Breakfast
We're currently driving back to Bath after a week in the Highlands of Scotland. We just had a gut-wrenching breakfast in Morrisons in Penrith. You wouldn't think it'd be possible to destroy bacon, egg, beans and toast, but, yes, Morrison's managed it! If we hadn't already waited 30 minutes for our food, and were not in a rush to get going, we would have sent it back. The couple sitting at the table next to us sent theirs back and had to wait even longer. So, in true British style we soldiered on and worked our way through the mixture of congealed protein on grease soaked cardboard. Quite what they had done to the baked beans defies belief!
Last night, Lucy had a dream. She was eating in a beautifully set bistro, white linen tablecloths, silver cutlery, and she was sipping a delicate glass of perfectly chilled delicious white wine. She looked up and Clare Birch, the cook at Rose Cottage, came out of the kitchen. It was a good reminder to me that at Rose Cottage, we are not cooking food because we want to cook food, no, we are cooking food because we want to treat ordinary people like royalty.
Dates for my diary…
For those who didn't know, I am taking up the post of Priest-in-Charge of Uplyme with Axmouth in Devon. The parish is wanting to move towards becoming a Mission Community, and it is my hope - under the grace and leading of God - to help them achieve this.
We have a moving date - 2nd December 2009.
We have a licensing date - 20th December 2009 at 10am, Uplyme Parish Church.
I will be talking at the 4pm Crib Service at Axmouth Church on Christmas Eve, and speaking at the 10am Christmas Morning service at Uplyme. Then it'll be a week spent with family before hitting the ground at a gentle jog in January.
Highland Fling
After another week of jury service (two more trials), we finally got away for our week in the Scottish Highlands. Talk about contrast. One day I am sitting on the X39 bus between Bath and Bristol and the next I am walking with my daughter Gemma up in the mountains to a special valley called Coire Lair. Stunning.
On the fishing front, I've tried to catch a salmon without much success. I hooked and lost a smallish sea trout on Sunday and an absolute monster followed my fly yesterday. I have caught several small finnock - 0.5lb of iridescent blue/green and silver as well as a bunch of small brown trout.
It can be eerie standing waist deep in water surrounded by such lofty mountain grandeur. The spooky honks of rutting deer echo across the polished surface of the loch. A salmon leaps just a few feet away making me jump. Beauty and wilderness.
Top Drive UK
I have just re-designed and implemented Phil Long's Top Drive UK web site using WordPress. http://www.topdriveuk.com/
Farmborough School – 16th November
Gavin is leading a beatboxing workshop at Farmborough School on 16th November. 
Time, time, time
Yes, I know, this site needs updating with all sorts of stuff - and it will happen.
This week I've been on jury service. After waiting around for a day and a half, I got put on a trial. What was evident was that we were not getting the whole picture and that we only saw what the prosecution and defence wanted us to see. We ended up getting an 18-year old lad an extended prison sentence. Such a shame - what a waste. I hope and pray that God protects him and leads him. All that potential...
We have been picking out curtains for our move to Uplyme in December. Thank God for mums who are experts with curtains! We are praying like crazy that the right people will take over from us here in Rose Cottage.
Today I preached at Bathford Church on the topic of divorce and then afterwards beatboxed for the children and young people. I think it went very well. They are a lovely Christian community on the edge of Bath. After church, I mastered a CD of music for a local guy.
Laterz. Gavz
Dance EP
After Making Waves, (btw: I featured on CrossRhythms radio last night), I have begun work on a new venture. It hasn't got a name yet but it's a dance/synth/urban/electro EP. The first backing track is finished and will now be passed on to some Bristol-based MCs who will add their vocals. Then it'll be back in the studio to record the girlie chorus vocals. All very exciting! DJ English T (as in Tom next door) is executive producer. Due to the imminent move, we need to get moving if this project is to get done!