Thursday 28 August 2008

I got the job!

Yes! I got the job I was interviewed for a few weeks ago.

I had given up on it, as I had heard nothing. But yesterday morning the phone rang and the man at the other end offered me the post.

So next Monday morning at 9.00 a.m. I report for duty at Lakeland Ltd. in Kendal.

The work will be 12 hours a week over three nights working four hours per night. Just the right level at which to get back into the workplace.

I should be able to do this and still get my Incapacity Benefit. Thank you Lord. Thank you too for your prayers and concern.

Wednesday 27 August 2008

What a weekend

After I wrote the last blog I took a bus to Werrington, just outside Peterborough.

When I got there I had only a Google map to show me where to go for the training weekend. So I saw a guy smoking outside Tescos and asked him how I could get there. He ended up driving me and giving me his complete spiritual history. Not what I was expecting, but I love it when God does things like that.

A few people arrived at the venue after me and then we got down to training and at about 9.30 p.m. (my usual bedtime) we went out and talked to people in the Three Horse Shoes pub. I had prayed about this before I went and particularly the person the Lord would direct me to there.

Well, this guy nodded "Hello" as soon as I walked in the door, so I chatted to him. Then he drifted off and I talked to his mate. Then the first man came back but it was time to go.

When we got back to the venue, there was a bit of a mix-up in accommodation. I was taken back to a cottage next door to the pub. A lady answered the door and seemed a bit perplexed to see a man at the door when she had been expecting a lady.

I was tired out by then, so I made for my room. As I was on my way I saw a photograph, not just any photograph, but the image of the first man I talked to in the pub.

"Is that your husband?" I asked my hostess. "Yes." she said.

By the time I left the next morning, having spent more time with her husband, who is not a believer, she was delighted that I had appeared at her door. Funny, how God works, isn't it!

Pray for this man, his name is Dudley.

Friday 22 August 2008

Another one

YES, another one! Now I'm sitting in a McDonalds in Peterborough, using their free WiFi and lovin' it! O, and I'm eating as well.

I have just sauntered round Peterborough Cathedral, following the historical booklet in every little detail. The last one was about a grave digger called Robert Scarlett who died in 1594 aged an incredible 98 years old.

In that time he had buried two queens, and very famous ones at that. The first was Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. It was in divorcing her that Henry divorced the Church of England from the Church of Rome. She died near Peterborough and is buried in the Cathedral.


The second was Mary Queen of Scots who was executed near here and laid to rest for a few years in the same church. But her son, James VI of Scotland and James I of England, took over the throne and brought her bones to London after a few decades.
What an incredible story! YES, another one!

This is his picture which is on the Cathedral wall-

First Class Too

So here I am rattling along in the First Class carriage of the train.

It is rolling a bit, but apart from that it is much better than Standard. Not so many people, real crockery, more space in the chair and more leg room (which isn't that important to me) and complimentary coffee.

As I sat here I got some free water and ice. Can't be bad. If you pay, you can get food served at your seat, and if you pay even more you can enjoy fantastic food in the dining car. What a life!

These extras were worth quite a bit, considering it cost the same as the Standard Class ticket.

First Class

I am writing this in the First Class Lounge at Leeds Station. I am on my way to Peterborough for Evangelism Training with Through Faith Missions.

When I came to book the ticket I saw that I could book First Class at the same price as Standard. So I did just that.

It's quite plush in here - air conditioning, free coffee and munchies, free WiFi access, etc. I'll tell you what First Class on a train is like when I get on to it in a few minutes time.

This morning I was in Leeds Library looking through the births, marriages and deaths in Ingleton between and 1813 and 1823. It made fascinating reading.

On Tuesday I was in Preston Records Office reading the will of a man from Ingleton who was famous throughout the North as a puppet master. I found out what he owned - property and puppetry - and who he left it to - his second daughter.

Why not the firstborn son or his firstborn daughter? Well, from reading the Parish Registers in Ingleton Library on Wednesday I learned that this poor woman had been jilted at the altar by a man who had got her pregnant. No wonder her father left her all he had. What stories are hidden in those ancient documents!

Monday 18 August 2008

So, how did it go?


The interview went well. I think the woman who was doing it was as nervous as I was. She went through my appplication form with me. When we talked about depression she said she understood as she had had bouts of depression herself.

Then she showed me the factory. Lakeland specialises in kitchenware and bring it in trucks, store it in a huge warehouse on large metal shelves. As boxes are needed they are taken down to lower shelves from which they are picked by pickers. That would be my job if I am successful.

I should hear something today.

Wednesday 13 August 2008

An interview!

Yes, an interview beckons.

Tomorrow at 11.00 a.m. I have to put on my best bib and tucker to meet with a member of the Personnel Team at Lakeland Ltd. (nothing to do with Florida) in Kendal to talk about a job.

This is quite a step for me, but I know it is in the right direction. I'll let you know how it goes.

Saturday 9 August 2008

There and back


After blogging about my great-great grand-dad I looked out of the window and saw that it was a lovely day for a bike ride.

So I packed a picnic and a bottle of water, shouldered my backpack and set off on two wheels towards Lancaster.

Two and a half hours later (including a coffee with Andrew Pye at his house in Claughton) I was sitting on a bench admiring the view of the Bay from - Morecambe!

Yes, I had ridden more than twenty miles by the time I got there. The last half of the ride was on a cycle path all the way from Caton. It made things so much easier. I didn't have to deal with road traffic, just pedestrians.

I celebrated with an orange juice at the newly updated Midland Hotel and rode back to Lancaster and caught the train back to Bentham. This was another first. The first time I had taken my bike on a train. What a day!

Thursday 7 August 2008

One Hundred and EIGHTY!!!


This is Post No 180. That reminded me of the English tradition of darts.

When the thrower manages to get all three darts into the triple 20 area the scorer shouts "One Hundred and EIGHTY!!!" just to let everyone know the highest possible score has been reached.

Just thought I'd let you know as well.

What happened yesterday?

Well, I took my first job application to the post on my bike and then went to the Library to discover my ancestors.


I use the Ancestry.com site. It is most helpful.

I followed the career of my great great grandfather, Matthew McCabe, as a printer in Edinburgh.

In 1841 he was living with his ma and pa in Toddricks Wynd just off the High Street and working as a journeyman printer.

By 1851 he had moved on to his own residence at 180 Pleasance and had a growing family of his own. He was now a Printer (compositor).

In 1861 I found him at 60 Cumberland St but this time describing himself as a Printer Overseer

By 1871 he was a Master Letter Press Printer still living at the same address.

I last caught up with him in 1881 when he was living at 1, Scotland Street and gloried in this description:-

Master Printer Employing 12 Men 12 Boys 6 Girls

I think he was rather proud of his progress. So was I.

I knew he was a printer and went into business for himself but to see his progress up the printing ladder laid out before me was quite an emotional experience.

We have two heirlooms from him: a writing desk which I have, and a walking stick which my father has. There is also a picture of him somewhere. When I find it I will post it here.

Wednesday 6 August 2008

Not all plain sailing

I had to go and see another doctor yesterday. This one works on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions. He asked me a lot of questions about how my condition affects my every day life.

He began by explaining why he was asking these questions and then stopped me a time or two to clarify things. This was very helpful as last time I sat there wondering why I was answering all these stupid questions. Now I know.

When we got home and Audrey went to work I discovered that though I am not so depressed any more, I am still dopey. In other words, I still get mixed up.

I found out that I have ordered a debit card for the wrong account because I did not realise we had two accounts with the same bank. I also have booked myself to be in Peterborough and Painswick at the same time.

These two errors started me down the slippery slope of self-doubt which I have been climbing out of lately. But by the grace of God I will overcome them and keep going.

When Audrey came back from work we went out for a meal to celebrate our anniversary. We went to the Marton Arms in Thornton-in-Lonsdale.

So ended our first thirty year together. I pray that the next thirty will be even better.


Tuesday 5 August 2008

30 years ago today...


I married Audrey Brennand. It was at Ingleton Methodist Church (which appears on this blog as IMC). I want to thank God for the last 30 years. Some of it has not been easy (the last two haven't for sure) but it was all in God's plan for my life.

Just lately God has been taking me back over old ground and helping me find new life. I was saved in Australia in 1974 and I have heard quite a bit about Aussie and Christianity lately; I sang in a musical called Come Together by Jimmy and Carol Owens in 1975 and the Shepherds Choir recently began singing a piece from it. I went to Bible College in Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1975 as well. I met Audrey there. At CLAN recently the stall of the International Christian College, which grew out of it, brought back memories.

We got wed at IMC 30 years ago today and last night at the Monday Night Meeting we had prayer for our marriage. In 1978 we went on to study evangelism near Hastings and I will be going there on Mission in September. From there we went to Epping, Essex where I was a minister for three years. I went back there
earlier this year .

Since 1982 we have lived in Ingleton and for most of that time attended IMC. Yesterday I was at the church a couple of times and thought quite a bit about that wedding day but also about the future. Although IMC has changed out of all recognition both spiritually and physically it is still a special place for us.

Our children came along: Matthew in 1984, Emma in 1986 and Nathan in 1988. They each appeared at either the Olympic or Commonwealth Games. And what do you know? The next Olympics starts in Beijing on Friday, right on cue.

As I get back to my roots and take stock again, I pray that Audrey and I will serve him with even greater strength in whatever time is left to us. Do pray for us.


Friday 1 August 2008

Job search



I feel like a new kid on the block. Looking for a job after all these months away from work seems a bit strange. But it was great to ring the personnel office of a factory and ask for an application form. It felt good to talk to the staff member at an employment agency, and to ask one of my old bosses for a reference. Maybe I do feel better about myself.

The most I can legally work at the moment is 12 hours a week. If I do this I can still get state Incapacity Benefit while I work myself into earning my own living again. It's a good idea.

I went to see the Doctor again today. He was delighted at my feeling better as he didn't know what to do for me next. It felt good to make him feel better. The roles were reversed.

I have learned a lot about the medical system while I have been making so much use of it. My first idea was to be passive and let the professionals tell me what to do. Now I realise I have to be pro-active and take responsibility for my own progress. It's daunting but more mature.