Today

Wow, it’s been a busy day!

I had a job intervies – and was offered the job! Though I’m not sure if I want it. Shall have a think over the weekend.

And the 2 difficult housemates are moving out! One gave her notice in 6 weeks ago, as she’s moving in with her fiancee. And the other told me this evening he’s moving out because he can’t live with me anymore (and also ‘cos our landlord – vicar – doesn’t get things sorted). My only response was “Well, that means I don’t have to”, as I’ve already  been looking and recently went to see a place locally.

All in all, been a bit of a day!

A little less cryptic

So a bit more on the cryptic post of yesterday. With a little background first.

India was perhaps an opportunity to run away. Itchy feet because of friends going and working overseas. A shaky time at work. Church being painful and exhausting. Singleness and a new year. Plus, I saw an opportunity to work overseas with skills that I already have.

Every time a friend ups and disappears to Africa or Asia for months and years at a time, I wonder, should I go? I look at Christian agencies, and realise I generally can’t afford them. And am also not sure if I want to pay to go and volunteer – surely that’s not what volunteering’s about? But anyway. So I usually end up looking at VSO. And getting depressed because I have no skills they want. I’m not a teacher or a doctor or a nurse or a dietician or… Or anything they want. In fact, when I had my interview with Oasis, I struggled to come up with anything other than I could do the admin and I like kids.

Aside from that, I find myself wondering what kind of career I could have that, should I ever get to that stage in my life where kids happen and I want to work part time, would work around family. And that is a little more grown up than being an administrator. Though I do a bit more than the average office administrator, I’m a little bit stuck – Jo of all trades, master of none.

A few months ago I was seeing in the news articles about a shortage of midwives, and wondered to myself if maybe I should look at re-training. Then decided I wouldn’t.

TEFL has been another option – train to teach English to non-native English speakers, either here or overseas. Loads of opportunities.

So Saturday night I was out with a group of friends, one of which has taught TEFL in Prague. And I, off the cuff said, ‘Maybe I should learn to teach TEFL’. And thought nothing more of it.

Whilst on the train on the way back to my friends’ house where I was staying the night, she said to me something along the lines of this:

“When you said you thought you should learn TEFL, I wondered if maybe you should become a midwife.”

That’s weird, I thought. Nobody had been talking about kids, giving birth or midwives at all during the meal. So I said: “That’s weird, I’d thought about that a few months ago.”

She then went on to explain that she had a friend who had trained with the idea being to work overseas, not here in the UK.

I just think that’s a little bit weird, so I’ve asked her to get in touch and see if I could meet or even shadow on of her midwife friends to find out a bit more about it. And I’ve just finished printing out the careers leaflet.

This is another door. It doesn’t mean that India is out of the picture. But it could mean that. Certainly in the short-term it would. Training is a 3 or 4-year degree. And would cost a bomb! But as with all of these things, if God wants it to happen, He will make a way. And if not, He will close the door.

So I’m pushing at another door.

Show hospitality to strangers

Just commands us to show hospitality to strangers. But how far do we go with that? How much hospitality do we show them? Can we set limits on what we give to others?

And when they take the piss? What then do we do? Do we let people get away with it, or do we set boundaries, call them to account?

I live in a houseshare with 4 others. And despite us all being Christians, it’s an absolute nightmare, much of the life. The others don’t seem to mind living in a filthy house. One of them habitually lets friends stay, which wouldn’t be a problem except he a) doesn’t ask, b) doesn’t tell us when they’re turning up, and c) seems to expect that somehow someone will be around to let them in. Even if it’s the middle of the night and he’s gone skiing in Switzerland for the week.

Now, just been ranting at one of my other housemates and her boyfriend about him, and turns out he’d been in his room all that time and it’s possible he may have heard most of what was said. Most of which wasn’t great. But then I start to think, why should I care? Talking to him makes no difference. He shows a basic lack of consideration for others. And I know that tit for tat is not a good way forward, but when all I really want to do it cause him serious bodily harm, avoiding him is probably the safest option.

Oh to live alone!

Approaching my deadline

Last year I gave myself a year of hope for the guy from church (Church Boy, or CB). That ends on Tuesday.

Has anything happened over the last year to give me hope? Well, yes, loads, but is it realistic hope? I don’t think so. We’ve become very good friends, but other than that, I don’t think there’s any sign of him thinking this relationship more than a friendship.

So from Tuesday I have to stop hoping on him. And keep my hope focused on God instead.

In another world

One of my housemates astounds me sometimes with her arrogance, her brazenness, her cheek. She’s the one who, before she moved in, when I first met her, informed me that I’d have to get used to the fact that she’d always be late, if I wanted to be her friend. After about 18 months of that, I decided I didn’t want to get used to it, as wasn’t so bothered about being her friend if that’s what she thinks of her friends.

She’s also the one who, when I concussed myself on New Year’s Eve and screamed loudly as I did it, wandered out of her room about 15 minutes later and, when I informed her I was off to the hospital, said: “Oh, I thought I’d heard you scream.”

Anyway, there have been a few classic moments over the last few days, particularly last night (you can tell I don’t spend much time with her nowadays, mainly because she pretty much lives at her fiance’s).

Sunday (leading prayers): “Blah, blah, blah… Pray for the leaders of the parish that they would live to be pure and holy. … blah, blah”
Last night: “Oh, we’re not getting married until 2009, so we’re going to move in together to save money.”

Point to note: she’s a commissioned pastoral leader for our parish who is practically living with her fiance and is planning to move in with him at least a year before they get married. I don’t have a problem with Christians who’re getting married moving in together. EXCEPT when they’re in leadership. And I can’t believe she’s so arrogant enough to ask the home group to pray for them to find a place!

Anyway, continuing on…
Last night (a bit later): “We’ve not got a date yet. But we’ve got the cake sorted. A friend of mine does cakes and said they’ll do it for us. And we can save money on the flowers. Jo likes doing flowers, so if I buy them I’m sure Jo will do them.” [Jo keeps very quiet at this point and pretends not to be listening. After all, Jo's listening for a date of the wedding and considering planning a holiday around that time!]

Later last night; “I’ve got to go now [to her fiance's] so can I be excused from the clearing up. I did bring, and whip, the cream, after all.” [And one housemate bought all the savoury fillings, a guest bought eggs and flour, I bought the fruit and made 60 pancakes. Admittedly she did bring some fruit (and was late!) - and then had a go at me because I'd bought fruit, as if it's MY fault she can't read instructions! And just about everyone else (including guests) made pancake batter and cleared up.]

She astounds me! I don’t know what to say any more. I guess I just have to laugh at her brazenness!