From The Inside

Cycling for Charity!

I'm very proud of my son.  Only 7 years of age, he finally learned his bike last month - and we managed to get his stabilizers off.  He has now taken to it like a duck to water!  

A new stretch of motorway near Glasgow (the M74) has been completed and the City Council has decided to open it up for a charity day on May 22nd to allow folk to either walk, run or cycle it for charity.  Even the registration fees themselves are going to charity.  Read more here.

Jacob had already raised money through his Boys Brigade for the One In A Million Project.  When he heard he could cycle for charity he jumped at the chance and knew at once what the money would be for.

This is a fantastic and much needed project.  Even though I haven't blogged for months I'm still getting hundreds of hits every month from all over the world - I'm amazed.  So if you have arrived here - even accidentally - every penny counts!!  Please consider sponsoring him at http://www.justgiving.com/oneinamillion2

Many thanks!

Back Inside

I returned to work today after 4 weeks off.  I had an operation on my sinuses on Dec 10th - which signed me off until Christmas - and then I was off on pre-arranged leave after Christmas - returning today.  It was good to be back.  It's worrying sometimes just how comfortable I feel being in prison!

New Year - new beginnings - and the decision that I really must get back to blogging - even if there are few folk out there still reading this!!  So this is prior warning - I'm back!

So what have I been up to?  In my second and final year of my MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice - in fact that is partly why I am writing this to be honest!  I have 2 assignments for my final 2 modules due in at the end of the month and I should be doing some reading and preparation for these tonight - but find this a far better way of procrastinating!  Once these assignments are out of the way however, that just leaves the small matter of my 15,000 word dissertation!  Still seeking inspiration for what to write it on - but would quite like to do something that is faith/Chaplaincy related, but fear it may end up being more theological in nature than criminological!

Anyhow - a happy New Year to you all.  Thank you for reading.  And thank you for providing me with the motivation to theologically reflect on my ministry as a prison chaplain, and the issues raised in criminal justice.

Giving An Account

"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" (1 Pet 3:15)

Where has September gone??  I can't believe that already the shops are filling up with their Christmas merchandise.  Maybe I'm just getting old - but I wish time would just slow up a little.  Enjoying life too much for it to fly past!

Been a busy month (thus the lack of posts!).  Both kids have had chicken-pox - not at the same time of course - that would have been too easy!  It was our wedding anniversary on the 7th - and we were given money to go out for a nice meal and just haven't had the time to as yet (unless you call Frankie & Benny's on the day itself a "nice meal"  - followed by "The Time Travellers Wife" at the cinema (not my choice!).  Supposedly the book is better than the movie - will take folks' word for it!!)

Most of this month I've been spending my spare time writing an assignment for my Masters degree.  Is due today - and was sent off in good time - so that is me now finished my first module - has only taken 5 years - not bad eh??  Shocking!  Have also started a second Masters which is going better - basically because it's a structured course with deadlines - I need deadlines!!

Work has been good, but busy.  The group of guys that have been coming to the Chaplaincy groups are not exactly convinced Christians - and so tend to question/contradict/ask me to justify everything I say - I can't even get through a sermon at the service without interruption.  I don't mind really - but it can be mentally draining!  And can be hard to keep the "gentleness and respect" part of the passage above - maybe that's why Peter said it!!  I find myself having to defend the church for a lot of her faults (my faults).  Was even told by one guy yesterday that I'm not really a Christian because I don't do enough for those leaving the prison without a home (including him!!) and if I was a real Christian I would be taking them to my house!  Maybe he has a point.  Wealth is a big issue to them - why are Christians so wealthy if Jesus tells us to give it away?  Why is the church not doing more for the poor?  The drugs addicts?  It is easy for me to get defensive and explain about things that are happening - but sometimes I leave wondering whether Jesus would agree more with them than me!  Anyway - keep me in your prayers folk - really appreciate them - and desperately need them.

(Now I need to go off and find out more as to why the Gospel of Thomas isn't trusted by the Church - where do the guys get to know about all this stuff!!??)

Airbus A380

Took the kids today to go and see the gigantic Airbus A380 as it did its fake touch-down/take-off at Edinburgh Airport.  Totally surprised by the number of folk who turned out to see it (we just noticed a wee article about it on the BBC website this morning, and since we had no other plans for the day...).  We were treated to 2 fly pasts - and were struck by how smoothly it manoeuvered and how quiet it was given its size.  If you are into that sort of thing (I'm not!) then you can read all about it here.  Kids enjoyed themselves which was the main thing.  

More Barf

Well, I've gone for it.  After my previous blog about B.A.R.F. (Bones and Raw Food), I decided while on holiday to give it a try - and as you can see from the photos, the dogs (including our 11 week pup) are loving it.  We did have some kibble to finish off when we came back - and have been putting it in their bowls side by side with their raw food - no prizes for guessing which goes first! 

We did have to buy a new chest freezer, but their food is now coming from a company in England called Landywood Pet Foods.  Think it works out cheaper for us - and is tastier and healthier for the dogs - so everyone is a winner.  It's early days - but I'll let you know how we get on!!