1thing.co.uk

Sometimes it’s nice just to be able to lock yourselves away as a family and spend the day together doing fun things without interuptions from the outside world.

A good friend of mine takes this to the extreme.  They close the doors and unplug the phones.  I’ve never felt completely comfortable with taking it this far although I am looking forward to the invention of the phone that will only ring if it’s (a) important and (b) from someone you deem important enough for you to be bothered that it’s important.

Anyway, I digress.  This Sunday we spend the day together.  Just the four of us. Playing games, making cakes, singing songs, running, jumping and generally having as much fun as possible without leaving the house or turning the TV on.

What a fantastic day - who could want for more

I will always be indebted to my childrens Grandparents for all the help and support they give.

Today’s was a Daddy’s day.  This is a day when all normal Saturday activities cease (I dont even play rugby) and I spend the day with my girls whilst my wife has the day to herself to recharge.

As Violets quite small this time we spent the day visiting Grandparents.  It’s a great opportunity for me to catch up with them as I dont get to see them during the week and for them to spend time with the kids while I recharge a little.  The girls love it.

First we went to my parents for lunch.  Rose loves going to my parents as she can run around the house with Grandad and help him unpack the shopping.  Grandma will also shamelessly let her sit in front of the TV watching DVD’s for as long as she wants whilst eating fizzy sweets or chocolate cake or some other treat that we ration on a daily basis.  The highlight of today’s visit was that Rose wanted to show Grandma and Grandad her new DVD - “A Saviour is Born” that HMV decided to deliver a month late. Who says Christmas presents are meant to be given at Christmas time!

Then it was off to Mary’s parents.  Where again they both get shamelessly spoilt.  Nanny gets all the games out which were Mary’s when she was Rose’s age and they play with them for ages.  Today’s extra treat was that Nanny had got two new games. A pop up pirate game which was very entertaining as when the pirate popped out of the barrel it almost took Grandad’s eye out, and a Crocodile dentist game.  To finish the trip off we had another viewing of “A Saviour is Born”, my fourth of the day.

Grandparents are for spoiling and thank you, Grandparents, for spoiling us.

Early in the week you’ll remember that my one thing was God incidence’s.  Well today’s one thing is a specific example. 

I’d arrange to meet a client in the city at 2pm, I’d planned to leave at 12.30, catch the tube and be there with plenty of time to spare although I was aware that there may be a delay as a result of yesterday’s weather.

I got to Elm Park tube, jumped straight onto the tube and thought it was all going to plan. Until we got to Barking where the train unexpectedly termintated. There’s an announcement to say that the trains are having problems and there are some delays. 

Hmmmm this isn’t looking good. 

Next train in, Hammersmith and City - that’ll do nicely, not as quick, but stops at Liverpool Street.  Then the elay’s kick in.  Every station the train stops for a little longer than usual, not much but just enough.  When we get to Whitechapel it’s held for what seems like ages.  The driver makes an announcement saying he’s trying to find out what’s going on.  More waiting, another announcements and then the station controller announces that this is the last train for an hour.  Everyone from the train oppossite us is told to get on our train and then they tell us that they are turning the District and Circle lines off.

A young man has sat next to me and he’s trying to work out which is the best way to go, so I spend 5 mins helping he replan his route to Victoria.  (God-incident #2?).

At last I arrive at my meeting, 1:55, 5 mins to spare, on the last train that I could have caught, perfectly timed.  God-incident or just plain luck - you can draw your own conclusion, you know what I think. 

Thank you  for the perfect planning

Today was a windy day.  No I’m not talking about my personal wind I’m talking about the weather wind.  Gales of up to 100mph (apparently) blew across the UK wreaking havoc for all and sundry.  I’m not a small bloke and I found walking in the wind an effort.  Unfortunately the winds were so bad 11 people lost their lives in the storm.

On my way to the chirpractor this morning the destructive force of the wind was obvious as I passed billboards that had been blown down.

On the flip side all that wind probably generated a spike in the wind farms and helped someone somewhere.

I’m not one for coincidence’s, irrelevant happenings or chance meetings.  I firmly believe in God-incidences.  You know the sort of thing I mean, you meet someone or something happens that can only have been orchestrated by the man upstairs.

For those sceptics who are reading this I fully acknowledge that those instances happen because you’ve made the effort to be somewhere or do something and in the doing or being something’s happened.  So yes it requires effort on all three sides but I do firmly believe that they are orchestrated by God and this is my one thing for 1thing.co.uk today.

Let me give you an example, my wife went to her Church pastorate group this (Wednesday) evening.  She’s not been since before the birth of Violet (our second child) and found it a real struggle.  As is the norm they broke down into groups to discuss the topic of the night and one of the elder ladies shared witht he group that she came to the church some 50 odd years ago as a result of her post natal depression and how much it had helped her.  She didn’t know that my wife has been suffering with PND and she was a tremendous encouragement to her.

So thank you God for those God-incidences