The Princess Royal Trust for Carers / UFO No1 shopping portal

My Uncle Robert Russell sent me a link to this silly wee game... where Santa needs presents! Its annoyingly addictive and has resulted in some lost productivity in the ol' Headphonaught household. Cheers for that... Uncle R!!!

The game is found here :: Santa :: and, once completed, presents a link to a shopping portal.

A-HA!!! you say... there is always a catch... nothing is free.

Yes, you are right but this is a shopping portal with a purpose - a percentage of the commission plus a registration bonus is passed to The Princess Royal Trust for Carers (you know... the Rugby / Flower of Scotland / Horsey Royal...)

This charity, for which Uncle Robert Russell works, is a lesser know charity that needs your love... they support people who support others... usually members of their family... with little acknowledgment or support from the Government. Check them out here :: http://www.carers.org/

What makes this even more special is the whole shebang is hosted through UFO No1 aka

Unique Funding Opportunity No1. It is a website focused on providing ethical fundraising for not for profit organisations.

Companies trading on the internet offer commission to websites who direct potential customers to them.

UFO No1 has formed these companies into an Internet Shopping Portal covering all your shopping needs. From clothes to your weekly shop you will find what you are looking for here, and when you buy, we pass the commission back to the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

Nice. Check it out... and spread the word.

Technorati Tags: charity

Umbrella 2.0

OMGoodness... Bladerunner is here!

This has got to be the official umbrella of Web 2.0. A group of scientists at Tokyo’s Keio University have developed an umbrella with a digital camera, WiFi, and a projector built-in dubbed “Pileus”. The umbrella is used for capturing images and video while walking around in the rain, which are then sent to Flickr and Youtube respectively. As if that wasn’t cool enough, Pileus can beam previously captured images and video down on the ground via the projector attached to the umbrella.

For the device to work, you obviously need to be in the vicinity of a hotspot so that the built-in WiFi can connect to Flickr and Youtube and send media back and forth. You can navigate through your media by twisting the umbrella’s grip left and right too. How useful is this umbrella? Not incredibly. But it sure is awesome.

via CrunchGear

Thanks to the Soos for the link.

Technorati Tags: flickr, youtube

Preparing for S*N*A*C

At Alpha last night I discussed with Alec an idea I have for the next S*N*A*C on the 10th December.

The idea is :: 7 from 8 :: 7 readings with 7 songs from 8pm... based around Advent and the Nativity.

Spent some alone time in Coffee Merchants this afternoon to think this through... and I'll let you know how I get on.

Any ideas would be welcomed... and if you intend to come, please note it is the SECOND Sunday in December (not the usual first)

Technorati Tags: salvation army, bellshill

Thank You Joel!!!

Huge... Gigantic... Mega... OK well maybe not mega... but big thanks to Joel for buying me a Relevant Magazine subscription.

It finally came through... and its fab! Joel, you are a star!

Check it out... its a recommended read! and check out Joel's blog too... and congratulate him and his dear wife, Claire, for the birth of their we'an, Naomi.

Musicovery

Enjoying playing with musicovery tonight... its a sweet little tool on the 'tinterweb that allows you to follow a musical train of thought... through various genres.

Interesting.

Technorati Tags: music

A year ago this weekend...

Olly and I were at the Salvation Army's Design for Life course. Here's what I said afterwards :: link.

Where are we now?

Well Olly is leading worship (her calling) with BLOC and growing in strength and purpose.

As for me... hmm...
* ((deep)) is going to happen... haven't heard back from the second submission... but it is going to happen.
* S*N*A*C is growing in Bellshill... bringing in people from surrounding corps... which is good.
* Alpha has been a success in terms of deep impact for those involved... in both the sessions we have facilitated.
* The podcasts are happening... with the help of Chris over at Council of War... and are getting some listeners.

In addition, Kenny & Sarah are heading to officership... which is a true blessing. They are leading a life worth living at the same time as Alpha which has been well received.

Where do we go from here? What is ahead of us in this next year? Who knows?

Life tends to happen while we are busy making plans, afterall.

((deep)) will happen... along with [wide]... and the 24/7 prayer boiler room! We don't know where... and have a rough idea when we would like it to happen... but we are dependent on the Lord and His timing.

I would like to be part of a new expression of church in the Lanarkshire / Glasgow area... but am conscious of the work still to be done in Bellshill... and the need for succession planning.

At the end of the day... we are in His hands... and are actively following Him.

Been a good year... but the best is still to come.

A year ago this weekend...

Olly and I were at the Salvation Army's Design for Life course. Here's what I said afterwards :: link.

Where are we now?

Well Olly is leading worship (her calling) with BLOC and growing in strength and purpose.

As for me... hmm...
* ((deep)) is going to happen... haven't heard back from the second submission... but it is going to happen.
* S*N*A*C is growing in Bellshill... bringing in people from surrounding corps... which is good.
* Alpha has been a success in terms of deep impact for those involved... in both the sessions we have facilitated.
* The podcasts are happening... with the help of Chris over at Council of War... and are getting some listeners.

In addition, Kenny & Sarah are heading to officership... which is a true blessing. They are leading a life worth living at the same time as Alpha which has been well received.

Where do we go from here? What is ahead of us in this next year? Who knows?

Life tends to happen while we are busy making plans, afterall.

((deep)) will happen... along with [wide]... and the 24/7 prayer boiler room! We don't know where... and have a rough idea when we would like it to happen... but we are dependent on the Lord and His timing.

I would like to be part of a new expression of church in the Lanarkshire / Glasgow area... but am conscious of the work still to be done in Bellshill... and the need for succession planning.

At the end of the day... we are in His hands... and are actively following Him.

Been a good year... but the best is still to come.

A year ago this weekend...

Olly and I were at the Salvation Army's Design for Life course. Here's what I said afterwards :: link.

Where are we now?

Well Olly is leading worship (her calling) with BLOC and growing in strength and purpose.

As for me... hmm...
* ((deep)) is going to happen... haven't heard back from the second submission... but it is going to happen.
* S*N*A*C is growing in Bellshill... bringing in people from surrounding corps... which is good.
* Alpha has been a success in terms of deep impact for those involved... in both the sessions we have facilitated.
* The podcasts are happening... with the help of Chris over at Council of War... and are getting some listeners.

In addition, Kenny & Sarah are heading to officership... which is a true blessing. They are leading a life worth living at the same time as Alpha which has been well received.

Where do we go from here? What is ahead of us in this next year? Who knows?

Life tends to happen while we are busy making plans, afterall.

((deep)) will happen... along with [wide]... and the 24/7 prayer boiler room! We don't know where... and have a rough idea when we would like it to happen... but we are dependent on the Lord and His timing.

I would like to be part of a new expression of church in the Lanarkshire / Glasgow area... but am conscious of the work still to be done in Bellshill... and the need for succession planning.

At the end of the day... we are in His hands... and are actively following Him.

Been a good year... but the best is still to come.

Restaurant or Cookery Show???

My mate Nuno over at Simplice(dot)net has posted a fab commentary that I wanted to reproduce here.

Recently I went to a church "service" for the first time in months. While I couldn't connect with much of what was happening there, I felt really touched by the message that was taught. But at the end of the service, I had a feeling of incompleteness. I wanted to talk about it with the others, tell them how it spoke to me and hear what it meant to them. Discuss how that could become part of our life. But there was no room for that.

In the end, I felt cheated. I used to think of church services as restaurants, but now I see most of them as cooking shows.

A restaurant is a place where you go with some friends to eat something special. You may know some other people in the restaurant, but you only share the experience with the people that are in the same table. At least you get fed.

In a cooking show, on the other hand, you see someone cook, and you can even see the result, which looks tasty and beautiful. But that's it. You can't eat it, savour it, ingest it. You can only look at it.

I prefer a restaurant rather than a cooking show. But what I really love is a community. In a community everyone cooks, shares recipes, tastes each other food. On a community you not only get fed, you are part of it.

Connect with your thoughts, Nuno... and thanks for them!

We seem to be restricted by time... church is almost like Can't Cook, Won't Cook where people bring random items of food and the celebrity chefs have a limited time to work their magic and make a great meal... or at least what looks like a great meal because we have no opportunity to sample it... no opportunity to participate... to contribute... to the mix.

Restaurants at least let you choose what you want to eat... and let you savour it... but, at the end of the day, there are those serving and those sitting back enjoying what was prepared.

Taking it one step further... Just like Nuno, I would like to see church like a communal family kitchen... where everyone is busy doing what needs done to make the meal... like the family barbecue where someone is manning the barbie... someone is preparing the salad... someone is doing the dishes... and loads of people are contributing through conversation... and laughter... and helping out as and when required. No one is a passenger... no one is a bystander or spectator.

At the end of the day... church should be about contribution. Church isn't a service but the servers... and we should all have a chance to give towards the meal... regardless how we do it.

This is where S*N*A*C is going... and this is where the Army excels at times... with testimony time and contribution through the sections... but is it enough? We need more opportunity to tell our stories... and worship as and when it feels right.

What do you think?

Technorati Tags: church, salvation army

New Music :: Falling comp from EMP

One day I'm going to hook up with "Simian" Shaun Blezard and thank him for Earth Monkey Productions :: the netlabel he has created that houses some of the best ambient, abstract, electronica on the planet. Sure this isn't for everyone... some may think its noise... and some may prefer their funky house... but for those of us who like subtle soundscapes for times when downtempo is just too upbeat then Shaun's your man!

I have pimped EMP many times before... so why the big intro? Well EMP have released their 25th release - a fab compilation of all thats good on the label. There are tracks from artists I am already diggin' such as 4th Alternative (with the fab track Mote... 1000 Aeroplanes Crashing in the Night... and cousin silas... as well as tracks from other folks such as clutter... adrian carter... and Dawn Salvia.

It is well worth checking out :: link :: and its free.

Thanks Shaun!

Technorati Tags: netlabels, ambient

One Lifer

Read about this new marketing concept :: One Lifer :: in psfk and then followed it up in the original article from Getty Images - this interests me. I have a marketing background and am equally fascinated and appalled that we can pigeonhole people in the name of pushing product.

This is what Getty says...

Ultimately the One Life trend is about focusing on the individual. However unlike the ‘me decade’ of the a ’70s, the ‘greed decade’ of the ’80s and the ‘lifestyle decade’ of the ’90s, the One Life consumer is constantly reminded that consumption comes with a price. Hence the emergence of the ‘confessional consumer’.

These consumers are aware of environmental issues, buy organic, recycle but also drive 4x4s, make the most of trips away on cheap airlines and still just about enjoy the pleasure of upgrade culture. Confessional consumption is conspicuous consumption with added guilt. It’s the psychology of consumers who will open up to friends about their ecological ‘no noes’. They are ‘piecegreen’ consumers who pick and choose their environmental moments.

The desire for a sense of One Life is a response to anxiety. Consumers are basically still spending, economies are growing, but as analysis of top keyword searches on the Getty Images Web site reveals, what they want is control over their own destiny. They don’t want to juggle balls, they want to start pitching them. The era of multitasking is out and the age of monotasking is in. They want to hit ‘pause’ on the attention economy.

Thing is... if you are like me... you can relate to parts of this definition... but won't be able to connect with others.

I am continually reminded that my consumption comes with a price... and do think about the purchases I make. When I bought an iPod in Philly, I kept it on my desk for the whole trip unopened in case I couldn't justify the purchase. I have 50gbs of iPod already... but it was the additional storage and the ability to watch movies (like Nooma or Coolhunting Podcasts) that swung it for me (it was also £60 cheaper).

Thing is... marketing terms are just that... terms! but we need to keep an eye on them... understand how society is changing... how we are moving from the post-war and information age to the network economy. How people are living and the choices they are making.

At the end of the day people are people... and individuals... and we must engage with them as people and individuals... and just love them because they are made in their Creator's image. And engage with them as we would like to be engaged... with dignity and respect... afterall, aren't we all target markets?

Here's one term that marketing doesn't use :: we are all Jock Tam's Son's bairns!

Technorati Tags: marketing, thought

Thought for today...

Technorati Tags: thought, philly

All over... for now

That's that... over and done with for now. Well except for the terrible windypops and toned buttocks from all the clenching... seriously, I should get a pair of those tight black jeans all the emo kids wear... 'cause this whole episode has given me buttocks to be proud of!!!

The nurses were lovely. Very understanding and practical... which was sweet. After a wee wait... I was interviewed then taken to a bed and asked to get undressed... which was a wee bit forward, I thought, until she showed me what to put on. Who invented that gown??? I tried to tie it at the back but felt like I was a puppy chasing my tail... extremely hard... but I managed it.

Tried to read my book and chill... until I saw the woman across from me run to the loo with a poop trail following her. OMGoodness... what if that happens to me?

Anyway... got to the examination room and met my date. He shook my hand... laughed at my jokes... he even dimmed the lights... while he pumped me full of drugs. So far... so good!

The rest is kind of hazy... I remember seeing something on the monitor (btw they wouldn't give me a copy of the scope... I did ask!)... next minute I was waking up in the recovery room... with my date nowhere to be seen. Typical!

I don't know if there is anything wrong. They took a few biopsies... I guess they recognised my genius and just wanted a part of me??? I'll find out in a few weeks.

I'll recover. I'm have not to drive or use machinery... which includes the hover (result!!!) and I am rather explosive right now! Which reminds me of the AC/DC song: T.N.T

Cause I'm T.N.T., I'm dynamite!
(T.N.T.) And I'll win the fight!
(T.N.T.) I'm a power load!
(T.N.T.) watch me explooooode!

Thanks to all the folk who sent texts and emails and phoned me... means the world!

Special thanks to Olly for her love and patience in the waiting room.

I like this :: Fred Flare's Table Tennis paddle & bag

I like this... smiley faces always make me happy!

Check it out at Fred Flare

Technorati Tags: table tennis

John Wayne

Cowboys and Indians; John Wayne by Andy Warhol 1987

The scoot

No pictures allowed on this post.

I go into hospital tomorrow for my camera-up-my-bum-and-out-my-nose experience. I am looking forward to it... kind of like a second date.

I'm all for living an experiential life but this is one I would prefer to read about.

So anyway... I flew into Glasgow this morning and had a lovely breakfast on the plane. The cheese, fruit and yogurt was the last I have eaten today... apart from Bovril which Olly thought I should take... Personally I prefer Marmite but it doesn't melt down as well. I am hungry... but happy to be home and kind of glad of the opportunity to detox from the food I have enjoyed in Philly.

Thing is... I need to prepare for tomorrow's experience. A shower, a shave and a wee splash of aftershave isn't enough for this date... the man I am meeting up with is demanding... he wants a big splash! He wants a clean colon!!! This means laxatives... and loads of water / tea etc to keep me hydrated.

All I can say is thank you to the person who invented wi-fi and to Steve Jobs for creating the wonderful iBook. Don't worry I'm not typing this post on the loo... (that was the last post on coffee morning) I am in the wee room in our house that's nearest the loo. Ben Johnson could not beat me in the snap just now... regardless of what he was on... I am presently the fasted man alive!!! Oh and while we are in a thankful mood, I am glad that I subscribe to the baggy bum look - it makes getting my trews down without fussing about the belt a good thing.

If you think this isn't pleasant reading... then brother or sister think about me! This isn't a pleasant experience... but it is an experience I need to learn from. Here's some interesting facts:

Lack of safe water and sanitation is the world’s single largest cause of illness. In 2002, 42 per cent of households had no toilets, and one in six people had no access to safe water.

The toll on children is especially high. About 4,500 children die each day from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation facilities. Countless others suffer from poor health, diminished productivity and missed opportunities for education.

The young and the old are particularly vulnerable. Over 90 per cent of deaths from diarrhoeal diseases due to unsafe water and sanitation in the developing world occur in children below 5 years old.

The poor are especially hard hit. A child born in Europe or the United States is 520 times less likely to die from diarrhoeal disease than an infant in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 36 per cent of the population can access hygienic sanitation.

UNICEF

I will survive this experience... with a wee bit less pride (which is a good thing)... but there are plenty of others who will die because of the scoot. If this doesn't sober you up as it has me... then what is wrong with your heart? If you don't do something... if I don't do something... who will?

Support:

UNICEF
OXFAM
The Salvation Army :: Watershed

Thanks to everyone who has wished me well for tomorrow. Special thanks go to my sister, Janey, for keeping me informed and hydrated... and to Andy W and Innes J for understanding why I can't be in Manchester on Saturday for the Resource sampler day.

I'll be fine... walkin' like John Wayne... and unable to eat at Chocolate Soup...

The resurrection of the coffee morning

There is something going on in coffeehouses across the world that really interests me... and has me inspired to do something with the idea. The Coffee Morning is coming back. People getting together to blether over a coffee or other suitable beverage.

I picked up on likemind via psfk back in October and blogged about it on the hardthought - this is where the idea began to germinate.

likemind is growing... the coffee mornings they are planning for the 1st of Dec now incorporate NYC, SF and Seattle. There is also talk of one in Oslo too.

In addition, I found out through psfk that there is one planned for tomorrow in London. Russell Davies provides details of one planned at the Breakfast Club (a venue in SoHo) by this wonderful individual :: Beeker.

So anyway... I think Glasgow needs a coffee morning... It may have one already, but I am not aware of it...

Does anyone want to get together... once a month or so and just connect and have a blether? No agenda... no rules other than the ones posted by Russell (see below)... just getting together over a coffee / tea / beverage and putting the world to right?

Let me know if you are interested... and we'll make something happen.

Here's Russell's "rules"...

If it helps, I'll make up some rules of coffee morning:

1. Do talk about coffee morning

2. Say you're going to be somewhere at sometime (ie 11am at Breakfast Club) and turn up and sit there. Bring a book to read. If no-one else turns up that's fine, you've got a couple of hours of book reading. If someone does turn up. Hurrah!

3. Anyone can come.

4. No agenda. Just talk about whatever comes up.

5. Other beverages are allowed.

the rules of coffee morning :: Russell Davies

and some more...

For likemind we have a two others:

6. Nametags: So people can start a conversation with a stranger more easily.

7. Pairs: Organize with someone else so if no one else is there you have someone to talk to. (Just like your book.)

Comment within post from Noah :: likemind

U*P*D*A*T*E
Thanks to Russell for his encouraging comment and for pointing me towards an overview of where this whole coffee morning thing is at :: link :: thanks, bro! I'm going to do the same and start a label called coffee morning

Technorati Tags: coffee morning

Philly pics on Flickr

My pics from Philly are now on Flickr for your viewing pleasure... check them out... leave a comment... enjoy!

Trip to Philly :: Nov 06

...and, hey, if you have a Flickr account - add me as a contact.

Technorati Tags: philly, flickr

Happy Thanksgiving y'all

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK and I think we should... we should take time out to say Thanks to everyone in ours lives... especially God for their influence on / in our lives.

Therefore, I'd like to thank Olly and the girls... my family... the Soos... my church... and the ol' Nanolog community for your love, support, guidance, blessings, prayers, and friendship!

I would also like to thank God that, as in the picture above, His light always beats the darkness that surrounds us at times.

Philly... Day 8 :: Goin' Home!!!

Presently sitting in the business class lounge in Newark Airport with a ginger ale in hand.

Busy day so far... in work from 0800hrs... forgot my glasses so we had to go back to the hotel (d'oh!!!) Traveled from Philly to Newark Airport, NJ... with AC/DC Live blasting in the car. Sure beats the radio - which is terrible! (I am so glad for BBC1 and BBC Asian Network)

Eager to get home and see my honey... and my girls. Having my toys around me is no substitution for the warmth of my people.

I really appreciate all the comments from my community who have followed the trip. I have only one regret - not meeting up with Roy... and EP... (that's two actually) but otherwise its been a blast. I have a great team of folk back in Glasgow... and have enjoyed building friendships with the folk I journeyed with. It was good to see Philly and meet all the wonderful people I have met... especially the Lewis'

Got to go... battery is dying. Peace.

Philly... Day 7

Today was pretty much work. Our partners brought in the fab caterers from yesterday :: Crocodile :: with their wraps the width of my arm... and super-duper cookies!

I asked Susan (on the left) if she could get me a tee from Crocodile... totally blagging it... and she hooked me up!!! Thank you, Susan!!! and thanks to Crocodile for the tee and the golf balls. Appreciated!

I got the tee that says on the back : we answer to a higher calling! What a great memento of this trip.

Went back to the mall for some last minute bits and pieces... and saw this car: the Honda Element. Like it. Not sure its over in Blighty yet... but it should be.

The evening was rounded off in Kobe for some lovely Japanese food... and entertainment. Nice.

Got to pack... arrghh!!! Travelling home on the busiest travelling day in the States. Been a great trip... got to know my team better... and meet some wonderful people. Got to be in amazing places and pick up some great stuff. All good... and I am thankful!

Technorati Tags: philly

Philly... Day 6

Busy at work today. We have the use of two conference rooms and as you can see big tables mean big mess... but its all good. Getting the work done.

Its strange how I appear to obsess over food... but then again I appreciate stuff. I enjoy a good meal and I take notice.

Anyway, the folk we are seeing brought some food in today... which allowed the team to get stuff done while dining on pasta salad, wraps, gerkins and snapple. Nice! The catering was handled by Crocodile and I was impressed. Their food was excellent and their manner was first class... on time and well fresh - just what Glasgow needs! What caught my attention, other than the food, was their quirky style and sloganeering... We answer to a higher calling - How cool is that? They probably did the Last Supper.

After working on and then getting lost on the way home... we headed to the Mall for some last minute shopping. I hooked up the Soos with a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort 2's for £50 cheaper than the UK... and I get to use them on the flight!

While browsing... I found a shop called 5 Below which basically sold some sweet, quirky stuff for $5 or less (my kind of place) - picked up a New Era Philadelphia 76'ers beanie... a leather iPod case and the coolest The Empire Strikes Back flight bag for the journey home. All for $15.

Tomorrows our last day... and I think we are doing Japanese again... which will be cool.

I so need to be home!

Technorati Tags: philly

Lard's Moleskine...

Accepting the challenge thrown down to him in the last post... Mr Lard drops a quick vid detailing his work to date in his moleskine.

Sweet, bro... very nice!

Technorati Tags: moleskine

Moleskine Ross Lovegrove notebook @ Detour exhibition

Ross Lovegrove was born in Wales and studied design at the Royal College of Art, London. In the early 80's he worked as a designer on projects such as walkmans for Sony and computers for Apple. When he moved to Paris he was invited to join the Atelier de Nimes, consulting to - amongst others - Cacharel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Dupont. Returning to London he has completed projects for many furniture, industrial, and product manufacturers. He is the winner of many international awards and his work has been published and exhibited internationally including the MOMA in New York, the Guggenheim Museum NY, Axis Centre in Japan, Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Design Museum in London. The 'Primative Modernism' journal by the Welsh designer brings together personal considerations and drawings.

Check out the rest of the videos from the Detour exhibition here :: Link

Lard & Soos... can you do vids like this with your books, please???

Technorati Tags: moleskine

Philly... Day 5

Wow... how messy is my desk??? This was my space... early doors... getting ready to go to Philly.

Norristown was deserted when I got there... which kind of spooked me out. Cold and empty. It soon filled up with people going downtown... going to watch the Marathon... or the Eagles game.

OK... for anyone traveling to Philly... here's a wee lesson: The numbered streets run North to South...and ascend towards the West (I think). A block is from one set of traffic lights to another. I got off the train at Suburban Street station...beside 18th street. I recognised Market Street on the map and thought I could walk to 5501 Market St where the Salvation Army were. The corps and community centre is on 55th street. That's 37 blocks... THIRTY SEVEN!!! It took me a good 40 odd minutes to walk... a walk that took me to some scarey places!

But I had to go... I had to see the other side of Philly... and get an appreciation of where the Lord has called the Salvation Army to serve: with the poor, rejected, despised... and I am so glad for the experience.

It was an absolute privilege to meet Lt. Tony and Laverna Lewis. What a warm welcome I received... everyone was so nice and genuine. I was the minority but was never made to feel so... I was a Christian and a Salvationist in a group of Christians and Salvationists... and it was a beautiful thing - being part of God's family.

Worship was different from what I am used to... no big brass bands or tight worship bands. There was an immediacy and sense of spontaneity that reminded me of Uncle Eck. Truly wonderful!

Tony spoke for about an hour on Judges 11: 1-11 - about Jephthah (Set Free) - who was rejected then restored as a leader. I really connected with Jephthah... but was distraught when I found out about the ultimate sacrifice he had to pay.

There was a freedom of expression and worship that I found to be very refreshing and Spirit-led. The whole start of the meeting was about grace... and how we don't need to fight to get God's gift... but need to fight to keep it.

My thanks go to the whole Corps... for their welcome and warmth... and to the couple who gave me a lift to South Street... and wouldn't take some money for gas. Thank you! It means a lot. I hope to come back some time... and pray God's blessing for all the work you are doing in West Philly... where we should be!

It was about 1430hrs or so when I got something to eat. I dived into Starbucks for some caw-fee... and a panini.

South Street is a strange mix of bohemian and hipster... loads of unique boutiques... and Starbucks... and clothing stores - selling anything from sexy smalls to the latest sneakers.

Saw The Bean literally just after I had finished my lunch... shame... would have loved to have checked it out. Looked like my kind of place.

Saw this store too... but wasn't sure what it sold.

Found the famous Philadelphia Record Exchange but couldn't find anything that excited me... too much rock and traditional jazz for my taste... but nice to be surrounded by floor-to-ceiling of vinyl and CDs.

On the way to the station I saw this allotment... which was a breath of fresh air (literally) from all the cars and buildings.

It was a good day... I saw many interesting parts of Philly... and am, to be honest, glad to be alive in this wonderful time called now.

Took the R6 to Norristown... and got back to the hotel... to the beautiful sight of Olly and Dayna (Miriam had crashed out). iSight is an amazing thing.

Good times. Now... for some food!

U*P*D*A*T*E
Forgot to mention... didn't get a chance to hook up with Roy. The marathon made the journey from New Jersey unrealistic... which was initially a bummer but, considering the experience I had today a church, something I think was out of our hands. Keep Roy's dad in your thoughts and prayers... he's unwell. I doubt I'll hook up with Roy on this trip... but may meet up with him soon in Edinburgh.

Technorati Tags: philly

You don't need a thing...

Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (The Message)

While I am away from all that is precious to me... Olly... Dayna... Miriam... my people! sometimes I feel lacking... missing something... lonely.

Its at these times that I experience again the truth of these verses in Corinthians. I have it all... and I am so grateful! iChat with iSight (thanks Soos!) has been a wonderful thing - keeping me connected.

What's more... my Lord will never give up on me... and he's there beside me keeping me on track. That's a wonderful thing to acknowledge and appreciate. Keepin' it real... Keepin' strong and true... in His strength alone.

I miss my people... but I am glad of the friend who is always with me.

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Philly... Day 4

What a trip... Philly is an amazing place... so much so, I'm heading back today. Going to meet up with Roy for a caw-fee.

Caught the train at Norristown and headed into Philly... jumped off at the Suburban Station to a surprise - what a beautiful station.

I'm used to Argyle Street and Glasgow Central... they have nothing on Suburban! It is vast... beautiful... ornate... clean! Built to last! Wonderful.

Just outside Suburban is the Love Park - not much to see other than the fab L*O*V*E sculpture. I love it... reminds me of a photo I saw of Cornelius where he posed next to this sculpture. Nice.

We walked down Ben Franklin in the direction of the Museum of Art to do a Rocky and run up the steps. On the way, we popped into the Franklin Institute Science Museum where we experienced an exhibition on Charles Darwin and had a big laugh on a flight simulator. The exhibition has got me thinking... I'll come back to that some other time.

We got to the steps of the museum and wow... its huge!!! A lot of steps for Rocky - good fun trying to run up them... I am so unfit.

While we were there we found out that the Philadelphia Marathon is on today (19th) which will make for fun while in the city. I was going to run it... but, you know, meeting up with Roy is more important!

After that the gang headed towards Rittenhouse Square and Walnut Street for some trendy shopping.

Saw La Colombe but didn't sample their wares... saving that for today (I hope).

Found Ubiq and drooled a wee bit too much at the Nikes looking fresh and limited. Nice.

Also checked out Urban Outfitters which is a lot cooler than the one in Glasgow with really reasonable prices. Picked up a Qee bear for a couple of bucks... which is way sweet.

After the shopping marathon... we found a lovely Mexican called El Vez. Well nice. Ambience was a celebration of Latino culture with wrestling images and lowrider bikes. Food was great... I have chicken fajitas and they were just right.

We headed home and hit the bar... I then hit my bed. Can't stay awake passed 2200hrs ET. I wanted to get up at 0300hrs ET to iChat with Olly and the we'ans. I miss them so very much.

Philly... Day 3

Another day at the office... and what an office it is!

This is the view from the conference room we are based... its pretty amazing... especially when these huge hawks / buzzards fly passed... kind of just chillin' on the thermals - awesome sight! I'll try to get a pick for the twitchers in the community - Nuno and my dad.

We out for lunch and had my first Philly Cheesestake except its not steak but chicken... and boy was it good. I feel like a flippin' blimp... the Michelin Man!!! Really tasty.

The place we ate in was a fab venue called The Boathouse - a real family place... mixed age... loads of TVs playing sports... great ambience... friendly staff... fab!



After work the team headed to the King of Prussia mall and all I can say is OMGoodness - it is HUGE!!! McArthur Glen x 10!!! at least.

First thing I did was find Starbucks for a venti Gingerbread latte... LOVELY!!!

The mall is bigger than you could imagine... its a cathedral to consumerism... in fact it kind of suggested what it would have been like in the Rome of St Paul's time... with all these temples to the various gods of the time... except our gods are Apple, LV, Abercrombie & Fitch, Armani, Bose, Sonystyle etc. Got me thinking.

Way too dear in there... even with a fab exchange rate.

This was my first experience of an Apple Store and, to be honest, I thought the staff on Great Western Road were better. One lassie could not understand battery - she thought I said body... I didn't get a battery for my sick iBook but did pick up an 80gb iPod for £60 cheaper than the UK... even though they add 6% sales tax onto the quoted price. Its for my Christmas... but I have to take it out the box to ensure I can get it into the UK without a rubberglove check at Customs.

My mother-in-law has a huge shop in the mall! I didn't get a shot of the SonyStyle store but had a wee play with the Mylo - the ol' nanolog looks fab on it. Going to be a big thing soon. Too expensive just now.

After the mall trip... we checked out Kobe - the Japanese steakhouse in the Hotel... Wow!!! Fully on tepanyaki experience... with teriyaki chicken being extremely welcomed and appreciated! Olly - you'd have loved it!

Good times... finished off with a few root beers in the hotel bar. Hitting Philly tomorrow. Going to be good!

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