AAAAH! I miss blogging! So here, I am, getting back on the horse.  Busybusy right now. Update soon!

Mystery of Christ – John David Coupland

The following is from the “Our Daily Journey” Scripture notes.

“Read: Nehemiah 2 v 1-18

You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wll of Jerusalem and end this disgrace! – v.17

More

The Lord says, ‘I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts’ – Joel 2 v 25.

Next

What inspires you about Nehemiah’s example? How will you seek God’s help in restoring something that’s been broken in your life?

‘When I heard this, I sat down and wept’ (Nehemiah 1 v 4). These words, written by the prophet Nehemiah, expressed his sorrow over the broken-down condition of Jerusalem – the sacred city where his forefathers were buried. Jerusalem had been leveled and the mighty walls that once protected God’s holy city lay in ruins (v 3).

The news broke Nehemiah’s heart. After mourning and fasting for several days, however, the prophet sensed the Lord’s direction. God put a desire in his heart to step up and begin the job of restoration.

Refusing to accept the destruction that scarred his homeland as final, he prayed to God for help (1 v 5-11). He requested (and received) divine favour as he sought permission and assisstance from his boss, King Artaxeres, to travel back to Jerusalem and rebuild the city (2 v 1 – 6).

After 52 days of hard work, plenty of prayer, and some serious opposition, Nehemiah and his crew rebuil the walls of Jerusalem (6 v 15).

It can seem impossible at times to put back together the shattered pieces of this life. The fractures appear to be too complex or the opposition to rebuild too strong. Nehemiah’s account reminds us that in the midst of great disrepair there is always hope – hope to restore.

The same all-powerful God who Nehemiah prayed to for help in rebuilding the city walls, is the God we seek in prayer today. He is all about building up what has been torn down. He’s in the business of rebuilding faith, relationships and self-confidence – to name a few of His restoration projects.

Is there something in your life that lies broken and ruined? Do you feel the temptation to believe that it’s beyond repair? Remember Nehemiah’s story and seek God’s help in starting to rebuild today.” – Jeff Olson

You guys are not going to BELIEVE the morning I had today! Honestly, in Philosophy we were once asked “How do you know you’re not asleep/dreaming/part of a 23^rd century clone-raising experiment/the toy of an evil demon/an alien/in space/in a huge laboratory/the star of a reality TV show (like the Truman show, hint hint)?”

I don’t know I’m not any of those things. However, I am beginning to strongly suspect I am the star of a TV show – a comedy sitcom!

So here, documented, IP-addressed and everything, is the record for my on-screen future children. J

Start the day. Phone alarm. “No One Like You” by Barlowgirl. Fumble for phone. Flick open. Turn off alarm. I don’t really feel tired at all. Cool. I thought I’d have to peel my eyes open this morning. I must have slept well. So, time to get up.

I sit up and pain ricochets into my skull like a delayed hangover. (I would presume – I have never been, and never intend to be, either drunk or hungover. But back to my day.) Clutching my comfy, cosy duvet, I sink back into the pillow (head still bursting) and open my phone to set another alarm in ten minutes. The light from the screen hit my eyes so hard I literally whimpered.

Owwww. I lay curled in a little ball with my head snuggled into the pillow. I want today to be a holiday weekend! I don’t think I’m ill or need to stay off school, but I want my beeeeeeed!

When my alarm re-clattered its way into a song ten minutes later, I sat up tentatively. Ow. The odd tweak, but I was better already.

And before you could recite “Macbeth” from memory…actually wait, long, LONG before you could recite “Macbeth” from memory…and before I could recite “Macbeth” from memory, Mum and I were in the little Clio, easing out over el massi puddle in front of the house.

Two streets away and…oh no. Lines of traffic. Long, slow-moving lines of traffic. IT’S SCOTLAND! HAVEN’T YOU PEOPLE EVER DRIVEN IN THE RAIN BEFORE???

Still rather chipper, we arrived at the school twenty minutes later than we should have. I’m so gonna be late for drama! Oh, well, never mind! Open the door – “Bye Mum!” – and splosh. Right into a puddle. Dolly shoes mean I now have a soaking wet foot. “Oh grand!”

Undeterred, I open my nice new black brolly and step into the rain, humming “I wanna be a producer” as I hurry into school. It’s cold. Get to the office – “I need a bus pass for drama please?”. Nae bother. So off I trot to the bus stop. As I’m walking along the road, some boy racer in a black BMW screeches past. Yep, you guessed it. Whoosh. What was a puddle is now all over my trousers and even my blazer. Joy.

I keep trotting along, on my way, and, soggy but cheery and with my music, arrive at the bus stop. Ten minutes – not a bad wait – and I’m on the bus. It’s fairly busy but the next stop is Reid Kerr College, so it almost entirely empties and I take a seat, one of the side-ways ones directly behind the driver and grab a Metro. I’m flicking through it but glancing up every two minutes in a panic. I don’t know Renfrew well and I didn’t want to miss my stop. When I realised how slow our progress was, I settled and read (SHOCK! HORROR!) a whole paragraph. When I looked up Crap, is this past my stop? No, no it’s cool. Sat there and as the bus swung a corner, I realised Yes, it IS past your stop! WAY past!

A little anxious, I lobbed myself off the bus at the next stop. Splosh. Yes folks, puddle number two. Determined now, I set off walking back the way. It took me an extra ten minutes. As I walked I realised I’d probably missed my stop because it and the one after it were cordoned off for some kind of works, so the bus would have just swung by them. Left here…no I’ve just walked PAST Oxford Lane! *sigh*

Turn back. Walk to Renfrew. The main doors are cordoned off! I find another door and make my dramatic (read dripping) entry.

“I don’t know if it’s here I should sign in, I’m here for drama?” (I had now missed the first of my double period but I guessed better late than never.)

“Riiiiiight…what school are you from?”

Smile politely. “Paisley Grammar.”

“Riight…it’s just I did phone Paisley Grammar this morning to tell them drama was cancelled.”

What.

“Do you want to try Mrs. Ritchie’s classroom and see if she can take you?”

A smile again. Nod. Head to the appropriate room, just down the corridor a little. Knock. Push it open. First sight of the room – deserted. I don’t even bother going further in to see to the back. “Oh, screw this for a game of soldiers,” I sigh under my breath and head back to the office.

They phone the school and ask for my taxi to be sent to pick me up. We don’t get taxis. We’ve never had taxis. We’re the only school in Renfrewshire who don’t provide taxis. But when she says it’s ordered, I wait hopefully…for another fifteen minutes or so.

Until they phone back and tell me to get the bus.

Back on goes the mp3 player. Back up goes the brolly. When I get back to the bus stop (more walking in the rain) and grab a bus, the driver accelerates away as soon as he’s read my ticket!!! I stumble forward, grab a pole to keep upright. “Thanks,” I mutter.

Step off the bus. “Oh perfect. It just isn’t my day is it? Oh well!” Determined to be cheerful and praise God despite the two broken spokes on my new (but thankfully still functioning) umbrella.

Two minutes from the school and splash. Puddle. Number. Three.

Sigh.

Henceforth follows the breakdown of my trip to London!

Cast List

Miss L. Mackatasnie – Blonde bombshell. Gorgeous, funny, kind and the mastermind of the whole trip. Seems to fancy David, the poor soul.

Mr Stuart Christie – 100% leg-end who shall be sorely missed, out for one last dance.

Mr Michael Fitzsimmons – Another utter hero who lends me books is funny, has good taste and is an AMAZING guitarist! English teacher.

Miss Glasso – Young English teacher. Can be a hilarious laugh but also a moany boot sometimes! Also seems to fancy David.

Miss Cowie – Christian English teacher. She DOESN’T fancy David. Didn’t know her pre-London, but found out she is most epic.

David Dunlop – Music teacher and old friend. Hilarious and 100% good craic, but acts a little superior.

The Journey Down

David Dunlop at 5am, pre-coffee and pre-Bru is one of the funniest things I have EVER seen! This particular nine-hour drive was NOT good craic! Twas BAAAAAD! The coach was ROASTING and I felt so ILL.

BUT at one point, Miss Mackatasnie caught Bethany and I RP-ing. She invited us to teach it to first years as citizenship!!

Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz

Now I’ve seen “WICKED” before, so I knew it was a fantastic and very well-written musical. Pit did well but not perfect. However, cast did fantastically!! Only two songs showed any major fault – and they were major – but all in all, a fair standing ovation to them. Strong 8/10.
For those of you who have seen the musical, the following annoyed me.

1. Boq was English. BOQ IS A BLOODY SCOTTISH CHARACTER!! GETTING A GRIP!! I hope some casting director was shot for that…
2. “March of the Witch Hunters” – one of my favourite songs ever! – was destroyed. Instead of (shrieks manically) “GOOD FORTUNE, WITCH HUNTERS!!” it became (sings gently) “Gooood for-tuuuune, witch hunnn-teeeeeeeeeeers!” NO!!! NO NO NO NO!!!!
3. “As Long As You’re Mine” was poor. A shame, as it’s a big number, but it was POOR. Every high note had the sound KILLED, MUTE and then brought up in a too-speedy crescendo.
4. Pit orchestra were nothing special.

Other than that, all good!

The London Dungeons

Very good fun! Not too scary, though. I get scared by the creepy, twisted stuff that gets in your head, and this is very jumpy. Still good though…
I MET SWEENEY TODD! In his shop! The only scream I elicited for the entire thing. There were speakers in the chairs as Sweeney “walked” around his shop and spoke to us. On “Let’s get started. Stay verrrry still. Wouldn’t want you CUT!!” the chairs all jerked back six inches. Like tilted away from us. Fffffff….linking Blllip!
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Ladies, if you wish to purchase one of these, they come in three sizes: small, medium and liar.” – Re a torture instrument that removed male genitalia.
QUOTE OF THE DAY, #2: “Where are you from?” “Scotland!!” “GUILTY!!” – Judge with a racial hatred problem.
Fake blood could have been better though…

Tate Modern

Boringboringboring! Moo-ving ON!

The Lion King

Simba and Nala, very good interplay. Unforgettable on-stage moment in the musical-only titbit that Scar tries to mate (and possibly tries to rape) Nala. This is what forced her to look for Simba, her love and the true king.

Can you feel the love tonight?

The Globe

I could now die and be semi-complete. I have been in the Globe Theatre.

When we walked through the doors, into the Globe with actors rehearsing onstage, I was utterly overcome. Tears streamed down my cheeks and I just couldn’t speak. Mr Fitz (a.k.a Fitzsy) and Mr Christie, who were with my group, seemed to understand, but they’ve both seen my undying, undetering passion for all things Shakespeare.

Then the drama workshop – which, fair play to them, Mr Christie, Miss Cowie and Fitzsy all threw in their first names and dug in with us to join (and showed real talent, especially Mr Fitzsimmons).

We did a scene from Macbeth.

My favourite Shakespeare play, the legendary cursed word, to be uttering it in a rehearsal hall belonging to the Globe only 50 yards from it, made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Incredible.
And me and 2 other girls from Mr Christie’s class being the only ones who could (and did) answer Simon (an actor with the RSC who was working with us) was good.

That’s not the 100% full edition but it’s as full as it goes for the moment. Ciao!

Bout ye? Just another update – not a long one. Will do a proper one soon.

I KNOW I haven’t reviewed on the theatre, movies or my party. I’ll get to it.  

MMProductions is kicking off. This makes me a very excited individual. Looking forward to it kicking off and then my paperwork will be easier to sort. FOLDERS, I MUST HAVE FOLDERS!!

I need to lose weight. Boo. Don’t worry, I’m not suddenly anorexic. But I need to drop a few pounds. So if you see me being bad – *takes a very deep breath* – tell me to stop. I have costumes to get into.

On that note, MFL is not going well. PLEASE pray. We are VERY behind. Oh, and buy lots of tickets. 16th-18th June. Buybuybuy. Anyone know where I can find Victorian-styleee ankle boots for free? Or for nearly free?

 

Free?

 

 

Hi to Jennie *wave* she’s been a star lately keeping me company lots. Maybe she’ll get fed up with me one day, but from what she says I am slowly coming to doubt that.  

I like hot weather.

My knee will scar . It’s healing though .  

 

Playlist of the Moment
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – AirCapella (the funky sci-fi bird cage).
“Schadenfreude” – Avenue Q. Jennie’s fault. 
“Light My Candle” – Rent. Also Jennie’s fault.
“All the Strange, Strange Creatures” – Murray Gold. From the Dr Who soundtrack. Most funky.
“Same Old Song and Dance [My Friend]” – Aerosmith. Funky. And back into U2 with a passion.  

Hey guys.

Much love and happiness to y’all.

Hello,

I thought I’d use my blog the way they’re MEANT to be used, for my random thoughts and things. Stuff. So what’s going on with me at the moment?

Well, there’s…school. *Guh-roan*. For those of you who don’t know or have short-term memory loss, I’m doing four highers – History, English, Music and German. HOW sterotypically “atry/creativity kid” is THAT? I am Arty. It is LOTS of work. They aren’t going too well at the moment, to tell y’all the truth. Having problems with exam technique and losing colossal amounts of marks. Boohoo. But looks like I’ll be getting support in my exams that’ll really help. So yayhay for that . Those of you who are Christians, please pray that’ll all go smoothly and come through quickly!

So what else? Hm. Well, there’s work. My job’s been interesting of late. Found out I am a good youthworker . Had some depths and real lows :”(. Discovered being a youthworker IS what God wants me to do (I was having some career/calling debates). So yeah, I got offered a drop-out clause from the whole shennanigins and ignored it. Whoop whoop. I am a YOUF WUR KUR. Pretty scary. But really, ubercool.

I’m 17!!! . I get to have a murder mystery party. May 2. Those of you who are invited will hear soon.

So I have this thing right? Problem-type-y-thing. Many of you have been asking about the welfare of Bethany, my friend. Well, we’re not really speaking any more. Not just a squabble, it’s pretty final. And it’s killing me, so please pray.

Finding it really hard ATM.

Thanks for those of you who’ve been there. I couldn’t do this alone.

 

Rachel

Had a girl’s day out with the sister-in-law-to-be today! (I can’t make the chick party for the underage bridsemaids, so we had a day together today.)

It wasn’t quite an average chick do…

Firstly cos we were sharing our history obsession and spent the day going around various museums and living history spots…wearing hen night badges, fluffy, glittery feather boas and fluffy pink deely boppers. We shed feathers all over the Victorian furniture (lol). Also, being the big children that we are, we were also collecting museum trails and colouring in pictures from the museums ^_^.

We tried on corsets at the National Museum of Costume…what a laugh that was. It was really difficult to get on, even though we were doing each others’. The initial tug of laces and pull in was a touch breathing-restricted-and-rib-crushing. Eventually, I had lost 4 centimetres off my waist!!! Despite this, it felt good. Quite comfortable once you’d adjusted. Proper support on your back, good posture (I could do with a corset for orchestra rehearsals to stop me slumping over my cello and hurting my back!) and we looked FANTASTIC. I LOVED the figure! All curvy and girly XD

Carron bought us both fantastic masks at the NMOC too. Hers is pink and white feathers stretching up (shaped a little like rabbit ears), eyeholes decorated with purple sequinns and a tiny silver beak to cover her nose. Mine is sooooo Shakespearean, black eyemask with a layer of blue feathers. Tiny feathers like peacock tails around the eyes and black feathers on the nose .

Last, but not least, we went to this ice-cream farm in Dumfries. I had a triple scoop with pinapple, really raspberry (schlurp!) and tiramasu. Carron had really raspberry, caramel fudge and apple crumble (which was also really good.)

Then it was back home for dinner and the drive back to Barrhead – I’d never directed before, but we got home without ANY trouble! Even when we had to divert cos of a road accident! We kept our heads, pulled over, called my dad and remembered his directions and got home fine!!

 

Love you Carron!

Hey all,

I had a REALLY good day today. A LONG overdue lie-in, (to 9am – whoop!), a soak in a bubble bath, then off to the music exam, which went REALLY well. Then away to the Y for my volunteering shift of the week, and that was the best I’ve ever had (yey!)

Also, found these guys on YouTube. And I LOVE them – they’re INCREDIBLE!!!

Here it is for y’all;

Exams I Have Already Sat
Music practical – grade unknown
Admin practical – grade unknown

Exams I Have Left

Thursday 1 June – Music General (listening) 2.00 – 2.45pm
                                  Music Credit (listening) 3.00 – 4.00pm

Thursday 6 June – English writing – 9.00 – 10.15am
                                  English General (reading) – 1.00 – 1.50pm
                                  English Credit (reading) – 2.30 – 3.20pm

Wednesday 7 June – Administration (general) – 10.20 – 11.35pm
                                      Administration (credit) – 1.00 – 2.30pm

Thursday 8 June – Maths non-calculator (general) – 10.40 – 11.15am
                                  Maths calculator (general) – 11.35 – 12.30pm
                                  Maths non-calculator (credit) – 1.30 – 2.25pm
                                  Maths calculator (credit) – 2.45 – 4.05pm

Thursday 15 June – SVS (foundation) – 9.00 – 10.00am
                                    SVS (general) – 10.20 – 11.35am

Monday 19 June – German reading (general) – 10.05 – 10.50am
                                 German reading (credit) – 11.10 – 12.10pm
                                 German listening (general) – 1.45 – 2.10pm
                                 German listening (credit) – 2.30 – 3.00pm

Monday 26 June – History (general) – 10.20 – 11.50am
                                 History (credit) – 1.00 – 2.45pm

Thursday 27 June – Biology (general) – 9.00 – 10.30am
                                    Biology (credit) – 10.50 – 12.20pm

Please pray about the following specifically!!!
* Admin credit – must be very specifically worded and I’m not very confident
* History both levels – I ALWAYS run out of time on History exams and this really
                                       drags my mark down! Please pray about this!!!
* Music – specifically chord change questions!!

Life’s a wee bit bizarre at the moment. Everythings a new experience, just about but I’m enjoying it.

1) Exams starting on Thursday eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! I’m feeling not too bad really, just a few biggies, but more on that in another post.

I think I’m just enjoying being 16, grown up and loving it

Love you all!! Oh, and a wee random fact I’m giving you all.

 

My song of the moment: Nickelback “Rockstar”