Legally Blonde

Tonight was the Advent service on Campus – I was tired after work, and knew that the people I knew would be involved and busy, and nearly didn’t go, but was so glad I did. The Chapel was packed, with two choirs and quite a few not-regulars, so that it was standing room only (literally – we ran out of chairs!), and it looked beautiful with only candlelight for much of the service. A lovely mix of trad and not-so-trad, and (best bit?!) wine and mince pies afterwards.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m “expecting” and “preparing” etc too, but the annunciation readings are really getting to me this year. Tonight it was Luke 1.26-38 and as Mike read, “the child leapt in my womb” (v.41) – which isn’t unusual at this stage, but seemed strangely apposite.

and the smoke alarm is too high when you’re not allowed on ladders.

Just a couple of observations I thought I should share with the world at large… Anyway, at least that’ll larn me to try catching up on a weekend’s worth of wibnews, read the chapter (oops – I mean “finish” reading, I’m not that slack!) for tonight’s housegroup, and try to cook and eat something before leaving for said housegroup, all simultaneously.

Might tell you more about the weekend or my miserable attempts at productive day off later on, but don’t hold your breath… for now, kitchen disasters is far easier to deal with.

People in work keep saying “are you still here?” or “when do you finish?” or “are you looking forward to finishing work?” or various other leaving-related type things. (One of the partners this afternoon: “you just can’t get the staff these days…”!) And while I know full well that they mean it terribly friendlily, I have to confess to struggling. Lots. I am stupidly scared of finishing work. I have another week there, but the last few have gone reeeeaaallly quickly. Also, if people are too lovely to me at the moment, it tends to make me dissolve, and being in hormonal floods is not good when you’re front of house and supposed to look well and welcoming and sound smiley not teary on the phone. Maybe it’s good I’m finishing after all, so they can get someone a bit more stable on the desk!

When I said I couldn’t make any meetings or evenings on Wednesdays until Christmas, and gave apologies in advance for things that landed on Wednesdays anyway, I was thinking more of the Babe and not missing any more antenatal weeks rather than skiving PCC. Honestly! But tonight, one of our house-group’s husband was complaining about how difficult taking Minutes was (and more so, turning them into comprehensible, tactful, publishable form!). It turned out he was the one who’d been roped into fill my shoes last week – I sympathised, really I did (while being quite glad someone else realises the work involved – tee hee)! I know I’m awful to think like this, and should be grateful to him for standing in. It’s just nice when when one’s thankless task is sometimes appreciated.

Saw Motorcycle Diaries today, and I really, really recommend it if you get a chance to see it (though unlikely to be in any big UCI/Odeon type places – we are really lucky to have such a good “arty” cinema on campus). It’s based on Che Guevara’s travels before he got all famous and revolutionary, and it’s an absolutely breathtakingly beautiful film. It’s funny, poignant and sad, and inspirational and humbling, and certainly an attractive alternative to work this afternoon!

I knew I hadn’t been online for a couple of days but my last entry was last Tuesday!! Quick update:

Wednesday a lie-in, some gardening (not housework or desk!), a PCC meeting I missed ’cause of antenatal class, a relatively early night, still no sleep though.

Thursday Superficial girliness rules! While the rest of the Chaplaincy crowd were at a Reel Issues night discussing the deep’n'meaningful “Philadelphia”, Sarah and some other girlfriends took me to the new “Bridget Jones” film. Quite good fun, not as good as the book. My usual verdict for films “based on” things I’ve read. 2 whole hours’ sleep! It’s an improvement. Slightly rested after hours in bed, but still frustrating not to be able to get real refreshing shut-eye.

Saturday Rained. Lots. No gardening today – had to face the housework. In the end quite enjoyed it, seeing it as exercise, and a kind of symbolic mirror of what I have to do in real life at the moment: have a really decent clean out of all the accumulated c**p and keep on top of them not piling up again while there are more important things to look forward to. Put U2 on the tape machine (and later, the rugby on the telly-gloat!) and got rid of a week’s worth of washing up, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom floors, then feeling a little bit virtuous went out in the rain (briefly) to the autumn Bazaar at church (5 books for £1 and some *gorgeous* bara brith). SLEPT WELL

So well in fact that I was in a mad rush to get up, washed, dressed, breakfasted and to church on time yesterday. Made it in during the first hymn, not too bad considering I only woke up at quarter to nine and live a 20 minute walk from church (9.30 service). Visited the Green Christmas Fayre in the afternoon, lots of organic and environmentally friendly goodies, and Traidcraft has come in under the Environment Centre’s gumbrella this year so was running a café and some fairtrade stalls there too. Quiet evening in nice clean flat, starting to cook Christmas presents.

Sleeping again (at last!) hasn’t seemed to make a difference to how slow and stupid I feel in general at the moment, though someone (reassuringly??) told me it was mostly baby-related. Most people worry about regaining their pre-baby shape, but I wonder how long it takes to get your brain back after the birth?

There’s a very pressing need to do an awful lot of both at the moment. They’re not hugely compatible, in a finite amount of time. The flat is disgusting, but I am struggling to be even awake, let alone active.

In a bizarre twist, last night I dreamed (in the rare moments I actually slept, that is) of hoovering. Not good. Still, ‘nother day off tomorrow, maybe I’ll do better then. Pathetic, aren’t I?!

After some plastic abuse in Mothercare this morning, I have now (finally!) followed my Midwife’s destructions and (drumroll) packed my hospital bag! I’m not supposed to pop for about another 6 weeks but she wants me to be ready for all eventualities including going in early.

It’s strange, the hospital part doesn’t worry me nearly as much as I expected. It’s afterwards that is much, much more scary. I’m so afraid I’ll let the Babe down.

(Sorry I’m being lazy and using the blog for a small advert!)

If anyone with wheels is heading to the Tip any time soon, can I cadge a lift for 4 heavy refuse sacks of garden stuff the bin men won’t take away and a knackered buggy*?!

*I’m really not ungrateful for all the offered/given/lent baby stuff, but I only need one of each, specially the big things! Usually if I’m offered more than I need I’ll take the spare to a charity shop but this one, that I was given by a patient in the Clinic, isn’t fit for that, it’s not in the best of health and rusty so can’t be collapsed so though they meant terribly well it’s not the most helpful of presents!

Thank you lots!

It is seldom I venture into the political fray, partly ’cause others express themselves a lot better than me and partly ’cause it’s usually too boring to get bogged down and argumentative BUT

England’s cricketers on tour to Zimbabwe? I’m sorry but it’s just plain wrong.

it’s sad when financial considerations take more precedence than the sport itself. It’s stupid when politics starts getting in the way of friendly competition.

Do people have such short memories? We wouldn’t have been seen playing South Africa when the whole international community was pressuring for the end of Apartheid. Those sort of social and sporting sanctions have just as much – if not more – effect as political/trade etc sanctions, because they affect whole peoples and not just the political top brass who more often than not don’t care.

I know the team will play the cricket, do their best to avoid the controversy, and then come home again – but I think it’s deeply unfair of the ECB to put them in such an untenable position and expect them to leave it to “individual conscience” whether or not to play.

If they don’t, they let the team and England down. If they do, they’re supporting a contemptible regime at the behest of the powers that be, who are bowing to political and financial, rather than sporting, considerations.