American election campain

Zod! He's got my vote! I wonder what he would make of the DUP?

Another week, another Rountree...

We had a sick household this week. First Charlotte, and then Late Wednesday night, er, the bottom fell out of my world. Sad this is that Thursday was a busy day. The staff from the Ministries weere coming down for coffe at the Cornerstone in the morning (I had to call in sick for that) and my course started in the after noon.
The class is good and relaxed. Most of us were nervous, and feeling sick didn't help. But we did get out early. The session was just to let us know what would be expected of us in the course. The worst bit for me will be the journal. What to wright, especially for the first one. It is comforting to know the tutor, Liz, will help us through. Oh, yes. Immodium works;-)
Watched Dodge Ball last night. Havent laughed like that for many a film. Not a no-brainer teen comody that you seem to have too many of these days, but a smart movie that acts dumb, with jokes within jokes. Love the whole flick.
Julie hadn't been feeling top form this weekend. But she held together for today. After Bible Class and Praise Group in the main service, Laura Rountre was over for lunch.

This is the 3rd of teh Rountree Girls, and it was great to have her over. Charlotte even called her 'mummy', but then agin she calls me 'mummy' at times. They played,

and Julie and I relaxed. Nice after noon.

buns, eyes, (more) barf and ignorance.

Had a busy few days that i didn't blogg, so just to keep in touch....
Lindsay

was round on Friday night and we talked about such thing as disturbing buns (don't ask)

and eye tests...
which incidently, I had on Monday, and all is well [Right: sphere +0.75, Cly. -0.75, Axix 30; Left: Sphere +0.50, Cyl. -0.50, Axis 120] i.e. no glasses.
Charlotte decided Tuesday was a good day to be sick. I collected her from work, and she went through this cycle: thirsty, sip drink, cry when she couldn't get more, tired, barf up water, fully active, thirsty..... etc.

Long conversation with one of the boys yesterday about Ulster history. Had to amend his version, and he was confused by being told that the UVF were not formed in 1914 to defend Northern Ireland from the Irish Government and Ulster has three more counties than Northern Ireland. He left totally confused after telling me the main reason he does not want a United Ireland is the Euro. I do try not to change what they believe in, but get them to ask 'why' of what they believe, like 'why should i fear a United Ireland', and answer it like adults who know there own minds, and not as children who are repeating what they were told. The reward for me is seeing the thinking in their faces when their world is questioned.

CSI:Ballymoney

What happens to Charlotte 5 mins after we leave the Rountrees. Thanks Jen.

Pride and Prejudice

To be honest, after the win aginst the English on Wednesday night, I don't think many people expect anything less than a good sound beating the next time NI meets England on the football field. We are just enjoying the feeling of beating them. The BBC NI graphics people had a laugh at Englands expence on the intruction to a programme on Friday night. Nice one folks!

The riots over the past few days really took the joy out of the victory. One 5 yearold boy had to be taken home to his parents after the police caught him rioting, the NewsLetter reported on Wednesday. The sceans of devitation are not really about walking down one street, they are about poeple having nothing better to do. The riots got worse after tea last night, or to put it another way, after X-Factor, people came out. After a week of violence the Orange Order asks people to come out onto the street to protest, and then is surprised that there is violence. Shame on the orders. Saying it is because the ordinary protestants are frustrated about not having a voice. If I am frustrated with Julie i do not resort to violence, besides, I am an ordinary protestant, and who is listening to me? It's the whole mentality we have over here of 'acept no responsability, and balme the other guy.' (the reason why we have high insurence costs, and what are you doing about that Mr Paisley?)

Never thought I would see it

Two strange things happened today.

1. Just before drop-in today, I turned the radio on for the young people. The first station that was clear was Classical FM, so I kept it there (after alunch time drop-in of thump-thump music). No one noticed for 40 mins. and then they said it was very relaxing music. I am baffled.
2. After buying a new TV (old one is dead), we got it set up with Alex help, and I settled to watch the football, while we chatted to Alex. The match had been built up for the past few days by the NI news, with things like weird poles of Republican polatitions who wouldn't support a Northern Ireland team, but wanted England to loose. With NI's usual way of playing, I didn't expect much (by past form I was predicting a 4-0 defeat), but they won!!!! I saw the goals and the last 20 mins was a long time. What are they paying Rooney for, the boy has two left feet!?!?!We beat the English! Washed the floor with them! Ha ha ha ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha he he ha ha ha ho ha ha ha ha!

Good game.

Fun with Buns

While I was at work today, Charlotte and Julie decorated some buns.

Julie did the big buns, while Charlotte iced the smaller buns.

Julie did tell me some of the smaller ones mysteriously went missing.

The end product.

Charlotte now knows enough words to be used as a spell check, you know when you type a word and the spell check gives you a different word. So if I repeat the word, she will say it back. eg:-
Daddy:- Dr Who
Charlotte:- Duck
D:- Tardis
C:- Trousers
D:- Dalek
C:- Dalek
(Daddy jumps with joy that his child knows Dalek.)

Picking up the litter

Last week the Card Shop just opposite work opened a lady's shoe shop up stairs. Some of the boys are dismissive about how well it will do, and one boy exclaimed "I wouldn't buy my shoes there!". Good job too. That maynot even be dealt with in the counseling course.

Had a chat with one of the older boys today about paramilitary groups. He was trying to persuade me that the UVF are 'stupid planks' and the UDA are great, defenders of the whatever. Shows the swing from UVF to UDA recently, as we wouldn't of heard anything about UDA from the guys a few years ago. Interesting to hear these guys thinking around the groups.

There was a nice wee crowd tonight in drop-in, and I split my time between up stairs and the porch. There was some litter in the porch, and I managed to get four of the boys to lift there own litter, and put it in the bin (a few paces from the porch). I was amazed. Best quote tonight was when one of the guys came over and complained that one of the girls had tried to pulled his tracksuit bottoms down, another said "They were only trying to find out if the legend is true". For some reason I think that is soo funny.