Look what the postman brought me!
I heard I had passed my dissertation back in February but it's really good to have the actual certificate in my hands now and it feels a lot more real. I didn't go to Leicester for the graduation - considering I started the course nearly 5 years ago I probably wouldn't have known anyone else. It's so good to have completed the Masters and although there was a fair bit of blood, sweat and tears I gained a lot from it - it stretched my mind, made me think about what I do and why I do it, and developed my youth work practice. But I will definitely not be doing any more studying!

Tagged
I got tagged by both Ruth and Colin so thought I'd better make an effort! Here's the Rules:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

These are not necessarily weird facts about me and considering they’re all kind of linked around travel stuff, they’re not necessarily random facts either, but here goes…
1. When I was 16 I travelled alone to Glasgow to stay with cousins for the weekend. This would be no big deal to most 16 year olds today but for me at the time I really thought I was something and loved the freedom of doing my own thing. This is most likely where my love of independent travel came from.
2. The Glasgow trip also gave me a love for train-travel, especially in Scotland.
3. Whenever I listen to Marc Cohn’s ‘Ghost Train’ song on his debut album I always think of the train trip from Stranraer to Glasgow and watching the Galloway hills go past the window.
4. Another great train trip was to the Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Bavaria when I was at uni in Regensburg for 4 months as part of my undergraduate degree. The German rail service was running a special weekend ticket at the time so that 5 people could share a 25DM return ticket on regional trains. So five of us got together and our 7-hour round trip to the castle cost us less than £3 each!


5. The other part of my year abroad was spent in Amiens in northern France. Its claim to fame is a huge cathedral in the same style as Notre Dame but is twice the size.
6. During my year abroad I also managed to visit Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, Colmar, Freiburg, Stuttgart, Pforzheim, Munich, Nuremburg, Pilsen, Prague, Marianske Lazne, Cesky Krumlov, and Salzburg.
7. I had one rather negative experience with the RER trains in Paris when heading to the airport with friends. I confidently stepped onto a train thinking it was the right one when the doors suddenly closed behind me leaving my two friends still on the platform and all I could hear was one of them in true Victor Meldrew fashion, “I don’t believe it!” I had gotten on to the wrong train but as all French people stare (I know this is a sweeping generalisation, but believe me it often felt like it!) I kind of acted as if nothing was wrong but got off at the next stop, then waited for the next train going back to where I’d started so I could get the right train to the airport. This was in the days before everyone had mobile phones so I’d no means of getting in touch with my friends. It took me a few hours before we finally all got caught up with each other at Charles de Gaulle and had a good giggle about it.

I'm now tagging Peter, Neil, Charlie, Erin, Dave, Cate, Emma.

Handel - Messiah - Hallelujah

This is how I feel now that my dissertation is complete!

Here's to 2008
Well the fact that my dissertation needs to be taken to the binder on Friday week means that at last I can begin to look forward to what 2008 has in store. It often seems to be the way that when you can't do something there are loads of things you want to do and then when you get the opportunity to do those things, you either lose interest or just don't get around to it. I guess this is my attempt to make a list of some stuff I'd like to be doing over the next wee while, and maybe having recorded them here, I'll get on with doing them! Here goes...

What I’m looking forward to about life post-dissertation:
- Reading for pleasure, there are books I started ages ago that I want to finish and there are a few new ones sitting on the shelf begging to be opened.
- Going to the cinema, I can’t remember the last film I saw, it was possibly ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ or else ‘Black Gold’ at the QFT. At the very least I’d like to catch up on some DVD’s - I still haven’t seen the Bourne Ultimatum!
- Coming home from work and knowing that that’s it for the day, I don’t have to get my brain back into gear
- Catching up with friends and family who have been rather neglected over the last wee while
- Kayaking - kind of goes without saying really!
- Hopefully a spot of hillwalking at some point, I need some inspiring landscapes to get rid of the cobwebs
- Sleeping
- Not feeling like I'm permanently stuck to a desk


What I want to do:
- Get involved in some voluntary youth work
- Do some homework on a potential future project (I’ll maybe say more when the time is right)
- Get into a decent routine at the gym so that I’m in decent shape for a skiing trip at Easter – yay!
- Strengthen my left ankle (for the above reason) ‘cos it’s a wee bit weak
- Get back into the habit of playing the guitar
- Watch series 1 of 24 to see what the fuss is about (somehow I think I'll like it)
- Possibly get into a little bit more writing?


Then there's some stuff I ought to do
- Clean my car out
- Boring household things like defrost the freezer, clean out the kitchen cupboards, clean the oven etc
- Attempt to assemble a bathroom cabinet I bought a while back (though any offers will be gratefully received!)

Life is good
It’s the last day of 2007. I always feel I should write something profound in reflection on the year past and with anticipation of the year to come. But I don’t quite have the energy for that today. I’m going to call in at a house-party a bit later on but I think I might wait until Chinese New Year to properly celebrate 2008 because by then my dissertation will be FINISHED! Bring it on! I’ve been slogging my wee guts out over the last number of months so it will be great to bring this thing to completion. Christmas has been kinda good, there were 4 days in a row when I didn’t go anywhere near my PC to study, but already I’m just tired again. This isn’t meant to be a sob story, I’ve actually enjoyed the learning I’ve been gaining as part of this process, it’s definitely stimulated my thinking and hopefully will inform my professional practice. And actually I’m hugely thankful for my life right now, God has richly blessed in so many ways and I can honestly say that life is good! So for now I’ve just got to keep the head down and whittle away at the work. Thankfully (and thanks to the prayers of good friends and family) I’m making progress and the task ahead of me no longer seems like Everest - Kilimanjaro possibly - but not Everest!

Happy New Year everyone!

Well the blog has been rather silent of late and the reason has simply been sheer busyness - my mind has been occupied by other things. Work is busy and the pressure is on with the dissertation. When I look at my diary I groan inwardly. However I am trying to go at a steady pace and take time for rest too (read: flake out on sofa).

In terms of kayaking I’ve been on the lake a fair bit with the club but I haven’t been on a river since the beginning of August as there simply isn’t enough water in the rivers. The lack of water is getting a bit depressing, I think I’m getting the kayaker equivalent of cabin fever! However the chance to work on some skills has been really good and I can now go round and round in circles just using power strokes and edging both on the inside… might not sound like much but it means something to me!

To cheer myself up with the lack of H2O falling from the sky (and to upgrade the effectiveness of my gear!) I’ve bought a new cag, the Palm Naiya, a women’s specific dry top. I am well chuffed! My previous cag was a semi-dry top, i.e. it had latex seals to keep water out only in the wrists and the neck was just a neoprene seal so as soon as I did a roll, water would be trickling down into my inside layers. By the end of the day a lot of water would have gathered in the ankles of my dry trousers. But no more as the Naiya has a latex seal in the neck. Unfortunately this is going to be rather uncomfortable for a few weeks until there’s a bit more ‘give’ in it – I think my face was turning nearly as purple as the cag when I first tried it out! But it is so effective, I stay really dry on the inside and I’m really impressed with how the water beads off the surface of the material. It’s the simple things in life…

With regards to the studying, well it’s progressing if at what seems like a snail’s pace. I seem to suffer from verbal constipation quite frequently! My field research started a month ago and it’s been going pretty well though there was a slight panic when the university lost track of my ethical approval forms, but I think it’s all sorted now. I’ve another month or so of field research and it’s unbelievable how much time it takes to write up stuff. I nearly had a hernia when I discovered my analysis and discussion chapter needs to be 4,500 words! I’m not 100% sure yet that I’ll have that much to say, but we’ll see.

Two weeks ago I started cycling to work on the days I don’t need the car. My life has flashed before me just once so far when a car pulled out into the bus lane in front of me. Cyclists can share the buslanes on my route but it’s rather intimidating when a double-decker is coming up behind you. Shared a moment of solidarity with a fellow cyclist one morning last week – we were both complaining about cold hands at a set of traffic lights. She took off and streaked ahead of me and it was then I noticed her filled panniers and the wee cart she was pulling behind her bike. To say that I felt inadequate as I puffed up the hill behind her was an understatement! I should have known she was a pro when I saw the wee mirror she’s attached to her helmet!

Denial

Too often this is my approach to my dissertation. My field research is due to start at the end of the month so I'm trying to write up 3 chapters - introduction, literature review & research methodology - before then. The ultimate goal is submission in January and freedom! Just gotta keep chipping away!

Finito!
I have just completed my last module assignment! It's a great feeling of relief though I dread getting the mark back and I have to say right now I'm too tired to feel any sense of achievement. So all that's left for my Masters is the dissertation! My submission date has been pushed back to the end of January 2008 - basically because I've been too busy to do anything about it recently. Psychologically I really want it out of the way by the end of this year, I can't bear the thought of it dragging on into another year, but I'll just take it one step at a time.

Life has been busy as evidenced by the lack of posts - study and work have dictated how I've been spending my time, but I've made sure to take up any kayaking opportunities to keep my sanity! More about that another time.

As for the mouse, well he/she/they never materialised. My imagination? Who knows! I think I would have found more traces if they were still around so I guess it's just one of life's little mysteries.

Getting it mastered

Well I’m in the middle of my last very seminar for my Masters in Youth & Community work! Quite momentous really I guess. Unfortunately the topic is change management which when you have to relate the reading to your professional context is a bit tricky because change and the church aren’t always two words which go together! Hehe. After this seminar there’s a 4000 word assignment due next March and that’ll be all my modules out of the way. I’m writing up some field practice stuff due at the end of next week and the only thing outstanding after that is the dissertation. Unfortunately the use of the word ‘only’ lulls me into a false of security when the blinkin thing has to be 20,000 words! But I’m hoping to do it on peace and reconciliation work with young people so it has the potential to be both useful and beneficial.

What rocks and what sucks

Rocks: The fees for doing my dissertation are being charged based on the fees in the year I enrolled and not this year’s fees i.e. £500 cheaper!
Sucks: Payment is due for my Masters course and a few days after getting that letter, I got an invoice from my solicitor, so the fees for moving house in March which I’d kind of forgotten about are also due (dreams of my own kayak drift further into the future!)

Rocks: I’ve taken 3 days off this week
Sucks: I’ve had to use my time off mainly for study purposes

Rocks: I was fairly successful yesterday with studying and got another seminar out of the way for my management module
Sucks: I’ve done a serious amount of faffing this afternoon and have studiously done all in my power to avoid studying!

However it’s all good really. This morning I did what I’ve been fantasizing about for the past 3-4 weeks and spent an hour in a wee coffee shop, sipping Earl grey tea, munching on a pain au chocolat and reading my book – sheer bliss!

Jetsetting, Koreans and a confession...
Life is quite hectic this week though mostly in a good way. I got home about an hour ago from a facilitator training session for my 'Preparing Youth to be Peacemakers' programme. It was a really good session, pleanty of good discussion and a bit of craic too. Unfortunately tomorrow I need to be at the airport for 6.40am to get to De montfort uni for a module launch. I'm currently printing off the module guide, it's massive and my printer is rather slow. This is my last ever module for the Masters course - happy days. Other than that I've just got the field practice to complete in November and the dissertation, probably next spring - the end is in sight.

Last week I had an interesting afternoon at work meeting a group of Koreans who work for the YMCA and are doing a course with the Korean Christian Peace Institute. They've been doing a tour of various peace initiatives in the British Isles. it was quite a surreal experience for my colleague and I - photos were being snapped of us randomly whilst we gave a presentation on our work, one guy was tapping away on his laptop throughout and another bloke seemed to fall quietly asleep. Everything we said had to be translated by their professor which was quite unnerving when we took questions - you really hadn't a clue what was coming next! But they were a lovely bunch of people and seemed very interested in the stuff we're involved in.

And I have a confession...I am completely and utterly...ADDICTED to...kayaking! We were out on the Blackwater (Near Benburb, Co Tyrone) on Saturday and man I've never seen the water levels so high there. It took us a while getting used to the flow and sheer force of the water but at least there wasn't too much danger of hitting any rocks! I managed a roll in whitewater and boy I was soooo chuffed. At the end of the river run some of us were practicing our rolls again where the water was a little calmer, but I couldn't get it - I think I was thinking too much, I'm maybe better when I'm caught unawares and have to be more instinctive. Thankfully my shoulders, though not 100%, are sticking the pace so far. Can't wait for the next run, the craic is always good.

Madness of the summer, being security conscience and riding big waves!
Man, the last couple of weeks have been hectic, it’s been good fun. Got my mental health assignment completed and dispatched, happy days – no more studying till the autumn, even better! I took my niece along to SummerMadness on the Saturday evening and Sunday during the day. She has never been to anything like it before and loved it, and has already told her friends all about it so they can go together next year. It was cool to spend time with her and treat her. SM ’06 was my first since leaving YFC and to be honest I found it a bit strange. I think SM is an amazing event, I’ve seen what it does for young people, we had some serious craic bringing kids up from Dungannon for the whole weekend and it was a privilege to watch them respond to God. So there’s a lot of good memories there, but somehow those memories are tainted with a bit of bittersweetness. I guess I just miss being involved in the lives of young people and having the opportunity to pastor and disciple them, and simply be there. I miss the ‘good old days’ of being in YFC and I still hate the fact that I had to leave the way I did. And as well as that SM can be a bit of a ‘who’s who’ of the NI Christian community which sometimes can be a bit intimidating…Heigh-ho.

During this past week I was doing security for Streetreach on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday nights after work – signing kids in and out, which actually was a good laugh and we managed to encourage the Streetreachers to ‘tithe’ a fair bit of grub to us!

Then today, was the canoe club’s sea kayaking trip. 13 of us, 4 kids going in tandem kayaks with their parents, the rest of us in single kayaks. We were supposed to be heading off from Newcastle, paddling along the coast to camp at Cranfield for the night before finishing off with another wee paddle tomorrow. However…things didn’t exactly go to plan. Well, we all made it Annalong harbour where we were putting in. But it takes forever sorting boats and gear out, and placing cars strategically along the route inland in case of emergencies etc so we didn’t get into the water until after 3pm, by which stage the rain was on and the wind was steadily increasing with WHITE HORSES on the water! Now apparently when there’s white horses on the water it’s only a Force 3 wind, if the white horses get longer, then it’s more of a Force 4 and I think if the waves are breaking onto the water (because they’re being pushed over by the wind) then that’s more of a Force 5. To say that I was nervous was an understatement, but I felt that being the sole adult representative of the female population on the trip (the only other girl there was 10 year old Megan) I needed to keep the side up.

On the water – OH MY WORD - the waves are BIG! There was a big swell, and I think I could have got into the swing of things if it hadn’t been for a couple of big waves which smacked down on top of me, and I lost my balance and capsized. Was able to get back into the boat with a bit of help from one of the guys and set off again, only for the exact same thing to happen to me – skunnered! So set off again, but then it turned out that the whole group was turning round to head back because we realised it was just going to get worse. I was actually relieved – it took so much effort to make even 200 yards! When we got to shore we considered finding somewhere else to do a spot of paddling, but we knew that we’d be restricted to harbours for shelter so decided to call the whole trip off so that we could organise it for another date and enjoy it to the full. Got back about 7.30 tonight & I’m bushed…but it’s ‘good’ tiredness!

Study blues
Can I just say that once I have this blinkin Masters finished, which probably won't be until mid-to end-2007, I will NOT be studying again!

One-roll-wonder
Today at Canoe Club…I rolled! I only fully managed it once despite numerous attempts to repeat the feat, but I’m doing a heck of a lot better than a couple of weeks ago. I’m beginning to get slightly less confused about what I’m meant to be doing whilst under the water to get myself back up again – it’s an ever so slightly disorienting place to be!

Head in the books
Currently I’m in the midst of working on an assignment for my Masters course, it’s due in on Friday 30th, so I really need to get my butt into gear with it. But some evenings it seems like the hardest thing in the world to sit at my desk and concentrate on my textbooks. But it will all be over in a couple of weeks. For the time being I’m not blogging much these days, but will return!

The Weekend
This past weekend I’ve been hosting another couchsurfer – Mirko from Deutschland. Took him to the North Coast on Friday and then on Sunday we explored a little of Co Down until the cold and wet made us beat a hasty retreat – it was only 8 flippin’ degrees! Hopefully I’ll get some photos up here soon when Mirko sends the ones he took with his digital camera.

Meanwhile on Saturday I was out with the Canoe Club paddling Portmore Lough in sea kayaks with a group of birdwatchers – as you do! Never knew this lough even existed but it’s a nice spot, really peaceful. Weather was pretty good & stayed dry for us. Pretty windy on the lough and hard work paddling against the wind, but we had a good day out.



Right better get back to my mental health assignment…
… Did you know that mental health is “a rubric, a label which covers different perspectives and concerns, such as the absence of incapacitating symptoms, integration of psychological functioning, effective conduct of personal and social life, feelings of ethical and spiritual well-being and so on.” … or so some bloke called Kakar said in 1984…Do you feel my pain?

Well good news on the job-front – the police check came through grand – I was worried with holiday season round the corner and lots of summerschemes/hoiday clubs etc getting organised that the process would take longer than usual. But the only hold-up now is the medical report, which I’ve had to chase up with my GP today to try and get my name to the top of the pile. I’ve been champing at the bit to get going with the new job especially having been out of work for a few weeks now. Although I’m rather nervous about this opportunity I just want my teeth stuck into the new project. And on a practical note I’m champing at the bit for a pay-cheque! But with an assignment due at the end of June for my Masters course I should have been using the extra time I’ve had to break the back of it, but you know how it is, procrastination is a terrible affliction and there is always something more interesting to waste time on!

Thoughts of a midnight owl
Well it’s 4.15am & I’m awake: my upstairs neighbour is having a bit of a hooley. It’s not overly loud but somebody seems to have a thing for stamping the floor every now and again which woke me up half an hour ago and I can’t get back over to sleep. It’s compounded by some indigestion – the consequence of munching on cookies too late – man I’m getting so like my Dad! So I feel inspired for some middle of the night reflections, which may or may not be totally rational, I’m not usually good at being rational at this hour!

Week One of Unemployment
… I’ve had a nice week actually. Mostly I’ve spent my time studying, filling in job applications, going to the gym and sorting out more stuff around the flat. I’m really loving the flat now, it’s a great wee home. I managed to put together an Argos desk – felt very proud of myself, hope it stays together! So I’ve been able to get my PC removed from my dining table and I’ve got some more of my clutter a bit better organised.

The studying has been for the last seminar in the penultimate module of my Masters course which has been on Mental Health and work with young people (aimed at non-health professionals) – interesting stuff. Though one of the articles we had to read was on approaches to prevention and highlighted the potential mental health problems associated with unemployment – cheerful reading for me right now – NOT!...

… I’ve been doing a lot less panicking about the jobless thing, though the more time passes without something coming up I know I’ll get more stressed about it. The whole process is just so darned slow. The deadline for a job application is usually 2 weeks after the job has been advertised, then it’s usually another week or two before you hear if they deem you good enough to interview (and 6 months sick leave due to stress does not go in your favour), then the interview is about a week after that, and then it’s another week or so before you hear if you’ve got the job or not. I’ve got about 6 applications in the pipeline at the moment at varying stages. I should have heard by now about 2 applications so I’m thinking that’s me out of the running for them thoug I’ll ring on Monday to see what the craic is, I’ve got an interview on Tuesday for one job, I just got an application sent off on Thursday, I’ve got 2 applications sitting on my desk to fill in, I’m waiting on another job application to come in the post, and there were a couple of things I spotted in the paper on Friday night which I want to find out more about. I’m thinking that once I’ve got my studying cleared up this week I’ll register with a temping agency and just do some office work, though it makes getting to interviews a bit awkward.

One of the things I’ve been worrying about is getting my last Field Practice placement completed for my Masters course – it’s just a 120-hour placement focussing on individual and group work, but the deadline is early August and the tutors like you to spread it out over 2-3 months to increase the reflective learning process. But thankfully I’ve been able to confirm with the university that I can use the hours I do in my next place of work as it’s likely to contrast the work I did for my first Field Practice … as long as it meets the criteria. I decided this week that there’s no point panicking about it, my first priority is to get a job and then I can worry about placement stuff after that.

A place to belong?
I think I’ve found a church to be a part of. Don’t want to say too much yet as I’ve only been along to the place about 3 times, but what I’ve seen I’ve really liked. In fact it’s been a bit like fresh water being poured over me and I’ve sensed a sincerity and genuineness that I haven’t experienced in churchy/Christian circles for a while. I’m hoping to get involved in a cell group after Easter and get to know more people – I hate that feeling of being a bit of a wallflower when you don’t really know anyone!

Weekend Warrior comes out to play
Was kayaking today at Clare Glen, Tandragee with the club and it was a great day’s paddling! I managed to capsize only once hitting a hole coming off a slide at a weir, but other than that it was the best day’s padding I’ve done for a while. I think I am improving. Unfortunately there won’t be any river trips over the summer – less water – but hopefully we’ll be getting some pool sessions, I’d really like to get my roll mastered.

And wouldn’t it be cool to do this?



Oh man, I can actually hear some birds twittering, time to go back to bed methinks!

Square Eyes
Why is it that there’s always lots of good stuff on TV just when you don’t have time to watch it, but when you do have time, there’s sod all! I wouldn’t mind getting a look at some of the Winter Olympics events, and I have to confess that I’m well and truly sucked into Invasion now, yes, I’m even setting my VCR to record it so I don’t miss an episode! Unfortunately my 4000 word Social Policy assignment is desperately requiring urgent attention. The aim is to complete it by 10pm next Monday night (in time for ER…oh my word, I think I’m turning into a TV addict…I’m losing my principles!) without having burned any midnight oil. Might take a miracle but hey!

What rocked & what sucked
What rocked about last week:
- The new series of ER reaching Channel 4 screens
- Watching a repeat of Michael Palin’s ‘Himalaya’ series – the one where he does Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang etc – all the places I visited last August. I watched it with my parents and was madly yelling at the TV everytime Michael Palin set foot on a bit of ground I just might have walked on…I want to go baaaack!!
- Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon on the Chris Moyles show on Radio 1 on Wednesday morning, don’t usually find them funny, but they made me chuckle to myself on my way to work – always an achievement at 7.45am.
- Kayaking yesterday – I was teeth-chatteringly cold, couldn’t feel my fingers or feet, my legs were cramping up, was making quite a few mistakes, but I was having an absolute blast
- Getting the completion date settled on the sale of my house
- Managing to swim 52 lengths in just under 40 minutes, mainly I think because the pool felt like it was in the Arctic circle & I just blattered my way up & down to keep warm!
- Hanging out with Mr & Mrs Peter Martin - a good way to start the weekend - thanks guys!

What sucked about last week:
- Work.
- The end of the Without a Trace series
- Spending 14 hours driving to & from or for work
- Expecting to hear about a job I’ve applied for but there’s been nothing in the post so far
- Trying to get my head round the question in my social policy assignment due at the end of next month
- Desperately wanting to escape off abroad somewhere for some adventure & fun but knowing that escapism isn’t the answer and that the grass can be greener on the other side
- A bit of my exhaust on my car needing replacement.

The forgotten ones
Yesterday I was in Leicester at the launch of a Social Policy module that is part of the Masters course I started 2 years ago. Yep, after a year-long break I’m back at the books! It was a good enough day, got my brain cells into action in a way they haven’t been for a while, and the material has the potential to be quite interesting. But it wasn’t an overly stimulating day to be honest and by the afternoon I was really beginning to lose the plot. It’s a bit pants because the people I started studying with 2 years ago are now a year ahead of me with only their dissertations left to complete, so I didn’t know a soul yesterday and there wasn’t the same craic as on previous module launches. But I’ve 3 modules left to complete along with the dissertation and a placement so D.V. by 2007 it will all be done and dusted!

One of the discussions we had concerned the way so many young people are put into categories such as homeless/unemployed/drug addicts/runaways/truants/young offenders/in care etc but what about the young people who don’t necessarily fit into one of those categories? Our tutor related a recent conversation with one of the young people with whom he works who had been in trouble with the police and had various difficulties at home, but currently is trying to get his life together and ‘be good’. The thing is he feels totally alone and isolated and isn’t getting any support in his bid to ‘be good’. And he almost feels like being bad again, because then at least he would be noticed. So basically it seems that from youth initiatives and government policies young people are getting a message that adults will only invest in them if they are doing something wrong or if bad stuff is happening in their lives.

It reminds me of a post I read on IreneQ’s blog where she spoke of having felt like a ‘forgotten teenager’ who wasn’t a wild child but found her insecurities went unanswered and unsupported particularly in the church. It highlights to me the importance of good youthwork everywhere whether it’s at a big fancy youth event or in a random little youth group that meets once a month in a back room of a church. All young people deserve support throughout their adolescence and journey into adulthood. When I worked with YFC it was so frustrating when it seemed like the local churches just had no grasp whatsoever of the issues their young people were facing. Some of these issues were pretty major whilst others were maybe less ‘dramatic’ but that didn’t mean that the young people were less deserving of a sincere response. People in churches seem to think that as long as the young people show up at youth group or the church service that they’re doing fine. I guess the bottom line is that the most precious thing we can give to other people is our time, investment and love. And a young person shouldn’t need to have a drug problem or be pregnant to be given that kind of authentic support.