Today was the first day back at The Blue Coat School Oldham, if I told you that I was excited to be returning to the familiar cluster of buildings that is BC I would be lying. In fact, most of you are aware that I've been consistently trying to escape from the place for the past 4 years. (That's not to say that I don't love it in a sense, but I feel almost that I have grew out of it, or ignorant of its rules to say the least.) but before I go into any further detail about my return to Blue Coat, more about the summer.
Summer.
I think the one term I have used to describe my summer; if anything the term I have over used as its become so natural to say it in the last months, is of course "Ups and Downs." The summer has been very much that, with the end off exams I went into the summer with a ridiculous and eventually broken promise to one of my best friends (Samson) that each day we must drink at least one alcoholic beverage - with the exception of when I was at SUbmerge. I'm very glad to say it's one of the very few promises I have not kept, other wise I fear that after the 7/8/? weeks of constant drinking my liver would have been in a dirty state.
I went into the summer thinking: fuck it. I couldn't be bothered, my exams were over and my results would be awful, I was never going to get into uni after spending year 12 drinking and smoking my body into a early grave and it was pointless, I hadn't attended college much of the last two weeks of A2 lessons and I'd given up. My plan was, make the summer good, or at least, make it hazy.
(Again, I know those that read my last blog know much of this already, but for new readers, and a recap...)
I decided to blag my work experience by taking an easy choice of hanging out with Laura Piekos who's an English teacher at a very small Christian school in Stalybridge (an awesome teacher, might I add.) In doing this, I totally forgot what an amazing person she is, and how she always does this thing where she pulls out a little bit of good in me. It was over all a mint week, and a much needed change from college. Laura also managed to convince me to return to OneUP (now re-named SUbmerge) which is a Scripture Union Christian youth summer Holiday sort of thing that I used to go on as a guest. I was pretty much set on not going, I didn't want to face the mint people that I knew from there as a guest again, I was ashamed of who I'd become pretty much, but with a bit of force and persuasion I agreed and sorted out going.
Between the week of work exp and being at camp I can't really remember much, it included getting very drunk and allot of praying, two that I don't usually mix.
SUbmerge was absolutely awesome. I can't even describe it in any other way, it was so amazing to see everyone again and really catch up with them. Though I was originally really anxious to see them, it ended up being the best. The kid's at camp were really cool too, we did a 36 hour prayer room (a take of the 24 hour prayer movement) where there were about 5 people in the room at all time praying. It was a really good set up and I think effected both kids and team. It felt really strange to see these 11-14 year old's really grow and develop over the week with God and meet with him... and for me, it was very much the same, It made me want to be arsed with God and Church again which is really exciting. I can't thank enough people really for just helping me along, and praying and just listening when I needed. Literally, some of the best people and friends I will ever have. It was a sick week.
I came back from SUbmerge with a different outlook, (cliche as it sounds - and I apologize because nearly everything with Christianity seems wrapped in cliche) I was really excited about God. - I say that it made a massive difference, but I spent the entire week getting drunk because my parents were away and holding stupid gatherings with my friends. I started going to church with the Piek's at Vinelife in Manchester, and eventually began really trying to get stuck in with reading the Bible and getting closer to God. I'm going to start making changes to my life, little ones, but changes all the same, starting with my quitting smoking, it has as of today been 52 days since my last cigarette. I also intend on being a better friend, and to stop being an arse with everyone.
I can't really remember many other big things from my summer, I basically spent the rest of my time at work, and then spending my money on crap, going out for meals and getting drunk. Results day came and went, and I got me:
- B - History
- C - Theol & Philos
- C - English Lit
- C - Citizenship
- C - Gov & Pol.
Though I'm not entirely happy, I'm not in the slightest bit upset. I wasn't kicked out, and I might be able to pull everything a grade up next year, (with my re-sits in Jan too.)
I also caught a train to Winch to stay with the sick as a brick Redding family for a couple of days, as I wanted to see them, and also because I wanted to say a proper goodbye to our Tori Redding who's now set off on her gap year in Spain. It was sweet to see them, check out the south and have a very middle class arrival with afternoon tea and scones. It was a nice brake from home, and I got to spend it with some hero's, and also see some hero's such as the Randalls, the Coulters, and Andy Frost. It was sweet as.
Had another couple of normal days in Manchester, Meals out, Church, Lounging, watching films, very much, just the usual. - this is the vaguest over view of my summer ever. I did do allot of interesting stuff, however its getting late and I'm very tired.
Since the last post...
Not much has gone on. It was however, my dear best friend C-dawg Hill's 18th birthday, we suffered a beautiful night out in Huddersfield of which we all suffered/are suffering for now. I personally had a really good time, and hope that she enjoyed it just as much as I did. (I'm quite sure she did... any night with me is a beautiful night.)
My first day back, well, it was the same as all of last year. I've had a massive issue with going back for the last couple of weeks. I feel ready to go on my gap year (though I'm clearly not as I have nothing planned) all I want to do is get stuck into theology, and as much as I love my friends, I'm having a real trouble being myself with them after recent issues. I can't wait for the next academic year to be over, I know its not going to be all downs, and today wasn't really a down at all...
I anticipate the next year will go to be confusing, but as long as it eventually comes to a happy end, and I leave with some smooth looking results for Uni then I guess I will have to let it run its course.
(I promise, my next blog will be written better, and contain something of a bit more interest than this very vague over view of the last 80ish days.)
God Bless, L x
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A big thank you to everyone from SUbmerge, in particular Laura Piekos, for being my go to person, and pretty much everything she's done for me, for everything pretty much, Laura alone could take up this, but her head is big enough as it is... Tori Redding, because she's the best. Because she'll sit up and talk to me till un-earthly hours about important stuff, and crap stuff, and being just one of the most amazing people I've ever met. Sam Shaw, for supporting me in everything, continually making sure I'm ok, for the lack of contact that makes our actual contact AWESOME, and for getting me excited about the future.
There's loads of other people too... but they know who they are.
Anyway, love forever. L x
