Rest a Little

James looked at me on Friday night and said "Hannah you need a rest." Sadly that real rest won't come until Christmas.
It's true I do. Scouts is taking over my life in a really unhealthy way. There are chinks of light and I have a plan formulated in my head of how I am going to sort our leadership and then step back.
Please pray that God is with me on this and he will raise people up for positions and soften hearts and minds to what I am trying to do.
Thanks.

Potentially Life Changing

This week I took a step towards changing my life as I applied to study a PGCE in Primary Education. I have been prayerfully considering my future since June. One evening James and I sat down and went through all the things that my ideal job would have, and not have.
In September we had a 'quiet day' when we went to Ashdown Forest with a picnic, our bibles and our walking boots and spent the morning reading and praying and considering. I kept asking God what I should do. I am not sure he gave me an answer but I felt he was assuring me with the words 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' I meditated over a psalm and felt that God was saying that I should try things out.
Teaching is a bit of a curve ball if I'm honest. All the people who I know who are teachers have always wanted to do it. At the moment I am fairly clear that I want to specialise in teaching children with special educational needs, and specifically autism. So I guess in that sense it's not so much of a curve ball, just a wonky path!
So I spent a week in a primary school, needing experience in order to apply. I was apprehensive but actually it was a great week where I realised that I could teach, even mainstream. I learnt about classroom structure and timetabling, about classroom assistants and differing abilities.
So I applied this week, after trying to convey why I want to teach, and how I am qualified to do a training course, in 47 lines. I can only apply to two institutions at this time so that's what I have done. Now its a waiting game. So I'll wait. And see.
H x

I had a dream

I had a dream last night that the England Rugby team played France in Paris in the semi-final of the world cup. I dreamt that we scored a try in the first three minutes. I dreamt that it was a tough game, where France had all the possession and none of the points. I dreamt that England were trailing by a point for most of the game. I dreamt that Andy Gommersal got shoulder charged by the touch judge, and Chabal hurt Johnny. I dreamt that the French gave away a penalty with minutes to go. I dreamt that Johnny converted it, and then a few minutes later scored a drop goal. I dreamt that Laurence Dalliglio tried to throw away England's lead my giving away a handling in the ruck penalty to France. I dreamt that despite a final onslaught England won!

and I woke up this morning
and it was true!
England in the World Cup Final 2007 - who'd have thought it?!

The Rugby World Cup: Tales of the Unexpected!

I am a cynic. When this world cup started in September I had images of England crashing out in the group stages. Being an England Rugby fan over the last, well four years actually, hasn't been great fun. Ever since Johnny kicked THAT drop goal that sent every England Rugby fan into an early morning beer induced delirium its been quite an ordeal wearing the red rose. To be honest I've not paid that much attention. Other than to grumble about how much the RFU paid for Andy Farrell in March 2005 and how completely useless he has been ever since. When he scored against Tonga my sister and I agreed that it was about time he started earning his keep. He didn't score his first union try until September 2006.

Anyway I digress.

England's poor start in the World Cup, the lack lustre display against USA, the frankly awful game against South Africa - how the world champions could leave the pitch with no points astounded me. The game against Tonga was better. England looked like they wanted to play rugby. So job done into the Quarters. Against Australia.

I ignored the press, voiced my doubts and went to Balham to watch. Even as the anthems started I predicted a loss for the men in white.

What a game! England looked liked they had finally got the memo that they were the World Champions. They played a good game. However when Australia scored their first try I thought it was all over. I dared to dream when England took the lead, and stayed nervously glued to the TV. I shouted like they could hear me all those miles away in Marseilles.

When the final whistle blew it was like we had won the world cup four years ago! The truth is that England still have a mountain to climb but a victory, over the sour Australians. It wouldn't be so good beating them is they could just win or lose in a Sporting manner. For example Even before a ball was kicked, Aussies had been shown an advert which featured Johnny Wilkinson’s World Cup winning drop goal and the words “revenge is sweet” plastered all over it.

Well Australia, as you famously said to the Kiwis in 2003 'Four more years boys, four more years.'

As for England, well I don't know. France in Paris on Saturday night. Tough, but whatever the result I'll be wearing my England shirt with pride - every England player, even Andy Gommersal and Andy Farrell, have given me something to smile about.

H x

(photo is from Reuters)