It's so exciting being an Eagles fan right now - only one more sleep until the Big Day (makes it sound like a wedding, eh?). While it's pretty obvious who I'll be supporting, the day does pose a dilemma for supporters of teams other than the Eagles and the Swans. Who will they adopt as their team for the day? Or will they even care who wins?
This question was being asked on the radio this week on more than one station. Based on last Friday's disappointing loss, Freo fans were invited to call in and say whether or not they'd be supporting the Eagles this Saturday.
I wasn't expecting a lot of support from them to be honest. Last year a lot of Dorkers fans laughed when the Eagles lost the Grand Final (how they could laugh when they didn't even make the finals I'll never know). On Monday morning, a lady who was a HUGE Freo fan rang one of the radio stations and declared she was going for Sydney. She said she hated the Eagles and that she didn't care if the cup went over east as long as it didn't go to the Eagles. Then on Seven News last night, it showed a a twenty-something-year-old Dorkers chick playing her guitar and singing a horrible song she wrote about the Eagles, about them being girls and how much she hated them because they were too clinical and professional in her opinion. Hmmm yeah whatever.
On the other hand, there are some Freo fans who want the cup to come to WA and are quite happy to support the Eagles. They see it more as barracking for WA against the Eastern States. To be honest, if the Dorkers had made the Grand Final and the Eagles hadn't, I'm not sure who I'd go for. Since the Dorkers beat us twice this year, I'm not feeling too kindly towards them but if the Eagles had won both derbies I think I'd be more inclined to go for Freo. It'd probably depend on who was playing in the Grand Final, who had the biggest premiership drought and who I felt most sorry for.
But that doesn't matter. The Eagles will be there tomorrow and I'm excited! Just hearing about the Grand Final parade and Swanson St, Collins St and Flinders St Station made me think of my trip to Melbourne two months ago and wish I was there again. I can now say I've been to those places WOOHOO!
I'd like to pose a question to all Freo fans and fans of other teams. Who will you be going for tomorrow?
Friday, September 29, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Last Saturday in September
Gosh, I can't believe that yesterday was the first time I'd blogged about football for a while...well a few posts ago hehe. After a heartstopping preliminary final, the moment I've been waiting for for the last 12 months has arrived....this Saturday the Eagles have their chance to get revenge on Sydney.
The 2005 AFL Grand Final was on Saturday 24th September 2005. Kate and I decided it was far too boring to watch the match at my place and that we'd much rather be in an exciting, rowdy atmosphere with plenty of other passionate Eagles' fans - a local pub.
Eventually we decided on Cheers in Vic Park as the destination where we would watch Eagles' premiership glory. I emailed fellow footy fanatics (even Dorkers fans) and invited them to join us. But no-one else could make it. So Kate and I went on our own but it was all good!
We hadn't booked a table and thought we might have to sit outside but luckily someone had booked but not turned up, so a very kind couple let us share their table. The place was decked out with yellow and blue balloons. It was buzzing. I was so disappointed when I found out Phil Matera was ruled unfit and was therefore not playing.
The match begun. It was so loud we couldn't hear the commentators but it didn't matter. It was great when we'd get a goal and everyone would rise and cheer and just go bezerk. I love watching footy with fanatics or going to games. There's no way you can look stupid among people who are just as crazy. At the next table were a group of middle aged women. They were all Eagles fans except for one. Every time Sydney got a goal she'd stand up all alone wearing her red and white fro wig and scarf and blowing a little horn. She'd probably had a few drinks but I still thought she had some nerve ;)
By half time it wasn't looking good, but I still held out hope. Then we started our comeback. I remember when Sydney was kicking it out from defence and I think it went straight to Ben Cousins. He goaled and from that moment I thought the premiership was ours. But then Sydney hit the front again. I started wailing that we were going to lose by some ridiculously small margin but Kate was adamant that I shouldn't talk so negatively and that there was still hope. I wanted to believe it but when Leo Barry took the match-saving mark for Sydney, I knew it was over.
Then the closet Sydney fans started to emerge from the cracks in the walls or wherever else they'd been hiding. They ran riot, heckling brokenhearted Eagles fans and popping the balloons. We were disgusted at their behaviour. I drove Kate home with my Eagles flag still flying proudly out of my car window. I don't remember being sad, just numb but still so terribly proud to be an Eagles fan. They'd done their very best.
Looking back, it didn't really feel like a grand final. Sure, the hype was there but I think it was because so many grand finals over the past decade had been one-sided, that it seemed odd to have a close one. When the Eagles last won in 1994, I was 11 and in Year 6 at Albany Primary. Last year I was 22 and I thought how ironic it was that I'd had to double my age in order to see the Eagles in another grand final.
I remember being a bit mad later when I got an sms from a friend who doesn't follow football or even know anything about it. She was rubbing it in and I just ignored her. I went home and defrosted my fridge, still feeling peaceful despite the loss.
Last Saturday, the 23rd September 2006, exactly 364 days since the grand final disappointment, I watched the Eagles win the preliminary final in a heartstopper at Craig's place with fellow Eagles fans from church and a few others. It was such a great atmosphere and this Saturday, Craig is kindly having us over to do it all again. Later that night, I went out to dinner with Sarah D, Sam, Jill, Ali, Richard E and Rohan to guess where.....Cheers. It had taken me just under a year to go back there (not deliberately though of course).
GO EAGLES!
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Kate and I at Cheers last year. This was taken at half time.
The 2005 AFL Grand Final was on Saturday 24th September 2005. Kate and I decided it was far too boring to watch the match at my place and that we'd much rather be in an exciting, rowdy atmosphere with plenty of other passionate Eagles' fans - a local pub.
Eventually we decided on Cheers in Vic Park as the destination where we would watch Eagles' premiership glory. I emailed fellow footy fanatics (even Dorkers fans) and invited them to join us. But no-one else could make it. So Kate and I went on our own but it was all good!
We hadn't booked a table and thought we might have to sit outside but luckily someone had booked but not turned up, so a very kind couple let us share their table. The place was decked out with yellow and blue balloons. It was buzzing. I was so disappointed when I found out Phil Matera was ruled unfit and was therefore not playing.
The match begun. It was so loud we couldn't hear the commentators but it didn't matter. It was great when we'd get a goal and everyone would rise and cheer and just go bezerk. I love watching footy with fanatics or going to games. There's no way you can look stupid among people who are just as crazy. At the next table were a group of middle aged women. They were all Eagles fans except for one. Every time Sydney got a goal she'd stand up all alone wearing her red and white fro wig and scarf and blowing a little horn. She'd probably had a few drinks but I still thought she had some nerve ;)
By half time it wasn't looking good, but I still held out hope. Then we started our comeback. I remember when Sydney was kicking it out from defence and I think it went straight to Ben Cousins. He goaled and from that moment I thought the premiership was ours. But then Sydney hit the front again. I started wailing that we were going to lose by some ridiculously small margin but Kate was adamant that I shouldn't talk so negatively and that there was still hope. I wanted to believe it but when Leo Barry took the match-saving mark for Sydney, I knew it was over.
Then the closet Sydney fans started to emerge from the cracks in the walls or wherever else they'd been hiding. They ran riot, heckling brokenhearted Eagles fans and popping the balloons. We were disgusted at their behaviour. I drove Kate home with my Eagles flag still flying proudly out of my car window. I don't remember being sad, just numb but still so terribly proud to be an Eagles fan. They'd done their very best.
Looking back, it didn't really feel like a grand final. Sure, the hype was there but I think it was because so many grand finals over the past decade had been one-sided, that it seemed odd to have a close one. When the Eagles last won in 1994, I was 11 and in Year 6 at Albany Primary. Last year I was 22 and I thought how ironic it was that I'd had to double my age in order to see the Eagles in another grand final.
I remember being a bit mad later when I got an sms from a friend who doesn't follow football or even know anything about it. She was rubbing it in and I just ignored her. I went home and defrosted my fridge, still feeling peaceful despite the loss.
Last Saturday, the 23rd September 2006, exactly 364 days since the grand final disappointment, I watched the Eagles win the preliminary final in a heartstopper at Craig's place with fellow Eagles fans from church and a few others. It was such a great atmosphere and this Saturday, Craig is kindly having us over to do it all again. Later that night, I went out to dinner with Sarah D, Sam, Jill, Ali, Richard E and Rohan to guess where.....Cheers. It had taken me just under a year to go back there (not deliberately though of course).
GO EAGLES!
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Kate and I at Cheers last year. This was taken at half time.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Kick a Vic!
As Grand Final day fast approaches, it appears the Vics are not too happy about having another all interstate Grand Final. The cup hasn't been won by a Victorian team since Essendon beat Melbourne in 2000 and the last time a Vic team was even in the Grand Final was 2003 when the Colliwobbles lost to Brisbane.
This got emailed to me. Hehe. It pretty much sums it up!
This got emailed to me. Hehe. It pretty much sums it up!
Saturday, September 23, 2006
How Well Do Your Friends Really Know You?
A couple of months ago, I received a questionnaire via email. Now I'm always getting questionnaires - you know, the ones where you have to answer a whole lot of questions about yourself and then forward it on to your friends. Then they fill it out and send it back to you (well, you hope they do).
But this questionnaire was slightly different. I had to fill it out and answer questions about my friend, Christina to show her how well I really knew her and then send it back to her. Then I sent the list of questions to a group of my friends to see how well they knew me. Unfortunately, I only got 5 responses (slackers!) and I'm happy to say they all did pretty well. I marked the responses below in red (very teacher-like I know).
MY NAME?
I'm happy to say they all got that right! (Not gonna write it here in case someone Googles my name - no stalkers thanks).
WHERE DID WE MEET?
Year 11 Human Biology
CCC
Uni
MYC 2003 - Actually this was wrong, Sarah. I met you first at a CCU Progressive Dinner a month before - just being picky.
At ASHS
TAKE A STAB AT MY MIDDLE NAME
Rosanne
Frances x Uh no, Jill. It's Rosanne.
Roseanne x Incorrect spelling Mandy ;)
Rosanne
Rosanne
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ME?
Since Year 11 Human Biology Yep, Chrisy that's 7.5 years woohoo!
2.5 years
5 years dude!!!!!!!!
Since June 2003
10 years........wow does time fly!
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE SAW EACH OTHER?
Last Saturday night, pizza and movies :)
Yesterday
Friday, whoa we actually caught up!
On Sunday at church
This morning before you left for work - Yes, poor Emma has to see me every day ;)
DO I SMOKE?
Definitely not! ;)
No
Nooo, yuckies
No
No, you've only tried it once.
Yep, all right here. I tried it when I was 13 but smoking is BAAAD mmmkay.
DO I DRINK?
Occasionally :)
Yes but not to excession
BEEEEEEEEEEER!
Sometimes
Sometimes, but not a lot, generally just socially, except for the night-cap of baileys you had for awhile! - I was trying to finish the bottle okay ;)
Correct, I drink occasionally but not a lot and when I do it's usually beer.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING ME/SEEING ME?
Yay a friend with the same sense of humour as me!
Hot chick
I like her. She's as nutso as me.
You're a godly, fun and easy going gal who made me feel comfortable amongst many strangers.
I thought you were a bit zany, but very fun-loving.
WHAT'S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO?
Sing and pretend to be Julie Andrews hehe :)
Dance
Spend time with me cos I'm awesome. Church. Tennis.
Singing
Watch one of your favourite TV shows, or catch up with a friend you don't get to see much.
They would all pass as correct, I s'pose.
AM I FUNNY?
YEESSSSSSSSS!!!
Very
Yessum, crazy girl
Yes
Yes, very. You're talented in that area.
Awww, thanks guys :D
WHAT'S MY FAVOURITE TYPE OF MUSIC?
All sorts?
Musicals
Lotsa top 40, easy listening type stuff.
Rock and pop
Hmmm... you have a pretty varied taste in music yourself. Sound of Music songs? :)
Check out my profile to see my favourite music.
CAN I SING?
Yes, and quite often do.
Definitely
Sure
Yes, but you keep that information very quiet. Not a huge amount of people know this!
You are coming along nicely with Heidi's expert guidance! I have definitely noticed an improvement this year. You are a very joyful singer!
WHAT IS THE BEST FEATURE ABOUT ME?
Sense of humour, funness, laugh, eyes and hair! :)
Your sense of humour and honesty.
ARE YOU FISHING FOR COMPLIMENTS, MISSY?! - Yep, sure am Mands ;)
Your cheeky smile and laugh.
You are a very real person (not fake) and you're always good fun to be with.
AM I SHY OR OUTGOING?
Outgoing but shy if you don't know anyone.
Outgoing
Bit of both. Depends who you're with.
Inbetween. Depends on the people you are with and the situation you are in.
You're shy when you first meet people, but once you're comfortable you let rip!
Yep, that's about right.
AM I A REBEL OR DO I FOLLOW THE RULES?
A little from column A and a little from column B.
Both
Rules are good mmmkay
You can be a rebel if that's the right thing to do, because rules are unjust. But usually a rules person.
I think you are a bit of a rebel, you always challenge why things are.
Depends on what the rules are and who's making 'em.
DO I HAVE ANY SPECIAL TALENTS?
Yes, singing and making people laugh.
Making animal noises - I do a hen laying an egg and a rooster crowing :)
Oooh, that's a personal question :P ????????
Singing, acting, playing the comedian at times (eg, CCC annual dinner earlier in the year).
Your shower singing is superb! And you are a great writer.
WOULD YOU CALL ME PREPPY, AVERAGE, SPORTY, PUNK, HIPPIE, GLAM, NERDY, SNOBBY OR SOMETHING ELSE (WHAT)?
Wonderful!
Spinster librarian!! (NEVER!) Nah, budding talent. Quietly confident.
I dunno. Fun?
Cheeky - different, in a good way you are even sometimes weird. I hope you see that as a compliment. Cause who wants to be average!
I don't like classing people or putting them in boxes. You defintely don't fit into any box - but that's a good thing.
AM I HOT? AM I NOT? GO AHEAD YOU CAN SAY...
You are hot to me :)
Hot
So hot right now
You're a brilliant friend. As for hot...ask the men.
I couldn't exactly say no could I? You are a beautiful woman of God.
Like anyone was going to say anyone else was NOT hot, even if they weren't. Anyway, hot is a matter of opinion.
WHAT IS MY FAVOURITE FOOD?
Hmmm... fussy Sedface yess!!!! not sure...maybe Italian food?
Chocolate!!!! or big boys (in joke - don't ask!) (hot dogs)
Non Asian!!!
Chocolate
Chocolate and Italian.
Mmmm chocolate ;)
IF THERE WAS ONE GOOD NICKNAME FOR ME, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Sedface!!!
Eddy
Sed?
Ed
Sed!
Yep all right here.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF ME?
When we were swimming down at the beach in our knickers :) hahaha Yes Chrisface, sooo much fun :D
CCC Review Night
I got lots. Probably one from theatre hehe :)
There are so many. Umm, One of my fondest memories of you is when I talked to you about my relationship with Christ and my poetry at MYC. You were so open, and happily shared your experiences. It was great.
Doing drama with you at school, was always good fun and loads of laughs.
WHAT IS MY WORST HABIT?
Ummm... not sure... maybe singing weird songs to Emma :) hehe Poor Emma.
Not sure
You're too organised. Makes me feel inadequate haha
Worrying too much. But I suffer the same habit too!
Watching too much TV! C'mon everyone needs their daily fill of soap.
IF YOU AND I WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT'S THE ONE THING I WOULD BRING?
I know one thing you wouldn't bring! Sam the snail! hahah... nah um..you would bring lots of food to feed Christina yesss!!!!
ipod - except I don't have one.
Water cos you always have it with you.
Chocolate or music
Chocolate?
Probably water, but I'd like to bring all of these things.
ARE WE FRIENDS?
Of course! From the day we first met!
Yes
No way!!!!!!!!! Shut up Mands ;)
Yes
Yes we are.
DO I BELIEVE IN GOD?
Yes
Yes
Surely
Definately
Yes, you do.
I'd be a bit concerned if somebody said no.
AM I FAMILY ORIENTED?
Yes....when everyone is getting on anyway.
Yes
Umm, not overly.
No you don't have your own family, but yes you can be very family oriented.
Yes, even though there can be struggles.
Answers 1 and 5 (Chris and Em) are the most accurate here.
WHO IS MY BEST FRIEND?
Emma
Emma (who you live with)
Christina, Emma, Fizz, Rhiannon x Fizz and Rhianon are the same person. I think she meant Rianna.
God!
I don't think you have just one, instead you have a bunch of close friends.
Answer 5. You are correct Em. Although Sarah's answer (no. 4) is also right.
WHAT KIND OF CAR DO I DRIVE?
A silver one :) Half marks for Chrisface
Holden Barina x
Bertha! x
Roberta the car. Sorry can't remember the make - model. Half marks for Sare.
Your 2004 Hyundai Accent called Roberta. Yep this is right!!!
Send the blank questionnaire to your friends. I know this stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea but it's a great way of fishing for compliments ;)
But this questionnaire was slightly different. I had to fill it out and answer questions about my friend, Christina to show her how well I really knew her and then send it back to her. Then I sent the list of questions to a group of my friends to see how well they knew me. Unfortunately, I only got 5 responses (slackers!) and I'm happy to say they all did pretty well. I marked the responses below in red (very teacher-like I know).
MY NAME?
I'm happy to say they all got that right! (Not gonna write it here in case someone Googles my name - no stalkers thanks).
WHERE DID WE MEET?
Year 11 Human Biology
CCC
Uni
MYC 2003 - Actually this was wrong, Sarah. I met you first at a CCU Progressive Dinner a month before - just being picky.
At ASHS
TAKE A STAB AT MY MIDDLE NAME
Rosanne
Frances x Uh no, Jill. It's Rosanne.
Roseanne x Incorrect spelling Mandy ;)
Rosanne
Rosanne
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ME?
Since Year 11 Human Biology Yep, Chrisy that's 7.5 years woohoo!
2.5 years
5 years dude!!!!!!!!
Since June 2003
10 years........wow does time fly!
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE SAW EACH OTHER?
Last Saturday night, pizza and movies :)
Yesterday
Friday, whoa we actually caught up!
On Sunday at church
This morning before you left for work - Yes, poor Emma has to see me every day ;)
DO I SMOKE?
Definitely not! ;)
No
Nooo, yuckies
No
No, you've only tried it once.
Yep, all right here. I tried it when I was 13 but smoking is BAAAD mmmkay.
DO I DRINK?
Occasionally :)
Yes but not to excession
BEEEEEEEEEEER!
Sometimes
Sometimes, but not a lot, generally just socially, except for the night-cap of baileys you had for awhile! - I was trying to finish the bottle okay ;)
Correct, I drink occasionally but not a lot and when I do it's usually beer.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING ME/SEEING ME?
Yay a friend with the same sense of humour as me!
Hot chick
I like her. She's as nutso as me.
You're a godly, fun and easy going gal who made me feel comfortable amongst many strangers.
I thought you were a bit zany, but very fun-loving.
WHAT'S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO?
Sing and pretend to be Julie Andrews hehe :)
Dance
Spend time with me cos I'm awesome. Church. Tennis.
Singing
Watch one of your favourite TV shows, or catch up with a friend you don't get to see much.
They would all pass as correct, I s'pose.
AM I FUNNY?
YEESSSSSSSSS!!!
Very
Yessum, crazy girl
Yes
Yes, very. You're talented in that area.
Awww, thanks guys :D
WHAT'S MY FAVOURITE TYPE OF MUSIC?
All sorts?
Musicals
Lotsa top 40, easy listening type stuff.
Rock and pop
Hmmm... you have a pretty varied taste in music yourself. Sound of Music songs? :)
Check out my profile to see my favourite music.
CAN I SING?
Yes, and quite often do.
Definitely
Sure
Yes, but you keep that information very quiet. Not a huge amount of people know this!
You are coming along nicely with Heidi's expert guidance! I have definitely noticed an improvement this year. You are a very joyful singer!
WHAT IS THE BEST FEATURE ABOUT ME?
Sense of humour, funness, laugh, eyes and hair! :)
Your sense of humour and honesty.
ARE YOU FISHING FOR COMPLIMENTS, MISSY?! - Yep, sure am Mands ;)
Your cheeky smile and laugh.
You are a very real person (not fake) and you're always good fun to be with.
AM I SHY OR OUTGOING?
Outgoing but shy if you don't know anyone.
Outgoing
Bit of both. Depends who you're with.
Inbetween. Depends on the people you are with and the situation you are in.
You're shy when you first meet people, but once you're comfortable you let rip!
Yep, that's about right.
AM I A REBEL OR DO I FOLLOW THE RULES?
A little from column A and a little from column B.
Both
Rules are good mmmkay
You can be a rebel if that's the right thing to do, because rules are unjust. But usually a rules person.
I think you are a bit of a rebel, you always challenge why things are.
Depends on what the rules are and who's making 'em.
DO I HAVE ANY SPECIAL TALENTS?
Yes, singing and making people laugh.
Making animal noises - I do a hen laying an egg and a rooster crowing :)
Oooh, that's a personal question :P ????????
Singing, acting, playing the comedian at times (eg, CCC annual dinner earlier in the year).
Your shower singing is superb! And you are a great writer.
WOULD YOU CALL ME PREPPY, AVERAGE, SPORTY, PUNK, HIPPIE, GLAM, NERDY, SNOBBY OR SOMETHING ELSE (WHAT)?
Wonderful!
Spinster librarian!! (NEVER!) Nah, budding talent. Quietly confident.
I dunno. Fun?
Cheeky - different, in a good way you are even sometimes weird. I hope you see that as a compliment. Cause who wants to be average!
I don't like classing people or putting them in boxes. You defintely don't fit into any box - but that's a good thing.
AM I HOT? AM I NOT? GO AHEAD YOU CAN SAY...
You are hot to me :)
Hot
So hot right now
You're a brilliant friend. As for hot...ask the men.
I couldn't exactly say no could I? You are a beautiful woman of God.
Like anyone was going to say anyone else was NOT hot, even if they weren't. Anyway, hot is a matter of opinion.
WHAT IS MY FAVOURITE FOOD?
Hmmm... fussy Sedface yess!!!! not sure...maybe Italian food?
Chocolate!!!! or big boys (in joke - don't ask!) (hot dogs)
Non Asian!!!
Chocolate
Chocolate and Italian.
Mmmm chocolate ;)
IF THERE WAS ONE GOOD NICKNAME FOR ME, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Sedface!!!
Eddy
Sed?
Ed
Sed!
Yep all right here.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF ME?
When we were swimming down at the beach in our knickers :) hahaha Yes Chrisface, sooo much fun :D
CCC Review Night
I got lots. Probably one from theatre hehe :)
There are so many. Umm, One of my fondest memories of you is when I talked to you about my relationship with Christ and my poetry at MYC. You were so open, and happily shared your experiences. It was great.
Doing drama with you at school, was always good fun and loads of laughs.
WHAT IS MY WORST HABIT?
Ummm... not sure... maybe singing weird songs to Emma :) hehe Poor Emma.
Not sure
You're too organised. Makes me feel inadequate haha
Worrying too much. But I suffer the same habit too!
Watching too much TV! C'mon everyone needs their daily fill of soap.
IF YOU AND I WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT'S THE ONE THING I WOULD BRING?
I know one thing you wouldn't bring! Sam the snail! hahah... nah um..you would bring lots of food to feed Christina yesss!!!!
ipod - except I don't have one.
Water cos you always have it with you.
Chocolate or music
Chocolate?
Probably water, but I'd like to bring all of these things.
ARE WE FRIENDS?
Of course! From the day we first met!
Yes
No way!!!!!!!!! Shut up Mands ;)
Yes
Yes we are.
DO I BELIEVE IN GOD?
Yes
Yes
Surely
Definately
Yes, you do.
I'd be a bit concerned if somebody said no.
AM I FAMILY ORIENTED?
Yes....when everyone is getting on anyway.
Yes
Umm, not overly.
No you don't have your own family, but yes you can be very family oriented.
Yes, even though there can be struggles.
Answers 1 and 5 (Chris and Em) are the most accurate here.
WHO IS MY BEST FRIEND?
Emma
Emma (who you live with)
Christina, Emma, Fizz, Rhiannon x Fizz and Rhianon are the same person. I think she meant Rianna.
God!
I don't think you have just one, instead you have a bunch of close friends.
Answer 5. You are correct Em. Although Sarah's answer (no. 4) is also right.
WHAT KIND OF CAR DO I DRIVE?
A silver one :) Half marks for Chrisface
Holden Barina x
Bertha! x
Roberta the car. Sorry can't remember the make - model. Half marks for Sare.
Your 2004 Hyundai Accent called Roberta. Yep this is right!!!
Send the blank questionnaire to your friends. I know this stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea but it's a great way of fishing for compliments ;)
Monday, September 18, 2006
My New Cousin
I have a new cousin, Linnéa. Well, technically she is my first cousin once removed. She was born to my cousin, Huw and his fiancee, Anna on 6th August.
I got to meet her a week or so ago and they gave me some photos.
Isn't she cute.
I got to meet her a week or so ago and they gave me some photos.
Isn't she cute.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
| Arty Kid |
 You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented! |
Who Were You In High School?
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Give It Over To God
This phrase is often thrown around in Christian circles and I'm frustrated because I have no idea what it means......
The context of this advice being given is usually to comfort a fellow Christian who is worried or stressed about something and not sure what to do about it. I know I've given this advice to people in the past and now I feel bad about it because I don't even know what it means to give something over to God myself. However to make sense of everything I'm thinking at the moment I'm just going to write it all down on my blog.
1. I'm presuming that it's got something to do with ceasing to worry about the circumstances and trusting that God will fix it for you - 1 Peter 5:7.
2. This implies a passive approach - that we don't actually have to DO anything to rectify the situation and that we just sit on our bums and wait for God to make everything ok again.
3. This also implies WAITING for God to fix things. (Personally I hate waiting) - Psalm 37:7
4. It implies God WILL fix things. Otherwise why give it over to him? - Matthew 7:7-8, Psalm 37:4, Matthew 21:22
5. If we're not worrying about it, then we must be at peace - Philippians 4:6-7.
Ok, now here are the problems I have with this advice...
1. How do you STOP worrying about something? I know I want to stop worrying about various things but it's not that easy to put into practice. What about people that have been praying for things for years - the unemployed person praying for a job, the wrongly imprisoned person praying for freedom, the single person praying for a spouse, the childless couple praying for a child, the person praying for the salvation of their unsaved friends and family... These are big issues in people's lives. How are they just meant to stop worrying about it and switch off their worry like a tap? Does the Spirit help us?
2. If we take the passive approach and sit on our bums waiting for God to act, doesn't that mean we might miss out? When do we wait and when should we be proactive? For example, a guy sees a top Christian woman and thinks he wants to be with her but someone tells him to "give it over to God". So he sits and waits thinking God will give him in this woman when the time is right. Time goes on, he never approaches her and eventually this woman marries someone else. The man is devastated. Isn't this an example of how it "giving it over to God" SHOULDN'T be applied?
3. As I mentioned above, 'giving it over to God' implies that he will take care of it and give us what we want. But what if he doesn't? Sometimes people pray for something for years and never get it. Or they have to wait a ridiculously long time and in the meantime grow more bitter, disappointed and often angry at God. It's easy to take a spectator's view and say to them "Oh well, God knows best. You can't expect to get everything. It obviously wouldn't be best for you to have this thing." Maybe we can't expect God to give us everything we want but this stuff really HURTS.
I couldn't talk about 'giving it over to God' without touching on the topic of prayer. Prayer is how we talk to God about our joys and frustrations and ask him for things. I don't know about you but I used to find stories of God granting people the desires of their hearts to be refreshing and encouraging. Now I don't.
It's tempting to look for the Hollywood ending. Cinderella finally gets her Prince and everything turns out good in the end. Even the Bible is full of those stories. Job loses everything but gets even more back. Hannah finally has a son. And we hear these stories in people's lives. In one sense, I am encouraged because it shows that God is good and loves to give good gifts to his children. And it's easy to overlook the years of hardship, suffering and waiting the person had to endure before they got what they'd been praying for because in the end everything turned out all right for them. But it doesn't always work like that. I know I've been praying for things for years, only to people with the same prayers get their prayers answered. I think, "it's not fair God". I don't begrudge people these things, it's just that I want them too. And it's hard to understand why God gave it to them and not me. I think, "well that's very nice that you gave it to that person, but what about me?"
This leads onto something else. I feel convicted of trying to manipulate God in prayer. Like if I pray a certain way, use certain words or copy the prayer of someone who got their prayer answered, God will give me what I want too. Now I know he doesn't work like that (sorry God). A few years ago, a friend shared with me how she had been praying for something specific but God had not given it to her. In the end, she stopped praying for it and instead asked God to do his will. And he did. A short time later and she got what she'd been praying for. I thought this was great so I prayed that God would do his will for me too, thinking that he'd give me what I'd secretly been wanting. But he hasn't and I've learnt that his will for her life is obviously very different from mine. So maybe he IS doing his will in my life, it's just not what I WANT.
Are we committing idolatry for wanting things too badly? For ages, I couldn't understand how two desperate people could throw themselves at God's feet and beg for something in prayer - and he'd give it to one but not the other. Surely if one person was being idolaterous for wanting something too much, then the other was too? So why give it one but not both or neither?
In Christian circles, it's often said that there are two types of prayers - 'red ferrari' prayers (praying for material possessions) and 'Hannah' prayers (ie. praying for a child, spouse, unsaved friends). Personally I don't think the categories can be so neat. Maybe it depends on our motivation for wanting it.
What does 'giving it over to God' look like in prayer? Over the years, I've heard many examples (yes, those 'encouraging' stories again).
1. Some people stop praying for something because it's on their mind so much and refuse to talk to God about it again. Instead they just pray about other things.
2. Others pray continuously (like the persistent widow or the PUSH bracelets - Pray Until Something Happens).
From both examples, I've had people say they got what they wanted. It's like they're advocating this as a sure fire way of getting what you want from God. But, as I've said before, God doesn't always give us what we want. Option 1 is often advised as being the best way, yet I was reading 1 Samuel 1 the other day and Hannah prayed and wept and asked God to remember her - and eventually God opened her womb and she had Samuel. I've tried not praying, praying desperately, crying, yelling at God - nothing has worked. I don't want to try and manipulate him anymore. I just want to trust him.
It probably all comes down to the fact that every time I pray, I assume God is going to say no. Lately he just keeps shutting very door I try to go through. Don't we get all surprised when God does give us what we want (Acts 12:1-19). I feel it's so drummed into my head that he'll say "no" or "wait" that I hardly ever expect him to say "yes" anymore.
I know life won't always be comfortable on this earth as a follower of Christ. I just want God to hold to his promises that he loves to give good gifts to his children and bless them - that it won't necessarily all be doom and gloom on earth while we wait. And I want to trust him and be glad. I guess contentment has to be learned (Philippians 4:11-13). My prayer is Psalm 13:1. How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
What do you think 'giving it over to God' means and how does it look on a practical level?
The context of this advice being given is usually to comfort a fellow Christian who is worried or stressed about something and not sure what to do about it. I know I've given this advice to people in the past and now I feel bad about it because I don't even know what it means to give something over to God myself. However to make sense of everything I'm thinking at the moment I'm just going to write it all down on my blog.
1. I'm presuming that it's got something to do with ceasing to worry about the circumstances and trusting that God will fix it for you - 1 Peter 5:7.
2. This implies a passive approach - that we don't actually have to DO anything to rectify the situation and that we just sit on our bums and wait for God to make everything ok again.
3. This also implies WAITING for God to fix things. (Personally I hate waiting) - Psalm 37:7
4. It implies God WILL fix things. Otherwise why give it over to him? - Matthew 7:7-8, Psalm 37:4, Matthew 21:22
5. If we're not worrying about it, then we must be at peace - Philippians 4:6-7.
Ok, now here are the problems I have with this advice...
1. How do you STOP worrying about something? I know I want to stop worrying about various things but it's not that easy to put into practice. What about people that have been praying for things for years - the unemployed person praying for a job, the wrongly imprisoned person praying for freedom, the single person praying for a spouse, the childless couple praying for a child, the person praying for the salvation of their unsaved friends and family... These are big issues in people's lives. How are they just meant to stop worrying about it and switch off their worry like a tap? Does the Spirit help us?
2. If we take the passive approach and sit on our bums waiting for God to act, doesn't that mean we might miss out? When do we wait and when should we be proactive? For example, a guy sees a top Christian woman and thinks he wants to be with her but someone tells him to "give it over to God". So he sits and waits thinking God will give him in this woman when the time is right. Time goes on, he never approaches her and eventually this woman marries someone else. The man is devastated. Isn't this an example of how it "giving it over to God" SHOULDN'T be applied?
3. As I mentioned above, 'giving it over to God' implies that he will take care of it and give us what we want. But what if he doesn't? Sometimes people pray for something for years and never get it. Or they have to wait a ridiculously long time and in the meantime grow more bitter, disappointed and often angry at God. It's easy to take a spectator's view and say to them "Oh well, God knows best. You can't expect to get everything. It obviously wouldn't be best for you to have this thing." Maybe we can't expect God to give us everything we want but this stuff really HURTS.
I couldn't talk about 'giving it over to God' without touching on the topic of prayer. Prayer is how we talk to God about our joys and frustrations and ask him for things. I don't know about you but I used to find stories of God granting people the desires of their hearts to be refreshing and encouraging. Now I don't.
It's tempting to look for the Hollywood ending. Cinderella finally gets her Prince and everything turns out good in the end. Even the Bible is full of those stories. Job loses everything but gets even more back. Hannah finally has a son. And we hear these stories in people's lives. In one sense, I am encouraged because it shows that God is good and loves to give good gifts to his children. And it's easy to overlook the years of hardship, suffering and waiting the person had to endure before they got what they'd been praying for because in the end everything turned out all right for them. But it doesn't always work like that. I know I've been praying for things for years, only to people with the same prayers get their prayers answered. I think, "it's not fair God". I don't begrudge people these things, it's just that I want them too. And it's hard to understand why God gave it to them and not me. I think, "well that's very nice that you gave it to that person, but what about me?"
This leads onto something else. I feel convicted of trying to manipulate God in prayer. Like if I pray a certain way, use certain words or copy the prayer of someone who got their prayer answered, God will give me what I want too. Now I know he doesn't work like that (sorry God). A few years ago, a friend shared with me how she had been praying for something specific but God had not given it to her. In the end, she stopped praying for it and instead asked God to do his will. And he did. A short time later and she got what she'd been praying for. I thought this was great so I prayed that God would do his will for me too, thinking that he'd give me what I'd secretly been wanting. But he hasn't and I've learnt that his will for her life is obviously very different from mine. So maybe he IS doing his will in my life, it's just not what I WANT.
Are we committing idolatry for wanting things too badly? For ages, I couldn't understand how two desperate people could throw themselves at God's feet and beg for something in prayer - and he'd give it to one but not the other. Surely if one person was being idolaterous for wanting something too much, then the other was too? So why give it one but not both or neither?
In Christian circles, it's often said that there are two types of prayers - 'red ferrari' prayers (praying for material possessions) and 'Hannah' prayers (ie. praying for a child, spouse, unsaved friends). Personally I don't think the categories can be so neat. Maybe it depends on our motivation for wanting it.
What does 'giving it over to God' look like in prayer? Over the years, I've heard many examples (yes, those 'encouraging' stories again).
1. Some people stop praying for something because it's on their mind so much and refuse to talk to God about it again. Instead they just pray about other things.
2. Others pray continuously (like the persistent widow or the PUSH bracelets - Pray Until Something Happens).
From both examples, I've had people say they got what they wanted. It's like they're advocating this as a sure fire way of getting what you want from God. But, as I've said before, God doesn't always give us what we want. Option 1 is often advised as being the best way, yet I was reading 1 Samuel 1 the other day and Hannah prayed and wept and asked God to remember her - and eventually God opened her womb and she had Samuel. I've tried not praying, praying desperately, crying, yelling at God - nothing has worked. I don't want to try and manipulate him anymore. I just want to trust him.
It probably all comes down to the fact that every time I pray, I assume God is going to say no. Lately he just keeps shutting very door I try to go through. Don't we get all surprised when God does give us what we want (Acts 12:1-19). I feel it's so drummed into my head that he'll say "no" or "wait" that I hardly ever expect him to say "yes" anymore.
I know life won't always be comfortable on this earth as a follower of Christ. I just want God to hold to his promises that he loves to give good gifts to his children and bless them - that it won't necessarily all be doom and gloom on earth while we wait. And I want to trust him and be glad. I guess contentment has to be learned (Philippians 4:11-13). My prayer is Psalm 13:1. How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
What do you think 'giving it over to God' means and how does it look on a practical level?
Friday, September 01, 2006
Chocolate Friday
I've read a lot of blogs that have 'Photo Friday' where the blogger posts a photo on a particular theme. I don't have Photo Friday but I do have 'Chocolate Friday'.
What's that?
Well, being the chocoholic I am, I decided drastic action was needed to curb my habit. So I invented Chocolate Friday. Every Friday I allow myself to eat chocolate (not too much though) and I fast from it for the rest of the week.
This has worked reasonably well although sometimes I have chocolate when I catch up with friends....or at work when someone puts M&Ms in the lolly bowl....occasionally Chocolate Friday has turned into Chocolate Thursday....or Chocolate Tuesday.....Ok, enough! Bad bad Sarah!
At least I'm improving, I guess. Before I invented Chocolate Friday, I was having chocolate every day. I foolishly told some of my workmates about Chocolate Friday and now they try to tempt me on other days of the week. Mean mean workmates ;)
Men, I know you don't understand the big deal with women and chocolate. I can't really explain it either but apparantly it has some kind of chemical affect on our brain :)
Chocolate Friday has made appreciate chocolate and Fridays so much more and not be such a pig :D
What's that?
Well, being the chocoholic I am, I decided drastic action was needed to curb my habit. So I invented Chocolate Friday. Every Friday I allow myself to eat chocolate (not too much though) and I fast from it for the rest of the week.
This has worked reasonably well although sometimes I have chocolate when I catch up with friends....or at work when someone puts M&Ms in the lolly bowl....occasionally Chocolate Friday has turned into Chocolate Thursday....or Chocolate Tuesday.....Ok, enough! Bad bad Sarah!
At least I'm improving, I guess. Before I invented Chocolate Friday, I was having chocolate every day. I foolishly told some of my workmates about Chocolate Friday and now they try to tempt me on other days of the week. Mean mean workmates ;)
Men, I know you don't understand the big deal with women and chocolate. I can't really explain it either but apparantly it has some kind of chemical affect on our brain :)
Chocolate Friday has made appreciate chocolate and Fridays so much more and not be such a pig :D
This was taken at the CCC camp recently. Of course, if I'm eating chocolate, it's gotta be someone elses ;)
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