Wait!, when did that happen.

I am home again on a flying visit, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and thought it was time again to make a posting here in this blog. So Hi people over here.  I am a third year now. Which is scary, I mean very scary.  Looking back over year two it does feel as if I learnt a lot. Although at times during the year itself it didn't really feel as though I was leaning all that much. But somehow in the end I did.  For example as I was writing my essay for parshanut (classical commentaries on the Biblical text). I found that yes I could read Rashi, and Rashbam, and Radak, Ibn Ezra was a little tougher but even so it was doable.
Also looking forward to the High Holy Days although its still a massive amount of work but it feels so much more realistic than it did last year. Also in myself I feel more assertive and confident. However, I still don't feel as fully formed (rabbinically speaking) as feel I should be/hoped to be by this point. But its probably a exponential process.
I have also been to NewPort and had my assessment, the lady doing it said she had never quite seen a profile like mine (which is at least in part unsurprising but a bit wired nevertheless).  So this is the still before the storm (Yomim norm) and then the 3rd year. The new AGrad.dip and working more in the community.
I have had a chance to catch up with friends. Went out with Matthew and Mandy. We ended up at the same pub where Emily and I ended up at during our not all that successful trip to IKIA.

Back home for a bit.

As the title of this post suggests I am back home for a bit.  But first I went to Manchester to have a meeting with my community for the High Holy Days. I am feeling pretty confident about how this is going to go (much more than I was last year).  But Manchester had changed much more than I would have thought. (Although it has been more than two years ago so I guess I shouldn't be surprised).  I then headed back to Stoke where I am now.
Apart from starting the process of getting ready for the HHDs, I got my results for the second year, which I passed. Overall I was pretty happy with my results. Although it was a somewhat mixed bag.  I am also finding time to do a bit a light reading which is fun and something a really don't get much time for during term time.
I knew that this is a short post but its really only something of an updating one.

Newcastle holiday

I have just returned from a short family holiday, really no more than a long weekend. But getting any brake at all was great. I took the train up from Kings Cross and got to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, not the normal one I go too.  That Friday we just had a standard Friday night meal Helen and Andrew and rebecca baby and Said and of course Mum and Dad and me. On Saturday we went to the Baltic art gallery which was really interesting and had some exciting exhibitions. I especially liked Luca (which was a mountain inside a mountain hut.) On Sunday we went to the beach it was sunny, how I missed sunshine.  I made two beach sculpture. I have tried to post photos of them.  Monday we had basically the whole day in town so we went to a really nice art gallery (mre classical this time).  Then it was time to come home I separated from the others at the station, they were going to Stoke and I of course was coming back to London. Today I taught my Bar-mitzvah kid at FPS and then went into school. I got a couple of educational posters. 

This first one is called rainbow stones, not a very imaginative title.

This one doesn't really have a title.

Last time uploading these didn't work that well lets hope that it works this time. :)

On Holiday

I am now enjoying what counts as my summer holidays, a long weekend up in the Northeast with my staying at my sister Helen's house. Mum and Dad are here too, along with Rebecca, Said and Aaron. The train journey up was very long, starting at Kings Cross and going up the East Coast Mainline.  About 5.5 hours due to delays.  

Before I left Emily and I had dementia training at Jewish care, this is in part preparation for our pastoral course next year.  I am still working away on the Limmud Chrvaruta booklet, which even though its hard work I am enjoying. 

Generally things are good and I am relaxedish (not thinking about results or work too much) we are probably going to an art gallery latter and I may even play some tennis. 

A very rainy summer

The title says it all really, I have never known a summer like it. Rain, rain, and rain. continually.  Its not too bad though because I have been mostly catching up on sleep and boy did I need to do that.  I am still working on something for the Limmud Booklet although that is all coming to an end, I am also working on the stuff for Daf Ba Yomi. Apart from that not much has been happening Emily and I have been making some early stage movement on the more practical elements of next years course, and I have started thinking about the up-coming High Holy Days. But peaceful really not too much happening but certainly no opportunity to feel bored or anything.
I go on a family holiday at the end of this week although its really nothing more than an extended weekend. But I am looking forward to it.

End of second

The Second year has ended. The last week was our summer programming (Kol Bo) which this year was about Israel. Interesting but very intense especially after such a long year. I would get home after each day and just collapse.
Yesterday there was a really nice service at college. The three five-years (who will be ordained on Sunday) led it and were presented with tallitot by Charles and Deborah. So now all I have to do are two things related to my practical rabbinics course. (very little indeed really). And then its just a question of waiting on results. Not that I am all that concerned all I want is pass, which is an unusual thing for me to say but a pass is a pass is a pass. And as our teacher Laura keeps telling us thats all that really matters none will care what we got in our second year midrash class for example. Tomorrow I am reading Torah and preaching at WCS and then that really is it for the second year.
I am trying not to think about the 3rd year to much, i have to pass the second year for one thing and secondly its really just to far away to be concerned with.
last Weekend I went to Chaggigah the British Reform Biennial which was great. Really enjoyable but so tiring and when added to exams and assessments which came before and Kol Bo that came after I'm shattered and am not feeling well. Although I am pretty sure that its nothing more than being overly tired and warn out.
Apart from that I am feeling okay, upbeat even. Time, shortly to take a few deep breaths and relax.

Last Assessment update (I hope)

Hey again people on this blog. Time for another update and very close to my last one.  I am still busy but I am really starting to feel that the end is kind of in sight.  All I have left to do is one smallish bit of work for college, at least from the academic standpoint. I then have one service to lead, a Torah reading and sermon, write a report and finish my placement journal. That sounds like a lot, and it is, but its so much less than it was earlier that I am almost feeling happy. I am looking forward going to Chaggiah (British Reform Biennial). And then the second year is over.  I am looking forward to next year it sounds like it is going to be amazing, but I would imagine even more work than this one was.

Apart from that not all that much has happened. Well, there isn't really time for it too happen.  I work at college and I work in the community and then I hang out with Emily. Such is my life at the moment.