Lent

While there's still a week to go until we reach the season of Lent, I've been thinking about how I'm going to observe those days that lead up to Easter. Many people talk about 'what they're giving up for Lent' though in some cases this has lost any root in its traditional purpose... "The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbour)." (taken from the Wikipedia article). Notice the mention of 'renewed vigour'; spiritual discipline and fasting in order to examine and refine our lives with God, is something that Lent gives us opportunity to be renewed in - not to take no notice of the rest of the year!
So, I was pondering what I'd do for Lent - would I take something up, or give something up, or both? And that lead me to think about my use of time, the things I put a lot of mental energy into, and my prayer and study life and decided that my Lenten fast this year would be from the internet: specifically from blogging and from diligently reading a few websites and blogs as much as, if not more than I read the Bible! The whole point of this is to reprioritize time and effort - to spend time with God, to read and pray, to study the Bible in depth, to write letters, listen to music, reflect and be refreshed - using that time that would have been spent on the net. Of course, these are all things I spend time on anyway, but a reshuffle is in order!
So, with that week to go I'm checking in to wish you a fruitful season, enjoy the pancakes next Tuesday and see you at Easter!

Just had to add a link to Dave Walker's excellent Lent cartoon! Yes, right, I am going now... I won't say another word... yes really...!

Mission Statements

The brilliant Diamond Geezer has been blogging today about the necessity of blog mission Statements! Of course mission statements - those 'wonderful' short, sharp summaries of life, are rife (no rhyme intended) but can be useful. Hmmm, though before I get onto the mission statement for the Teapot, I wonder if I have considered carefully my mission statement for the day? Perhaps this: "To work hard, fully live the day and get to nightfall satisfied with my being and doing!" It's alright I suppose (and yes has been totally edited from my original version!), but makes no mention of food preparation, the half term parental taxi-service and trying to tame a wild washing pile and wild house in general, so only mediocre (though I suppose they would come under 'fully living the day', haha). Perhaps I should try my parenting mission statement instead: "To attempt with all reasonable effort not to mess up my son in the task of his upbringing, but to embarass him at all times and in all places, according to the secret rules."* Yes, that's a bit better I suppose. And so to the actual task in hand... a blog mission statement - that short, sharp, gripping statement that summarises all that the Teapot is about. Of course, I have a dream to be a brilliant writer, full of witty, intelligent, informative and spiritually enlightening insights - but you may not have noticed those, so better not go there. I quite fancy being one of those bloggers who has an insightful comment to make on current affairs, the political climate, church life and international intrigues, but I suppose they don't exactly form the bulk of words round here so that won't do. Perhaps I need to think smaller... I've got a cup of tea, I'm rambling some random thoughts, so how about "Random thoughts posted in a Tea Break"? But that's what's been at the top of the Teapot from day one... so a waste of time that was! Perhaps no-one'll notice if I change it though... "Brilliant, insightful and gripping observations on life, politics and contemporary culture by one of the nations foremost writers." Yes, alright, you can stop laughing now - I'll leave it as it is!

*Of course, I'm joking - when I embarass him it's purely accidental!

Tagged to tell you...

...5 things you didn't know about me! Yes, this tag has come from Shaz - along with a little hint in the comments of my 'Maureen Lipman' post that I am being too slow in producing said 5 things that you don't know about me! So here you go then...

1. I *love* peeling skin! You know when you've got a bit burnt and the skin starts peeling - well bring it here! I'll happily do mine or anyone else's and the bigger the sheets of skin the better! (This is quite odd really seeing as I'd be pretty squeamish about most other yukky bits of people!).

2. I was a 'casualty kid'. Yes, one of those who had lots of trips to the hospital - but I think I did a particularly good job of the ridiculous... broken elbow from running round a washing line post and running off without letting go first!! Concussion when about 3 years old from falling off a wooden trolley at playgroup onto my head (says a lot doesn't it!), broken wrist from roller skating down a hill backwards... in my defence - it was a very impressive turn at the bottom that lead to the breakage... and there was the few moments of unconciousness at school from getting whacked round the head with a hockey stick - but no casualty visit with that one!

3. I have a very bizarre and varied taste in music - which is one of my greatest loves in life (despite the fact that I don't play anything myself!). I love classical (especially violins which send shivers down my spine), country, indie, rock (bring on those guitars and that fantastic bass!), easy listening, folk, dance, ska, garage, a bit of rap if it's exceptional (it's such as Eminem that allows me to list rap at all)... etc etc! (I nearly went off on a specifics for each category then... but that will make no. 3 too long!).

4. I was once a Venture Scout. I was not a very good Venture Scout - I didn't get any award type things and didn't put a lot of effort in - but from it I got my love of camping and hill walking. These are two of the things I love most in the world and it was at Ventures that I got the bug. To be fair to myself, I did enjoy and put a lot of effort into the 'service' aspect of Ventures and remember all the time we spent at a local house for adults with learning difficulties. I can also remember (blurrily!) the amount of time we spent in the pub (though that crossed over into the 'bunch of friends' aspect - as we were always being told NOT to go in uniform and bring Scouting into disrepute!)

5. I think you probably know by now that I was a bit of a Goth in my youth (and still have a fondness for black eyeliner!) but I suppose I could tell you about the time (when I was 16) when I went to a 'Doctor and the Medics' concert at the good old Hammersmith Palais, with my slightly older cousin. We had left her car at Redbridge tube station and got the tube in the rest of the way. Unfortunately, coming home, the tubes were only running as far as Wanstead, so we hitched a lift with a lorry driver up to Redbridge station. I told my mum this a few years ago and she nearly passed out!

I suppose I could provide a conclusion to all this... If I can end up as clergy then God must have a right good sense of humour! :D

Snow (Hey Oh)...

Sorry, how could I miss the opportunity to use a Chilli Peppers classic for the title (which I am of course listening to)!
The garden looks absolutely stunning this morning, but of course my cheap little camera (and 'impressive' photographic skills) couldn't do it justice at all. The photo looks very dark when in fact outside is a big, white, bright glow!
TeenSon is a happy chap this morning due to his school being closed! I got told off earlier for regaling him with tales of 'when I was at school...' Well! I remember having one snow day while I was at secondary school (and I'm sure it used to snow a lot more) - they're such a load of lightweights now... But who am I to spoil the delight of finding out that school is closed!
He also got, "you might be at home on my day off, but... " kind of stuff from me... but well - it's MY much needed selfish space (and mums out there won't be surprised at the number of "muuum"s I've heard already!). I'm so glad I did my shopping online last night... the chocolate should be here soon!