A few of my favourite things

So my friend Jenny, who is severely ill with ME, wrote a long blog post titled "My Favourite Things" (do go and read her original post - or at least the introduction - for more context) and her friends have been challenged to write similar posts on 1st December, to bring a smile to her face. So, Jenny, this is my attempt.... (And I challenge you, even if you don't know Jenny, can you come up with your own list?!)

I don't like labelling things as my "favourite", as it feels too definite; so instead, I felt it more appropriate to title this "a few of my favourite things" (in deference to The Sound of Music, of course!) I have to say that I have actually found it quite a hard post to write. There are many things that I like, but often in the busyness of life, and in the desire to please others, I always end up pushing down the things that I like, until I've almost forgotten them myself! But I still find a key giveaway sign when I really like something, is that it makes me smile or grin a lot, so, based on that, here we go...

A few favourite TV programmes:
Like Jenny, I also like Chuck (if you don't know it, check it out - it's awesome!) and Doctor Who. Also...

Warehouse 13 - a series that my brother introduced me to

Game shows - too many to name, but I particularly enjoy watching question or word-based games.

The Great British Bake Off - traditionally I've always found cooking shows quite boring, and never really watched them. But I really got hooked on this show last year, and have been watching it since. I love the creativity of the people on the show, and seeing what creations they come up with!

Childhood programmes
The New Adventures of Superman - I am proud to admit to owning all 4 seasons on DVD! I loved this show (helped by the fact I *may* have had a slight crush on Dean Cain).

Ocean Odyssey - About a girl, Neri, who can breathe underwater and speak to whales. Awesome show. I love swimming, and when I was in the sea on holiday I always pretended to be Neri. I think this show is where my love of swimming underwater comes from :)

David the Gnome - very few people seem to have ever seen this programme, but I loved it! (It was on very early on Sunday mornings I think).


A few favourite books:
Gentian Hill (Elizabeth Gouge) - my all-time favourite, which I keep coming back to. She is a great writer, but that's not the real reason I love it so much (I've read other books by her which I don't love so much). I think the real reason that I love it is because I really identify with some of the characters, and have learnt a lot from them.

Chronicles of Narnia (C.S Lewis) - my dad read these to me when I was younger, and I often re-read them to this day. I also have a couple of them on audiobook, and I always listen to them to cheer myself up whenever I'm feeling ill and don't have the brainpower to read an actual book!

Archives of Anthropos (John White) - series of 6 books that my godparents introduced me to. Similar concept to the Narnia books, in that they are an analogy of some of the key passages in scripture.

The Oriel books (Robert Harrison) - "Oriel's diary", "Oriel's travels" and "Oriel in the desert". These are books based on the lives of 3 figures in scripture (Jesus, Paul and Moses), as seen through the eyes of the fictional archangel Oriel. I was introduced to these books by a friend at Bristol uni, and they have really helped me with thinking through these familiar parts of scripture in a new way; I often find that fiction books engage me more than non-fiction and I learn more through stories than documentaries!

The Dark is Rising (Susan Cooper) - a great series of books based on the Arthurian legend. I have read and re-read these books so many times that my copy is falling apart. The only part I don't like is the ending, as it grates on me somewhat (which is why I have stopped reading them of late).

The Ender saga (Orson Scott Card) - very thought provoking books. Don't know how the recent film compares, as I haven't seen it yet.

Agatha Christie's Poirot - I have read pretty much all of the Poirot books ever written.

Sherlock Holmes - similarly, I have the complete Sherlock Holmes, and love his deduction abilities (maybe it appeals to the scientific side of me?!) I prefer the earlier stories though, as the later stories can be a little weird.

Redeeming Love (Francine Rivers) - an incredible romance novel, based on the Biblical book of Hosea.


A few favourite films:
Pride and Prejudice - I do enjoy the most recent film, but the BBC drama is still my favourite. My G'ma enjoyed the BBC drama so much that she wore out her VHS tapes (ah, those were the days!) and I have very fond memories of watching it with her :) I now own both versions on DVD.

The Saint (film with Val Kilmer) - the perfect mix of action and romance.

The Fifth Element - a slightly quirky sci-fi film, which I saw at the cinema when it first came out years ago. It's a great mix of action, romance and comedy, and it's firmly become one of my "films to stick on to cheer me up when I'm ill".

The Holiday - Great romcom; fun to watch, with some good messages. I just have to try not to wonder too hard about how they solve the problem of this transatlantic travel thing!

The Little Mermaid - my favourite Disney film, ever! I haven't watched it for years though, as I banned myself from watching it because I always cried so hard watching it that it gave me a huge headache! (I tend to cry a lot with films - regardless of whether they're happy or sad!)

I should also mention that I'm really enjoying the recent spate of superhero films (e.g. the Avengers and everything associated!)


A few favourite musicals:
I'm a huge fan of musicals, and love Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals (especially Cats and Starlight Express), as well as things like Les Mis, The Sound of Music, and Annie.


Some favourite folk music:
Megson - a great husband and wife duo, with some great song arrangements and wonderful vocal harmonies. I particularly love the songs "The Old Miner" and "The Handloom Weaver", which Glyn and I have played together on occasion.

Eastmountainsouth - these guys only produced one album, sadly, but it's beautiful! Incredible harmonies. I particularly love the song "Show me the River", as it holds some very special memories for me.

Show of Hands - awesome band to see live! They have a lot of stage experience, and I am always in awe of their ability to craft the "ebbs and flows" of their live shows. I have learnt a lot from these guys.

Cara Luft - great musician and song writer, with a big heart. Her shows are always great fun and I enjoy keeping up with her travels via her news updates.

Seth Lakeman - what can I say?! Amazing. I am in awe of his ability to play the fiddle AND sing at the same time. I also greatly admire his tenor guitar! (I want one!) He writes great songs, crafts a great live show, and I think that he has done great things in terms of making folk music popular for a new generation (whatever the more traditionalist folkies may say).

Fidola - this is a group that I saw at Sheffield Folk Festival, when Glyn and I were there to perform. They were really my first introduction to folk tunes, and I still listen to their album to this day - beautifully crafted.

Martyn Joseph - a great showman, with a great heart to bring people hope and to fight for social justice. I particularly enjoy his album "Whoever it was that brought me here will have to take me home".

Soiree - not usually my preferred style of music, but these guys have been good friends to me over the last few years and I always really enjoy seeing/hearing them perform together. Sue has a beautiful voice, Steve is a great guitarist and Hector does a wonderful Elvis impersonation (as well as being a great singer).


Some favourite folk tunes:
Shove the pigs foot a bit further into the fire (great tune and great title!)

Charity Tweed - written by Pip Jopling

The Sloe Gin set - originally performed by Spiers and Boden, but I love the version performed by Glyn Collinson and Andrew Marcus, which never fails to bring a smile to my face when I listen to it.


Some favourite Christian music:
Steven Curtis Chapman - anyone who has known me for a while will probably have heard me speak about this guy! I was privileged to see him perform live in London last year, and his music has been such a source of encouragement for me. He is so open about sharing the ups and downs of his life with his fans, and it is so powerful to see that he really does believe all of the things that he sings about.

Bethany Dillon - a great singer-songwriter.

Switchfoot
Ginny Owens
Nathan Tasker
Kari Jobe
Chris Tomlin
Jeremy Camp

Some favourite Bible verses:
Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Ephesians 3:17-19 "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Psalm 139

1John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 2

2Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

John 15:5 " “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."


A few of my favourite things to do:
Music
- I love sessions; when I was first introduced to these through the folk scene, it just felt so right; it's how music should be - a group of people, enjoying playing and sharing music with each other

- I have so many good memories from playing in the band Waterfront, either as a duo with Glyn, as a trio with Glyn and Ben, or also with Pip or Richard.

- I far prefer going to a pub and listening to live music, than going to a club. I owe The New Root a huge amount, for helping me to discover the joys of live music and for also introducing me to Glyn, with whom I played in Waterfront.

- God has given me both a certain amount of musical ability and opportunities to develop that ability, and I love having the opportunity to use this to serve others through being involved in the worship teams at church :)

Landscape photography and spending time in God's creation - I don't do this nearly enough, but spending time in nature always refreshes my soul and photography lets my creative side make an appearance :)

I also love spending time with friends, and playing board games.


Lastly...a few favourite foods:
Roast chicken
Tomatoes
Chocolate cake (mmm....)
Pineapple


Thank you for reading this long post; I hope that it has given you some insight into the world of Ro! :)