...Bible week

more than anything else this year I gained a feeling of belonging. Belonging to a people. Belonging to God and his purpose. Belonging to a vision. A vision for a future and the part God wants us to play in it.

I have felt again the love of the church family. I have seen the impact that we can have on those near and abroad.

I have gained again the confidence that is based on the firm foundation of the apostles and prophets. A confidence to build.

Once again I feel that I have a part to play, a calling, a purpose.
Many thanks to Andrew Hughes and his plain speaking. Will I hide in the baggage like Saul. (The baggage made out of all those reasons-why) or will I give my baggage to the baggage handler as David did before heading for the front line.
Many thanks to our brother -and father in the faith- Keri; who through integrity, an open hand and his uncompromising obedience to our God seals himself as a master builder in my heart.

Many thanks to our dear Lord who knows me through and through. And still chose me to be one of his!

...completion

Having recently sat and successfully passed the viva for my MRes I can say how great it is to have completed what I began.
This simple saying I have heard repeatedly over the years from Keri Jones. I would often re-hear it to myself during the long nights of thesis writing. "Finish what you started".
The feeling of satisfaction that I now feel is not unlike that which I would get having eaten a full 360 of Jalapeno pizza along with a cool beer.

I thank my lecturers at the IDGS, Swansea Universities school of materials. I thank Dr S Brown for his time as academic supervisor. And Dr Foularis for his efficiency and motivational skills.
I thank Corus for the opportunity.
I thank my loving wife Jayne for her forbearance during those last few weeks of editing.

...submitting my thesis

I have amazed myself with the amount I have managed to do over the last few weeks. But best of all the peace of God has been with me through it all. Excellent. Thesis is in, just the viva to go. What I really love is being able to spend the entire evening playing Half-life 2 without feeling too guilty. And I may even read some of my novel before bed.

...having only two weeks to submit my thesis

... well it is not really two weeks at all. That is just when my tutor wants it in. There are a whole extra four weeks after that for edits and binding. Why else would I be taking the time to write this. I can't blame Anna for kick starting me back onto my blog. It's my will power being put to the test, that is all.
There is something great about being on a deadline. Most of us I'm sure produce some of our best work under pressure. Today I felt good about managing to write a few pages. Not bad as I had both girls, home sick from school, to tend to! If it wasn't for the house hunting going on as well I would have been on a roll!
oh well, tomorrow.

...steam engines

I have been following the television series on Big Engines presented by
Chris Barrie (Rimmer from Red Dwarf). Without a doubt my favourite are the
steam engines. These were built is the day when an engineer could build a
world changing technology in his garage (or coach-house maybe). Is there
anything more beautiful in the world of machines than a whopping great
beast of a gleaming steam engine. I don't like the silly little ones that
power steam rollers. I like the big ones that would power ships. Maybe it
is time for another visit the maritime museum in Southampton.