Filling in the evenings ....
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Dekho Dekho Janam (Ishq)
Topic: Friends

Well, yesterday morning when I went to the fridge ... I realised I didn't have milk ... what horror!! I forgot to do grocery shopping over the weekend :).

Saturday wasted my day by watching WI vs England in the Champions Trophy ... which we lost (that's why it was a waste! but we're in the semi-finals - we play SA on Thursday - shoots got a supervision that day - but early in the morning, so can finish that up and probably go home :D) - and I also briefly popped up to the church for the fairtrade craft fair thingy in the church (took about 1/2 hr). And on Sunday after Church, went over to Tina's and had lunch and then went with her and Jitse to cinema (Jitse got the cineworld card that day too!) to watch "A Good Year" with Russell Crowe, which was quite good. I enjoyed that film.

The film, however, that all three of us are looking forward to watching is Borat - it opens on Thursday ... I think it might be full, so may have to watch it later - I don't like full cinemas. Borat looks to be good satire ... and I love satirical films (that reminds me ... I want to get "Robin Hood - Men in Tights" DVD - my best satire!).

Anyway, yesterday I decided to go up to the Sainsbury (I really should have gone to the Tesco's instead - since I need to fill up petrol, get oil and brakes fluid - but didn't feel like it), so, called up Tina and we decided to go up at 3:30 (she got mad at me - because was late to meet her in the car park :D - had to go to the loo :P) - and after Sainsbury we went back to her place and cooked dinner for us and Jitse. Jitse thought we were probably in the cinema so he went straight up to the cinema (because Tina missed a call - and whenever she doesn't answer a call and she is with me - 9 out of 10 times - we're in cinema - so he had good reason to believe that) - but then he had to walk all the way back. But we cooked a lot of stuff (well I chopped stuff up - Tina cooked - which I think is the better thing :) - that is leave the cooking to Tina). 

There were egg noodles that Tina decided to cook a Thai way and a Chinese way (and Jitse and I to make sure we stay on her good side insisted that the Chinese way tasted much better). She also made asparagus and also prawns with sweetpeppers and peanuts (which tasted really good!).  

Internationl Food Evening
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Lotta Love (Nicolette Larson)
Topic: Church

Well, last Saturday was the International Food Evening .... and also Divali. I called up Auntie Moona and Auntie Poona (around 9:30 am) to wish them Happy Divali, but they were saying I could come down ... and I was saying that I can't because I have the international food evening - but then I thought about it - and said probably I could do it. So, I quickly made the baked custard and decided that I would go. Drove up to the city centre about 11 (took a hour for the baked custard) and then took the 11:20 train to Euston (parked near Debenhams in the free parking zone). However, I thought it only takes 1 hr to get to Isleworth, but it took 1 1/2 hr ... more than I expected.

Anyway, I had thought Auntie Moona and Auntie Poona had already started cooking, but when I reached there - they had now started to cook. I was hoping to leave by 4:30 ... but instead left a little after 5 (because I had to eat before I go). However, they gave me food :) ... I reached up MK at after 7 - by the time I walked up to the city centre and got my car and drove it to the church, it was just after 7:30 ... obviously couldn't get home and get my baked custard - so instead was able to display authentic Trinidad East Indian food - which is probably a lot better than my baked custard :D.

Papa injured himself
Mood:  blue
Now Playing: Evil Man (Shelby Lynne)
Topic: Family

Just found out this morning that Papa on Monday night (I think) fell in the bathroom and damaged his head, forehead and nose. There was a lot of blood mum said and he had to go for stitches at the hospital (which he didn't want to go for obviously!) - but he is doing better now.

They were in Trinidad then, this morning they flew back to Guyana.

International Food Evening
Mood:  blue
Now Playing: Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam)
Topic: Church

I am mad and vexed and irritated ...... I just lost my whole post because I accidentally hit the back button.

Just going to write something short here instead that I was planning on making a macaroni pie and baked custard for Saturday - but don't think I'll make the macaroni pie anymore since tried it on Monday - was a disaster - looked like it - but tasted terrible!! (More salt, milk and cheese probably needed).

So, shall see what I make on Saturday.

Ecumenical Council
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Satrangi (Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe)
Topic: Church

Went to ecumenical council yesterday - I think these meetings are getting better. At first was a bit lost on what they were talking about but now I'm getting a handle on it - pretty soon I might be able to make some significant contribution, which is why I think it is good that we have 3 year terms that way we become well seasoned and know what we are talking about in the end.

Obviously when I signed up I didn't have no idea it was a 3 year term - I thought it was 1 year ... and I sort of got scared when I realised it was going to be 3 years - but think it is better this way.

Only thing, I think that some of these ecumenical councils do tend to go on too long with lots of discussion without people reigning in and trying to come to a quick decision. It reminds me of faculty board! Now those used to be long. But all these administrative meetings are a necessary evil - they are needed although at times they can be long and boring.

Going to watch Volver tonight with a Spanish Group!
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: I Can't Dance (Gram Parsons)
Topic: Internet fun things

So, I signed up to a Spanish Language group through www.meetup.com, and one of the events is to watch Volver with Penelope Cruz, I was planning on watching it anyway, but when I saw that event popped up - decided to go with them instead, since I can't make the next meeting (ecumenical council). This is the first time I'll be meeting them - so, I hope it is fun.

However, I think this www.meetup.com site is really cool - this way can meet people with some of my interest and we can meet like once a month and have a bit of a night out. My social life is a bit lacking - it tends to have the same people (who I quite like : Tina, Cling and Farah) - but I think its nice to meet other people - you know me - love meeting new people :D.

So, I've signed up for movies, dining out, social networking and walking as interests. Hoping there are a lot of people will sign up for the interests and then will form a group (I don't want the responsibility of forming a group and organising events - because it will mean I'll always have to be there - and I don't like that stricture - I like to feel as if I'm flexible, although I may not be :)).

URC Hoole Church
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Crying in the Chapel (Tammy Wynette) - sort of appropriate :)
Topic: Church

Well, the church that Richard is .. what do you call that?? ... ministering too (whatever) - is a really nice church - well, the congregation were very nice and very friendly - I enjoyed going to that church more than Cornerstone - I think because it is a country church - and I've always gone to country churches - just think of Warrenville and Clarke Rochard Presbyterian.

We also had a Presbyterian communion (the liturgy was the same - I've heard it so many times - I must know it by now) and we sang the three Amens at the end - now that felt so Presbyterian - I really really liked it - felt so homely hearing those things (this actually only happened on the Sunday when Richard did the worship - because the one on the Saturday for his induction didn't sound very Presbyterian - and almost all the songs I didn't know).

And for communion the elders came and shared the bread and we had our wine in our individual glasses (so finally had proper communion in the UK!). I've never drank the wine at Cornerstone, everyone drinks from the same glass - I'm sorry - but no way am I doing that - you can say it and preaching it to me till the cows come that, that is about showing the fellowship and brotherhood (or sisterhood) - but no way doing that - that is just strange and unclean - hey I come from Trinidad Indian countryside culture - we don't do juta - and that's final!

Anyway, some people invited me over some coffee too - so went across and had some coffee - as I said very welcoming and nice people. All the elders at the church came up and spoke to the people from milton keynes - it was nice - I like the people at that church a lot - I was thinking of looking around for a country URC church and see if it is just like that here around MK - but I've been at Cornerstone too long and I don't mind it so much and sort of like it too - but it seems to be changing now - since Beverly left as well. I missed her leaving do since I was Trinidad - and I thought perhaps I would have seen her up at Chester but no - so, wrote her email wishing her luck this morning.

I drove on the motorway!!!
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Anymore (Travis Tritt)
Topic: Driving

Well, drove up to Richard's induction on Saturday and drove down back on Sunday with Tina ... and I did it - I finally went on the motorway - and it was great - it isn't as scary as it seems - well at least the M1 and the M6 weren't as scary - guessing because they only had three lanes.

 I think my next accomplishment would be when I could drive down to London on the M25 orbital - because that one always look a bit scary .

Chester was a nice looking town - but I got really frustrated on the Saturday we drove up, because the map directions we had from the AA weren't corresponding to the road design - so once we reached into Chester - it took us a hour to find our guest house - which unfortunately didn't have any parking spaces - so I just had to illegally park in a place and let Tina dump all our stuff in the room and then she went across to Tesco near us and got us something to eat - and on top of that it was pouring rain.

 But because of getting lost etc. and not having a park, we had to go to the church dressed as we were, so we looked tired and were quite crumpled - but then we got lost finding the church as well, because the postcode I used for the church carried us somewhere very strange - so we were there driving around for about 30 mins looking for the church until I called Jenny and asked her where it was - well, we found it after I went on instinct and said we will just turn where-ever I felt like it (must have been God guiding me - because I was getting so fed up - I was willing to chuck the whole thing in and just go back to the guesthouse - but since there weren't parking until after 6pm - I think finding the church won out in the end).

But I got so lost in Chester - and drove through almost every road there - I think I know Chester pretty well now - I think I know most of the roads - I was even able to tell one person in the congregation where Queens Rd. and Queens St. were located - and how they were far from each other .

Just posting something :)
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Daydream (The Lovin' Spoonful)
Topic: Driving

Well, tomorrow Tina and I are going to be driving up to Chester - we are overnighting in Chester at Pennies Guest House, so hope all goes well. I'm going up for Richard's induction (???). However, I'm planning to venture onto the motorway for the first time - so, hoping all goes well, never ever driving on the motorway as yet, I figure if I can drive on the A5 - the motorway can't be much worse than that. I'll just stay on the leftmost lane and pretend the lane next to me is the only one (so, it would feel like a dual carriageway) - well, that's my plan. If I get scared on it - I'm coming off at the next junction and taking the A roads all to Chester (got my map instructions for any situation arising).

Anyway, so tomorrow I venture onto the M1 and if I'm not to scared then into the M6 - hope all goes well for me.

Going to a barbecue
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: P.F.Sloan (The Association)
Topic: Events
So, since I haven't posted here anything publicly in awhile - I decided to post something now ... Well, this afternoon going to a barbecue at the Vicarage in Wolverton, gonna pick up Tina and go there.

I hope it is fun ... Joachim stays at the Vicarage and invited me over, it is actually being sponsored by the PGSS - but I don't usually go to PGSS events, but since Joachim told me to come - I decided why not.

Also, Imran invited me and Tina to come along to the same event as well ... (I think after my rant about the PGSS and its events at the Make a Difference conference - he thought I should come and experience one!).

Tomorrow, I'm also going to a next barbecue but this one being held for the church's ecumenical council members. Eric and Judy are hosting it at their place in Walton Park - so, got to pick up Nana and Paul. Going to pick up Nana first and then we are going to see how well we are at maps in order to find Paul's place. That should be interesting!