Shall we Sing a Song for you?

I thought for a change I would approach this report my doing a mini-report on each of the GO team members.

Rob Pink: All of our previous GO team leaders are now RP ministers – no pressure, Pinky!
Cromie Robert: Seemed somewhat embarrassed by his new-found celebrity status. Soon recovered however and wrote a song about a certain Presbytery, which sadly can’t be shared. It may be a hidden track on his forthcoming album.
Amy:This was the 3rd week in the last 5 we’d spent together – we haven’t come to blows yet!
Deco: Nothing could follow his comments on the poor man’s Saw Doctors, but he did voice his intentions to preach from the Good News Bible last Sunday – which is funny when you know where he was preaching…
David Duly: According to Dave, the following were Bangin’:
Derek Petrie, walking to Bob & Georgia’s, the bookstall at guest night, the quiz at guest night, The Southern Presbytery Song, The Word Today, Richard Magee getting attacked through a letterbox by a dog, Tesco, receiving a cup of coffee, reading the Institutes, Stute Orange Juice
The following people were ‘The man’:
Fergus, Deco, Marcus McCullough, Graham, David Silversides, Sammy, Rennie, Peter F, Cromie Joel, Cromie, me, Pinky, the apostle Paul, Timmy McFarland, Bob Robb, big Bob, Schaffer, RC Sproul, Davy Sutherland
Christine: Concurred with Cromie’s song.

And a few obligatory snaps, although we were far too busy for too many photos!

That thing up at the front of the church is a projector! – Bob was using it for his sermon points

It’s pretty cool doing distribution this close to the church

Amy was rather traumatised by one of the tea towels in our church hall

This always cracks me up – a wee dude with a shotgun with the inscription “Never mind the dog, beware of the owner!”

Bangin’ – too right Dave!

Debs and Christine

Timmy Mallett

The locals are introduced to ah saw ooh!

Some Youth Club socca action – played at intense speed, hense the blurring!

And on to the HBC:

Letitia

Cromie

Andrew and Colin

Matthew

Andy

Richard

Pinky and the Brain!

Dave and Cromie

Cousins

Samuel

I’ve been meaning to do this post for nearly 3 months now, finally I have some time on my hands :-P

For the last two years I lived in Renwick, and before I move on to living in Ulsterville, I thought I would mark the occasion (I’m not going to do a round up of all we did, because it would take far too long!). It all seems a long time since September 2004, meeting the new people, playing off-the-ground tig in the common room, working out how to get around Belfast – never mind doing Computer Science!

One of the most traumatic things about leaving was having to dismantle my Northern Ireland shrine (which I started before the start of term this year and continually added to all year).

In full glory

The destruction starts…

Man that’s grim

‘Give that man a ladder!’ – for the last time :-’(

Further depression was generated by the starkness of the ‘On End of Tenancy’ notice. However, the line “Committee will take all necessary steps to ensure arrears are paid” is quite ironic in view of the fact that the committee owe me 35 notes for a BBQ, eh GMO?!

But anyway, all of this depression is only because of what a great time I had in Renwick! If you are going to be a student in Belfast, apply for Renwick! If you are a student in Belfast and not in Renwick, get round there! If you’re intending to leave Norn Iron for uni, take a long hard look at yourself! My advice would be to choose the university (Q, Q, QUB!) before the course. And I’m deadly serious.

Another reason for this post is to show pictures of the t-shirts that were made during our last day or so, as not all the residents will have seen theirs! The stuff on the back should be easily understood to Renwick residents (and unofficial residents!) of the past year. Except the green blob, which is meant to be a ball, and represent sports in general. Looking at the tshirts has also reminded me of one of the best things about Renwick, the Bible Studies! Great times! Anyway, here they are:

Some people can’t spell!

And here’s a photo from our last ever night in Renwick:

Good Times

This post has been slightly overshadowed however by recent developments on the admissions front. You may be all set for going into Renwick, having been told you’ve been given a place, having paid your money since June – when, 4 weeks before term starts (having turned down all offers of other accomodation), you may be told that because you haven’t got the grades to go to Queen’s (but while you’re still quite happy to stay in Renwick and go to Jordanstown, getting the bus at the top of the road to any day you have the misfortune of being in class), you’re being kicked out. The term, I believe, involves the royal family going down mines.

PETRIE DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF IRELAND’S MOST FAMOUS EVER BAND

DRUMAHOE, LONDONDERRY (Reuters / SWS) – RPC Theological College student Derek Petrie this evening claimed that he’d never heard of U2 before last week. Donegal music legend Cromie Robert didn’t know whether to laugh, or sadly shake his head – so he did both. Seconds previously, ‘Deco’ had revealed that he’d never heard of Westlife until 2 weeks ago. In this case however, Cromie’s response was “Ignorance is bliss”. Completely unperturbed at never having heard of a band that have sold over 170 million albums worldwide, Petrie returned to talking about Martin Llyod-George.

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GO Team going well. Should send out another prayer request I suppose (do LK not need prayer Mark?!). Today was like the busiest day on a GO team ever!! Getting through the leaflets well. Help from some of the young people in the church has been encouraging. Pray God would use the leaflets. Children at HBC / Youth Club have listened well – pray they’d be saved.

I was going to post this before TF, but didn’t get time to get it finished, so not quite so breaking news anymore…

David Officer has returned to former club Dundela, while also signing for Amateur League side Islandmagee, after 2 years at Bangor. Speaking exclusively to SWS, Officer revealed that he was still on a downer after that penalty miss in the final of the recent Ballyclabber tournament and is looking to get back to winning ways.

After a long spell with the Duns, Offy attracted the attention of Bangor in the summer of 2004 by standing on chairs and talking into microphones, and a big money soon move followed.

Offy’s biggest moment for Bangor came in April of this year when they faced Linfield in an Irish Cup Semi-Final. Despite about 1700 fans turning up specifically to support him, Offy was left on the bench. He came on in the second half and hit the bar, but Bangor were left ruing the decision not to start him and the game finished 1-3.

By the end of the season, Officer was showing signs of mental strain at not starting as often as he would have like. He briefly experimented with levitating, but soon found that it clashed with his RP beliefs:

In July he reached his lowest point, wandering about Armagh dressed as Doctor Who. (Brian, on the other hand, was behaving perfectly normally)

Who are ya? (Geddit?)

Offy appeared to be back to his best at the Ballyclabber Tournament, getting a brace for Mick’s Muckers in their opening game thanks to some generous Bready goalkeeping.

The Muckers got all the way to the final, and enjoyed huge support as the only RP representatives left in an RP competition. A 1-1 draw took the match to sudden death penalties. Offy took first – and missed! However their opponents also missed, much to young Officer’s relief. His relief didn’t last long however as the Galacticos held their nerve to win the trophy and Offy had to accept a runners-up medal.

All that is in the past however, and Offy has been welcomed with open arms to his 2 new clubs. Islandmagee’s most ardent fan, a Mr. Paul Gibson, said:

“David should come and play on the finest grass surface the province has to offer, and forget about playing for that lot at Dundela and stay with us for the season, because we’re a great bunch.”

Paul (on the right) has been to more RP churches than Gary

Having been to Wilbourne Park (and even written a report of it!) I can actually confirm young Paul’s statement. I’ve even watched them away! (Incidentally, on the same day they signed him, the Islanders also signed a boy called Joel Lough. True fact!) The Duns are just as delighted to have him back. His squad profile reads:

DAVID OFFICER – Midfielder: This much-liked player with Dundela fans, should never have been away from the ‘Park’. Having spent a recent interim period at Bangor where he also tasted some success, David re-joined his beloved Dundela at the start of this season.

So the future looks bright for Offy – but just wait till the Duns play Stute…