Teenagers Today December 2013
There are so many attacks on our young people by so many people that I just wanted to let you know about a wonderful event that I got to participate in which involved a lot of teenagers at Alford Academy. I get so fed up with the impression that some people have that teenagers are trouble, drinking using drugs ignoring rules and regulations and just hanging about wasting their lives. Now I have no doubt that some do but then every age of man or woman have some that do that. In early December I was asked to judge a school event at Alford Academy. It was a an important event with the winning team earning £3000 for their designated charity. This was held under the auspices of an international charity Youth and Philanthropic initiative. Fifth year pupils were invited to participate, and to participate they had to choose a local charity (Aberdeen- Aberdeenshire), learn about the charity and make a presentation about this charity and what the money could be used for. All the teams and there were six of them with varying numbers in each gave a wonderful presentation, spoke passionately about their charity and how this money would be used to help them. Some of the team members had enrolled to help the charity and I was so impressed. At the end the team supporting the Silver Circle a group from Strathdon which caters for older people won the day but it was a very close thing. My experiences at Alford over many years have shown me that the stereotype of the wild teenager is anything but the truth. the pressures that these kids are under is immense and still they work hard and do good things. We should support them and care for them for they do in the whole good works which gives me great hope for the future.
There are so many attacks on our young people by so many people that I just wanted to let you know about a wonderful event that I got to participate in which involved a lot of teenagers at Alford Academy. I get so fed up with the impression that some people have that teenagers are trouble, drinking using drugs ignoring rules and regulations and just hanging about wasting their lives. Now I have no doubt that some do but then every age of man or woman have some that do that. In early December I was asked to judge a school event at Alford Academy. It was a an important event with the winning team earning £3000 for their designated charity. This was held under the auspices of an international charity Youth and Philanthropic initiative. Fifth year pupils were invited to participate, and to participate they had to choose a local charity (Aberdeen- Aberdeenshire), learn about the charity and make a presentation about this charity and what the money could be used for. All the teams and there were six of them with varying numbers in each gave a wonderful presentation, spoke passionately about their charity and how this money would be used to help them. Some of the team members had enrolled to help the charity and I was so impressed. At the end the team supporting the Silver Circle a group from Strathdon which caters for older people won the day but it was a very close thing. My experiences at Alford over many years have shown me that the stereotype of the wild teenager is anything but the truth. the pressures that these kids are under is immense and still they work hard and do good things. We should support them and care for them for they do in the whole good works which gives me great hope for the future.
Yo church07/09/2013
It was the first day of the school holidays and also my day off -a Monday and Anne and I were in Aberdeen catching up on a few bits of business. The morning seemed to pass quite quickly and before I knew it, lunchtime had come.
Where do you want to go for lunch we asked each other and we finally agreed that we would stay in town, rather than head home. Anne's eyes lit up and a broad smile crossed her face. Lets try Yo Suchi she said. For more than a year after she had been there with the school she has tried to get Andrew and me to this restaurant, and we have refused. I don't know why I agreed on this Monday but we wandered along, and found a seat at the food bar. Now there is something quite strange about this place, watching your possible food circulating the restaurant on a conveyor belt and trying to work out what was in the little plates passing in front. The pictures in the menu help as did the busy staff. The meal turned out to be lovely, though I only had duck, then a spring roll some chicken and a sea weed salad. I could not bring myself to eat raw fish.
How many of us let our preconceived ideas about faith and church put us off entering the full experience of God because like me at Yo Suchi we can't take the final step of trusting him with our lives? It can be a bit daunting, a bit of a step into the unknown and at times a place where we just want to hold on to the things we know. Let go at times and God will welcome you, he will surround you he will protect you because he loves you. And when you do you will find God like you have never found him before.
Who knows maybe my next visit to to Suchi I will let go and find the real joy of raw fish!
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Where do you want to go for lunch we asked each other and we finally agreed that we would stay in town, rather than head home. Anne's eyes lit up and a broad smile crossed her face. Lets try Yo Suchi she said. For more than a year after she had been there with the school she has tried to get Andrew and me to this restaurant, and we have refused. I don't know why I agreed on this Monday but we wandered along, and found a seat at the food bar. Now there is something quite strange about this place, watching your possible food circulating the restaurant on a conveyor belt and trying to work out what was in the little plates passing in front. The pictures in the menu help as did the busy staff. The meal turned out to be lovely, though I only had duck, then a spring roll some chicken and a sea weed salad. I could not bring myself to eat raw fish.
How many of us let our preconceived ideas about faith and church put us off entering the full experience of God because like me at Yo Suchi we can't take the final step of trusting him with our lives? It can be a bit daunting, a bit of a step into the unknown and at times a place where we just want to hold on to the things we know. Let go at times and God will welcome you, he will surround you he will protect you because he loves you. And when you do you will find God like you have never found him before.
Who knows maybe my next visit to to Suchi I will let go and find the real joy of raw fish!
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General Assembly 2012
I had a great week in Edinburgh at the General Assembly from 19-25th May. I managed to borrow my sister's flat in Edinburgh to stay and it was only a 10 minute walk to the Assembly hall which was a great time saver. My journey each morning passed Greyfriars Bobby and the crowds of tourists taking
photographs of the statue on the roadside. Its fascinating how this story caught the imagination, it's about a dog who mourned the loss of his owner. How many people do great things in life and never get a statue nor tourists coming to share in their story? But as usual I digress
The Assembly was well led by our new Moderator Rt Rev Albert Bogle with a mix of hurried business and gentle humour that appealed to me. There was a feeling (or at least I felt it) that we wanted to share what was good about the church rather than what was dividing the church. No doubt next year we shall get back to our old antagonisms and it makes me cry to see what little divides us and yet such little things can if not dealt with properly cause real hardship and hurt. But such is life is it not.
I am getting ready for my holidays counting down if I am honest as the family are needing a break. At Easter Anne spent most of her holiday working on our flat and did not get a break and Andrew who is now finished school and getting ready to go to College can do with getting out of the village and who knows perhaps this will be the last holiday he will want to go on with his folks. I hope that if you get a holiday you shall find time to enjoy and relax if that is your need or wish.
photographs of the statue on the roadside. Its fascinating how this story caught the imagination, it's about a dog who mourned the loss of his owner. How many people do great things in life and never get a statue nor tourists coming to share in their story? But as usual I digress
The Assembly was well led by our new Moderator Rt Rev Albert Bogle with a mix of hurried business and gentle humour that appealed to me. There was a feeling (or at least I felt it) that we wanted to share what was good about the church rather than what was dividing the church. No doubt next year we shall get back to our old antagonisms and it makes me cry to see what little divides us and yet such little things can if not dealt with properly cause real hardship and hurt. But such is life is it not.
I am getting ready for my holidays counting down if I am honest as the family are needing a break. At Easter Anne spent most of her holiday working on our flat and did not get a break and Andrew who is now finished school and getting ready to go to College can do with getting out of the village and who knows perhaps this will be the last holiday he will want to go on with his folks. I hope that if you get a holiday you shall find time to enjoy and relax if that is your need or wish.