Monday 14 March 2011

Travelling Companions.

On long train journeys, where I drink tea, read good books, watch the countryside fly by, I also talk to strangers.

On a train to London, I met another Rebecca, a nursing student from Dundee, confirming her shifts via text en route and visiting her older brother. I was visiting my brother in London too, and so we talked and exchanged mobile numbers. Same-name people who meet on a long journey.

A few months later, I met Lucy, a dentistry student studying in Sheffield and working as an events organiser, on this occasion at a stately home. Again, we laughed and talked- she was going to Paris- after finishing work that day. And so complete strangers, we exchanged numbers and she texted me when she made it to France. Later texts at Christmas went back and forth.

Yesterday I met Gordon. A man in his 70s who recently lost his wife to breast cancer. He said "life is hard".
"You work all your life and save up money but it does not mean anything."
So I asked questions and listened. He told me about his son, his career in the Nuclear Physics department at Oxford University. his too-big four bedroom house, how his wife did all the cooking and he did the cleaning, going on holiday on his own. But he had friends through church and good neighbours- but I will pray for him for he is right. Life is hard.

After Gordon, I met Izzy. Half Italian and from the Isle of White, and studying French and Spanish at Oxford. Capacious leather hand bag and obvious huge appetite to learn and study. Kindles. You can't turn pages. And Trinity College library probably has not digitalised all it's archives to fit on a kindle. Such encounters light up the sky.

I love train journeys.

Tuesday 1 March 2011

"He ate and drank the precious words..."

During this month, http://www.ylcf.org/, a blog I read regularly, is doing a month of book reviews, and book-related posts.

In addition on the 5th March, World Book Night will take place, where thousands of free books will be handed out to encourage the non-reader to read. (http://www.worldbooknight.org/)

"One million books will be given away free in the UK and Ireland on 5 March for the inaugural World Book Night.
Some 20,000 volunteers will hand out 48 copies each of their favourite book from a 25-strong list. A further 40,000 will be distributed by organisers.
Would-be volunteers apply through the event's website, choosing a book from the list which features Alan Bennett, John Le Carre and Margaret Atwood."
Will Gompertz
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11905619)

I have always loved to read, and believe that books have enormous power to inform, inspire and give the reader tremendous pleasure. Benjamin Franklin said, "Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world." The written word - books- have unlocked potential. I cannot go anywhere without a book to read, even if the opportunity of actually sitting down and reading is limited. Books can take the reader from the living room, the cafe, the train, from under the covers - to another place, another country, without moving a step.

"He ate and drank the precious words,
His spirit grew robust;
He knew no more that he was poor,
Nor that his frame was dust.
He danced along the dingy days,
And this bequest of wings
Was but a book. What liberty
A loosened spirit brings."

Emily Dickinson, Poems, pg 47 (1948)

In keeping with YLCF's March of Books I will be writing as many book reviews as I can during the next month. I initially resolved to do one every day, but I fear the quality would inevitably decline as I tryed to churn them out, so instead I will write as many "good" reviews as I can.
And may the many recipients of all those books on the 5th March, become a whole nation of book worms.

Saturday 26 February 2011

"I can face tomorrow....."

I read a great review of the last 10 years of a friend's life and decided to steal the idea. So here we go (thanks to Chantel Brankshire...).

15 years ago....
1. I was 15 years of age and in Standard 10 at Hebron School, Udagamandalam, (more commonly know as Ooty) Tamil Nadu, South India.
2. Standard 9 (the previous year) was my most favourite year of secondary school (no public exams), but had many interesting subjects and I loved being in the "senior" school. Standard 10 brought my first public exams, IGCSEs in Maths and RS.
3. My best friend Rachael Delano (nee Schwalbe) and I were as thick as thieves, and we talked up a perpetual storm and drank copious amounts of "proper" sweet chai. She taught me some American Sign Language so we could keep up the conversation in class. We also joined the Inter-school cross-country team together (Why? Why? Why?) and dodged cows, cow dung, more cows and Cheran (Indian public) Buses and got hot, sweaty and covered in mud in the process.
4. The best adventure Rachael and I had was running 22 km from Kalhatty (in the hills) to Quiet Corner (SU camp-site in the plains) through the wilderness. Most of which was in total darkness, as we only started our "incredible" journey at only 4 pm after school. And then when we arrived hot and covered in dust, just 5 minutes ahead of the school bus, we discovered there was no running water. Oh how I love the bucket bath. But we were both ridiculously pleased anyway. Then that night (I have to finish the story now) Rachael managed to explode a bag of crisps all over our room (which she cleaned up immediately) but we were attacked by ants in the middle of the night. They could smell the crisps. A good weekend all round.
5. I spent a holiday in Kerala, at the beach, January 1995 and nearly got swept out to sea by some big waves. That holiday I "re-discovered" my bible, and found really for the first time, God speaking to me personally.
6. My parents started taking care of the youngest dorm at Hebron School (Standard 3-5 boys and girls) and I put them to bed every Thursday night for the next 4 years.
7. Three days before my 15th birthday, I was baptised in my parent's home church in Nottingham.

10 years ago....
1. I was 20 years old and in my second year of medical school, at Aberdeen University.
2. I lived on Sunnyside Road in a room painted bright orange.
3. I was a bible-study group leader and then became book secretary (best best job) for the Christian Union.
4. I planned a summer, doing beach missions, holiday club on Skye and week of evangelism at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

5 years ago...
1. I was working as a junior doctor at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, Lerwick, Shetland (was that really 5 years ago?).
2. I bought my own flat (started paying a mortgage) that following summer and have lived there ever since.
3. I do not appreciate it's light, airiness, restfulness- and yes-this-is-all-mineness enough! I have 2 bedrooms, bathroom, hallway, living room and duck-egg kitchen. (Must say thank you to God for this more often.)
4. I was interviewed for and accepted on to the General Practice (Family practice) rotation for August 2006.
5. I slowely collected pieces of furniture from the Candle Close gallery, The Pier and British Heart Foundation Charity Shop and bought another book shelf, and another and another...There still is not enough.
6. I started making friends with my "up-stairs" neighbours, a Muslim family from Algeria and South Africa.

1 Year ago...

1. I was working as a part-time GP registrar at Great Western Medical Practice.
2. I learnt so much more about Conservative politics in the run-up to the General Election in May. I read biographies and commentaries. I even emailed David Cameron with a comment- and recieved a reply from his PA. And I cast my vote.
3. I had 2 American flat-mates briefly.
4. I went to Keswick, listened to Don Carson and celebrated my 30 birthday with a Barbeque.

Yesterday...
1. I put my car in for it's MOT and it passed.
2. I did my first Research session at the Academic Department of Primary Care where I want to work next year.
3. The sun shone in the most warm way probably since last August!

Today..

1. I have washing, cleaning, and general tidying to do.
2. I will drink lots of tea.
3. I will relax and watch more Gilmore Girls on DVD.
4. I will read a book.
5. I will read my Bible.

Tomorrow

1. I will go to church and enjoy the morning service as don't have to teach Sunday School.
2. I will buy a present for my sister-in-law.
3. I will do some e-portfolio upkeep for my job.

In 5 years...
"Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone,
Because I know, I know, he holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives..."

1. I will be 35- quite a thought.
2. I would love to be married but Trusting God is the important thing with that one!
3. I want to be closer to, love and know Jesus Christ better.

Big lessons from the last 15 years...
1. God takes care of me. Writing all this down has reminded me of that.
2. I am loved, forgiven, held and He won't let me go. His grace is wider and deeper and higher than my greatest sin.
3. The hardest things to trust God with at my present stage of life (wanting to be married) are things that make me depend on him more.
4. I have much to be thankful for and I need to remember to say "thank- you" to God everyday.

Saturday 5 February 2011

Saturdays

Come, rest awhile

Come, rest awhile, and let us idly stray
In glimmering valleys, cool and far away.

Come from the greedy mart, the troubled street,
And listen to the music, faint and sweet,

That echoes ever to a listening ear,
Unheard by those who will not pause to hear­

The wayward chimes of memory's pensive bells,
Wind-blown o'er misty hills and curtained dells.

One step aside and dewy buds unclose
The sweetness of the violet and the rose;

Song and romance still linger in the green,
Emblossomed ways by you so seldom seen,

And near at hand, would you but see them, lie
All lovely things beloved in days gone by.

You have forgotten what it is to smile
In your too busy life­come, rest awhile.

Lucy Maud Montgomery


My flat is quiet- not as tidy as it could be, laminated floors winter cold. I think about putting the heating on (off it's timer)- but go for the dressing gown over everything else.

I savour the peace, make tea, peanut butter and white bread.

Household tasks to be done, laundry, lounge to tidy- things to do later, but first I read Day 1 of Gentle Rain on Tender Grass (readings from the Pentatuech) by Sharon James. Genesis ch 1 verses 1-25.

"But ask the beasts and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Who amoung all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing." Job 12:7-10

Writing in the new notebook (never did a girl have so many notebooks), diagrams to remember the days of creation, and a prayer.

I make some lunch, DVD playing and I start sorting out study materials for my exam. Reading to do later.

White curtains hang in the lounge, light filtering through, the winter sky faded from cool blue to cloudy white.

And so I rest and take stock and say thank you for the blessings.