pBullox`

What a ride! This has been the strangest year I think I’ve ever had. Lots of things changing – some for the good some for the… well, I don’t know. The year began a bit cold with some bits of snow here and there as usual. I had agreed to take on a new team at work alongside my existing responsibilities. It was quite a challenge but got to meet some new guys and see lots of new sites. After a few weeks changing and fixing process events started to get better for all and the work became manageable. This was when I was asked to step in as acting manager of South London . Off I went taking care of things in London with the engineers there. That was until we were placed at risk of redundancy back on June 4 th . This opened up a new can of worms for me thinking about the future and the vision that’s with me for the café. (Sublime) Most my time from here was about considering what to do next. I have researched and visited so many places – attended seminars talked to so many people but finally...

Today the school holidays begin. Already the snow has caused heart ache when a bigger boy smashed Joshuas' snowman. "It's just snow" I said. "No it's not, it was a huge ball" Hmmmm, if this is what snow is going to be about please bring on the rain. Michelle has just departed for the Midlands so I'm looking after things for the weekend. What to do - museums, skating and shopping are the ideas so far. We'll see where they go :-) Getting some work to see me through the planning stages of the cafe seems to be going OK. I should be redundant from VM at the end of the year. Going to setup a Ltd company to do some contract work if all goes well. There has been another invite to a meeting to discuss the community venture in January. I need to get my ideas polished and produced in readiness. Setting up my Coffee shop has really got to become the priority now. A business plan and other work needs putting together - some time-out in prayer is on the cards ...

Today I said goodbye to one of my managers, he took the redundancy option. Everyone thought he was a dead cert for staying. That was six guys I know personally that have gone. This time changes at work are real and are going to be painful. An obvious temporary state until all disciplines merge and possible outsource comes. I'll be staying a little while longer whilst I get things sorted for Sublime. The boss has asked to stay on - but doing the new role will be a second choice. I can see it being rock solid, even through an outsource maneuver. Thing is - if all it's goals are met quickly as planned, governance can always be removed without cost to operations. We shall see... The meeting is Monday at the council to discuss support for the venture. If it's positive I'll begin to involve the community pillars - the guys who are doing good stuff already that is. Fortunately I know some of these guys and hope I can get them on side and give them an additional point to connec...

'Where there is no vision, the people perish.' Proverbs 29:18 When problems arise, our vision is often the first thing to hit the chopping block. That's because we don't see life the way it is, we see life the way we are. The Bible says: 'Where there is no vision the people perish' [live unharnessed and undirected]. When God gives you a vision for your life, you begin to see things as He sees them. Moses 'saw' the Promised Land when everybody around him saw only wilderness, wanted to give up and return to Egypt (See Hebrews 11:27). And He understood that he'd get there on God's schedule, according to God's plan, one step at a time. Many tasks seem overwhelming when you look only at their size. But when you break them down into small steps and visualise yourself taking the first step, you're amazed at your progress. You can do something for a day you wouldn't commit to doing for a month; ask any recovering addict! One Christian leader ...

After looking around at suitable locations for Sublime I thought I had found the one. That was until Friday when the council boys said no to a change of use. That was it - it was over for Thatcham, time to look on the Island. Something wasn't right about that though, it's just not time yet, that will come soon enough. The idea is playing on mind all the time and on Sunday it was making me feel really low. I suppose I was feeling sorry for myself, I have learned you get nowhere by worrying though, the birds of air do not go without. I decided to not give up and to talk to the local town Vision guys. All day on Monday I was putting off calling them through fear they would tell me to go away. I've not told anyone about some of the conversations I have had with people, when I've told folks what I want to do, it's welcomed as a good idea and then I'm reminded how someone else had that idea and it didn't get anywhere. I've found sharing the thought is usually ...

On my own this time. The weather is awesome, 21c. It will be a bit different this year. I see a business tomorrow, will it be the one that brings us to the island? It feels strange, I am missing Michelle already, I'm not even off the main land either. Very strange as maximus would say. Terence is missing... pBullox Mobile