johnnybravo

This weekend I will be sleeping rough raising money for work with Homeless people in south west London. If you could sponsor me it would make my night in the cold worthwhile, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RBJsleepeasy2012

Shopping time

Sent from Samsung tablet

Just finished a meeting of London networks of networks, agencies and churches bringing social transformation to the city. Interesting times with divine fingerprints ahead.

Bridge Over The River Thames

Bridge Over The River Thames, a photo by johnnybravorichard on Flickr.

On my way to a breakfast meeting this morning I passed an amazing sunrise over the river at Teddington

YMCA LSW working with local churches and staff and volunteers from Faith in Action have just launched a Winter Night Shelter in MERTON.our centre manager in Wimbledon has been posting some interesting and poignant blogs on it, check them out at http://roominthiscommunity.org/

A Christmas Collection of Considerations

When our family gets together at Christmas or New Year we try to predict what the year ahead will hold for each family grouping. This tradition has gone back 10 years and notes have been kept so it is quite fun and often poignant to reflect back on past thoughts and opinions.

 
As I look back on 2011 and what took place for the James family in Kingston it is clear that this has been a significant year of change. A number of significant milestones have been reached and passed and as a result 2012's predictions looks like they will be a lot smoother in comparison.

 
Seven special highlights from this year
Debbie's 40th Birthday party. In early December we had an amazing evening with freinds and family from across the country with a fantastic party at the YMCA Hawker Centre. It was so great to have people from all walks of our life enjoying a great night out together.

Moving House: 2011 was the year we moved to our 'forever' house. We had been praying, hoping and looking for around 12 months for a house and location that we could move to and consider to be the house that Ella and Sophie grew up in, went to school from, created memories in. As it was Debbie first chose the road (Dysart Avenue) and then not long after we came across 'the house'. Since moving in we have been made to feel very welcome, got involved with various residents events and even joined the DARA (Dysart Avenue Residents Association committee!).

Sophie walking and talking: the first took place in the late summer when Sophie was around 13 months old - after several months of crusing around furniture and exploring every speck of dust on the floor she took a few wobbly steps and since has not looked back. The talking started towards the end of 2011 when suddenly before Christmas her vocabulary explorded with lots of words and sounds including 'at (hat), 'air(hair), Bum (bum!) and of course Mummy, Daddy and her favourite Ella! Then just this morning she started putting words together, instructing Ella on the way to nursery - "Ella 'at (hat)!"  

Ella: Is growing up quickly and loving both outdoor activities and indoor creativity. From the bike she got for her 3rd birthday to the fairy decoration and painting sets she was given throughout the year she is really now demonstrating her own personality and individuality and we are very proud of her.

Work: this was my first full 12 months at the YMCA and saw me pass my one year anniversary. Making things happen has been the YMCA focus in 2011 with the various association aspirations requiring action and implementation. As a result some of the highlights are (1) fixing on an exciting new plan for the Hawker Centre (2) completing on the purchase of Olympic House and thereby ushering in the first stage of the Wimbledon Development (3) recruiting our new Director of Business Strategy and (4) being a part of the development of Merton 3 16 and the plans for a Merton Winter Night Shelter.    

Leisure: Despite a growing up family the year has been populated with a range of reading and amongst them a number of very good reads. In particular Simon Sebag Montifiore's Jerusalem, Son of Hammas by Mosab Hassan Yousef and finally Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick. On top of that we have loved and tried to make the most of where we are now living given that we have on one side the Thames, another Ham Meadow Lands and then less than a mile away Ham woods and Richmond Park.

Spiritually this year has continued the change that began in 2010 as my day job has changed from front line action to back office development, inspiration and support. This means that my spiritual life is freer to be expressed in my own personal way and under my own direction. This has had the effect of changing gear and now rather than a high speed, low power gear I am enjoying a lower speed yet higher power faith journey informed and inspired by my reading, listening and observations both individually and with Christian friends and family.

 
 
 
 

First Annual Blog Job

First house keeping blog job is to update my reading list. This is now done and if you are interested you can see the 'What I am reading´ list to the right of this post.

Been a good Christmas and New Year break, back to work thia week, but before I do I intend to update my blog with my usual annual reflections

Christmas is coming

we are loving the build up to Christmas this year, seems to be one party after another at the moment. Then walking back home from the office I now daily travel through Kingston and get to enjoy the sights and sounds of the town centre festivities.

Mince pies on the way home

The girls first mince pies consumed on the bus on the way home