Yes, it's with me!

It's fair to say that since going public with our second pregnancy we've had a variety of responses. It would seem that already Joshua's brother or sister are already experiencing 'sloppy seconds'.

While Joshua's conception was greeted with much trumpeting and appropriate excitement, his sibling's imminent arrival seems to be slightly less miraculous - and perhpas not so newsworthy?!

In fact when sharing the news with some folk you'd be forgiven for thinking we were telling them about the latest 2 for 1 bargains at the supermarket or that we'd found a fiver in the street!! I mean people are pleased for us, but 'what's the fuss'?!

Still not everyone's response is so muted. And in stark contrast my friends at youth club had just one question... 'your wife is pregnant? Is it with you?!'

Friendly banter, or a sign of the times?

I love him

Art?

A few weeks ago a friend got in touch to ask if I was up for 'experiencing' the latest large scale art installation to grace the giant turbine hall at the Tate Modern. Having recently heard of the five slides that have been constructed in the name of art I needed little convincing that it might be an hour well spent.

According to the artist(Carsten Höller), 'the experience of sliding is best summed up in a phrase by the French writer Roger Caillois as a ‘voluptuous panic upon an otherwise lucid mind’. The slides are impressive sculptures in their own right, and you don’t have to hurtle down them to appreciate this artwork. What interests Höller, however, is both the visual spectacle of watching people sliding and the ‘inner spectacle’ experienced by the sliders themselves, the state of simultaneous delight and anxiety that you enter as you descend.'

I don't mind admitting to a little bit of 'voluptuous panic' as I entered the giant pipe! Whether or not it's art it does wonders for the prayer-life! As fun as it was to actually slide my personal highlight was watching and listening to adults and children alike gigglying and screaming excittedly as they spiralled 'artistically' downwards.

Whether you fancy sliding or not, it's well worth a visit.

There's only TWO Peter Crouches?!

According to the Kop...

'He's big
He's red
and
His feet stick out the bed '

It's fair to say that in recent months I have often been liekened to Mr Crouch (usually by the 8 year old boys who come to our after-schhol football club - pesky kids!). Indeed, my very own feet have also been known to 'stick out the bed', but it would seem that the similarities are not limited to the athletic build of a flamingo!

Much has been made of Peter's surprisingly good striking rate (10 goals in 10 Engalnd appearances), while not one to blow my own trumpet I reckon that with my own 'scoring record' I could give him a run for his money.

Despite that fact that I was more than happy to grow a Rooney-like beard - Lisa's pregnant again, which means I'm dancing at the corner flag again celebrating 2 'goals' in __ appearances?! That would be telling!

Needless to say, some time in late April/early May our life is going to get a whole lot messier!

some encouragement for fellow questioners

A friend recently shared that he was often perceived as a negative person with a 'downer on the Army'. And the reason for this perception? The fact that he deigns to question! He has the audacity to wonder whether or not our current reality is all that it should be, could be? Or whether God may have more in store. And so this 'dangerous daydreamer' is cast a pessimist with a chip on his shoulder.

Yet I'm increasingly convinced that dissatisfaction arises from an unrealised sense of hope, from a passionate belief that things don't have to remain the same and that an alternative, more glorious reality is possible. So while many may feel uncomfortable and perceive those who question as overly negative I'm excited by those who are dairing enough to question and brave enough to share their thoughts - I want more of it, I'd go as far as to suggest we need it. We may not find the answers we're looking for, but the least we can do is to ask the right questions.

To paraphrase the 'depressed-yet-hopeful' Brian McLaren in his depiction of 'A Generous Orthodoxy' 'if enough of us can bear the truth of our failures as Salvationists, if we can let that truth humble us and bring us from denial to sincere and profound repentance, if our hearts are made soft and responsive to the Holy Spirit through this painful but needed process, then there truly is hope in the midst of depression.'

The one to watch? I reckon there's 3 to watch

Fridays, BBC2: The Power of Art. Simon Schama's epic exploration of the power, and whole point, of art (hopefully the accompanyng book will reside in my soon-to-be-filled stocking).

Saturdays, BBC1: Robin Hood. Classic boys TV that unpacks some very contemporary issues while allowing men to fire arrows as they frolick through the woods in tight!

Sundays, BBC1: Planet Earth. The groundbreaking, awe-inspiring documentary returns for a second series - unmissable!

(How good are video recorders?! Otherwise known as poor man's SkyPlus!)