God bless, Jenni xx

The Sandpiper
by Robert Peterson

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I
live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever
the world begins to close in on me. She was building a sand castle or
something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.

'Hello,' she said.

I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small
child.

'I'm building,' she said.

'I see that. What is it?' I asked, not really caring.

'Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand.'

That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.

A sandpiper glided by.

'That's a joy,' the child said.

'It's a what?'

'It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy.'

The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to
myself, hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life
seemed completely out of balance.

'What's your name?' She wouldn't give up.

'Robert,' I answered. 'I'm Robert Peterson.'

'Mine's Wendy... I'm six.'

'Hi, Wendy.'

She giggled. 'You're funny,' she said.

In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle
followed me.

'Come again, Mr. P,' she called. 'We'll have another happy day.'

The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA
meetings, and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I
took my hands out of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to
myself, gathering up my coat.

The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was
chilly but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.

'Hello, Mr. P,' she said. 'Do you want to play?'

'What did you have in mind?' I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.

'I don't know. You say.'

'How about charades?' I asked sarcastically.

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. 'I don't know what that is.'

'Then let's just walk.'

Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face. 'Where do
you live?' I asked.

'Over there.' She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.

Strange, I thought, in winter.

'Where do you go to school?'

'I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation.'

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind
was on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a
happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.

Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was
in no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch
and felt like demanding she keep her child at home.

'Look, if you don't mind,' I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me,
'I'd rather be alone today.' She seemed unusually pale and out of
breath.

'Why?' she asked.

I turned to her and shouted, 'Because my mother died!' and thought,
My God, why was I saying this to a little child?

'Oh,' she said quietly, 'then this is a bad day.'

'Yes,' I said, 'and yesterday and the day before and -- oh, go away!'

'Did it hurt?' she inquired.

'Did what hurt?' I was exasperated with her, with myself.

'When she died?'

'Of course it hurt!' I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself.
I strode off.

A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't
there. Feeling guilty, ashamed, and admitting to myself I missed her, I
went up to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn
looking young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.

'Hello,' I said, 'I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today
and wondered where she was.'

'Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much.
I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance,
please, accept my apologies.'

'Not at all -- she's a delightful child.' I said, suddenly realizing
that I meant what I had just said.

'Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia. Maybe she didn't
tell you.'

Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.

'She loved this beach, so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.
She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy
days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly...' Her voice
faltered, 'She left something for you, if only I can find it. Could you
wait a moment while I look?'

I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely
young woman. She handed me a smeared envelope with 'MR. P' printed in
bold childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a
yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully
printed:

A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love
opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. 'I'm so sorry, I'm so
sorry, I'm so sorry,' I uttered over and over, and we wept together. The
precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words -
- one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony, courage,
and undemanding love.

A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand -- who
taught me the gift of love.

Comments

Find the name of your first band - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The title of the article is your band name.

For your first single, google the name of your street and use the first sentence of the article.

Then, the name of your first album - http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

The last quote at the bottom of the page is your album title.

Album cover - do a google image search on whatever your album name is, and choose a picture from the page which corresponds with the hour it is at the moment you do the meme. So, 8.23 = page 8.

Band name: George Cary
Single: Hill Street Blues
Album:If you look at life one way, there is always cause for alarm.
Album cover: See http://www.zimmyszoo.com/LL-30006%20Mr.%20Fix-It.jpg

God bless, Jenni xx

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Ros suggested Turkey, but now can't think of anyone who comes from there except someone we know personally, and that's not what this is about.

So keep the nominations for countries rolling in, and we will get going with person nominations when we have 16 countries. I will add Turkey if people suggest a few men/women we could use without potentially offending somebody I think we're on 9 countries, including Turkey. We could always stop at 8... has to be 8, 16 or 32. 64 would drive me insane and other numbers don't reduce to one winner.

But we're not going to stop at 8 because I am going to add POLAND now!

Come on then, people: bring it on!!

God bless, Jenni xx

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We're going to choose 16 countries, which I would like you to vote for after reading this entry. I want you to name the country whose fair people you consider to be the most, well, fair in the old English sense, i.e. attractive

Then we're going to ask for nominations for 5 rather fine examples of manhood and, if the demand is there, womanhood, from each country.
Then we're going to play them off against each other in pairs, counting the number of votes per beautiful individual, and see which country wins. I'm not sure if this is exactly how the Davis Cup works, but hey, it reminded me of it.

Special thanks must go to Jenner for this, because the premise is the same as her Cup of Eye Candy game.

So, get voting for which country you think has the cutest people. I'm going to get my vote in first with the rather predictable answer of CROATIA.

Btw I'm open as to whether the Home Nations should be separate countries or there should be a GB team - if people are desperate to isolate Wales or whoever, so be it. I'm not worried whether we play this like football or every other sport

God bless, Jenni xx

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God bless xx

An article about the ongoing United/Berbatov transfer saga, translated from Bulgarian using an internet translator.

Waiting exhausted itself this morning in continuing fable of promotion from Tottenham Hotspur, a collective at London, to again Manchester of his first asset, Dimitar Berbatov.

Since two years, he went in same direction the North-traveling man Carrick, and even this empty season has extracted Robbie Keane, Irish son of that once of Manchester Keane now inspecting his saddle at Sunderland. Yet necessary rapid articulation of signatory przilsky has been circumcised by anger at Manchester from Daniel Levy, president of the Tottenham collective, which was smiling sporadically in the 1960's.

All Bulgaria, including Manchester, lusts for prompt Berbatovian resettlement, for three causes. First, in Manchester are superior comrades, by example Ronald the Christian, who again is Annual Global Footballer, Wayne Rooney, the River Ferdinand, and Nemanja Vidic, metallic Serbian rapist. At most least, Dimitar will certainly cheer a lack of Michael Dawson.

Second, there is shame in heroic genius screaming pointlessly for the League of Champions. If Jermaine Pennant is running at Milan and Madrid, while Dimi at home eats squashed potato without pork, this is stupid.

Thirdly, in Manchester he can win suitcase over suitcase of pound sterling. In negotiations, an exact price of labour has not yet made it so that both sides hold each the other man's hand and, smiling, jiggle. However, because Micha's agent, Emil Dantchev, is friend of my uncle Lyubomir, who shoots horses with his father, I sometimes loosely push him with my telephone's
mouth. Emil poured onto the ground for me some approximate prices of labour of £75-85,000 per week. Queen Elizabeth will steal some of this from tax, but, Emil insists me, not much, because officially his client lives in the sea.

And above money, Manchester will treat Michko with mercy: he is able to go away back in Bulgaria in summer, he will build a castle with garden on an island called Cheshire, and he is permitted to breed.

We will find after this season what flavour of honour our Mitichevsky inhales. In Manchester already they are anticipating parties. On the internet, slow people repeat the phrase "Time for removal of my penis!" This signifies that they are happy. But still supporters of Tottenham collective roar into a deaf night. Levy writes a poem from his wounds for FA, English
football politburo. But by a proverb this is only throwing salt between steeples to make watery slujka. By now, Dmitichichka's promotion is a gutted fish.

Berbatov is beautiful, with sly eyes like demon.

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How is everybody? I doubt I will get back into a habit of blogging, but I feel like it right now, so...

Marseille have been eavesdropping on Caroline and I. Their fans have launched an appeal to raise US$44 million to rescue Drogba from Chelsea! Two years ago I wrote a "Rescue List" of people who should leave various teams. Most of them are still on the list. Drogba is one of them. I know he's an annoying footballer, but I'm shallow, and he takes his shirt off.

The Rescue List is in the same book as the Headbutt Register, which was the brainchild of James. James has now been sending me messages on Facebook threatening to shut me in the Asda Freezer "with .........."! Thing is, I have no idea who he means. We haven't worked together in ages, so I don't think it can be anyone from work. He probably means the last person we spent ages talking about at work, which was... erm... Zidane or Materazzi?

Speaking of people whose names sound like cars, Caroline has a new Croatian friend called Ivo, who seems very nice, despite the things I have heard about his rather warped sense of humour...

The book with the Headbutt Register in it is being used for a youth Saints Alive! course which I am helping out at. I think I am getting as much out of this as the young people. I can say for the first time in 10 years that, thanks to God, my faith is definitely a) existent and b) growing. Wow!!! Thank you God!!!

Said course will cause me to miss 15 minutes or so of Linfield v DINAMO tomorrow night. I don't care, I get to go to church AND watch most of the Mighty Dinamo, cos they're on Sky Sports One! What a night!

Oh yeah, I finished uni with completely underachieving results. I am grateful for God that I have a degree, though.

Right, I'm gonna go to bed now cos I have to get up in 6 hours. Yuck! Until next time, have fun and God bless.

Jenni xx

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I have been asked to blog. This might not be very good. Just a random summary of what is happening:

* I finished my degree, don't know my grade yet, thinking 2:1.
* I am really struggling with Christian stuff. Not even sure I am one. I have never really wanted to be a Christian. It seems like a chore, and that God is trying really hard not to accept you for who you are. It's like "Change tuvwxyz and I might look at you." Of course, I look into my heart and see that there is no reason He should accept me. I haven't really "truly repented" or "invited Him in with my whole heart". I sort of resent having to do it. I am going to try and humble myself, though, because I really don't want to go to Hell.
* EDIT: Just decided to moan about FIFA. I think limits on foreign players will play straight into the hands of Chelsea, who will buy up the entire England squad and no-one else will be able to afford English players, due to the exchange rate. I don't buy the national side explanation, either. Italy have had foreign players in Serie A for years, and of course their national team is so much worse than England's... And even if Arsenal's English youngsters don't normally end up playing for Arsenal, they do usually end up in the Prem. I see the supposedly worst side for keeping English players out produced England's future star David Bentley... and Fabrice Muamba, and Anthony Stokes, and both Hoytes, and Kerrea Gilbert, and some Chelsea defender or other... I believe this attempt to reduce the number of foreign players is thinly veiled racism, which appeals to the worst part of people's natures. If it's genuinely not this, then it is very misguided in terms of the benefit people think it will bring to the game. I wait to be proven wrong (by which time, if it comes in 2012-13 season, I will be over 30... eek... might not care anymore... or be able to afford my season ticket, especially if they restrict the number of foreign players, causing us to spend more on English players who aren't as good as the foreigners we get for £3.5m and sell for lots!)

* Happier stuff: I have a boyfriend called Jakub who is loooooooovely and says HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
* I just renewed my season ticket!
* I was at work today. Yesterday, first day back in months, I decided two of my workmates are Sims. One of them even looks like Caroline's supermodel sim, Essie. They were speaking Polish to each other, which might as well be Simlish to me (I know 5-10 Polish words and 2 are unrepeatable).
* My mum is scrubbing her front steps. Hello 1950!
* Audiosurf is addictive.
* I am supporting France, Croatia and Poland in Euro 2008. Cazza, Ros and I are going on an adventure next weekend, in which we hope to watch football with fans of at least 4 different nationalities and eat a very nice lunch at Ros' house. Any tips for a Swiss, Czech, Portuguese or Turkish location in north London? Ta muchly! Please all tell me who you're supporting in the Euros, I find it interesting. We're going to the good old Cadogan Arms, or wherever the CSYPN are going, to watch Austria-Croatia and somewhere Polish for Germany-Poland, with Jakub
* Caroline has met a Croatian 45-year-old Mourinho clone. I predict that he is fantastic.
* I'm feeling kind of excited, passionate and nice, so I'll leave it there!

I hope everyone there is fine. Praying for you all.

God bless, Jenni xx

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It gives me a chance to do the right thing, and thank Justin Brierley for giving me some airtime by providing a link to the programme, so, if you want to hear what I sound like AND an interesting debate on the role of the church in the world, click here:

http://www.premier.org.uk/engine.cfm?i=680

It should be there by now!

I need to start blogging again, particularly as Ian and Justin provided links to my blog!

I'm sorry for never blogging and never replying to anyone's comments. I'll try and do better in future!

Oh dear, this YouTube video is loading in the background, I didn't want that to happen... Hope all is well with everybody here.

God bless, Jenni x

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Really dunno what to do now uni is finished. I have like 2/3 things to do every day between now and Monday, when I can go home.

Summer Ball was messy. I got drunk. Lost track of how much I was drinking. Totted it up the next day and thought "No wonder!" People say I was acting OK, though, so that's fine. A certain person I know was getting into a little trouble, managing to cheese at least 2 of my friends off. Fortunately I was unaffected by anyone else's drunken behaviour!

Didn't make it to church on Sunday 'cos the trains weren't running. Looking forward to this week's!

Right, going to go and sort out my programme planning now.

God bless, Jenni xx

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Me: "What are creps?"
John: "Misspelt crisps?"

Wes has just enlightened me. Creps are, in fact, shoes.

Went to church yesterday and decided to have a hysterical fit. This was probably a good thing, as it meant a girl in church came and prayed for me, and gave me some good advice. While we were praying, she quoted the bit in Zephaniah which says that God delights in His people. She's the second person to think God wants me to hear that. I take the hint Wonderful. I think I am going to stay in that church, although it's God I should be thankful for, rather than the church!

I have to go and do some revision in a minute. Have three exams this week. Need to buy my ticket for the Summer Ball on Friday. Had really better start getting on with it! I think the fact that, thanks to Ros, I do now regularly get up before midday will be instrumental in helping me past this semester! Hope everyone on here is well.

Btw - the T team finished fifth. HOW, WHY? I can't believe Chelsea got gifted a goal to maintain their unbeaten home record and make sure the T team finished fifth. I didn't know those two were in cahoots! I thought they hated each other, and I don't want to get either Tottenhamitis or Chelseaitis, thank you very much!

AFC Totton lost the FA Vase final to Truro. This was annoying, as Totton is near Southampton. There is an ASDA there. You shouldn't by ham there, for obvious reasons. Mum said the local news subtitles decided to call them T*tt*nh*m. Ironic, as Cazza used to think the T team came from Totton!

God bless, Jenni xx

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Oh yeah, GRODD was great! Next time I go home I'm going to start posting stuff I did in GRODD, the football action group my sister, friends and I had between 1996 and 1998.

Seriously, re. the Wenger thing, I'm not just whinging because I'm an Arsenal fan. I'm whinging because who made the FA the police? The whole system is so outdated. If the linesman is really so upset about being accused of lying, he can sue Wenger. I think it's time the various leagues told the FA to sod off and got with the real world. There shouldn't be Opinion or Thought Police in football, or anywhere else. This is a fundamental freedom of speech issue for me, albeit a trivial one, but in what other discipline do you get fined for speaking your mind?

Opinions anyone?

God bless, Jenni xx

Comments

3:58 PM hossein: cool!
ok!
4:00 PM im gonna kill all the basterds who support chealsea liverpool manchester tottenham AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!hehehe
me: yes you've got it!! oh my gosh, Hossein learns...
4:01 PM hossein: david actually!hehe
me: Dave is a cat
hossein: i learn because im arsenal fan!, im not a dickhead like chealsea fans!

I think it's funny anyway. Meanwhile, the following things have been discovered:

* Supporting the T team is a mental illness.
* The T team drew 3-3 with Chelski to give everybody Tottenhamitis.

The following funny phone conversation took place yesterday:

Joti: "What time did you guys get home on Friday?"
Me: "3pm Saturday."
Joti: "No, I mean what time did you guys get home on Friday?"
Me: "No, I am not lying to you mate, 3pm Saturday!"

I'm obsessed with a scratch on my left hand.

We're going to start a Sp*rs-related conspiracy and see if we can make the world believe.

1 March is to be celebrated as International Lamination Day from now on. Enfield Campus finally has a laminator for student use. Did I mention that last time?

This post is dodgy.

* * *

Anyway, back to the real world. I finally finished my EU Policy Review today. It took me well over a week! NOT NORMAL! I usually take 4 days over an assignment. I'm glad I left it late though, 'cos our lecturer gave us some advice yesterday. Certain people have already handed theirs in! Bleurgh!

I was really worried yesterday, 'cos I started thinking I'm going to Hell. Why do I keep going back to this? I must have become a Christian like 3 million times, and I believe you only have to do it once... well, most of me does anyway... John sorted my head out. He was really kind

Anyway, I should stop messing around online now.

God bless, Jenni xx

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My Grandad died aged 92 on Good Friday, and I went to the funeral on the Isle of Wight. It was a great service. I loved the overtly Christian funeral, because the vicar was unafraid to talk about Grandad's death being a blessing, as he was very old and frail, and had great faith that he was going on somewhere better. I think my gran's going to be OK too - my dad's going to go over and help her as often as possible, which was why we moved to C/Ford in 1993 and has only just become useful!

I've got one essay in, have 2 to do, one of which is nearly ready to go I think, and then have 3 exams. Heaven knows how I'm going to get all this work done, but I'm deadline motivated, and as things get nearer, I will work harder! How was I so much more motivated last semester, though? I did far less work, but felt cleverer, better informed and more competent! Hmmm.

I've decided to go to Wesley Chapel full time, although I only seem to be able to make church every 2wks atm! I know it's awful, and really wish I'd gone yesterday.

Friday... hehe I am obsessed with a song called "Cowboy Film", which I heard whilst being driven round Walthamstow at 2.30am! Happy days! It took me a while to establish what the song was. Googling didn't work because whoever typed the lyrics in had written "flim" instead of "film". Easily done!

Arsenal have started winning, being able to play badly and win, when it's FAR too late. I've started a Facebook group calling on people not to leave early! The topless three - Diaby, Eboue and Adebayor - tickled my fancy yesterday as well

Right, I think I'd better turn that in there! Hope you're all really well, having fun et al.

God bless, Jenni xx

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The most interesting example is Patrick Vieira. Everyone knows he comes from Senegal and is naturalised French, but I didn't find out that neither of his parents are from Senegal till I got hold of a copy of his autobiography. His mother is from Cape Verde and his father is from Gabon.

Robert Pires is half Spanish, half Portuguese and didn't speak a word of French till he was 5 apparently. (If you look down Portuguese wine lists, some of them have the word Pires in them!) Thierry Henry has one parent from Guadeloupe and the other from Martinique, but I can't remember which way round. Both of Emmanuel Adebayor's parents are Nigerian. He was born in Togo, but went to school in Ghana because they lived close to the border - meaning he is fluent in French and English, as Ghana is an English speaking country.

And that's just Arsenal. The whole Premiership has been full of interesting cases for years. Tim Cahill's father is second-generation Irish, his mother is Samoan, and he grew up in Australia and moved to England aged 16 to play football. Neither of Marian Pahars' parents is Latvian, although I don't know the details, and Danny Cadamarteri could have played for at least 5 different countries - he is part Irish, Italian, Nigerian and Jamaican, and born in England. I have a feeling at least one of his parents was born in Scotland, but Wiki can't prove that for me

This led me to ponder: Is life like this, or is it just football? My first instinct was: No, football is weird. But thinking about my own group of friends, I know at least 3 people of interesting extraction (Filipino/Mauritian, Dutch/Welsh, Turkish/Armenian). The world really is a small place!

Adam sent me a text with a piccie of this sign in London this morning. Someone has added the name "Thierry" to the Henry Road sign in Manor House. It is very professionally done! Surprised I can't find it on Google. I did find that adding a random word to a Thierry Henry image search yields different piccies to normal!

I'm still off work. Just felt so TIRED this morning. Had weird dreams all night. Hilarious! In the first one, I was being chased by a robot from Doctor Who. I knew it was only a toy, but I was still scared! In the second one, something political was going on at Middlesex. We were having some kind of election, NUS Conference-style. It was NOTHING like actual Middlesex elections. One of my lecturers caught me handing out leaflets for a meeting against her, calling her a Zionist! A load of New Labour types were campaigning in favour of privatisation. I asked one why she supported privatisation, and she said, "Cumbria". I asked another, who was wearing a Lib Dem sticker, and she said "Because everyone else here does!" I told her that was a rubbish reason, and said "What about the rail crashes?" She said those had nothing to do with privatisation. I was trying to explain why they did, but she wasn't really listening.

Suzie Wylie and I then walked in the opposite direction across Trent Park campus, where all this was taking place (except it didn't really look a lot like TP, obviously). Of course, with it being TP, I then ran into Trevor. I woke up just as it was getting really interesting! Suzie wandered off and left us to it!

Well anyway, had better shoot off now as my gran is coming soon. Hope you all have a great weekend! And better luck than me finding Easter eggs!

God bless, Jenni xx

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Stacey is picking up my season ticket from 80 Kingsway today, so I will at least be able to go to the match! Thanx, mate!

I'm going to try and get to work tomorrow. I don't work Fridays, so if I can make it through tomorrow I've got 2 days to try and get over it. Next week I'm going to attempt some uni work, but thinking about that TERRIFIES me, so I won't until Mon!

Need to buy Becky a birthday present. She's coming tomorrow.

Mum and Dad are in Bristol because a lad from church was in hospital in a coma. They'd been gone about an hour when Mum rang to say he's awake and is fine, but since they were halfway there by then, they've carried on! I thanked God immensely for this, as no-one knows quite what is wrong and it was scary. Is it me or do doctors seem to NOT know what is wrong more often than they DO know?!

I watched some of Liverpool last night. The most exciting bit was when Patrick Kluivert came on as sub for PSV. (He's on my list, and semi-naked on my phone!) Why couldn't they have given the ball away to OUR players in front of their own goal? Why do Liverpool always start to get lucky RIGHT NOW? If we were rubbish at the beginning of the season and good at the end, rather than the other way round, maybe we'd win more stuff.

I found out yesterday afternoon that Google Chat doesn't support you talking to more than 3 people at once. Useful! I had to keep brbing people!

Well anyway, I'm off now to get some more water and play Sims. Have fun everyone, and God bless!

Dovidjenja!

Jenni xx

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I won't be blogging properly today because I need rest. I woke up at 1.30am with a sore, swollen throat and loads of catarrh. I got a drink of water, but then my ears started to hurt. I knew I had to get up at 5 for work and not being able to sleep was panicking me, which I think made it worse: the tension seemed to give me a headache and stomachache as well!

So I gave up and decided around 2.30 that I would have to call in sick. Still couldn't sleep till 4. Couldn't get through to anyone to call in sick to till 8! I am supposed to ring before work starts, but I tried 5.15 and 6 and there was nobody there!

Then I slept till 11.30, having weird dreams about a cross between 1) how ill I was feeling and 2) NUS Conference! Rob Owen was on stage ranting about whether you should call in sick, or something!

Speaking of Conference, it is shocking. The NUS should NOT be the most right-wing union in Britain! It is, as far as I know, the only union which opposes free education and grants for all, and the only union which is not affiliated to the Stop the War Coalition. This year's Conference was boring and excruciating. I have to email Steering Committee asking them to tell someone off for accusing Assed Baig of being disablist. He referred to "right-wing nuts". According to Ben from CND, someone a few years ago used the NUS being nuts as part of their slogan, and no-one accused them of being disablist! The Tories are posing under the banner "Students First". People are voting for them because they're not called the Tories anymore, which just shows Tory policy is identical to Labour policy and that of some of the so-called Organised Independents.

Arsenal got stuffed at the weekend despite having as much possession as, as many shots as, and more corners than Liverpool. I really don't know what to say about them now.

Find out how much you hate Tottenham here.

I want some ice cream, a big hug, and not to have to work in the holidays. Thanks very much NUS for opposing my right to a living grant, so that my entire life is work, uni, uni, work.

/RANT!

God bless, Jenni xx

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**********

Tsunami!!!
(You scored 79 % Sensual Sensation)

"Oooooooooh!!

I bet you’re a lover they don’t forget!

You know that making love is more than having sex and I’d guess that you’ve scrubbed a back or two in your day as well. Come on, we’re all friends here. You can tell us!

But, then again what do I know. I’m just a hopeless romantic with a loofa, Turkish towels and scented oils. Thanks for taking my first test and have a great day.
"

**********

Take it!
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=16028160871001973041

I did like this one... And it is very me

Apparently, the people most likely to have Tottenhamitis are now aged between 30 and 34. Yesterday it was women aged between 20 and 24. I think a certain 33 year old Sp*rs fan, who was emailed with the test, might have taken it!

A Chelsea fan emailed me saying supporting Chelsea will also cure T*tt*nh*mitis. I emailed him back telling him exactly what I think of Chelsea! I was fairly polite

I have loads to do today. A Democracy Wall and some reading. I should probably get on with it soon, but am enjoying this.

This might be my last blog entry before NUS Conference! If it is, I'll miss you all, and my beloved blog and Tottenhamitis Test. See you Friday. Pray for me/wish me luck! On Thursday night, after all that, I will need a deserved pint and possibly a little affection...

God bless, Jenni xx

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**********

Definite Sufferer
(You are 64% likely to have contracted Tottenhamitis!)

"You are sick. Don't worry: Tottenhamitis isn't terminal, and it looks like you've caught it early. But you've definitely caught it. How did you do it? Did she make you watch their game in the pub? Did he make you wear his Sp*rs shirt in bed? You know, it is better to go naked in public than wear a Sp*rs (or, for that matter, Chelsea) shirt in public. DON'T PANIC now, though. Give the person who gave you Tottenhamitis a good telling off, don't be tempted to watch their games anymore and, next time you're in the pub, ask the lovely staff to put the Arsenal match on. You'll be right as rain in no time flat."

**********

Take it!
http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=4042112068949286591

Seriously, I have enjoyed using this site! Today i had a lazy day. Found OkCupid!, which I used to use AGES ago, and DROOLED TO DEATH. Creating your own tests! How cool is that?

Btw, don't ask how I got such a high score... Anyone who heard me ranting about how on earth I managed to enjoy Sp*rs-Chelsea will understand

Watched "Chocolat" last night. HOW COOL is that? Get warm and fuzzy thinking about it! REALLY looking forward to NUS Conference next week, after going through the motions (literally) yesterday. We've got a fight on our hands, lefties!

Was going to write something else, but can't remember what it was. (Useful!)

Please all go and take my test, and tell me how you do!

God bless, Jenni xx

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Also I'm stressing about loads of different stuff, and having weird dreams. I dreamed last night that a) something to do with the meeting was happening, but b) someone Ros isn't interested at all was chatting her up via MY mobile phone, and we were trying to figure out why! He did compliment her clothes on Friday! And mine on Thursday! Is he trying to flatter his way round the Football Appreciation Society?

Right, I have to pick up a keyboard from Laura now and take it home. This will be a good chance to knock on a couple of doors on Kingsway and turf people out! Hope all my readers are well, I'll read and comment more one day

God bless, Jenni xx

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Busy but good weekend. Too much drinking and spending of money. Went to John's church. I LOVE it. Think I may have found home We'll see. Checked out new sweetshop in Enfield Town. I keep being naughty with liquorice allsorts. I think they have gelatine in, but I still eat them Please tell me it's only the aniseed jellies that have it in, 'cos I tend to avoid those!!

This week I have managed not to literally fall asleep in my lectures - only figuratively. I got what is a lot of reading done by my standards. Have had a disappointment which I don't want to go into. Went to the pub quiz last night, and later had my own beer kicked over me by Nik in my kitchen!! Another pair of trousers on my washing pile, but no real harm done

Tomorrow is the Football Appreciation Society's meeting on Ticket Prices. Our first ever external speaker, who I should really ring to make sure he's still coming! Tonight is Half Time. I accidentally called Half Term "Half Time", in my Campus Committee minutes! Baz laughed at me, and said you can't synchronise Reading Week with Half Time: no-one could read because of the flashing lights! I suggested week-long Half Time, followed by week-long dialysis/stomach pumping/whatever fixes your liver. Black grapes are good for it, I think.

Got a great card from my mum this morning. First line was "Oooh, Luka just snogged Abby on ER!" Made odd noises in my room because of this. Good job John wasn't in or he'd be suspicious! One of my lecturers resembles Dr. Kovac in more ways than one.

Well anyway, I'd better go now. This isn't as short as I wanted it to be. Have fun everybody, and God bless!

Jenni xx

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God bless xx

Well it's a big big city and it's always the same
Can never be too pretty tell me your name
Is it out of line if I were simply bold to say "Would you be mine"?

Because I may be a beggar and you maybe the queen
I know I maybe on a downer I'm still ready to dream
Now it's 3 o'clock the time is just the time it takes for you to talk

So if you're lonely why'd you say you're not lonely
Oh you're a silly girl, I know I heard it so
It's just like you to come and go
And know me no you don't even know me
You're so sweet to try, oh my, you caught my eye
A girl like you's just irresistible

Well it's a big big city and the lights are all out
But it's much as I can do you know to figure you out
And I must confess, my hearts in broken pieces
And my heads a mess
And it's 4 in the morning, and I'm walking along
Beside the ghost of every drinker here who has ever done wrong
And it's you, woo hoo
That's got me going crazy for the things you do

So if you're crazy I don't care you amaze me
But you're a stupid girl, oh me, oh my, you talk
I die, you smile, you laugh, I cry
And only, a girl like you could be lonely
And it's a crying shame, if you would think the same
A boy like me's just irresistible

So if you're lonely, why'd you say you're not lonely
Oh you're a silly girl, I know I heard it so
It's just like you to come and go
And know me, no you don't even know me
You're so sweet to try oh my, you caught my eye
A girl like you's just irresistible

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If you ARE an MDX student and don't fall into the above categories, I would like to urge you to VOTE in the Student Union Elections: Today, tomorrow or Thursday, 10am-4pm. The deadline is 4pm Thursday, so make sure you get your vote in before then! MUSU is a democratic organisation and the more people vote, the better.

I can't tell you EVERYONE to vote for, but Ros is standing for VP Academic and I know she'll be great. She is the only person who keeps Football Appreciation Society out of the disorganisation mire which follows me everywhere (especially this week!), and has been a very good Campus Committee Officer for years. Vote Ros! Otherwise, just get out the manifesto booklet and election special, available in the main student spaces on each campus, and choose your candidates accordingly!

I have a presentation this afternoon and have only just found out what the question is. LOL, I think I know enough to get by, though! I did the reading before finding out what the question was! Funny way to do work! Always do that for Political Thought class.

Anyway, must go. Go get your student cards out and vote now!

God bless, Jenni xx

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Ros: "One man went to lift, went to lift Frank Lampard..."

Later at home:

John: "Jenni, I've got "One man went to lift, went to lift Frank Lampard..." stuck in my head for no apparent reason!"

HAHA! It obviously worked for somebody then. Also, the Sp*rs song has gone out of my head, and been replaced by "Wake Me Up When September Ends", by Green Day.

I must check this John/Ros psychic link out though!

Anyway, I'll shut up now before my blog becomes even more of a trouble spot! See you tomorrow!

God bless xx

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On Thursday, I wrote:

8) Possibly ending up somewhere other than the Oakwood Tavern (which serves alcohol) and going to bed at 8am or something.

I actually got home at 9pm on Saturday. My hangover lasted about 24 hours, and I woke up this morning feeling physically unfit for purpose (even if purpose was only "try and get to a church by 11"!), and unable to breathe due to ingesting substances I believe are known as "left handed".

The do was good. The pub closed early (11.40) due to dysfunctional toilets, then we went to Enfield Town to find the bars (all 4 which remained open) had decided not to let anyone in past 11.30. So the rest of the evening was spent at two different houses getting intoxicated. It tested the limits of human endurance.

I had a bloody good time, though Maintained sensibilities and capabilities: even if my outbox yesterday was full of surprises, they were legible surprises

Anyway, didn't make church, but did find out I've got a human goal alert living down my road, as long as the goals are scored by Sp*rs (sounding like a useless gadget already!), and I'm in my bedroom (I can't even imagine what comments people will try to make here, but no comments, please!). Got up to watch the rest of the game and further 3 goals. I can't bring myself to admit that was a good match. Have I caught T*tt*nh*mitis? I don't know.

Played football with Adrienne and John to re-adjust my body to normality and stop feeling like a 60-year-old with lung cancer, then ate the brownies I watched them make in front of Plymouth-Watford (very frustrating, but good game - even John watched it) and West Wing. Drank 3 cups of tea, talked crap and went to bed. Well, actually I went to my computer. It resembles a bed. (Eh?)

I hope EVERYBODY else had such a good weekend as I did, and I hope you were sober with it! Have a good week everyone. After that I feel refreshed and ready for Monday. Elections! Argh! Ok, Jenni, don't think about those. You've got an hour and 12 minutes of Sunday left, in which they don't matter.

God bless xx

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Jobs I have done today:

Tidied my room. You can now see my carpet! It exists!

Recycled a load of old exam and essay notes, and newspapers, junk mail, flyers etc., that I'm not even sure why they were on the floor. As I said to Ros, why didn't I put them on the shelf?! I found mail I'd never opened. Recycled it, 'cos it was old and outdated! I found mail I had opened, which was important, and needed to be dealt with, so I'd opened it and put it in "a prominent place" for months. Recycled it, 'cos if it was THAT important, they'd have written again or come to the door!

Read my Bible. I've been trying to do that every day for Lent. I pray, then open it on a random page and read the first thing I see. It was Isaiah 61 I think. Talking about people being sent to lift the poor and free those in prison, etc. Basically prophecies about Christ, but also a good way to try and live one's Christian life. I resolved to try and put it into practice. Don't think I've done very well today!

Went to Tesco and bought essentials like washing powder, milk and a spare pillowcase, so I can put my current tea-stained one out for the wash!

Put up some posters for Dave.

Told John he can use our living room to dry a wet, painted bedsheet. The conversation then became explicit. It was my fault for referring to how it was a good job I'd tidied my room...

Now I'm messing around online. Aaaaah, that's better. Still have stuff to do, like change. I'm in the dirty old clothes I used to clean.

Well, this evening is Trevor's leaving do, and as we've said, this will involve intoxicating liquor, so expect a hungover post tomorrow. Have a great weekend everybody. Weird there being no Arsenal game. We've had so many recently, and it's come to nothing... Ok, end self-pity (shame that fake HTML tag didn't work!).

God bless, Jenni xx

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Anyway, this song and what it means to me. I first heard it when I went to see the Foos live with Ray last summer. They played it as the last song of their encore, and Dave Grohl played the first 2 verses solo and sang the chorus an octave below... It was spine-chillingly beautiful, and I've been obsessed with the song ever since.

Does anyone know if you can buy that gig (Hyde Park, 17/6/06) on DVD? I'd pay just to have that version of that song.

Afterwards, Ray spotted a dog which had been taken to the gig, and surmised that it was thinking, "Grohl"!

Btw #1, I have no sense of humour regarding the video. How can they take these lyrics and make a SILLY video? Tsk, I'm an old lady. I'll be writing to the Enfield Independent to complain about this and traffic wardens soon

Btw #2, "Slow how you wanted it to be". Mmm. What were those plans for tonight, Cazza?

God bless, Jenni xx

Hello, I've waited here for you, everlong
Tonight, I throw myself into and out of the red, out of her head she sang

Come down and waste away with me, down with me
Slow how, you wanted it to be, I'm over my head, out of her head she sang
And I wonder when I sing along with you if everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when she sang

Breathe out, so I can breathe you in, hold you in
And now, I know you've always been out of your head, out of my head I sang
And I wonder when I sing along with you if everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you
Youve got to promise not to stop when I say when she sang

And I wonder if everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
Youve got to promise not to stop when I say when

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1) I think I've done this before, on another site, with other graphics.

2) I asked a friend what "integer" meant.

Still...

Last time I was 40%! I can't wait to see Ray get 0%. There are some smart people around here.

God bless xx

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1) My wallet got stolen. Only lost my cards, no money, but had to cancel my debit card, order a new one, and will have to order a new NUS Democracy card (don't pay for NUS Extra: it's elitist and wrong!).

2) Ros had her car number plates stolen.

3) Adrienne had her flat broken into, and her computer and £5 worth of 20p coins for the washing machine stolen. (The computer was broken anyway, so I think she was more fussed about the personal violation and not being able to do her washing!)

4) I threw a strop and walked out of a seminar! Actually, I walked out in quite a dignified, calm manner. I just didn't want to be there anymore, because my lecturer was screaming and threatening to cancel the module. I've made a complaint and so have other students.

5) We lost. Didn't play too badly, but just didn't have the killer touch when we needed it. Typical Arsenal phases of 99.999% possession and no goals. Fussy referee made matters worse by breaking the play up when we did get it together. He gave as many dodgy decisions to us as them, to be fair, but it wasn't conducive to a good game of football.

It's campaign time for the student elections. As I wrote last week, I got elected unopposed as Campus Chair and NUS Conference delegate, but Ros, Nik, Dave and Hugh are now standing for sabbatical positions, so I'm campaigning for them. This can be exhausting, and is the reason I haven't blogged.

I would like to apologise here to Ros in particular for being a bit snappy this week. I seem to have gone into an argumentative phase, and just can't shut up. I'm sleeping OK, but having very sort of active dreams just before I wake up, and this is jarring me emotionally - I wake up feeling as if I've just done something important, and sometimes as if I've messed up something important. This isn't very restful.

I don't know what the cure is, but I can think of some I'd like to try

Anyway, tomorrow night is Trevor's leaving do. This will involve the following factors:

1) Alcohol
2) Mutual Arsenal/Sp*rs abuse
3) Alcohol
4) Talking to loads and loads of cool people, some of whom I don't see very often
5) More alcohol
6) There is no #6
7) Alcohol
8) Possibly ending up somewhere other than the Oakwood Tavern (which serves alcohol) and going to bed at 8am or something.
9) Alcohol

I will try not to get too drunk. I don't want to vomit over whoever I'm torturing because they wouldn't stop singing "We hate Arsenal". And I want to maintain some of my sensibilities and capabilities.

My message in his leaving card includes references to the massive crow and laminated lasagne (thanks for the inspiration, Ros and Dave!).

Ooh, Ros' spaghetti article ("Uefa Euro 2004 Portugal: The social construction of a sports mega-event and spectacle") mentions Zidane!

Well anyway, I shall return. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the weekend. Have fun everybody.

God bless, Jenni xx

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Was wondering why, as an adult, I am so obsessed with receiving affection. It's not a new thing. As a child, I always wanted to be cuddled by my mum, and as an adult I am a very sensual, sexual being. Tough when I'm trying to abstain from sex until marriage.

Anyway, I concluded that I think it might be something to do with having a younger sister. My parents were very careful to avoid jealousy by giving us unbirthday presents on each others' birthdays et al, and never showed favouritism, but I think it's more about being the eldest than sibling rivalry in general.

As an eldest, I had to grow up very fast. As I got older, I had some responsibility over all my young cousins as well as my sister. Kids who are at the younger end of the family scale avoid this for longer, and have the attention of their parents AND older siblings focused on them, whilst an older child is delegated to, and their desires often subjugated. It's not deliberate or malicious, just pragmatic and unfortunate.

What I don't understand is how this results in a desire for PHYSICAL attention. Maybe we just don't get enough. Other primates spend hours grooming each other, and so did the Neanderthals. Maybe human life has become too cold and clinical, particularly for those who didn't remain at the skirt for too long.

That's my spaghetti input for the day. Meanwhile, Arsenal are back on track. Chants of "ONE ARSENE WENGER!" could be heard loud and proud all afternoon. Reading did absolutely nothing apart from score 3 minutes from time to unnecessarily frighten us.

Today I have a Political Thought seminar on Rousseau, and lecture on somebody else. (Hegel?) Oh, Ros thinks it will probably be Marx. COOL! I might even manage to stay awake, and not get distracted by the aerobics class in the gym next door!

Also, I got elected unopposed to Campus Chair and NUS Conference. Thank you God. I am now praying for some of my friends to get elected to Sabbatical positions, so I'm not the lone Enfieldian on Exec next year! Campaigning has begun in earnest.

Think that's it from me.

God bless, Jenni xx

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