GadgetVicar

More AB of C

I 'm going to listen to the AB of C again this morning (does that make me a some kind of ecclesiastical groupie?). This time he'll speak to the clergy of the diocese of Glasgow and Galloway on the subject of faith and the arts.

Then it's off for a visit to Auchlochan. No, I'm not checking out a home for my retirement - that's such a long way off.

In further rectory news, it's beginning to look like a new roof could be necessary..........

Update: Here's a snapshot I took this morning as he was referrring to snapshots! Please feel free to add your own caption.....

Update 2: Brodie has an excellent synopsis of the conversation from the previous evening. Kelvin gives us his thoughts on the good and not quite so good from the clergy conference.

More Rectory Woes

The rectory has sprung some more leaks in the face of the weekend storms. This time it's our bedroom that has succumbed. We decamped to the sofa bed in the lounge over the weekend, as we couldn't bare the Chinese water torture any more. Further works needed.........

I've also succumbed to "man-flu", but I really am not feeling well, with a hacking cough and runny nose to equal our dripping ceiling. Add to that, I dropped some floor tiles on my foot at the weekend, which means I have it strapped up, and you'll understand I'm feeling a little sorry for myself.

With way too much to do this week. Time to keep God-centred and not get too preoccupied on the woes.

Our Home and Another Issue

Blogging is limited at the moment, mainly because I'm getting back up to speed workwise and trying to be more attentive to the family. In addition, the rectory is undergoing lots of repairs and renovations at the moment which our vestry has graciously agreed to have done. I'm doing the legwork and it's all rather time consuming.

We had tree surgeons doing major work in the garden.

We also have gas central heating engineers about to fit a new system following the discovery that the  old system is on its last legs (the forty year old radiators are past it). I'd hoped that we might get away with a new boiler, but alas that won't cure the system's ailments. It's a big old house and such repairs are major jobs, as there are over twenty radiators. The radiant gas fires have also been condemned as dangerous, so they have to be replaced too. This necessitates a remodelling of the fireplaces and sweeping/lining/capping the chimneys.

The study flooded while I was away in the USA, and we are waiting for an ok from the insurance company for it to be repaired. In the meantime, the study is sharing space with the dining room.

Meanwhile we are also looking at doing up the shower/bathroom room, which is unpleasant, damp and has a broken velux window which won't close..

It all means that our home is and will be somewhat chaotic for a while and that blogging has to take a back seat while we get that little lot sorted out.

To put an inglorious cap on it all, while I was at a meeting last night some numptie pranged our car in the church car park. I am being calm...........

(Mostly) Resting

Things I have done this week:

Played Monopoly (GV Girl No. 2 won - she has a future in the world of commerce, unless the predictions of global economic meltdown for 2008 are correct).

Played Scrabble (I won!).

Spent pressie money and installed Mac OS X Leopard and 1Gb extra memory on our Macbook Pro. This was mostly so that I can use bluetooth stereo earphones and keep my Bootcamp installation up to date. It was surprisingly quick and easy to do, and managed to retain the Windows XP installation with no problems.

Sent back GV Boy's PC graphics card to the manufacturer for replacement under a lifetime warranty. We'll see what comes back and when.

Did various wee diy jobs that have been needing attention. This included trying to fix the washing machine. I failed, but it has a 10 year warranty, so all should be well eventually. Ms GV was seen handwashing clothes. My offer to take her down to the Kelvin to wash the clothes there in order that we show solidarity with the world's poor was not well received.

Learned that Ms GV was recently asked for proof of her age when buying a bottle of wine in a supermarket. Not bad for a 40-something!

Had a quiet New Year with Jools Holland's Hootenanny (Ms GV and aforementioned daughter being away in a youth hostel on the shores of Loch Ness). I say 'quiet', when what really happened was that one of the members of our little community had mates round until 5 or 6 in the morning.

Conference called with colleagues (can't say what about, or both you and I will be in big trouble and something unfortunate might happen to us ).

Prayerfully dwelt on the state of things - friends who begin the year with news of serious illness of loved ones; the mess in Kenya; the assassination of Benazir Bhutto; the predictions of economic doom and Anglican schism.

On the other hand there's been time to contemplate some of the opportunities for this year too:

- the new hall project coming to fruition (God is good - we are already almost halfway to our fundraising target with the gifts and pledges already made being so encouraging). Rumour has it that I might undertake a 'little' fundraising exercise with some friends. I've offered to bring the defibrillator......

- a possible sabbatical. This summer, I'll have been in ordained ministry for twenty years and rector of St Silas' for thirteen years, so it's time to recharge the batteries in preparation for the next stage of ministry here. I just need to pin down how to spend my time profitably. I've a few ideas, but suggestions are also welcome....

- trying to get a better work/life balance. This has been skewed way too much towards the former, and I feel as though the Lord has been telling me to get it sorted out.

Now, having rested, it's about time to get into gear for 2008. Bring it on............

In Other News

In between working quite hard, we've been getting out and about a bit more than usual: we went to a fab party on Saturday night (we had a choice of two, and were last to leave the one we went to - changed days for us!); went as a family to see the Golden Compass (possible review to follow); spoke at Tots & Co (our Toddlers and Carers group), inviting them to our Christmas services - the wee faces were delighted at Tommy the puppet; had a vestry meeting last night at which, among other things, we reviewed the pledges made so far to Building for the Future (details of which to follow, for which we are so grateful to God - the response so far has been wonderful, but we still have a considerable way to go).

My main focus this week is getting ready for our Carols by Candlelight service (Sunday @ 8pm). This will be my thirteenth year of speaking at this, and to be honest it's become the  talk I struggle with most during the year, so prayers for this are valued.

And to cap it all, today is my 44th birthday (I know, I know, I don't look that ancient, thank you very much!). One of the benefits of being on Facebook - I've received more birthday greetings than usual, so thanks for that too. My birthday treat? We couldn't get tickets for Led Zeppelin, but I am going to see the Grammy-nominated Porcupine Tree with GV Boy tomorrow night (and the Icicle Works with Ms GV next Monday night).

Halloween

Today also happens to be Halloween. I expect a throng of guisers to gather at the Rectory tonight on their way to entertain the residents of Jordanhill. I think GV Girl No. 2 is planning on being a zombie (which is what she was when I left the house at 7am this morning - not much makeup required there). She will offer a riddle as her performance piece.

In recent years, the young people of Jordanhill have taken to throwing eggs at houses on this night. I guess this is 'trick', rather than 'treat'. If I'd been in, I planned on watching for them, and rushing out to treat them with a few eggs myself!

Search Me

Much excitement chez GadgetVicar at 4.30 am this morning. A helicopter was buzzing in the distance. It woke me up. Then it got nearer and nearer until it hovered over our house with its searchlight beaming into our garden. I opened the bedroom window and leaned out to get a better look. I guess they will have seen me with their nightvision stuff (believe me, that would not have been a pleasant sight). The chopper headed off elsewhere, but seemed to continue searching.

After all the excitement, I couldn't get back to sleep. I hope the police got who or what they were looking for.

Trials Of Parenting

There are many trials of parenting. When kids are very young, there are the sleepless nights, the lack of a social life and the nervousness that every sniff, knock and bruise brings.

As they get bigger, the trials change. They're mainly to do with how kids find their place in the world. The discovery that people aren't very nice can be quite shocking. The realisation that other children can be selfish, bitchy and downright evil is a terrible revelation, and it brings pain to our kids and to us. What can I do to make it better? Take time to listen, hold them and remind them that they are loved. And teach them not to behave as others do, but to rise above it. It's all part of the growing process, but it hurts. A lot.

Next: how to help a teenager understand that you do know what it's like, because you too were once a teenager.

That Was The Year That Was

Looking back on my 2006:

Travelling

Two visits to the United States. Alabama/South and North Carolina in January. Back to North Carolina in June.

A short trip (also in June) to Lagos and Nnewi in Nigeria for Christian and Uju's traditional (as opposed to church) wedding ceremony.

A fabulous two week family holiday in August to Lyon, France.

Several trips to Englandshire for meetings and preachments.

The allure of travel wore off this year. On my recent trip to Oxford, I was reminded how much I now hate flying. The long queues at security, the hanging around generally in airports, the cramped seating, poor air quality, and the fact that my gut seems to get distressed by flying all serve to make me quite happy to stay at home.

No international travel plans for 2007! I'm offsetting this year's poor carbon footprint and there is simply too much going on here, what with building plans for a new hall and all.

Mind you, I''ll never say never (I'm particularly open to visits to sun-kissed places). A former member of St Silas' was with us for Christmas Day, and she told me she now lives in Grenada. Sounds nice.

Church

Amazed by the giftedness of the people; how enjoyable it (mostly) is; encouraged by some wonderful testimony of God at work. Seeing some prophetic ministry growing.

Family

Wondering where the time goes; seeing my children grow up so fast; realising that we almost have three teenagers in the house (four if you count me - my kids tell me to turn my music down); a wife who puts up with both my travelling away and busyness when here, but who still goes out of her way to care for me.

Health

Picking up giardia in June, and a consequent development of lactose intolerance. No butter, milk chocolate and cheese for me.

Faith

Conscious of the Lord at work in me and the congregation. It's strange to think that I will go into my twelfth year at St Silas' soon. The time has flown by, and it would seem that I have some more work to do.

I've grown keenly aware of my need to draw closer to God. Something to do with all the travelling, I think, as well a sense of carrying others' burdens and the impossible task that ministry feels like sometimes. Perhaps also because of battling with and for people as they struggle with issues in their lives.

Roll on 2007..............

Leaking

We are leaking. Or rather, the rectory is.

November's almost incessant rains have challenged our roof tiles to battle, and they have been decisively defeated. This is despite advice over the summer that reckoned they were fine.

The leaks are in one of the Gadgetvicar Girls' rooms and in our bedroom too. This means "Chinese Water Torture", as the drip, drip, drip, gets into our brains.

Roofer, anyone?