Perhaps I misjudged Kidsports in this post as I had an e-mail from them this morning stating that as a result of mine and other comments they have reviewed their policy on charging for infants and will from today only be charging for infants 6 months and older.
At least some corporations do listen to their customers. Let’s hope they sort out their website soon too!
Some jerk pulled across my lane last night causing me to hit them, they then just drove off leaving me to call the police. Fortunately the folks in the van following behind were kind enough to stop and provide witness details and we both managed to clock the offending car’s registration. According to the police they were already wanted for a “failing to stop” offence!
Fortunately I wasn’t injured in the accident and no-one else was involved. What concerns me most is that it’s likely that I am going to be made to pay through the likely increases in my insurance premium even though the accident wasn’t my fault, presuming of course that the driver of the other car wasn’t insured (it wasn’t stolen, so why else wouldn’t they stop, drunk maybe?)
Very, very annoyed:(
On Sunday I had the privilege of participating in worship lead by one of Local Preachers on trial.
The theme for the service was faith and he gave a great illustration for the benefit of the children in the service at the beginning talking about the hazel tree in his garden.
Sadly, his confidence let him down, nerves got the better of him and I struggled to follow and in places hear the sermon.
What strikes me is that as preachers one of the most important things we need to learn (aside from theology and our own faith) is how to communicate with the congregation. Everyone’s with me so far as this is clearly obvious. I think the best approach and the one I use, is to speak using the same conversational style that you would use if you were chatting to your partner or friend. For those preachers who either don’t use notes at all or just use headline notes this will come naturally, but for those of us (like myself) who write out full scripts I find it helps to write it out as though I was conversing with someone. Then, by the time, I’ve thought about it, typed it out, printed and read it, and re-read it; the flow of the conversation is firmly implanted in my mind and it allows me to connect with the congregation with eye contact and gestures.
Most pulpits or lecterns will have the microphone (if there is one) positioned such that it works best when the head is raised, but if you are having to read the script then your head is down and not projecting into the microphone. The result is that you can’t make eye contact, making gestures is then fruitless and your voice ends up as a mumble. If, on the other hand, you have the conversation in your head you don’t have to rely on your notes so closely and can relax more with the congregation, making for a much pleasanter experience for the preacher and the congregation.
Of course all this is not just related to preaching but can equally apply to any form of public speaking. The more relaxed you are, the more effective you will be at putting your message across.
A warning to all would-be visitors to Watford’s KidsSports; Louise went this afternoon and had to pay for Eva. To put this in context Eva is not yet 5 months old, can’t crawl and slept for the duration of their visit! Utterly stupid in my opinion. Of course infants should be paid for if they can partake in any of the activities on offer at KidsSports, but surely they must realise that a baby that can’t even walk won’t be participating. The mind boggles.
I would provide a link but such is the professionalism of the organisation that they don’t even have a website!
Updated: I’ve found a link but the website is so appalling you wouldn’t want to go there!