I have suddenly realised that if I don't hurry up and update my blog I will have forgotten a good part of what has been going on over the last few days, so here goes!

Steve has managed a holiday in Bristol, a few days back at work, yet another holiday this time in Edinburgh, and this morning he flew off again to the North Sea!! It was most pleasurable seeing him in the times when he was actually around! And that he came home in time to help chop up the tree branches! Yes, he did do the right thing in dragging a whole load of them out into the front garden because it meant three of the neighbours realised how much we needed all the wheelie bins we could lay hands on!

Daniel has been having a fine time with the Council Youth Project. On Wednesday he was asked to gather bored teenagers to join in a street dancing session alongside some professionals. He did so well in recruiting the youngsters that he had to go back for more yesterday. And the dance steps he showed us on the front room carpet looked amazing! He has been working on his house this week (in between amusing youngsters) and it is apparently looking quite something. I must make a point of popping in.

Yesterday saw me with my dear friend Susie, and joy of joys Lea had the day off too so we could all meet up for bible study and prayer. How wonderful it was for the three of us to get together again and all be such a help to each other. How I thank God for the gift of these two Christian friends who have the ability to so uplift me. I must pray on for Lea as she struggles with the long hours in her job, and for Don that he will be saved. Kristina has recovered well from her operation so we give God all the praise for that.

Hertford last Sunday was beautiful both morning and evening. Kerry showed me the photos of her baptism which got us thinking how we should have a members page on the website and put up her photos. Penny with all her good ideas suggested her wedding photos and testimony should be there too so exciting things are on the way! Actually it was our 29th wedding anniversary that day and the preacher chose the very hymn we had on our wedding day and the right tune! Jesus Thou Joy of loving hearts. In the evening one of the hymns was 'When peace like a river'. There were only 11 of us but during that hymn it sounded like 111 in the building. The singing was so harmonising and beautiful. I think our voices were joined by heavenly echoes that evening. I also think we all felt the same. A big point for prayer this week is that Hertford Town Church will see huge blessing.

Well, I hope that is most of it. Tomorrow looks to be another painting day inside the shed. Masonry painting is a new experience for me and nowhere near so much fun as creosoting but at least it is progression.......

Time to make an update after a busy week. Steve came back safely from the oil rig and Ben from Cheddar. He said there were no real highlights this year, but 2 kids got saved which was wonderful. Julian and I had a lovely time at Hertford yesterday both morning and evening, and what a joy to take along Susie and Kristina. They both had a lovely time too. In the evening Tanya and Kelly played the cello and flute, with piano accompaniment which sounded terrific. And there were 'leftover' homemade scones with strawberry jam, and real clotted cream; also terrific!
I turned the corner to Steve's this morning and had a very pleasant surprise! The bulk of the tree is down. Dan must have been enjoying himself to be able to chop down so much in one go. It's now a case of seeing how many of the neighbour's garden wheelie bins we can borrow.
Special prayer points this week:- Charles and Tanya and the kiddies away camping, Ben's job interview tomorrow and Kristina's op on Thursday.

Saturday evening and another job completed. The shed has a concrete base! For anyone unaware of our shed it is the only one of its kind! It all began 11 years ago when Daniel had time on his hands while on study leave for his GCSEs. He would look longingly at our tumbledown shed and say how good it would be to knock it down completely and build a new one. We measured the space and decided that if we moved the wooden bike shed we would have a fair sized piece of land well able to house the table tennis table. And so the idea was born and Daniel began demolishing the shed. That was the easy part. I think all the family have had an important part to play in building our shed. Daniel had some double glazed windows left over from a job and so the front has been built around them! The sides contain bricks of every shape, size and colour. I spent days up a ladder last summer woodstaining the rafters in a beautiful pine finish only for Dan to have loft insulation left over and so Julian covered all my beautiful work. Maybe when his ceiling falls down my oak beams will have won the day but we won't talk about that just yet!!

My little family down the end of the garden came back from their hols today. It was lovely to see their happy smiling faces and hear of all they had done. And have a hug from Sophie. :)

Yesterday Susie and I delved into the churches of Smyrna and Pergamum. Lea was working and so unable to come. She must be missing Christian fellowship so badly. It was good that we could commit her and Don and little Ashly to God's safe keeping.

Written Monday.....

Another lovely day today so I can sit out in the garden and work on the computer. Yesterday was just top class. Julian, Daniel and I went over to Hertford Town Church both morning and evening. Two great speakers, and more time to get to know Charles and Tanya better and their wonderful children, Lydia, Elsie, Harry and Joel. And thanks for the chat, Penny.You're unique; and a shining example of a truly keen Christian. How interesting to see the upstairs to the church and the children's Sunday School work on the walls. What potential there is here in this loving and welcoming church.

Stephen left early this morning to journey to the North Sea to work on an oil rig. I hope he remembers all the training he received in Norfolk last week, escaping from helicopters, swimming under water and extinguishing fires!

And my beautiful leather NASB study bible arrived today. More reading to look forward to.