That was 2008

A year of changes, many of which I've written about, but here's a gap filler, which hopefully will mean something to those from Ferndown.

January found me sat in one of those corporate meetings that you dread, where you can tell from the first slide of the Powerpoint presentation that bad news is coming. And it was - 38 jobs were going at NXP Southampton. Except for me this was perfect - I knew I would have been handing my notice in anyway. I was temporarily quite annoying as I left that meeting beaming from ear to ear, knowing that the following day I would be applying for voluntary redundancy. Meanwhile Beth and Isaac went to Disneyland, a Christmas present from their grandparents.

In February I remodelled the Youth Room at St Mary's, just in time for the Youth Alpha course - our biggest and best yet. Then there was the dark and cold Prayer Walk around Ferndown with the Police - wearing my hoodie I nearly got moved on by concerned theatre staff.

March greeted the arrival of a niece, Martin Howard's institution as Rector of Ferndown, and Helen Miller's wedding, despite the fact that she's still only 9 in my eyes.

April as ever saw a wife's birthday, a review and handover of geeky stuff at St Mary's (has Martin bought those new lights yet?), and Ferndown's saddest event - the funeral of 22 year old Marine John Thornton, killed on active service in Afghanistan. 1500 people, a huge screen, sniffer dogs, a Red Arrow, a Sea Harrier, and an unknowing encounter with Marine Fred Frederick, who now shares my staircase at Ridley. My calendar also informs me that we took small pots to church - I'm sure it meant something at the time!

May was the month I left NXP, and we took the last big family holiday for a few years - Venice beckoned.

I spent most of June and July fixing the house ready for new tenants, and then I started the blog. All too soon came the leaving parties, fun and tears.

August had us saying "no we haven't gone yet" - after several rounds of goodbyes we refused to move until it was actually time to do so. And then we went. All 2500 cubic feet of furniture, books and plants.

September - acclimatisation to Cambridge, new schools and back to school for me. End of reliance on NXP money as the grant arrived, but at the same time having to get used to pay days only coming round once every three months now...

October, only 3 weeks into term, I find myself facing a chapel of ordinands and leading them in prayer on the morning that Mark Autherson died.

November disappeared in a blur of lectures and reading, and distractions on Facebook.

December saw the end of term, 6000 words of worry, and a packed house at Christmas. Now on New Year's Eve I'm being reminded that it's time to go - a party beckons.

Goodbye 2008. For me 2009 is fairly certain - lots more Ridley. For you it may be less certain but I pray that you'll see God's guiding hand in your life.