Guacamole Girl

A Beany Review

Today is my son's 11th birthday, and in honour of this occasion, I am handing him the microphone (as it were) to review Mr Bean's Holiday, which we saw on Saturday…..over to you……

I thought the film was very funny and I liked the opera scene in the market square was brilliant because Mr Bean nicked a speaker from a music stall and used it to dance in the middle of the square. all in al I would give it……………………………………………………………………..

10/10

P.S Mum also liked the stunning scenery!

Word of the Week

Defenestration: to throw someone or something out of a window

 

Haven't heard this word in a while, so I thought I'd share it with you & challenge you to use it in your speaking or writing this week.

It can be taken literally (as in Jezebel in 2 Kings 9), particularly referring to political dissent, as in the Defenestrations of Prague, but also figuratively. I came across it in DC Confidential by Christopher Meyer where he refers to "the defenestration of Margaret Thatcher" in 1990. I presume that wasn't meant literally!

Here's a thought: Could it also refer to those who desert their trusty PC for the wonders of Apple Mac?

I'll leave you to work that one out.

Coming soon: review of Mr Bean's holiday, plus new music from an unsigned band.

Result!

Hoorah, it works! (you need to read the post below to make sense of this one)

I had been thinking I needed more pictures, seeing as how Lynn is getting this sussed & her blog is looking super.

So here's another totally gratuitous picture, since it's Friday:

This is me right now (except I'm not outside!)

Office 2007

 

I got Office 2007 FREE because I work for Europe's biggest employer (the NHS). Just getting to grips with it & discovered I can write stuff in word & publish it straight to my blog. Let's see if it works….

Mourning

Yesterday, someone shot & killed 33 people at a college in Virginia. What a waste - 33 people with so much to look forward to, lives snuffed out so suddenly. 33 families today bewildered, shocked, bereft and mourning.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matt 5v4)

This morning there have been "experts" on the BBC saying that gun control laws wouldn't stop incidents like this. I disagree - I think it's part of US culture, as enshrined in their constitution. However, that constitution was written for a very different society - 200 years ago, settling in a lawless land - and I can't understand the need to bear arms in modern, urban America. The culture needs to change, although I know its easy to say this from the distance of not being American. Our culture in Britain is becoming more violent. We need people to stand up against this and start a change of heart.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. (Matt 5v9)

At Last!

I have been off work since Friday and enjoying the long lies. BUT Monday to Thursday last week when I was at work, the sun was burning a hole in the sky. Since I've been off, it has been miserable weather - dull, drizzly & not very warm. Until today. At last, I'm off & the weather is nice. I wanted to draw a diagram of this (inspired by Brodie no doubt) but I don't know how to paste it in so here it is: Download 10th_april.doc

We had a great morning at Pollok Park (Guacamole Guy is back from his trip, so it was toute la famille today) The spring flowers are gorgeous, so is the cherry blossom (a personal favourite of mine) We even managed tea & cake in the cafe!

Trouble is, I keep thinking it's Saturday. Fortunately there's 2 more fake Saturdays till the real one. Let's hope the weather stays good.

Even Better Sunday

If Friday was Good, today is Even Better! Started the day at the flagpole in Queens Park, singing, praying & celebrating the New Life Jesus brings. Took a bit of effort to get us all up in time, but it was worth it! Read Rob Lacey's version of the resurrection from The Liberator as well as the originals from Luke & John, and I was struck again by the fact that the women in Jesus' entourage were the last to leave the Cross & the first to see the empty tomb. (Can I say seriously here that by appreciating the role of the women in this story, I am in no way demeaning the importance of the men!)

I find it quite encouraging that the women then were not unlike a lot of us today – planning ahead, doing the practical stuff, wanting to serve Jesus any way they could (see Luke 23:56-24:1). They didn’t come to the tomb to see Jesus risen, just to give him dignity in death. But as they were going about their routine, Jesus met them and stopped them in their tracks………..

I spent quite a bit of yesterday preparing food for today’s lunch, washing dishes and other chores. Today, I am reminded that Jesus can meet me there and maybe stop me in my tracks.

Good Friday

Although I generally shy away from the ugly reallity of Jesus on the cross, Good Friday is a day when I need to face it, let it sink in - what Jesus went through so I could live.

I went to St Silas church to their Good Friday labyrinth - a series of meditations based on the traditional stations of the cross. This was a brilliantly creative alternative to the Good Friday service, allowing people to reflect individually & respond to words, music & images (see some of them here). I had the children with me (as Guacamole Guy is away this weekend) so there were a couple of bits too graphic which we skipped. However, there was well & truly enough to focus on & re-addess the reality that what Christ suffered was for me. We were given a nail stuck through  a bit of paper which bore the words "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. S Corinthians 5:21" i.e. Jesus willingly took on my every selfish though, word or deed, everything that separates me from God, and took it to his death. Now it's as if none of that ever happened - I am declared "not guilty" - thanks to Jesus death.