Life, sunflowers again, divine moments, wonderful people and wet wipes!

Hi you wonderful people ( pictures of the bubble bath show I am running out of ideas!!)

This comes with much love of course. I have read several books over the summer including the wonderful Alistair McGrath's Dawkins God. In one of them it says: Do not assume that people know what you think of them. I am not sure that I agree with the above, as I THINK those who I love the most know what I think of them or am I deluding myself?Answers please on a postcard or when we next meet.

I have not been out of the country at all this year and somehow I think this is significant as I need to travel in order to recharge the batteries and regain the sustained zest for life. Still there are 4 months left of 2008 and WHO knows what will happen!! Only One!On my key ring it says "born to travel" and I think that is true for me. I was at Soul Survivor with 9000 young people and that was amazing as ever but tiring with 17-19 hour days. Claire's daughter Beth led worship too and on the God TV night. Fabulous.A great talk on the heart was given by Ali Martin with the verse from Proverbs " Above all else guard your heart for it is the well-spring of life". Much food for thought and some of the issues from last term made sense.

Congratulations to the wonderful A2's who we will miss alot, Beth and Tim on their marriage and all those celebrating birthdays this month including my wonderful niece. Thank you to Linda B, my former Deputy Head, for all the investment you put in to countless numbers of your colleagues. You star!

I had the great pleasure of listening to the remarkable Emma Kirkby singing at St John's Smith Square which is an idealic church situated near the Houses of Parliament.It is peaceful and easily my favourite venue. Sitting on the steps at the interval with good wine is the wow factor, although I regret not getting to know a couple we spoke to or exchanging emails. Emma K was singing Handel's Chandos Anthems with awesome words which were so uplifting and full of God. At the end she simply walked down the steps towards me after I had just been thinking in the concert about meeting Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu and Baroness Cox. Suddenly I had the opportunity to engage her in conversation for about a minute. She said I looked familiar and I said I had followed her career for about 25 years and thanks for giving so much joy to millions. What style Emma if you ever read this!!I must write to her.

I also went to the Abbey with a friend to hear Mozart's Requiem and Handel's Messiah. What richness!! I still want to see Eileen Atkins on stage and I think she is still in London so we will see. I have heard some fabulous concerts this year which make up for the lack of travel and they definately restore the soul.

I was impressed with a recent interview of Richard Ingrams on Desert Island Discs who was a former editor of Private Eye. He came across with empathy, humanity and humour . I also heard a programme which irritates me beyond belief about a book which several people have mentioned to me ie. The Golden Notebook. I am still not convinced that it is my sort of book. I did enjoy the Memory Keeper's Daughter though, which was the first book by Kim Edwards. I am now reading The Evening of Adam by Alice Thomas Ellis recommended by Val at lunch today and, as she includes what people are thinking aside from their actions, I am into it straight away so far.

The death of Alexander S. recently made me want to re-read A day in the life of .. and Cancer Ward. I think an article in the Independent or the Times compared him with Nelson Mandala and spoke alot about his faith.

It has been fantastic to spend time with such wonderful people in the last 8 weeks. Thanks to all those I have had lunch with, enjoyed quality wine ( that amazing Becksberg at Loch Fyne), quality time, concerts, walks, parties etc. I love you all to bits so thanks so much to Claire and David, Janette, Judy, Lisa, Barbara, Mary, Gill, Liz P, Janet, Anne,Marcia, Val and hopefully I will still catch up on those I still have not seen. Wonderful to see Anne and Hilton and do you know Anne you are one of my oldest friends and we played hockey together 34 years ago!!I also got free tickets with Ruth to Swan Lake, a free 3 course meal for 5, free journeys to the hotel today each way after having being quoted £4 each way, free coffee in the hotel today and 5o free prints from Jessops!! Train journeys have also brought what I would consider were divine appointments including 2 remarkable ones when travelling to my dads. I feel sure I will see both of the people again for lunch. Time will tell. I am not working Weds and Thursdays next year as my timetable has been cut dramatically and will look for another job during the course of this year. Naturally speaking, one will not exist this time next year for me, but again I have a peace that all will be well. He knows and if the door shuts another will open in His timing and I will see what I am meant to see. We lost several fantastic staff ( some of my favourites) this year and there were tears shed at the end of last term.

Those of you sad people reading my blog from the beginning, know that I was given a word of knowledge over ten years ago about sunflowers. Suffice to say that when life is either difficult or when God is preparing me for something NEW, sunflowers pop up everywhere. In the last 3 weeks I must have seen about 60 in the most incredible places including at a hotel today when I was seeing a friend from Burma who was in London for 24 hours. A friend also had a dream about me dressed in very different colours and last time she had a dream about me I had resigned from Parmiters!!

So why am I wittering on about wet wipes or anything else for that matter? I had taken them to Hampstead as I had visions of eating ice cream with one infinitely patient, gracious, friend. We DID find a pub with a purple and green interior recommended by someone I recognised on a bus the previous day who was a parent from my first ever intake and her son is now 40!! The wet wipes were left over from a flight within Burma 3- 4 years ago from Air Bagan and they were STILL MOIST!!That evening an email arrived from Doha from the friend who used to work for Air Bagan in Burma to say she was coming to London and could we meet. They had been in my cupboard all that time. How cool and such interesting timing. Ok you are all asleep. Do I look bothered!!

Great to see you Moo Hay Paw and it was funny seeing you in London today and not Rangoon. I do hope those passengers behaved on the flight back to Doha!! How do you have so much patience with them? I would strangle them and the plane would arrive with less than when we set off. I have had my fair share of annoying and extremely arrogant passengers who treat the air crewe with such contempt. It makes me furious. Complete peasants. Just drop them from 29,000 feet and smile as they fall!!

Happy Birthday to my fabulous niece Francesca. All this socialising. I can't think where you get it from. Great driving too. I felt totally safe even though I was hanging on the roof rack as two wheels left the ground. Ha ha!!

I have been re- reading Love beyond Reason by John Ortberg and could quote the whole book, but here are some quotes which are great:

Being loved means being chosen

Whatever is hidden cannot be loved. I can only be loved to the extent I am known. ( Apologies to all those people I have asked about this!)

Real attention is one of the most powerful forces in the world. ..When you pay attention to someone you are saying "you are the most important person in my world right now. I have nothing else to do and nowhere else I would rather be."

It is a serious thing that I needed God to die for me, but it is a wonderful thing that God thinks I am worth dying for. Lewis Smedes.

We may be unlovely at times but we are not unloved. There is a kind of value which creates value in that which is loved.

Our faces shine and become radient in the presence of those we love most deeply. That is how God loves us.

What better way to finish than talking about love. Is it not the most important thing in the world? That is my quote!

Much love as ever you dearly loved people. Thanks for making me laugh at the most significant times. Sense of humour is so vital to our inner springs of life. You gems.

Flissxx

P.S. There was an article about Honeybuns in a newspaper recently. They must be the most wonderful cakes on the planet ( along with our Head's lemon shortbread) made in Dorset by Emma Goss-Custard ( great name!) and I have enjoyed them on many occasions in great company with wonderful coffee and here is to more.

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