Well two and a bit months later! Time flies when you're having fun..so what's been happening.
 Well we spent a lovely 3 weeks in the UK for a family-not-together holiday.
The first week, Catrin was camping with CCIW, we were in Deeside catching up with our church family. Second week Catrin was in London staying with a friend, we were all three at the Aber conference..Gwilym was staying with mates so we didn't see a lot of him.
Third week we went to Bath and took Gwilym to Soul Survivor..so we had some time together!! Thefinal week was the most restful, we were so well looked after the first week though, we were fed and watered every day..God is so kiind in giving us such a great support at Deeside..in ABer we were sharing a flat with several other folks, and two of the others..guys, decided to come in with us with the cooking etc..so we put money togetrher decided what we would cook..Alan & I did the shopping and one of the other guys said he was homless at cooking so it was down to well, me and this other fellah..We had two lots of mince..one lot I was going to use for a shepherd's pie, and one lot was going to a spag bol..well the tow lots got used for the spag bol, and a whole packet of spaghetti!! for 3 people..we ate well..

So, we had a visit recently from one of the elders and his wife from Deeside, it was such a lovely week, at the same time Chris from Mold came over to do some work in the church..he's such a great guy, to give up a week of his holiday to come here and work for love! He slept on our sofa which meant at times he had to get up at 6am most mornings, which actually was a lie in for him cos where he works, he has to get up at 4 am!!

So sabbatical..what's been happening there,
I haven't done a lot of studying lately which is bad bad bad! though finally got my books out yesterday to get back in to it!
We still have to finish of the kitchen, think the wall is finally dry after all the hassle of pipes etc last year..we had a plumber here last week, so we now have a working sink in the loo, but the plug attatchement needs to be sorted, but Alan says he can do that.
Need to get out in the garden, Lynton our friend and church elder who came last week, had a great time digging a border in the garden where there wasn't one, but hey, looks great,  need to get rid of the earth/grass that he dug up, and then find some nice big plants to put in!

In regard to the church at Cenonl  we still get the emails from the church, so we see what's going on and the descisions they have to make or not make as it were, and of course the kids are still involved. The youth worker Harriette sometimes pops in when bringing them home from Lampadaire and it's nice to see her.
However this weekend past was very traumatic for them and us, one of their friends was abducted it seems, drugged and left outside the station in train bordeaux. For more info you can read it on Alan's blog, along with a very difficult music practice too..so that's caused a lot of grief and stress here (and of course in the home of the young lad..it was Gwilym and a friend who found him, with Catrin on the end of the phone directing them to where he was)
Everyone is fine, the lad wasn't harmed physically but of course mentally is shaken up..managing to go to school and stuff.He's been in touch with us, and would of course value prayers for him and his family..They are amazing, they go through so much, but trust in God through it all
 What amazes me is the fact that the police don't seem to be interested, they didn't think having a blood test and drug analysis was worth it! hmm, where as the health service here is splendid, stuff like this seems to have taken a back seat.

In regard to the music practice , the children have been told by us, that they have the right to go to another church if they feel they can't cope with where they are. It's not the first time they have been shouted at or had disputes with the two others about the music  and they are seriously thnking about what to do..It's very hard to see your kids bullied..they don't have to put up with it. Older Christians are meant to be role models for the youngsters, and not make excuses for their anger and temper..we can all make excuses for our bad behaviour but forget too that one of the fruits of the Spirit is self control.

Yesterday I went to the doctor, got a prescription for an x ray for my foot, and a blood test for my thyroid..went this morning for both, got the results immediatley from the x ray. I have got a heel spur, a calcium deposit on the tendon on the bottom of my foot, which makes it very painful to walk. Also my blood results have been sent to my email, but having problems opening it, so will have to wait for Alan to come home to sort that out, then I'll try and get an appointment with the GP tomorrow to see what he decides about both.

Meanwhile, Alan won tickets to see Tosca at the cinema in bordeaux, so he has taken Catrin for an outing! that'll do them both good..I had a friend here for lunch which was great, and Gwilym has just got in from shcool, it's 6pm, better go find something to eat!