ange's musings

Mr and Mrs Hamilton - the happy couple. Pictured here in the lovely Bushmills Inn, Bushmills, somewhere in Northern Ireland! What a lush weekend. I knew to expect that it would be so lovely to celebrate the wedding of a really good friend, and her lovely (now) husband who I am gradually getting to know better (the groom's speech provided much insight, as did wee chats here and then - yes i am using 'wee' in normal conversation now, to show my fondness for the Irish!) It was a truly bootiful wedding with lots of fun and games. As you can see the dashing Mr McCann handled his wedding favour with breathtaking skill and agility! The other favours included parachuting men, bubbles galore and buzzing creatures - always useful in the bath! Jan looked stunning to say the least in a simple, yet very - Jan gown and a lovely winter warmer at the ceremony. And after a really lovely ceremony we enjoyed a proper lamb roast, enjoyed all the more upon being info...

I read about how you touched them and they were healed Or even if someone just touched your cloak they were forever changed You let a broken women bathe your feet in her tears And you washed your best friend's feet I am just wondering though did you just ever hug people I mean I know that it is a silly question and I am sure you would have why wouldn't you But its one of those things that was never mentioned that got me thinking about it And how whenever there was a touch from you sins were forgiven and sickness fell I think I'm caught up in my sins last time I checked all my body parts were properly working, nothing special here I am just a kid with a heavy heart these passing sunrises and sunsets I don't think our encounter would have ended up in the gospels or anything Because all I really need is a hug That is ok for me to imagine right That's not going to be conflicting with any sort of theology is it Ok good, then hug me But not one of these side ways one arm ...

Just read this article about a new book of the same name on timesonline, which I am happy to have learnt is more CO2 efficient than buying a newspaper (especially if one drives) and reading it, but unfortunately less CO2 efficient than watching the news stories on the telly for 30mins - something I rarely do at the mo. Have a read yourself and shatter those eco myths - and maybe consider sharing baths, i.e. using one for two people??? I must say I take showers not baths (which worryingly are catching up with baths in the water guzzling) and am not so sure my housemate would quite fancy a nice relaxing bath, after i had soaked in it for 20 mins???!

Absolutely Rocks - so when is he gonna blooming well come to England?!! Soon I pray! Check out this video of "I AM A MANLY MAN" - love it! All you men out there, I feel for you, it is not easy - let this guy help you know that you don't need to conform to anything, be yourself cuz that is a good thing.

back from a lovely afternoon with friends from the yard. bangers and sweet potato mash followed by strawberry cheescake haagen daas (serious strawberry cheesecakey!) and a walk and "SNUFF MILLS" surprisingly beautiful, misty, still and rushing waters and lots of dogs! good times, will post some pics soon. present opening with emily cody! and now ready to pack and head up the motorway back to the folks for five days before northern ireland for the McGowan.Hamilton wedding on Saturday! Can't wait and the most exciting thing is that this Christmas directly contrasts to everything that last Crimbo was for me, in every way I am in a completely different place mentally and spiritually than I was on this exact day last year and it feels good. I believe Christmas this year involves me experiencing his gracious gifts in a more obviously blessed way - i know i was blessed this time last year too - but his showers of blessings that i am experience and enjoying right now are a lot mo...

After playing his Room for squares for too many nights over the past few years i finally invested in his 2007 release Continuum and have not regretted. Never owned Heavier Things or any of his live stuff but had a listen. This new album is quite a change from his debut but I am enjoying the lyrics and the soulful voice as well his excellent guitar skills. Totally up my street and highly recommend. An album I think I would like to savour soon is In Our Nature by Jose Gonzalez, and Argentinian Swede with a voice from heaven and guitar skills that our like none i have ever heard or will ever hear again; he truly has a great gift. His first album Veneer sky-rocketed, selling in platinum numbers in over 15 countries and he was made famous by the sony advert which used his music. If you like Nick Drake's stuff you will like this. And if not and you simply want to hear music that goes back to basics you'll enjoy listening to the bare bones of Jose's unplugged talent. And ...

More for me than for you - so I can read it Christmas after Christmas. A purpose beyond our understanding The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14 Could this be the most profound verse in the whole Bible? The Word, who was with God in the beginning; the Word, who was indeed God; the one through whom the whole universe was made – how and why could he so demean himself, so limit himself, to take on the form of one of the beings that he had created? Indeed, it was not simply human form, human appearance, that he took on, but human flesh – a body with all its limitations and discomforts, its tiredness, its dirt and its sweat. How? By going through the whole human process of conception, gestation and birth. Jesus didn’t land ready-made in the temple and command human allegiance, but subjected himself to all the physical risks that are the lot of humankind, and to all the constraints of human culture. Why? Paul wrote to the Colossians that ‘God was pleased to have all ...

The apple, unlike Adam, had no choice but to fall Speeding to fulfil its creator’s call. But what force drew him down to us? He, with a starlit infinity to explore, He, who could peer into a neutron ’s core, He, who had spoken a thousand-million times And known the sulphuric spit of our self-vaunting crimes, He, who we called murderer, liar, thief And left for dead with enlightened relief. What force drew him down from above To reap the grim harvest of rebel pride, Hammered with nails of truth denied? What force drew him down from above? What force but this: the gravity of love. ©Mark Greene

Carol - a song of praise or joy, especially for Christmas Mary's Kiss tonight, a violin and some carol music was delivered to my door, resulting in unexpected joy and pleasure (from me) as i bowed my way through some traditional carols ready for our church carol service tomorrow night. honestly, when i found out that the orginal second violinist had to pull out last Thursday I was a little peeved that my name had been passed on as a potential substitute, but i wish i could take back those original thoughts and feelings because tonight as i breezed through the obvious crowd pleasers (o litle town of bethlehem, joy to the world, o come all ye faithful) i felt joyful and thankful that again this Christmas, two thousand and seven years on, together we celebrate Christ's coming to earth. and although we often know the lyrics off by heart, and giggle our way through attempts to sing the soprano of 'hark the herald' (maybe that's just me?) it is still a wonderful and beau...

A passage I have not read until now: He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash round his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

so this afternoon i finally got to meet some good friends utterly adorable newborn, Reuben. the little bundle of joy, was warm, dosile and didn't cry in my arms, and is frankly gorgeous. i think i can see a bit of both tom and nic in him, which is so beautiful and both parents are doing really well. tom (as expected) is looking after nic very well, making sure she gets some shut eye in the day, in preparation for necessary wakefulness in the early hours when reuben feeds. its such a joy to see a couple that you have watched grow into becoming parents finally have him in their home and family. to watch two people who really love each other become three, is truly a most wonderful thing - and makes me bask at the beauty of what god does with his kids. gracious enough to bless us with such joys - i know reuben will grow to bask in that same glory. thank you for his life.

this week i am studying from home for the most part which i am really thankful for, good to be able to get stuff down, but slow going though. this weekend, was fun and full and it seems quite ironic that weekends get jam packed, so you almost need time to recover from them, rather than using the w/e to recover from the week (!) but i guess that is what happens when you have a week like mine. Studying from home (well for me anyways) is not exactly demanding in comparison to a week of business at hospital, so i have enjoyed my weekend and already making plans for the one to come. friday evening was spent in and watching 'grey's anatomy' as i found series 2 at a bargain price and could not resist, and am currently working my way through. maybe it is a little sad that a medical student enjoys it so much, but it is such a great drama and you get to learn a little along the way, even if they do choose the most rare, obscure and dramatic medical cases to portray, i love it all th...

Rodrigo y Gabriela perform Orion on Leno Video sent by dtrip01 Rodrigo y Gabriela perform "Orion" (Metallica Cover Song) on Leno

check out this youtube - another new discovery. so much fun.

......lifehouse, great music, powerful lyrics, good stuff. thanks jacqui chan for the recommendation and unplugged version last wednesday! check them out! everything

Sharing moussaka with friends from "the yard" as a friend, affectionately calls it. Why it took me so many attempts to get this piccie, I'll never know. Recently its been really lush to be able to have friends over for food, fun and frolics. Friday saw lovely friends from vineyard coming for some grub followed by jazz at Cafe Oppo off park street. It ended up being a really fun night. Luckily there was enough food to go round, with one spare portion (enjoyed by me today!), plenty of tasty wine and conversation flowed. It was just nice to have friends over who you know will get on and who you know you won't have to worry about awkward introductions, or people not knowing each other. The jazz at oppo was so good, so glad we rocked up there. The saxophonist surely pushed the limits of his lungs to the edge and beyond and it is definitely somewhere i'd like to return to, although unforunately my voice is a little worse for wear as the decibels of sound were definitel...