Another month is passing rapidly, but the days are lengthening and although the cold and unsettled weather is still with us, the crocuses and daffodils are an indications that winter is on the way out and the better weather is on it's way in (I hope!)
This morning I took two friends to the climbing wall in Leeds and last Saturday I took a small party, Kevin, Judy C.J. and Brian to climb Pen Y Gent. It was as windy as the last time I took Mary but without the hail this time. This Wednesday, weather permitting, Mary and I may head for Snowdonia.This afternoon I watched Wales win the Triple Crown by beating Ireland. What a team and what a difference a new coach can make in such a short time. Only France to beat next week and Wales have won the Championship. Shane Williams has to be the best rugby player in the world right now; he has speed, strength, agility and determination, the complete package. Owen, accompanied by Kim, have come up to watch the game over the last few weeks which makes it all the more enjoyable - hopefully we have started a family tradition.
Last week I went to Xscape and skied on my own for the first time. I only felt confident enough to ski from half way up the main slope but as my skills and confidence grew I did my penultimate run from the top of the slope and managed to get down without losing control (just). I want to try and get down there every other week and just get better so that next winter I will be competent when it comes to our trip to the ski slopes of Europe.
This week I have managed to ride by cycle everyday to work even though the weather was quite blustery on a few occasions. I am quite pleased that I have managed to ride the bike through most of the winter without getting ill or finding the colder, wetter weather was too much for me. This last week I came home once or twice in the dark, giving me an opportunity to use the new front and rear lights that I have recently bought and they are amazingly bright, so much better and more visible than my old ones. During the week I also had to cycle from work into Harrogate and one or two other more outlying places, so I probably clocked up quite a mileage. With my 30 minute run on Weds evening I ached a bit, but that has stopped now.
I am speaking in church tomorrow morning, the theme being "Self Preservation or Self Sacrifice". We are regularly getting 100 + people in the Sunday morning meetings recently but I am hoping and praying for 150 regular attenders by September and 200 by the end of December 2008. We are seeing quite a few new individuals and families starting to visit and then come back for a second and third time so maybe we are getting nearer to the tipping point.
Wednesday saw us celebrating Lucy's 21st. Bethan, George, Mary and I picked her up from College in York at lunchtime and then drove her to Scarborough for a Pizza Hut buffet, followed by a walk on the beach and around Scarborough. Tomorrow her celebrations continue with a lunch for 60 people in a local Chinese restaurant after church.
