Retirement and Starting Over

Apple - Start

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Something Extra!

Many of you know I was in the big Weight Watchers Ad that first went out on New Year's Day. We filmed it on the last day of November in a back street in Soho (It really was not as bad as that sounds - it was actually just off Carnaby Street and near Liberty's). It was great fun with 180 women in total and Alesha Dixon as 'the Star'. We sang her song over and over again until the light failed, had huge fun and it was a great experience. However, after all that with the full 3'15" ad., I was nowhere to be seen!! I was on the cutting room floor!!!: (

Still, that's showbiz Ha! Ha!

Tomorrow, I am a 'Named Extra' in an Aircrash Confidential film for the Discovery Channel. So, that will be fun and I get paid!! Even better. 

So, I am hoping this is the start of that something new. Meanwhile I have started in a French converation class to improve my French and my promise to myself this month is to start running and get back on the bike! I have a fund raising fashion Show and Sale coming up at the end of the month to raise money for the Church organ (I never thought I would say that!). Oh and I also do role play with kids in the Europacentre from time to time in Spanish and French ...for money!

Off to Spain in Feb. with Esther. Hey, I am behaving like a retired person. I'm having fun.

At the same time, I am loving meeting new people in church, in the park walking the dog and in Fat Club (aka Weight Watchers). I love telling them about Jesus and so far, I have spoken to people who have responded. I feel fulfilled and I am enjoying life to the full. 

I sound smug? I'm sorry, I don't mean to, just surprised and thankful. 

Bike Ride

Just done 38 miles Hornchurch to Epping and back via Collier Row, Gidea Park. First time out on cleats (fellow cyclists will know) and the only time I fell off was on to a park bench considerately placed for my use. PTL! Great ride. Thank you to my cycling coach- Mr Jeremy Sheamur. :)

The Centre of the Garden (waxing Lyrical!)

It stands there

Proud and immense.

Its branches spread in a glorious, joyful hallelujah to the risen sun. 

The sky, clear blue yielding only

To silent airplanes criss-crossing to destinations unknown.

I approach the bark, 

Hand outstretched to feel its gnarled warmth

To find I am not alone on this search for comfort, for there

Wings open to the warming rays, a butterfly

Preparing herself for a day of foraging for nectar amongst the hedgerows.

She rests, she basks.

Black flies too, seek the return of light after the night of cold gloom, 

For no one in the garden is denied the succour of the great cedar. 

We are united then, the flies, the butterfly and I 

In thankfulness to the ancient tree, and her place

In the Centre of the Garden.

Waiting

Well, so far I have had a Christian radio station interested in me, the Pause for Thought producer showing some interest, two kids want a tutor and the Europa Centre will use me. However, the one full time job I have applied for have not called me to interview - yet!

Well I still feel there is something out there I am meant to do. So, I shall wait and pray. Meanwhile, I have discovered that Oscar , our belove Shi Zhu who looks like an Ewok of Star Wars fame is like the knocker on doors to conversations, as everyone will talk to me while I have him with me. I have also found that people ranging from a lovely young man in Evans Cycles to a complete stranger on the street will talk to me about anything.

Is this what God wants me to do? Be a listener? Well I am listening and waiting .

59 tomorrow!!! :{

last pay day!?

Today is my last pay packet from Davenant! Scary!!

 

Yesterday, I filled in a job application for a Christian organization - won’t tell you who yet as the application closing date is not until 12th September and until and unless I get an interview date, there is no  point thinking about it too much. 

 

For me the problem would be, that it would tie up all the extra time I thought I might have to do God’s Big Society things - mind you, it would be a full time Big Society job!

 

It involves international travel, liaison and initiation of projects, but it would also be office hours to a certain extent!

 

Anyway, some young go-getter will probably get it, so sit back and wait - I don’t even know if this is the Right Thing!

 

Meanwhile, the sun is sun is shining, the view is splendid and I am speaking Spanish, what more could I want! 

 

launching off on the gossamer thread...

Today I visited Premier Radio to see if that is where God wants me to land in my next new adventure. My interview with David Rose was positive, resulting in arranging me to go to sit through a live show after we get back from holiday with a view to me being , initially , one of their relief presenters. I am listening!

Don't know how any of you feel about a Christian radio station as opposed to gaining slots on secular radio. I am certainly ambivalent. Love to hear your point of view.

Rioting London

' Welcome to London '- so the Olympic posters will smile in less than 6 months time, but what are we inviting them to?

With Twitter going crazy about riots and fires blazing in local stores, I drove down to Romford at 10.30 pm last night.  Apart from a few listless police officers and some 14 year old hoodies running away - just like on the telly - there was nothing.

 A question being asked is: "Is technology aggravating the opportunity for terrorism and anarchy?"

Well, maybe it is helping trouble-makers to group and regroup , but it is also helping to spread panic and rumours. The trouble is, some of the stories are true, so what do we believe? Our own eyes and ears I guess, but we may be putting ourselves at risk in the process.

In the same news bulletin as the "London riots" we see tanks and army troops going in to Syrian cities where they will brook no dissention. We do not realise how free we are here. 

I will never forget the fear of living under a curfew in Lima in the 70ies and 80ies. In the darkness with street lighting turned off on purpose, the occassional shot would blast out shattering the night and any illusions we might have had that all was well. During the day, we walked down the street with apprehension as we passed any policeman on duty, gun at the ready - do we really want that atmosphere to pervade here in UK? 

Our police are undermanned already and the government is talking of reducing numbers to reduce cost - hopefully, the one good thing that could come out of this nonsense is that they will see how silly the whole question of reduction is. We need real police on our streets - not community volunteers - but well trained experts, thus reducing the fear of accidental shootings as well as mundane and daily muggings.

 

Next step

Ok, so next stage is: I have bought a MacBook to make zippy presentations - I could even record some voice-overs on it with the editing suite. Great new printer  (but doesn't seem to be compatible with printer at the mo - need to sort that out!) Going for lessons at the Apple store on Wednesday to learn how to get the best out of my machine - one to one, so no fear of digital breach showing me up to a bunch of youngsters - just one!

No feeling of dread at the thought of September - just excited at the start of the new adventure. 

I am working on: "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life...that your daily life may win the respect of others." 1Thessalonians 4:11-12  along with " As we respond to God's word let us ask God's help in trusting all aspects of our lives to Him; delighting to live life in a way that reveals our love for Him, and that seeks to honour Him in all we do." Living Light commentary July 16 2011 Cara Grant.

Retirement - Starting Over

Yesterday, 22nd July 2011, I officially retired from Davenant Foundation School. I felt a fraud, because I intend to carry on working!, However, I intend to explore different avenues of employment and so, I am not really as disingenuous as all that because I have left my previous life - spanning 25 years all-told - to see what else I can do. I am not nervous or afraid, but excited, at this new adventure upon which I am about to embark. It may seem crazy to many in an age of austerity , unemployment and digitalization of work previously done by humans(!) but I believe there is something I am meant to do.

I have been touched and very surprised at the expressions of generosity - of gifts and of spirit too - of my colleagues and friends and I shall never forget a place and people that have played such a major part in my life. Most of all , they have shown great faith in my ability to reinvent myself and so encouraged by that, I launch myself off (rather dramatically according to this Blog) "on a gossamer thread like the spider who leaps into the breeze not knowing where she will land".

Everyone asks me what I am going to do,and I tell them I am not sure, but I intend to get back into Broadcasting, something I loved, but gave up on when, pragmatically, I became a teacher again - once the domain of "over my dead body", it actually turned out to be good for me and no one was more surprised than I, to find myself in a middle management position!

Hah! Life is funny, so I can't wait to find out what the next act of my own comedy series holds.