So other than my beautiful Macbook (which I am as in love with today as the day I got it (wonder what Jo will say to that!)) everything is packed ready to be loaded into my car tomorrow although looking at the pile I feel like I need a tardis to fit it all in!

Last night was my last Doodles and it was perhaps the worst of all the goodbyes…most of the young people at Doodles I’ve known since day 1 in Peterborough, I’ve seen them grow up, mature in their faith and been lucky to have been able to share in that and I hope they’ll go on doing so.

The final Doodles organised by Vicki wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, my visions of finishing off by dripping my way into the shower were a bit extreme but here were my tasks (mostly from games I’ve used in the last few years)

1 – Eat a baby-food covered piece of bread in under a minute (I failed)

2 – Drink coke through a used sock (I won, beating Chris who managed to pour half of it down himself and didn’t have a used sock)

3 – Eat custard and chocolate from a nappy (Vicki one)

4 – Not a task but get covered in flour!

During all of the above I was required to wear a large pair of ladies pants over my shorts which for one game young people had to spit jelly cubes in!

It’s been a awesome 4 years and packing up really is the final thing…other than a small group/close friends bbq tonight which I should prep for at some point soon!

There’s a lesson to learn for all youth workers….whatever games you do in your time at a place remember when you leave you will probably be subjected to them!

This weekend has been my last in Peterborough as the Youth Worker for Park Road Baptist Church and it’s been a weekend of send-offs….as far as youth work goes I still have one group left tomorrow night and have been told to wear clothes I don’t mind getting messy!

On Friday night we had a youth group BBQ where I was invited (or rather demanded) to be the only participant in the fishing sweets out of syrup and then out of corn flakes challenge… as the only contestant I won! (see left)

I was also subjected to the ‘make a banana split from a distance with the banana rested between someone’s teeth’ game resulting in a shower being required before going out in Peterborough on Friday night (see my picture of Joel dancing right!)

Last night was a church BBQ for my leaving and I think around 50 people from Park Road turned up which was lovely and the sun even came out at the end!

This morning I was greeted at church by a cake with a large photo of myself on looking rather camp to say the least (really shouldn’t be photographed in pink polo-shirts!) and during the service I was decommissioned (as Tim put it) by being presented with a series of suitable random gifts relating to my time here including a fire extinguisher, bottle of water and a t-shirt with a drum kit on that you can really drum (how awesome!)….I was prayed for by the deacons and spoke to so many people all of whom seemed grateful for everything that I’ve been involved in at Park Road in the last few years.

It’s strange to think on Wednesday I leave but it’s been a brilliant few years and a lovely weekend of send-offs…if I am still in a state to type tomorrow night I shall blog about my final youth group then!

A funky photo took on my Sony Ericsson C905 during a garden ‘camp’ fire last night….summer evenings are great!

From Last Few Days In Peterborough

The new Woolworths has launched today online (link) and for the last few months I’ve been following the progress on their blog and I have to say it’s a lot of hype about nothing!

The site splits itself into 3 mini-sites: the general store, Pick and Mix and Entertainment….looking at the entertainment site I suspect much like the new Zavvi.co.uk and the entertainment section of ASDA’s website that it is subcontracted out to thehut.com to run which means there’s a good range of things at the same price you can easily find elsewhere!

Perhaps the most talked about section on the Woolies blog has been the return of Pick and Mix…a quick trip to the pick and mix section shows a price of 99p per 100 grams (compared to Wilkinsons 69p!) and it’s less pick and mix and more buy a bag as the small selection of sweets come in 100 gram dumps to your virtual sweet bag and with an added delivery cost of £1-50 for just 100 grams of sweets I think when I get the urge I shall drive to Wilkinsons!

Although there’s probably thousands of people who are happy to know the Woolworths name won’t die I can’t help but feel in a few months they’ll be dissappointed as it does….unless of course the pick and mix gets cheaper with more sweets, postage drops and the site becomes a bit more user friendly!

There is a serious post somewhere inside me but life has become crazy…so much for the quiet wind-down here in Peterborough. I’m currently thinking of all the things I need to do to hand over to the next student Youth Worker, the things I need to hand to others for other projects and generally clearing up 4 years of stuff.

On a side project I’m building a new website for St Andrew’s Church in Gorleston which is nearing completion too!

This week is becoming a week of lasts…at the weekend I led my final youth camp for Park Road with a very funny, inspiring and sunny weekend in Trimmingham, tonight was my last band practice and the next few days see things like last church services, youth groups and all sorts of other send-offs….it’s bizarre with 4 years in Peterborough coming to an end but I’m looking forward to some time off and the challenges South Cave has to offer.

Last night Clive and Florence came over for dinner and in july Jo and myself head off to their villa in Italy…driving to Italy through lots of places, spending 2 weeks in their villa in the Umbertide region before driving back again, sitting around last night talking about Italy over a lasagne whilst drinking red wine really makes it all sound seem that little bit closer….it’ll be my first break in years and I’m looking forward to exploring and chilling and perhaps finally getting around to reading some books!

I suppose that’s all I have to blog on this evening, I’m hoping to blog on a Christian-type subject later this week….especially as I’m at some kind of bible thing tomorrow daytime!