I don’t enjoy politics at the best of times.  This is not because I am ignorant or uncaring about the state and affairs of our country, but because I loathe and detest (strong words from me) the divisive implications of labeling oneself “a conservative”, “a labourite” (new word there for the sake of making this sentence work) or “a liberal democrat” (or anything else political).  I have sat in many conversations where people have adopted their political leaning as their identity, speaking as if it gives them some kind of authority, belittling those of other parties as if they have no status, intelligence, worth or value.

Now if people are not Christians then I can totally cope with the fact that their political leaning might be their identity, because their identity has got to come from somewhere.  However, I had a conversation with a Christian recently who said “everything I hate about Cheltenham is summed up in the conservative party.”  I nearly knocked him out.  He votes Labour, but I couldn’t care less, I tried to challenge him on what he had just said, resulting in my confession that I do not swear allegiance to one political party.

he scoffed at this, saying that ultimately I would have to otherwise I was not performing my moral duty to my country.  I’m sorry but I object.  First and foremost I am a Christian.  All authority in heaven and on earth comes from God, says the Bible.  I don’t believe it is right to ally yourself with one particular party otherwise we say to God that we vote for the person he wants us to vote for, so long as they are the most recently elected leader of party “x” because that fits with the social standing that we have taken for ourselves in life.  If you give your life to God, then your life is not your own.  When are we going to learn to ask God whom He has chosen to lead the country and then vote for that person.  God uses people regardless of their ‘party’.  He used people from tax collection parties, prostitution parties, poverty parties etc.  I;’m sure the logical people of the time would have said “why don’t you choose from the temple party, they have the most Christian values” and Jesus may have replied yes, but they are also the most conceited, arrogant un-teachable bunch of people going, so I choose this person because I find in them a humble heart.  His ways are not our ways and we’ll never get it.  I felt like saying to this person that God had given them x years in Cheltenham for a result of hatred.   What a shame that this person could never be a light to that town because their focus was political instead of godly.

I am sick to the back teeth of reading blog entries which boast about politics, belittling others and  airing political insight and so-called wisdom.  I appreciate that people find politics interesting, but if we could put as much passion, insight and boasting in about God, then surely the world would be going in a better direction.  Rant over - I hold my breath in anticipation of all the furious responses I am now likely to receive, but I felt I should write this (perhaps I should have been more gracious, apologies if it feels as though I haven’t), all I would ask is that any response is carefully considered.

This week I feel as though I have been playing a very long game of stuck in the mud.  After being told on Monday that my magazine layout was too boring and that I would have to do it again, I have been absolutely stuck as to what/how to do it.   It has been very stressful.  So last night I rebelled and wrapped up some Christmas presents, but today I am back to the mud and it ‘aint moving fast, that’s for sure.  My prayer today:

Dearest Lord,

Please have this day as yours and not mine.  Please do a miracle and give me a hot tip-off about how to make plastic mannequins look good on a page.  Please give me the gift of typographic layout and correct font choice.  Lots of love xxx  Amen.

I will let you know when He answers it and what He says.

We spotted this man the other day talking to coffee bar lady.  He was wearing a protective mask whilst he spoke, as if he might catch something deadly from the paninis…   That said, I’m not sure he is a hundred miles off the mark!  Still, the University shop has just had to close due to an infestation of vermin, so no more cheap sketch pads for a while (”indefinitely”).  Time to do a bulk order from Seawhite’s of Brighton I feel.

Monty likes to watch the toilet flush…  Odd…

I mentioned my shower gel the other day…  Well the Charles Worthington one was even more intriguing.  I picked it up this morning to read (in large letters) “OUTER BODY”.  Is this unique?  I was told on numerous occasions throughout my childhood by my mother that I would have to go and wash my mouth out with soapy water, but I always thought that it might just be one of those ‘Mum myths’.  Perhaps not??

Other Mum myths:

The brown bit of the banana is the nicest bit

Crusts are good for you

Potato skin is also the best bit and will (no doubt) put hairs on your chest (not a good selling point for me)

…I’ll write to Santa Claus and tell him….XYZ

…What are your favourite Mum myths?

Ok let’s clear this up once and for all.  It is ESpresso, NOT EXpresso.  On Facebook today there is an EXpresso bean for sale (as today’s gift).  My toes curled and I began to twitch, slightly.  If you type “Expresso coffee” into Google it will even say “Did you mean Espresso?”  YES I DID!!  Only I’m too much of a flinkin’ sheep to break the convention of calling it by its proper name because that would involve saying something slightly foreign which might make me feel slightly stupid because I don’t know how much of an accent I can put on whilst still sounding cool and in control.  Oh shut up, just say “Espresso” you clown.

I have noticed recently that this public likes to waste its breath… Or possibly fingers when typing, as there seems to be a lot of pointless, silly or intriguing information out there. The other day I bought some new shower gel. I bought three varieties in Savers, Charles Worthington (for an awesome 75p!!), Cussons something-or-other cheap stuff and out of sheer intrigue, a basic brand for 29p that was fragrance free (I thought it might be good to try as I am allergic to some products). It was only this morning when I picked it up in the shower to use it, that I noticed why it was 29p. “Fragrance free, soap free”. What am I washing myself with exactly?!?! I mean, it worked, but I am concerned.

Just now I packaged an InDesign document for Owen. The computer politely informed me that this process could well take several SECONDS. Seriously? I am not bothered. If it was several hours then I would definitely expect an apology from the machine, but there must be some pretty impatient people out there if they have to be warned about a ‘process’ taking any kind of morsel of time!! I also love the way that the computer felt the need to repeat itself in a smaller font, for those with specialist optical abilities.

On Saturday JT and I went shopping.  I have been looking for some trainers for a while as I wrecked my last good pair in the floods.  Since then I have been wearing a £5 pair from Primark, which were cool, but starting to show signs of wear and tear.  I said to JT that I wanted to find some pink trainers that were totally pink and a bit shiny.

We walked into TK Maxx, looking for something else and there, on the shelf, amongst the MENS’ SHOES (?!?!??!) were one pair of totally pink and slightly shiny trainers.  I grabbed them and looked for the size.  6.  WOOHOO!  My size.  I looked at the price, cringing with concern….  RRP £100.   Price: (reduced) £12.  YES!  So now I feel like I am walking on the moon in some cheap designer and totally pink trainers

I like reading 1 Peter…  It is gentle, which is refreshing after some of the books of the Bible.  This does not mean that it is a cop out, it is very profound, but I feel that he uses a slightly different communicative approach to some Biblical ‘authors’ which sits well with my receptiveness!  (Is that a word?!  It is now…)

Last night I read this which interested me. 1 Peter 3:15  - “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ”

It was the last bit that struck me, “But do this with gentleness and respect”.  I have nothing really to say on the matter, but I was stuck by it.  Perhaps I will need to recall it soon.

This weekend JT, the kittens and I played “Go for Broke” and “Taboo”.  It was great fun :-)  (I will attach pictures later, they are on my phone!).  The reason for this was that I had been challenged about the amount of time that we spend on computers and whether or not computers were in fact becoming a religion/an idol, in that they were taking up more time than God, taking up more time than genuine social interaction with real people and that we were spending a lot of time doing nothing in particular as a result.

As a first step we decided to play some real games.  Neither of us can avoid work on the computer but we can avoid playing mindless games.  We plan to cut our computer usage for non-work and at times where we should be doing more important things.