December

Ah, December - such a strange month with all its hype and ridiculous busyness leading up to just a few short but special days towards its end. This December seems to have been even more intense than usual (though I probably say that every year), but things wound down just in time to make the final week of 2013 a particularly enjoyable one!

This month I:
- ate more Christmas dinners than should be physically possible.
- enjoyed our annual all-in-one-place catch-up and my first "real" 'night out' with friends.

- participated in two nativity services, a Watch-night service and goodness knows how many assemblies.

- had my first two experiences as a Street Pastor in our town.
- received news of some funding that will allow my part-time job to become full-time for the next three years(!!!).
- enjoyed a fairly quiet family Christmas.

- headed off to Edinburgh where we've seen the Lion King and are looking forward to the Street Party for Hogmanay.

I read:

•  'Submarine' by Joe Dunthorne
  A novel about a teenage boy trying to find his way in the world, this was easy-reading at its best.
• 'The Gifts of Imperfection' by Brene Brown
  A call to "let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are," I would recommend this book to just about anyone.. and to those who wouldn't read the book, I'd recommend her TED talk videos instead!
  (Side note: This also completed my 'Read 36 Books' challenge for the year.)
• 'The Question That Never Goes Away' by Philip Yancey
  Some thirty-odd years ago, Philip Yancey posed the question 'Where Is God When It Hurts?' This book is essentially a follow-up in light of all he's witnessed and experienced in that time, readdressing the question that seems to linger constantly.
  I'm fairly sure I only bought this book because it was £1 on Kindle at some point in time, but I'm glad that I did. Very much worth a read.
• 'One Day' by David Nicholls
  A somewhat convoluted love story, this was not at all my usual cup of tea but a pleasant enough read. 
• 'Love in the Time of Global Warming' by Francesca Lia Block
  I'm not really FLB's target audience any more, yet I can't help but love getting lost in her worlds full of magic and hope in spite of suffering.

And I watched:

'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' at the cinema, 'The Big Fat Quiz of the Year' and 'Call the Midwife' on TV and endless snippets of Harry Potter and random Christmas movies!

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I hope December treated you kindly and you're coming to the end of 2013 with a glad and thankful heart. Happy New Year and all the best for 2014!