Atheism

I couldn't have put it better myself...

PS. Yes, Atheists has been spelled incorrectly. It's still bang on the money.

Whitworth Hall

We decided that, come rain or shine, we'd make sure to get out of the house and do something today. And so, option 1 pouring itself in spades onto our collective heads, we took a venture out to Whitworth Hall Country Park.

Sharon and I were married at Whitworth Parish Church, a very small traditional church almost hidden in the vast grounds of the country park itself. It was a beautiful venue, full of character and life while not being in the least bit pretentious or overblown, and it's really nice to go back there. We had the reception at the hotel there, which was also excellent.

If you get the chance, and live anywhere near Spennymoor or Durham in general, I'd highly recommend having a day out there. It's very relaxing and picturesque, and being able to walk among the Deer in such a tranquil and historical setting is nice.

You can find out more about it by visiting their website, at www.whitworthhall.co.uk .

Above are some pictures I took today, to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. The skies were sodden and grey, but you can (almost) forget it when you're wandering in a place as nice as this.

Oh, and they sell Ice Cream at 'Shafto's', the family pub there too. This was an important point that I don't think Josie would want me to leave out.

She left few points uncovered herself; there were perhaps three small areas of her clothing which the Ice Cream avoided.

More 3D Pavement Art

I think these things are superb - what a skill!

Happy Birthday To Me!

And so, upon the 8th day of the 8th month in the year 2008, it came to pass that He turned 30.

The answer is 'no', I don't feel any older.

Had a nice relaxing day, the obligatory slightly-too-much-to-eat that underlines a good birthday, and I'm feeling more than a little warm and sleepy now. Simple pleasures, eh?

Hitting this kind of milestone should naturally be a time of reflection, and to say that I've been thinking about a lot of things recently as this day approaches would be fair comment. However, I find myself looking more forward than back. I've accomplished so much in such a relatively short time; I have a house, I have a beautiful wife who is an amazing mother to my equally amazing little girl. The fact that, as I write this, I'm out of work, doesn't really worry me too much.

A lot of people pour their energies into their careers, their jobs, their 'stuff', and end up with very little to show for it in the end except material possessions and the moebius loop of 'bigger, better, more expensive' clinging to their psyche like a leech; like the Car they drive or the house they own is really important. Sure, to them, it really is. But I think of it this way; if a hurricane came tomorrow, and took our car and house and all our stuff, we'd still be a family.

And that counts a hundred-fold more than anything else, in my book.

I've made a lot of mistakes in the 30 years I've been on this planet. Some huge ones, some small ones. But I think I've turned out alright. I'd like to think that I'm a good father, and a good husband, and essentially a good and well-balanced person.

Life, for me, is great; and as my fatherly and husbandly experience matures into my salt-and-pepper hair phase, I'm confident that while tough times will always lurk just around the corner like a semi-cloaked malevolent poo on the pavement of life, my natural agility and easy-clean shoes will see me OK.

Thanks to everyone for their kind wishes! I hope you'll continue to keep a check on my Blog, and that it may raise the odd smile or two to brighten a dull day.

PS. The 'donate' button is STILL on the top of the webpage. It does actually work, it's not just for show. Seriously, you don't believe me? Try it out! Remember to put the zeros in the right place now, y'hear?