On Sunday afternoon I suddenly took it into my head that I really wanted some Battenberg cake. So I popped out to the supermarket to get some. But alas there was none!

Then, because I was really tired, I went to bed for half an hour. And as I was dozing off, I prayed for Battenberg cake, hoping that my visitors would bring some. The chances of them bringing cake or biscuits were quite high, but the chances of it being exactly what I wanted were slim; they’re somehow not really Battenberg types… And frankly, praying for cake just seems weird.

And so, it came to pass, my visitors did not bring Battenberg cake.  We had a good time together and I didn’t think much more about ill-fated cake.

On Monday I spent the day in an alternate universe.  An exciting and colourful universe but not the sort of place where I’d want to spend more than a day or two.  (It involved hairspray, make-up, trapezes, glitter, celebrites and lots and lots and lots of waiting.)

Then on Tuesday it was back to the realities of office life. What I hadn’t realised is that it was my team leader’s birthday, and he’d brought in 3 different sorts of cakes including – you’ve guessed it! – Battenberg cake!

So my prayer was answered! There was something else I also prayed for on Sunday, I’m now slightly more hopeful about that one being answered too, even though its a much bigger request than Battenberg cake and involves something not generally available in supermarkets…

Went to Durham with J to visit F. And it was glorious autumn weather. Bright sunshine, clear skies. On Friday night we just chilled out and chatted. On Saturday (after a leisurely start) we went for a walk through a forest of beech trees. We stopped for a delicious lunch, then did some shopping. Its always fun to shop with friends, makes you consider buying things you’d normally walk straight past!

That evening we watched the rubgy (England against South Africa, world cup final). I don’t think I’ve ever watched a full game of rugby from start to finish before, and I have to admit, I haven’t been converted (ee is there a wordplay in there somewhere?!). But apparently it was a dull game, they were playing it safe, so maybe one day I will discover the true beauty of watching sport. In the meantime, I think playing sports is better than watching sports.

And on Sunday we went to F’s new church and it was lovely. Friendly people, simple and practical sermon, and lots of life about the place.

Durham itself is gorgeous – it has a river (always a good start) – which when we passed was populated with teams of rowers, it has deciduous woods, it has a castle and a cathedral on a hill. It has a manageable number of shops (i.e. not too many) and some great coffee shops. And based on a sample of 2 days, it is the land of constant sunshine.

On Saturday I had to go into town in an attempt to buy a bridesmaids dress for my sister’s wedding.  Well not to buy one, but to suss out the lie of the land and find some possibilities to discuss with the other bridesmaid.  Looking back, it was doomed right from the start.  I wasn’t really in the mood for buying a dress, I’m much happier buying casual t-shirts.

Anyway as I was walking to the underground station I kind of half-prayed that I would bump into someone in town that I could go for coffee with.  Reckoned I’d need a break, but wasn’t sure which of my friends were free and didn’t want to just text everyone. And then I experienced one of the fastest answers to prayer of my life.  Within 2 minutes, just as I was going into the underground station, I met my friend M coming out.  And she said she’d be more than happy to meet for coffee in town in a couple of hours time.

So she did.  We had coffee, she gave me moral support.  We looked at dresses, I bought a t-shirt.

Tuesday was a bit of a difficult day for various reasons, but a good thing happened as I left work.  I have to cross several busy streets, and that day ALL the green men were very obliging and I didn’t have to wait at all to cross.  Nice. 

So don’t mess with me, the little green men are on my side.

Which reminds me of something I generally forget at times like that, “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8v31-32, NIV)

Hmm.  Why is it so easy to forget these things?