New layout: From Under The Duvet..: December 2007

Sunday, December 30, 2007

"Boutye"

I love playing Scrabble on facebook - it's a great way to get some competitive fun out of friends. When you're on the webpage there's a greeting from different languages - it changes each new time you're on the page.
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It's interesting to learn how to welcome people in other languages. I forget the Welsh one I learned and I've also come across Maori (New Zealand) greeetings and even Czech! When on the webpage you only see the word itself and if you want to know more you can click on it.
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The latest one was "Boutye" and I though that was rather unusual so clicked on it. (Have I told you I have trouble reconciling written words that I normally just hear with what they are? One example is Mugabe (as in the President) which confused me for ages!).
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Here's what came up:
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"Boutye?" (pronounced as Bout-yee) is an informal greeting commonly used in the six counties of Northern Ireland although it is most frequently used in Northern Ireland's capital city of Belfast. It is derived from the last two syllables of the three word phrase "What about you?" - which is a mix of colloquial pleasantries like "How are you?" or "What have you been up to?"."
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Made me laugh anyway!
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posted by Rach @ 1:08 AM   1 comments

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas - I hope you've had a great day!
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Santa brought this house, by complete surprise, a car! A wee Ford Fiesta. Santa was really rather crafty! The good news is it means I don't have to contend with my mum for the Focus! I hope you got a something-special too! I am now the proud owner of the entire Chronicles of Narnia and plan on devouring them!
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We also had an unexpected visitor to talk about something (business, on Christmas Day! I mean, who visits on Christmas day! Although the guy was Brethren but goodness!). So that could be interesting in the days to come.
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But most of all I hope we can all remember that the baby whose birth we celebrate today, left that manger in the stable, grew up, and saved the world. Pay attention to this, the greatest present.
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"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins." [Matthew 1:21] "and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." [Isaiah 9 v 6-7]
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posted by Rach @ 7:23 PM   0 comments

Friday, December 21, 2007

Omagh

So, the verdict came back and it has shocked many people. In fact, it was at least on the front page, if not the top headline, on every paper I saw in Tescos today. The only person to be charged in the worst attrocity in my country's Troubles has been found not guilty.
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I remember Omagh - I was nine at the time and can remember being transfixed on the TV as the death toll rose and rose. The death count was "29" - although I personally would say 31 because one woman was pregnant with twins - 14 women, 9 children and 6 men. There were victims of all ages - from 20 months to 66 years old. The victims were protestant, catholics and "other"s, visitors and locals.
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But the case unravelled and has had consequences as a type of DNA evidence has been called into question. Even the chief constable here has said that it is unlikely anyone will ever be charged with this horrific crime, unless we get witnesses in the stand which is probably unlikely.
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I hope the families of the victims and those injured can find peace, especially so close to Christmas, I hope that my wee country never has to experience anything like Omagh again and, most of all, I hope this "new generation" can make real progress into a brighter future for Northern Ireland as we learn from our past mistakes (or is it just me that thinks there has been an increase in "activity" - bombs found, people injured etc - recently?).
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posted by Rach @ 8:42 PM   2 comments

Friday, December 14, 2007

Home

Well, I handed in my last assignment yesterday - it was rather dire but why do they set deadlines in the last week of term?! Other than that my last week of term was nice - I had a Christmas meal, carol services, my house's Christmas party and ice skating! Ice skating - outside! It felt almost like a movie! haha
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Had I took the bmibaby flight to Belfast International last night I would have shared the flight with the entire Osprey team! But, no, I got on the tiny little (and delayed) wind-up that Flybe use for Cardiff-Belfast flights. Let's just say I'm glad I didn't have dinner before I got on the flight...
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And I'd no idea who was picking me up - Rose and mum were told to fight it out! Rose jumped out at me and then Rachel J appeared! It was so good to see them! And as we walked out we bumped into Kathy and Marty (assistant minister and his wife at our church).
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After stopping off at Mauds (and having our Pizza Hut dream crushed) I got home and I showed them yet another Cardiff airport impulse buy (like the silly hat I bought before!) - duvet slippers! They are rather amazing! Like a little bit of a duvet you can wear all day.

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So, I'm home for exactly a month from today (well, flights have yet to be booked but this seems the most likely). I can't wait to see everyone again!
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posted by Rach @ 10:39 AM   0 comments

Friday, December 07, 2007

Quick Catch Up

So, since I last blogged I have been away on the CU weekend/houseparty which was fantastic and incredibly challenging (we looked at Titus and Hebrews Chp 12). I have handed in my last essay of term (sadly not my last deadline!) and signed up for creche every Tuesday morning at church - really excited! And it works out perfectly - it was the only thing that really suited my timetable (without me having to walk there or back in the dark) and the student who did help out last year graduated. And on Wednesday as I came out of my lecture there were lots of prospective students there - it's hard to believe last year I was them!
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Since I last blogged it has also been World AIDS day. Check out last year's post, or either of Paul's posts and this video particularly struck me, although I don't know what charity it is for. One of my favourite charities is Tearfund and I think their work in this area is very worthwhile - check it out.
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Advent has also started! Hopeful Imagination is back up and running so check it out! I'm not sure how Christmasy I am just yet - I don't have a fire to sit in front of and no Christmas tree etc.
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One thing I would like to say about Advent is... I went Christmas shopping yesterday. I believe Christmas is all about celebrating the love of Christ and the joy from the knowledge that He came to save us. However, shopping made me mad - everyone was angry, old ladies were ready to take you out with their trolleys had you got in their way and the number of people who got so angry by queuing - or jumped the queue - was immense.
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There was so little joy about the whole occasion. And, let's face it, most of those presents will be forgotten by New Years. So, this year, I've sort of done the same as last year - I will take part in the various Secret Santas I'm in but apart from that I'm afraid there will be few gifts - as a general rule, unless I have told you I'm getting you something please don't be shocked if you don't get something! Or at least something that is not food!
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Instead, I went to Oxfam yesterday and bought some textbooks for a school in Africa and part of a well. If you feel so utterly compelled to "get me something" this Christmas please please please donate some money - like if you would have bought me a selection box give a pound to some charity (I only really eat FairTrade chocolate now and no longer buy CocaCola branded products) etc. Donate money to an AIDS project, a charity you'd like or a charity I'd like (£2 puts a Bible in the hands of a persecuted Christian).
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If you really think it's the thought that counts can your thought towards me please be "I know you have to cart stuff back to Cardiff and have no idea how you're going to fit your clothes into the suitcase let alone anything else" - seriously, either gifts have to fit in my case (which is VERY limited as I have to bring home clothes to wear and at least three textbooks so I can write an essay and revise!) or they will be left in Saintfield where I won't be able to enjoy them. And if you're a Cardiff person reading this my room is storagely-challenged as it is!
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Nothing would give me greater joy than getting a nice letter in a Christmas card - or, even better, make my day later in the term and send me a card in Cardiff! Seriously, post is an ego booster/breaker! And I'd love to think that someone has had a better day or year or life because of a gift given on my behalf! Even Santa is giving me a goat! (Sadly, not me personally - my parents have vetoed my requests that we own a goat, chickens, squirrels and a hedgehog... But a family in Africa will be given a goat on my behalf).
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Christmas isn't about the mass of crap and consumerism that is so rampant at this time of year. It's about spending time with the people you love or telling people how much you mean to them. It isn't about how many gifts you get to unwrap. Again, check out Paul's blog for a great idea, the Advent Conspiracy, that sounds absolutely fantastic! If you REALLY want to give me something I've also discovered a love of flapjacks... just an idea going out there ;-)
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Here is a great comic that I've chuckled at for many months now, ASBO Jesus. It's absolutely fantastic - a little irreligious at points but is completely true sometimes (the four words are separate links!) at other times and should be true too.
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And for those who are dying to know but haven't heard already - I'm going to be going home on Thursday (in time for lock-in on Friday night - so excited!) and will be at home for a whole month - although my flights haven't been booked yet, it looks likely that I'll be returning Monday 14th January.
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And, to finish, here is an amazing youtube video that sums up my opinion on men and colds...
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much love,
Rach

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posted by Rach @ 11:18 PM   0 comments