When your work makes you zing

I have just been to a meeting and been inspired. It was about something called the Greening Campaign which is a not for profit organisation (ie like a business but where profits are reinvested into the business) enabling communities to look at climate change as something they can manage rather than a 'big brick wall' as the presenter explained it.

There are various stages involved - please look at the website www.greening-campaign.co.uk - but the beauty of it is that it gets streets and communities aware that each other, their neighbours, are doing their own 'bit' but the simple method of putting a card in the window if they are undertaking some simple things (like washing at 30 degrees, or using energy saving lightbulbs). Terena, the lady behind it and who gave the talk, likened it to how people decorated their homes during the world cup, and how it engendered a visible sign of community.

As I say, look at the website. This has taken off around the country as people look at their part in climate change as positive and tangible. I for one will be looking at this more - very surely though 'work' work, but in Hove... Could it start something in your area?

The inevitable

Since returning to the UK, I have had a number of comments comparing me to me a year ago, generally starting 'since you've been back...' or 'you're more x since you're back'. They range from my physical appearance, to my personality, to my accent. Uncommented but possibly noted also are changes to my faith.

Comparisons are one of the ways that we naturally use to evaluate change, and it begs the question to me as to whether I like/am happy with/ the changes that have been mentioned (they are correct observations I should point out). Am I a 'worse' or 'better' person than 12 months ago? It's all rather subjective unless you in turn compare it with a universal truth.

I'm good at bimbling through life and enjoying it, but on a bigger scale that you find yourself considering when you are about to pounce on 30 years: what, where, who, when, and why?

A rock or rocks are used as a metaphor in the Bible to describe God/Jesus/faith, often meaning as a foundation (Matt 7:24), and as unshakable protection (Ps 94:22). I could do with some of that.

Pestered into blogging

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted something.
Madness. And I hate it when people don't update theirs. Maybe it's because I am basically lazy. Ok, I put on or two notes up on fb, but I don't think that counts!

Anyway, I'm back and unwittingly challenged by a challenging person in my life to write something. Which I am in nearly in danger of not doing whilst still doing.

Some things that have made me happy recently:

• my mini rose plant. Now blooming pink flowers on my window at home and just so so cute! It's a mini rose! It's so mini! I think you get the point.
• a meeting running how it should. I not sure I'm convinced that the Government necessarily had to invent and impose the structure to bring us to that point, but nevertheless different agencies and groups sat round a table, had shared goals, offered services and generally made me think that some people are bloody great.
• 14/15 f my sweet pea seeds have germinated and taken off like rockets. Actually not quite sure what to do with them now, but can't wait till they flower because the scent is heavenly.
• having my own white board by my desk. Yep, it's the thinking woman's flipchart.

And check out Iva Lamkum.