Hi Ian

Still no wiser on the boot scraper but one of the church wardens (my prime suspect for asking) wasn't there. She'll be back soon and I'll interview her on the subject.

There's no such thing as a patient from hell. My particular gift is effectively managing patients with fear of dental treatment and even phobias of it. Naturally a phobia being a fear that is impossible to rationalise is more difficult. My first objective is always to separate the treatment from me. Fear of treatment is allowed, fear of me is not. Trust is all important. I work with my patients to achieve healthy mouths and thoroughly enjoy helping people through difficult appointments. I work over in Warrington so it's unlikely I've seen you

We haven't as yet publicised the website outside of the church but I was saying to Viv only yesterday I am confident we are bug free now and we should start to promote it more. I feel it will be many peoples first impression of our church in this day in age. It's going on our new notice board outside church which apparently is coming soon. Any other ideas please do let me know.

When I mentioned where Kat and I would go following marriage I did mean in terms of church attendance. Difficult decided which church to remain part of, although it may be both.... we're just greedy I guess

Mission work may be part of God's plan for our lives (Kat is studying medicine) but we'll leave that to Him to nudge us if appropriate. I have a heart for Africa and am particularly impressed by the work of the african children's choir (worth a google).

Anyway must off to bed, early start in the morning.
Every blessing,
Mark

Viv...

"Just adding my voice to Mark's in saying you are most welcome here I see this as site serving the whole community, not just the church community, and it's great to get to know new people here."

Thanks for that added welcome...it's very reassuring.

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"I attended St Andrew's as a teenager and I was married there in 1987. We returned to the UK nearly 2 years ago after living in New Zealand for 12 years... I play the clarinet in the music group, help out at Little Fishes and belong to a couple of midweek groups."

I used to play the clarinet, also, back at school (and for a little while after that.) I had a Corton Sapphire ("Boehm" system), with 17 keys and 6 rings (yep...old, I know). It set my pocket money back 50 guineas - a fortune, back then! I bought it from "Rushworth & Draper", which was a music section inside the Grange Road "Robbs" shop. I used "Ricoh" No 2 reeds and I spent as much time cleaning and polishing it as I did playing it.

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"It would be great to meet you face to face sometime - when you're ready! In the meantime it's nice to talk to you here!"

Sooner or later, we'll probably meet. You'll know me when you see me...I look like a genetic cross between Frankenstein and Elephant Man. Don't say you weren't warned, good Lady.

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"Hopefully we will manage to solve the boot scraper mystery tomorrow."

And, I'll keep checking back, to see if there's been any news about it.

Ian.

Mark...

"Thank you for sharing so much, it's great to get to know you better. There is certainly no problem whatsoever with your continued participation in this board regardless of whether you attend St Andrew's or have an active public faith. We, as the church is, are open to ALL comers regardless of where they are with faith. Indeed I am thrilled that you're involved in the site as one of its purposes (as I see it anyway) is to extend our church to the wider community."

- How is the existence of the web site and board being brought to the attention of the Bebington folks, right now, if at all?

- Do you feel that you'd prefer to keep a lower profile until any presenting board's tech hitches and gremlins are resolved?

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"I am pleased to hear your treatment is going well, agoraphobia is a difficult phobia to overcome. I look forward to meeting you when you are ready."

It's a slow battle, with huge leaps and disheartening backsteps and little ability to guarantee which setback will show up on which day, or even on which outgoing attempt. It's also exacerbated by other aversion / phobia responses, but...I beat it, now and then, for a while. I beat it back in 2005, but then my mother died (two Augusts ago, now, in fact) and the agoraphobia just shot back into place as if it had never gone.

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"Let me tell you a little something of myself. I, as I am sure you can guess, am not particularly private about my faith in the Lord Jesus. Hence why I set up a website all about it. I find it greatly encouraging to meet with fellow Christians during the week, and also very much enjoy being part of this board."

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts...I know what you mean, even though I'm not a social mixer, generally.

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"I am a dentist by profession..."

You're a dentist? Ouch! Remind me to keep my mouth shut, while talking with you! (Well - y'know) Dental treatment (and related matters) are among my many socially crippling phobias! You may already have treated me, come to think of it - I'm usually referred to, among professionals, as 'The Patient From Hell'?

Let me know when dentists are able to plant tooth seeds in a gum and grow a perfect replacement tooth! We'll do lunch! We'll talk! I'll make you rich!

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"As well as being involved in the church website I am involved in youthwork at St Andrew's (see blog), ..."

I'll go and view the blog after posting this.

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"...the multimedia stuff (sound / video projection) in church as well as 'teching' some other events at other churches. I am up for re-election on PCC tomorrow night, and hope to get back on as I am in the throws of upgrading the sound system in St Andrew's. Some folk are finding it difficult to hear at the back, and for others it's too loud at the front. We are addressing this problem but I'm sure you can imagine that it isn't easy in a grade 1 listed building with great big pillars throughout!"

I saw the columns in pictures elsewhere on the site and I can just about remember them from over 30 years ago. I can imagine you'd have some audio problems with those and the stone walls. It's not like you can carve speaker pods into the pews, is it, like those seen in the House Of Commons? But, everybody that I know who has been inside says that it's a pretty incredible place: I can believe it. I've just bought the Richard Green book about the Church - I'm looking forward to getting stuck into that, soon.

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"Kat, is involved at Jireh church in Higher Bebington, so I also enjoy fellowship with them. It's a much smaller church and this has the advantage of being able to get to know everyone really quickly. I really feel a great warm welcome whenever I join them. Indeed I am involved in one of their housegroups, not one of ours."

I'll go and Google 'Jireh' right away, to learn what it means...you've just sprung a new one on me (he said, showing his ignorance!)

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"The question of where we'll go together once married is still very much an open one."

Which areas are on the menu? Travel the world as missionaries, etc.? (Or, do you mean areas of Faith, etc., and not geographical locations?)

Hey...if married couples go on honeymoons, then...now you're engaged, will you be going on a 'minimoon', somewhere? A day trip to Borneo, maybe?

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"I look forward to continue to meeting with you in this forum, and you'll always have the accolade of being one of our first members."

Thanks for the reply, Mark. It's nice to be here, to be welcomed and nice to be in on something good as early as this.

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"PS Rest assured I'll put the word out tomorrow on the boot scraper."

I shall look forward to this one.

Ian.

Hi Ian,

Just adding my voice to Mark's in saying you are most welcome here I see this as site serving the whole community, not just the church community, and it's great to get to know new people here

I attended St Andrew's as a teenager and I was married there in 1987. We returned to the UK nearly 2 years ago after living in New Zealand for 12 years... I play the clarinet in the music group, help out at Little Fishes and belong to a couple of midweek groups.

It would be great to meet you face to face sometime - when you're ready! In the meantime it's nice to talk to you here!

Hopefully we will manage to solve the boot scraper mystery tomorrow

Viv

Hi Ian

Thank you for sharing so much, it's great to get to know you better. There is certainly no problem whatsoever with your continued participation in this board regardless of whether you attend St Andrew's or have an active public faith. We, as the church is, are open to ALL comers regardless of where they are with faith. Indeed I am thrilled that you're involved in the site as one of its purposes (as I see it anyway) is to extend our church to the wider community. I am pleased to hear your treatment is going well, agoraphobia is a difficult phobia to overcome. I look forward to meeting you when you are ready .

Let me tell you a little something of myself. I, as I am sure you can guess, am not particularly private about my faith in the Lord Jesus. Hence why I set up a website all about it . I find it greatly encouraging to meet with fellow Christians during the week, and also very much enjoy being part of this board. I am a dentist by profession and am involved in some dental discussion forums, but I have to agree that this one is a very pleasant place to be. My hope is that it will continue to grow in use and user numbers, and not just from people who go to the church but others in our community as well.

As well as being involved in the church website I am involved in youthwork at St Andrew's (see blog ), the multimedia stuff (sound / video projection) in church as well as "teching" some other events at other churches. I am up for re-election on PCC tomorrow night, and hope to get back on as I am in the throws of upgrading the sound system in St Andrew's. Some folk are finding it difficult to hear at the back, and for others it's too loud at the front. We are addressing this problem but I'm sure you can imagine that it isn't easy in a grade 1 listed building with great big pillars throughout!

Kat, is involved at Jireh church in Higher Bebington, so I also enjoy fellowship with them. It's a much smaller church and this has the advantage of being able to get to know everyone really quickly. I really feel a great warm welcome whenever I join them. Indeed I am involved in one of their housegroups, not one of ours. The question of where we'll go together once married is still very much an open one.

I look forward to continue to meeting with you in this forum, and you'll always have the accolade of being one of our first members.

God Bless,
Mark

PS Rest assured I'll put the word out tomorrow on the boot scraper

Mark...

Thanks for the boot-scaper thing...I'm looking forward to hearing what happened (if known) to an old, cast-iron friend! If time is an element at the Annual, and you feel unable to include the boot-scaper item, it's wise, obviously, to leave it out. Okay! I lied! Ask them! I'm itching to know!

As to the St Andrew's Church services question...

I have attended no St Andrew's Church services - not, at least, since my sister's wedding, back in the 1970s. I'm something of a loner most of the time, to be frank.

I tend to lean towards the 'private' when it comes to matters of Faith. I realise that this may cause some frowns or moments of consternation among the Crew, here, and that is only to be expected, I'd guess.

I can happily say...

1. We will meet (I certainly hope so, anyway) - quite probably this year. No mystery intended. I'm a sufferer of quite strong agoraphobia (undergoing highly successful telephone therapy for this) and I intend to kill the phobia off during the next few months!

2. Why did I join? Well...I just like engaging in exchanges and dealings with good people doing good works, with or without an emphasis on religion or Faith. Also...this web site and the discussion board are the best examples I've seen of 'localisation' of the Internet and it's nice to be and feel a part of that. I think that many people consider the Internet to be so huge and complex that their own local area seems unlikely to be represented or included in it all. This site (and board) dash that notion very effectively and, hopefully, set a great example for other institutions and groups, locally.

As to the item about my Faith being private and about me not being a church-goer...

...will that be, or become, a problem?

I'd hate it to be an obstacle and I realise the potential in those facts, for drawing suspicion, but now would be a good time for any / all board members to say whether or not they feel that there will be any problems regarding it.

Ian.

Thanks Ian.

I'm all primed to ask around tomorrow evening at the APCM about the boot scraper. I am curious do you ever visit St Andrew's services? It would be good to meet you in person after all the on-line exchanges

Mark

Mark & Kat...

(For a moment, there, I thought that the notice said "Kate Moss" - I hope I'm forgiven for that!)

Congratulations, indeed, on the engagement!

Ian.