From Under The Duvet..: December 2006

Sunday, December 31, 2006

I wish I could say that I haven’t blogged since Monday because Santa realised he forgot to deliver a present and Mr Right appeared and took me off to New Zealand for a little getaway from all this rubbish weather… But I am grateful that I haven’t been ill in bed from Christmas Day (like a few Christmases ago). I have been tidying.

Really. I kid you not. I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday tidying the “den”. The den refers to the area of my house I really sort of live in. It’s above our double garage and utility room. The only way to get here is by a set of stairs completely separate from the other set of stairs. There are no windows. About half of the room is the main room – where you walk into – and the other half is two store rooms – one on each side.

I really love the den but it is the attic really. And therefore a family dumping ground. It finally got too far – you couldn’t get into either store. Just before Christmas dad decided enough was enough and he washed three bikes – the little tricycle I had, the bike I really learnt to cycle with (with and then without stabilisers) and then my sister’s bike. He delivered them down to a guy in Island Street in Belfast who is linked with our church. The guy was so pleased with them and the trike went that night to someone in time for Santa to bring it for Christmas.

Now, I didn’t say what the store rooms had in them, did I? My sister is 16. And mum had still kept the cot, highchair, travel cot, pram, weird basket thing, bottle warmer, all our clothes etc etc etc. Dad and I decided enough was enough.

Three days later… The den is beautiful. A little haven for me to do my work and chill out in. And all the baby stuff? Well, minus a few “special outfits” and the highchair (I don’t know why it is being kept – it is a death trap!), all the useful things are sitting in the garage while we wait for the call saying it’s ok to take them down to Belfast. Countless bags of rubbish have disappeared off to the dump. There is SO much space around here now. It’s great. There’s ever space for my craft stuff.

It all feels very worthwhile and it’s lovely!

This is what happens around the end of the year. If we don’t physically clear our homes of rubbish and things we no longer need we mentally look over the past year. WE have a review of the year – and there is lots of “The Best –whatever- of 2006” “The Worst –whatever- of 2006” etc programmes.

New Year can be painful – we see what we regret from the past year, we recall old memories of that person we liked or remember the person we lost. As we tidied out the den I said “goodbye” to the pram I pushed my dolls around in and teddies which I remember… It can be painful to say goodbye to stuff but to have a new beginning something needs to end… We can also be pretty fearful of the year that lies ahead…

New Year can be joyous – we remember fun times we’ve had and excitedly look forward to what the next year holds.

I’ve been thinking about what I’ve done in the past year that’s been really noteworthy. Truth be told, I struggled. I have a certificate somewhere which reads “AAAA” but I hope and pray that’s not the only thing that I have to show for a year of my life!

I grew as a person and my faith is deeper – I think… I made some great new friends and developed relationships. I deepened relationships – a very big thank you to all those who have constantly and consistently been there for me; whether that was in not minding rants, putting up with my appalling driving (both before and after my test), not minding texts at random times or long phone calls (and so so much more!) you’ve all rocked and I really mean it when I say I couldn’t have done it without you…

I had a brilliant holiday and met up with the lovely Anna! I had a huge 11 flights this year! I passed my driving test! I filled in UCAS and wrote the horror of horrors – a personal statement! I received the beautiful Aaron (the cow) and turned 18!

In 2006 I laughed, loved, cried, hung out with friends, was creative, joined myspace, did this blog template (with a little help, of course!), read a lot, wrote a lot, talked far too much, texted up huge phone bills. It was a good year. Yeah, it didn’t all rock and there were definite low points. But what can you do but learn from them and thank God you got through them?

I will be glad to say goodbye to 2006 - 2007 looks set to be a big year. I’ve got to decide about unis and get the grades I need. But that’s not all I want to do! 2007 will, inevitably, involve a lot of “lasts” and that will be sad but there’s no other way to move on in live and 2007 will also have plenty of “firsts” – and I can’t wait…!

Here are a few of my resolutions; I’ve yet to form a concrete list:

Make morning church on a regular basis (even if evening church is infinitely better and one of the reasons is just to stop the comments I get on a Monday morning… :P)
Have longer “quiet times”
Make more time to read – reading is a real passion for me and I give so little time to it
Memorize a few bible verses – my knowledge of them is rather pathetic
Fold towels after I shower
Get fitter (think about doing the marathon…)
Eat better
Be more grateful
Give more to charity
Try to sort my back problem out
Write more – you have no idea how many “one lines” I have scribbled everywhere!
Take better photos
Waste less time
Worry less
Have less regrets

There are lots of them! There’s a lot I want to change! Baby steps but this is what I hope to achieve…

What will you remember 2006 for?

What do you want to be able to remember 2007 for?

It’s been great to have this blog over the past (almost) year (although I did have another one for the first part of this year!), to use it to rant and think and to hear what those I love have to say on the matter. I just hope I haven’t scared you so much you’ll never return!

I hope you guys have a great New Year. May 2007 hold many good things for you and those you love. May you have good times and may you get through the bad times. Don’t abandon your resolutions on the 4th January… Don’t neglect your dreams… Forget regrets and move forward…

2007 looks set to be a big year…
Are you ready?

Labels: New Year, resolutions, review, tidying, woot

Monday, December 25, 2006

You know you go to a rural church when...

... on Christmas morning a box is set on the communion table and a real live bleeting little lamb is brought out. It was SO cute. I really really want one! hehe It was born on Friday and has four brothers and sisters! That poor little ewe!

Anyway, next year I'm going to be giving Santa glasses. I really don't understand how he managed to get the "Mr Right" I had written on my list confused with the kettle and toaster I received! But it's the thought that counts (even if that was "yay, you're leaving soon!") and I got some wonderful books and fluffy socks - and much much more that I just did not deserve!

Hope you've had a really good day and the rest of the holiday goes wonderfully for you.

Labels: Christmas

Sunday, December 24, 2006

So this is Christmas…

What have you done?

Ate lots of Christmas food? Chocolate and cake? Shopped till you dropped and then some? Complained and moaned about all you have to do?

I am not the world’s biggest fan of Christmas. There, I said it.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the story and remembering the birth of Jesus. The time off school is also wonderful and spending time with friends is great. But the endless scurrying about, all the fuss on presents, on the wrong things, and the arguments are horrific.

Why do so many people queue for hours at the butcher’s and the grocer’s to buy everything in sight when the shops are closed for, what, 36 hours? It’s so insane!

I went to see The Nativity on Friday night (without the little tour of Belfast). It was really really good. It was great to see the story come to life - so often we hear the same old stories year after year and so quickly they become nothing but white noise.

It’s really important to get back to the true meaning and reality of Christmas. God coming to earth in the form of a baby boy. Born to a young unmarried girl who faced death because of the pregnancy. And that little baby which was born in that dirty little stable went on to die for you and I. It’s crazy.

Here are my attempts at answers to those questions… (late at night when I’m tired! Probably not exactly what I want to convey but here’s an attempt…)

Is the crucifixion important? Why?
The crucifixion is important because it is the reason why we can come to God and have a relationship with Him and have eternal life.

Do you think the resurrection gets just "added on" at the end of the story when it should be more of a focus?
I don’t know… At Easter it is kind of easy to focus on the death Christ died for us but we are reminded of the triumph over death that Easter morning and we are continually reminded throughout the year that Christ is alive.

Why focus on four chapters of the Gospel rather than the other twenty-odd? (ie why "focus" on the death, rather than the life, of Jesus) Do you think such a focus exists?
It is in the death of Jesus that is key to faith – but all the teachings tell us how to live out that faith.

And why is the nativity important?
The nativity is important because Jesus needed to be born as fully human to be able to be the sacrifice in our place on that cross.

Tonight at church was the Nine Lessons and Nine Carols by Candlelight service at church. It was so beautiful. To hear familiar words and be reminded that tomorrow we celebrate the birth of Christ on this earth. That He who held the stars came down to earth.

But, I really think we should be reminded that Jesus did not stay that little baby in that manger in the stable. We can pack away the Nativity Scene in our homes and shove the decorations back into the store but we’ve got to continue to “unwrap” Jesus in our lives – keep Him in the centre of our lives as we venture into the New Year and beyond. Jesus didn’t remain that little baby – He grew up and took our place on the cross – so don’t leave Him lying in that manger.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. May you and those you love be richly blessed this Christmastime.

And here’s one of my favourite blessings:

May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds,
The perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary,
And the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas;
And the blessing of God almighty,
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Labels: advent, Christmas, church

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Thought It Was Due An Update…

So, tonight I collected Rose and Jayne and we were headed for Yorkgate to see The Nativity. Unfortunately when we arrived the film had been completely sold out. Instead of paying money to go see a movie we didn’t really want to see we went to the shoe shop (I wonder who came up with that idea, Jayne…) and Tescos. I have now bought enough ingredients to make four cheesecakes – I need to decide where they get to go to…

We decided we wanted to see the lights in the City Centre so we went via the Antrim Road, Shore Road and the M2 (including several other roads). It was such a lovely little tour of Belfast and we’d great fun – I think photos were taken of the City Hall. It looks so pretty!

I have come home and watched Give My Head Peace – Red Hand Luke became a Catholic… It was hilarious! And The Blame Game was as fantastic as ever. Did you know that Republican Sinn Fein sent out Christmas cards with Santa holding a gun? Peace and goodwill to all men and all that! Apparently you can buy them in a Republican Shop… (the cards, that is... although I'm sure you could find the guns somewhere too...)

I have been told recently that apparently all Norn Irish people own a balaclava and an AK47… The English person who said that has mysteriously disappeared. But you didn’t hear that from me…

I also liked this line from The Blame Game:

“We’re making a million pounds a day from tourists…”
“That’s a great mugging system you’ve got going”
- when talking about why people would ever come to visit here…

Anyway, I’ve got the cold and I feel all fuzzy. So I am off to bed… Last day tomorrow!

Night night.

PS – will blog about those questions soon…

Labels: cinema, comedy, driving, friends, good times, sick, The Blame Game

Monday, December 18, 2006

It Just Isn't Christmas Without...

...the school carol service in Down Cathedral.

I cannot believe I have just sung at the last carol serviceof my time at DHS! It's pretty scary. I'll definitely be back next year - to continue the tradition of past pupils returning to the concert.

It's so beautiful - to go into the Cathedral in darkness (and come out into the freezing cold!) and be able to sit and sing or listen to the carols. In The Bleak Mid Winter was absolutely beautiful - sang to a tune a past pupil composed. And "When A Child is Born" is really beautiful when played on the... xylophone!

A really lovely night - and one of the sadder "lasts" of my time at DHS (the "last mocks" etc are more happy occassions!).

A lovely event in advent...

Labels: advent, Christmas, church, future, school

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Because I'm Tired..

I spent an hour and ten minutes arguing the case for why the crucifixion and ressurection of Jesus is important. As I'm utterly wrecked and in need to some very lovely sleep I'm going to ask you guys some questions:

Is the crucifixion important? Why?

Do you think the ressurrection gets just "added on" at the end of the story when it should be more of a focus?

Why focus on four chapters of the Gospel rather than the other twenty-odd? (ie why "focus" on the death, rather than the life, of Jesus) Do you think such a focus exists?

And why is the nativity important?

I will post my thoughts and arguments at some point... I'd like to hear what you guys think!

Labels: arguments, Christmas, Easter, faith, question

Monday, December 11, 2006

I'll have a "Proper Post" Soon!

I have two posts in my head right now and I'll get them typed up soon! (Although one may disappear or become merged into the other!) One is on Advent and the other on Easter...!

But, for now, I'm reveling in the fact the printer has healed itself! Yesterday I was convinced it was a minion of the antichrist and it was rather lucky there is no window up here!

Anyway.. the reason for this post! Would anyone be up for watching The Passion of the Christ (Mel Gibson's movie) with me? And by that I mean "Would anyone be up for sitting with me as I hide behind a cushion asking when it's ok to watch?"...

We are watching bits of it in RS - and I get squemish (for want of a better word!) at reading the stories!

Labels: blogging, films, question, technology

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Review of the Week

A little review of the week...

Quote of the week:
“You see, I thought Leane thought I thought she said ‘this guy’. Leane thought I thought she said ‘the sky’. I thought she said ‘skive’. She said ‘Sky [as in Sky TV].”
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Did you follow that? This was on Friday night when Leane was saying what someone got someone for Christmas. And neither of us could understand the other leading to hilarious interpretations – the quotation was what I said when trying to explain it to Rose.
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Night of the Week:
Hmm… Tough one. Friday night was good. Not only did I have my first non-family car passenger but they survived (well done Rose!)! It was a great night with good food and good company.
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Saturday night was Mannafest and I drove down with Jayne in the car. We managed to park on Adelaide Street – it was a little stressful but Jayne was great! I’ve discovered the main component of my driving technique is prayer – prayer that I did remember to lock the car, that the car will be there untouched when we return and that I’m not blocked in! Mannafest was really good so maybe Saturday night will be the night of the week. (Although I’ve still to experience Sunday night!)
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Picture of the Week
Definitely this one I took around 8am on Friday. The greyscale one looks quite cool too.

Relief of the Week

For reasons I will leave undiscussed I was excluded from both Secret Santas in school - there are sort of two groups of friends I am friendly with and one thought I was in the other Secret Santa and the other group... I don't know. But anyway... So I was going to be left with lots of presents to buy and I hate Christmas shopping and couldn't have afforded it anyway! So I decided, after talking it through with Rose, to say to everyone I'm not exchanging gifts this year.

There's nothing I need right now so I said instead of giving gifts I'm donating money to Tearfund and if you really feel that strongly about getting me something to donate money to Tearfund or another charity. Everyone agreed that it was a good idea and I'm so glad everyone is fine with it - it saves me a whole lot of stress with shopping and finding gifts. I was worried people would be miffed at my getting out of giving gifts but they haven't been. If we're honest we don't remember half of what we got by Valentine's Day anyway!

Anyway... I've six essays to do this weekend and have managed to do three so far (two more for Tuesday and one for Wednesday).

Labels: Christmas, essays, friends, good days, laughter, love, quote, stress, thoughts, woot

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Cardiff

I little account of my time in Cardiff.
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On Wednesday I was awoken at 5am and was driving off from the house by quarter to six. I had my first experience of motorway driving - which was a little boring but a good time to do it as there wasn’t lots of traffic on the road.
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Chris Evans was also on the plane and apparently spent most of the flight loudly telling jokes to his even louder entourage. So glad I slept pretty much from take-off till landing!
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We stepped of the plane to…. Rain! And I mean *rain*. Cardiff has quite a few arcades with quirky little shops and later on I saw a guy putting on waterproof trousers before leaving the arcade. How much does it rain there?!
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The university talk was really good. It was really inspiring for my work this year and I picked up a few postcards of the Bay etc which will remind me of where I want to go. It turns out Cardiff as a university is rated 7th in the UK but the psychology department is 1st in the UK – above Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial etc.
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Everyone I met was so friendly – from the guy at the bus stop who talked until the bus came to the people who were at the open day. It was really nice to meet the people who are interested in the psychology courses – Sarah who has a brother in Bristol, Claire who was the only person I talked to there with a strong welsh accent – I’m not sure if she said “x [the place she lived which I did not catch] isn’t far from here” or “x is an hour from here” etc! Christine who was from Bath but goes to a musical boarding school.
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There was a lovely girl from Windsor who has an interview at Oxford next week and a girl from a place south of London - I had tea with them at the end. The girl from the south of London was very well spoken and had been to Vienna and Paris for Christmas shopping but wanted to know if I had gotten a train from home (which I’d already stated was Northern Ireland) to Cardiff that morning… Wow… They thought it was really weird that I’ve maybe been one three trains (not including the subway) in my life.
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It was nice to talk to some of the professors as well as they circulated at the end of the afternoon. But as numbers dwindled we were continually being approached so Windsor and south-of-London girl and I left.
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At the hotel I checked and made sure there were no monsters under the bed. And there wasn’t. So, Scottie, clearly certain people have had their facts wrong… I will provide photographic evidence if required… And I only saw one group of sheep the whole time I was away - and saw three herds within a mile of Belfast airport!
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Getting up at 4am was fun… I was so wrecked as the room in the hotel this time overlooked the road most of the main nightclubs were on. Really fun!
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I love looking in airport shops – especially at the books. Under the title “Self-Help books” there was things like “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins, “The Mind Gym” and “Ten Steps to Inner Peace and Happiness”. Maybe I should have picked that last one up because ten steps to inner peace sounds quite easy… almost too good to be true… don’t you think?
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The flight home was really fun – with strong winds and a really bumpy take off and landing I was glad I slept in between times! I find it quite ironic that at Belfast International there's a big sign on the airport that is lit up saying "Harp [the beer] welcomes you to Belfast" and the other airport in Belfast is the George Best Airport...
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Today in my A2 English lit class… We had a grammar lesson and a spelling test! Seriously. This does not seem encouraging for what the results will be… To be fair, I did spell fiancé correctly inn the exam because I copied it off the exam paper, although I do have a problem with defin*i*te, apprec*ia*te, sep*a*rate and naiv*i*ty (where I have the problem is in *s). And handwriting was mentioned. Apparently hand writing was mentioned in yesterday’s English lit class and mine was going to be used as an example but I wasn’t there.
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This week I haven’t been in school one full day. Monday and Tuesday I was in for morning exams. Wednesday I wasn’t in. Today I was in for 10.30 – and I’ve just realised I forgot to sign in at the office! Oops… And I’d left again by 2:10pm because today is my leave school early day. Tomorrow I’m also leaving early as it’s my second afternoon to go home early. I could get used to this…
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One comment about a dossy school and I will go mad! I work my ass off but just have a nice timetable – and I’ve four hours of school on a Wednesday night!
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I now have heard back from all the universities I have applied to - Queens have accepted me today conditional on ABB. Now I get to decide who I want for first choice and who as a reserve. Cardiff is definitely going down as my firm choice but either Aston or Canterbury as choice number two.
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Anyway, I’m wrecked (although I’ve slept for three hours already tonight!) so I am off to bed!
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Labels: Cardiff, driving, English, exams, future, good news, NI, psychology, thoughts, uni, visits, woot

Monday, December 04, 2006

Hi Again

Ok guys. It'll only take one second to go to this website and light a candle. For each of you who do Bristol-Myers will donate $1 to combatting AIDS.

Tearfund have a campaign to stop the spread of AIDS by 2015 is to work through our local church partners to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Today, 1,600 babies will be infected with HIV from their mothers. But with the right drugs and prevention techniques this can be prevented.

Tearfund needs to raise £60 million for HIV and AIDS-related work by 2015 – as part of its wider vision to lift millions out of poverty.

£7 can provide the money to give the mother a pill before labour and the baby a drug after birth. That £7 will reduce the chances of the baby contracting HIV from 98% to 2%.

£7 isn't enough for a CD. £7 wouldn't buy you three cups of coffee in Starbucks (not that you should be going there!).

£7 for a life.

Will you work the miracle?

___________________

I've been futtering about with the template again. I can't understand why the profile bar is all the way down there. If my technological guardian angel is about.. a little help?

Labels: activism, AIDS, blogging, charity, do something, world

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Howdy

I have an exam tomorrow which I’ve yet to start revising for. In fairness, it’s a two hour exam and you can only revise for stuff that’ll be in the first 25 minutes and I really don’t think I’ll be able learn stats methods now short of eating the pages and hoping the material is internally ingested and finds its way to my brain.
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I’ve just two exams left. After Geography tomorrow morning I’ve English Literature on Tuesday morning. It’s a synoptic paper so I’ll just read some stuff on Monday afternoon. And then I’ve a Geography lecture in Queens on Tuesday night and a hideously early early-morning flight to Cardiff on Wednesday for an informal chat with the lecturers (they’ve already given me the offer, so it can’t be an interview and they’ve stated it’s not). I return on Thursday all been well.
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I’ve been driving quite a bit this weekend. I drove into Belfast on my own on Saturday morning after leaving mum off in Saintfield. And I managed to find a parallel parking space! Around the back of the City Hall in the Pay and Display part.
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It was the market thing in Belfast which was very cool. Lots of different stands in the grounds of the city hall – French stands with gorgeous smelling pastry, German stands with sausages and beer and the ocean beauty products stand with the Irish guy who not only kissed the blarney stone but swallowed it and was convincing all the women gathered round his stall that as beautiful as they look now they’d be gorgeous if they bought his produce. There was even an Aussie stand and the Aussies, bless their thick winter warmers, were barbequing in the freezing cold! It was things like venison, kangaroo and ostrich etc. They may correct me if I’m wrong but I think last time it was here I was with Mary and Laurence – it’s hard to believe that was a year ago!
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I didn’t buy any Christmas presents. I operate on a system that if you want one from me you tell me what you want. And, yes, if your name begins with R, like say in ROSE, it especially applies to you.
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I’ve started making my Christmas cards which is very fun. I find it SO relaxing to just sit and stab paper for hours… hehe! I think they look good. I hope they look good! I’ve only done a couple though. It’s definitely not something to do if you want to do Christmas on a budget – I bought cards at 20 for £2 and I spent £2 in getting the stuff to go on the front of my cards! So I do hope they’re appreciated.
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Today I haven’t done loads and loads. I got a call through my bedroom door saying “Rachael, it’s after 12 – are you getting up?” And I did get up! I futtered around and tidied the den.
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I really just veged out today because I was feeling a little down. One or two relationships and other things haven’t went swimmingly recently and I’ve just been reflecting on that and how things can continue. I was really annoyed with God. I couldn’t believe He’d let something happen and was so fed up. I then decided to stop moping as it wasn’t going to achieve anything and I all that came out of rants with God was the idea that I have no idea what these few icky things mean in the big picture.

Later on I read this verse: 'Even though on the outside it looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace.' 2 Cor. 4 v 16 I think for me it takes courage to really act that out - to admit that even when things are going so crap you've stuff to be thankful for and it's pretty challenging. So, this week I challenge you guys that if things aren't going quite how you'd like think about all you have to be thankful for. It can be tough!
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It was a really good verse to read and I’m now feeling better. I’d a good evening out at church and at yf where we didn’t do whatever was planned but just sat and talked. Sometimes it can just be so good to sit and talk and laugh with people about our weeks, about exams, about prison schools etc.
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I have finished my devotional book so recommendations are very very welcome! I like my Flannigan book but I generally prefer to just dip into it every once in a while.
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Anyway, haven’t done much this weekend in the way of revision or assignments (yeah – a teacher set us work to do over the exam period!) but after a really nice weekend I feel ready to face the week. And I guess that’s the best kind of weekend to have!
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I hope you guys all have a great week whatever you’re doing

Labels: Christmas, courage, driving, exams, faith, God, good days, revision, stress, thoughts, uni, weekend

Friday, December 01, 2006

Advent

So, I have blogged about World AIDS Day, now I'm going to blog about Advent.

Advent started today and those of you who have advent calandars were able to open the first slot. It's a very cool time - a time of remembering Christmases gone past and maybe fondly remembering those who aren't here to share it this year. A time when friends and family reunite for a day they're forced to be civil on! A time of lovely hymns and familiar stories.

But it's also important to remember to take time and stop. It's so easy to say this on Friday 1st December and further into the month (when the exams end) there will be parties, carol services and Christmas shopping to do.

Take time to look at and reflect on how far you've come this year - look at all those changes. Good times and bad times. What have you learnt, gained and experienced?

Take time to look ahead - what will 2007 hold for you? What about actually thinking about those New Year's Resolutions you are going to make. "Be the changes you want to see in the world" (Ghandi) - what do you want to see changed? Fancy doing something about it?

Take time to go back over those stories which are so familiar they feel like comfort blankets. Look at it from new and fresh perspectives - don't go back to them looking to read them same old story, but look at them with new eyes.

Some of you may have noticed the change to my sidebar over to your right. I would like it to be noted that I did that on my own! I received no help. I realise this may not be a big deal to some of my technologically savvy readers but recently I managed to delete all the channels off the TV. So I am very proud of my little "Advent" slot.

I decided to put it in the sidebar because I really think Hopeful Imagination is a great wee blog to check out over advent. I loved it so much last year I have one of the introductory advent posts still stuck here on the wall beside my speaker. Go and check it out!

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I really hope Christmas brings joy and light into each of your lives and that you will be blessed as you eat too much food, laugh at the same lame old cracker jokes and dance just a little too weirdly to the cheesy Christmas classics of yesteryear.

Labels: advent, blogging, Christmas, technology, thoughts, time

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS day.

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Started in 1988, World AIDS Day is about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away and a reminder of the promise to do something about it. I've had it in my mind to post about it for a while but I'll chuck you over to Paul's blog first.

After yesterday's geography exam I could write about AIDS being a sign of an impending Malthusian crisis and what that means. The BBC news for NI state that in NI there are 285 people receiving treatment for HIV. There are 40 million worldwide infected with a huge 75% of those in Sub-Saharan Africa.

There are all these facts and figures surrounding HIV/AIDS - and being a geography student means I need to know some of them! But it's so easy to know the figure and to run it off but it's easy to forget at a human level that is 40 million sons, daughters, husbands, wives, parents, friends, neighbours. Each of those people encompassed in that figure 40 million are unique individuals who dealing with a horrible disease.

We CAN make a difference. We HAVE to make difference. Or at least give it our best because if we do nothing what legacy will that leave, what will that say to those who see this disease every day and know these people can be helped?

Go on, do something. I dare you...

Labels: activism, AIDS, charity, do something, news, today