Urban gardening

We spent an enjoyable hour this morning with our housegroup and a load of the Kidz Klub kids from the neighbourhood, replanting one of the planters on the street near church.... The men from the council came with loads of plants and soil, and lended a hand too!

The kids had a great time, and were really focussed on the task in hand! Not much soil slinging either, although whose idea was it to water the plants with super soakers??!


Before


All hands on deck


Don't stand on it!


What about putting that one there?


Result!

Let's hope it stays like this for a while...

Tummy poppers

We've just had our three beautiful godsons (aged nearly 5, 3 and 18 months) to stay over - to give their mum and dad a well-deserved break in the country by themselves...

We had a great time - Mrs D took them to the park and they played on the swings - then I came home from work and we read stories till tea time...

Then 'The Jungle Book' DVD for a while till bath-time...
...a Bible story and prayers, and then bed...
'Tummy poppers now, tummy poppers' (don't ask - I have no idea!)

Not a squeak from them all night (well, apart from the snoring!)

This morning I managed to make breakfast - 'krispies please, krispies...' - 'what's that popping noise?' Then toast ('strawberry jam please, not raspberry').

Then off to work for me, and off to the park for them with Mrs D...
'kiss bye bye, kiss bye bye'

It has been reported to me that while I was at work, Mrs D was told that I was very good at making breakfast, and I even managed to do it all by myself!

We now know:
1. our car isn't wide enough for 3 child seats
2. our bathroom floor squeaks horribly, paricularly when cleaning your teeth at 11pm and trying not to wake the kids
3. the importance of stair gates
4. elephants can fly
5. I'm good at making breakfast

We still don't know:
1. what a tummy popper is
2. where all the rice krispies went

A grand time was had by all...
We can't wait to do it all again soon!

Wobbly doglet

Doglet is walking sideways and can't quite keep her eyes open...
...such are the after-effects of a general anaethestic!

She went in because of a poorly bottom - but she wouldn't let the vet poke about (would you?!), so they had to admit her and make her sleepy so they could have a look...

So she now sports a lovely plastic collar which looks for all the world like a lamp-shade - she's supposed to keep this on for 5 days, to stop her licking where she shouldn't, but I don't see that happening somehow... she's so wobbly at the moment she keeps bumping into things with the collar - poor thing!

While she was under, they also cleaned her teeth - so she'll have sore gums at the moment too!
But she'll be fine - just a bit dozy at the moment!

Successfully screened by DFW

We've just been screened by DFW Adoption. We knew what was coming, having been through it all already with Newcastle City Council, so were much less aprehensive than we might have been!

The meeting went well - the lady was very friendly and generally chatty. Gut feeling is that these are the people to go with - but we'll take a few days to pray and think things through, just to make sure!

If we decide to go with DFW, preparation days would be September, and then assessment following that...

It feels right.

Colvend in the sunshine

Just back from a relaxing few days at the caravan in Kippford.
Lots of walks and coffee and cake!
And a chance to try out the new camera...



Looking towards Kippford from The Pier



Rough Island from The Pier



Boats on the mud



The Pier



Do you like butter?

J John and Just10

Just10 is coming to the north-east. It's official. I had the privilege last night to be part of the launch event - a thousand Christians from across Tyneside gathered together at the City Hall to worship, pray and hear J John explain what it was all about. We were doubly blessed, as our own pastor was leading the worship, with Mrs D on flute and Stew on bass (as well as an extremely talented lass on the trumpet).

So - Just10 - the 10 commandments - one each week - for 10 weeks. We're getting an 8,000 seat big top in Gateshead, and a 6,000 seat big top in Stockton. Starting in April next year. That's 140,000 seats over the whole 1o weeks. What an opportunity for people to hear God's word - explained practically and relevantly for them. For our friends. Colleagues. Neighbours. Kidz Klub parents.

J John has been greatly gifted by God - he's funny, relaxed, easy to listen to - and manages to explain profound truths before you've realised he's doing it. Imagine Rowan Atkinson as an evangelist. You'll not be too far off the mark!

Roll on April...

Good manners?

Mrs D overheard this snippet of conversation in the cafe after work this afternoon (what she was doing in the cafe is a different question!)...

Little girl: Can I have it? (asking for some of granny's cake)
Mum: Is that what you really mean, I think you have missed something...
Little Girl: Can I have it.... ALL?

Good to see manners aren't dead!

Countries I've visited

Thanks, Lynne, for the link to this natty website - which allows you to create a map showing all the countries in the world you have visited...



As you can see, I've been about a bit - but there are large gaps - even more than the map suggests, as I've never been west of Memphis, and have only dipped my toe into Canada by walking across the rainbow bridge at Niagara...

You can create your own visited country map if you feel suitably inspired!

More screening

We had a phone call from DFW adoption on Friday to arrange a date for a chat and initial screening - it is to be on Tuesday 29 May at 3pm.

We're not sure whether we should go with them, or stay with Newcastle City Council - hopefully this meeting in a couple of weeks will help us to decide. We keep praying!

Grand Day Out

Take 15 three to seven year olds, 7 adults, 2 cars, a minibus, plenty of chocolate spread, cheese & ham and tuna sandwiches, add the constant threat of a downpour, and you have the makings of a Kidz Klub outing to Jesmond Dene...

The children all had a brilliant time, with highlights being

• the pot bellied pig (would he ever stop eating?)
• the goat with the long grey beard (from now on to be know as 'Jim')
• the beautiful display from the peacock (we're sure he was after Shelagh!)
• the Newfoundland dogs spotted by one of the girls (just how much drool can one dog produce?)
• duck duck goose (Mrs D has the bruises to prove it!)
• playing at the park in the rain (just why did the girls decide to sit down in the puddle?)

We'll have to do it all again soon!

How clean is your house?

With the house cleaner and tidier than it has ever been, the social workers arrived, talked, listened, wrote notes, and went. Three quarters of an hour late in arriving, but they had phoned to say they'd be late - so time for a spot of lunch first - to stop our tummies rumbling!

The two ladies who visited were lovely - and made us feel very relaxed. They asked us all kinds of questions about where we met and what we did and why we wanted to adopt. They even asked us if doglet was ferocious!

It all went really well, and we got very positive feedback from them.

Then I asked whether living where we did in the city would limit who we would be able to adopt - they said it would, as they wouldn't be able to place children with us who had lived anywhere near where we live, or who had birth family who lived anywhere near us. So we would be limited to children from the other side of the city really.

The upshot of this is that if we choose to adopt through Newcastle City Council, we may have to wait much longer than others before a match is found - although we might not - it all depends on where the children and their birth families live...

The social workers suggested we phone some of the other adoption agencies in the north east to find out what the situation is with them and whether they currently have too many or too few adopters - and then decide what to do.

So we made some phone calls this afternoon - South Tyneside have lots of approved people waiting to adopt and not enough children; North Tyneside didn't answer the phone. We also phoned Durham Family Welfare (DWF) - they are a voluntary adoption agency linked to the Church of England, but also deal with all of Darlington's adoption services. The lady we spoke to was very helpful, and is going to contact us in the next couple of days to arrange a visit.

So - all in all - a mixed day.
On the one hand, we are encouraged that the initial feedback from the social workers was very positive. On the other hand, we are disappointed that where we live may mean lots more waiting. But hopeful that DWF may be a better way forward.

We keep praying, and waiting on the Lord - for he knows!
As one of our friends shared with us on Sunday from Acts 27 v25:
'So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.'

We hold on to that.

First visit confirmed

We found out today that two social workers will be visiting us on Tuesday next week, to carry out an initial screening. From what I can gather, they will ask us lots of questions about why we want to adopt, and what we think makes us suitable. I think we'll be able to ask questions too.

Then they will write a short report, which will state whether or not we are suitable to be considered as possible adoptive parents. If they think we are, we can then make a formal application, and the 8 month assessment process will begin...

Exciting and scary at the same time!

Starting to get excited

We're planning an epic adventure to western Canada this summer...
...the B&Bs are booked, the flights are booked, the hire car is booked
It's starting to get exciting!

You can see where we are planning to go on Google Maps
how cool is that?!

Suffer the little children...

Dawn raids are a fact of life for asylum seekers across the country. Here in the north-east. Around the corner from you and me. It happens. Families torn from their homes. Little children frightened and confused. It's happened to families I know. It's a constant threat to more.

So what is it like being taken from your home and sent to a detention centre?
Here is an account by a 10 year old boy...

This can't be allowed to continue.

Be like Jesus

I found this on the blogosphere today...
Challenging stuff.

Congratulations, Mr & Mrs O'Dwyer

Congratulations to my biggest cous, Hilary, and Martin who were married on Friday in Dumfries. A lovely service, stunning setting and fabulous party - and the sun shone too! It was great to catch up with distant (and not-so-distant) relatives again - some of whom I hadn't seen for many years...

Not sure we'll easily forget the day... Highlights include:

...Hilary looking absolutely stunning in her dress
...the enormous displays of lillies
...the HE and LP painted with Tipex on the soles of Martin's shoes
...my little bro having to don a pinny and chef's hat to carve the meat at his table
...my ma and pa dancing to 'Grease' - there are some things a son shouldn't have to see!

Much appreciation must go to David and Frances for making it all happen - thank you!

We have skoosh

An hour and a half's wait at our local friendly Skoda repairer, and I'm glad to report that skoosh has been restored to the windscreen. Unfortunately, this is at the expense of the rear screen, which will have to stay dirty for a few days.

Evidently, something called a 'relay' was broken. They've swapped the front wash relay for the rear wash relay, so the front one now works and the back one doesn't. The new relay is now on order and should arrive on Friday - at which point skoosh should hopefully be restored to the rear...

At least we can now drive forwards again!

Free Alan Johnston

As a fellow former pupil of Dollar Academy, and fellow alumini of Dundee University, I thought it only proper that I should support efforts to release Alan... I hope and pray that our collective efforts will help to bring about his safe release.

If you would like to, please click on the picture above to lend your support and sign the BBC's online petition.

Along with over 50,000 others, I demand the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. I ask that everyone with influence on this situation increase their efforts to ensure that Alan is freed quickly and unharmed.

A worldwide phenomenon!

Thanks to thathideousman for alerting me to Google Analytics - a natty bit of software which allows you to see who has been visiting your website, and where in the world they are...

A little 'big brother-esque' perhaps, but very interesting none-the-less.



And so it would appear that not only do people read this in the UK (surprising enough in itself!) but also in USA, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Dubai, China and Singapore...

Dirty windscreen

Our shiny new car has developed a fault.
The windscreen skoosher has stopped skooshing.
But the back one still works.

So the windscreen is covered in dead flies...
looks like we'll have to drive backwards until it's fixed :-)

It's booked in to the garage on Wednesday to get a diagnosis...