Howard's Way

Church as it should be..

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:12:00 +0000

I had the privilege of coming into contact with Epainos Ministries, a local church from the East End of London who really know what church is all about. Every few weeks they cancel the Sunday service and simply be salt and light in the community in a ministry called �??Church on the Streets�??.

Their ministry is to local hostels for the homeless and we have just been added to their list. They turn up with not a tract or bible in sight but make no apologies for having a testimony of what God has done in their lives. Their approach is as a servant, not patronising or overwhelming �?? they just want to love and serve!

So today we had a team serving free food, another offering a barber�??s service, pedicures and feet washing and the Wii console set up for the more energetic. Somewhere another team kept the whole event wrapped in prayer.

In four hours more Kingdom value work was done then a million sermons, open-airs or evangelistic literature could ever have achieved. I witnessed people whose hearts were previously hardened melt in the presence of these guys �?? powerful stuff.

Today, it was good to be a Christian and I just wished every church was like this.

A few more pictures on flickr.

http://www.epainosministries.com/

I dont know - But it is!

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:58:00 +0000

I know there are hundreds of thousands of people dying of starvation and disease across the world.

I know there are people wounded and dead as a result of a spate of knife attacks across the country.

I know I work with people who have issues far worse than I will ever experience personally.

I know my next door neighbour struggles to look after his wife with who has Alzheimer�??s.

So why is my mind consumed with vengence for the idiot that stole one of my hanging baskets from outside my front door last night.

I don�??t know �?? but it is!

A Hard Nut to Crack!

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:25:00 +0000

We have a young man with us who has massive anger management problems. He rows with staff, fights with his girlfriend, argues with his neighbours when they ask him to turn his music down �?? altogether a real live wire.

Things have got so bad that we have had to put him on a behavioural contract �?? a last attempt before we might have to ask him to leave. Chris came down to my office today to sign the contract.

Most people see (and fear) the anger within but I�??m always fascinated in talking to people like Chris because I have a spiritual theory (well, fact actually) that has never yet been proven wrong.

So I listened as hard man Chris let down a few barriers and spoke about �??not needing anyone�?? and �??looking after number one�??. He spoke about a family that effectively disowned him and a social network of friends that only used him for what they could get out of him.

And then this �??rock�?? this �??island�?? let something slip. He mentioned the word love and for a brief second a tear appeared in his eye.

I looked at Chris and laughed who was a bit taken aback by my reaction. I apologised but Chris insisted I tell him why I was laughing. �??Because underneath that hard impenetrable miserable shell is someone who wants to love and be loved in return�??.

Chris beamed, I beamed and I think a few angels in heaven did as well.

Abandoned Hero

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:13:00 +0000

�??I�??m sorry�??.

These were the only words Matthew could bring himself to say to me as I left him in the Accident & Emergency Department following yet another incident of self harm in our centre. �??

I�??m sorry�?? �?? as if he was a burden, a nuisance, someone who should be discarded.

This is a man who has been in the Armed forces for over 20 years. He served in Northern Ireland where he watched his best friend murdered, Bosnia and Afghanistan where he was medically discharged following shrapnel wounds to the head. This man has seen and done things he is not proud of, but did it in the name and on behalf of his country. His thanks �?? a handful of medals and two weeks rehabilitation.

And now he finds himself homeless and in a spiral of depression where he describes occasionally falling into a �??dark place�?? where he sees no hope or future. Where the nightmares of the last 20 years come back to haunt him night after night.

Thankfully, he trusts us enough to let us know when he is in this �??dark place�?? so we have been able to keep a close watch on him and thankfully get help before it is to late.

Whatever your political views may be, to abandon people in this way is totally outrageous and trying to get the long term professional support he needs is very hard indeed.

It is a sad fact that following any armed conflict, the number of homeless ex-military personnel increases. Matthew is not the first and he wont be the last. If anyone should be sorry, it should be us!

Truth & Lies

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:04:00 +0000

I�??m not sure what I prefer.

One of our residents has got himself into serious arrears because he claimed that his welfare payments had been suspended. Today he came to my office and wanted to tell me the truth. The reason he hadn�??t been paying any money was because he had been paying £100 for a prostitute which was really unfair as his friend got the same for just £25. To much information THANK YOU.

Another one of our guys also got the better side of me by spinning me stories of girlfriends with cancer, children needing clothes etc etc. I�??m a sucker for a sob story but can usually tell when someone is pulling a fast one. This guy was good but eventually even this string of stories started to unravel. He finally left so we had to clear his room. What was discovered inside proved that this guy was living two different lives. There was probably some truth somewhere but clearly he was trying to avoid some real issues that needed to be dealt with.

The truth can hurt sometimes but deceit can be completely destructive.

Not my Cup of Tea!

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:56:00 +0000

It says something about the way our morning worship /prayers are conducted in the centre that residents feel free to wander in or out at any time they wish.

Today, half way through the service, Peter stuck his head in the door and eyed the small congregation of residents and staff up and down.

Despite the fact it was in the middle of the Bible reading (Matt 25:1-13), I looked across and beckoned him in. �??Nah, not my cup of tea�?? he grinned and left as quickly as he arrived. Now judging from some of the private conversations I have had with Peter, I would argue that having a good conversation with God was exactly his �??cup of tea�??!

I caught up with Peter later that morning. �??You should have come in�?? I joked. �??We were talking about 10 virgins�??. �??Really?�?? Peter replied his eyes instantly lighting up. �??See, you should stay next time - you never know what you�??re going to miss�??.

It was a light-hearted conversation not meant to be irreverent but one that recognises that Peter (along with numerous others) is searching, God is challenging but we keep on resisting.

Better luck next time.

Drinking Habits

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:44:00 +0000

I usually only get two colds a year but they seem to stay around for some time and make me feel pretty low but the work has to go on (hence lack of blogging).

I was pleased to see that Westminster Council has taken steps to ban cheap alcohol from its off-licences. A brave step I wish would be replicated in Tower Hamlets.

Meanwhile, I cleared well over a hundred empty cans from the roof of our alcohol free building (don�??t ask!) and we continue to harass our local shops by suggesting they are acting irresponsibly by selling cheap cider to people that are clearly already inebriated. Apart from blaming it on other shopkeepers by suggesting they sell it 10p cheaper than they do, I�??m not sure our small campaign is having much effect.

We have to admit defeat with three or four of our heaviest drinkers whose lifestyle is not going to change in the short term and are quite frankly drinking themselves to a slow painful death. The last seed of hope is that by telling them we are referring them to a wet house (a place where they can drink inside day and night) a couple have said they will now seek help.

Diamond White

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:12:00 +0000

OK, it�??s time to get back on the knees and start praying again �?? compliancy has crept in. Joseph who had miraculously stopped drinking back in November is back on the Diamond White with a vengeance.

For those who don�??t know, Diamond White is a hideously cheap 'cider' (1% Apple - 99% chemicals I think!) with a very high alcohol content of 7.5%. Perfect for getting completely out of your head when on a budget. Most hardened drinkers will consume vast quantities of the cans although I believe it is also available from supermarkets in 3ltr bottles for only £4! It appears to be the drink of choice for many of the street drinkers that I have contact with. It is a drink that should be banned or taxed so heavily for the serious damage it inflicts on people.

Anyway, Joseph is slowly drifting back to his dirty unkempt former self alongside laughing and wanting to hug and whisper something in my ear about being his brother. Up to now I have ended up with either spittle or half chewed food in my ear �?? neither of which is an experience I would recommend.

Joseph knows I am disappointed to see him back drinking again but I also understand the pain that he wants to mask away. So it�??s back to praying earnestly and making sure I am there for him as much as I can be until by God�??s grace, he gains the strength to move forward again.

Priorities

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:36:00 +0000

The Salvation Army is currently going through an �??Administrative Review�??. As part of this process, I was asked to identify how much of my time was spent in administration. My gut feeling was �??far too much�?? but actually being able to identify the number of hours is proving to be an almost impossible task.

The culprit is having an �??open door policy�?? which allows residents and staff to just wander in and speak to me whenever they want and about whatever they want.

Some are simply social visits but more often than not it is related to a persons stay at the hostel. Others are to talk about particular difficulties a person may be having and occasionally the odd moan or groan. A simple twenty minute administrative task can take hours with this constant interruption.

Now the easy thing would be to shut the door and make large chunks of the day 'administration time'. I could refuse to take any calls and ban these casual visits that eat into my time. It would certainly make me efficient but I�??m not sure it would do much else. If I can�??t be available for people when they need me �?? what�??s the point?

And besides, if I had no residents or staff to support them I would have no administration anyhow so surely it is right that they should be my first priority?

I can hear all the accountants, managers and administrators squirming at the very thought! So I until I find a solution, it looks like I will continue to be inefficient during the day and catch up on all the administration at night. Just makes for a very very long day.

Do Something!

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:24:00 +0000

I was asked to prepare the following study for homelessness Sunday which was published in this weeks Salvationist magazine.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A deep concern for justice and addressing the needs of the marginalised have always been part of the mission of the church. Jesus claimed this when he read from the prophet Isaiah in the synagogue (Luke 4:18). He taught it in parables such as the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the account of the sheep and the goats �??I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Mat 25:31 ff).

Following on from Pentecost, we see the creation of a new community in which the justice of God was manifested: "Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need" (Acts 2:44-45). For the early church, justice and holiness were a way of life.

It is a sad reflection of modern day life, and perhaps an indication of its complexities, that we now tend to have special days or weeks to concentrate on particular issues. The danger of this phenomenon is that it encourages us to pay lip service to issues for a short time and then forget about them.

This year Homelessness Sunday and Poverty Action Sunday are only one week apart. At the same time we have Holocaust Memorial Day and World Leprosy Week. A bit more closer to home and we have the National Salt Awareness Week and my personal favourite, National Bug Busting Day which sadly is not about removing creepy crawlies from the garden but rather aims to prevent the spread of head lice in children!

Sticking to this trend, I would like to suggest that we invent a day (say a Sunday for convenience sake) where we can come together and earnestly pray for those we love (as opposed to the lost generally) that they might find Salvation. The best part, we can go home at lunchtime and not worry about it for the rest of the week.

Outrageous? Or a bit to close for comfort?

The parable of the Good Samaritan follows Jesus�?? acknowledgement of the greatest commandment (Luke 10:27) �??Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbour as yourself�??. This was no optional requirement �?? it demanded passion, urgency and total commitment.

It was that kind of passion that caused early Salvationists such as Staff-Captain Simpson to write in the War Cry (1884), �??Wait for nobody! Go straight at it! If you love these people you will find out where they are and how to get them�?� They are your neighbours. Get them saved!�??

It was that urgency that helped writers such as Albert Osborn to pen the words:-

Except I am moved with compassion,
How dwelleth thy spirit in me?
In word and in deed
Burning love is my need
I know I can find this in thee.
SASB 527

Through God�??s plan of salvation he lovingly helped us do what we could not do on our own. Through his plan for provision, he expects us to lovingly do for the needy what they cannot do on their own.

It was D.L. Moody who said �??If you can really make a man believe you love him, you have won him; and if I could only make people really believe that God loves them, what a rush we would see for the kingdom of God!�??

The Salvation Army is now the largest provider of social services after the government. Our founders motivation for social action and reform did not come from a desire to be a political or social activist but rather he saw injustice and felt compelled through love to address the issue. �??Just do something!�?? he implored his son Bramwell.

That �??something�?? has to be more than just a token gesture that eases our conscience. The excuse that life�??s problems have become to complex and answers seem so difficult simply perverts the justice of God and denies his grace and holiness. In effect, we become like the religious men in the parable of the Good Samaritan who simply passed by on the other side of the road (Luke 10:31-32).

Heed the warning from Proverbs. �??If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter. If you say, �??But we knew nothing about this,�?? does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? (Proverbs 24:10-12)

Move forward again to Acts 2 and read verses 42-47. Think about your own community / church / social centre. Is this a picture you recognise?
Do you have that zeal and passion for God and for you neighbour burning in your heart?
In the parable, would you be the priest, Levite or the Samaritan?
Given that loneliness, relationship breakdowns and poverty are some of the main causes of homelessness what �??something�?? can you do?

Finally, with our desire to focus on issues for a short time and then pass on to the next one, it is worth noting the longevity of the Samaritans actions (25-37). Not only did the Samaritan take considerable time out of his day to care for the injured man (33-34) but he came back the next day with two silver coins (enough for up to two months lodgings) with a promise to �??return�?? later on (35). The Samaritan didn�??t just pay lip service and move on but really cared for the injured man.

Then Jesus said, �??Go and do likewise.�?? (37)

Inflated Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:50:00 +0000

�??You know why I�??m here?�?? I was asked.

�??Well, I assume like most people you needed somewhere to live�??, I replied. It seemed a reasonable response for someone living in a hostel for former rough sleepers.

�??no, no. I�??m only here because of my swollen left testicle�??

Apparently, but for this predicament he would just get a job and somewhere to live straight away. Biting my tongue I couldn't help think that perhaps he would be better off in a hospital and just thanked God I wasn�??t responsible for having to write up his support plan.

I endeavoured to show a level of sympathy limited only by what anyone could reasonably expect another man to do when talking about such matters over a cappuccino at lunchtime!

You really couldn't make these things up even if you wanted too. This week is homelessness Sunday and I often get asked to speak about the causes of homelessness. I'm not sure if this new revelation is an eye opener or an eye squinter. Either way, it beats the usual list of favourites by a long shot.

Warm Feelings on a Cold Day

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:47:00 +0000

I�??m just back from a few days break in Ireland. A chance to catch up with friends and colleagues that I worked with, laughed, cried and occasionally fought with �?? but most of all respected. It was good to see the excellent work throughout Dublin is going as strong as ever.

Whilst walking in Dublin, I bumped into a couple of rough sleepers that I knew. I�??m not sure they recognised me out of my uniform but it was good to see them. Alas, many others I subsequently learnt have passed away prematurely �?? a salient lesson for those involved in ministry and mission.

My lodgings were courtesy of the parents of a member of staff. What is it about the Irish that you can walk into a strangers house and get made to feel like you had grown up there all your life? Wonderful people.

Back in the London smog, I started listening to some Irish tunes for nostalgias sake. I came across this haunting track from Paul Brady called the Homes of Donegal. It's one of those tracks that would make you homesick even in paradise! OK, so I wasn�??t in Donegal but it pretty much sums up how I am feeling right now.

I've just stepped in to see you all
I'll only stay a while
I want to see how you're gettin' on
I want to see you smile.
I'm happy to be back again
I greet you big and small
For there's no place else on Earth just like
The Homes of Donegal.

I always see the happy faces
Smiling at the door
The kettle swinging on the crook
As I step up the floor.
And soon the tay-pot's fillin' up
Me cup that's far from small
For your hearts are like your mountains
In the Homes of Donegal.

Outside the night winds shriek and howl
Inside there's peace and calm
A picture on the wall up there's
Our Saviour with a lamb.
The hope of wandering sheep like me
And all who rise and fall
There's a touch of heavenly love around
The Homes of Donegal.

The time has come for me to go
And bid you all adieu
For the open highway calls me back
To do these things I do.
But when I'm travelling far away
Your friendship I�??ll recall
And please God I'll soon return unto
The Homes of Donegal.

Love you guys!
Keep the flag flying!

No Go Area?

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:32:00 +0000

My first post of 2008 is courtesy of the Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Dr Michael Nazir-Ali who apparently is getting a bit hot under the dog collar over some remarks he made in the Sunday Telegraph this week. see the BBC News artice Here

In a nutshell, Dr Nazir-Ali claims that there have been attempts to "impose an 'Islamic' character on certain areas", for example, by amplifying the call to prayer from mosques. These have effectively made them 'no-go areas'.

A major criticism is that he gave no examples of these areas but judging by the number of TV and radio reporters in the locality (very close to the East London Mosque) I guess the speculation is that I must work in one of these �??no go areas�??.

Like it or loathe it, you cant avoid the fact that this part of the East End of London is very diverse and whatever might be associated as �??traditional English culture�?? is probably very much in a minority. A walk down Whitechapel market and you could be anywhere in the world �?? literally!

And yes, I do have to put up with the melancholy slightly off key amplified call to prayer five times a day. But as for making it a �??no go area�?? �?? I don�??t think so.

It is a shame this one sentence deviated from a wider point that Dr Nazir-Ali was making. Namely the years of political correctness of the governments integration policy has helped cause a multi-faith "mish mash". On this point I have to agree with Dr Nazir-Ali and it is something that we should be able to debate freely but perhaps with a little more tact and tolerance.

Rant over, will it be a Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Moroccan or African take away tonight? On second thoughts, I�??ll stick to plain old fish and chips.

Christmas 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:27:00 +0000

That's Christmas over for another year! I am to tired to make any constructive comments but it was worth it.

Banning Soup Kitchens

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:53:00 +0000

Westminster Council is under attack for suggesting that Soup Kitchens should be banned. It is a classic �??Scrooge�?? story that the press love to run at this time of year.

Most of the comments left on the BBC �??have your say�?? page are against the Councils decision but I want to say that I am 100% behind it.

Read the article here.

Firstly, let me say where I disagree with the Council. They say that �??soup kitchens are drawing former rough sleepers out of hostels and back onto the streets�??. I�??m not sure there are any facts to support this statement. It is true that some rough sleepers find it hard to cope with life inside a hostel (an issue in itself which needs urgent attention) but I�??m not sure the allure of a cup of warm soup and a curled up sandwich has anything to do with it.

What is true is that a majority of people accessing outdoor soup kitchens are not rough sleepers. I say this from personal experience from volunteering from such services in the past. I would suggest that they are people living in poor accommodation or B&B�??s and reliant on social welfare payments. It is a cheap form of food �??especially if you have the added problem of having to fund an addiction as well.

The only positive element I can find for soup kitchens is that they sometimes can provide a social network for people and probably keep the refuse department busy for a few hours afterwards.

On the whole, outdoor soup kitchens only provide help for the people delivering the service. These volunteers generously give up their time and resources and go home feeling that they have made a positive difference to the world. They remain completely blinkered to the fact that there are more humane services already out there.

There are numerous quality day centres in London that provide cheap food, clothing and showers for rough sleepers. The Council should be supporting and extending the opening hours of these services rather than encouraging such an outdated practice.

What needs to be addressed are the bigger issues around what attracts people to claim this free food night after night. Tackling issues of loneliness, poor living accommodation, poverty and addiction take a lot of effort but for now, jumping in a van for a few hours or bitterly complaining on the BBC web site helps people to feel good about themselves.

Open all Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:52:00 +0000

The annual Crisis Open Christmas event opens its doors on Monday for the next 7 days providing a staggering range of services for people who are homeless and perhaps more controversially, those living in hostel accommodation who are not roofless but get labelled as such.

Over the years, excellent public relations have made this event bigger and bigger. It is estimated that this year (2007) a record 7000 volunteers will provide services to 2000 people. That is a ratio of 3.5 volunteers for every attendee. I�??m not sure big is always beautiful and the bigger something becomes, the more it is in danger of losing that special something that started it in the first place.

Many (but definitely not all) day centres do close down for the Christmas period. The open Christmas event has always filled this gap and provides essential services for their guests whilst allowing workers to have a well deserved break.

Hostels on the other hand have to operate business as usual. Their doors stay open 24/7. They still have to provide the same range of services they do throughout the year. Staff will be working on Christmas Day in just the same way as they would for any other Bank Holiday.

At our Centre we do things slightly differently at Christmas by giving gifts and serving (as opposed to asking people to queue) the Christmas Day dinner. We also open the day for ex-residents and indeed anyone who may be lonely at Christmas. This small act of kindness is replicated in different ways and to different people right across the country by different organisations and churches.

This is how it should be at Christmas but to love people for a few days a year and ignore them for the rest seems somewhat hypocritical and very unhelpful. Yes, Christmas is a special time but we also need to spread some of these resources throughout the year.

This is not a criticism of Crisis who are an excellent organisation providing innovative work for homeless people right throughout the year. But I worry that as this event gets bigger and bigger, it is in danger of encouraging this �??do our bit and walk away�?? mentality.

Let�??s remember, �??People are for life �?? not just for Christmas�??.

The Big Wrap

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:49:00 +0000

The big wrap is over is record time. 150 presents bartered for, bought, packed and wrapped and now sat glistening in a large pile ready to be distributed on Christmas Day.

Not untypically for me, the whole process started later than it should have and even at the end of last week, the room was looking alarmingly sparse. But a trip to the local market and a couple of major retail stores soon saw the room for of boxes.

Our budget at the start of the financial year was £10 per resident but additional donations increased this to about £12. It is amazing what you can get if you do a little bit of bartering. This is not a skill I possess so I took a couple of staff with me who do - or at least are able to scare people into submission.

With everything back at the centre, I sent out an e-mail for staff to help pack the presents. The response was amazing and within 48hrs everything was done. This was not as easy as it sounds because a lot of the items were clothing and packers needed to know the size of the recipient.

There is then the complication of new residents coming in, residents changing rooms and others coming in on Christmas Day still unknown who will also get a gift. The whole thing was like a military operation but I guess that�??s the advantage of working for an organisation that is loosely modelled on one!

What am I?

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 23:36:00 +0000

We resettled a young lad the other week into his own home. I have to confess that I really miss Mussie as he would always be in the centre laughing, joking and smiling. He was one of those people who make you feel better no matter how rotten a day you might have been having.

But, like many others in the centre, Mussies outward joviality actually hid a troubled dark story.

I called round to his new flat tonight to drop of a bed because I had discovered he had been sleeping on the floor due to lack of money. The deal was that I would give him the bed and deliver it for free on condition that he made me a cup of coffee for my trouble.

Well bless him, when I arrived he had made me a traditional Algerian meal which we sat down together and shared. I have to say I was quite impressed in how he managed to adapt various household objects into perfectly usable pieces of crockery and cutlery.

Mussie is a believer in Islam and so once we had exhausted the subject of politics the conversation inevitably turned to religion.

Rather than talk about what divides, Mussie wanted to talk about what unites. The shared history that Muslims, Jews and Christians have. The fact that in the sight of God, we are all brothers �?? not enemies. The fact that most religious conflicts are actually really political and that the average man just wants to live in peace with his neighbour.

Liberalism or just idealistic?

I�??m not sure but for a few hours it was kind of a world I would like to live in. Wonderful as this utopia sounds, it would only be meaningful once we know the reality of having a relationship with our creator. Now clearly I have a belief that this is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ. Where I struggle is that insisting to Mussie and others that I am right and everyone else is wrong actually divides and alienates those with a strong differing view. On the other hand, I believe that Christ�??s love manifested in me can reveal the truth and help to heal the fundamental differences that clearly divide us.

Liberalism or just idealistic?

On the Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 19:14:00 +0000

A few years ago I did an excellent media training course with Carr Communications in Dublin. The opening statement on day one was �??you will remember this training course for the rest of your life�?? and boy was that the truth.

We were put in live situations with famous presenters and �??grilled�??. Worst of all, the jabbering nervous responses were then replayed to all my colleagues for general comment and analysis.

I left with the realisation that when it comes to the media, you really need to know your subject and be in no doubt that you are just a pawn in whatever angle is going to make the best news.

My last brush with the media was to publicise The Salvation Army�??s Christmas Family Appeal on BBC Radio Ulster. For some reason, even though I was just chatting to a friendly presenter with a microphone between us, knowing it was a live broadcast just made me very nervous. The more I tried to sound confident, the worse I must have sounded. Still, I didn�??t swear, burp or break wind so I should be grateful for that I guess.

Another friend, Matt White, who I first met in Northern Ireland and have a huge amount of respect for has just started on a new career in the media. Gateway FM is a local community radio station in Basildon but I managed to listen in today via the Internet to his new afternoon show. There is something about the warm tones of a soft Irish accent that makes me think he will go far.

Before the show ended I sent a quick e-mail to the studio to wish him well. To my surprise and embarrassment, he mentioned it. I�??m not sure if it was because he just didn�??t have any other messages or was just being kind but either way it was weird hearing your name being mentioned and I was momentarily uncomfortable until I realised I don't know anyone in Basildon - so that's ok.

It�??s strange that in my time I have spoken with paupers and presidents and felt absolutely comfortable in their presence. Stick me near a microphone and I just turn to jelly. Good luck Matt!

A bureaucratic battle worth fighting

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:05:00 +0000

Our Centre receives local government funding under a scheme called �??supporting people�??. In fact, we receive an awful lot of it and couldn�??t survive without it. As with many bureaucratic regimes, continued funding is based on a system of grading which seeks to prove the centre is providing the necessary support to residents. Whilst most of these requirements are basic good practice, it takes a rainforest of paperwork to actually �??prove�?? it. The old adage �??if it is not written down it never happened�?? is certainly true in this case.

There are some who believe the Salvation Army has sold its soul to the government because what we do is now dictated by them. It is true that you have to look after the hand that feeds you but I have never felt our Christian ethos has been compromised. If I did, I would be the first person to walk away from it.

Having said that, I�??m not sure a Christian fundamentalist would fare very well under the regulations but perhaps that�??s the idea and a pretty good one at that.

Anyway, ever since I arrived at the Centre last year, we have been working to remove some poor grades. At first this was a real uphill battle but in the last few months everyone has got on board and worked like Trojans to produce the required evidence and standards the government needed. Today was our revalidation inspection �?? the culmination of all those efforts.

In typical civil servant style, the inspector gave nothing away but we are confident and the positive buzz around the centre tonight was tangible. A year ago I couldn�??t bring myself to find anything particularly complimentary to say about the majority of the staff team. Today I went home proud of my centre, proud of my staff team and confident that our residents are receiving more love, compassion and support than ever before. If bureaucracy helped get us there then it is a price worth receiving.

Adeus Porto �?? �??Allo Barkin me old china

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 10:29:00 +0000

I was sat in the Porto funicular admiring the views over the city when suddenly an alarm bell rang. The car continued to climb but the other occupants seemed blissfully unaware of the danger. The alarm rang again, this time much louder and now I really started to panic. Suddenly the place filled with darkness and I had to adjust my eyes to focus on the impending disaster before me.

After a few seconds my brain kicked into gear. I was actually in bed dreaming. The alarm bell was actually the front door bell ringing. Yes, I was home �?? my 6p European tour has finally ended.

One of the disadvantages (and perhaps slightly exciting challenges) of trying to do things on the cheap is that you sometimes don�??t end up with quite what you had bargained for. This time it was my hotel location. My hotel was located in a small village called Apulia about 40km from Porto with no convenient transport connections.

Quaint as the village was, it really was like the place that time forgot. I suspect in the summer it is probably bristling with local holiday makers but at this time of year it was all but deserted. Still, I did have the beaches all to myself and it lacked the tourist touches that taint so many coastal locations. I walked for literally miles and enjoyed the deserted beaches with the Atlantic waves crashing up on to the sand.

The hotel service was exceptional �?? probably because of the lack of guests �?? but I did benefit from almost one-to-one service from the restaurant that kindly made my Octopus Rice (a first for me) to order.

Getting an early flight into Porto (the airport by the way, puts UK airports to shame!), I used the modern metro system to get into the city and explore the sights. Porto is a fascinating place with old and new buildings with a sprinkling of derelict ones comfortably hugging the steep banks of the river Douro. The starkness between the ramshackle buildings and the gleaming glass of the modern metro stations is something that just seemed to work.

Porto is compact enough to explore the city centre by foot but to get an overview a �?�10 boat trip up the river Douro is well worth the money. The metro ticket also covered use of the funicular to save the steep climb back up the backs to the centre. I guess I must have enjoyed the trip seeing as I am still dreaming about it!

Portugal is another place that will certainly be on my list of places to return to at some time. So that�??s it �?? Spain, France & Portugal for 6p. Well, a bit more given that it didn�??t include hotels, taxis, broken cameras and food. However, costs aside I have had the chance to briefly visit three places I had never been to before and I feel better for the experience.

Pictures from my trip to Portugal are here.

Adieu Marseille- Olá Porto

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:29:00 +0000

It is a wonder of modern travel that you can have croissants and coffee for breakfast in the warm sunshine of the south of France and cod and chips for tea in a rather cold and damp Essex. Stage 2 of my 6p European whistle-stop experience has been completed.

I use the word �??experience�?? rather than �??holiday�?? as this time I decided to hire a car for the duration. Not content with driving on the �??wrong�?? side of the road, they fit the steering wheels on the passenger side! I didn�??t think it would bother me until I discovered that it was extremely hard for my brain to dismiss over 20 years of driving instinctively as well as working out new road markings, translating French road signs and negotiating Marseilles roads which are clearly designed for nothing wider than a bicycle. Apart from rather spectacularly rearranging some road cones and at one point driving up a tram line, I thought I did quite well but it was not something I would rush to do again.

My hotel was about 10km from the city centre in a rather dreary urban part of town. The hotel literature said that the décor was based on a �??nautical�?? theme. I couldn�??t work out if they meant the �??Titanic�?? judging by the number of obvious leaks or an old �??U-Boat�?? given the degree of comfort. Still, by French standards it was very cheap and the hotel staff friendly enough.

Marseille is an interesting city that is worth going to once just to say you have been but probably not on a list of places I would jump to return to. Two things stand out. One, the graffiti is unbelievable �?? not in an artistic way, just the sheer amount of it. It is hard to find a single building or doorway that has not been affected. The second thing was the wind. �??Le Mistral�??, as it is known, is a strong wind that affects the region at this time of year. Away from the shelter of buildings you literally can get swept off your feet. Unfortunately, Le Mistral also finished off my digital camera which blew off a bench and broke the lens.

I guess for me the highlights were walking around the old port (Vieux Port) and visiting the basilica Notre Dame De La Garde which affords spectacular views, albeit windy ones, over the surrounding area. Overall the city just seemed a bit neglected and unloved but thankfully the car allowed me to explore some of the local area which has some fantastic scenery and quaint villages.

So its back home for a few days respite until I head off for the final stage, Porto.

Again, for those remotely interested, the pictures are here.

Adiós Barcelona - Bonjour Marseille

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:56:00 +0000

Had I have known the first of my 1p flights to Girona was going to be shared with a rowdy bunch of football supporters from Glasgow Rangers, I probably would have elected to go business class. Not that Ryan Air has such an arrangement and I noticed that even the overhead lockers now carry advertisements. It really is like travelling on a bus except you have the distinct disadvantage of queuing and waiting for hours as well as panicking if your deodorant is more than 100ml.

Thankfully, I had done my research beforehand and managed to get on the transfer bus to Barcelona before any of the football fans had collected their luggage. Barcelona has an excellent Metro system although for some strange reason, none of the stations are in particular logical locations and you have to study a map carefully to find them.

My hotel (Amrey Sant Pau) was not in the most scenic of locations but it was cheap, comfortable and the staff friendly enough. I spent the rest of the day exploring Barcelona. It really is a beautiful city and such a short visit did not do the place justice. My favourite place was the peace and tranquillity of Montjuïc which affords spectacular views over the city and was the area where the 1992 Olympics were held.

I had spent sometime before I arrived making an effort to learn some Spanish only to discover that in Barcelona they also speak Catalan. Was thank you �??grassy-arse�??, �??grath-ias�??, �??gras-ias�?? or �??grat-cie�??? �?? because I swear I heard all of them. Inevitably, my Spanish was so bad, the locals just asked me to tell me what I wanted in English.

Suspecting problems in ordering food, I had prebooked a meal for £12 (�?�17) at La Fonda del Port Olympic �?? a traditional restaurant on the marina. Armed with my voucher (in English) I handed it to the waiter who frowned and muttered and disappeared into the kitchen. I�??m not sure what happened next but I can honestly say I have never eaten so much in all my life and as I finished one course, another made its way swiftly over. 10/10 for that place.

I wobbled back to the hotel and the next day made my way to the Pullmantur Bus Station �?? a slight misrepresentation given that it was actually a shop. I had booked a trip to Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery about 40km from Barcelona. November was definitely the best time to visit as the scenery was spectacular and visitors were few!

Back in Barcelona, I spent the rest of my time exploring the City. I spent some time wandering the streets of the Gothic quarter, walking down La Rambla (a street similar to the feeling you get walking in Grafton Street in Dublin or Leicester Square in London) and made a return visit to the Sagrada Familía, an unfinished church designed by Gaudí.

I actually regret such a short visit but it will definitely be on my list of places to return to one day. For those even remotely interested in looking at other peoples holiday snaps, I have posted them on Fickr - Barcelona & Montserrat.

I have a few days respite (plus a return to the hostel for some work that needs to be finished) before I head off for stage 2 �?? France!

Watch this Space

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:59:00 +0000

This is the third day of my long awaited and (in my humble opinion) hard earned holiday. What have I been doing? Working �?? yes, working in the office on my holiday. In fact the last few weeks have been non stop 15 hour days, 7 days a week (hence the lack of blogging).

I have been typing on the computer for so long I feel like I have square eyes. And still there is more to do. I have to be back on Friday to finalise next years budgets. The joys of being a Salvation Army Officer. At least I can relax knowing that all my good works will guarantee me a place in heaven! �??What? �?�.D'oh!"

Ah well, I�??m off to Barcelona (well Girona actually) on Tuesday on the first stage of my European tour for 6p courtesy of Ryan Air. My Deputy Manager swears I�??ll end stranded up on a dirt track in the middle of Wales but I have a bit more faith.

And no, I'm not taking a laptop!

Mountains and Valleys

noreply@blogger.com (Howard) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 23:20:00 +0000

Something nothing short of a miracle has happened in the last few weeks. First of all Joseph has stopped drinking �?? no particular explanation �?? he has just stopped drinking. He has got his hair cut, shaved the beard, washed his clothes and stopped shouting �??General!�?? at me.

I still can�??t quite believe it and every time I see him I ask him how he is doing. �??Good my brother. This time with God�??s help I�??m going to do it�??

And then there is Jimmy. I haven�??t blogged about Jimmy before but he constantly saddens me. A qualified professional man degraded by the addiction of alcohol. A couple of weeks ago I found Jimmy in a room minus his trousers and underwear standing in a puddle of his own urine which he had tried to disguise by spreading talc over it. We never did find his trousers �?? and don�??t ask about the cleanup! The next day Jimmy was discovered lying down in the lift. We are not sure how many times he went up and down before he was discovered but he seemed completely indifferent to the whole experience.

A couple of days ago Jimmy passed me in the corridor. �??Morning Captain�?? he said. �??Was that Jimmy?�?? I thought and quickly turned back to check. It was �?? and again, completely cleaned up and sober. �??I can�??t work you out Jimmy, it�??s like mountains and valleys with you�??. Jimmy looked at me and laughed.

Today, as two men regained their dignity another was discovered in his room surrounded by a cocktail of used drug paraphernalia. The dilated eyes, drooling mouth and mumbling nonsense a pretty good indication that for the next few hours he was on a different planet to the rest of us.

It occurred to me that on the road of life, we will all have mountain and valley experiences. I thank God that these need not be cliff top experiences where we can fall without hope but through prayer and by His grace we can face the future without resorting to escapism.