Little Connections

On Friday night my husband and I had supper with a group of people that are somewhere in that funny space between acquaintances and maybe-one-day friends – mostly all people that we’ve met at church over the last few months. Yesterday, as I went running (great time for thinking!!) I thought about the little connections that we have with people, of which I had a couple of examples on Friday. Little connections like common likes or dislikes, or common personality traits or characteristics. On Friday, one little connection I shared with someone was taking a little peak at the end of books – just to see where I’m headed. Another was a love of books in general (that one was shared by a number of people). Another little connection was a little partiality for chocolate spread such that one might start out being very good and only having it on bread or toast (that lasts for about a day or two, if I’m lucky) and then suddenly be overtaken with a desire for much more of the creamy badness goodness. On its own – delicious spoonful and after spoonful straight from the jar. And before you know it, the ‘only one mouthful’ is half the jar.

To make little connections with other people, to built bridges and relationships, you’ve got to be open to others – often near-strangers – about your own little quirks, and that can be quite scary. But it can also be fun. You might feel you’ve found a kindred in a sea of not-very-well-known. You might feel that you’re not the only slightly strange one. You might even make a friend. What little connections have you had with new people lately?

Psalm 19

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and there is nothing hid from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is they servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern his errors? Clear thou from me hidden faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my hear by acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19 (RSV)

Funny Sign Friday

Well, first of all a HUGE thank you to my trusty womanservant for taking care of last week’s Funny Sign Friday whilst I was working hard* in the lovely Med. If you’re planning a trip to Crete anytime soon, today’s sign demonstrates one end of the range of car hire options available: Economy Car Hire – Engine Optional.

*Okay, okay - and sunning myself. But there were many archaeological site visits, relevant to what I’m studying so I did a lot of work as well.

Funny Sign Friday

So, B is currently rocking the world elsewhere, and I've zoomed in here to be her trusty womanservant and provide you the readers with a sign to make up for both her extreme absence and lack of presence.

I therefore present you with this wonderful trophy:

Oh how we love those wise authorities who think everything through fully and would never ever make empty threats.

Funny Sign Friday

We’re going to kick off “Funny Sign Friday” with a warning, and an apology to any environmentalists who may take exception to favour shown to land cruisers in this sign, which comes from Belgium…

“LAND CRUISER PARKING ONLY” All others will be crushed.

Campsite Review – North York Moors

CAMPSITE: Pexton Moor Farm http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/t/Pexton-Moor-Farm-Pickering-6714.htm

LOCATION: Near Dalby Forest on the North York Moors, Yorkshire, United Kingdom

COST: £10 for two people with one very small tent and a car

WOULD I GO AGAIN: Yes, despite showers (see below)

WHEN VISITED: August 2009

GOOD FOR: The entrance to Dalby Forest is right opposite the campsite. At the time of our visit it cost £7 to go into the forest with a car, but from this campsite, you can enter the forest and enjoy its walks on foot for free. Pickering is also very close for supplies.

SCORE: 3

ABLUTIONS: This campsite promised so much. The site itself wasn’t bad and the bathroom block was warm, the toilets clean and the shower hot. However, the shower was one of those press-button ones on a timer. Most showers like this are timed to go off after five or so minutes. This one went off after about 1 minute, which was very annoying and most unsatisfactory. The total score for this campsite’s shower would have been 7, but because of the short timer I don’t feel I can give it more than 3.

THOUGHTS: The main space at this campsite, right near the ablution block is quite small so I was asked, when I phoned to make the booking, if I minded being in the overflow field, and warned that being in the overflow field meant a bit of a walk to the ablution block. The field itself wasn’t bad, though the grass could have done with a mow. There was a drinking water tap in the overflow field, and the walk to the ablution block wasn’t too bad, although I would advise you to take a torch if you go there around dusk. I went to shower as it was getting dark and did not take a torch. By the time I’d finished showering it was pitch black, so I started to, rather hesitantly, walk back to the overflow field, and ended up walking into a large pile of gravel which made me rather dirty. A second trip to the showers ensued and whilst I cleaned myself up I considered my options and sent a rather hopeful text message to my husband, who was safely in the tent, to ask him to come meet me with a torch. His phone was in the car, not the tent at the time, so he didn’t get the message. I walked out of the ablution block and prayed, asking the Lord what I should do. And He provided the answer! A man with a bright torch came out of the men’s bathroom and started walking towards the overflow field. He kindly let me walk with him and I made it safely back unharmed and clean!

“Funny Sign Friday” and other new things

I’ve decided I’d like to try extend the currently very limited range of topics that I talk about on this blog and to try post more often. One idea for how to do this was recently presented to me in a series of photos that some family members took, which included a number of funny signs. So, I’m initiating a new series on this blog called “Funny Sign Friday” – every Friday I’ll post one or more funny signs and possibly a little write-up about them too.

I’ve also decided to start writing campsite reviews. I love camping and do so regularly, so I figured, “why not write about that too?” Now before I start doing these reviews I need to lay out some caveats and ground rules. The reviews will probably be posted sporadically, as dictated by the fact that our camping equipment is suitable only for the summer and by the fickle British weather (yes, we are fair-weather campers…). The twist on these reviews is that I’m going to concentrate on the ablution facilities. Why? Well, there are many great expanses of lovely soft grass upon which to place a tent (for free) around Britain, where wild-camping is not illegal. So, I figure all you really pay for when you camp here is the shower and toilets, and so it is upon this basis that campsites should be judged… We don’t have a caravan, or chemical toilet or even fancy cooking equipment, so whilst facilities for these may be important for some people, I’m afraid they just don’t cross my radar enough for me to consider them…or write about them…or even be faintly qualified to comment on them, so I probably won’t. I may also chuck in the odd review of campsites outside Britain (where sometimes wild camping is illegal so the campsite itself becomes a little more important than just the showers) – it all just depends on where I go. I’ll try include photos, but can’t always guarantee these (sometimes the reviews will be for campsites I’ve visited in the past, where I may not have taken pictures).