Minleywoman's Musings

Help me!

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:29:43 GMT

I'm running the Race For Life again this year too to raise money for Cancer Research UK - please sponsor me!

Race For Life 2007

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:52:47 GMT

I'm running the Race for Life again this year to raise more money for Cancer Research UK.

This year I'm running 5km round the City of London on Sunday 3rd June in memory of both my Grandad and my uncle, who were both killed by lung cancer 30 years apart. I'm hoping to raise more than last year's £412.50, so would be VERY grateful for any sponsorship you can afford!

Please Sponsor Me!

Need Help...

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 18:14:15 GMT

As a result of everything that's happened with Uncle John, my mum, my sister and I have decided to take part in this year's Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research UK. It's kind of my way of fighting that useless, helpless bystander feeling.

So despite my strong anti-exercise stance, I will be taking part in a 5km race round Stanmer Park on 1st July - more information at www.raceforlife.org.

The whole point is to raise money through sponsorship, so I've set up an online sponsor form at www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/annettenewman - if you are able to, please sponsor me and help stop other people having to go through the torment of cancer. (And if you're feeling really generous, Jenny's sponsor form is here: www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/schumacher, she'd love your sponsorship too!)

And if anybody has any other fundraising ideas, we're open to suggestions! I've already had one request to run dressed as King Kong, does anybody have any better ideas please?!

Just had to share...

Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:24:12 GMT

I shouldn't really be online at work but I had to share with all those who've been praying for my uncle. I've just had a text from him - he got his latest scan results yesterday and they can't find the cancer! He's far from out of the woods, it could come back at any time, but it is definitely good news.

He still needs lots of prayer and is still in lots of pain (apparently it's nerve damage caused by the radiotherapy) but things are looking better.

Thank you Lord!!!

Oops!

Fri, 10 Feb 2006 21:24:00 GMT

I've just realised how long it's been since I updated.

OK - for the last seven months in a nutshell

Moved into new flat (actually I put that in my last post, but it's helping me to put things into perspective!)

Rebuilt flat pack furniture & unpacked bedroom stuff.

Unpacked TV, got very little done for a few days (outside of work and tutoring, obviously!)

Got sick of TV, bought some more flat-packs and built them.

Ran out of space to put new furniture so unpacked another box.

Bought a freeview box. Got very little done for a few weeks.

Took on 3 new tutees - now tutoring 4 nights a week.

Went to see Alice Cooper at the Brighton Centre - great gig but the t-shirt I bought has stitching defects so I can't actually wear it. (Must remember to contact merchandising people....)

Got invited to uni course reunion and invited Anne to crash at mine - frantic unpacking to give her somewhere to sleep.

Went to reunion, great fun catching up with everyone, we all promised to make more of an effort to keep in touch. (Not heard from/contacted anyone since - oops!)

Started Christmas shopping & realised I needed to unpack/rearrange boxes to give me somewhere to store presents. Re-piled a few boxes - gained floor space but blocked window, oh well, I'm rarely around in daylight anyway.

Kind of ignored birthday, but nice to do nothing for a bit.

Realised heating in the flat wasn't exactly great, and neither's the seal around my bedroom window, but haven't unpacked enough for anyone to be able to get to the window to fix it. Put extra bedding on to counter the draughts.

Went home for Christmas, usual family affair, nice and relaxing. Back to work for 3 days before new year.

New Year at Matt & Natalie's - really good fun, despite the random quiz DVD that was decided by how many questions each team got wrong/gave away!

New Year's Day visiting Nan & Uncle John, good to see them, but can't help worrying about them. Then visiting Steve's in the evening for the usual belated-Christmas event.

Back to Brighton on 2nd Jan, realised the flat's an absolute pigsty & I really should think about finishing unpacking. Watched TV until thought went away.

Back to work/tutoring/non-stop busyness.

Mum, Dad & Jenny came down to visit & bring my new HUGE (Christmas present) tv down & give me back the sleeping bag I'd loaned Jen. Spent rest of weekend setting up surround sound (most technologically advanced pigsty for miles!)

Bedroom got too cold to sleep in but couldn't be bothered to unpack further or find bigger duvet, so got sleeping bag out on sofa. (The TV's in the living room anyway...)

Decided last weekend I REALLY need to do some serious unpacking so bought some more flat-pack storage. Spent most of Sunday building/deciding where to put it. Moved books (which I'd unpacked last year) from tall bookcase to the two lower ones because the top shelves were looking decidedly unstable. Decided where DVD & video collection would go.

Have had more nights off from tutoring in the last 2 weeks than I'd really have liked but the kids were ill so it can't be helped. Still didn't use the time to unpack though, instead have spent the time catching up on my virtual life. (Besides, it's warmer in the office...)

Am now actually going to go home and unpack my DVDs. Unless there's something good on tv....

So that's my life up to date, kind of a large nutshell, but quite concise for 7 months of my life.

In other news, my uncle's finished chemo and is now having radiotherapy, so please keep praying. He's finding it really tough at the moment and is getting fed up of feeling constantly weak and tired.

Also, my mate Wendy's just had a little boy, after a somewhat less than straight-forward pregnancy - congratulations and we'll keep praying for God's strength and healing for you.

Oh yes, and I might be going up to Milton Keynes for the Monsters of Rock gig in June, just gotta check the bank balance first!

So I think that's just about everything, if I've forgotten something I'll just have to get myself more organised and post again!

Hope all is well with everybody out there, i'm off to find some pizza and a beer...

Still here!

Fri, 01 Jul 2005 19:34:33 GMT

In case you'd started to wonder, yes I am still alive, just about! It's just been an incredibly manic last few days.

First off, Green Day were absolutely awesome, I can't wait for the DVD (that was apparently being filmed there - working title 'Green Day - Live at Milton Keynes', imaginatively enough!) to come out. The only downside being the intense heat and severe lack of cloud cover or shade, resulting in a slightly pinker, more peely version of me than I'd really like.

I'd taken the Monday off work too so we just chilled in Emberton Park Monday morning before heading back. It made a nice change to just be able to relax and switch my brain off for a bit.

As a result of this fantastic weekend of me-time, I then had a week to try and pack up my life (and those of you who know me will be having kittens at the thought of how many boxes and bags were needed - suffice to say another rainforest bites the dust!) and move to my new flat before the end of June. Finally, after much help from several friends (Thank you everybody!), and several consecutive all-nighters I finally moved my last box into my new flat at 3am this morning. So I was 3 hours later than I should have been, it's an improvement on last year! At least I had time for some sleep before going into work this time!

Now I'm finally in my own place, I have to leave it for the weekend, as I'm going up to Gloucester for Tom's ordination. This means I have to now find some presentable-looking clothes to take with me, and judging by the state of my living room this could take all weekend in itself! I might just stop off at Matalan on the way and treat myself to a new outfit!

So yeah, my life has been charging off on it's own lately, dragging me along with it, but hopefully that'll change soon and I can get back to normal. I could definitely use the sleep!

On a more serious note:

Another prayer request for my uncle - he went back in to start his second bout of chemo yesterday, and was told the results of his bone scan. The cancer has spread there too. He's still being really positive and just saying 'well we'll just have to pray harder then!', but my cousin has taken it quite hard that his dad's so ill, so he could probably do with some prayer too!

Thanks for all your prayers, I've got to go to bed now, I'm nearly asleep at my desk!

Off to Milton Keynes!

Fri, 17 Jun 2005 20:06:24 GMT

I'm going to see Green Day this weekend! Should really be packing to move next weekend* but nevermind, I'm going to see Green Day!

* oh yeah, forgot to post that - the flat's all mine, deposit paid, tenancy agreement sorted, ready for me to pick up the keys next week!

Prayer Update

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 17:57:51 GMT

Just a quick update before I dash off to tutoring.

My Uncle John started Chemo last Thursday, and also got the results of another scan while he was there. It turns out the cancer had spread to his liver too. They said that it's good they found it now though - the chemo he's already on will combat the liver cancer too, and they'll just adapt the rest of his treatment to accomodate the extra needs. He seems to be coping quite well though, which kinda worries me in a way coz I'm not sure if he's in denial or not. He's also got to have bone scans and check the old grey matter is OK too.

Again, any prayer gratefully received.

Must dash or I'll be late.

I've got a flat!

Mon, 06 Jun 2005 18:02:49 GMT

Having left work Friday slightly underwhelmed to say the least, I thought I'd try my luck with flat-hunting elsewhere. When I was looking this time last year, there was one flat I really liked the look of but couldn't imagine affording. For some reason (not quite sure why) I gave the guy a ring, on the off-chance it might be available again. "That's funny," he says, "I'm just on my way to pick up the keys now, do you want to arrange a viewing"!

So 11am Saturday (such times do exist on Saturdays!) I went to check it out, and it is one amazing flat! On a little estate that reminds me a lot of a nicer version of Park Village; complete with off street parking and views of both the sea and the Downs (depending on which side of the complex you are); plus it has loads of storage and the choice of gas or electric cooker (I miss gas cooking so much!) - the only downer being the rent (not far off £600pcm). Anyway, I told him I'd speak to my parents to see if they'd go guarantor and took a few photos for a virtual tour for them, and would get back to him. I then sent the photos home and gave the parents a virtual tour over the phone and left it with them.

I get a call back from Mum yesterday to say they've managed to work something out and to take the flat if it's still available, so first thing this morning I call again and the guy says fine, it's yours, I'll hold it for you, just bring the deposit in ASAP! I am now officially not homeless at the end of the month!

Thank you Lord! (Now I just need you to show me how I'm gonna afford the rent....)

More Random Quizzes

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 20:51:43 GMT

Which flock do you follow?

this quiz was made by alanna

You're Captain Jack Sparrow: smart, savvy, a demon with the eyeliner and the best damn pirate we've ever seen. And only a litte crazy. Savvy?

Which POTC character are you?

this quiz was made by alanna

Looks like I spoke too soon

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 19:27:35 GMT

Why is it that as soon as things start to look like they're improving, everything gets thrown back in my face again?

Having told work that I'd like to take the flat that Mum and I both really liked, they've now decided 'oh, sorry, we're not letting that one out after all, we're going for Building Regs straight away, but you can have your pick of the other flats that are over-priced and not in any state to be let out to normal people'. So thanks for nothing, Work!

I've also come to the realisation that certain people I thought of as friends are even more two-faced than I gave them credit for, and I'm not sure what bothers me most - the fact that anyone can be that two-faced, or the fact that I let myself be taken in by them.

And finally, the icing on the cake, just as I started to think things couldn't get worse and had to start improving - my uncle has been diagnosed with lung cancer and starts chemo next week. He seems to be really positive about it all though, and is proving to have a deeper faith than any of us realised.

I'm getting sick of feeling like this, I'm usually the strong unfazed one that people bring their crises to. It seems like lately I'm spending most of the time I'm not at work shut away on my own crying. I barely cried at all over the last 10 years, now I'm making up for it, and I hate it. I want the old me back!

So, yeah, all prayer gratefully received!

Things are looking up.....

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 19:01:37 GMT

What a weekend! Loads of football, a dramatic grand prix, and a trip home to see if I can sweet-talk Dad into paying some of my rent for me!

The sweet-talking didn't quite work as well as I'd planned, in that I still have to pay my own rent, but I went through all the flat options with Mum & Dad and showed them the photos (I'd actually had the foresight to take my camera with me to the viewings!) and Mum loved the same flat as I did, to pretty much the same extent. She even had ideas about how to work round the washing machine issue, and told me to take whichever flat I really wanted, so it looks like I have a flat sorted. Now I just need to work out when the hell I'm gonna find time to pack up everything before I need to move - by the end of the month! - and sit down and actually work out a budget.

On the whole, I guess it was a pretty good weekend - pretty chilled, if a little nervewracking at times (I think I felt sick with nerves almost all day Monday!).

Quick afterthought - On the subject of good weekends, anybody going to HTH this Saturday?

I never thought I'd say this, but.....

Thu, 26 May 2005 22:37:43 GMT

Well done Liverpool - what a comeback!

That was one thoroughly deserved victory, and an amazingly entertaining match - that's the sort of match football's really about!

Meanwhile, back in the real world....

I went to look at the 'discounted' flats available through work today, and really like one of them. The only downer (apart from the rent, that goes without saying!) is that there's nowhere for a washing machine. Alternatively, I can have a smaller flat :o( that costs less :o) and can accomodate my washine machine :o) but the bathroom is across the corridor :o( - I now have some serious thinking to do! At least I've got a long weekend coming up.

Other than that I've done very little today, the highlight of my evening has been chatting on Messenger and finding some more Random Internet Quizzes here and here.

Robot
You are 57% Rational, 14% Extroverted, 42% Brutal, and 28% Arrogant.

You are the Robot! You are characterized by your rationality. In fact, this is really ALL you are characterized by. Like a cold, heartless machine, you are so logical and unemotional that you scarcely seem human. For instance, you are very humble and don't bother thinking of your own interests, you are very gentle and lack emotion, and you are also very introverted and introspective. You may have noticed that these traits are just as applicable to your laptop as they are to a human being. In short, your personality defect is that you don't really HAVE a personality. You are one of those annoying, super-logical people that never gets upset or flustered. Unless, of course, you short circuit.

To put it less negatively:

1. You are more RATIONAL than intuitive.

2. You are more INTROVERTED than extroverted.

3. You are more GENTLE than brutal.

4. You are more HUMBLE than arrogant.

Compatibility:
Your exact opposite is the Class Clown.
Other personalities you would probably get along with are the Hand-Raiser, the Emo Kid, and the Haughty Intellectual.

Squibb
Whoosh! You scored a whopping 62%.

In the Harry Potter books, a "squibb" was someone who should've been born with magical ability, and has tried really hard to develop that ability, but has trouble with the most rudimentary spells. You're kinda like that. The magic is in you somewhere, read: the power of imagination, spontaneity, and creativity, but you've been stunted. There's definitely hope, if you get in touch with your inner mage. Take a walk under the stars some night, and picture your place in the Universe. You may be surprised.

The worrying thing is, I think both of these are fairly accurate!

I am still here, honest!

Mon, 23 May 2005 18:35:36 GMT

I haven't completely disappeared off the face of the planet, I've just not felt much like acknowledging it's existence lately.

Since posting about how wonderful my Bank Holiday weekend was, everything's taken a bit of a nose-dive. My new home seems to have kinda fallen through (I can still have a flat, just for at least £100 a month more than I was initially told), leaving me a month in which to find an alternative (affordable) option, and find the money for a deposit (not an issue originally), and somehow find the time and resources to actually arrange moving.

Just as I was getting to grips with this idea, my uncle was found to have severe (terminal?) lung problems and a few days after that my grandad passed away.

At times I just wanna blow a huge childish raspberry at the world and hide under the duvet and pretend it all doesn't exist, other times I wanna beat the living daylights out if it and prove that I'm bigger than anything the world could care to throw at me. A lot of the time both options seem like too much effort and I just go back to sleep - which only makes things worse because it leaves me even less time to find a flat, etc.

On the plus side though, I did have a good day with family that I haven't seen for years on Friday (all the old family photos started to come out at Grandad's wake so we all had a good laugh at those!), then a good day hitting the West End on Saturday for Becky's birthday (thanks again for the invite!) so I guess I just need to stop wallowing in self pity and count my blessings! If I stop to think about it, I do have so much to be thankful for, I just need to get my act together and stop looking at all the negatives.

On that note, I guess I should stop procrastinating and go take a look a some property ads.....

Hooray for great mates!

Fri, 06 May 2005 00:11:26 GMT

Given that I was expecting the Bank Holiday weekend to be a bit of a non-event, I actually had a really good weekend. Saturday wasn't overly fantastic (I slept until about lunchtime then spent the rest of the day collecting travel brochures and translating the word 'hello' into umpteen different languages, both in preparation for Explorers on Sunday morning) but Sunday things definitely picked up.

Explorers went well, a little chaotic at times, but still productive and fun. I then went home to my parents' for the remainder of the weekend, and texted Steve to see if he fancied a pint seeing as I was home for more than just a few hours. I got an incredibly rushed phone call in reply saying that he was literally on his way to a BBQ but I was welcome to go along too. (Seemed a bit like gatecrashing at first, but I was persuaded to join in.) I had a great time, really chilled and it actually felt like I was socialising for a change, rather than just being at the pub with other people (no offence meant to the usual pub crowd, I'm just usually still in a work frame of mind and not able to switch off and relax!). I was actually meeting new people and making new friends, which is something I haven't done much of for ages, so I really enjoyed myself. (Thanks Richie for letting me gatecrash!)

The night just kept getting better though. Steve and several of the other BBQ-goers are running in the Dublin marathon in October, and I was told (not asked!) that I had to go and be part of their 'Support Crew' - apparently the majority of the people there who weren't running were going over to Dublin anyway to cheer them on & drink plenty of Guinness (not sure which had top priority!) A hundred and one reasons why I should politely decline (money, work, Mum's birthday...) flashed through my head, but the more I heard, the more convinced I was to say to hell with it and go. So by Monday morning (I didn't get in until gone 3am) I'd agreed to go and spend five days in Dublin with a bunch of nutters, most of whom I barely know - and I can't wait! (And no I wasn't drunk, I was driving so only had a half of cider as soon as I arrived!) I never thought I'd see the day when I'd even go see the London marathon, let alone fly overseas to watch one, but I'm actually really looking forward to it! Thank you Steve for 1) inviting me to the BBQ in the first place, 2) inviting me to join the Dublin trip, 3) not letting the matter drop until I'd agreed to go, and 4) organising everything so I don't even have to plan anything! You're a real blessing mate! (Thanks to the rest of the group for making me feel welcome and urging me to go too!)

I think I spent most of Holiday Monday either catching up on the sleep I'd missed or making Nan's birthday card and present, but even now several days on I think I'm still on a bit of a high from Sunday night.

I love my friends! Thank you for being so great, God bless you!

Another Random Internet Quiz

Sat, 30 Apr 2005 21:27:18 GMT

I'm beginning to wonder why I wanted to start up on LJ, I never seem to have anything to post. The highlight of my day has probably been faffing about with random internet quizzes. According to The Country Quiz........

You're Ireland!

Mystical and rain-soaked, you remain mysterious to many people, and this
makes you intriguing. You also like a good night at the pub, though many are just as
worried that you will blow up the pub as drink your beverage of choice. You're good
with words, remarkably lucky, and know and enjoy at least fifteen ways of eating a potato.
You really don't like snakes.
Take the Country Quiz at
the Blue Pyramid

Not overly accurate, as I much prefer snakes to potatoes, but it killed a few minutes.

Good grief, is this really all I have going on in my life?....

Getting organised? Me?!

Sun, 24 Apr 2005 19:54:56 GMT

OK, so I've been meaning to do this for ages but never actually got round to it. So I figured while I'm sitting in the office at 8pm on a Sunday waiting for the blasted computer to convert umpteen property particulars files into pdf format, I'd actually get myself organised and sign up. So here I am, finally with my LiveJournal sorted and still no pdf files arrived yet.

Now I have got myself online, I can't actually remember what I was going to post. I think I used up all my brainpower trying to outsmart the office computer.

Oh well, I'll recharge my braincells with a little caffeine and try again later.