Steven had the most emphatic ideas. "We'll spend Friday night at home - no phones, no knitting. And we're NOT going to the Peak District on Saturday. We can have a work morning, and all do some games in the afternoon." He wasn't even prepared to concede that the games should be at the Jesus Centre, where Jamie could get out the table tennis table. But Steven did at least agree to be the MC.
I'd resolved that this was the ideal chance to clear out the overgrown laurels by the front lawn. We had James and Jon from Grimsby staying over. I needed to find time in advance to get some stuff cut down so the rest of the team would follow on clearing it away. Jack planned to wash and vac the cars so Grace and Faith could help.
As the weekend approached, Steven, representing the guys generally, faced some challenges - especially the 'no knitting'. "We've got this blanket to finish, to send off to Iraqi Christians..." So, Men Alive for God had brought us extreme mountain biking in Skye, plunging into icy Welsh lakes, manic downhill-running, blizzards in the Italian Alps, and martyrdom. And we were planning to spend the weekend crocheting.
I'm a dangerous person when pushed to an ultimatum. Kelly had mentioned previously that if I ever needed a long-reach powered hedge cutter, he could lend me one. He also threw in a 21 foot telescopic pruning saw. Ultimate crochet hooks.
Friday morning was clear enough to make a start. At 10.00am I broke off for a Skype conference call with Ed, Desmond and Colney - the Multiply International Exec - to sort out the 2015 budget. Then Kat turned up with Zeb and Zane, and proposed a jog while Mary gave the boys lunch. I'm not going out with her again: she drove us to 5k in 33 minutes, three minutes less than my latest best.
The Friday evening 'at home' worked fine. We did the icebreaker in which you declare three things about your past, two being true, and one fabricated - which the rest of the room guesses at. People have done some funny things. Andrzej did a video interview with Pope John Paul II; Mary got sawn in half on stage; James died and had to be resuscitated when he was six. I was a bit offended that they didn't believe that I'd had a painting exhibited in Hull's Ferens Art Gallery, nor at one time had been a professional model.
Saturday morning was clear, too, and the team did a great job. We rescued Barrie, who overtoppled with the hedge cutter. Titus and Silas joined in raking and sweeping. After lunch the Congregational Development Group met, including Phil and Donna. Then Steven launched us into round of 'Empires' that had gone so well at Kings. The unlikely Lois won - it pays to avoid attention for as long as you can. Malcolm led the household meeting in rather more serious discussions about community.
Mary and I had offered to play host for Phil and Donna down at No25, as we'd run out of accommodation at home. In bed I found out how many aching limbs I'd earned in the garden. And there's still the holly to tackle.
I'd resolved that this was the ideal chance to clear out the overgrown laurels by the front lawn. We had James and Jon from Grimsby staying over. I needed to find time in advance to get some stuff cut down so the rest of the team would follow on clearing it away. Jack planned to wash and vac the cars so Grace and Faith could help.
As the weekend approached, Steven, representing the guys generally, faced some challenges - especially the 'no knitting'. "We've got this blanket to finish, to send off to Iraqi Christians..." So, Men Alive for God had brought us extreme mountain biking in Skye, plunging into icy Welsh lakes, manic downhill-running, blizzards in the Italian Alps, and martyrdom. And we were planning to spend the weekend crocheting.
I'm a dangerous person when pushed to an ultimatum. Kelly had mentioned previously that if I ever needed a long-reach powered hedge cutter, he could lend me one. He also threw in a 21 foot telescopic pruning saw. Ultimate crochet hooks.
Friday morning was clear enough to make a start. At 10.00am I broke off for a Skype conference call with Ed, Desmond and Colney - the Multiply International Exec - to sort out the 2015 budget. Then Kat turned up with Zeb and Zane, and proposed a jog while Mary gave the boys lunch. I'm not going out with her again: she drove us to 5k in 33 minutes, three minutes less than my latest best.
The Friday evening 'at home' worked fine. We did the icebreaker in which you declare three things about your past, two being true, and one fabricated - which the rest of the room guesses at. People have done some funny things. Andrzej did a video interview with Pope John Paul II; Mary got sawn in half on stage; James died and had to be resuscitated when he was six. I was a bit offended that they didn't believe that I'd had a painting exhibited in Hull's Ferens Art Gallery, nor at one time had been a professional model.
Saturday morning was clear, too, and the team did a great job. We rescued Barrie, who overtoppled with the hedge cutter. Titus and Silas joined in raking and sweeping. After lunch the Congregational Development Group met, including Phil and Donna. Then Steven launched us into round of 'Empires' that had gone so well at Kings. The unlikely Lois won - it pays to avoid attention for as long as you can. Malcolm led the household meeting in rather more serious discussions about community.
Mary and I had offered to play host for Phil and Donna down at No25, as we'd run out of accommodation at home. In bed I found out how many aching limbs I'd earned in the garden. And there's still the holly to tackle.
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