Here's my prototype character for the banner project... definitely some refinement needed but not too shabby for a first attempt.  Will she make it into the banner? Yes, she will, becayse actually in life no-one ios a 'prototype' to be discarded, and everyone is important.  Just another dozen (or more) people neededover the next few weeks.  I reckon it took me about half an hour to make her, by the time I had sketched, cut, fused, assembled, trimmed, adjuested and what not. 

There's still work to do before she becomes part of the banner, and I hope at least a few folk will have fun creating other characters to join her.

This morning has been spent doing a couple of prototypes/examples for this summer's 'creative' option.  Rather than quick-and-easy, this year I'm aiming at things that will need at least two, and maybe three, weeks of 'sermon slots' to complete... reflecting the reality that most things of real worth take a fair bit of time and effort.

Alongside this there will be a group banner project reflecting the overarchng theme of 'team' and allowing people to dip in and out from week to week.  My next task is to prototype an element of that!

It'll be interesting to see how it works out - watch this space!

Sasha has just got home from the vet hospital following exploratory surgery which involved lots of biospies and sampling.  She is decidedly fed up at the moment, mostly because she has a cone on her head that makes life difficult.

The care instructions say that she needs to be kept from running and jumping for two weeks... hmm, we'll see how that one goes. 

At the moment she is hiding under one of the settees, which is one of her favourite places to be, and has refused all but the tiniest portion of food, perhaps because the cone makes it very difficult to eat.

Hopefully she'll soon feel more like herself and start to gobble up some food.  In the meantime I am feeling very mean to have put her through this ordeal, and really hope that it shows something that can be recitfied without more trauma.

Sorry, Sasha, sometimes it's hard being a human entrusted with the care of a kitty-cat.

Most (but not yet all) of the financial and practical matters following my Mum's death are now dealt with.  I am negotiating with siblings when we might inter her ashes.  Although the first 'first' is now not so far away (her birthday, in August) life is filling up with normality.

And then there are the off guard moments when I find myself thinking, 'ooh, I must remmeber to tell Mum that...' or 'that will really annoy Mum...' (I have to experience the, 'I must ask Mum about...') and of course I can't and it won't.  And I know that.  And yet.

And as adjustment continues, and my 'unguarded' slowly catches up with my 'conscious knowledge', life is as diverse as ever, mixing exciting and positive, with challenging or disappointing.

Here, there are green shoots and hopeful possibilties, which is encouraging and reassuring. A different kind of ongoing adjustment is needed to adapt to an ever changing context.

There's nothing novel about any of this, it's the same for everyone.  For some reason, though, I am especially conscious of the impact of my own ongoing adjustment to a new 'phase' or 'stage' or 'chapter' - or whatever it is - in life.

For all that my Mum's life has taught and shown me, I am grateful to God,

And all that lies before me, I entrust to God

Who, amidst all change and challenge, is the one constant

Now and always.

Yesterday I had severe collywobbles at the thought of doing the zip slide...

This morning, when I woke up, I had pre-exam nerves at the thought of it...

And then came a real sense of peace, partly it has to be said from imagining all the women who've crossed the great divide into eternity standing at the far side of the Clyde cheering me on... a non-religious 'great cloud of witnesses' in pink tee-shirts.

I recalled the abject fear of diagnosis, and of course anything I felt today was as nothing in comparison.

And it was wonderful, not a single 'jelly leg' moment, no hesitation when the time came to go, just look up, look around and wheeeee! Although the camera didn't capture it, I waved to the crowds below, and thoroughly enjoyed the panoramic views along the Clyde.

I was very touched that one friend came to watch me slide, and looked after my glasses (I feared they might tumble into the Clyde otherwise!), and who came with me for celebratory tea and cake afterwards.

I can honestly say it was THE best fun I've had in a long time, and I would certainly consider doing it again now I know I can do it!

Best of all, I have raised the better part of £600 in sponsorship to continue to support people affected by breast cancer... not a bad day's work!