is taking some juggling fitting in the study time (another reason for no blog entries), but the course so far is brilliant.
I did intend to do some tonight, but my next-door neighbours are a little hard of hearing and Tony Christi doesn't inspire me to study. I did try putting the study guide to the tune of "is this the road to Amarillo" and it almost fitted.

Off To Maryvale

We're nearly at the end of September already but I still feel like I haven't got back into the swing of things.
I think I must be one of those people who need a million things happening all at once otherwise I just can't get motivated.
Mrs Lovingit and myself have enrolled in the Maryvale Certificate in Catechises course.
We're heading off tomorrow night down to Birmingham, leaving the Youth club in the hands of Mr Lovingit and Sr Brenda.
My Mum is very kindly letting me use her car. I think my parents don't believe my little green tractor would make it to Birmingham. That means Dad will be using my car, I don't know who to fear for most; Dad or the car!

Padre Pio

"The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain" ( Padre Pio).

Back to Life

Just managed to survive the first night back at youth club.
It never quite goes how you plan it to go, but I think all in all the first night back wasn't too bad.
We had a screen set up so we could see the Pope in Paris. The kids watched his address of the young people. Although I missed most of it as I was in the kitchen.

Unveiling Of Plaque - St Margaret Clitherow

"Why do you always bring me to places full of old people?" Moaned Jessica.

Friday lunchtime Andy headed back down south as his summer leave ended, so we had time to bomb down the A1079 to York for the unveiling of a plaque on the Ouse bridge, to mark "near" to the place that St Margaret made the ultimate sacrifice for her faith.

(Apparently the bridge that now stands there isn't the same one and it is also not quite in the same place.)

I wish I'd known the event was happening earlier, as it would of been great to take a few more kids with me (apart from lowering the average age a little), but people like St Margret Clitherow are such a great example to them. Ordinary people showing extraordinary courage for their Love of Christ and his Church.

I suppose when your fourteen and surrounded by mature ladies in flowery skirts, it's not the sort of thing you really want to conform to. Romans 12: 1-2 Jess - St Paul is proud of you.

BAD BOOKS

Andy has decided to have a go at making a cake and in the process broken my mixer.

It's the last calamity in a whole series of doing things to generally get in my bad books. I can't quite pin-point when it all started but it certainly climaxed on my birthday a few days ago.

To be fair he had asked in advance if I would mind him going to the Hull City away game against Blackburn, and I was quite happy for him to go. I was a little disappointed when I found out it was actually on my Birthday, but hey - I could live with that.

As we couldn't spend the Saturday together I decided to take the Friday off work so we could go out as a Family.

Friday arrived a beautiful sunny August day; blue sky with white fluffy clouds. Unfortunately the nearer we got to Whitby the darker the sky got and the more bruised the clouds looked. As we arrived in Whitby the heavens had opened, the car parks FULL, the streets packed with tourists armed with lethal eye extracting umbrellas. We did have a very nice lunch of fish and chips. We then attempted a little bimble up the narrow cobbled streets, but it was the sort of rain that even ducks hate.

Back home apparently it had been beautiful all day.

Saturday, my birthday. So what does the loving husband who is deserting his wife on her birthday buy as a gift to compensate?

An ironing board cover and peg bag! (Oh and a wok which Andy has been after for ages).

I really tried not to look disappointed, but failed miserably, which annoyed Andy.

While I was in the shower he did pop out to the local shops and bought me a box of chocolates and even bought some wrapping paper and a ribbon.

After dropping Andy and my Dad off at the KC stadium to catch their coach I did feel a little guilty, after all if they had a horific coach crash I would treasure that peg bag and ironing board cover forever.

The day did get better, I had a nice lunch out with Jessica and after Mass Sandra had brought a cake to go with the cup of tea. Jessica and myself went over to see James, Ella and Leona. They had written me a special Birthday Poem.

Your husbands gone to football,

and we think that's really bad.

He didn't go on his own,

he even took your Dad.

And now you have to pick them up

you must be really mad!

But today it is your Birthday

So we hope you will be glad!

Wednesday Already

Andy keeps pinching the modem to play his horrible playstation on line, so my good intentions for blogging are out the window.
Sunday I went up to Mount Grace, Osmotherley with James and Ella for the 50th (re-instated) Diocese Of Middlesbrough, Feast Of The Assumption Pilgrimage. James has written loads about it so check it out HERE (if it works).
My car is now all better, apparently my fan belt was shot to bits.

I really feel like I've been living out of a suitcase for the last few weeks.

On Thursday we came back from a couple of days down south. We stayed at Andy's parents in the village of Hartley Wintney. We didn't actually see his parents as they where in Canada at the time. A very cunning way to visit the In-laws.

We popped over to Hever Castle on Wednesday. I had gone the week before on the afternoon trip from Woldingham; much to Jessicas disgust. She has wanted to visit Hever for quite some time. As there was a lot of the grounds I didn't get to see due to lack of time last week, the three of us had a family trip out. We don't get to do things like this very often.

After we had supper with my Aunt and cousin in Cranbrook.

Back up north again on Thursday.

Friday- The feast of the Assumption. I didn't get to make such a big event out of this feast as I would of liked. Obviously we went to Mass.

Apparently in some countries, the Assumption is the day for blessing herbs. An old legend held that all the flowers and herbs on earth had lost their scent after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. On the day of the Assumption, the flowers and herbs were given back their scent, and the herbs their power to heal.

Taking this in to account I put some Lavender in a little vase. Just a small gesture in honour of Our Lady.

The Assumption

The Mixieblob Blog Bounces Back

After nearly two weeks of three cooked meals a day complete with pudding, bouncing back isn't just a metaphor!

Fist things first, humble apologies for the lack of blogging over the last couple of months, I've had my wrist verbally slapped by Mulier Fortis. To be honest I don't really expect anyone to read the twaddle I come out with.
I arrived home last night from the Faith Summer session down in Woldingham. I've had a great week and come home feeling Spiritually calmer and confident. On the down side I always come away feeling a little cheated that I never knew about such things sooner, that perhaps if I'd been given a fuller vision of the Catholic faith at an earlier stage in my life, I maybe wouldn't have had to learn life lessons the hard way, but God in his goodness has got me through. Unfaithful as I was he truly did bring me out of the wilderness.

Oh dear, I've gone off on one. Back to Woldingham!
The title for the conference was, "Male and Female, He Created Them" : the role of the sexes in the plan of God.
I'm not going to give an in depth review of the talks, to do the speakers any justice I would have to listen to the talks several times over, but the emphasis on marriage likened to Christ and his Church was beautifully put across.
I would also like to briefly mention that the clarity on the Church's teaching on contraception was also wonderfully explained. I was even in my inarticulate way able to explain to my non-Catholic husband in a more convincing way, why the Church is right in what she teaches.
My Point is, if I can do it then so can other people in the Church who are far more qualified to do so (but choose not to).
Our very own Fr William Massie was one of the speakers and he did us proud. So much so that the guest speaker, Monsignor Charles Brown quoted him on several times in his (also very good) talk.
I am now with eager anticipation looking forward to the winter conference.
Last week I was helping out at the "Faith Summer-time". This is for 11-14 year olds, all our kids love it. However I don't have the time to write all about this now as the state of the bathroom after leaving Jess and Andrew home alone for week requires my attention and probably a fall-out suit.

Home Alone

Jessica went off on her merry way this morning to Lourdes. I'll be going myself in a few days time and I can't wait. She didn't really make me feel great when she told me she was really looking forward to the coach journey as they nearly crashed last year. Not what you really want to hear as you wave your offspring goodbye.
As Andrew is still on deployment that means for the next couple of days I'll be on my own.
Does this mean I'll be having a wild party?
Or will I be slobbing around in my pyjamas watching chick flicks, while clutching a bottle of wine?
Well actually none of the above, tonight I'm at a meeting, Oh joy!

May Bank Holiday

3rd May 2008 Faith Youth Day Bridlington

Pro-life Chain

This seems like a million years ago now. The event actually took place on 26th April.

We did have a lot of mixed reactions, the majority of people just tried not to look at you as they drove past. Maybe they thought if they couldn't see us we'd go away!

We did have a couple of strong reactions, both positive and negative. I think the reaction which saddened me the most was a small boy giving us the thumbs down as he drove by with his parents.

Catalina

http://greatcrusade.org/greatcrusade/Mass/Holy_Mass-web.htb

If you have never read this before, you must.

Mass will never be the same for you again.

(Just discovered the link doesn't seem to work- ry to google search The Testimony of Catalina On The Mass.)

Saint George

A Hymn For Saint George

Leader now on earth no longer,
Soldier of t'eternal King.

Victor in the fight for heaven,

We thy loving praises sing.

Great Saint George, Our patron, help us,

In the conflict be thou nigh;

Help us in that daily battle,

Where each one must win or die.

Praise him who in deadly battle

Never shrank from foeman's sword,

Proof against all earthly weapon,

Gave his life for Christ the Lord.

Great Saint George, etc

Who, when earthly war was over,

Fought, but not for earth's renown;

Fought, and won a nobler glory,

Won the martyr's purple crown.

Great Saint George, etc

Killing Me Softly

Last night down at St Charles a healing Mass with Eucharistic Adoration was held by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal from Bradford.
I was eager to go because I know what good guys they are, holiness just oozes from them.
I'd taken my Mum along with me, she has disabilities and usually if we go out she has to have a wheelchair with her.

I'd love to be able to write an in depth posting of everything that was said, but the whole thing touched me so deeply that I was experiencing rather than hearing what was said.
Fr Augustine who led the whole service spoke of the healing that people are in need of.
As he spoke, he said it as though he knew me, it was almost like he delved in to the depths of my soul and extracted every past dark despair that was still hiding there.
The reason for the title of this post is it brought to mind the song "Killing me Softly"
He really was telling my whole life in front of the congregation.
The thing is I think most people there probably felt the same.
Part of the healing service involved the reading of the woman with the hemorrhage. After which Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament was brought to each individual (We knelt along the Altar rail) and just for a moment you touched the humeral veil, with Our Blessed Lord there before you. Oh if only that moment was for longer.
Your Faith Has Healed you.

Think before you click

I do seem to be having a very generous helping of trials and tribulations at the moment.
In the last 24 hours I've had two mishaps regarding the computer.
The first one resulted when someone sent an invitation to join Pagii or something like that. )it's a bit like myspace or facebook) I'd clicked on one thing, that it asked me if ******* was my friend to click here.
Well what could I do? So I clicked. The darn thing gets your contact list, then sends an invite from you to join. So I've invited My Parish Priest, various other clergy and religious, my doctor's repeat prescription email among others to this thing. Snag is once you go onto the home page for it, the most viewed profiles pop up. They all seem to be bikini clad women in provocative positions. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
You'd think I learn my lesson. Ha!
Go onto SPES Blog site, I'm looking through the comments on the post about their visit to Hull and come across this strange comment which says click here. Yep, you guessed it. Spent the next million years having to virus check my computer.
James Thank you for the help.

These things are sent to try us

I'm beginning to think i shouldn't bother getting up in a morning.
Just looked out the window at my car and there is a HUGE dint in the side.

Oh Dear What Can The Matter Be!

Just spent the last 15 minutes locked in our downstairs Loo thanks to our decorators.
When they put the door handle back on, they never put the spindle that goes through the middle. Therefore when you pulled the handle the catch didn't move, and the door stayed firmly shut- WITH ME INSIDE. Jess was upstairs having a shower, so to start off with she didn't hear me yelling. Even when she did there was very little she could do.
Lucky for me our neighbour heard us and sent her son and husband round to the rescue.
Karl removed the handle, it was then we discovered they hadn't inserted the spindle.
Karl - They haven't stuck the thing back in the middle.
I look on the window ledge and see the missing door fixing.
ME- What this.
I manage to pass it through the window and in no time the door is fixed and I am released from captivity.

Oh well you can always find someone worse off - www.telegraph.co.uk/.../12/10/nbowling110.xml

We're Having A Heatwave

The workmen must feel the cold, poor lambs.
The thermostat was turned up to 30 degrees.
The heat knocked me out when I walked in. I'm off to put my grass skirt and flower garland on.

Infestation

I'm fed up with workmen.
I dread to think what is going on when I'm not in. Every room seems to be affected some way. Those that are not actually getting sorted are piled that high with stuff that you can't move in them.
I was very upset to find that one of the decorators had used my DVD ( Case) on the Divine Mercy as a drinks coaster.

P.S This is the work carried out on our house due to the floods last June.

What A Great Week.

Sometimes our lives briefly brush with other people who make such a deep impression, that after only a short time you feel like you've known them a lifetime.

That is how I feel after our visit from the students of the St Patrick's school for evangelisation.

Allen who is from China summed it up beautifully. He basically said - although coming from China I am an only child, in reality I am not an only child because you are all my brothers and sisters. (Although I think he put it more profoundly than that).

The Friday night with the youth of our parish went really well, we had a fantastic turn out.

Jessica and myself along with a few others went out with them on the Saturday into the city centre for the street evangelisation. Although the bravest thing I did was hand out a few leaflets.

James over at Catholic and loving it (see links) has a post along with photos on his blog. Check it out.

SPES

As I mentioned in my previous post SPES are with us this week.
They have a busy schedule ahead of them. Already they have had a procession with prayers through the streets of Hull. ( missed that due to the workmen.) They are doing street evangelisation today, which sounds a little scary but yet a t the same time quite exciting, not that I'll get to see whats going on, yep you've guessed it- WORKMEN.
Tonight they are meeting the parents of our First Holy Communion children and leading them in a Holy Hour.
Tomorrow after more street evangelisation they are spending the evening with our Young people, which means I get an extra week off organising youth club.

The workmen are now supposed to be coming tomorrow. Funny how tomorrow never comes.

There are so many things that I need to be doing at the moment, I don't know which one I should start first. I feel like I'm plate spinning, the only problem is all my plates seem to be stopping at once and I'm running from one to the other only to see them come crashing to the ground.

The Vat return for work needs doing, which always feels like a mammoth task, although it never takes quite as long as I think it will. The thing is I'm going to be stuck at home waiting for workmen when I need to be at work.

SPES is visiting our parish this week, which is all very exciting. I will write more in detail about it later, however I'm stressed as I agreed to cook for them on Thursday, but everyone else as pinched my ideas for what to cook. Having said that I might not have a kitchen to cook in, it might be full of work men.

I can't post my photos yet as I'm having problems downloading them.

I don't seem to have heard from Andy for ages, although it is probably only a couple of days. Having said that the last phone call I had was four minutes long. Two of those minutes where spend explaing that he couldn't speak for long, the other two asking me to email some football results.

Andy has gone on his travels once again, so I'm going to make a big effort to keep up to date with the blog while he is away, although I've not made a good start as he went a week ago.

This trip is only a short one (By Navy standards). I think it is ten weeks. compare that to the last one of seven and a half months and its the blink of an eye.

Having said that I don't feel quite so brave this time.

This week work is supposed to be starting on the house after the flooding last June.

The worst part is waiting in for work men who don't turn up. Fist they don't turn up so you then ring them to find out what is happening, the person on the other end of the phone has to ring someone to find out what is going on but they will ring you straight back. Two hours later your still waiting.

The swines.

Jessica and myself went out last Friday afternoon, to Nostell Priory, which is a stately home near Wakfield. We had a rather nice time and I have taken some photographs which I'll post up when I'm a bit more organised.

It was nice to walk through the grounds and see all the wild primroses. We had afternoon tea in the tearoom, although between me and you the scone was a little on the dry side. I was also getting rather irritated by a child who was laid on the floor screaming because he couldn't have the drink he wanted. The Mother was one of those " Please don't scream, darling" sorts. I don't know which was worse the child or the parent.

Last night there was a family meal at the Skidby Mill restaurant, to celebrate my mum and Brother in law birthdays.

When we have a family meal it always ends up looking like the Waltons. I think there was 16 of us altogether. Actually I have to be honest going out with all my family at once is my idea of Hell. This may sound a little harsh, but that is how I feel. The thing is nothing is straight forward. My parents are always late, this is usually due to the fact that Dad has stayed at the nurseries to the last minute then rushed to get ready. This usually leads to some calamity.

True to style all the rest of us had arrived and partaking in drinks at the bar. Time was getting on and my parents are no where to be seen. I should perhaps add at this point when my Mum goes out she usually has to have her wheelchair with her, this combined with Dad pushing her usually adds to a farce that Frank Spencer would be proud of.

Anyway, my youngest sister phones to see what has happened. Dad has cut his lip whilst shaving and after an hour is still unable to stop the flow of blood. This is not good as Dad usually faints at the sight of his own blood.

It all ended up ok in the end, and it was a rather lovely meal.

Jessica went back to school today, so our routine is a bit better.

Since I last blogged we have a new pet. Tinkerbell the cat. To be honest I'm not a huge cat lover. I like Tinkerbell and I liked the cat that we had at home when I was younger, but I can't stand other cats that come and use your garden as a litter tray. There is patch in the garden that I've almost got as I wanted. One of the plants is a Carex grass. Some darling little pussy has left a great big turd right in the middle of it. Most cats have the decency to bury it. This however is just sitting there in the middle of my plant.

Anyway Tinkerbell is a black six month old cat. She keeps pinching my Rosary beads (although I don't think she takes them to say the Rosary) and attacks the ribbons on my breviary.

John 9: 1-41

They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions and I fear I have trod it well.
As a child I must have paid some attention to the Gospel during Mass. How else can you explain the fact that I just couldn't understand why no one had thought of spitting in some sand and rubbing it in the eyes of my cousin who happens to be blind. I don't think I ever got around to trying it out on him, but I'm afraid he did suffer at my well meaning hands in other ways.
I was relating this to my Aunt tonight and she happened to mention that on one occasion she had heard a bit of commotion going on upstairs. When she went to investigate she discovered my other cousin (his sister) and myself pinning him down and trying to pour Lourdes water into his eyes.
I'm sorry to report that on this occasion no miracle occurred although the bed was rather wet.
This however wasn't the best act of charity on my part. on another occasion, I was kindly guiding him down the street. Careful to warn him of every curb, shame I didn't notice the lamp post before I'd walked him straight into it. OOOPs

Staying Alive

Yes, I still Live!
I just haven't stopped for breath since Paris.
The Youth Club keeps me busy. I'm going to attempt a link here -(Thanks for the tip Mac)

In case it doesn't work just google west Hull Parishes.

Andrew is doing a course at the moment, after that he should have a bit of time off before clearing off to America for 10 weeks.

The Faith Forum talks resumed last night down at the Endsleigh centre
Joanna Bogle was giving her talk on "feasting and fasting", which was very good.
I often use her book as inspiration for the youth club; it's a real life saver some weeks.
Actually, Fr William has a really good line up of speakers for this series of talks, I'm looking forward to seeing Sr Roseann next week.

Paris continued

Frank enjoyed his visit to the Eiffel Tower.

Little fact for you - On hot days the ironwork expands, enabling the tower to grow as much as 15cm.

We couldn't go right to the top as it was closed. We still had a pretty good view though.

Frank tried not to look, he gets a bit wobbly with heights.

Well, lets be fair, Moles are usually underground not 321m up in the air.

Look who came with us

Frank the mole started life at a garden centre very close to Stonyhurst college.

Some travellers from the east came and rescued him.

They placed him in the hands of their wise spiritual leader.

However much to Franks distress he was rejected and left on a podium for several days.

Wise Men came and spoke in his presence.

One even stroked and patted him as he spoke. However he was still left abandoned unloved and uncared for. until on the final day, when he had given up all hope he was suddenly whisked away.

Before long he found himself in the care of a loving couple who took him to Paris to recover the trauma. In the shadow of Notre Dame he started to begin to feel some consolation.

To be continued.

7th Jan 2007

Our flight wasn't until late afternoon. Which was a bonus really as it meant we didn't have to get up at some ridiculous hour.

The flight was incredibly short, but thankfully uneventful.

We eventually located the taxie stand and had a very exciting drive to the hotel. The taxie driver was quite a jolly fella, if a little barmy.

Just My Luck

Andrew and myself are off on a little break to Paris tomorrow.


I've never visited Paris before, it we'll probably do all the usual touristy stuff.


I was thinking how lovely if I can get the chance to visit the chapel of the Rue du Bac.

I always wear my Miraculous Medal and would love to visit the place Our Lady appeared to St Catherine.

Guess What?

They have their annual closer between 6th Jan and 26th Jan!!!!!

What a Charlie

Just discovered Myself, Ella and Mel making angelic Charlies of ourselves on http://mulier-fortis.blogspot.com/2008/01/stonyhurst.html

I've just come back from the Faith winter conference. I am now feeling totally spiritually refreshed.
What is it that is so appealing about the Faith conference?
Basically in a nutshell, you are not alone. You are not some deluded nutter (well maybe the nutter bit is true).
You are not the only person that believes that a young(ish) persons only way of practicing their faith DOES NOT involve waving your arms around and singing some soupy 70 's happy clappy hymn and taking a football, tree or any other irrelevant object up at the offertory.
It was a breath of fresh air to participate with other people totally focused on the sacrifice of the Mass.
The sound of the strong and intended responses in unison lifting up to heaven is true participation.
The beautiful surroundings of the chapel at Stonyhurst aesthetically emphasise the union with the whole court of heaven.