It's my first proper day off in about four or five weeks. I have been doing something school or church related every day since then and I must admit I am pleased to have a break.
So what have I done. After waking up at around 8am and thinking it was around 11am I have realised that the affable lie in to which I have been so accustomed to over the years is slowly ebbing away. I wonder if I shall ever return to lay a zzz offering at the feet of St Mattress ever again. All signs point to yes but not anytime soon.
I also discovered this morning the empty front room in the house which has recently been refloored with a tasty laminate is also the most incredible room to play guitar and sing in as the natural reverb is wonderful. I will have to make the most of this until it becomes habitable.
Following this and a handful of tortilla chips I have taken the time to write this blog and watch a documentary on Noah's Ark and how they feel some of the scientific facts of the great flood played out. We all know there was a lot of rain, 40 days and nights worth but we get that in the UK and then some. They talk about the seas were rising, in particular the Mediterranean and the affect this had on the Black Sea (apparently a third of the size it is now). The Med flowed through the Bosphorous and carved a channel which pushed the water through at a speed of around 60mph, the amount of water flowing through was 200 times that which flows over Niagra. The Bosphorous split open and water from the Med raged through.
Why am I explaining this? Not sure but I find it immensely interesting. Especially seeing as before this there was no such thing as rain. I think it just goes to demonstrate the awesome power of God in all things.
So what's been going on over here in the USA? Some rain, no snow and today some sunshine. At this current moment of time I have a black labrador putting its head on my knee next to my laptop screen, it wants attention, it always wants attention. If I acknowledge it then it won't leave me alone for another half an hour.
School has been really good this week, there doesn't feel like any particular reason stands out. it has just been a great week. Everyone is really growing and the honeymoon period is certainly over on the school which I am actually pleased about as the real side of people is coming out.
We have been going through a book called Exploring Worship and we are about 3 chapters in at the moment and it is certainly thought provoking and challenging. I think the hardest thing to write about is how I feel I am growing and what I am learning as it so gradual and it's difficult to really describe what is going on inside. Am I the same person, yes. Have I been challenged, yes. Have I grown, I am sure I have. Others would probably be able to point out how.
I am getting a lot from the bible reading we have been doing every day. We have to read about 6 chapters a day; 3 old testament, 1 psalm/proverb and a couple new testament. In doing so we are required to get a revelation and a way of applying this. In truth I have struggled a bit with this. Not so much the revelation because God's word is living and breathing and I have read things in a new way that I had previously read a thousand times before (well maybe not a thousand but you get the idea). Something really stuck out in Psalm 18 to me, not so much a verse but more a theme. When we cry out to God in times of trouble, not only does he hear us but he moves heaven and earth to help us.
6In my M)">(M)distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice N)">(N)out of His temple,
And my O)">(O)cry for help before Him came into His ears.
7Then the P)">(P)earth shook and quaked;
And the Q)">(Q)foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And R)">(R)fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
9He S)">(S)bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick T)">(T)darkness under His feet.
10He rode upon a U)">(U)cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the V)">(V)wings of the wind.
11He made W)">(W)darkness His hiding place, X)">(X)His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12From the Y)">(Y)brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and Z)">(Z)coals of fire.
13The LORD also AA)">(AA)thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14He AB)">(AB)sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
15Then the AC)">(AC)channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were laid bare
At Your AD)">(AD)rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the AE)">(AE)breath of Your nostrils.
16He AF)">(AF)sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of AG)">(AG)many waters.
17He AH)">(AH)delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were AI)">(AI)too mighty for me.
18They confronted me in AJ)">(AJ)the day of my calamity,
But AK)">(AK)the LORD was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a AL)">(AL)broad place;
He rescued me, because AM)">(AM)He delighted in me.
I love this, it just shows me how much God fights for us, as a father he gets angry when his children are in trouble. I'm not a dad but one day i hope to be and I know even now if my children were in trouble I would do everything in my power to help them.
This is one of those things that you can really cling to in times of suffering.
I am writing a lot of songs at the moment, not worship stuff but more allegorical and cryptic. I like the freedom they are giving us to write anything. It is not simply bound to one style. The challenge I have set myself is to write two songs a week if not more. It;s going well so far. Tuesday evenings are given over to it.
While I remember I will be drafting a newsletter soon to let everyone know what is going on. I know people back home are wondering so fear ye not. Patience, patience, patience.
In other news I also love my homegroup out here. What a great bunch of people, hilarious in some ways and just so caring. Everyone is in it together and it's never got to the point where it's just one person carrying everything. I really value this. If I had one word from homegroup it would be 'simplify'. Bit of an in joke but there needs to be an air of mystery for those reading this blog.
I have a sweet beard too, I haven't shaved in nearly a month and it is no shave November so it is going to be precious.
Bye bye
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Friday, 23 October 2009
Where does the time go and what do I occupy it with
Good afternoon,
It's a cold, grey, wet Friday afternoon. Friday's we are done at lunchtime to make time for private guitar lessons (I'll get on to that later). I didn't have one today so I decided to come straight home and catch up on some much needed rest and work.
The last few weeks have been a complete blur, I love it here it feels like home already and I really don't miss the UK at all (sorry guys). The weather here is like British summertime - about 10 degrees C and wet wet wet, I feel it in my fingers and feel it in my toes my shoes are full of holes in which the water flows...time for new shoes (they don't have the ones I like here though).
School has been a real challenge recently which makes me excited as I hate it when things just canter along and you just sit back and take it as it comes. We are in to the proper schedule now, this means ear training, music theory, songwriting, bible review and worship teams have taken hold. I love 95% of the classes (not so much ear training; the singing is good, the melodic dictation is not so good). I have to keep telling myself that music theory is brand new and I don't have to understand it all right away. Ah pride and expectation, when you two get together there is trouble. Pride is like that bad girl your parents warned you about as it leads expectation astray. Bad girl, no. Get behind me Satan McPride. (I am watching supersize me as I write this (I know I should have used captial letters but I don't want to go back and change it).
So what has God been doing with me on the School and what has he been doing with other people? Two themes have been comig out, God wanting us to go deeper and being more specific when we praise and thank him. God is good, true. Why is he good though? Wow, ok so now I have to think and it alarmed me that at first I couldn't go for five minutes listing why God is good and what I am thankful for. Try it, it's more stretching than it sounds if you have never done it before. Thankfully now God has been revealing to me so much of his character and his goodness, mostly through the word!
Ok so lets take a day in the life here on the school, my days have been getting a lot longer thanks to my new early morning schedule of workout...
Here goes.
5am - Get up, throw on some clothes and go to the basement. Work out for 45 minutes to one hour. Hard work but I am really enjoying it (this week has been a bit lax though)
6 am - shower and quiet time/homework
7 am - Get ready to leave for school
7:30 am get picked up for school.
8:00 am - school starts with 40 mins to 1 hour of worship. At first this was really exciting but some days have been really hard. One of the amazing things about God is that he doesn't change, no matter how I am feeling God does not change. He is still worthy, he is still Holy. The same God who spoke to Moses through the Burning Bush, the same God who met Isaiah when he was in despair following the death of the King, the same God as the God of David, the same God who gave revelation to Martin Luther, the same God who gave David Griffiths the song There Is. The same God who will provide and speak to my grandchildren and their grandchildren (provided He doesn't return before then) the same God...well you get the idea!
8:50 - classes start, my favourite day is Tuesday. Our first class is Exploring Worship where we are working through one of the most indepth and informative books on the subject of worship. More on that in a later blog.
At 9:40 we get a break. I might grab a cup of tea/coffee or maybe go for a swift number two if I so feel the need.
9:50 - Worship ensemble teams. Basically this is an arrangement class. We learn a new song each week, one we have never heard before. We have to arrange it, discussing parts, what instruments play when and where, what they lyrical content of the song is and how that affects the arrangement. I love this class, it's one of my favourites.
11:40 - lunch, nom nom nom, people in the church cook for us on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Delicious times indeed.
12:25 - two hours of songwriting class - this is more theory based with a view to equipping us with the tools to develop our songwriting. I have set myself the task of writing two songs a week which is going pretty well.
2:30 worship teams - this is where we get split into teams and work on our arrangements or spend time worshipping together. I miss the Bosh boys back home, 5-6 years of playing together has developed a real musical and spiritual understanding so playing with some of the guys on the school is tough, they aren't you Dave, Mike, Grant and James (and Felix) It is really stretching but I am sure it will be a place of real growth and I have to be careful to actually be teachable as opposed to proud and think I know the answer. I can learn a lot from my fellow students, one heck of a lot.
Other days have more bible focused classes, already we have read through Luke, Acts, Leviticus, Genesis, Exodus and most of Hebrews. We are working through Romans at the moment. It took us 2 hours to get throught the first chapter the other day (some of the students are sloooow readers [jokes])
In other news I saw Mutemath in Chicago last week, oh my freakin' word it was possibly the best show I have ever been too. Great band, great city and great people to go with.
If I had to say three of the most singularly defining words on the school this year I would say
MORE
RECEIVE (said in French accent)
BUTTCRACK
Until next time.
Kiss?
No?
Good!
It's a cold, grey, wet Friday afternoon. Friday's we are done at lunchtime to make time for private guitar lessons (I'll get on to that later). I didn't have one today so I decided to come straight home and catch up on some much needed rest and work.
The last few weeks have been a complete blur, I love it here it feels like home already and I really don't miss the UK at all (sorry guys). The weather here is like British summertime - about 10 degrees C and wet wet wet, I feel it in my fingers and feel it in my toes my shoes are full of holes in which the water flows...time for new shoes (they don't have the ones I like here though).
School has been a real challenge recently which makes me excited as I hate it when things just canter along and you just sit back and take it as it comes. We are in to the proper schedule now, this means ear training, music theory, songwriting, bible review and worship teams have taken hold. I love 95% of the classes (not so much ear training; the singing is good, the melodic dictation is not so good). I have to keep telling myself that music theory is brand new and I don't have to understand it all right away. Ah pride and expectation, when you two get together there is trouble. Pride is like that bad girl your parents warned you about as it leads expectation astray. Bad girl, no. Get behind me Satan McPride. (I am watching supersize me as I write this (I know I should have used captial letters but I don't want to go back and change it).
So what has God been doing with me on the School and what has he been doing with other people? Two themes have been comig out, God wanting us to go deeper and being more specific when we praise and thank him. God is good, true. Why is he good though? Wow, ok so now I have to think and it alarmed me that at first I couldn't go for five minutes listing why God is good and what I am thankful for. Try it, it's more stretching than it sounds if you have never done it before. Thankfully now God has been revealing to me so much of his character and his goodness, mostly through the word!
Ok so lets take a day in the life here on the school, my days have been getting a lot longer thanks to my new early morning schedule of workout...
Here goes.
5am - Get up, throw on some clothes and go to the basement. Work out for 45 minutes to one hour. Hard work but I am really enjoying it (this week has been a bit lax though)
6 am - shower and quiet time/homework
7 am - Get ready to leave for school
7:30 am get picked up for school.
8:00 am - school starts with 40 mins to 1 hour of worship. At first this was really exciting but some days have been really hard. One of the amazing things about God is that he doesn't change, no matter how I am feeling God does not change. He is still worthy, he is still Holy. The same God who spoke to Moses through the Burning Bush, the same God who met Isaiah when he was in despair following the death of the King, the same God as the God of David, the same God who gave revelation to Martin Luther, the same God who gave David Griffiths the song There Is. The same God who will provide and speak to my grandchildren and their grandchildren (provided He doesn't return before then) the same God...well you get the idea!
8:50 - classes start, my favourite day is Tuesday. Our first class is Exploring Worship where we are working through one of the most indepth and informative books on the subject of worship. More on that in a later blog.
At 9:40 we get a break. I might grab a cup of tea/coffee or maybe go for a swift number two if I so feel the need.
9:50 - Worship ensemble teams. Basically this is an arrangement class. We learn a new song each week, one we have never heard before. We have to arrange it, discussing parts, what instruments play when and where, what they lyrical content of the song is and how that affects the arrangement. I love this class, it's one of my favourites.
11:40 - lunch, nom nom nom, people in the church cook for us on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Delicious times indeed.
12:25 - two hours of songwriting class - this is more theory based with a view to equipping us with the tools to develop our songwriting. I have set myself the task of writing two songs a week which is going pretty well.
2:30 worship teams - this is where we get split into teams and work on our arrangements or spend time worshipping together. I miss the Bosh boys back home, 5-6 years of playing together has developed a real musical and spiritual understanding so playing with some of the guys on the school is tough, they aren't you Dave, Mike, Grant and James (and Felix) It is really stretching but I am sure it will be a place of real growth and I have to be careful to actually be teachable as opposed to proud and think I know the answer. I can learn a lot from my fellow students, one heck of a lot.
Other days have more bible focused classes, already we have read through Luke, Acts, Leviticus, Genesis, Exodus and most of Hebrews. We are working through Romans at the moment. It took us 2 hours to get throught the first chapter the other day (some of the students are sloooow readers [jokes])
In other news I saw Mutemath in Chicago last week, oh my freakin' word it was possibly the best show I have ever been too. Great band, great city and great people to go with.
If I had to say three of the most singularly defining words on the school this year I would say
MORE
RECEIVE (said in French accent)
BUTTCRACK
Until next time.
Kiss?
No?
Good!
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Saturday, saturday, saturdaaaaaaay.
I have been crazy busy of late and under the weather in a really strange way. Things are incredible here and I am learning so much.
The days and the weeks are going by very very quickly it feels like only yesterday I blogged but looking at the date it appears to be two weeks ago. Apologies to anyone I have still yet to email back I will get around to it soon. I leave for school (sounds very strange) at half 7 in the morning and I have been getting home around 6pm so the days have been pretty long.
We have been going through church structures, bible review (have already read through Genesis this month) and I am being stretched and challenged which feels great. I also started guitar lessons with the sickest guitarist, I just want to cry at how good he is but already I have improved on the ol' six string wonder sound creator.
Every morning starts with around 45 mins of worship which has been really good and really hard (depending on the morning). This has been a real challenge as we are learning about Praise. When you think you know something and your viewpoints are both supported and challenged it is really encouraging. I love the fact we can sometimes say 'this is MY way of praising'.....uh uh uh. There is only one way of praising and that is God's way. It is amazing how directive the bible is on this fact. Praise is all about extoling HIM and bringing him thanks. Praise has to be heard. The times of the sitting down head in hands whispery whispery praise are over. Praise is one way! I would love to expand on this point further but it has been blowing my mind.
On a different note I went to see a band in chicago last week called Sleeping at Last, possibly one of the best shows I have been too. It was so intimate and laid back. The addition of the string quartet was phenomenal.
I have the house to myself at the moment as my host family are out and I am taking the time to watch spinal tap. No more needs to be said.
Well, I am trying to think of things to write that are of interest but my mind feels like mush at the moment. I need some breakfast and a cup of earl grey tea.
Yesssssssssss.
The days and the weeks are going by very very quickly it feels like only yesterday I blogged but looking at the date it appears to be two weeks ago. Apologies to anyone I have still yet to email back I will get around to it soon. I leave for school (sounds very strange) at half 7 in the morning and I have been getting home around 6pm so the days have been pretty long.
We have been going through church structures, bible review (have already read through Genesis this month) and I am being stretched and challenged which feels great. I also started guitar lessons with the sickest guitarist, I just want to cry at how good he is but already I have improved on the ol' six string wonder sound creator.
Every morning starts with around 45 mins of worship which has been really good and really hard (depending on the morning). This has been a real challenge as we are learning about Praise. When you think you know something and your viewpoints are both supported and challenged it is really encouraging. I love the fact we can sometimes say 'this is MY way of praising'.....uh uh uh. There is only one way of praising and that is God's way. It is amazing how directive the bible is on this fact. Praise is all about extoling HIM and bringing him thanks. Praise has to be heard. The times of the sitting down head in hands whispery whispery praise are over. Praise is one way! I would love to expand on this point further but it has been blowing my mind.
On a different note I went to see a band in chicago last week called Sleeping at Last, possibly one of the best shows I have been too. It was so intimate and laid back. The addition of the string quartet was phenomenal.
I have the house to myself at the moment as my host family are out and I am taking the time to watch spinal tap. No more needs to be said.
Well, I am trying to think of things to write that are of interest but my mind feels like mush at the moment. I need some breakfast and a cup of earl grey tea.
Yesssssssssss.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
First week is over...
It seems like ages since I have last blogged and let people know what is going on in the lovely city of Kenosha.
So school started on Tuesday and it has been a crazy few days, amazing things have been happening. Simply hearing each students testimony and back story has been pretty incredible.
Knowing that this is completely the right place to be has also been a major encouragement. I can't recall ever feeling this much peace about being in one place as I do here.
I have been feeling pretty sick the last couple of days though, not sure if I have picked up a virus; some sort of freshers flu or what but it has been a bit annoying to say the least.
The guys here are great, I didn't think we would bond as a group so quickly but we seem to have gelled well so that's a blessing.
In terms of things to do out here in Wisconsin, well there is the coffee shop by the lake which does a mighty rootbeer float and great coffee, there are the music stores (apologies to kelly and becky for what happened in said music store) and apparently there is a historical house (buily in 1915) which contains a tour about the history of barbed wire. This is a must!
It strikes me as something that both Felix and myself would enjoy greatly. Incidentally I am missing the football here and have been looking for updates on the scores. Arsenal are 1-0 down to Man City and in true Gunner's fashion it is an embarrasing own goal that has caused us to fall behind. This isn't happening on Football Manager, I am doing pretty well on FM.
I have seen some cheap effects pedals out here, temptation is nearly taking hold, for those of you who know what a Fulltone OCD is I can pick one up out here for around £70 which is pretty nuts. I also spent 1000 dollars on a mesa boogie rectoverb... not for me but for my friend Tom. It's ok he paid me back straight away though. The only trouble is I now want it because it is really nice and is a third of the cost we would pay for it in the UK. Everything else here seems similar to UK prices though.
More to follow on the course and what we are doing but at the moment I am still trying to process everything. God is doing some amazing work in people and the freedom we are experiencing out here is like nothing I have experienced before. Long may it continue.
Matt
So school started on Tuesday and it has been a crazy few days, amazing things have been happening. Simply hearing each students testimony and back story has been pretty incredible.
Knowing that this is completely the right place to be has also been a major encouragement. I can't recall ever feeling this much peace about being in one place as I do here.
I have been feeling pretty sick the last couple of days though, not sure if I have picked up a virus; some sort of freshers flu or what but it has been a bit annoying to say the least.
The guys here are great, I didn't think we would bond as a group so quickly but we seem to have gelled well so that's a blessing.
In terms of things to do out here in Wisconsin, well there is the coffee shop by the lake which does a mighty rootbeer float and great coffee, there are the music stores (apologies to kelly and becky for what happened in said music store) and apparently there is a historical house (buily in 1915) which contains a tour about the history of barbed wire. This is a must!
It strikes me as something that both Felix and myself would enjoy greatly. Incidentally I am missing the football here and have been looking for updates on the scores. Arsenal are 1-0 down to Man City and in true Gunner's fashion it is an embarrasing own goal that has caused us to fall behind. This isn't happening on Football Manager, I am doing pretty well on FM.
I have seen some cheap effects pedals out here, temptation is nearly taking hold, for those of you who know what a Fulltone OCD is I can pick one up out here for around £70 which is pretty nuts. I also spent 1000 dollars on a mesa boogie rectoverb... not for me but for my friend Tom. It's ok he paid me back straight away though. The only trouble is I now want it because it is really nice and is a third of the cost we would pay for it in the UK. Everything else here seems similar to UK prices though.
More to follow on the course and what we are doing but at the moment I am still trying to process everything. God is doing some amazing work in people and the freedom we are experiencing out here is like nothing I have experienced before. Long may it continue.
Matt
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Jet lag, I thought I had beaten you but no.
Well. as I write this I am lying in bed, probably one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in! It's quarter past two in the afternoon and before you say I am lazy I am looking at the time according to my laptop which has yet to adjust to USA time, it's so slow think it's time to upgrade to a mac... now to find someone to buy me a mac.
It's actually about quarter past 8 in the morning here and I have been awake for a couple of hours, I have bigger bags under my eyes than I ever thought possible and I am still not married, been here for two days now and I think the brochure has lied to me. These Christian year out programs are meant to supply you with a spouse on arrival, or so I have been led to believe.
The rootbeer I have been delighting in has so far been a highlight. I have discovered I actually hate the fast food here, I feel so richly blessed to feel this way. My host family are into their fruit and veg in a big way and I couldn't be happier, I may actually come back thinner as a result.
Last night we had a meet and greet cook out where I met the guys I am to spend the next 9-10 months with, it is going to be a really good year.
The transition from UK to USA has been seamless so far, except for the tiredness but hopefully I will get over this soon. Everyone here is really friendly and this has made a massive difference. The hardest thing is going to be realising I can't just pop home for the weekend, that and missing the band.
I have discovered a new American band called Weaver at the Loom, very tasty indeed. Also loving the new athlete album too, it;s incredible.
Bye for now, check out my puppies. Today's is a beaut.
It's actually about quarter past 8 in the morning here and I have been awake for a couple of hours, I have bigger bags under my eyes than I ever thought possible and I am still not married, been here for two days now and I think the brochure has lied to me. These Christian year out programs are meant to supply you with a spouse on arrival, or so I have been led to believe.
The rootbeer I have been delighting in has so far been a highlight. I have discovered I actually hate the fast food here, I feel so richly blessed to feel this way. My host family are into their fruit and veg in a big way and I couldn't be happier, I may actually come back thinner as a result.
Last night we had a meet and greet cook out where I met the guys I am to spend the next 9-10 months with, it is going to be a really good year.
The transition from UK to USA has been seamless so far, except for the tiredness but hopefully I will get over this soon. Everyone here is really friendly and this has made a massive difference. The hardest thing is going to be realising I can't just pop home for the weekend, that and missing the band.
I have discovered a new American band called Weaver at the Loom, very tasty indeed. Also loving the new athlete album too, it;s incredible.
Bye for now, check out my puppies. Today's is a beaut.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
I fly today.
Well, I leave for the airport in half an hour, looking forward to just getting to the USA now. That nervousness that comes with hoping that everything is sorted has taken hold though I am quite sure I will be fine.
There is not really a lot to write today other than it's a bit grey, the exchange rate is poor and I hope I am under my weight limit for the baggage folks. If not then I will have to put my suitcase on a crash diet.
Tomorrow I wake up in America.
See you in 9-10 months I guess, whoop whoop.
There is not really a lot to write today other than it's a bit grey, the exchange rate is poor and I hope I am under my weight limit for the baggage folks. If not then I will have to put my suitcase on a crash diet.
Tomorrow I wake up in America.
See you in 9-10 months I guess, whoop whoop.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
Nearly time to go.
Ok, first things first. I have never blogged, attempted to blog, tried blogging or blogtypewritten anything of this nature before. Some say it is never good to start with a negative and since blogging has become quite the e-hobby for some there are those out who would take the opening statement as a negative. I myself see it as a postive due to the fact I have had better things to do like building forts from duvets and raising puppies into respectable adult dogs who can really sow back into society instead of dirtying the pavement outside of Mcdonalds in Taunton.
I hope this blog to be something you can read, should you also not have better things to do like the aforementioned activities I mentioned above, that would keep you informed of what I am doing in America over the next ten months. The aim is to update weekly, this is the aim, the reality maybe I update every eight to ten days but what are a few days between friends (unless you need picking up from a station or bus depot, if so then make every effort to be on time).
The last week has been somewhat crazy, finishing work, trying to get all the banking stuff sorted, final few gigs with the band for the next ten months and seeing Rob Bell up close who was buying a Pieminister at Greenbelt. The guy is tall, like Dave Griff tall or Allyn Usher tall. Not just to cool for school but too tall for the hall.
Greenbelt was interesting, very hippyish, quite cool and a real experience. We played a great set to around 300 or so people, most of whom we did not recognise and seeing people singing along to our songs is always a surreal yet welcome experience. I am going to miss the bosh boys while I am away, the friendships I have with Grant, Dave, Mike and James are irreplaceable. I will also miss English bread, real Yorkshire tea, good crisps and fresh fruit and veg. I hear in America it's all meat, even the vegetarians eat solely meat, oh and chips (or fries). The taps dispense soda (coca cola or lemonade type drinks to you and me) and the streets are paved with rice. This is all hearsay but if it's not true I am coming straight home.
It would also be prudent to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me in this adventure I am about to embark upon. Your prayers, gifts and encouragement have meant so much more than money, words or presents could ever say. From applying to the school in the second week of July to having raised all the money I needed by the beginning of August and then getting my visa and flights just over a week ago, what a ride! I fly on wednesday at 17:50 and apparently arrive in America at 20:05 Central Standard East West Mountain time.
Keep up with me here and on facebook and on the bosh myspace and on BBC news 24.
For now it is shower time. Peace out y'all.
Matt
I hope this blog to be something you can read, should you also not have better things to do like the aforementioned activities I mentioned above, that would keep you informed of what I am doing in America over the next ten months. The aim is to update weekly, this is the aim, the reality maybe I update every eight to ten days but what are a few days between friends (unless you need picking up from a station or bus depot, if so then make every effort to be on time).
The last week has been somewhat crazy, finishing work, trying to get all the banking stuff sorted, final few gigs with the band for the next ten months and seeing Rob Bell up close who was buying a Pieminister at Greenbelt. The guy is tall, like Dave Griff tall or Allyn Usher tall. Not just to cool for school but too tall for the hall.
Greenbelt was interesting, very hippyish, quite cool and a real experience. We played a great set to around 300 or so people, most of whom we did not recognise and seeing people singing along to our songs is always a surreal yet welcome experience. I am going to miss the bosh boys while I am away, the friendships I have with Grant, Dave, Mike and James are irreplaceable. I will also miss English bread, real Yorkshire tea, good crisps and fresh fruit and veg. I hear in America it's all meat, even the vegetarians eat solely meat, oh and chips (or fries). The taps dispense soda (coca cola or lemonade type drinks to you and me) and the streets are paved with rice. This is all hearsay but if it's not true I am coming straight home.
It would also be prudent to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me in this adventure I am about to embark upon. Your prayers, gifts and encouragement have meant so much more than money, words or presents could ever say. From applying to the school in the second week of July to having raised all the money I needed by the beginning of August and then getting my visa and flights just over a week ago, what a ride! I fly on wednesday at 17:50 and apparently arrive in America at 20:05 Central Standard East West Mountain time.
Keep up with me here and on facebook and on the bosh myspace and on BBC news 24.
For now it is shower time. Peace out y'all.
Matt
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