Don’t ask me what that big thing is…
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Ever heard that before?!
I have to say, I never thought that now, at 27, I would be leaving London and moving to Portsmouth. It’s the kind of thing you do when you’re older, right?! It would definitely – and I mean, definitely – not have been in my plans. Nothing against Portsmouth, I am sure it is lovely, I just love London.
But, while not in my plan, it appears to be in God’s!
Next week I am leaving London and moving to Portsmouth. I am going to work for the Bishop, a wonderful man, as his Personal Assistant. I really do feel excited and blessed to be undertaking this role and cannot wait to see what God has in store.
When God springs a new plan on you, it is really a test of your openness and docility to his will. I admit, I have not been the most gracious recipient of his plan the last few weeks mainly because I am not known to fare very well outside London, despite growing up in the Cotswolds. As soon as I moved to London I felt this was the place I was made for, I love the fast-paced way of life. (My brother will regale you with stories of a family holiday where we went kayaking on a blustery, expansive lake in the Lake District – as the wind and rain got stronger and he heroically tried to paddle to land, I didn’t do too well in my efforts not to panic and may have cried something like, “All I want is to be safely on the Tube with my caramel macchiato…”)
I have to keep reminding myself – Portsmouth is a city. They probably do sell caramel macchiato.
And hey, it’s home to water-sports! Maybe I could take up kayaking properly…
So, after listing to God all the reasons I should not leave London, after telling him how very much I love the King’s Road and all my lovely friends and not needing a car, I am happy to say that my yes to this surprising new plan is getting stronger each day.
For one thing, there is so much more space in Portsmouth. I noticed in all the gyms I searched for, the machines are spaced way apart. Which means you don’t get splattered with other people’s sweat like you do in London gyms. Hooray! All kinds of positives.
So, dear readers, I hope you will accompany me on my new adventures in Portsmouth (for my American readers, it’s a naval city on the south coast, birthplace of Charles Dickens (my favourite novelist), and home to water-sports – that’s about all I know).
And no, I won’t be working directly in catechesis 🙁 This is a bit of a sacrifice, but I trust God’s plan, and hope I can still do some kind of catechesis. Every parish needs catechists, right?! And we will see where things go…
It sounds like a wonderful move! How exciting to be working with the Bishop of Portsmouth, I have heard he is a wonderful man. I went to uni in Portsmouth (quite a few years ago now) and I loved it, the cathedral is beautiful and peaceful. I spent most of my time in Southsea, where you’ll find lots of lovely cafes and a waitrose! And London is only a short train journey away. God bless – Geraldine
It sounds like a wonderful move! How exciting to be working with the Bishop of Portsmouth, I have heard he is a wonderful man. I went to uni in Portsmouth (quite a few years ago now) and I loved it, the cathedral is beautiful and peaceful. I spent most of my time in Southsea, where you’ll find lots of lovely cafes and a waitrose! And London is only a short train journey away. God bless – Geraldine
It sounds like a wonderful move! How exciting to be working with the Bishop of Portsmouth, I have heard he is a wonderful man. I went to uni in Portsmouth (quite a few years ago now) and I loved it, the cathedral is beautiful and peaceful. I spent most of my time in Southsea, where you’ll find lots of lovely cafes and a waitrose! And London is only a short train journey away. God bless – Geraldine
Good luck in your new role. I’m sure you’ll find a Caramel Macchiato somewhere!
Good luck in your new role. I’m sure you’ll find a Caramel Macchiato somewhere!
Good luck in your new role. I’m sure you’ll find a Caramel Macchiato somewhere!
We lived in Petersfield for a while and went to Portsmouth several times which has the great ships and museums, including one with a Sherlock Holmes collection. Here are some links:
http://www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/
http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/
http://www.maryrose.org/
The Mary Rose has a new museum I have not seen, so maybe I need another trip.
We lived in Petersfield for a while and went to Portsmouth several times which has the great ships and museums, including one with a Sherlock Holmes collection. Here are some links:
http://www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/
http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/
http://www.maryrose.org/
The Mary Rose has a new museum I have not seen, so maybe I need another trip.
We lived in Petersfield for a while and went to Portsmouth several times which has the great ships and museums, including one with a Sherlock Holmes collection. Here are some links:
http://www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/
http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/
http://www.maryrose.org/
The Mary Rose has a new museum I have not seen, so maybe I need another trip.
Thanks everyone! I’m getting more excited 🙂
Thanks everyone! I’m getting more excited 🙂
Don’t worry about missing the King’s Road Hannah, they have Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth (http://www.gunwharf-quays.com/) with many factory outlet stores… you might pick up a bargain or two. Great position as well though; the Bishop of Portsmouth is already making a good name for himself. God bless, Mark
Don’t worry about missing the King’s Road Hannah, they have Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth (http://www.gunwharf-quays.com/) with many factory outlet stores… you might pick up a bargain or two. Great position as well though; the Bishop of Portsmouth is already making a good name for himself. God bless, Mark
Don’t worry about missing the King’s Road Hannah, they have Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth (http://www.gunwharf-quays.com/) with many factory outlet stores… you might pick up a bargain or two. Great position as well though; the Bishop of Portsmouth is already making a good name for himself. God bless, Mark
Welcome to the Diocese of Portsmouth…..I’ve lived in the Diocese for thirty five years and journeyed with so many along the road of faith. You will find a friendly and faith filled welcome awaiting you and will be a wonderful personal assistant for our beloved new Bishop.
Dear young friend, Congratulations on accepting the challenge but please continue to blog and share your life in Christ with us. May Our Lord continue to fill you with joy, peace, fun and laughter, Pat
Dear young friend, Congratulations on accepting the challenge but please continue to blog and share your life in Christ with us. May Our Lord continue to fill you with joy, peace, fun and laughter, Pat
Dear young friend, Congratulations on accepting the challenge but please continue to blog and share your life in Christ with us. May Our Lord continue to fill you with joy, peace, fun and laughter, Pat
Good luck with the move and your new role!
How exciting. I pray all goes well, it is a lovely diocese, it has a good stewardship ethos, it’s not far from the Isle of Wight, the New Forest, hey the positives are growing all the time!
How exciting. I pray all goes well, it is a lovely diocese, it has a good stewardship ethos, it’s not far from the Isle of Wight, the New Forest, hey the positives are growing all the time!
Congrats, you’re blessed to take up this work for the Lord. All the best.
Congrats, you’re blessed to take up this work for the Lord. All the best.
Hello! I am certain that God has a special plan in you. Just be open to the Holy Spirit.
GOD Bless you always.
Hello! I am certain that God has a special plan in you. Just be open to the Holy Spirit.
GOD Bless you always.
Hello! I am certain that God has a special plan in you. Just be open to the Holy Spirit.
GOD Bless you always.
God bless you in your move, HVS! I hope it all goes as smoothly as possible and that He blesses your new work as much as I know He has blessed what you have been doing in South London.
God bless you in your move, HVS! I hope it all goes as smoothly as possible and that He blesses your new work as much as I know He has blessed what you have been doing in South London.
God bless you in your move, HVS! I hope it all goes as smoothly as possible and that He blesses your new work as much as I know He has blessed what you have been doing in South London.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and wishes. It really means a lot.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and wishes. It really means a lot.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and wishes. It really means a lot.
I had a giggle at the sweat joke! Brilliant! All the best and I look forward to the updates from your new home!
I had a giggle at the sweat joke! Brilliant! All the best and I look forward to the updates from your new home!
I had a giggle at the sweat joke! Brilliant! All the best and I look forward to the updates from your new home!